10 most infuriating movie villains audiences loved to hate the most

Movie villains are some of the most interesting characters in a story. Not only do they drive the narrative forward, they add depth to the storyline and highlight the hero. However, there have been movie villains so ruthless and sadistic, that they have been infuriating to watch and have been hated by viewers, even though they are enigmatic. Movie villains come in all shapes and forms and here are 10 such movie villains who are charming yet downright villainous.

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Randall, John Doe, and other movie villains that viewers love to hate

1. Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter

Based on the book series by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter movie franchise has created some of the most infuriating movie villains in the history of cinema. And Dolores Umbridge is one of them. Umbridge enters Hogwarts after being stationed by the Ministry of Magic to take power away from Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. During her time at Hogwarts, Dolores grows in power and gets appointed as the High Inquisitor by the Minister for Magic so that she can control the school. The character makes an appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Even though she is assigned to the Defense Against the Dark Arts department, she does not teach anything and instead, does moral policing. Imelda Staunton does an incredible job of bringing the hated character to life. Dolores is known for showing cruelty and sadism towards children and using dangerous powers in front of them. Umbridge’s haughty character makes her one of those movie villains that everyone loves to hate.

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2. Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A Few Good Men

Directed by Rob Reiner, A Few Good Men, is a legal drama featuring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and others. The film is about the court-martial of two US Marines, who are charged with the murder of a fellow Marine. However, their lawyers prepare a case in their defense and uncover a larger conspiracy within the armed forces. The movie was a critical and commercial success and it is finally revealed in the end that it was Nicholson’s Col. Nathan R. Jessep, who ordered a Code Red on Private Santiago. Nicholson delivers a scene-stealing performance as the haughty and arrogant Jessep who does not care about his colleagues and even passes sexist remarks at women. He is therefore one of the infuriating movie villains. Col. Jessep is one of the hated movie villains because he abused his power and ordered a violent attack and then attempted to cover-up the murder. He does not have any integrity, honor, or loyalty, even when he hypocritically espouses those ideals.

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3. Randall in Monsters, Inc.

This animated movie is directed by Pete Docter and is one of the most famous movies from the early aughts. The film is about two monsters, James P “Sulley” Sullivan and his partner and best friend, Mike Wazowski. The two are employed by the titular energy-producing factory which generates power by scaring children. However, the two come across a little human girl, Boo, who sneaks into the factory, and must now make her return home before it is too late. One of the most annoying movie villains in Monsters, Inc. is the character of Randall, who is responsible for inflicting harm upon innocent children so that he can get in the good books of his senior. Rather than scaring kids because of the necessary nature of their work, Randall likes to enjoy in inflicting emotional distress upon children and Boo and is therefore one of the hated movie villains. He is a cold, sadistic, and calculating personality and is ruthless and envious. He also tries to kill Sully and Mike multiple times and he is therefore one of the most hated movies villains.

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4. Hans Gruber in Die Hard

When the first Die Hard movie hit the theatres, it was a smash hit because of its action, its direction and plot, and the stellar performances by Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. Directed by John McTierman, the action movie focuses on a New York City police detective, John McClane (Willis), who becomes embroiled in a terrorist hostage situation, while visiting his estranged wife during a Christmas Eve party. Rickman’s performance as the villain, Hans Gruber, who is the mastermind behind the terrorist takeover, is scene-stealing. Gruber is intelligent, devious, sharp, and has a tinge of humor as well. He is one of the infuriating movie villains because he is extremely alert and does not believe in using his physical strength to overpower others. He instead, uses his mind to play mind games with others. It is infuriating to watch him as he plays the role of the villain so good and is extremely calm and calculated Therefore, he is one of those movies villains that viewers love to hate.

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5. Jack Torrence in The Shining

Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on a novel by Stephen King, The Shining, is a psychological horror movie that stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and others. The film is one of the most influential horror movies in the history of cinema. The movie is about an aspiring novelist Jack (Nicholson), who takes the job of being a winter caretaker for an isolated mountain resort hotel and takes his wife (Duvall) and son along. However, the mysterious atmosphere of the hotel causes Jack to lose his sanity and makes him a psychopathic murderer who wants to kill his family. Jack is therefore both the lead and the villain of the movie. Nicholson delivers a stellar performance as Jack, who is raging with anger and is a mean-spirited writer who is driven to murder. He is therefore one of those hated movie villains. He has an abusive and cruel nature, which makes him scary. Therefore, he is one of those movie villains that viewers love to hate.

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6. Joker in The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger’s portrayals of the Joker in The Dark Knight, is widely regarded as one of the best villain portrayal in the history of cinema. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the superhero movie is based on the characters of the DC comics and is the second installment in the Batman movie franchise by Nolan. The movie follows Batman, lieutenant James Gordon, and district attorney Harvey Dent, who form an alliance to take down organized crime in Gotham City and fight against the Joker, who is a psychopathic villain. The movie features Christian Bale as Batman and was a critical and commercial hit. One big reason for the movie’s success was the performance by Ledger as Joker. It is infuriating yet riveting to watch him as he maniacally yet calculatingly, creates chaos and even hoodwinks Batman. Joker is smart yet unpredictable and is darker and grittier. He philosophizes on the concepts of anarchy and insanity and makes for one of the infuriating yet most iconic movie villains.

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7. J.D. in Heathers

One of the most subversive movies of the 1980s, Heathers, is a teen dark comedy directed by Michael Lehmann, that presented a dark and cynical satire on the upbeat teen movies of the decade. The film has a cult following and features Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and others. The film is about four teenage girls, that form a clique in a high school. However, one of the girl’s life is interrupted when a misanthrope enters and is intent on killing the popular students. Slater delivers a cunningly charming performance as J.D. who is a homicidal teen and is charming and manipulative and therefore one of those annoying movie villains. It is annoying to watch him because he is so good at disarming others and then murdering them ruthlessly. The movie is dark in nature and J.D. is aggressive, menacing, and his motivation for murdering is never explained. Therefore, he is one of those movie villains who viewers love to hate.

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8. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs

Based on the novel by Thomas Harris, this psychological horror thriller movie is directed by Jonathan Demme and features Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. The movie is the only horror movie to have won a Best Movie award at the Oscars and is highly influential. The Silence of the Lambs is about a young FBI trainee, Clarice (Foster), who is investigating a serial killer called “Buffalo Bill” and has to seek the help of a genius but cannibalistic psychiatrist serial killer called Hannibal (Hopkins). Hopkins delivers a career-defining performance as Hannibal and the villain is one of the most menacing and ruthless movie villains in movie history. He is a unique villain because he engages in cannibalism and does not have any remorse. Hannibal is extremely intelligent and can read people’s minds. He is one of those movies villains that is infuriating to watch because he is both charming and sadistic.

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9. Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada

Directed by David Frankel and based on a novel by Lauren Weisberger, this comedy drama focuses on an aspiring journalist who finds herself in the world of high fashion and has no knowledge about it. Her life gets even more troublesome when she works for the demanding editor, Miranda Priestly. The movie features Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and others. Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, is both despised and still revered. She is one of those movies villains whom viewers love to hate because she is so good at her role. Streep delivers a stellar performance as Priestly and the character of Miranda is demanding on her juniors but wickedly smart. While Miranda sees the spark in Hathaway’s Andrea, she is extremely demanding of her and pits her assistants against one another. Even though Miranda has traumas, she does not get vulnerable and that makes her one of the infuriating movie villains to watch.

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10. John Doe in Seven

Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and others, this crime thriller movie is directed by David Fincher and focuses on a nearly retired detective, William (Freeman) and his newly transferred partner David (Pitt), who must stop a serial killer who is committing murders based on the seven deadly sins. Seven was a critical and commercial success and its villain, John Doe, played by Kevin Spacey, is cold and ruthless and one of the most hated movie villains. Spacey delivers a stellar job as the killer who has no remorse and is a religious zealot. John Doe is one of those movies villains that is infuriating to watch because of his perceived notions about sin. John uses gratuitous methods for murder and the chilling manner in which he kills people makes him easy to hate. While he is a fascinating psychological character, he is ultimately one of those movie villains that viewers love to hate.