20 most vindictive characters in movies and shows 

Movies and TV Shows give us a plethora of characters. While many are pure goodness personified, there are a ton of characters who are vindictive and villainous. They are driven by revenge and can cross any limits to fulfill their agenda. Often morally grey, they appeal to the audience despite their crimes and non-humanitarian deeds because of their conviction and resilience.

Here is a list of the 20 most vindictive characters in movies and shows.

20) Captain Hook - Peter Pan (1953)

Captain Hook from Peter Pan is the epitome of vindictiveness. His every decision is made concerning harming Peter Pan. When Peter Pan cut off Captain Hook’s hand and fed it to the crocodiles, he made a permanent enemy out of him. Captain Hook is cunning and manipulative, and his actions are a testament to the pride and vengeance burning within him.

19) Assane Diop - Lupin (2021)

Assane Diop, from the hit Netflix series Lupin, is another vindictive character. He is quite a complex person to understand. His father was accused of a false crime and imprisoned. This has been the driving force of Assane’s life. Since he was fourteen, all he wanted was to avenge the corrupt justice system and the wrongdoings against his father. This has made him quite ruthless and rash.

18) Klaus Mikaelson - The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

Another cold and cruel character is Klaus Mikaelson from the TV series- The Vampire Diaries. His actions are not rooted in some core wrongdoing against him. Rather, his vindictiveness is challenged by any and everyone crossing his path. One wrong move, and you will find yourself at the mercy of this vampire. He is known for using people’s weaknesses against them and is quite calculating and conniving.

17) Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

The blockbuster TV series - Breaking Bad has given us another vindictive character - Jesse Pinkman. Played by Aaron Paul, Jesse is a deeply emotional person who is protective of the people around him. When harm comes to those he cares about, his anger knows no bounds. His vendetta against Walter White pushed him to the brink of ruthlessness. So much so, out of malice, he poured gasoline over Walter’s house.

16) Hugh Glass - The Revenant (2015)

Hugh Glass in The Revenant is a character who, at the brink of survival, got fuelled by the desire for revenge and made it out of extreme wild conditions. When he is left to die in the wilderness after a bear attack, he makes it the mission of his life to avenge his abandoners. He is brutal and tough and, in a true sense, a man driven by vindictiveness.

15) Django Freeman - Django Unchained (2012)

The movie Django Unchained features Django, a slave in pre-civil War America who recently got freed. His wife is still a slave and he is on a mission to bring her to freedom. He is very calculative and strategic and second-guesses his every move to make it perfect. He doesn’t hesitate to kill his oppressors and burns an entire plantation to complete his revenge.

14) The Terminator - The Terminator (1984)

T-800, better known as The Terminator, in the film The Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is another prime ruthless character. He is a bot sent from the future on a killing mission in the past. He is relentless with not an ounce of mercy in him. His demeanor is cold, which can be seen in his ruthless killing instincts toward anyone and everyone who comes in between the accomplishment of his mission, and is a perfect example of a vindictive character.

13) Talia al Ghul - The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Batman has had many opponents, but a true vindictive opponent came in the form of Talia al Ghul from The Dark Knight Rises. Batman killed Talia’s father, leading her on a quest for vengeance. She is a master at deception and manages to become quite close to Batman. Her vindictive nature comes out in her cold, calculative moves to sabotage Gotham City and complete her revenge.

12) Simon Gruber - Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

As the name suggests, Die Hard with a Vengeance features an iconic vindictive villain in the form of Simon Gruber. John McClane killed Hans Gruber and, in the process, made Simon Gruber, his brother, an enemy. Using his intellectual abilities, he makes McClane’s life a living hell. In his mission to seek revenge, he litters bombs in the entire New York City and challenges and humiliates McClane with riddles. He was cruel in a cold, calculative way.

11) Wade Wilson (Deadpool) - Deadpool (2016)

While Wade Wilson, Deadpool, himself was the protagonist of the movie, there is no denying he perfectly fit the caricature of a vindictive character. He is driven by revenge against Ajax, who transforms him into his present mutant self. He can be humorous, but his humor is laced with darkness, making him unpredictable. Violence is his go-to means, be it for answers or something personal.

10) Arya Stark - Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

Arya was a young, innocent girl, but the death of her family made her a vengeance-seeking, cold-hearted person. It took her years to grow out of her weak self and become a trained assassin, and throughout those years, she didn’t forget her mission. What makes her truly brutal is her patience. Her moves are strategic, and she strikes at the perfect timing. She has a list of names to avenge, and nothing can stop her from ruthlessly killing and crossing off those names.

9) Travis Bickle - Taxi Driver (1976)

One of Robert De Niro’s most iconic roles came as Travis Bickle in the classic movie - Taxi Driver. Although it is his loneliness and mental health that trigger him to become a ruthless, vindictive person, there is no denying he fits the role perfectly. His ruthless nature is reflected in his violent shootout and assassination attempts. He is a victim of his own mind, which has turned him into a dark person.

8) Carrie White - Carrie (1976)

The movie Carrie is based on a Novel by Stephen King. Stephen King is known for penning down dark and devious characters, and one such creation of his comes in the form of - Carrie. Years of bullying as a teenager have transformed Carrie into a vengeful, rage-filled person. She is utterly horrifying, and it can be seen when she massacres everyone at her prom. She is a true representation of how years of humiliation and distress can break the moral compass of a person.

7) John Wick - John Wick (2014)

Keanu Reeves’s portrayal of John Wick is iconic. John Wick was an already grieving man, but the last straw for him was the murder of his puppy. It turned him into an unstoppable force who is set on killing the mob responsible for his grief. He may appear calm, but he is a cold, calculative assassin ready to take on the powerful underworld men.

6) The Bride - Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2003, 2004)

Beatrix Kiddo, The Bride, is a phenomenal character from the Kill Bill Movies. When a betrayal makes Beatrix lose everyone important to her, even her unborn child, she transforms into ‘The Bride’, a ruthless, relentless being. She is a master of martial arts and trained in a lot of warfare techniques. In fact, one of the most iconic scenes of cinema originated with her escaping her burial by clawing her way out from under the ground.

5) Scar - The Lion King (1994)

Disney’s masterpiece - The Lion King, released in 1994, is truly a classic. While it features many great characters like Mufasa and Simba, it also has a vindictive character in the form of Scar. Scar is Mufasa’s brother and wants Mufasa’s throne for himself. He is bitter and brutal, and his most heinous crime is killing Mufasa. He didn’t just stop there - the fear of loss of power also led him to manipulate poor Simba and send him to a self-imposed exile.

4) Cruella de Vil - 101 Dalmatians (1961)

Cruella de Vil is a well-established name in the world of Cinema. Her obsession with fashion is to such an extent that it has destroyed any humanity left in her. She is cruel, harsh, vain, and truly vindictive. She is so set on making fur coats, and her sinister plan involves killing puppies to make them. Her greed and extravagance overshadow any ounce of kindness in her heart, making her a cold Disney villain.

3) Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz remains a much-loved film. It features the wicked Witch of the West, a power-hungry, menacing character. To avenge the death of her sister - The Wicked Witch of the East, she is on a mission to seek revenge on Dorothy. She can be intimidating, dominating, and quite merciless. She has made Dorothy’s return home a challenge with her conniving ways.

2) Voldemort - Harry Potter (2001–2011)

Lord Voldemort is a well-known name. The iconic villain of the blockbuster Harry Potter Franchise is as cold and vindictive as one can get. To gain power and immortality, he adopts any means possible. He has quite literally split his soul into pieces, making him an inhuman, sinister being. He has killed Harry’s parents, innocent Cedric Diggory, and a thousand others. He can torture people without a second thought and has no moral compass.

1) Darth Vader - Star Wars (1977)

No villain can match the popularity of Darth Vader from Star Wars Franchise. He was a hero before he became this dark vindictive person. He is ruthless and uses brutal methods to achieve what he seeks. He betrayed the Jedi Order and is adamant about turning his son - Luke Skywalker into a dark being like him.