Top 10 Movie Villain Clichés

There are several reasons why the good guys always win. Join www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Movie Villain Clichés. Subscribe►► / subscription_c. . Facebook►► / watchmojo . Twitter►► / watchmojo Instagram►► / watchmojo Suggestion Tool►►www.WatchMojo.c... Channel Page►► / watchmojo
For this list, we're taking a look at the tropes that bad guys are forced to abide by in movies, which often lead to both their creation and downfall.
Special thanks to our user natec2013 and aldqbigsquare for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at www.WatchMojo.c...
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[@Squidward1923]

Vader: "I must face him alone." Tarkin: "But sir, you have an army at your disposal!" Vader: "Indeed. But they can't aim worth a damn; I'm worried they'll shoot me instead!"

[@revan1911]

Oh God. It makes sense.

[@hidof9598]

His case makes sense,as Luke was his son and he didn't intend to kill Luke

[@Sean_Last1995]

the villain always kills those that fail them or just cause they can.

[@lord_bobanewname4069]

Sean Last yet they can't kill the hero

[@Undefinedde]

Villain kills henchmen also villain doesn't kill hero

[@ernie4795]

@@Undefinedde Frieza🤣\ In a nutshell.

[@rodrigozarza7225]

1: The classic villain never seems to have a family 2: he often humiliate and punish harshley his own minions, even with death 3: His minions are often dumber and weaker than him

[@Mlu007M]

All I'm getting from this is that I need to watch Austin Powers again.

[@gondagirl]

+Mlu007M true :)

[@jessiesalinas6287]

haven't seen it but want to

[@INameIsGood]

+Jessie Salinas you are missing out on much

[@gracee8106]

+Mlu007M same it's amazing!

[@mattlanders3700]

+Mlu007M Yea, its odd to include him in this list because the purpose of the movie is to make fun of Hollywood Movies.

[@redmario7]

1. The Evil Laugh 2. Take Over the World 3. Tragic Backstory 4. A Link to the Hero

[@morgangobin6550]

If the Nostalgia Critic has taught us nothing else, it's that every villain wants to take over the world! OF COURSE!!!

[@CreativeGeoff]

Spiders! A Giant LEGION of Spiders!

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

My list 1. the Evil Laughs 2. Big Mouth 3. Want to Role the Hero 4. Tragic Backstory and Good Motivation 5. Disfigured 6. Never Stay Death 7. Wanting to Kill the Hero Personally 8. a Link with the Hero 9. Foreign Backround 10. a Bunch of Followers

[@samkresil6011]

Villain has a change of heart, villain wears a disguise, villain says "its nothing personal", villain kills his own men, villain uses a bomb during the climax, villain says "I`ve been waiting for a this a long time", animals can be villains, villain is mad with his own minions but likes to toy with the hero, villain tries to kill thousands of people with a powerful machine, villain tries to stay a good guy, villain kills the hero`s entire family, villain sucks out youth from another`s body to make them younger and villain falls in fire/lava.

[@Rob-ql2wf]

What about "Villain realises he's still good and changes his side"

[@sommynoks3941]

Zuko

[@isabelleoh-criner6697]

Doctor Octopus

[@Rob-ql2wf]

Damian Charleston I disagree... I know a ton of movies where thia happens

[@berwynsigns4115]

+Damian Charleston Then it should be an honorable mention

[@LiveLife-fg1bz]

every single kids movie ever

[@itsandre4594]

You forgot the cliché about having a cat

[@kimifw58]

+André Lucas (Arkham Nightmare) They may do another list.

[@marjoriejohnston4905]

Or being a cat.... Even Giovanni of Pokemon has this one

[@LiveLife-fg1bz]

i like all pets but i love cats, but like why a cat, hamsters fit more.

[@jjtheraccoon61]

Yes, while the hero has a dog...

[@Schenkel101]

How about top 10 cliche horror movies setups? Like a family moves to a house, a bunch of teens go to a for a road trip, someone breaks into an abandoned location, etc.

[@MrLourie]

One more cliché that is never recognized. In most, if not all, popular movies, is the sex, and therefore, relationship between the hero, villain, and victim. Usually, the hero and villain are male and the victim female, superhero movies notwithstanding. There is most always a female involved as far as a love interest, sister or mother of the protagonist that needs rescuing or vengeance exacted for a wrong. The male lead is very often teamed up with a female for all the usual and clichéd romance to develop at some point in the movie. Rarely, if ever, are the hero and victim of the same sex, both male, and certainly not lovers. Never a long time male friend, a brother, a male lover, someone to whom affection and emotions would be equated as with a female character. Yes, there may be a few exceptions, done with a comedic tone and for laughs, but in the end are disposable examples of men as victims in need of rescuing. There are many different and original plot lines and narratives to be used, yet Hollywood, perceived to be liberal, can be interpreted as homophobic.

[@marissawilson4644]

Exactly

[@shellyeditsalot]

love this!

[@notproductiveproductions3504]

Invincible season 2 was revolutionary

[@bvigil1888]

the villain is trying to takeover the world??? M. Bison: OF COURSE!!!!!

[@DzesiBlu87]

Thank God for Nostalgia critic 😄

[@SwfanredLotr]

Exactly!

[@Dxsmp]

meaningless my psycho power is indivisible!!!! * m.bison voice *

[@kaukolaurila9861]

Funny they don't mention the hero is basically trying to do that as well...

[@LiveLife-fg1bz]

@@kaukolaurila9861 yeah. like, heroes are kinda selfish.

[@matman000000]

You forgot one of the most annoying clichés: villain kills his own henchmen for the slightest failure or disagreement.

[@logandh2]

Or to demonstrate their ultimate weapon to the hero they have captured instead of just explaining what it can do. Or, yet again, just killing the hero instead of giving them even more reason to want to stop them.

[@kenneth1997]

+logandh2 Or how the villian has to give a quick one-liner before delivering the final blow, just so hero can be saved ex machina style.

[@WatchMojo]

We’re always looking for passionate viewers to take on a larger role in the community; from voicing your opinion on our lists before they are published to taking on a more active role in the comments. Please contact us at watch [at] watchmojo.com with subject line COMMUNITY if you think you might be interested.

[@jdw3030]

hey @watchmojo how bout a top ten : dragon ball z games

[@firmlygraspit6879]

+joshua watkins YES!!!!

[@TheLastNewYorker]

I'll put my people on it. Thanks for the info!

[@conorjackson1218]

+Jasmine GeminiDragon OMG YES

[@nathanmorrison8117]

no1) the villain always has a similar, opposite or same power flash has zoom Superman has doomsday or bazaro Green arrow has Malcolm myrlin the list goes on

[@zero1188]

bad guy always loses should be number one

[@ultraguy8771]

+zero There are some exceptions.

[@Undefinedde]

Film maker's make a film where villain wins

[@Terastas]

Of course, for #8, there's an also often-employed trope where, instead of the big bad super villain taking care of the hero right from the start, he sends mooks of increasing difficulty one after another, thereby allowing the hero to better hone his skills (or, in video game lingo, level-up) and be at full capacity before the epic climax with the big bad himself.

[@msrainbowbrite]

R.I.P Alan Rickman xx

[@Frightmarelordofthenightmares]

Rest In Peace

[@jademcculloch7639]

how about hero: you'll never get away with this villan: oh I already have

[@CJ17Mag]

in Jack Nicolson's batman case both the hero and the villain created each other, Joker created batman by killing his parents, and batman created the Joker by making him fall into a vat of chemicals

[@Bananaficiary]

Wait the joker killed batmans parents?

[@teethbrushproductions271]

+Neglar I didn't know that either also I don't watch a lot of batman

[@jannalee20]

+Neglar dude. He said it was in one movie

[@CJ17Mag]

+Janna Lee thank you it was the tim burton batman with Jack Nicolson as the joker

[@trodd2687]

Top 10 most annoying video game characters!!

[@electricboogaloo11]

+WatchMojo.com lol thought you guys flat out called him an ahole

[@TheTigerfan99]

+Abdullaziz Al Salem I thought that too and I started laughing so much.

[@BigFella2769]

You were almost a jill sandwich

[@thomasraines1396]

+Abdullaziz Al Salem no that's his user name

[@electricboogaloo11]

Thomas Raines thought

[@TRtherocknroller]

You forgot "join me"

[@crystalsilence2559]

Here's something else that I've noticed seems to be in the "Villain's Handbook". You *MUST* offer the hero an opportunity to join you. And, as counterpoint from the "Hero's Handbook". When this moment occurs, you *MUST* refuse. Granted, this scenario doesn't always apply, but it's common enough to be noticeable.

[@pilpyfimbleton8918]

But it just doesn't FEEL as good when your nemesis is killed by a random grunt!

[@Compucles]

+Matt Hier Yet it feels good to let them die in an elaborate death trap that you don't even watch?

[@pilpyfimbleton8918]

Honestly, who wants to watch an absurdly long death-trap like that?

[@richardjackson9584]

LOVE THE NOSTALGIA CRITIC reference!!!!

[@RM-tj6ju]

Top 10 Villains who turn Good Guys

[@MorganKing95]

There's already a list for "Bad guys gone good"

[@frxstyflxwers]

You forgot one: the hero always wins

[@rickonami]

11:16 ... OF COURSE!! "" Bison ""

[@OneWerdNerd]

Totally missed an opportunity to show Chris Cooper and his "maniacal laugh" scene from 2011's "The Muppets"...

[@hurleyfrancois4060]

howdy! has there been a "top 10 movies with 'unhappy' endings"? or even "top 10 movies where the villian wins"? just wondering...

[@danielattrell]

Top 10 Worst Animated Movies!

[@WatchMojo]

+Daniel Attrell www.watchmojo.com/suggest

[@-mcpie-6802]

+Daniel Attrell They could do it but Top 10 dumbest buildings built by Kanye West's grandpa in Yugoslavia or Top 10 songs spoken backwards by Bruce Lee's relative are more important than that. And you wonder why WM has no idea what to post.

[@felidaeunplugged8316]

dingo studios will have more than 1 list.

[@tvbnine793]

+Daniel Attrell M8 Ive been praying for that for months

[@jamesparsley5796]

8 crazy nights should be first

[@Miltz69]

I think another one that links to the villan having to be the one that kills the hero is that despite the fact that they surround themselves with an army or highly trained soldiers/ex soldiers, mercenaries etc. when it comes to the hero they can't shoot for shit. Take James Bond or the mission impossible films, the hero can run through an entire courtyard of these supposedly highly trained killers and not one of them can hit him or her despite firing hundreds if not more shots at the hero. It be a very different movie if just one of them could hit their target.

[@Compucles]

Excellent list! I especially loved the sly "Phineas and Ferb" reference.

[@inertiiajoy8302]

SO MANY FOREIGN ENEMIES? Right, cos you've been invaded like, sooo many times...

[@robertbrookes2000]

When I saw the monologues I instantly thought of the Incredibles, then I realized that the Incredibles ticks nearly all the boxes.

[@Compucles]

+Robert Brookes Actually, I think that movie is more notable for lampshading or deconstructing various super-hero/villain tropes than just implementing them. I consider it one of Pixar's best.

[@robertbrookes2000]

It is the Pixar best! XD

[@inhumanMilitia]

no m. bison "OF COURSE!" I am disappoint

[@majesticmomo8169]

Number 1: Villains always loss That's why I like movies that villains actually win

[@mikeynike81]

after watching that spiderman clip how about the top 10 most brutal pg 13 moments

[@TheApaura]

That was probably the greatest superhero fight ever.

[@deinVater9983]

3:28 "Take whatever booty you can find but remember the beast is mine" Me: gladly

[@MartyWilson100]

Female villains are often attractive and use their looks, charm and sex appeal to their advantage

[@andierivero5402]

Villain has a child (their only child, the child they never knew of, or their mother is never shown.)

[@mistere.m.p.1573]

Can you think of a villain that follows either none or multiple of these clichés?

[@mistere.m.p.1573]

(Besides 4)

[@mistere.m.p.1573]

(Or 1)

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

I was so hoping for the scene from Space Balls when Lord Helmet explains his "connection" to Lonestar. All that teasing and not a single shot of Doofenschmirtz, shame

[@lukebradley574]

I hate how they say "Spoiler Alert" but don't list any of the films they spoil. FFS.

[@leogothisoscar271]

What exactly was Skyfall's villain's physical deformity? I don't think being blonde counts...

[@ssflipallday]

After being captured and tortured by the Chinese, he tried to commit suicide with a hydrogen cyanide capsule, but it failed and left him horribly scarred. He wears some type of denture or something of that sort to keep his face looking normal, WM didn't show clips of his scars here.

[@leogothisoscar271]

ssflipallday Thank you very much! I've never seen it, so I wasn't sure what the problem was.

[@ChristInMeA2Z]

Heath as the Joker never really monologued: he asked pointed, direct questions of his listener as he told them an apparently/impossibly personal story; no rehearsals for his speeches.

[@marjoriejohnston4905]

#8 villains want to prove themselves as the most powerful, evil, etc. Also, does the phrase 'if you want it done right, do it yourself' ring a bell? And Voldemort caused his own deformity, a side effect of the Horcruxes

[@noaht7383]

An episode about which movies started a particular movie cliche would be awesome.

[@killingjokegaming896]

You forgot the I'm just getting started cliche and the dramatic entrance cliche lol

[@disturbedpyro4511]

Agent Smith's evil laugh gets me every time. It's so over the top and ridiculous.

[@jank0pf]

Austin Powers simply mixes all that clichés + sarcasm and do the greatest fucking hero vs villain movie. The movie was perfect and still very funny to watch today, the movie dont get lost in time.

[@DSliima]

Mad Mikkelsen, Yeah! Denmark, yeah! ... uhm... YEAH!!!

[@nikkam.6770]

Mads Mikkelsen, fuck yeah ! Best thing to come from Denmark since Lego and butter cookies.

[@WatchMojo]

WatchMojo in Portuguese: kzbin.info WatchMojo in Spanish: kzbin.info WatchMojo in Dutch:kzbin.info/door/ht3DEu9qWOSQWa1YzxADjA Watchmojo in German: kzbin.info/door/9hLYAhlQsx71_yNUbTeWWQ Watchmojo in Turkish: kzbin.info/door/V_0rWL0R2EcYlcko1ZxUIg WatchMojo in Polish: kzbin.info/door/0CC_MaeMKk6qRoQVwFdo_g Many more to come!

[@محمدالأحمد-و8م8ح]

What about Arabic Mojo??

[@mahmoudyasser7980]

+‫محمد الأحمد‬‎ yeah right

[@neonnero1]

Under the point of evil laughs, I was actually expecting the Muppet parody version... "Maniacal laugh! Maniacal laugh! Maniacal laugh!"

[@TheSxR87]

what about ,,Villain explains his evil plan to the hero?"

[@kenneth1997]

then doesn't kill the hero, leaving the villain's master plan to be inevitably foiled.

[@nobodyimportant6582]

I understand the evil laugh. When I'm planning on ruining someones game I always laugh like a psychopath.

[@Undefinedde]

Hahaha I'm so evil hear my laugh

[@VoiceofKane3]

I don't think Hans Landa should count for the accent, considering a) the actor portraying him was actually German, and b) portraying a literal Nazi without one would have been very strange indeed.

[@potvoramedia]

Christopher Wlatz is actually an Austrian, but yes, his native language was German :-).

[@SlashHouse]

What about every villain has a secret hideout

[@PeterEhik]

They got the top 10 list just from watching Austin Powers lol

[@diffbeat979]

Loved the Phineas & Ferb reference. Fabulous.

[@danthefan28]

10:43 LOL I just love that reaction he does right before he dies.

[@WatchMojo]

Hey hey, today over on MsMojo, they're publishing a little video about the Top 10 Things You Should Never Eat on a Date! Avoid that garlic! Head on over to www.KZbin.com/MsMojo to SUBSCRIBE NOW for that and more awesome videos just like it :)

[@cuaroz5808]

What happened to all villains getting defeated by falling to their demise whilst screaming?

[@Undefinedde]

Lmao

[@SnubThree87]

The use of the kingsman clip is ironic since just after that clip ends the villain shoots him in the face

[@LordBaktor]

Frieza´s resurrection and the "I've never trained, I'm just this naturally gifted" line is such a dump on the most exciting saga in DBZ history...

[@SuperVegitoSSJ2]

+Lord Baktor Amen to that.

[@ColinCartoons]

Number 0: The Villain is literally too angry to die

[@patpowers9210]

The Evil Overlord Rules did it earlier and much, much more thoroughly.

[@bigThunk983]

Loving all the Desperado references in this one.

[@CorbinJonesZersdan]

Cliché: The plot twist villain. When you think the villain has finally been taken down and everyone has been saved, suddenly the person who saved everyone or the person who helped the most decides to become the villain for one last final fight.

[@ameliabennett9276]

#10 villains always have a link to the hero: they talked about hero's being related to the villain but didn't even have one shot of simba and scar from the lion King. Not a biggie but an opportunity missed all the same

[@Undefinedde]

We were meant to be enemies Amelia vs Amelia

[@hyperunboxing9304]

10:55 I don't care what say about this but tragic backstory is what makes a villain evil

[@sid19862006]

Villains plan is thwarted at the last second, ie. Bomb is diffused one second before detonating

[@hoanguyenangthithu7668]

This list is pretty decent. I like it.

[@andrewwolfgang7461]

you had the perfect shot to put in the maniacal laugh scene from the muppets movie...

[@SJrad]

"you sly dog you got me monologing!"

[@margegarland7635]

I love how meta some of these movies are about the whole not killing the hero right away trope

[@stephanmckinnie8855]

0:45/1:54/2:56/3:53/4:56/6:00/6:59 8:23/9:14/10:34÷10:46÷10:53÷11:04 11:14

[@djjesus.hediedforyourspins3154]

Is there a movie where the villain actually wins AND it doesn't have a sequel?

[@grimlockskeleton8976]

Megamind 😂

[@royhe3154]

no country for old Men.

[@P-diddykong]

watchmen

[@flightdeparture1895]

+Grimlock Skeleton interesting choice but very true 😂

[@CPD0123a]

+DJ Jesus.He Died for your spins Maybe that should be a top 10 list. Top 10 times the villain wins, with the additional point that they cannot be defeated or have a change of heart later on.

[@HyTeddyBear]

similar to #4 , the villain also wait the hero to power up, just to humiliate him

[@strawhatluffy3529]

Bad guys start off as good guys but end up becoming bad guys.

[@thrillcollectors]

3:29 it's kind of off-putting hearing the term "booty" from someone who doesn't sound like a pirate haha

[@TheJereld]

The villain always feels they are doing the humanitarian cause. A purge, the world or society doesn't know any better, they're here to help through chaos.

[@hugoenmark3695]

make a top 10 movie HERO cliches

[@notproductiveproductions3504]

1.) heroes come on two colors: black or white

[@roxy7442]

Villian has a deep/intimidating voice.

[@wagwam1357]

Top 10 characters that died at the beginning of movies ( groups included )

[@brutustreuherz6037]

the villian kills his own henchmen

[@schlontz88]

1:32 seems like darth vader is dancing to techno music

[@theodorbondoc6345]

I have one simple request and that is to have sharks with freaking lazer beams attached to their heads!

[@mr.apocalypse5143]

Most villains are fine with letting their henchmen kill the hero and usually only face the hero themselves when they have no choice.

[@4hotpink10]

6:48 only Heath's Joker laughed before he thought he was thrown off the building

[@14Flamefish]

The lethal, the feared, the infamous, the dreaded... Self-Destruct Button...

[@IanGorton]

Another one is when there's a group of them there always seems to be infighting amoungst the bad guys

[@MsAquamonkey]

*Before watching the video* English, many bad guys are always English. Or Russian.

[@Sullykevin]

Here are 2 other villain cliches: - Must always be played a specific kind of actor. - Must always have a super form at the final battle of a movie.

[@BowserMovies1989]

Good list and with appearances by Darth Vader, Gaston, Jafar, Aladdin, and the Genie. Now if only Mewtwo made an appearance on this list in the number 1 part.

[@AAMLIF]

That Nostalgia Critic reference tho. I love it!

[@spamuel98]

You used that Kingsman scene, but that was right before Samuel L Jackson's character blew out, if not the good guy's brains, at least his eye with a bullet.

[@ellnats]

#7: I believe rotten tomatos made a song about that, its called "villains all have terrible skin"

[@MsDjessa]

5:53 But in that movie it was the hero who had a foreign accent. In fact anachronistic accent, well even more than others speaking modern English English.

[@Flyway999]

Well of course they want to tule the world

[@Flyway999]

*rule

[@INameIsGood]

+Antti Honkanen to tule sounds awesome

[@kyrakiaofaexia2289]

/the galaxy/universe/a 1m by 2m spot in a graveyard