Top 10 TV Villain Performances of the Last Decade

TV bad guys are some of the most dramatic! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most epically evil performances across television from the past ten years. Our countdown includes performances from shows “Stranger Things”, “The Walking Dead”, "Succession" and more! Which villainous performance had you glued to your screen? Should Antony Starr have received an Emmy already for his role as Homelander in "The Boys"? Share your favorite heinous portrayals in the comments below.
Check out these other villainous videos:
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Top 20 Times Superheroes Killed the Villain: • Top 20 Times Superhero...
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#villains #tvshows #theboys #cobrakai #strangerthings #daredevil #invincible #homelander #antonystarr

[@WatchMojo]

Which villainous performance had you glued to your screen? Should Antony Starr have received an Emmy already for his role as Homelander in "The Boys"? Share your favorite heinous portrayals in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6m0map_nqqcfc0 Play our Daily Point Battles to earn MojoPoints and qualify for CASH BATTLES! Check it out: WatchMojo.com/play

[@Bman32x]

Antony Starr deserves an Emmy 100%.

[@trumptouchesivanka]

Mr Robot WASN’T a villain

[@arielfangirlmendez]

Lea michele as hester from scream queens

[@Asstazztic]

Antony has been getting robbed since 2019!

[@KingJohnVA]

Yes. Yes he most definitely deserves an Emmy. Brilliantly performed

[@Animeguy300]

Someone give Antony Starr an Emmy

[@Dopecheetah]

Word👍🏾

[@markperez9613]

🥛👅

[@MikeRiderOOO]

If John Hamm got an Emmy for playing Don Draper from Mad Men, if Matthew Rhys got an Emmy for playing Phillip Jennings from The Americans, and if Bryan Cranston got an Emmy for playing Walter White/Heisenberg from Breaking Bad, then Antony Starr should get an Emmy for playing Homelander from The Boys!

[@SirsasthNigam.]

"I'm not worried about it, man," Starr told Rolling Stone when asked to share his thoughts about the awards buzz surrounding his character. "As I've gotten older, my ambitions have changed. And I realize the mechanics behind those things, the politics and all of that. And I think, good luck to everyone, but yeah, that's not what drives me."

[@nalday2534]

For doing what exactly?

[@henri191]

Antony Starr as Homelander is the best thing about The Boys

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Billy Butcher is pretty cool too.

[@Caffeine_Club]

One of the best things about television, period. He has had the time to make Homelander an epic all-time villain. He deserves an Emmy IMO

[@jacila8377]

i agree his the best villian ive seen so far.

[@DvLnDsGyZ]

Trump thinks he looks exactly like Homelander. He's even selling overpriced digital trading cards that look like homelander with trump's head on his body 🤣

[@pedrocarbarros]

Anthony Starr as Homeland and karl Urban as Billy Butcher for me !

[@transformersguy2002]

Homelander’s the best tv villain right now

[@jacila8377]

litreally

[@ludonymous526]

Indeed.

[@simonemauro9217]

Ever

[@bigbroinsac]

ATHONY STARR DESERVES AN EMMY!!!!

[@prettifacegab3420]

Antony Starr needs an award please

[@brodaforlife]

Homelander is such a love to hate villain whenever you think he can’t get worst he hilariously gets worse.

[@willyice704]

Lalo deserved that number 2 spot to himself. Even Gus feared him

[@crucialthedon3997]

Lalo was not a better character or played better than Gus was. So no.

[@willyice704]

@@crucialthedon3997 Gus had BB. BCS was Lalo’s. Those last episodes he was a monster

[@sidarth632]

@@willyice704 Lalo 4 and gus 3 or the other way around they are very neck and neck to me and walter has to be atleast 2

[@willyice704]

@@sidarth632 this is from the last decade so Gus and Walter on breaking bad do not count

[@batman69696]

Tbh, Lalo is the most underrated villain of all time. It is because not many people could continue watching BCS because they thought the show was "slow". Stupid people don't understand that "slow" doesn’t mean "not good".

[@jonesdebrah181]

You know a villian is extremely good when you still like them for the role they play, Homelander is the goat

[@AJARyan-yn2uv]

Or when you watch behind the scenes footage and you’re still scared of him.

[@Lisainmaine]

David Tenant as Kilgrave was definitely in my top 5!

[@StedeBonnetsCravat]

Kilgrave is terrifying. Just the thought of a psychopath with the ability to make you do whatever they want. *shudder*

[@Lisainmaine]

Exactly! He was so sinister!

[@antrazitaj5209]

The show wasn't as good without him

[@georgeeastwood6930]

I honestly could imagine someone like Kilgrave existing in the real world, even without mind control. He actually wouldn’t feel out of place in “The Boys”.

[@Happyhaunt92]

Give Anthony Starr an Emmy!!

[@firelordprometheus6345]

Bev Keane from Midnight Mass definitely deserved an honorable mention. You know you're a good villain when you're more hated than the literal blood sucking vampire that's in the show. Also Lorne Malvo deserves an actual spot on the list and not an honorable mention.

[@adriennemeyer3408]

Seconded. Bev's the worst. Midnight Mass is such an amazing and underrated show. Mike Flanagan is the most exciting thing in horror since Jordan Peele.

[@priyanka_srivastava]

True

[@drinkmorecareless]

Antony Starr’s performance as Homelander is SO good. He really makes you hate/fear the character. Absolute 10/10

[@CalebJacobs762]

No redemption for him at all.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Giancarlo Esposito - Gus Fring Breaking Bad & Stan Edgar The Boys. He always plays the perfect Villians. He made Gus Fring so relatable.

[@ratedtriplex]

I became a fan of him for his portrayal of Neville on Revolution. I've watched a couple of movies I otherwise wouldn't have because he was in it.

[@boohankins2993]

He made Gus Fring relatable but still mysterious.

[@SGT_23]

His interactions with Homelander always were the best thing about stan edgar! He always showed Homelander who was boss even tho Homelander could easily kill him

[@shell150675]

And Moff Gideon in The Mandolorian.

[@kevingame3198]

What’s next grand regent thragg

[@SM-qd7po]

One of my favorite things about Antony Starr's portrayal of Homelander is the small facial details, he adds in an extra facial expression, or some weird noise, or whatever to whatever emotion he is feeling which makes it seem so authentic.

[@HFXmermaid]

Mads as Hannibal

[@SensationalBanana]

Nobody makes me feel as unsafe as Anthony Starr as Homelander. Every. Damned. Scene I am just wondering what he'll do next. He feels utterly unhinged and I am loving it! I was so surprised to see Anthony Starr in Covenant, Guy Ritchie's movie, as he was completely different and he looks SO GOOD with black hair and beard!! What a talent.

[@nigelbennington4565]

Oh you failed so hard on this one! David Tenant as Kilgrave in Jessica Jones doesn't even rate a mention?

[@nicomal]

That's such an underrated show.

[@CalebJacobs762]

There is absolutely no redemption for Homelander. None At All. And if you don't believe me go ask Elizabeth Shue's character and her son.

[@Caffeine_Club]

.... they tried with Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones. Damn his ending was terrible.

[@CalebJacobs762]

@@Caffeine_Club No redemption qualities either.

[@thomerno]

Madelyn stillwell was a monster herself, but her baby was just a baby..

[@CalebJacobs762]

@@thomerno that is not an excuse.

[@31webseries]

Pretty sure he saved the baby. Probably out of some twisted feelings for Mads. It was actually Butcher who was willing to kill the kid even though it wouldn’t have injured Homelander at all.

[@matthewthompson9471]

All great picks. Great video.

[@pacer2165]

Giancarlo Esposito is always a treat to watch.

[@flexivefowl8186]

Ramsay and Joffery's performances were perfect. They were supposed to be despised characters, and they pulled it off.

[@Duckmann62]

Homelander is both incredibly captivating & terrifying in equal measure. Antony Starr is brilliant.

[@paulwright1814]

This is one of the most pitch perfect lists on Watch Mojo. They nailed it.

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

Homelander just takes the cake. He absolutely steals the show, you hate to love him

[@G_O_J_O_S_A_T_O_R_U]

love to hate him *

[@leonigama5597]

awesome job about TV Villain Performances of the Last Decade from Top 10

[@wmassey683]

It’s Antony, not Anthony

[@itsrectimemedia]

They even got Matthew Waterson’s name wrong too!

[@WatchMojo]

Thanks for pointing out this typo, much appreciated.

[@jonah.donohue]

Sue them 🤓

[@Holdendave1]

Why wasn’t Mark Pellegrino listed for his portrayal of Lucifer in supernatural? Not only was he amazing as the devil but he was genuinely terrifying, funny and in some cases sympathetic.

[@teigannyman196]

I was also waiting for Teddy Sears as Zoom in The Flash (second season), but I also enjoyed Mark Pellegrino as James Bishop on the first season of the underrated U.S. adaptation of Being Human.

[@dietotaku]

probably because of the "in some cases sympathetic" part. would you call homelander sympathetic? or ramsay bolton?

[@31webseries]

@@dietotakuHomelander, yes. Ramsey, no.

[@davidlamar2806]

I felt he was too sympathetic. He let shit slide way to much instead of just killing people.

[@theSuperviLLain_est]

No way, Death in SN was better tho Lucifer was good too

[@KaponoMonster]

Dude that thumbnail is a perfect 😂

[@chibiprussia5574]

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is perfectly cast as Negan

[@Ronnie28067]

Pretty good list!

[@jacobdrolet4262]

Amazing video watch mojo,fantastic job.

[@mikemann3811]

They didn't even get #1's name right 😂😂

[@Umbra173]

i think Robin Lord Taylor as the Penguin deserves to be a honorable mention

[@kyleg1912]

Didn’t think of this but yes he’s incredibly underrated. His performance is the main reason I kept watching that show

[@foy5051]

Antony Starr as Homelander is chilling and unpredictable

[@Nio744]

That thumbnail is everything 😂

[@TheWaynos73]

Hugh Laurie as Richard Roeper in The Night Manager. That show is underrated AF. Hamish Linklater as Father Paul in Midnight Mass. Brilliant villain in an amazing show. Harry Treadaway as Brady Hartsfield in Mr. Mercedes - such a great show.

[@adriennemeyer3408]

Father Paul wasn't the true villian though. He's just proof of the old adage that the path to Hell is paved with good intentions.

[@WILLIE_BIG]

Can't have this list without Tom Cavanagh as the reverse flash/ Harrison wells

[@kyleg1912]

You most certainly can. He did well with what he got but what he got was some of the worst writing I’ve ever seen on tv

[@Handsome_Black]

Antony star people. Antony. There's no "H".

[@silgen]

It's Starr. There are two 'r's.

[@No_Thxs]

😂 ​@@silgen

[@rralphfrancisco]

Congrats Anthony Star for being Villainous Villain Star! HAHA

[@AJValentine0]

I would have had Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal on here. He had massive shoes to fill and did a great job

[@jackambrose2762]

“Last chance to look at me, Hector.” -Final words of Gustavo Fring

[@KingSlayer_.]

That is a very well earned no. 1

[@naveen_selvaraj]

Kingpin deserves a higher spot in this list.

[@MaxModded]

The Boys! Just these clips of Starr's Homelander make me wanna watch it all over again and again.

[@nicomal]

New season is pretty good imo, and there's a new episode tomorrow

[@Sandylee00214]

I would've hoped to see David Tennant from 'Jessica Jones' on this list. He was so chilling. Anthony Starr 100000 percent deserves his number one spot. And an Emmy.

[@DoomPotato]

Antony Starr is amazing as Homelander. Range of emotions that he is able to put in that performance sometimes in same scene is outstanding.

[@Afastarr32]

Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister. That man could be calm and subtle, yet incredibly powerful and intimidating.

[@nicomal]

That was such an awesome character, only second to Tyrion imo. And that was his only weakness, to disparage him. No one would've stopped them if they had worked together.

[@emmanuelpavowski3221]

Amazing list and Antony Starr is the best, but I would add Kevin Thompson as Kilgrave in Jessica Jones. Fantastic performance!

[@AwkardCommentz714]

Should have waited for this list. Billy Butcher should be on this.

[@rachelfishbein1478]

I wouldn't say Butcher is a villain. Anti-hero maybe, but not a villain.

[@steveclapper5424]

They all are pretty horrible.

[@KillOnS]

​@@rachelfishbein1478 He meana after this (4th) season ends, Butcher will be the villain.. That's why he said "should have waited"

[@user-fv2hb4mm7m]

Antony Starr is a perfect casting for Homelander

[@pepesilvia3573]

How are you gonna credit Christian Slater for Mr Robot when the REAL villain Whiterose (played masterfully by BD Wong) was RIGHT THERE!!!

[@bokc_beastiebeast]

The thumbnail 😂

[@TamirKhan-fo2zm]

Gen Z's- Vecna and Homelander Legends- Logan Roy and Gustavo Fring right at the top.

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Eden Espinosa as Cassandra 🔮 "Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure"

[@AJ-xc4qe]

I don’t love HOW they made her into a villain. But I’m not gonna deny how talented the voice actress was.

[@IkonikBeast]

John Creese, Homelander, Vecna, Ramsey Bolton has to be the most valid list I have ever seen.

[@noobgamer7_738]

If Giancarlo Esposito portrays his mystery villain In Captain America Brave New World with the same amount of energy he did Gus, then we will be in for a fun time

[@MovieTalker21]

Daniel Shermann's performance as Troy in FTWD season 3 was excellent

[@wanncrypt1046]

Homelander as Antony Starr is crazy good

[@moshu10]

Anthony's jaw muscles must also br nominated for all the awards.

[@asplundarna]

Lee Pace as Brother Day in Foundation needs a mention here as well.

[@frederickbradley8255]

Every time Homelander is on screen, he just makes you feel uncomfortable. That's a sign of a great villian.

[@timbocross]

Wendy Byrde? I feel by the end of Ozark, I saw her as a villian.

[@LSVM1]

OMG 😅it's a great surprise

[@rebeccamcdermott9259]

Homelander is the greatest TV villain of all-time for me. Will be sad when the show ends next season.

[@Srinivasakiran]

No professor moriarty from BBC Sherlock?

[@aiden417]

What about Keith David as King Andrias from Amphibia, Ron Perlman as The Lich from Adventure Time, Robert Englund as Anti-Pops from Regular Show, David Tennant as the Lord Commander from Final Space, and Matthew Rhys as Emperor Belos from The Owl House?

[@kyleg1912]

Would have gone with the purple man for David Tennant

[@tommyhenson4193]

Correct me if I'm wrong isnt Robert Englund the voice of vecna or is the voice just inspired by freddy

[@kahael08]

well deserved homelander, but kilgrave was better than some on the list

[@user-ui8sp5th4g]

I compare Anthony Stars performance as homelander to heath ledgers joker. Both are so great on screen and you can’t but continue to watch them wondering what crazy scene will come next. Definitely two actors that embodied their role of playing the bad guy better than any hero in the film. You want to hate them but you can’t stop watching them. The films wouldn’t be the same without their performance. Give Anthony his recognition and awards already Hollywood, he sure earned them.

[@gauravkhanna2622]

I would have unsubscribed if Homelander wasn't number 1. This dude sends shivers down my spine and not in a good way. Excellent choice!

[@fancyhermit7]

Nobody can replace Anthony Starr as Homelander

[@psow4062]

Well deserved #1 - Antony Starr is amazing. Since animated shows were included, it's a shame there was no Silco from Arcane - I think it's a big overshight.

[@stringedaz]

Anthony Starr does such a great job at playing a psycopathic supe. He is up there with Heath Ledger's Joker.

[@sleekowen]

"the only man in the sky is me" Somebody get this man an Oscar

[@yxngcc]

Honerabke mention to holly Taylor as Angelina Meyer on manifest

[@britishname6531]

I think homelander is in top 3 in tv and movies combined, just after vader and the heath ledger's joker

[@Goldlung1]

Honestly homelander is the main reason why i watch the show, not that the show is bad, far from it, even though season 4 is kind of a let down so far, but each scene homelander is in are tense and so fucking interesting to watch, he is fucking horrible but at the same time the more we see of his story the more i understand how he must feel

[@nicomal]

Season 4 is great. I'm enjoying it a lot.

[@eduardovazquez7817]

Shame there isnt a mention of Mads Mikelsen as Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal.

[@Bioanime]

Cameron Monaghan as Jerome Veleska, on Gotham.

[@colleengaw3338]

Spelling #1’s name wrong is so funny, I think if you polled 100 Boys fans at least 70% would say Anthony lol

[@goodfella1401]

You never know what Homelander will do because of Anthony Starr's amazing performance

[@DJ_Alleycat]

So glad that Tony Dalton at least got an honorable mention as Lalo. One of the greatest TV villains of all time.

[@willyice704]

He should’ve had that 2 spot to himself. He had a Homelander type creepiness to him. Gus even feared him.

[@DJ_Alleycat]

@willyice704 agreed, and it was the only time we truly saw Gus fear anything and anyone. Also, Lalo surviving the ambush on his estate was terrifying.

[@daudimasinde6280]

Ziegler, Ziegler, Ziiiiiiiiiiiegler.

[@Macintosh1001]

Silco from Arcane

[@jackambrose2762]

“You’re perfect”

[@Bman32x]

Just watched to confirm Omni Man & Homelander are on the list. Was not disappointed. (Multiverse) Sinister Mark Grayson should be an honorable mention.

[@jherrenor]

This would've been better as a Top Ten Comic Book Villains of the last Decade so that you can include other series in a different list.

[@AM-mo6dw]

so many incredible villains from the hannibal series. Im surprised none were mentioned 🤔

[@RADIALPUDDLE]

holy shit even watch mojo got Antony's name wrong! xD

[@cptsponko32]

@@RADIALPUDDLE your spelling police antics needs ocd meds.

[@moragag9307]

14:08 The GOAT 🐐🔥

[@randomassmomentsingames]

I think we all knew Antony Starr as Homelander was going to be number 1, but I'm shocked to see Jack Black as Bowser not included in this list at all (not even in the honorable mentions like wow)

[@omarfigueroa188]

Ramsey Bolton And Anthony Starr are those villains that you can’t wait for them to receive what’s coming to them.

[@fullhousefrek]

Robert Carlyle as rumplestiltskin

[@dannyyboy4913]

Anthony Starr was absolutely born to play Homelander

[@crexlagbaja1125]

I'm very sure this dudes made an entire video of this topic just to feature homelander in it

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! Homelander is the most evil and vile character I have ever seen.

[@cruzanassassin]

If homelander isn't top 3, I'm deleting... I only left him off #1 because of GOT Edit: pleasantly surprised he is #1... So they're more cultured than I thought

[@stormshadowproductions1660]

What no Penguin from Gotham?

[@Ricvictors]

Alex Hirsch as Bill Cipher in Gravity Falls. The role was supposed to be a guest appearance by David Lynch, but he couldn’t make it and Alex, the show’s creator, stepped up to fill in for him and ended up making the character the show’s main antagonist.

[@nfsking27]

Everytime Homelander is on screen......instant stress

[@tinapavlik]

#1 is correct. Antony Starr is brilliant!

[@ginsenketsu]

I'm surprised that Jason Spisak as Silco wasn't on the list or mentioned