10 Darkest Disney Villains Of All Time, Ranked

April 17, 2024, 2:15 p.m.

Movies

10 Darkest Disney Villains Of All Time, Ranked

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Summary Darkest Disney villains are multidimensional characters, with fearsome presence and disturbing motivations that make their actions truly sinister.

Syndrome's tragic tale reveals the potential for good turned evil by revenge and bitterness, showcasing the dark side of human nature.

From Maleficent's entitled nature to Cruella's wretched ambition, the everyday villains stand out for their sinister realism and lack of supernatural elements.

There have been so many incredible dark and sinister Disney villains over the years who have left their mark on children’s entertainment. While Walt Disney Pictures often told the stories of heroic protagonists, they were also just as known for creating deeply complex and interesting villains with incredibly detailed and dark backstories that influenced their menacing motivations. From supernatural supervillains to horrifically real human characters, the darkest of Disney villains took many forms as they plotted their evil and deceitful ways.

The darkest Disney villains all had one thing in common, and that’s that they were deeply interesting characters who were far more than one-dimensional antagonists who were evil for the sake of being evil. The best Disney villains had motivations that could be understood by the audience as this made the actions that they carried out far more disturbing. Many varied aspects made up the darkest Disney villains, but one thing united them all and that was their fearsome presence.

10 Syndrome

The Incredibles (2004)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Pixar's The Incredibles tells the story of a super-family forced to conceal their powers. Years after superheroes were outlawed, the superpowered Parr family live a normal life. However, after his secret vigilante work uncovers a conspiracy that points to the rise of a new supervillain, Mr. Incredible must rely on the help of his wife Elastigirl and their children, Violet and Dash, to save the world from the evil Syndrome. Director Brad Bird Release Date November 5, 2004 Cast Sarah Vowell , Samuel L. Jackson , Craig T. Nelson , Spencer Fox , Holly Hunter , Jason Lee Runtime 115 minutes

As a former super fan of Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles, the kid previously known as Buddy Pine and IncrediBoy, later grew into a hate-fueled villain with a distain for superheroes called Syndrome. While other Disney villains may have darker backstories, the disappointing use of Syndrome’s incredible potential was a tragic tale. As a highly intelligent boy genius who grew up to invent incredible weapons, high-tech vehicles, and an array of marvelous technological wonders, Syndrome easily could have used powers for good instead of evil, but he let revenge and pettiness get in the way of his better nature.

Initially, Buddy wanted to be Mr. Incredible's sidekick, and for this reason forged a new identity as IncrediBoy, before Mr. Incredible denied his offer and cast him aside. After 15 years, Buddy still had a heart that raged with fury at the thought of Mr. Incredible’s dismissal of him and he reinvented himself as a supervillain to take out Mr. Incredible, his family, and all the other superheroes of the world. As a character whose primary motivation came from anger and bitterness, Syndrome’s story was quite dark.

9 Sid Philips

Toy Story (1995)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Pixar's first feature film release sees Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll, confronted by the nightmare of being replaced as his owner Andy's favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Stricken by anxiety, Woody hatches a plan to remain the favorite, kicking off a race against time for the toys to be reunited with their owner before his house move makes them permanently Lost Toys. Director John Lasseter Release Date November 22, 1995 Cast Tom Hanks , Don Rickles , Annie Potts , Tim Allen , Jim Varney Runtime 81 minutes

In a world where toys were sentient beings with the full emotional range of real humans, the aggressive and disturbed 11-year-old boy next door became something far more sinister than it at first appeared. Sid Philips was a major antagonist in Toy Story who took extreme pleasure out doing horrid things to toys, such as exploding, burning, and dismembering them as he pretended to be a mad doctor. In the real world, Sid’s actions could be viewed as quite creative, but in Toy Story they were the qualities of a true maniac.

The toys feared Sid and the consequences of his actions were frighteningly dark for those who met him. Sid was not a true Disney villain, as, in Toy Story, he was unaware that the toys could think, feel, and fear his treatment of them. Sid even changed his darkly horrific ways after the toys, for a brief moment, revealed themselves to him, making him potentially the only human who learned that toys were alive.

8 Hades

Hercules (1997)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director John Musker , Ron Clements Release Date June 13, 1997 Cast Tate Donovan , Danny DeVito , James Woods , Susan Egan , Josh Keaton , Rip Torn , Samantha Eggar Runtime 93 Minutes

In terms of dark Disney backstories, it’s hard to come up with anything more sinister than the literal god of the Underworld Hades in Hercules. As the fast-talking, underappreciated brother of Zeus, Hades felt like he had been given a bad lot in life and, for this reason, plotted a scheme to take over Mount Olympus and the cosmos to grant himself the title of King of the Deities. Although incredibly powerful in his own right, Hades could never live up to his brother and truly despised his job and the gloomy and depressing nature of the Underworld.

An immortal god who cursed his own existence was about as dark a backstory as could be expected from a Disney movie.

As the ruler of the hellish plain seen in Hercules and Greek mythology, everything that surrounded Hades was bleak, brutal, and often boring. An immortal god who cursed his own existence was about as dark a backstory as could be expected from a Disney movie, and Hades depressed nature and sinister scheming meant he cursed each day of his never-ending life. Hades' story became even more abysmal when his plan to take over Mount Olympus was foiled by a half-human demi-god of all people.

7 Scar

The Lion King (1994)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Rob Minkoff , Roger Allers Release Date June 24, 1994 Cast James Earl Jones Matthew Broderick , Jeremy Irons Runtime 88 Minutes

Stories of banishment, bitterness, and betrayal were even more effective when they were tied up with family resentments, like in the story of Scar in The Lion King. As the unfortunate brother of Mufasa, the King of the Jungle, Scar was always forced to play second fiddle and lived a life seething with jealousy, resentment, and a sense of entitlement. The long-festering hate in Scar’s heart led him to plot his revenge, murder his brother, and take over the crown.

This willingness to kill his sibling and betray the natural order of the jungle was a deeply dark backstory for Scar as his entire life was portrayed as one spent in depressed rage. Things did not get much better for Scar after he usurped the throne and he proved that he was a lackluster leader as the jungle became drought-ridden under his reign. With a major inferiority complex, Scar’s story of betrayal and the disintegration of family connections was a truly dark one for a Disney villain.

6 Ursula the Sea Witch

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Walt Disney animated film written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It stars the voices of Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Christopher Daniel Barnes, with music from Alan Menken. The plot follows a young mermaid named Ariel that wishes to abandon her life underwater and join the humans on land. Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 17, 1989 Cast Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Rene Auberjonois , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll , Jason Marin Runtime 63 Minutes

The villainous sea witch Ursula in The Little Mermaid was a truly malevolent creature who portrayed herself as a maker of dreams only to then strike unfortunate deals that created misery among merfolk. Having been banished and exiled by the orders of King Triton, Ursula had extra motivation to ruin the life of Triton’s daughter Ariel in The Little Mermaid when she stripped her of her voice and made her appear as a human. With a darkly menacing presence and octopus-like tentacles, Ursula could strike fear into those she encountered through appearance alone.

With no limit to how low she would stoop to achieve her goals, Ursula was a truly sinister villain who relied on deception and sorcery to get what she needed. Ursula fed off the misfortune of others and this personality trait was made even darker as she often presented herself as the resolution to all the merfolk's problems. However, rather than make good on her bargains, she ensured that they failed and then stripped them of their souls, showing no remorse or regret for the pain she had caused.

5 Man

Bambi (1942)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Bambi is one of Disney's most iconic animated films that debuted in 1942. The movie follows a young deer named Bambi who grows up in a forest with his friend Thumper after his mother is killed. The film was directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, and David Hand and was nominated for three Oscars. Director James Algar , Samuel Armstrong , David Hand Release Date August 14, 1942 Cast Hardie Albright , Stan Alexander , Bobette Audrey , Peter Behn , Thelma Boardman , Janet Chapman

Although he was entirely unseen in Bambi, the hunter, who has come to be known simply as Man, was the instigator of one of the most devastatingly sad events that ever occurred in a Disney movie. This hunter was the killer of Bambi’s mother who, although he may not be considered truly evil by human standards, within the movie was the most dark, devastating, and depressing presence in Bambi. Although a silent character in Bambi, the heart-wrenching consequences of Man’s actions were truly deafening.

The presentation of Man in Bambi felt even darker due to the depressing reality that it represented.

A sneaky, cruel, and destructive presence, Man in Bambi appeared to have no regard for the sanctity of animal welfare as he hunted Bambi’s mother for sport and left the young white-tailed deer without their caring and loving mom. The presentation of Man in Bambi felt even darker due to the depressing reality that it represented, as real hunters often shoot and kill deer that leave their offspring without a parent. A shocking, albeit realistic, depiction of life in nature, the Man in Bambi was one of the darkest and most devesting of all Disney villains.

4 Maleficent

Sleeping Beauty (1957)

sleeping beauty In Disney's take on the classic fairy tale, Princess Aurora has been cursed by the evil Maleficent to prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep on her sixteenth birthday. Despite the efforts of the three fairies who raised her, the curse is soon upon Aurora, but hope lies with the handsome Prince Phillip. Director Clyde Geronimi , Wolfgang Reitherman Release Date January 29, 1959 Cast Mary Costa , Bill Shirley , Eleanor Audley , Verna Felton , Barbara Jo Allen , Barbara Luddy , Bill Thompson Runtime 75minutes

The darkly elegant fairy Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty was an ominous character whose disdainful nature drove the misfortune seen in the kingdom of King Stefan. As the ‘Mistress of All Evil’, Maleficent was driven by anger and, after taking offense for not being invited to the christening party of Princess Aurora, she decided to jinx the innocent child with a deathly curse. With a sinister plan to have Aurora “prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die” before the sun on her sixteenth birthday, Maleficent had no issue planning the long game for her evil ways.

A truly wicked fairy, Maleficent was dark and devious with a highly entitled disposition that led her to refer to her closest allies as “pets” in a way that made it seem she felt she was above everybody. With the power to shapeshift and cast dark and powerful spells, Maleficent was one of the most powerful Disney villains who used her skills with reckless abandon and for selfish means. While Maleficent was the antagonist of Sleeping Beauty, her story was retold from her perspective in the live-action film Maleficent and its sequel, which starred Angelina Jolie.

3 Cruella de Vil

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Wolfgang Reitherman , Hamilton Luske , Clyde Geronimi Release Date January 25, 1961 Cast Rod Taylor , J. Pat O'Malley , Betty Lou Gerson , Martha Wentworth

While most stories of dark Disney villains involved supernatural entities who were determined to carry out their evil nature, Curella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians became far more sinister due to the fact she was just an everyday person. As a fashion-obsessed socialite, Cruella’s goal was to skin dozens of Dalmatian puppies to create a spotted fur coat for herself. True to her name, Cruella had plenty of wretched quotes and had no issues with being the source of such a murderous, hateful, and frighteningly immoral act as this.

Portrayed with half-black and half-white hair, her signature mink coat, and consistently smoking, Cruella’s skeleton-like figure and gaunt demeanor made her appear even more sinister as she plotted her evil ways. With a flamboyant and narcissistic personality, Cruella adored attention and showed no sympathy or caring for the well-being of others. Curella was portrayed just as horrifically in subsequent live-action adaptations of her story and has been played by Glenn Close and Emma Stone.

2 Judge Claude Frollo

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Disney's take on the original novel written in 1831, The Huntchback of Notre Dame is an animated musical drama that sees a kind-hearted, deformed young man named Quasimodo who yearns to see the outside world is forced to live alone in the Notre Dame Cathedral as a bell ringer. When a group of traveling performers arrives in town, Quasimodo takes his chance to head out to see them, and his life is changed forever by a chance encounter with the equally kind-hearted Esmerelda. However, his caretaker, the cruel and iron-fisted Frollo, intends to hunt the Romani people down, jeopardizing the travelers' lives. Director Gary Trousdale Release Date June 21, 1996 Cast Tony Jay , Tom Hulce , Jason Alexander Runtime 91minutes

The central theme of The Hunchback of Notre Dame related to whether what made a man a monster was their appearance or the way they acted and treated others. This was juxtaposed through the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo and the darkly sinister and villainous religious minister Judge Claude Frollo. Frollo was truly one of the darkest Disney villains as he used his power to manipulate others, cast Quasimodo aside, and even kill Quasimodo’s mother. With no redeeming qualities, Frollo was even more despicable as he carried out his evil ways in the name of God.

Frollo was ruthless, self-righteous, self-centred, and narcissistic, as he lived a hypocritical life where he put others down just to prop himself up. A complex and dark Disney villain, Frollo was driven by intolerance and showcased massive misanthropy towards society in general. Frollo’s dark nature was made even more contemptible as he believed himself to be a good person and was so overwhelmed by his superiority complex that he did not even see how twisted and loathsome he became.

1 Mother Gothel

Tangled

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buy Not available Not available Not available An adaptation of the fairytale of Rapunzel, Disney's Tangled follows the long-haired princess as she journeys to discover her real identity. Kidnapped as a child by the evil Mother Gothel in order to exploit the healing properties of her magical hair, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has lived her whole life isolated in a tower. A chance encounter with a smooth-talking fugitive called Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) sees Rapunzel venture out into the dangerous world to find the kingdom of Corona and unlock the secrets of her past. Director Byron Howard , Nathan Greno Release Date November 24, 2010 Cast Donna Murphy , Ron Perlman , Mandy Moore , Brad Garrett , Jeffrey Tambor , Zachary Levi Runtime 100 minutes

The main villain of Disney’s Tangled, Mother Gothel stood as the very darkest of all Disney antagonists primarily because her goals and ambitions felt real and believable in a way many other villains have not. As a vain and deceitful woman, Gothel hoarded a magical flower to remain young and beautiful forever, and, to continue utilizing its magic, was forced to kidnap the young Rapunzel and hold her captive in a tower for years on end. Gothel’s dark nature was even more effective as, rather than through outrightly evil acts, she maintained her hold over Rapunzel through guilt, shame, and gaslighting.

As an effective characterization of an overbearing parent, Mother Gothel in Tangled was a complex villainess who added nuance and depth to the long and acclaimed catalog of Disney antagonists. Gothel was greedy, selfish, and passive-aggressive, as she was seen consistently lying to Rapunzel and undermining her intelligence and potential. Gothel stood as the darkest of all Disney villains because her actions mimicked that of so many parents who held their children back, made them feel less than, or laughed in the face of their ambitions.