Disney has brought countless stories to life, captivating audiences with timeless heroes and memorable adventures. However, behind every great story is a compelling villain, whose schemes and misdeeds create the tension that drives the narrative forward. They’re one of the four pillars of a successful Disney film. Every Disney fan will agree that the most important elements of a Disney film are the quality of the songs, the believability of the romance, the cuteness of the obligatory character designed to sell toys, and the effectiveness of their villain. From wicked queens and scheming sorcerers to cunning animals and ruthless conquerors, Disney villains are as varied as they are iconic. Their unforgettable personalities, unique motivations, and sinister actions have cemented their places in our hearts and minds. Here’s a look at some of the greatest Disney villains, whose dark deeds and unforgettable personas have left an indelible mark on the world of animation and live-action.
These are the 100 Greatest Disney Villains of All Time.
30. Judge Claude Frollo (Tony Jay) | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
There may be no other villains in the Disney pantheon as frighteningly real as Claude Frollo. Frollo is arguably the most mature villain in Disney history—I’m not sure how many kids were picking up that Frollo is rounding up and killing gypsies due to his own insatiable lust for Esmerelda, despite the iconic “Hellfire” laying that out exactly. Disney took a bold step showing Frollo’s use of religion as a bludgeon to persecute the poor and downtrodden, but it hopefully imparts to kids that some of the worst monsters can be cloaked in respectability. He is the perfect foil for Quasimodo, the good man who looks like a monster.
–Jacob Holmes
29. Captain Hook (Hans Conried) | Peter Pan (1953)
Hungry for revenge after his hand was fed to a crocodile, the no-good captain of the Jolly Roger has completely abandoned his life of piracy for a new goal: kill Peter Pan. Singularly obsessed with Pan (and to a lesser extent the Lost Boys), Captain Hook won’t stop until the boy who never grew up is at the bottom of Davy Jones’ locker. Among the most popular of all the Disney villains, Hook has appeared in numerous video games, park attractions, cartoons, and movies. He’s so beloved that creators cannot stop exploring his origins in things like Jake and the Neverland Pirates and The Pirate Fairy (fun fact: Tom Hiddleston voices him in that) and the live-action show Once Upon a Time, in which he was a primary villain. If it’s a Disney property that mixes in different characters, you can rest assured that he’ll make an appearance.
–Sailor Monsoon
28. The Horned King (John Hurt) | The Black Cauldron (1985)
Arguably the least active villain in cinema history, the Horned King does almost nothing throughout the entire film. He raises some skeletons and has a little monologue. That’s it. I don’t even think he physically moves but he isn’t on this list because of his goal or motivations. Nobody remembers him because of what he does but because of what he looks like. He is the very definition of kinder trauma. One look at him and you were most likely scarred for life. He is unquestionably the best thing about the film and odds are, the only thing you remember about the film.
–Sailor Monsoon
27. Kronk (Patrick Warburton) | The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Emperor’s New Groove is the most un-Disney movie Disney ever made, which is probably why audiences were lukewarm on it, why critics dismissed it, why Disney itself pretends it doesn’t exist, and why I love it dearly. It strays so far from their usual formula, that I’m shocked they even released it at all. There are no pretty princesses, no adorable toy characters, no songs, and the lead is a jerkass. And on top of all of that, it’s comprised of nothing but jokes. If the film’s humor clicks with you, there’s a strong chance that you’ll consider it the funniest film Disney ever made and the majority of those laughs belong to Kronk. Dumber than a box of hammers, Kronk is the loyal henchman of Yzma who constantly bungles every plan she makes. Hilariously incompetent, he can barely function without a detailed list of instructions. Kronk may be one of the few Disney villains that people love more than fear.
–Sailor Monsoon
26. The Toon Patrol (David Lander, Charles Fleischer, Fred Newman, and June Foray) | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Known as the Toon Patrol, these five weasels serve as Judge Doom’s henchmen, but also as a kind of corrupt police force in Toon Town. They drive a car that makes me think of the Keystone Cops. (And their behavior reminds me of those silent films as well.) Smarty, the leader of the bunch, tends to engage in malapropisms (such as “Leave no stone in turn.”) and, as the smartest of the group, knows enough to not let laughter get the better of him. Sadly (for the Weasels, anyway), the rest of the crew can’t seem to handle their humor, and Eddie is able to get them to laugh themselves to death. Except for Smarty, who gets kicked in the nose. Er… that is, something that rhymes with walls.
–Bob Cram
25. Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) | Robin Hood (1973)
The reason the Robin Hood mythos has survived for hundreds of years is partly due to the title character’s code of honor and cool sidekicks but mostly because he has a rogues gallery to rival the best comic book superhero. Guy of Gisbourne is a top-shelf prick of the highest order and Prince John is usually depicted as either a supreme pussy or a conniving snake but neither touch the absolute treachery of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
While Alan Rickman owns the role for all time (it’s one of the most gloriously over-the-top performances in history), I’ve always hated the animated version just a little bit more. Watching him shake down children for their last cent is bad enough but the fact that those children are also the most adorably cute animals you’ve ever seen is just downright diabolical.
–Sailor Monsoon
24. Vermithrax Pejorative | Dragonslayer (1981)
Vermithrax Pejorative remains my favorite cinematic dragon. In fact, having played D&D for decades, the dragon is my platonic ideal of ALL dragons. An ancient and angry wyrm that terrorizes the kingdom of Urland, and serves as the main threat in the film. The fire-breathing monster was brought to life by ILM, Chris Walas, Ken Ralston, and Phil Tippet, and Tippet’s “go motion” process makes the dragon look more lifelike than standard stop-motion animation. It was the first time I could really believe in a dragon living in caves and flying around the country, setting things on fire. I also couldn’t see how anyone or anything could stand against it, that’s how awesome and terrifying it was. While human villains were also part of the story, whenever I think of Dragonslayer it’s Vermithrax and their fiery breath that I think of first.
–Bob Cram
23. Lady Tremaine (Eleanor Audley), Drizella (Rhoda Williams), and Anastasia (Lucille Bliss) | Cinderella (1950)
As with many of my favorite Disney villains, there is nothing overly special about Lady Tremaine and her daughters. They’re not gods or witches. They’re just very greedy, very cruel people. While Drizella and Anastasia are not the brightest bulbs, they are aware of their stature and position and will do anything to try and win the hand of the Prince to further their fortune and power. And it’s Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s evil stepmother, who is the one to pull the strings. She’s heartless and cruel to Cinderella, treating her as a slave after the death of Cinderella’s father.
When she discovers it is Cinderella, who the Prince is searching for, she locks Cinderella in the tower to ensure she cannot try on the glass slipper and win the heart of the Prince. As a little girl, this particular scene always gave me great anxiety! Lady Tremaine is generally the one I picture whenever someone mentions an evil stepmother. I never really thought Drizella and Anastasia were evil, not to the extent of their mother, but they were selfish and quite dumb – it made sense why Lady Tremaine had to be the one to manipulate things in order to give them half a chance at the Prince. She might have succeeded if not for those dang, talking mice.
–Romona Comet
22. The Sanderson Sisters (Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker) | Hocus Pocus (1993)
After being accidentally revived by Max Dennison, a trio of witch sisters pick up where they left off 300 years previously by attempting to become immortal by sucking the life force of children using their life potion. Although obviously inspired by the Three Stooges, Winifred, Sarah, and Mary (Midler, Parker, and Najimy) are among the darker characters found in a Disney film due to their penchant for consuming the souls of virgins. But since they’re so overtly comedic, the implications of their goal. And that’s a true testament to the skills of the actresses, they’re so much fun to watch that you forget how awful they are.
–Sailor Monsoon
21. Long John Silver (Robert Newton) | Treasure Island (1950)
The only major omission that still stings from my greatest Oscar-nominated performances list was Robert Newton in Treasure Island. Before Depp completely rewrote what a pirate looks and sounds like, Newton was there laying the groundwork. Robert Louis Stevenson literally created the image we have of pirates. The oft-quoted “arrrgh” was him, peg legs, hooks, and eye patches were his, and making scallywags walk the plank was also him. It all goes back to Stevenson but those are just words on a page, in order for them to really latch on with people, it needed to be realized on the big screen. Once moviegoers saw Newton with all his pirate swagger, it stuck for all time. He made an indelible impact on the history of pop culture while also giving one of the most sympathetic villain turns ever. He was so immediately beloved, that they made a sequel with him four years later. There have been many iterations of the character over the years but this is still the gold standard.
–Sailor Monsoon
40-31 | 20-11
What do you think of the selection so far? Who are some of your favorite Disney villains from over the years? Maybe they will show up further on the list!