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.
40. Queen of Hearts (Verna Felton) | Alice in Wonderland (1951)
I adore Alice in Wonderland, and a huge part of that adoration is thanks to the Queen of Hearts. She is ruthless, has a violent temper, and has no patience for stupidity. Her answer to every problem? Chop off its head! While the Queen does not appear until the movie’s end, she is still felt throughout Alice’s journey in Wonderland, thanks to the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, and some of the other minor characters. And yet, when she does appear, it’s in the final act. Wonderland is perhaps the film’s true antagonist, but the Queen of Hearts makes the biggest impact, dead set on chopping off Alice’s head. After a game of croquet is agreed upon to determine Alice’s fate, it’s clear the Queen has rigged the game in her favor. Of course she has. Alice has no chance, and the Queen has made sure of it. I will never forget the first time I saw the Queen unleash her wrath, her hair sticking on end and her entire face red as a rose. She’s such an iconic villain and in my opinion, one of the most underrated.
–Romona Comet
39. Lotso (Ned Beatty) | Toy Story 3 (2010)
Honestly, Pixar didn’t miss with the Toy Story villains. Aside from Sid, who is human, each sequel features a toy villain who has dealt with abandonment for too long. Pixar has never been afraid of making audiences care for these toys. (C’mon, we all shed a tear when Jessie was abandoned in Toy Story 2 and when Andy said goodbye to his toys in Toy Story 3.) Deep down, they all just want to be loved and played with by their kid. When Lotso is forgotten by his child, and swiftly replaced with a duplicate (Parenting 101: always have a backup of your kid’s favorite toy in the event they lose it), he becomes embittered. He eventually makes his way to Sunnyside Daycare, turning the place into a prison and establishing himself as its warden, hiding his true nature behind a cheerful demeanor. Personally, he deserved to be incinerated at the end of the movie, but I guess I’m fine with him being strapped to the front of a garbage truck and trying not to get his mouth full of bugs.
–Marmaduke Karlston
38. Magica De Spell (June Foray) | DuckTales (1987–90)
The third and final major DuckTales villain to grace this list. Magica De Spell, like Flintheart Glomgold and the Beagle Boys, is after Scrooge McDuck’s wealth. But more specifically, she is after his Number One Dime (the first coin Scrooge ever earned), which she believes will help her achieve wealth similar to that of its owner. While the 2017 reboot of DuckTales heavily reimagined Scrooge’s main antagonists, including Magica who sports green feathers instead of the traditional white, to give them a reason to hate Scrooge beyond “he’s rich,” it’s hard not to favor the original versions of these characters. There is just something wholesome about villains being villains for no reason other than because they want to be villains. Magica De Spell is basically an evil duck Morgan le Fay and that’s enough for me. (Although I do like the idea from the 2017 reboot that Scrooge is responsible for getting her to accidentally turn her brother into a raven.)
–Marmaduke Karlston
37. Bowler Hat Guy (Stephen Anderson) | Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Written specifically for Jim Carrey, the Bowler Hat Guy has the same physical and vocal mannerisms as the actor and while it would’ve been great to hear him finally voice a Disney character, I think Anderson does a fantastic job of invoking Carrey’s manic persona. Armed with an evil sentient hat, a T.rex henchman, and an army of mind-controlled frogs, Michael “Goob” Yagoobian goes back in time to get revenge on the boy he feels is responsible for his lot in life. Taking inspiration from old-timey vaudeville villains and cartoon characters such as Snidely Whiplash, the Bowler Hat Guy is one of the most visually distinct and eye-catching villains in Disney’s filmography. He’s also one of the funniest, on account of him being an absolute buffoon. Despicable Me‘s Gru owes everything to him.
–Sailor Monsoon
36. Oogie Boogie (Ken Page) | The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
A sentient burlap sack filled with insects with a penchant for gambling, Oogie Boogie is probably the weirdest depiction of the Boogeyman in the history of cinema. His motivations are never made clear nor is it ever explained how he came into possession of his three not-so-loyal henchmen Lock, Shock, and Barrel but my guess is that during the rest of the 364 days, Halloween Town is just a town. Complete with a Mayor, a doctor, and a casino. I don’t think Oogie Boogie created that death trap casino for his own amusement, I think it’s the town’s actual casino. This makes me wonder if all the other holidays have casinos as well and what they look like.
–Sailor Monsoon
35. Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi) | Monsters, Inc. (2001)
It’s awesome that Randall Boggs introduction as a villain is really no more than a jerk coworker jealous of James P. “Sulley” Sullivan’s likely path to breaking the scare record. Of course, it is later revealed that Boggs is also involved in some unspeakably horrific acts against children. Really, he works as a villain in three ways as he is also Boo’s personal monster. His camouflaging ability works terrifically as a sensible monster power and as a plot device to make him a sinister villain who could be in any scene unannounced. By the way, I’m specifically supporting the Randall Boggs from Monster’s Inc. who is beady-eyed because he is shifty, not the Monster’s University Randall Boggs who is beady-eyed because he ditched his glasses to look cool. Lame.
–Jacob Holmes
34. Mad Madam Mim (Martha Wentworth) | The Sword in the Stone (1963)
One of my favorite – and grossly underrated – Disney villains, Madam Mim is the witch with a voice as distinctive as her personality, brought to life by Martha Wentworth – who can be heard in many of Disney’s Golden Age animated classics. While her actions might not always be praiseworthy, there’s no denying the charm in her rants and unapologetic love for all things evil.
She’s not your typical Disney villain. Name another whose first shot is of them playing a simple game of solitaire, or whose frank delivery of “I’m afraid I’m going to have to destroy you” catches you off guard. There’s no grand plan for world domination or thirst for power in Mim. Instead, she revels in chaos for chaos’ sake. Her shape-shifting showdown with Merlin is also a highlight of the film that expertly showcases her mischievous nature.
But beneath her wild antics lies a sharp wit and cunning mind. Madam Mim might be delightfully daft, but she’s not to be underestimated – after all, it takes a certain kind of genius to outsmart Merlin, even if for a moment. In a world filled with fairy godmothers and benevolent sorcerers, Madam Mim stands out as the gleeful antithesis of these. She’s not here to grant wishes or spread joy, she’s here to cause a little mayhem and have a lot of fun doing it. These villainous antics secure her spot on this list by adding a touch of whimsy and mischief to the lineup of iconic villains.
–Thomas Riest
33. Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire) | Phineas and Ferb (2007–15)
The only villain on this list who routinely gets his ass handed to him by… a platypus? *puts on a fedora* PERRY THE PLATYPUS! Voiced by one of the show’s creators, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz has one goal: to conquer the entire Tri-State Area. He attempts to achieve this through the use of a different self-made weapon that usually has “-inator” tacked on at the end of its name. It’s hard not to occasionally root for Doofenschmirtz because he’s not really a villain. Yes, he wants to take over the Tri-State Area, but the man has constantly shown that there’s a lot of good in him. (I’m sure he’s won Father of the Year multiple times.) I’m not going to spoil Phineas & Ferb, but he does go through quite an impressive character arc that doesn’t culminate in “a Disney villain death.” Even if Doofenschmirtz was a terribly boring and one-note villain (which he’s not), I think he’d still make this list (although probably lower) solely because, and I repeat, he routinely gets his ass beat by a platypus (who is named Perry).
–Marmaduke Karlston
32. Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) | Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
The founder and ringmaster of Dark’s Pandemonium Carnival. The leader of the Autumn People. The Illustrated Man. Mr. Dark holds many titles and many names but has only one goal: to tempt as many living souls into joining his carnival as possible. When two young boys discover his diabolical plot, he shifts his attention to them and makes it his mission to get their souls by any means necessary. The film is a bit of a mess but Pryce shines as the insidious ringleader. While the character is not the Devil and is most likely not a demon, in Pryce’s hands, he might as well be. He plays him like a wish-granting trickster who will offer you anything in the world but for a price. Creepy, unrelenting, and unpredictable, Mr. Dark is the stuff nightmares are made of.
–Sailor Monsoon
31. Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
The supernatural ruler of the Seven Seas, Davy Jones Is the condemned captain of the Flying Dutchman. Atypical for a male villain, Jones’ character arc and motivations stem from heartbreak and revenge. He was given the Flying Dutchman as well as the sacred task of ferrying souls who died at sea to the worlds beyond by his lover, the sea goddess Calypso. But after she forsakes him to a lifetime of servitude, he turns fierce and cruel. A grim reaper who offers unlucky sailors the chance to live forever but at a terrible cost. With the Kraken at his command and a crew of undead pirates, Davy Jones sails the seas ever looking for more unfortunate souls to add to his ship.
–Sailor Monsoon
50-41 | 30-21
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!