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.
50. Tony Perkis Jr. (Ben Stiller) | Heavyweights (1995)
A fitness-obsessed and highly eccentric camp counselor who takes over Camp Hope summer camp for overweight boys when the lil chubby losers refuse to lose weight, Tony Perkis is the perfect foil for a kid’s film. His extreme methods and harsh training regimens turn what is supposed to be a fun and supportive environment into a militaristic and stressful ordeal. Tony Perkis’ character is memorable for his over-the-top personality, intense fitness routines, and the eventual rebellion he incites among the campers and staff. The role is one of Ben Stiller’s notable early comedic performances, highlighting his talent for playing exaggerated and offbeat characters. It’s such a beloved role, everyone who’s ever seen Dodgeball just pretends it’s the same character.
–Sailor Monsoon
49. The Beagle Boys (June Foray, Frank Welker, Chuck McCann, Among Others) | DuckTales (1987–90)
The Beagle Boys are a family of crooks who take orders from their Ma (the one with lipstick on in the picture if that wasn’t obvious). The Beagle Boys were introduced back in the pilot of DuckTales and are almost always after Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin, or I guess the contents inside of it. Each of the “boys” comes with his own personality and character quirk. One is always hungry, one is strong, one is dumb, one is dopey; they’re basically the Seven Dwarfs in dog form. When it comes to DuckTales villains, there’s a good chance the Beagle Boys will spring to mind first. (It’s pretty hard to forget those outfits, am I right?)
–Marmaduke Karlston
48. The Coachman (Charles Judels) | Pinocchio (1940)
The Coachman is an absolutely wild character in a story that is already bonkers to begin with. I mean, he’s going around collecting delinquent boys and dumping them off on Pleasure Island where after behaving like a “jackass” the boys turn into donkeys who the Coachman then sells as slave labor. Like how do you even come up with this business plan? Pinocchio has a lot of scary moments but nothing takes the cake quite like watching all those boys turn into donkeys and being sold. The Coachman is one of those Disney villains where you may not remember what he looks like, but you certainly remember his actions.
–Marmaduke Karlston
47. Prince John (Peter Ustinov) | Robin Hood (1973)
If ever there was an example of an underrated Disney villain it’s Prince John from Robin Hood. Most of the time, Prince John is primarily remembered for whining and crying for “Mummy” while sucking his thumb after getting bested by the titular hero. While it’s true that Prince John is a sniveling coward, he is also not to be underestimated. Case in point: recall that after his utter humiliation at the archery tournament, Prince John becomes an absolute nightmare. Nearly everyone is thrown into prison and the would-be king concocts a diabolical scheme to lure Robin Hood out by planning to hang Friar Tuck. It just goes to show that you can never judge a Disney villain by their first appearance. Prince John has all the markings of a fool, but he also has a mean streak a mile wide.
–Becky O’Brien
46. The Phantom Blot | Mickey Mouse (Comics)
The Phantom Blot is one of Mickey Mouse’s most formidable adversaries that only true comic book fans know about. He’s popped up in various cartoons here and there (most notably DuckTales and Darkwing Duck) but he’s mostly stuck to comics in his 85 years of existence. He is typically depicted wearing a long, black cloak and a wide-brimmed hat that conceals his face, adding to his mysterious and menacing persona. He’s a criminal mastermind who’s motivations are a mystery but his primary goal is usually to defeat Mickey and carry out his various nefarious plans, ranging from theft to world domination. The Phantom Blot’s enduring popularity is a testament to his role as a classic Disney villain, providing a dark and intriguing counterpoint to Mickey Mouse’s cheerful and heroic character.
–Sailor Monsoon
45. Chernabog | Fantasia (1940)
A gargoyle demon based on the God of the Night in Slavic mythology, Chernabog is a malevolent being who emerges from the peak of Bald Mountain (during the Witches’ Sabbath), to summon ghosts and minions to entertain him until he tosses them all into a fiery pit. Everything about Chernabog sounds like the basis of every prog-rock album ever. He even looks like a demon that would be painted on the side of a van. Based solely on his looks and casual indifference to murder (he might be the only character who’s ever figured out how to murder a ghost), Chernabog is the best representation of pure evil found in a Disney film.
–Sailor Monsoon
44. Lock (Paul Reubens), Shock (Catherine O’Hara), and Barrel (Danny Elfman) | The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Collectively known as Boogie’s Boys, this trio of mischievous trick ‘r treaters are the henchmen of Halloween Town’s resident baddie—Oogie Boogie. The leader of the gang is Lock, the impulsive rascal dressed as a devil; the brains of the operation is Shock, the little girl dressed as a witch; and then there’s Barrel, the chubby candy-loving skeleton. The film never makes it clear whether they are siblings or just friends but due to their antagonistic behavior towards each other, I’m guessing they’re the former. Technically the film’s second antagonists (although Jack employs them himself at one point), they may kidnap and torture innocent people but they’re not outright bad. They’re more like chaotic neutral, they just do what people tell them to do. It’s just that, what people tell them to do is usually horrible.
–Sailor Monsoon
43. Shego (Nicole Sullivan) | Kim Possible (2002–07)
Shego is easily my favorite Kim Possible character, and, no, it’s not because she was easy on the eyes (although 10-year-old Duke may give you a different answer). I haven’t watched Kim Possible in probably 15 years, but there’s still one episode that I remember: “Go Team Go.” The Season 2 episode delved into Shego’s backstory, revealing that she and her brothers used to be part of a superhero team known as Team Go. Add that backstory to the character’s great design (the green/black patterned outfit is *chef’s kiss*) and you have arguably one of the coolest Disney villains ever created. And dare I say it, I think she’s cooler (and possibly more popular) than Kim Possible herself.
–Marmaduke Karlston
42. Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), Banzai (Cheech Marin), and Ed (Jim Cummings) | The Lion King (1994)
There are some villains you hate, some villains you love to hate, and some villains you just love. I absolutely love the hyenas from Lion King. First of all, let’s be real — Scar is the villain of the movie. The hyenas are just his henchmen. And they’re not great henchmen, because really they just want some food and Scar promises a buffet. You can’t fault a species for wanting to eat, right? Even if they want to eat some of the film’s protagonists. It’s the circle of life.
What the hyenas have going for them as characters is that they are highly entertaining, thanks to excellent writing and even better voice acting. Whoever decided on Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin for the roles of Shenzi and Banzai deserves some sort of award. Their distinct voices and superior comedic chops would have been enough to make the hyena scenes epic. But then you add in Ed. You would think voicing Ed, who never speaks and only laughs, would be fairly easy, maybe even dull. But somehow Jim Cummings manages to convey an incredibly diverse range of emotions in that laughter, perfectly rounding out this chaotic trio and stealing every scene.
–R.J. Mathews
41. King Louie (Louis Prima & Christopher Walken) | The Jungle Book (1967 & 2016)
The only character created solely for the animated film, King Louie (Prima) is a rambunctious orangutan with an affinity for swing music who has grown increasingly tired of the simian lifestyle. While his position as ruler of the Ancient Ruins affords him a life of carefree luxury and absolute power, his ambition demands more than monkeys can provide. Desperately wanting to learn the secret of man’s “red flower”, Louie wants to know how to create fire to fulfill his dream of becoming a man.
In the original film, he’s more of a mischievous scoundrel who provides little more than an obstacle for the leads to overcome but in the 2016 remake, he’s a much more malevolent being. Now a gigantopithecus with no qualms about killing to get what he wants, this King Louie (Walken) is more mafia don than jovial rascal. It’s one of Walken’s last great roles. He’s legit terrifying in it and is performance alone justifies the existence of that remake.
–Sailor Monsoon
60-51 | 40-31
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!