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.
90. Emperor Belos (Matthew Rhys) | The Owl House (2020–23)
As the ruler of the Boiling Isles, Emporer Belos is a mysterious cloaked figure with glowing eyes and terrifying mask. A master manipulator, Belos uses a system of Coven Sigils to control the witches and limit magic in his realm, fostering fear and dependence on his rule. Though charismatic in some ways, he is also cruel and volatile, with a ruthless streak and a determination to eliminate anyone who threatens his plans. While his desire to eradicate wild magic and potentially all witches is horrifying, Belos wholeheartedly believes his actions are justified, creating a complex and unsettling villain.
–R.J. Mathews
89. Henry J. Waternoose III (James Coburn) | Monsters, Inc. (2001)
The crablike CEO of Monsters Inc., Henry J. Waternoose would kidnap 1,000 children before he let his company die — a fact we are reminded of again and again after Mike and Sulley catch his statement on tape in an elaborate ruse to prove the conspiracy. Waternoose is the secondary twist villain of the movie, spending most of his screen time as a seemingly fair and kind boss. He even seems almost reasonable to banish our heroes for bringing a human child into the monster world, a tragic misunderstanding. But of course, we find out that Waternoose has partnered with Randall Boggs from the beginning to suck the screams out of kids in a desperate grab for literal power. It’s never too early to start teaching kids that there is a good chance your big boss is going to put the bottom line ahead of almost anything and everything else, including you.
–Jacob Holmes
88. The Mad Doctor (Allan Watson) | The Mad Doctor (1933)
The Mad Doctor was a short film released by Disney in 1933 and then promptly banned as too freakin’ scary. And it is! It’s pretty freakin’ awesome, actually, with a stormy night, spooky, haunted castle, and a hooded figure that turns out to be the Mad Doctor of the title. He steals Pluto in order to combine him with a chicken and see if any eggs laid by the result will “bark, or crow or cackle!” Well, he’s not called “The Sane Doctor,” is he? The Doctor and his castle – full of animated skeletons and one skeletal spider that probably would have given me fits as a kid – turn out to be products of a nightmare, but that doesn’t make the short any less scary. The copyright for the film was not renewed, and so the short – and the character of the Mad Doctor – is in the public domain. Horrifying, ain’t it?
–Bob Cram
87. Edgar Balthazar (Roddy Maude-Roxby) | The Aristocats (1970)
No one has ever fumbled the bag harder in the history of Disney animation than Edgar Balthazar. This man finds out that he’s set to inherit a fortune following the passing of his boss, retired opera diva Madame Adelaide Bonfamille, and her cats — Duchess, Berlioz, Marie, and Toulouse — and immediately fucks it up. Granted, I’d be pretty pissed too if I found out that my boss put me second in line to inherit her fortune after her cats. But Edgar’s downfall comes from failing to see that he’s already inherited the fortune once Madame is dead. He’s her butler. Sure, the money will be bequeathed to the cats, but who would be looking after the cats? He would be! He would live the good life 24/7 as long as he remembered to feed the cats daily. But no, he decided to “get rid” of the cats to make himself the sole inheritor. Simply ridiculous. As I said at the beginning, no one has fumbled the bag harder than Edgar Balthazar.
–Marmaduke Karlston
86. King Andrias Leviathan (Keith David) | Amphibia (2019–22)
Disney has been quietly crushing it when it comes to animated series for a while now. Star vs the Forces of Evil, Gravity Falls, The Owl House, and Amphibia are all fantastic and I’m guessing you haven’t heard of any of them. Amphibia follows the adventures of Anne Boonchuy, a 13-year-old Thai-American girl who is magically transported to the world of Amphibia, a rural marshland full of anthropomorphic amphibians and other strange creatures. With the help of her newfound frog friends, Anne embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. It ran for three seasons, each of which was solid. The adventure was engaging and the characters memorable, most notably the Keith David voiced King Andrias Leviathan.
Integral to the overarching narrative of Amphibia, King Leviathan provides both dramatic tension and emotional depth to the story. His transformation from a seemingly kind ruler to a formidable antagonist is a key element of the series’ appeal. Initially, King Andrias appears benevolent and friendly, exuding a warm and jovial demeanor. However, as the series progresses, it becomes clear that this is a facade. His true personality is revealed to be manipulative, power-hungry, and ruthless, especially as his darker ambitions come to light. He’s a surprisingly deep character brought to life by the always-reliable Keith David.
–Sailor Monsoon
85. Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) | Coco (2017)
A great bait-and-switch villain, Ernesto de la Cruz goes from heroic inspiration to truly despicable manipulator quite quickly. Not only is Ernesto willing to basically kill a kid in order to preserve his worldly image—and therefore his afterworld lifestyle—he also was just a huge murderous piece of crap in his waking life as well. And maybe worst of all, he robbed Hector of his rightful reverence in a culture where the afterlife depends on it. That’s pretty messed up. Revealing that de la Cruz’s catchy version of “Remember Me” is actually a shallow copy of Hector’s heartbreaking lullaby to Coco is the icing on the cake. Despite these shortcomings, he’s a great singer and has a dramatic flare that we can’t help but love to hate.
–Jacob Holmes
84. Megavolt (Dan Castellaneta) | Darkwing Duck (1991–92)
Any ranking of the best rogues gallery of superheroes that doesn’t have Fearsome Five in the top five, is wrong. Spider-Man and Batman are in a neverending battle for first place, while X-Men and Flash are third and fourth but I’d argue Darkwing Duck’s archenemies would definitely round out the list. The Fearsome Five consists of Negaduck, Quackerjack, Liquidator, Bushroot, and Megavolt. Clearly inspired by the Legion of Doom and Sinister Six, the team are recognizable archetypes with Megavolt being a pitch-perfect stand-in for Electro. Originally Elmo Sputterspark, Megavolt is the result of an experiment to control electricity gone wrong. His powers involve shooting electric bolts from his hands, manipulating electrical devices, and absorbing electricity to recharge his powers. His abilities make him a formidable opponent for Darkwing Duck. Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer Simpson) turns in a humorous and threatening performance that’s unhinged and manic. His look makes him instantly memorable and his voice and characterization make him one of the highlights of cartoons of that time…. and he’s the third best in the Fearsome Five!
–Sailor Monsoon
83. Dr. Hans Reinhardt (Maximilian Schell) and Maximilian | The Black Hole (1979)
Man, I love The Black Hole – one of those ‘Dark Disney’ films released when the studio was trying to be more adult-oriented. Dr. Hans Reinhart is another in a long line of mad scientists, perching his creepy-ass spaceship – designed to look like the framework of a gothic cathedral – on the edge of a monster black hole. While he gets up to some standard mad scientist stuff – turning his crew into mindless automatons and pretending they’re robots, for instance – his greatest achievement and eventual downfall is the security robot Maximilian. A floating, blood-red terror, Maximilian has pincers that can turn into fast-rotating blades. Something poor Dr. Durant finds out personally. That robot is one scary piece of equipment. One moment in the film even suggests that Maximilian is somehow keeping Reinhardt prisoner – something made explicit in the final scene.
–Bob Cram
82. Clayton (Brian Blessed) | Tarzan (1999)
From the moment he appears on the screen, fans know that all is not right with Clayton, the suave, yet arrogant hunter hired by the Porters to protect them during their stay in the African jungle to study the gorillas. So, it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one when Clayton eventually turns on the Porters, revealing that he plans on capturing and selling the gorillas for a fortune. Well, Tarzan is having none of that, rallying the animals of the jungle to fight Clayton and his hired thugs. They ultimately emerge victorious with Clayton receiving one of the more gruesome Disney villain deaths to date, inadvertently hanging himself with a vine.
–Marmaduke Karlston
81. Captain Nemo (James Mason) | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
If your only exposure to Captain Nemo is from the film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, you owe it to yourself to watch the 1954 adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. James Mason brings his iconic voice and undeniable charisma and gravitas to the role. His authoritative presence is a far cry from the sword-wielding eccentric ninja from that forgettable actioner that killed poor Sean Connery’s career. Similar to the novel, the film’s Nemo is a complex character with a deep hatred for war and imperialism. He is driven by a desire for vengeance against those who destroyed his family and homeland, which adds a layer of tragedy to his character. Mason’s Nemo is portrayed with moral ambiguity. He is both a hero and a villain, a savior and a destroyer. His actions are driven by a personal code of ethics that often conflicts with conventional morality, leading to dramatic tension in the story. It takes a certain level of actor to go toe to toe with Kirk Douglas and James Mason proves every bit his equal.
–Sailor Monsoon
100-91 | 80-71
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!