Inspired
to show the love for the most charismatic antagonists today. Bad guys
that you either love to hate or love in spite of their hate. They cover
the gambit of movies, tv, and books but I made my choices from movies
for simplicity sake . You're welcome to choose from other media. I
thought of 10 and I did rank them but I also have to divide them into
two categories. It's a fine line, but their charisma tends to list
either towards "cool" or towards "charming".
These 5 have cool charisma. Cool defined as equal to or surpassing the coolness of the protagonist, though not necessarily likeable.
5. Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter (books 5 and 7)
Stephen King called Umbridge the most greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter. High praise from someone who writes about demons and monsters for a living. But people like her really exist as opposed to the handful of people who actually aspire to world domination or other female antagonists that are most typically just crazy b****es who just hurt for fun and are likely beholden to another male bad guy. Umbridge is a cruel mind and can get into a person's head. She's not "cool" per say, but she's believable and believably frightening because her ambitions within the Wizarding world are realistically attainable. She's certainly the most intriguing bad guy of the series and even more interesting than the protagonists.
4. Agent Smith, The Matrix trilogy.
In this case the underlying personality of the actor who also plays Elrond and Red Skull simply draws you to him. He's got henchmen of sorts, but like Umbridge he's a single bad guy facing at least a trio of good guys and remains a viable threat capable of snuffing out their uprising. You can feel his power as being equal to the zionist group of characters and superior to Neo until he finds his hidden power at the end. You want to see him fall but you also don't want to stop seeing him. Good thing it was the sort of movie he could keep returning to.
3. Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and played by Jared Harris, son of Sir Richard Harris.
His part wasn't big in the first movie but his presence was. It takes some impressive charisma to pull that off. And then when he got to fill out the character in the second movie, he came close to making it to my charming list. A gentleman who threatens a protagonist who is written as a noticeable jerk. That also makes him just a touch cooler than Sherlock as well. Smart is sexy. But he also has a psychotic streak that makes him a little scary and Sherlock's smart just a little more charming. But you can't help but love Moriarty and fear him simultaneously. He leaves a lasting impression.
2. Saruman, LOTR trilogy.
With the strong performance of Christopher Lee, this character could have easily overwhelmed the whole story if not for an equally strong Ian McKellen steering Gandalf as his foil. His voice is certainly helpful in asserting a commanding presence in all of his movies. Much like the hypnotic power of Saruman's voice. He holds the audience's attention and dominates all his scenes. Saruman may be a traitor and a trouble maker but he's cool and therefore equally as enjoyable as the other good guys and bad guys alike.
1. Khan Noonien Singh, Ricardo Montalban
Okay, he's number 1 because he's a personal favorite of mine but nobody can deny his coolness and charisma. Improved from his first showing in the episode Space Seed in TOS, his obsession with Kirk has piqued into a revenge rampage. Of course Kirk doesn't deserve it, but one can't help but admire Khan's determination and commitment as well as his ability to land on his feet after being isolated for a number of years. The charm factor waned as his obsession reached Captain Nemo levels, but he made a chump of Kirk repeatedly and had it not been for Spock, he would've won and he would've won with awesomeness.
These five antagonists have charming charisma. They are not only likeable, but they are often equally as loved as the protagonist and even preferred at times. They come very close to losing all credibility as a "bad" guy because of this and it's a fine line to walk.
5. Jareth, the Goblin King, Labyrinth
I understand that Labyrinth is niche and isn't everyone's cup of tea and I'll admit the acting was sketchy at times. But those who do like it, the ladies in particular, like and just love the Goblin King. So, he kidnaps babies and makes passes at a "teenager"... You're forgetting one thing mate... he's David Bowie! (Said with the same attitude as Captain Jack Sparrow.) Of course he must be defeated. But we (the ladies at least) would all like to have danced with him a little longer. Who needs a little brother anyway?
4. Lex Luthor as portrayed by Gene Hackman.
Bad guy? Sure. Cunning and devious. You bet. Also impossible to hate. Impossible. No matter how badly he treated Miss Teschmacher and Otis. No matter how two-faced and deceitfully he played both ends to the middle. No matter how greedy and selfish. You never got an evil vibe off of him...more of a loveable rascal or a rogue. He doesn't do anything loveable! And he's actually quite dangerous. But his ego was more enchanting than off-putting. You never want him completely defeated. The fact that you can't dislike this character is actually what inspired my thoughts on this topic.
3. Loki
Okay I can see how this is looking like a "ladies men" type of list but I don't think I'm off base in thinking that guys can't help but like these bad guys as well. And now we're entering that gray area in which the line between good and bad is skewed. Loki is loved by most if not all; men and women. He allies himself with good when it serves his purpose adding a chameleon effect to his already appealing personality and that makes all his mischief almost forgivable. Still, he is a bad guy not a neutral character. But it's so easy to lose sight of that at times and that's what makes him a charming, charismatic antagonist that we love in spite of his hate.
2. Darth Vader
Before there was an EU or prequels there was Vader and everyone loves Vader. Sometimes I still suspect that he was originally turned good at the very end because he was entirely too popular to be defeated. He's both cool and charming whether he's force-choking a subordinate or revealing his identity to Luke. Somehow it doesn't matter that he killed Obi-Wan, used Han like a lab rat and left him to a fate worse than death, or used Luke's emotions against him to lure him into his trap. He's still the face of the franchise and has the most appeal across the Star Wars fandom because he went from bad guy to tragic hero in a matter of moments. You didn't need his back story or even a real face to look at behind the mask to see the pain behind his dark side. Now that's charisma!
1. Hector Barbosa
This whole franchise suffered from antagonists thats were too likeable. Barbosa, Davey Jones, Blackbeard, and even Salazar were all far too charming to really hate. It was necessary to have antagonists with strong personalities to match the Jack Sparrow character but in a way they all backfired at their purpose. Barbosa stands out especially though. It's hard to know where to begin when listing his attributes. It's always based in the actor's ability to draw you into the character with the little things like his laugh. His eye rolls. All the little nuances that make you believe that his goal makes sense. But his sad longing for the taste of an apple captures the heart every time. I guess it's that shade of sadness and the blurring of good and bad that makes many of these villains irresistible. They had to bring him back to fight for the good (?) side...at least always for his own side
These 5 have cool charisma. Cool defined as equal to or surpassing the coolness of the protagonist, though not necessarily likeable.
5. Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter (books 5 and 7)
Stephen King called Umbridge the most greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter. High praise from someone who writes about demons and monsters for a living. But people like her really exist as opposed to the handful of people who actually aspire to world domination or other female antagonists that are most typically just crazy b****es who just hurt for fun and are likely beholden to another male bad guy. Umbridge is a cruel mind and can get into a person's head. She's not "cool" per say, but she's believable and believably frightening because her ambitions within the Wizarding world are realistically attainable. She's certainly the most intriguing bad guy of the series and even more interesting than the protagonists.
4. Agent Smith, The Matrix trilogy.
In this case the underlying personality of the actor who also plays Elrond and Red Skull simply draws you to him. He's got henchmen of sorts, but like Umbridge he's a single bad guy facing at least a trio of good guys and remains a viable threat capable of snuffing out their uprising. You can feel his power as being equal to the zionist group of characters and superior to Neo until he finds his hidden power at the end. You want to see him fall but you also don't want to stop seeing him. Good thing it was the sort of movie he could keep returning to.
3. Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and played by Jared Harris, son of Sir Richard Harris.
His part wasn't big in the first movie but his presence was. It takes some impressive charisma to pull that off. And then when he got to fill out the character in the second movie, he came close to making it to my charming list. A gentleman who threatens a protagonist who is written as a noticeable jerk. That also makes him just a touch cooler than Sherlock as well. Smart is sexy. But he also has a psychotic streak that makes him a little scary and Sherlock's smart just a little more charming. But you can't help but love Moriarty and fear him simultaneously. He leaves a lasting impression.
2. Saruman, LOTR trilogy.
With the strong performance of Christopher Lee, this character could have easily overwhelmed the whole story if not for an equally strong Ian McKellen steering Gandalf as his foil. His voice is certainly helpful in asserting a commanding presence in all of his movies. Much like the hypnotic power of Saruman's voice. He holds the audience's attention and dominates all his scenes. Saruman may be a traitor and a trouble maker but he's cool and therefore equally as enjoyable as the other good guys and bad guys alike.
1. Khan Noonien Singh, Ricardo Montalban
Okay, he's number 1 because he's a personal favorite of mine but nobody can deny his coolness and charisma. Improved from his first showing in the episode Space Seed in TOS, his obsession with Kirk has piqued into a revenge rampage. Of course Kirk doesn't deserve it, but one can't help but admire Khan's determination and commitment as well as his ability to land on his feet after being isolated for a number of years. The charm factor waned as his obsession reached Captain Nemo levels, but he made a chump of Kirk repeatedly and had it not been for Spock, he would've won and he would've won with awesomeness.
These five antagonists have charming charisma. They are not only likeable, but they are often equally as loved as the protagonist and even preferred at times. They come very close to losing all credibility as a "bad" guy because of this and it's a fine line to walk.
5. Jareth, the Goblin King, Labyrinth
I understand that Labyrinth is niche and isn't everyone's cup of tea and I'll admit the acting was sketchy at times. But those who do like it, the ladies in particular, like and just love the Goblin King. So, he kidnaps babies and makes passes at a "teenager"... You're forgetting one thing mate... he's David Bowie! (Said with the same attitude as Captain Jack Sparrow.) Of course he must be defeated. But we (the ladies at least) would all like to have danced with him a little longer. Who needs a little brother anyway?
4. Lex Luthor as portrayed by Gene Hackman.
Bad guy? Sure. Cunning and devious. You bet. Also impossible to hate. Impossible. No matter how badly he treated Miss Teschmacher and Otis. No matter how two-faced and deceitfully he played both ends to the middle. No matter how greedy and selfish. You never got an evil vibe off of him...more of a loveable rascal or a rogue. He doesn't do anything loveable! And he's actually quite dangerous. But his ego was more enchanting than off-putting. You never want him completely defeated. The fact that you can't dislike this character is actually what inspired my thoughts on this topic.
3. Loki
Okay I can see how this is looking like a "ladies men" type of list but I don't think I'm off base in thinking that guys can't help but like these bad guys as well. And now we're entering that gray area in which the line between good and bad is skewed. Loki is loved by most if not all; men and women. He allies himself with good when it serves his purpose adding a chameleon effect to his already appealing personality and that makes all his mischief almost forgivable. Still, he is a bad guy not a neutral character. But it's so easy to lose sight of that at times and that's what makes him a charming, charismatic antagonist that we love in spite of his hate.
2. Darth Vader
Before there was an EU or prequels there was Vader and everyone loves Vader. Sometimes I still suspect that he was originally turned good at the very end because he was entirely too popular to be defeated. He's both cool and charming whether he's force-choking a subordinate or revealing his identity to Luke. Somehow it doesn't matter that he killed Obi-Wan, used Han like a lab rat and left him to a fate worse than death, or used Luke's emotions against him to lure him into his trap. He's still the face of the franchise and has the most appeal across the Star Wars fandom because he went from bad guy to tragic hero in a matter of moments. You didn't need his back story or even a real face to look at behind the mask to see the pain behind his dark side. Now that's charisma!
1. Hector Barbosa
This whole franchise suffered from antagonists thats were too likeable. Barbosa, Davey Jones, Blackbeard, and even Salazar were all far too charming to really hate. It was necessary to have antagonists with strong personalities to match the Jack Sparrow character but in a way they all backfired at their purpose. Barbosa stands out especially though. It's hard to know where to begin when listing his attributes. It's always based in the actor's ability to draw you into the character with the little things like his laugh. His eye rolls. All the little nuances that make you believe that his goal makes sense. But his sad longing for the taste of an apple captures the heart every time. I guess it's that shade of sadness and the blurring of good and bad that makes many of these villains irresistible. They had to bring him back to fight for the good (?) side...at least always for his own side
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