DC Comics' 23 Sickest Movie Villains

Updated 3/4/22

Most of us show up for the heroes but sometimes we just can't help being captivated by the bad guys. Here are the DC Extended Universe's best:

23. Amanda Waller

With her casual manipulativeness, willingness to cross any ethical lines in order to achieve her objectives, utter lack of loyalty or empathy and amoral brand of passive-aggressive evil, Amanda Waller is the embodiment of toxic femininity. The ruthless director of A.R.G.U.S. (Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans) has no compunction about threatening or pressuring anyone, including both military heroes and super-powered criminals alike, to do her bidding. There's nothing scarier than sociopathy empowered by government authority and backed up by armed and highly trained federal agents. Though she organizes Task Force X, a team of convicted murderers, to go on black-ops missions in Suicide Squad, Waller is revealed to be the film's true villain. In follow-up, The Suicide Squad, she coerces assassin Robert DuBois into undertaking an impossible mission by threatening his 16-year-old daughter's life. 

22. Ocean Master

Ever notice that Aquaman's entitled half-brother has the most contempt for people unlike himself? From his barely-contained disdain for Black Manta (his African-American ally) and his murder of Fisherman King Ricou (whatever he was) to his hatred of Aquaman (his half-Maori half-brother) himself, the self-proclaimed Ocean Master doesn't seem to be a big fan of diversity. Orm's not the most charismatic of antagonists but his unchecked white privilege and boundless lust for power are the stuff of villainous dreams.

21. The Joker

No one immediately succeeding The Dark Knight's gritty and Oscar-winning depiction of Gotham City's most insane resident was gonna receive a warm welcome but the Millennium Joker far exceeded any reasonable expectations for an heir to the psychotic throne. The Jester of Genocide's powers of persuasion are on full display as his seduction of his psychiatrist, Harley Quinn -- resulting in her complete and total devotion to him -- is depicted in a live-action movie for the very first time. With his face tattoos, gold grille and purple lambo, Suicide Squad's homicidal jester didn't leave us with any immortal lines but -- wow. How could he grace us with any memorable quotes? He barely got any screen time.

20. Harley Quinn

Unlike most popular comic book characters, Harley Quinn didn't actually originate in the pages of a comic. Instead, the Joker's biggest fan was created for Batman: The Animated Series. But Suicide Squad provides a glimpse of the fall of the lunatic formerly known as Dr. Harley Quinzel. After being seduced by one of her patients, the Joker, Quinzel throws her career away by helping him to escape Arkham Asylum. He, in turn, shows her that playing with fire often results in severe burns and throws her into a vat of chemicals that bleaches her skin and eats away at her psyche. But Mr. J's loudest cheerleader remains as devoted as ever. She even attacks the Dark Knight with him -- which earns her a fist in the face and a cell at Belle Reve.

Harley's updated outfit didn't lessen the impact of seeing her in live-action at all. Though you have to wonder why a chick armed with nothing a baseball bat was selected for a military operation.

19. Doomsday

Doomsday is less a name than it is a description given by Alexander Luthor that perfectly captures the threat this monster poses to Superman. Doomsday's comic book origin was slightly altered for its appearance in Batman v. Superman. No longer an immortal prehistoric killing-machine, it's explained as being a "Kryptonian Deformity", cloned by tech billionaire Alexander Luthor using the combined DNA of the deceased General Zod and Luthor himself. But it's still the mindless killing-machine that seemingly murders Superman. It's worth noting that issue #175 of the second volume of the Superman comic does feature Luthor reconstituting Doomsday using Superman's Kryptonian DNA.

After attracting the attention of Krypton's favorite son with its destructive rampage, the homicidal beast engages Supes in mortal combat until neither is left standing (Batman and Wonder Woman initially participate in the battle but neither poses a threat to Doomsday).

18. Deathstroke

Slade "Deathstroke" Wilson barely even moved during his extremely brief appearances in Justice League (he was only featured in a post-credits scene) and the Snyder Cut but they were perfect live-action incarnations of his comics counterpart. And better incarnations than all of his animated counterparts. A mercenary, assassin, master swordsman and inspiration for Deadpool, Slade ain't nothin' to %#@$ with.

17. Joker (Arthur Fleck)

16. Penguin

Falsely accused of cooperating with law enforcement, this mobster looks to be the next in line to be Gotham's mafia boss after the murder of Carmine Falcone.

15. The Riddler

Serial killer Edward Nashton methodically murders Gotham City's power brokers, all while outsmarting Lieutenant James Gordon and the Batman every step of the way.

14. Scarecrow

13. Two-Face

12. Faora-Ul

General Zod's most talkative and sadistic sub-commander is the greatest villainess to appear in any comic book movie. With her barely concealed sadism and bloodlust on full display, Faora was begging to be sucked back into the Phantom Zone by the time Man of Steel's credits rolled.

"A good death is its own reward."

11. Jesse Kane

As the villain's (David "Black Manta" Kane) father, Jesse is intended to be a darker version of Thomas Curry (the hero's father). The thing is, Jesse's 100 times more interesting than Thomas and every other dad, of which there are many, featured in Aquaman. Kane is fully aware that his own father was subjected to racism and discrimination during his service in the U.S. Navy throughout World War II. It was then that Kane's father was given the nickname "Manta" by his fellow sailors.

Interestingly enough, Michael Beach, who portrays Jesse Kane, voiced the character Devil Ray on the Justice League: Unlimited animated series. Devil Ray is actually Black Manta; the character's name was changed due to licensing issues.

10. Diablo

Chato "El Diablo" Santana is just barely eligible for this list given that he's the only member of the big-screen Suicide Squad who's actually reformed. Born with pyrokinetic abilities that have grown stronger with age, Santana used his powers to rise to the top of his LA gang, making him wealthy in the process. But after losing his temper, which causes his powers to flare-up, resulting in the unintended deaths of his wife and children, Santana quits the gang, renounces violence and agrees to spend the rest of his life in prison as penance. Despite being the most powerful member of Task Force X, he reluctantly joins, adamantly refusing to access his powers. In order to help his teammates prevent the Enchantress from enslaving the world, Santana eventually taps so deep into his abilities that he assumes them form of a giant Aztec deity in order to battle the former's brother, Incubus.

Ironically, the former gangbanger and accidental mass-murderer is one of the most realistic depictions of an ese to ever grace the screen.

9. Steppenwolf

Justice League is an absolute meth lab explosion of a movie -- except for the scenes involving Steppenwolf. Fortunately, Steppenwolf -- and everything else -- was upgraded in The Snyder Cut. Darkseid's uncle and leader of his armies, Steppenwolf is a conqueror of worlds, intent on adding the Earth to his resume. Thousands of years in the past, Steppenwolf led legions of parademons in an attempted conquest of Earth that's only thwarted by the combined armies of Atlantis, Themyscara, mankind, the Olympians and the Green Lantern Corps.

Upon Superman's death, the exiled Apokoliptian general makes his move again, searching for the three Mother Boxes that were seized by the Earthlings during his first invasion. And SW uses his battle-axe to snag the boxes guarded by the Amazons and Antlanteans with ease -- indeed, with a smile on his face -- before swiping the final piece of the power puzzle while Batman's assorted meta-humans are busy trying not to get killed by the revived last son of Kyrpton. Batman's team is no match for Steppenwolf either. But Superman is a different story.

"Child, my axe is still slick with the blood of your sisters."

8. Desaad

The ruler of Apokolips' right-hand man is almost as sinister as they come. This living nightmare's live-action debut in the Snyder Cut was pitch-perfect and he exudes a sense of cruelty that surpasses anything that the Joker could dream up.

7. Deadshot

Though Suicide Squad was intended to be an ensemble piece, Harley Quinn emerged as a star. But Floyd "Deadshot" Lawton stole the show. A crack shot with various firearms, Lawton made his living as a hitman-for-hire until he was apprehended by Batman himself. Facing decades in Belle Reve Special Security prison, he's offered a sentence reduction and supervised visits with his daughter in exchange for his participation in a black-ops mission for shady government bureaucrat Amanda Waller. No stranger to employers who can't be trusted, the devoted father pops off almost as many hilarious one-liners as bullets during the operation, all the while voicing his suspicions about Waller's true motives.

6. Nam-Ek

Man of Steel's Nam-Ek is the strong, silent type. More specifically, he's the astonishingly strong, seemingly mute type. Towering over his compatriots, Nam-Ek is one of Zod's loyal henchman who's convicted and sentenced to time in the Phantom Zone along with his general. But when he and his fellow Kryptonians reach Earth following their homeworld's destruction, they realize how empowering the planet's nearest star's solar radiation is to their alien DNA.

With Kal-El's same power set and a lifetime of military training under his belt, Nam-Ek's destructive battle with the last member of the House of El nearly lays waste to the town of Smallville.

5. Black Manta

Debuting in theaters just 10 months after the masterpiece that is Black Panther, Black Manta comes off like the DCEU's version of Killmonger. But Baltimore's most famous pirate is the absolute best thing about Aquaman. Kane uses his expertise in mechanical engineering to create an armored battle suit that far exceeds the capabilities of the Atlantean technology given to him by King Orm. Though toning down the comic book look of some characters for the sake of realism is a vast improvement for some ---- (Bane, Scarecrow, Helmut Zemo, Two-Face, Juggernaut), Manta's spot-on costume is a sight for sore eyes. Kane's battle suit combined with his considerable hand-to-hand fighting skills provide Arthur Curry with the most significant challenge he's ever faced from a mortal. I gotta tell ya, I'd rather see a Black Manta movie than an Aquaman sequel.

4. Bloodsport

Assassin Robert DuBois' marksmanship is at such a high degree that he once shot Superman out of the sky.

3. Joker

2. Darkseid

Thanos may have beat him to the screen but the DCEU's galactic warlord is no less a threat. With his immeasurable strength, legions of warriors, omega beams and search for the anti-life equation, which would grant him the power to take away free will, Darkseid's existence is a danger to everyone in the universe.

1. Bane

This strongman systematically picked Bruce Wayne's life apart (including draining his bank accounts) before breaking his back in The Dark Knight Rises. With a genius-level intellect and the strength of several men, Bane is the worst thing that Gotham -- and the Batman -- have ever faced.

"Avengers: Endgame" Theory Suggests Thanos Isn't the Movie's Ultimate Villain

While MCU movies often take liberties with the source material, the ramifications of events that began in Infinity War may be resolved in a manner that follows pretty closely to the story's "Infinity Guantlet" roots. Here's why:

1) A golden-hued being named Adam is introduced in one of Guardians of the Galaxy 2's post-credits scenes.

2) While many fans blame Peter Quill's emotionally-charged attack on Thanos (prompted by his realization that the Mad Titan had murdered the love of his life, Gamora) for the Purple Giant snapping out of Mantis' trance and ultimately killing off half the universe. But Nebula is the one who chose Thanos' semi-incapacitation as the moment to  drive the point home for Quill (instead of helping Iron Man, Spider-Man and the other assembled heroes to help to wrestle his gauntlet off). While Quill acted out of grief, Nebula's actions may have been a little more calculated.

The "Infinity Guantlet" comics storyline included Nebula making off with the guantlet after Thanos uses it to horrifying effect. Both Thanos and Warlock work to defeat her after she's tricked into reversing the effects of "The Snap".

While the guantlet itself seemed worse for wear -- and possibly fused to Thanos' hand -- at the end of the movie, the stones all looked to be intact. If Nebula can manage to take possession of the big glove somehow (in the comics, she snagged it while he was on the astral plane, leaving his body unattended), only to be thwarted by Thanos, Warlock and the combined heroes, we'd get a pretty faithful adaptation.

"Do the Right Thing" Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Do the Right Thing was released 30 years ago and sadly, it's as timely as ever. Inspired by then-recent front-page stories about African Americans being killed either by police officers or white mobs, Do the Right Thing is director Spike Lee's third feature, following She's Gotta Have It and School Daze. While those two films explored topics such as casual sex, classism within the African American community, colorism and student activism, Do the Right Thing provided fiery social commentary on everything from gentrification and alcoholism to racism and police brutality.

While Spike Lee has filled supporting roles in several of his films, Do the Right Thing is only one of two of his releases in which he stars.

Set in the writer/director's beloved Brooklyn, Do the Right Thing is the story of one especially hot summer day on one street in the borough's Bedford-Stuyvesant section that begins like any other and ends in horrifying tragedy.

Early in the day, while visiting local eatery Sal's Famous Pizzeria, neighborhood resident and b-boy Buggin' Out, asks the shop's owner why his "Wall of Fame", which features pictures of several Italian American celebrities, doesn't include any African Americans. When Sal, who lives in predominantly Italian American Bensonhurst instead of Bedford-Stuyvesant, refuses to add African Americans, Buggin' Out attempts to organize a protest, which is only supported by two of his neighbors: "Radio" Raheem, a taciturn, muscle-bound young man who constantly plays militant rap group Public Enemy's protest anthem "Fight the Power" loudly on his boombox; and "Smiley", a developmentally disabled man with a speech impediment who spends his days selling pictures of slain civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X.

Meanwhile, the daytime deejay at a local radio station, Mister Senor Love Daddy, provides regular updates on the steadily rising temperature and commentary on the events that he sees outside of his window.

Later, "Mookie", a 25-year-old delivery guy who works at Sal's (the only employee who's not family), which has been in the predominantly African American neighborhood as long as Mookie has, argues with his employer's oldest son Pino about race. Pino subsequently urges Sal to move the store to another area, citing his contempt for African Americans, from whom the vast majority of the pizza parlor's revenue is derived. And when Sal shares a friendly exchange with Mookie's younger sister, Jade, with whom he shares an apartment, big brother cautions her to keep her distance from his boss.

That evening, Buggin' Out, accompanied by Radio Raheem and Smiley, shows up at the pizza shop and informs Sal of his intention to call for a boycott of the latter's business if he doesn't add pictures of African Americans to his wall. An argument then ensues, with Buggin' Out and Sal trading racial slurs. Angered, Sal destroys Raheem's box with his baseball bat, prompting the latter to attack him. Pino and his brother Vito, in turn, attack Raheem. Police arrive during the fight and immediately subdue Buggin' Out and Raheem, one of whom kills the latter with an illegal choke-hold in full view of a swiftly gathering crowd. After the officers leave with Buggin' Out and Radio Raheem's body, Mookie throws a garbage can through Sal's front window, prompting the crowd to storm the shop and destroy the contents. Smiley, who joins the rioters, proceeds to set the pizza place on fire. Longtime local resident "Da Mayor" defends Sal and his sons from the wrath of the crowd shortly before firefighters arrive to battle the blaze and prevent the rioters from destroying the nearby Korean-owned grocery as well. However, when riot police show up, they direct the firemen to turn their hoses on the assembled neighborhood residents. Smiley makes his way into the burned-out building and attaches one of his pictures to Sal's "Wall of Fame".

The following day, after arguing with Tina, the Puerto Rican mother of his son, Hector, Mookie returns to the pizza parlor to demand his paycheck from Sal, which ignites an argument between the two. Senor Love Daddy then dedicates a song to Raheem.

The film ends with two quotes about violence. One, from Martin Luther King, Jr.:

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by destroying itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."

The other, from Malcolm X:

"I think there are plenty of good people in America, but there are also plenty of bad people in America and the bad ones are the ones who seem to have all the power and be in these positions to block things that you and I need. Because this is the situation, you and I have to preserve the right to do what is necessary to bring an end to that position, and it doesn't mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time I am not against using violence in self-defense. I don't even call it violence when it's self-defense, I call it intelligence."

The quotes are followed by a dedication to the following African American victims of racial violence, including murder-by-cop: Michael Stewart, Edmund Perry, Michael Griffith, Arthur Miller Jr., Eleanor Bumpurs and Yvonne Smallwood.

At the time of its release, reviewers and media publications covering the film voiced concerns that the movie might incite African American audience members to riot. However, no violence surrounding the film was ever reported and Lee himself criticized the racist suggestion that African Americans were so lacking in self-control; civility; and the ability to distinguish between life and fiction that they'd be moved to violence by imaginary drama.

Thoroughly contemporary in its time, decades later Do the Right Thing provides a snapshot of late 1980s inner-city living and style, replete with box haircuts and Air Jordans before they were retro. This is also a time before noise pollution fines kept guys like Radio Raheem from holding walking rap concerts on neighborhood sidewalks. Today, not only would Radio Raheem wear earbuds but his neighbors likely would've captured his murder on their cellphones to be uploaded for the world to see -- though the police officer responsible might still go unpunished.

Do the Right Thing is notable for featuring comedian Martin Lawrence and choreographer-turned-actress Rosie Perez in their first film roles. While the movie received Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (for Danny Aiello), it's widely believed that Do the Right Thing was snubbed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a Best Picture nomination. The award ultimately went to Driving Miss Daisy (which is widely regarded as racially-insensitive), which beat out Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams and My Left Foot at the 62nd annual Academy Awards ceremony on March 26, 1990.

In 2014, President Barack Obama revealed that Do the Right Thing was the movie that he took wife Michelle to see on their first date. 

Do the Right Thing is also noteworthy for featuring Public Enemy's classic protest song "Fight the Power", which Radio Raheem plays throughout the film.

"Bad Times at the El Royale" Micro-Review

by John Zenoni

What a movie in ‘Bad Times at the El Royale!’ It's somewhat odd and yet definitely kept me glued to the screen the whole time. The movie has a great cast -- Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Cynthia Erivo, and Chris Hemsworth (in a very different role) -- and each character was great. The movie was scary, suspenseful and strange all in one. It's not a film I thought I would have enjoyed but once the people began checking into the hotel, and the strange things began to happen, I could not help but watch to see what was going to happen next.





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"Green Book" Movie Review

by John Zenoni

Absolutely loved “Green Book.” Both Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are outstanding and deserve the raves they are getting for their performances. It's because of them that you can overlook some of the predictable moments that take place in the movie . It's also unfortunate that controversy surrounds the film as far as the director and his behavior and the family members of Dr. Shirley, portrayed by Ali, not thinking the film gives an accurate portrayal of the real life relationship between the two primary characters, because the film itself is very good. The scenery, images, music and dialogue in the film definitely draw you in and make you feel that you are back in that time. It's definitely uncomfortable at times because of the racism and ignorance that Dr. Shirley experienced but it's also something that we cannot forget! This is a great film!

"BlacKkKlansman Marks Spike Lee's Triumphant Return"

by Ran Britt

While loads of critics loved Spike Lee's 2015 movie, Chi-Raq, hardly anybody else did. But if 2016's Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall and this year's BlacKkKlansman are any indication, the legendary director just might be back. Fellow producer Jordan Peele is certainly on a hot streak.

The film is loosely based on the memoir Black Klansman, by former Colorado Springs, Colorado police officer Ron Stallworth. Similar to 1966's The Black Klansman, the story centers on an African-American man's infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan. Unlike in the earlier film, Lee's protagonist has to settle for ingratiating himself to the group's members via telephone, using a white co-worker as his stand-in for face-to-face meets.

Star John David Washington is the son of Hollywood legend Denzel Washington, with whom Lee worked on four films (Malcolm X, The Inside Man, He Got Game and Mo' Better Blues), making the collaborative process multi-generational.

If you're a Prince fan, make sure to sit through the credits. His rendition of "Mary, Don't You Weep" is guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.

The movie was released on the one-year anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The rally, a gathering of various racist hate groups, devolved into a riot and culminated with the murder of Heather Heyer. Heyer, who was on hand with other peaceful counter-protestors opposed to the rally's message, was killed when a self-proclaimed white supremacist drove his car into the crowd.