The Most Iconic Disney Villains Of All Time, Ranked

'I'm not bad', insisted Femme Fatale Jessica Rabbit in seminal live action/animated film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 'I'm just drawn that way.' It's a fantastic quote about villainy in animation, that comes to mind every time you switch on a Disney film. Watching the hero swing through jungles, dance at balls or ride winged horses and magic carpets is all well and good, but the studio's success is built on the peril, the threat and the fear instilled by a well-drawn villain.

That has become all the more clear in recent years, with Disney looking back through their archives and resurrecting characters like Maleficent and, now, Cruella for their own standalone origin stories. There's money to be had in being bad. In fact, the arrival of Cruella on Disney + and in select cinemas - May 28th darlings. Hide your puppies - has got us thinking: who is the best Disney villain of all time?

The question could be debated endlessly. Is the best villain a menacing yet fun figure? An ominous one, filled with true horror? Or something in between? This requires a deep, deep dive.

Before we begin, a few caveats: when we say every Disney villain, we mean every primary antagonist from an animated Disney film released in cinemas. We have taken all into account, and stuck with the top 35.

This list will also not consider every sidekick, henchman and double act - sorry Flotsam, Jetsam, Pain and Panic - as part of the mix. Nor will we take into account straight-to-videos or TV spin-offs. We're sticking with the perception of the classic Disney Villain as those included in the animated films: introducing live options would mean that we'd have to allow the live action adaptations of animated originals. A list that features two versions of Scar, Gaston, Jafar et al? Who has the time? We are also discounting characters that some of our peers consider to be the main villain of the piece. Si and Am - the Lady And The Tramp cats - are considered by some as the villains of the film. But their presence does not loom throughout. They have mere cameos. So they and those of their ilk don't make the cut. Does a volcano count as a villain? We're going with no. And does a villain in a segment of a longer film - we're looking at you Fantasia - count? Again, we're going with no.

Right, are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

35. Bill Sykes - Oliver & Company

Another human messing with animals. You'd think that would be our pet hate but really it reduces the sense of threat. Bill's evil is also mostly seen offscreen, which means his evil feels filtered. The film itself was also, simply, not great and did not set the box office alight, so Bill hasn't had the years of multi-generational terror that many other villains have enjoyed over the decades.

34. Amos Slade - The Fox And The Hound

Yes, he's a hunter, and is certainly presented as the heroes' key foil in the film. But in this cutesy depiction of an unlikely friendship between two natural opponents, Amos eventually sees the light and allows the bond to remain unbroken. So while he's the villain, he's just a bit too wet. Not that we wanted him to shoot the fox, of course. It is Disney.

33. The Horned King - The Black Cauldron

As with Bill Sykes, this villain would be higher if more than four people had seen the film. He's creepy as hell and is perhaps one of Disney's most properly evil villains in the otherworldly, demonic sense. But this is Disney: a good villain needs more than evil.

32. Madam Mim - The Sword In The Stone

I loathe Madam Mim. But not in that good 'boo, hiss' way. She's just incredibly obnoxious.

31. Queen Of Hearts - Alice In Wonderland

Not a fan. Sorry. She's also obnoxious, and has no actual villainous plan so seems more of a vignette amidst Alice's action. I dispute her presence on this list at all - the film does not feel like it has a true antagonist - but my hands were forced. Off with her head.

30. Screenslaver - Incredibles 2

Whereas the villain of the first Incredibles film (more on that later) loved superheroes to a fault, Screenslaver loathed them and wanted them wiped out. This villain was pretty interesting in terms of characterisation, but the twist reveal concerning their true identity was so immediately clear from the off that their menace was reduced significantly.

29. Stinky Pete - Toy Story 2

I mean, talk about seeing a villain reveal coming. Did you have to call the character who would turn out to be the bad guy at the end Stinky Pete? Still, Pete's motivation - a deep desire simply to have a legacy - is pretty interesting, and Kelsey Grammer's voice work is excellent.

28. Mor'du - Brave

There are points where Mor'du - a big black bear - delivers real moments of terror. But the film's narrative eventually suggests that this bear is actually deserving of sympathy. Yes, as a man he was evil. But to live for years as a maligned beast in the woods? Doesn't seem proportionate to us.

27. Gabby - Toy Story 4

Sorry, we're too sympathetic with her motive - to be loved, by anyone - to judge her too harshly. Go for it Gabby. A doll's got to do what a doll's got to do.

26. Ratigan - The Great Mouse Detective

This will come up again and again in this list as a concept: a good Disney villains are one of two things. Menacingly camp, or truly cruel. A great Disney villain? A bit of both. Ratigan displays this fusion, but not as well as those who follow in his little rat paw prints.

25. Clayton - Tarzan

Clayton is properly evil. Disney villains rarely use guns and his love of weapons marks him out as a threat from day one. He's manipulative, cruel and arrogant. But they should have made him American: Brian Blessed is such a national treasure that hearing his booming tones lessens the malice.

24. Prince John - Robin Hood

Prince John isn't the most specifically evil Disney villain, but if you knew him in real life you know you'd absolutely loathe him. But he's a good foil to Robin, which is what matters, and moves up the list thanks to the fact that he's a lion in a crown.

23. Sid - Toy Story

Sid is genuinely terrifying precisely because we've all met a child like him. One of those needlessly cruel, menacing, serial-killer-in-the-making types. He may not know that toys have feelings, but he's truly creepy and an effective villain.

22. McLeach - The Rescuers Down Under

There's real menace to McLeach that comes from something rare in Disney films: he quite clearly has absolutely no qualms about killing animals or children. That makes him genuinely creepy. But he isn't as iconic as his predecessor in the franchise...

21. Madame Medusa - The Rescuers

OK, this is an iconic villain. She hates kids, sending little Penny down a treacherous shaft to find a priceless diamond. But she gets points deducted due to her thematic and stylistic similarities to Cruella DeVill (who was originally considered for The Rescuer's villain role). Still, we do love to loathe Medusa. Can we formally request a live action adaptation starring Olivia Colman?

20. Captain Hook - Peter Pan

As with McLeach, Hook is ready and willing to kill children. He also benefits from a great costume and a trademark weapon. But he'd be higher up if he ever exuded any sense of true violence. He is very much presented through Peter's eyes: as a figure of fun. It's no wonder Hook has become a pantomime classic.

19. Lotso - Toy Story 3

Beware a bear who smells of strawberries. Lotso is a two-faced teddy with dictatorial ways. He is truly feared by those at the daycare centre. We stan a cuddly yet complicated character.

18. Prince Hans - Frozen

Frozen flips the villain rulebook with Hans: he ticks every 'charming prince' box, making you think Frozen is just another fairytale. The surprise evil reveal has real impact.

17. Mother Gothel - Tangled

Mother Gothel is a narcissistic baby snatcher, a properly unhinged woman with a thirst for violence. Naturally, we're obsessed. She's very Broadway stage mom.

16. Syndrome - The Incredibles

I like Syndrome. He's one of the most explicitly maniacal villains from Disney and his concept - a man with no powers who longs more than anything to be like his heroes - is strong. He'd be a lot closer to the bottom of the list if it weren't for the excellent voice work of Jason Lee.

15. Governor Ratcliffe - Pocahontas

This arse is almost unmatched in the villainy of his actual deeds by the fact that he literally wants to wipe out an entire indigenous population. But he'd be more effective if his character design hadn't leaned into caricature. He'd be higher up if they'd played him straight and strong: instead, they made him pampered and proud and, therefore, declawed him somewhat.

14. Lady Tremaine - Cinderella

She's a literal slavedriver. What more do you need to know? More? OK: she's genuinely emotionally cruel and actively enjoys witnessing suffering. There's real evil lurking there. She'd be higher up the list if she had more ambition with her evil beyond marrying off her daughters though.

13. Maleficent - Sleeping Beauty

Interestingly, in adapting this villain's story in modern times, Disney has made the original Maleficent less monstrous. But she's still glam as hell, looks great in horns, and shuts down an entire civilisation because she didn't get invited to a party. So she remains very us.

12. Shan Yu - Mulan

Shan Yu is properly, properly creepy: Disney really minimised the camp factor with this one. His presence as the epitome of a cliched war lord - bloodthirsty, callous, explicitly masculine in that cliched way - makes him the perfect antagonist for Mulan, a young woman who is the exact opposite.

11. Frollo - The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

So, so menacing. Frollo is a xenophobic and cruel antagonist who is clearly a bad 'un from the beginning. But a run-in with heroine Esmeralda makes his hypocrisy all the more evident. He burns down half of Paris simply because he desires her, and if she won't give in to him, no one can. A Disney film where the villain burns people at the stake? Now that's dark.

10. Doctor Facilier - The Princess And The Frog

Very strong modern villain from Disney here. Properly menacing, very creepy. But his schtick - misleading deals, a desire to get rid of the local leader - makes him something of an Ursula rip-off. And few villains benefit from an Ursula comparison.

9. Gaston - Beauty And The Beast

We're not the first to point out that Gaston was many children's first interaction with toxic masculinity, and that makes him a memorable villain. He's completely vain and self-obsessed, and his presence is a really smart addition by the writers. As we watch a Beast show himself as a humane and loving creature, the handsome village hearthrob goes on the opposite journey. Gaston has a real impact.

8. Cruella De Vil - 101 Dalmations

Yes, we get it: De Vil. Devil. Cool. She's obviously an amazing villain, with a perfect blend of threat and real glamour. It's no wonder that she has had so many cinematic turns since her debut in the original film. Glenn Close was divine as her. Can Emma Stone keep up? We'll see.

7. The Evil Queen - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

Disney has a lot of female villains and this Queen is one of their best. It starts with mere self-obsession. From there, it goes to murder. Things could have all been fine if they'd had Botox in that particular fairytale land.

6. Hades - Hercules

This smart-talking God of the Underworld is one of Disney's best. He has actual world domination on his mind, has amazing blue hair and has a fantastic rapport with heroine Meg. Who's your favourite Hercules character? If your answer isn't Hades or Meg then you're lying to yourself. And for the villain to be the standout character takes something special.

5. Ursula - The Little Mermaid

'Never underestimate the importance of body language...'

Ursula is a monstrous sea witch, plotting evil in her underwater lair with her beloved eels. Her obsession with one-upping King Triton takes her on a journey of destruction, and she cleverly uses the hopes and dreams of beautiful young Ariel to set her own evil plans into motion. She's got a red lip, amazing hair and great legs. Six of them.

(Don't @ me: yes, she's a squid/octopus beast but she doesn't have eight tentacles: she has six legs and two arms. Leave me alone.)

4. The Hunter - Bambi

Don't start with all that 'he doesn't count' stuff. We may not see the man (cut scenes establish that he is a man, I'm not being sexist about hunters) who kills Bambi's mother, but his presence looms throughout the film, and he's one of the few Disney villains who could really be seen as traumatising kids at home.

All that without a single line of dialogue? That is genuinely impressive.

Joint 2nd: Scar and Jafar - The Lion King and Aladdin respectively

They have to go together because they're essentially the same villain when you think about it. They're both English in an American world. They're both heavily queer-coded. They both manipulate the hero for their own ends. They're both obsessed with power and find their end when they are too arrogant to see that they have lost.

In short? They're both equally excellent.

1. Yzma - The Emperor's New Groove

Looks? Iconic. Voice? Iconic. Catchphrases? Beyond iconic. The Emperor's New Groove is not Disney's most watched film but Yzma is truly the studio's greatest villains and Eartha Kitt was a comedy genius in this role. She loathes the arrogant Emperor so much that she vows to murder him, but has to rethink when the potions get mixed up. Now, she's got a llama on her gnarled hands instead.

Watch it. You honestly won't regret it. 'Wrong leveeeeeer.....'

Disagree with our choices? That's all good. Who's your favourite? We don't have a comment section so we won't invite you to fight your corner here, but maybe call a friend or something. See if your mirror talks back to you.

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