Top 20 Smartest Movie Villains

Tenting your fingers and cackling is an art form! For this list, we’ll be looking at the most dastardly and intelligent big screen villains of all time. Since we’re talking general plotlines, we’re issuing a spoiler warning. Our countdown includes villains Auric Goldfinger, Professor Moriarty, Helmut Zemo and much more! Which of these villains do you find the cleverest? Is there someone we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Check out these other villainous videos:

Become a channel member to get access to special perks:

Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!

Have your idea become a video!

Subscribe for more great content!

Visit our shop for awesome merch!

Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news on Fi

#villains #movies #smart #starwars #watchmen #saw #batman #sherlock

[WatchMojo]

Be sure to set a reminder for the live premiere, see you then!
And let us know who you think should top this list!

[TheHarrie]

Hans Landa was played to perfection. Every detail from his character was perfectly written by Tarantino and played by Waltz.

[Jaime.Lannister]

Anton definitely deserves at least top 5. He's got all the qualities of a perfect villain. His anticipation skills are underrated.

[BigFella]

Hannibal Lecter, the man who can still instill fear in a room even in restrains and a muzzle

[ChosKing]

Anton Chigurh is said to be a perfect film representation of a Psychopath and for damn good reason, Javier Bardem absolutely killed it playing him.

[anngreen]

Thank you for naming my favorites! Anton Chigurh has no parallel; the two greatest Spacey performances (Seven) (The Usual Suspects) demonstrated immeasurable, chilling manipulation; Heath Ledger's Joker is the best that will ever be. I rather wish you hadn't revealed the ending of Primal Fear.

[maltaaaas]

Palpatine is without a doubt the greatest mastermind. Not only did he seize power over the galaxy by manipulating Anakin, he was also the Supreme leader of both sides of the clone wars, essentially playing a gigantic chess game to throw the galaxy into chaos and making it possible for him to seize absolute control.

[fasihhaider]

Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter was also insane good.

[jspurs]

This list did not disappoint Joker, Ozymandias, Hall9000 was just pure gold

[ShinPepsiman]

The coin toss scene alone made Anton my favorite villain ever

[simosaghir]

some honorable mentions :
- Samuel Jackson (Django unchained)
- Anthony Perkins (Psychose)
- Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
- John Malkovich (Con Air )
- Isabelle Fuhrman(Esther)
- Ed Harris(Stalingrad)
-John Travolta(Voltface)
- Matt Daemon(Departed)

[mickred]

Gerard Butler as Clyde Sheldon from 'Law Abiding Citizen' should be on this list as well. Underrated film and performance from both leads.

[melvsdlp]

I think Joker deserved to be ranked higher in the list

[JW-rqqh]

Kevin Spacey plays an excellent villain both on and off screen 😂

[angelcuellar]

Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal was AMAZING. It's a crime that he's not on the list.

[CalifornianCuttlefish]

Great Video! *These villains are fantastic and also super well written and performed*

[nepatrul]

Emperor Palpatine simply _has_ to be number 1. I cannot imagine any villain so ingenious and conniving that they can literally orchestrate the geopolitical and political conflicts of an entire _galaxy._ Hannibal and Kint are ingenious, but how does that compare to literally creating a galactic war AND leading both sides of it?

[tracidavis]

Hannibal is a truly great villain. He even convinces Clarice to become his lover in the books.

[brianaseven]

I’m sorry but Hans Landa deserved top 5, at least. Incredibly devious villain and played to perfection by Christoph Waltz.

[ethancullen]

A few honorable mentions:
Clyde Shelton - law abiding citizen
Michael Myers - Halloween franchise
Catherine tramell - basic instinct