The Most Iconic Movie Villains in Film History

Every bit as elusive as his name would suggest, serial killer John Doe (Kevin Spacey) commits a series of heinous murders in an unnamed city. He emerges in the final act as part of a grim and meticulous plan and things only get darker from there. To reinforce an element of intrigue and surprise, actor Spacey isn’t listed in the film’s opening credits.

The same year he played a serial killer in “Se7en,” Kevin Spacey starred as a criminal mastermind in this acclaimed thriller. Under the guise of a wimpy alter-ego, Keyser Soze manipulates the investigation of a mysterious massacre. And for anyone who hasn’t seen the film yet, we apologize for spoiling one of the greatest reveals in movie history.

With his emotionless tone and delivery, Weaving perfectly captures the essence of a computer made flesh in this sci-fi masterpiece. His ability to replicate himself or appear at any time makes him quite the formidable foe, and a seminal fixture of the original trilogy.

Joaquin Phoenix announced himself as one of the best actors of his generation with this Oscar-nominated performance. The devious son of an emperor, Commodus murders his own father and seizes power in ancient Rome.

Magneto finds enemies on all sides in this comic book adaptation, which pits him and his minions against both the X-men and the U.S. government. Actor Ian McKellen reprised the role in a blockbuster sequel, which expands upon the character’s backstory and continues his reign of terror.