Top 10 Greatest Female Movie Villains of All Time

Top 10 Greatest Female Movie Villains of All Time
Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell in "Basic Instinct" (1992)

These actresses showcase a wide range of villainy, from power-driven to psychopathic, and have left an indelible mark on film. Here's our list of the Top 10 greatest female movie villains, known for their iconic performances, villainous traits, and unforgettable impact on film

Catherine Tramell - "Basic Instinct" (1992)

Portrayed by Sharon Stone

Catherine Tramell is a cold and calculating woman whose intelligence and seductive charm are matched only by her ruthlessness. As a writer, she crafts plots that mirror her own life, using her sex appeal as both a weapon and a defense. Throughout Basic Instinct, she manipulates those around her - especially the detective investigating the murder of her lover - playing him like a pawn in her deadly game.

Catherine is driven by a thirst for control and power. She is unbothered by the consequences of her actions, as long as she remains in control of the narrative and her life. Her enigmatic personality and attraction to danger make her an alluring yet terrifying character.

Catherine Tramell is an embodiment of the femme fatale archetype, one of the most enduring figures in cinema. Sharon Stone's portrayal revolutionized the role, making Catherine both a seductive icon and a symbol of female power and manipulation.

Catherine is a key character in the portrayal of strong female characters in thrillers. Her cool detachment, manipulation, and allure have influenced similar characters in film and television, and her iconic interrogation scene is still widely referenced in pop culture.

Sharon Stone was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her performance as the manipulative, seductive Catherine Tramell. While she did not win, her portrayal has become one of the most memorable in the thriller genre.

Nurse Ratched - "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)

Portrayed by Louise Fletcher

Nurse Ratched is a symbol of institutional control, embodying the cold and systematic dehumanization often found within mental health institutions. Ratched, also known as "Big Nurse," controls the psychiatric ward not through physical force but through subtle manipulation and psychological abuse. She is a master of passive-aggressive behavior, using guilt and shame to break down the patients' spirits. Her manipulation of the ward's rules, and the way she pits patients against each other, ultimately becomes a form of control.

Ratched's need for control stems from a deep insecurity and fear of losing authority. She's not motivated by personal gain or malice in the traditional sense; rather, she represents a bureaucratic system that subjugates the individual for the sake of conformity.

Nurse Ratched is one of the earliest representations of toxic institutional authority and the harm it causes to individuals. Her cold, impersonal demeanor, paired with the horrific outcomes of her methods, make her an unforgettable antagonist who represents the institutionalization of power.

Nurse Ratched became a template for countless villains in film and television who manipulate through bureaucratic authority. She has been referenced as the embodiment of "evil" within a system that pretends to care for its vulnerable.

Louise Fletcher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Nurse Ratched. Her chilling, authoritarian performance became legendary and is still considered one of the greatest portrayals of a villain in cinema.

Norma Desmond - "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)

Portrayed by Gloria Swanson

Norma Desmond is the quintessential fallen star, a character whose grandeur and delusion reflect the cruel nature of fame in Hollywood. Desmond was once a silent film icon, but as talkies became the new craze, she was left behind. Living in isolation, she surrounds herself with relics of her former life, completely unaware that the world has moved on.

Desmond's obsessive desire to return to stardom drives her to delusion. She manipulates the protagonist, Joe Gillis, not only to help her craft a comeback but also to feed her need for adoration and admiration. As she descends further into madness, she becomes dangerously possessive and delusional, believing she's still the star she once was.

Desmond is one of cinema's most tragic characters, embodying the destructive nature of fame and vanity. Her character is a commentary on the industry's tendency to discard its aging stars, replacing them with younger faces while leaving the former stars in despair.

Swanson's portrayal has influenced countless interpretations of Hollywood's obsession with youth and beauty. Her famous line, "I am big, it's the pictures that got small," is often quoted, symbolizing the disillusionment many actors face as they grow older in a youth-obsessed industry.

Gloria Swanson was nominated for Best Actress for her role as Norma Desmond. Though she did not win, her portrayal of the delusional, aging star remains one of the most iconic performances in film history.

Lady Macbeth - "Macbeth""

Portrayed by Francesca Annis (1971) & Marion Cotillard (2015)

Lady Macbeth is one of the most complex and ambitious characters in Shakespeare's works. In various film adaptations, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a power-hungry woman who urges her husband, Macbeth, to commit regicide in order to seize the throne. Her manipulation is subtle yet incredibly effective, as she challenges Macbeth's masculinity and instills in him the belief that he is destined for greatness.

Lady Macbeth's ambition is insatiable, and she views power as a means to achieve both personal fulfillment and status. She pushes Macbeth to murder King Duncan and take the throne, even though she is fully aware of the consequences. Her ambition, however, ultimately leads to her undoing, as she is consumed by guilt and insanity.

Lady Macbeth is one of literature's most notorious female villains, and her character has been studied for the way she manipulates her husband to commit murder. She represents the dangers of unchecked ambition and the impact of power on the human soul.

Her legacy in film and theater has been solidified by her complexity - she is neither purely evil nor simply a "bad wife." She is a woman driven by desires to gain control in a patriarchal world, making her an enduring figure in feminist interpretations of Shakespeare's work.

While Lady Macbeth has been portrayed by several actresses over the years, Marion Cotillard (in Macbeth, 2015) received numerous accolades for her performance, though she was not nominated for an Oscar specifically for her role as Lady Macbeth.

Maleficent - "Sleeping Beauty" (1959) & "Maleficent" (2014)

Voiced by Eleanor Audley (1959), Portrayed by Angelina Jolie (2014)

Maleficent, one of Disney's most iconic villains, is a powerful fairy who curses Princess Aurora to die on her 16th birthday after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. In the original 1959 animated film, Maleficent is pure evil, seeking revenge for being snubbed from the royal christening. In the 2014 live-action Maleficent, however, the character is given a backstory that explores her transformation from a kind-hearted fairy to a vengeful villain, shifting the perspective to show her side of the story.

In the original film, Maleficent's motivation is one of pure spite and malice. She is enraged by being overlooked by the king and, in her bitterness, casts a curse on Aurora. In the 2014 live-action film, Maleficent's character is more tragic, driven by the pain of betrayal and loss, which explains her desire for revenge.

Maleficent has become one of Disney's most iconic antagonists, symbolizing the consequences of being wronged and the destructive power of jealousy. The 2014 live-action film shifted the narrative to make her a more nuanced character, exploring the idea of redemption and forgiveness.

Both versions of Maleficent have left a lasting impact on how villains are portrayed in children's films. The original Maleficent remains one of the most terrifying figures in animated cinema, while the live-action version helped redefine the role of the villain as a more complex character in modern storytelling.

In the 2014 live-action Maleficent, Jolie’s portrayal earned her widespread acclaim, but she did not receive an Oscar nomination for this role. However, she did win several other awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for her role in Maleficent.

Queen Ravenna - "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012)

Portrayed by Charlize Theron

Queen Ravenna is a dark, captivating villain driven by an insatiable desire for youth and beauty. As the ruler of her kingdom, she uses dark magic to maintain her power and extend her life, casting spells that drain the beauty and youth of others. When her stepdaughter Snow White grows up to be more beautiful than she, Ravenna becomes consumed with jealousy and sends Snow White away to be killed, hoping to regain her throne and eternal beauty.

Ravenna's fear of aging and losing her beauty is rooted in her deep insecurity. She believes that her only power lies in her appearance, and her obsession with beauty makes her a dangerous and calculating character. This obsession leads her to harm those around her, especially Snow White, who becomes a threat to her reign.

Queen Ravenna represents the destructive nature of vanity and the societal pressure on women to maintain beauty. Her character explores the idea that power is often linked to physical appearance, and her willingness to sacrifice others to maintain her beauty critiques this societal standard.

Theron's portrayal of Ravenna brought a modern, nuanced take on the classic evil queen archetype. Her performance has inspired future depictions of powerful female villains who are not just evil for the sake of evil, but driven by complex insecurities and fears.

The Wicked Witch of the West - "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

Portrayed by Margaret Hamilton

The Wicked Witch of the West is one of the most iconic and enduring villains in film history. Her green skin, shrill voice, and malicious nature have made her a permanent fixture in the collective cultural memory. Motivated by jealousy and revenge, she seeks to destroy Dorothy and take possession of the magical ruby slippers. Her vendetta stems from her desire to control the Land of Oz and punish those who have defied her.

The Wicked Witch of the West's evil is driven by jealousy of her sister, Glinda the Good Witch, and by a need for power. Her desire to get her hands on the ruby slippers, which symbolize magical power, drives the plot of the film.

As the personification of evil, the Wicked Witch of the West embodies the archetype of the villain who is driven by envy and an insatiable desire for power. She has been analyzed as a figure of authority who seeks to oppress those who challenge her rule.

The Wicked Witch has become a quintessential villain in children's literature and film. Her image is often evoked in various adaptations of the Wizard of Oz story, and she has influenced countless depictions of evil witches in popular culture.

Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, was not nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal. However, her role remains one of the most iconic villain performances in film history.

Aileen Wuornos - "Monster" (2003)

Portrayed by Charlize Theron

Aileen Wuornos was a real-life serial killer who murdered seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990. In Monster, Charlize Theron delivers a haunting portrayal of Wuornos, showing a woman deeply scarred by a history of abuse and trauma. Theron's transformative performance is often regarded as one of the best of her career, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Wuornos' crimes were committed out of self-defense, as she felt threatened by men who attempted to sexually assault her. However, her actions became increasingly violent, and she resorted to murder as a means of survival. Her troubled past, marked by childhood abuse, addiction, and rejection, drove her to seek revenge against the men who represented the violence she had endured.

Monster brought attention to the real-life story of Aileen Wuornos, who was a deeply complex and tragic figure. Theron's portrayal humanized Wuornos, presenting her not as a simple monster, but as a victim of circumstance who found herself in a cycle of violence.

Aileen Wuornos has become a figure that challenges traditional notions of villainy. The film's portrayal of her blurred the lines between victim and villain, offering a more empathetic view of a woman who, despite her crimes, was shaped by a harsh and unforgiving world.

Charlize Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her transformative portrayal of Aileen Wuornos. Her performance is widely regarded as one of the best in modern cinema and was pivotal in cementing Theron as one of Hollywood’s top actresses.

Annie Wilkes - "Misery" (1990)

Portrayed by Kathy Bates

Annie Wilkes is a perfect example of how a seemingly ordinary person can turn into a terrifying villain. Played by Kathy Bates, Annie is a former nurse who holds the famous author Paul Sheldon captive after a car accident, demanding that he rewrite the ending of his latest book. She becomes increasingly unhinged, revealing her violent tendencies and obsession with Sheldon.

Annie is driven by an obsessive fanatical devotion to Paul Sheldon's work, particularly a series of novels she's addicted to. When Sheldon kills off her favorite character, she takes him captive and forces him to rewrite the book. Her need for control and her inability to accept the end of a fictional character cause her to spiral into psychotic behavior.

Annie Wilkes is a prime example of a villain who is both relatable and terrifying. Her transition from sweet, seemingly harmless nurse to sadistic captor is both chilling and fascinating. Bates' portrayal is iconic in the psychological horror genre.

Kathy Bates' portrayal of Annie Wilkes earned her an Academy Award, and her portrayal of the unhinged, psychotic fan became a defining moment in her career. Annie's unpredictability and ability to switch between sweetness and cruelty have influenced depictions of obsessive fans in horror and thrillers.

Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Annie Wilkes in Misery. Her portrayal of the obsessive fan who traps and tortures an author became a defining performance in the psychological thriller genre.

Harley Quinn - "Suicide Squad " (2016)

Portrayed by Margot Robbie

Harley Quinn is a complex anti-heroine who was originally introduced as the Joker's sidekick in Batman: The Animated Series. In Suicide Squad (2016), Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn became one of the standout performances in the DCEU, capturing the character's chaotic energy and tragic backstory. She is fiercely loyal to the Joker, but also deeply troubled and unpredictable, constantly shifting between humor, violence, and vulnerability.

Harley's loyalty to the Joker is born out of love, but it's clear that she is also deeply conflicted about her toxic relationship. While she wants to prove her worth to him, she also yearns for independence and freedom. Her chaotic nature is a result of her broken past and the abusive relationship she has with the Joker.

Harley Quinn represents the damaged, unpredictable side of female villainy. She is not a traditional villain; rather, she is an anti-hero who rejects societal norms and embraces her chaotic nature. Her character has resonated with audiences due to her complex personality and her refusal to fit neatly into a box.

Harley Quinn has become one of the most popular and recognizable characters in recent superhero films. Robbie's portrayal turned Harley into a fan favorite, and her transformation from sidekick to independent character was a breakthrough in the portrayal of female characters in superhero films.

They may appear to be angels; they may look beautiful; but rest assured these dames are deadly. Join us as we count down our picks for the top 10 greatest female movie villains of all time

In this video, WatchMojo.com counts down our picks for the top 10 greatest female movie villains of all time. For this list, we've included the cream of the crop of femmes fatales, regardless of whether they've appeared in our other top 10s on dangerous ladies.

We're also not limiting the roles to live-action only, so you can bet that a few animated and comic book characters made the cut as well.

Top 10 Greatest Female Movie Villains of All Time