10 Amazing 21st-Century Movie Villains Who Aren’t Spoken About Enough

10. General Zod – Man Of Steel

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was almost certainly the blueprint for how DC would alter and apply a change in tone as the studio opted for a more dark and gritty approach to adapting their source material on-screen. As such, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel was instrumental in implementing this methodology and Michael Shannon’s rejuvenated take on Superman’s famous foe played a starring role in achieving that.

Acquiring an actor of Michael Shannon’s calibre was a huge get for the DC higher-ups, as his trademark formidability and intensity complemented his comic book counterpart perfectly. Shannon’s take on Zod is a performance that couldn’t be better suited to kicking this list off. The Kryptonian General boasts an admirable sense of drive and determination, however, his ruthless nature makes him reckless as he will never stop until he avenges his beloved Krypton. He wants nothing more than to see his company and colony thrive as they did before, but to rebuild, he must first destroy.

Sharing the screen with Henry Cavill for his Superman debut is no easy feat but the supreme chemistry both actors enjoy on-screen together is equally matched by the same said chemistry they install into their respective characters. There’s no chair twirling and moustache curling to see here if that’s your kind of villain, but instead, a cannonball of fury fired onto a path of cinematic self-destruction. What’s not to like?