10 Most Iconic Villains In Movie History

3. The Evil Queen - Snow White And The Seven Dwarves

You know you’ve designed your villain correctly when she can frighten the pants off young and old viewers alike. Over eighty years after the film’s release, the twisted features of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves’ wicked Queen is no less effective and terrifying.

The evil stepmother is a familiar fairy tale trope, and this might be its best rendition. The Queen in her stately, regal form is iconic enough, drawn with an impossibly cruel sneer and an upright poise that masks an immoral core.

When we see the Queen transform into a horrible hag, though, it’s the stuff of nightmares. The Queen’s motivation and ultimate undoing is her vanity, but in many ways the hag is her true form, the evil curdling at her core finally reflected by her external appearance.

The Queen completely steals the show from the comparatively bland Snow White, though she’s petrifying enough that you’re still happy - and relieved - to see her vanquished at the end. This was Disney’s debut full length feature, and they hit it out of the park with the villain first try.