10 Greatest Movie Villains Of The Last Decade
Modern movies' most malevolent monsters.
The past decade has been, if not a golden age for movie villains, then certainly a very good one. Most obviously, the superhero boom has continued unimpeded, with Marvel especially bringing out baddie-laden blockbusters at a prodigious rate, and if they haven’t all generated iconic antagonists, a few of them certainly have.
Other major series have continued, restarted, or sprung into life, deploying great evil figures of their own. Whether these are remakes, reboots, literary adaptations, there have been plenty of sinister characters movies have brought to life.
Then there are the standalone films, the original intellectual property, an increasingly rare commodity in movies. Though these are fewer and more far between with each passing year, fresh new ideas have boasted fresh new fiends for us to boo and throw popcorn at (in the privacy of our own homes, preferably).
These are the best of the bad in modern moviegoing, the wicked ones who stole the show in recent big screen entertainment. As ever, it pays to be bad, and for the actors indulging in a heel turn, it looks like a hell of a lot more fun.
10. Killmonger - Black Panther
Michael B Jordan has gone from hot prospect to one of the most bankable actors in the game, and while his turn as Killmonger in Black Panther came after his big time breakthrough, it took him to another level.
Killmonger is a cut above the majority of Marvel villains, with a far more detailed backstory, and greater shading than almost any bad guy the franchise has produced. Far from the histrionics and moustache twiddling evil of some lesser bad guys, Killmonger is contemplative and strategic, cold blooded and understandable.
This is a more measured character than many of Marvel’s offerings, but a darker one too, which Jordan has said took a while to leave his system after filming. It’s an immersive, intense performance from the star, who is clearly invested in the part.
With the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, the future of Black Panther is up in the air, but the film will remain a high point in the MCU, and like all superhero movies, it’s nothing without a superb villain to challenge an excellent hero.