9. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins)
One of the most iconic fictional serial killers ever, with Hannibal Lecter, Hopkins managed to deliver something very special indeed. Here was a serial murderer, a cannibal no less, who we almost couldnt help but like, thanks to his unbelievable charisma and bubbling on-screen energy. A complex character indeed, and an extremely successful one, both in cinema and literature. When I watch Ledgers powerhouse take on the Clown Prince of Crime, I cant help but notice echoes of Hopkins Lecter performance, insofar as the fact that Ledgers Joker is terrifying at times, villainous and reprehensible, yet theres still a small part of me that weirdly gets the urge to cheer him on. Again, its that amazing charisma and bubbling energy that Ledger imbues the character with, which to my mind, Hopkins wrote and closed the book on. Check out this clip from Silence of the Lambs, close your eyes, listen, and tell me Ledger didnt research Lecter when preparing to put his clown shoes on: http://youtu.be/G1IayQ9MAl4