The Lord Of The Rings: Ranking Every Major Villain From Worst To Best

Gollum possessed the One Ring for hundreds of years, and during this time he transformed into a twisted creature who was unrecognisable from the hobbit he had once been.

Due to his mental deterioration, he developed a split personality. One part of him wanted to help Frodo and Sam destroy the One Ring, whilst another wished to take it back for himself by any means necessary.

This continued ambiguity in terms of his loyalty made Gollum an unpredictable and captivating character. Indeed, the conversations he had with himself whilst Frodo and Sam were sleeping revealed just how conflicted he really was.

However, like many who encountered the One Ring, Gollum was ultimately consumed by its power and betrayed Frodo and Sam in order to be reunited with his beloved ring.

Throughout such a character arc, Andy Serkis’s performance was always outstanding. No other actor could have brought such an unusual character so vividly to life. Sure, the CGI is now starting to look a little dated, but Serkis’s performance remains the best of the entire trilogy.

Whereas most of Tolkien’s villains were overtly evil, Gollum stood out as the best antagonist in The Lord of the Rings due to the conflicted nature of his character.

How would you rank the villains in The Lord of the Rings? Leave your thoughts below in the comments thread.