Top 10 Most Evil Disney Villains
Hi, I’m Emily Johnson and I have a confession to make: I’ve always had a soft spot for Disney Villains. Don’t get me wrong, I love the heroes too, but there’s something about a well-crafted villain that really makes a movie for me. And let’s face it, Disney has some pretty great villains.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the top 10 most evil Disney villains, as voted on by Disney fans. We’ll explore what makes them so evil, share some interesting facts and data, and maybe even learn a thing or two about our favorite animated bad guys.
Top 10 Most Evil Disney Villains
- 1. Maleficent
- 2. Scar
- 3. Ursula
- 4. Cruella de Vil
- 5. Jafar
- 6. The Evil Queen
- 7. Hades
- 8. Gaston
- 9. Mother Gothel
- 10. Captain Hook
What Makes Them So Evil?
So, what is it that makes these villains so evil? Well, for starters, they all have a clear goal that they will stop at nothing to achieve. Maleficent wants revenge, Scar wants power, Ursula wants to rule the ocean, and so on. They’re willing to hurt and even kill others to achieve their goals.
But it’s not just their goals that make them evil. It’s also the way they go about achieving them. Many of these villains are manipulative, using lies and deception to get what they want. Others are simply sadistic, enjoying the suffering of others. And some are just plain crazy.
Maleficent
Let’s start with the most evil of them all, Maleficent. This mistress of all evil is the villain in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. She curses Princess Aurora to die on her 16th birthday, simply because she wasn’t invited to the party. Maleficent is ruthless, cunning, and terrifying. She’s a classic villain and one that still gives me nightmares.
Interesting Fact: Maleficent was inspired by the character of the same name from Charles Perrault’s 1697 fairy tale The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood.
Scar
Next up, we have Scar, the villain in The Lion King. Scar is Mufasa’s brother and uncle to Simba. He murders Mufasa and convinces Simba that it was his fault, causing Simba to run away and leaving Scar in charge of the Pride Lands. Scar is power-hungry, manipulative, and has no qualms about killing his own family to get what he wants.
Interesting Fact: Scar was originally going to be a baboon, but was changed to a lion when the animators realized that a baboon wouldn’t be as threatening.
Ursula
Ursula is the villain in The Little Mermaid. She’s a sea witch who makes a deal with Ariel, promising to turn her into a human in exchange for her voice. Ursula is devious and manipulative, using Ariel’s naivety to trick her into making the deal. She also has a love for chaos and destruction, as seen when she creates a storm to sink a ship.
Interesting Fact: Ursula was based on drag queen Divine, who was a friend of the film’s writer and director.
Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil is the villain in 101 Dalmatians. She’s a wealthy fashion designer who wants to turn the puppies into a fur coat. She’s selfish, greedy, and has no empathy for animals or people.
Interesting Fact: Cruella de Vil’s name is a play on the words cruel and devil.
Jafar
Jafar is the villain in Aladdin. He’s the Royal Vizier of Agrabah and wants to become the Sultan. He’s manipulative, using his position of power to get what he wants. He’s also sadistic, as seen when he turns Jasmine’s father into a talking parrot.
Interesting Fact: Jafar was originally going to be voiced by Patrick Stewart, but the role eventually went to Jonathan Freeman.
The Evil Queen
The Evil Queen is the villain in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She’s obsessed with being the fairest in the land and orders the huntsman to kill Snow White when she becomes a threat to her beauty. She’s vain, cruel, and has no regard for human life.
Interesting Fact: The Evil Queen was the first Disney villain to appear on screen.
Hades
Hades is the villain in Hercules. He’s the god of the underworld and wants to overthrow Zeus and rule Olympus. He’s witty, sarcastic, and enjoys causing chaos. He’s also incredibly powerful, as seen when he unleashes the Titans on the world.
Interesting Fact: Hades was originally going to be voiced by Jack Nicholson, but the role eventually went to James Woods.
Gaston
Gaston is the villain in Beauty and the Beast. He’s a vain, arrogant, and selfish hunter who wants to marry Belle. When she refuses him, he becomes obsessed with destroying the Beast and winning Belle’s affections.
Interesting Fact: Gaston was based on the character of the same name from the French fairy tale La Belle et la Bête.
Mother Gothel
Mother Gothel is the villain in Tangled. She kidnapped Rapunzel as a baby and raised her as her own daughter, using her magical hair to keep herself young. She’s manipulative, using guilt and emotional abuse to control Rapunzel.
Interesting Fact: Mother Gothel was designed to look like a combination of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Captain Hook
Captain Hook is the villain in Peter Pan. He’s a pirate who wants to kill Peter Pan, whom he sees as a rival. He’s cunning, manipulative, and has a deep hatred for children.
Interesting Fact: Captain Hook was originally going to be voiced by Hans Conried, but the role eventually went to Hans Conried.
FAQs
Who is the most evil Disney villain?
According to our survey results, Maleficent is the most evil Disney villain.
What makes a Disney villain evil?
A Disney villain is considered evil when they have a clear goal and are willing to hurt or even kill others to achieve that goal. They’re often manipulative, sadistic, or just plain crazy.
Which Disney villain is the most popular?
Our survey results also showed that Scar is the most popular Disney villain, followed closely by Maleficent.