Disney villains. Where do I even begin? These characters get under our skin in the best (or worst) ways possible. Whether you’re 5 or 50, you’ve likely spent hours watching these evil figures wreak havoc. There’s something so captivating about a villain whose only goal is pure destruction—or, you know, taking over the world. But, let’s be real, not all Disney villains are created equal. Some are downright chilling, while others are a little more… dramatic. So, I’m here to take a deep dive into the worst Disney villains of all time, ranking them based on their sheer malice, level of evil genius, and how they’ve managed to haunt our childhoods.
Get ready for a trip through some of the darkest corners of Disney, where things aren’t as magical as they seem. Anyway, here’s the kicker: not all of these villains started out bad. But their paths? Let’s just say they’re wicked enough to give anyone nightmares.
1. Maleficent – Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Maleficent. The Maleficent. This lady’s brand of evil is the stuff of legend. When she shows up at Princess Aurora’s christening, she drops the bomb that the poor girl will die after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. To be fair, she was pretty upset about not being invited, but really, that’s no reason to curse a newborn, right? Her transformation into a giant dragon? Ugh, I remember the first time I saw that as a kid—I genuinely thought she was the scariest thing on earth. Like, lifetime trauma scary.
What makes her one of the worst? She’s got zero redemption. Like, none. She’s cold, calculating, and willing to go to any length for revenge. After all, she didn’t just try to ruin Aurora’s life; she literally set a forest on fire just to destroy her. That’s next-level rage, y’all.
2. Scar – The Lion King (1994)
So, here’s the deal. Scar is the ultimate jealous villain. He’s got that I’ll do whatever it takes vibe going on. And by “whatever,” I mean, he’s literally willing to kill his own brother, Mufasa, just to take the throne. This is some serious sibling rivalry. I remember watching that scene as a kid where Mufasa falls to his death, and I felt like I’d just been punched in the gut. The betrayal hit me harder than when I realized my mom had been sneaking veggies into my mac and cheese for years.
Once he gets power, he turns the Pride Lands into a barren wasteland. The worst part? He spends the whole movie just… laughing while his plans unfold. Scar is cruel, manipulative, and the ultimate reminder that power does not make you a better person.
3. Queen Grimhilde – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Okay, this one’s old school, but it hits hard. The Evil Queen, also known as Queen Grimhilde, really took vanity to the extreme. This lady was obsessed with being the fairest of them all, so much so that she ordered a huntsman to kill Snow White just because she was getting more compliments. Yeah, let’s just say… therapy wasn’t her strong suit.
The whole mirror thing? Classic. But what’s really disturbing is how she transformed into an old hag just to give Snow White the poisoned apple. Ugh, the whole thing is chilling. This was the first Disney villain I remember feeling genuinely scared of as a kid, and I think that’s why she’s so effective. If your jealousy and insecurity are powerful enough to kill… you’re definitely on the “worst of all time” list.
4. Ursula – The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ursula, the sea witch, is the perfect mix of sass and pure evil. She’s got a goal—to take over the seas—and she’s willing to make Ariel pay the price for it. Ariel’s naivety doesn’t help, of course. I swear, the first time I saw Ursula’s giant, tentacled self, I thought I might need to take a break from watching Disney movies for a while.
But what really makes Ursula the worst is how she manipulates Ariel’s desperation. She convinces her to trade her voice for legs in exchange for the chance to meet Prince Eric. That whole “deal with the devil” vibe is chilling, and watching her wreak havoc underwater—stealing control—reminds me of how crazy people can get when they’re chasing after power.
Oh, and the way she controls the ocean with her singing? Total mic drop moment.
5. Hades – Hercules (1997)
Fast forward past three failed attempts to become king of the underworld, and Hades finally gets his shot in Hercules. Played by James Woods with a side of sass, Hades is honestly more charismatic than he is terrifying. I mean, the dude’s funny. But, don’t be fooled, he’s just as evil as anyone else on this list—maybe even more.
His whole thing is to overthrow Zeus, and to do that, he needs to stop Hercules. So, yeah, Hercules, the literal son of Zeus. That’s a pretty tall order. Hades’ wit and sarcasm make him one of the most entertaining villains, but his dark side? It’s no joke. I mean, when he gets mad, it’s apocalyptic.
I remember the first time I heard Hades’ line, “I’m a one-man wrecking crew,” and thinking, “Yup. That’s exactly what I want to be when I grow up—minus the evil plans.”
6. Lady Tremaine – Cinderella (1950)
Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother from Cinderella, is the kind of villain that doesn’t need superpowers to ruin your day. Nope, she’s all about manipulation and pure malice. She’s wicked in the quiet, chilling way that makes you feel the evil even before you see it.
She forces Cinderella into servitude in her own home, literally making her clean and cook while her stepsisters get to live it up. What’s worse? Lady Tremaine is cold as ice, with a calculated cruelty that’s way scarier than any dragon or magic spell. I mean, no wonder Cinderella ended up with some serious abandonment issues, right?
Anyway, if there’s one villain who defines the phrase “emotional abuse,” it’s Lady Tremaine.
7. Gaston – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
I can’t be the only one who found Gaston’s overconfidence hella annoying, right? This dude thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread—if sliced bread was made of pure muscle and entitlement. He’s obsessed with Belle, to the point where he can’t take no for an answer. Like, dude, let her live!
What really gets me, though, is how Gaston manages to rally the whole town behind him in his campaign to kill the Beast, who, let’s be honest, just wants to be left alone. Gaston’s arrogance and violence—combined with the whole “I’m right because I’m strong” mentality—make him a textbook example of toxic masculinity. Every time he smashes a mug over his head to show off… it’s cringey in the best way possible.
I’ll be honest, I’m still not sure if Gaston is a terrible villain or just sadly hilarious. Either way, he’s a menace.
8. Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Cruella de Vil is straight-up evil, but what really makes her the worst? It’s the fact that she literally wants to murder puppies for their fur. Puppies, y’all. The cuteness factor is off the charts here, and she wants to skin them alive to wear them. Like, who does that? Cruella is the embodiment of “if you can’t get what you want, ruin it for everyone else.”
Every time she speeds down the street in her car, you know someone’s about to be in trouble. And the way she laughs? Ugh, it’s the laugh of someone who doesn’t have a heart. Honestly, I think my childhood was scarred by her and the scene with the puppies in the snow.
9. Captain Hook – Peter Pan (1953)
So Captain Hook. I think we’ve all had that one teacher or boss who was always ready to snap at us over something small, right? Hook is that guy, except he’s a pirate, and he’s got a literal hook for a hand. His vendetta against Peter Pan is legendary, but his entire existence is basically one long temper tantrum.
His obsession with revenge against Peter makes him reckless. You ever know someone who can’t get over a grudge? Yeah, that’s Hook. But, you know, with more swords. Also, side note: I think the real villain here might actually be the crocodile that’s always stalking him. Talk about a persistent nightmare.
10. The Horned King – The Black Cauldron (1985)
This villain? Absolutely terrifying. The Horned King is so evil that even his name sounds like a warning. His quest to control the Black Cauldron, a powerful artifact that can raise an army of the undead, is a terrifying concept all on its own. He doesn’t just want to rule, he wants to destroy everything. The Horned King’s dark presence is unsettling, and his evil plans are relentless.
He’s the kind of villain you wouldn’t want to cross, even for a minute. And while The Black Cauldron might not be as famous as some of the other Disney classics, this villain’s pure, unadulterated malice makes him one of the worst.
Wrapping it Up
And there you have it. These Disney villains are wicked, vile, and, in some cases, borderline terrifying. Each one of them made a massive impact on our childhoods (and nightmares), and it’s no surprise they’ve become legends in the world of villains. Whether they’re motivated by jealousy, power, or sheer cruelty, these bad guys show us just how far someone will go to get what they want.
Now, as for the worst? Well, that’s up for debate. But I think we can all agree—these Disney villains have earned their place in the dark side of animation history.
