Top 10 Most Evil Disney Villains of All Time, Ranked from Bad to Baddest

Last updated January 23rd 2024

Top 10 Disney Villains

We already know the fairest one of all, but who's the most evil one of all?

The world was introduced in 1937 to the first Disney villain: the Evil Queen. Since then many more have plotted against our dear heroes and heroines.

Using the criteria listed below (our very own improvised "evilmeter"), we rank the top 10 best Disney Villains from the Disney animated canon - the best of the worst, that is: the most dastardly, sneaky, devious and wicked, the very most evil Disney Villains of them all!

Criteria: evil goal, evildoings, craftiness and evil powers, with points added or deducted for henchmen/sidekicks



List of the Top 10 Disney Villains


10
Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil

Movie: 101 Dalmatians (1961)

Evil goal: Cruella reveals that her vanity knows no bounds in her wish to make a coat of dalmatian puppies.
Score: 6

Evildoings: Her selfish greed pushes her to kidnap Pongo and Perdita's pups when it's made clear to her that she can't have them by any legal means.
Score: 6

Craftiness: She covers her tracks ably, even calling her old friend Anita to express concern over the loss of the puppies.
Score: 7

Evil powers: Her flare-ups are at times terrifying and her threats equally so, but her pocketbook seems to have more influence than she does herself.
Score: 6

Henchmen/sidekicks: Jasper and Horace, who aren't the brightest or the most dependable goons, often irritate the impatient Cruella.
Score: -1

Final Score: 24/40: Bad



9
Captain Hook
Captain Hook

Movie: Peter Pan (1953)

Evil goal: Captain Hook is bitterly determined to rid himself of the bane of his existence: Peter Pan.
Score: 7

Evildoings: Between shooting cannonballs and engaging in swordfighting, he kidnaps Princess Tiger Lily, then uses Tinker Bell against Peter Pan in his effort to kill his sworn enemy.
Score: 8

Craftiness: His plans are crafty indeed, but his impatience, volatile temper and excessive fear of ticking clocks usually undermine his resolution.
Score: 5

Evil powers: He's skilful in the use of sword and hook, and has great influence over his crew of burly pirates.
Score: 6

Henchmen/sidekicks: Though loyal and ever eager to please, Smee ends up being a nuisance to his captain more often than not.
Score: -1

Final Score: 25/40: Pretty bad



8
Mother Gothel
Mother Gothel

Movie: Tangled (2010)

Special distinction: Mother Gothel is the oldest human Disney Villain, being at least 1000 years old.

Evil goal: Mother Gothel is obsessed with retaining her youth.
Score: 5

Evildoings: She kidnaps the baby princess Rapunzel and confines her to a secluded tower to keep Rapunzel's healing powers to herself. When Rapunzel finds out the truth, Mother Gothel binds and gags her to keep her there, and stabs Flynn Rider, who attempts to rescue the princess.
Score: 8

Craftiness: A narcissistic manipulator extraordinaire, Mother Gothel poses as a loving, protective mother who wishes Rapunzel to stay in the tower only for her own protection. She uses Rapunzel's emotions against her. She lies frequently and alternates between rewards and threats to keep Rapunzel loyal and obedient.
Score: 8

Evil powers: Mother Gothel uses the powers of the magical gold flower, but she herself has none.
Score: 5

Henchmen/sidekicks: Mother Gothel allies with the Stabbington Brothers to trick Rapunzel into returning to her tower.
Score: +1

Final Score: 27/40: Badder



7
The Evil Queen
The Evil Queen

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Special distinction: The Evil Queen is the first of the Disney Villains.

Evil goal: In her quest to be the fairest one of all, the Evil Queen is determined to eliminate her own stepdaughter Snow White.
Score: 8

Evildoings: When the huntsman fails to kill Snow White on her orders, the Queen takes matters into her own hands.
Score: 7

Craftiness: That the fearful princess might not recognise her, the Queen transforms herself into an old crone and gives her a poisoned apple, which sends poor Snow White into a death-like sleep.
Score: 7

Evil powers: The Queen uses witchcraft. In her castle she has access to various magical items and books filled with spells.
Score: 7

Henchmen/sidekicks: Her best allies appear to be the magic mirror and the huntsman. The mirror gives her information, which proves useful, but the huntsman disobeys her orders.
Score: -1

Final Score: 28/40: Even badder



6
Hades
Hades

Movie: Hercules (1997)

Special distinction: As an immortal god, Hades is the oldest of the Disney Villains.

Evil goal: Hades has long resented the power of his brother, the mighty Zeus, king of Mount Olympus, and plots to rule the universe himself.
Score: 7

Evildoings: As part of his master plan, Hades raises the vengeful and destructive Titans. He attempts again and again to kill Hercules, who stands in his way.
Score: 8

Craftiness: Hades, in possession of Meg's soul, uses the Grecian beauty against Hercules.
Score: 8

Evil powers: As ruler of the Underworld, Hades wields great power, but much of it he owes to the deals he makes.
Score: 7

Henchmen/sidekicks: Pain and Panic have the ability to change shape, but it cannot compensate for their ineptness, which often infuriates hot-headed Hades.
Score: -1

Final Score: 29/40: Quite bad



5
Maleficent
Maleficent

Movie: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Special distinction: Maleficent is also known as the Mistress of All Evil.

Evil goal: Angry at the king and queen, who neglected to invite her to the special event celebrating Aurora's birth, Maleficent seeks revenge.
Score: 6

Evildoings: In her anger Maleficent puts a death curse on the innocent baby princess.
Score: 8

Craftiness: Knowing that Prince Phillip could wake the sleeping beauty, Maleficent kidnaps him and locks him in her dungeon. When he escapes, she raises a veritable forest of thorns all round the castle, that he might not enter it.
Score: 7

Evil powers: Maleficent is one of the most powerful Disney villains: a fact that can be easily ascertained when she transforms into a great fire-breathing dragon.
Score: 9

Henchmen/sidekicks: She has many goons at her beck and call, but her loyal raven spy, Diablo, is her favorite.
Score: +1

Final Score: 31/40: Very bad



4
Scar
Scar

Movie: The Lion King (1994)

Special distinction: Scar is the first Disney Villain who is related to the protagonist by blood.

Evil goal: For a long time Scar has desired nothing more than to take over the Pride Lands and rule as king.
Score: 7

Evildoings: Jealous and resentful that Simba would ascend the throne after Mufasa, and that he, Scar, would likely never be king, he attempts to have his nephew killed. Then he murders his own brother and attempts again to have Simba killed.
Score: 9

Craftiness: Scar uses trickery and cunning to form an alliance with the hyenas and to arrange the deaths of Mufasa and Simba by a wildebeest stampede.
Score: 8

Evil powers: He says so himself that his brains more than make up for what he lacks in brute strength.
Score: 7

Henchmen/sidekicks: Though the hyenas turn on him in the end, Scar wouldn't have been able to keep the throne without them.
Score: +1

Final Score: 32/40: Really bad



3
Ursula
Ursula

Movie: The Little Mermaid (1989)

Evil goal: Resenting Triton, the king of Atlantica, for banishing her from the underwater city, she bides her time until she can have her revenge and take the crown from him.
Score: 7

Evildoings: Ursula has no pity for those merfolk she tricks into making deals with her. She actually collects and displays them in her home. She takes pleasure in watching Triton writhe. Despite her tacit agreement with him not to harm Ariel, she attempts to kill her, as well as Eric.
Score: 7

Craftiness: Ursula manipulates Ariel expertly, convincing her to sign a contract with her. When she begins to fear that the little mermaid might end up with the better end of the deal, she transforms herself into a beautiful young woman and uses Ariel's voice to entrance the prince.
Score: 9

Evil powers: Being an accomplished witch, Ursula can easily cast spells, concoct potions and change her appearance and size.
Score: 9

Henchmen/sidekicks: Ursula is very fond of Flotsam and Jetsam, whom she affectionately calls "poopsies". The devoted eels serve her well. Such instances include luring Ariel to the sea witch's lair and capsizing the boat in time to stop Eric from kissing her.
Score: +1

Final Score: 33/40: Really, really bad



2
Claude Frollo
Claude Frollo

Movie: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1996)

Evil goal: Frollo views the Romani people ("gypsies") in the most hateful light and aims to rid Paris of them all.
Score: 10

Evildoings: Callously he burns down houses and kills innocents. To quiet his own demons, he sentences Esmeralda to be burned at the stake. He treats Quasimodo cruelly throughout his life, and even tries to kill him.
Score: 10

Craftiness: Frollo tricks Quasimodo into leading him to the Court of Miracles. He manipulates as many people as he can into believing that what he does is God's will.
Score: 8

Evil powers: His power and influence over others, particularly over Quasimodo, is substantial, but it wears off once he is seen for what he really is: a monster.
Score: 6

Henchmen/sidekicks: Frollo has neither henchman nor sidekick to speak of, though the guards are expected to obey him as their superior.
Score: 0

Final Score: 34/40: Extremely bad



1
Jafar
Jafar

Movie: Aladdin (1992)

Evil goal: Not content with his position as Royal Vizier, Jafar means to marry princess Jasmine and kill the Sultan, that he might replace him.
Score: 7

Evildoings: Jafar attempts to kill Aladdin or have him killed several times. He also attempts to kill Jasmine, and enjoys watching Iago torture the Sultan.
Score: 8

Craftiness: After finding out that Aladdin is the diamond in the rough he needs, Jafar has him arrested. Then, disguised as an old beggar, he tricks him into retrieving the lamp from the Cave of Wonders.
Score: 9

Evil powers: Jafar has many magical artefacts in his possession, including a snake-headed staff, which he uses to hypnotise the Sultan. As the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he sends Aladdin, Abu and Carpet to the ends of the Earth and transforms himself into a giant cobra. As a genie, he has, as Aladdin puts it, "phenomenal cosmic powers", easily securing his position as one of the top Disney Villains of all time.
Score: 10

Henchmen/sidekicks: Jafar may at times treat his pet parrot Iago badly, but for the most part they get along, as they both have a desire for power. Iago helps his master get what he wants, most notably when he steals the lamp from Aladdin.
Score: +1

Final Score: 35/40: Baddest



Here is our ranking of the top 10 most evil Disney Villains of all time:

  1. Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)
  2. Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
  3. Mother Gothel (Tangled)
  4. The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
  5. Hades (Hercules)
  6. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
  7. Scar (The Lion King)
  8. Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
  9. Claude Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)
  10. Jafar (Aladdin)


Honourable mentions:


Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)
The Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)
Shere Khan (The Jungle Book)
The Horned King (The Black Cauldron)
Shan Yu (Mulan)


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