00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best and most unexpected
00:08cases of performers being great villains.
00:12With such a lovable charisma and energy, John Goodman doesn't appear to be a shoe-in for
00:27villain roles.
00:28Many of his supporting parts on film and TV include his work on Roseanne or hosting SNL,
00:34shows that he's great at getting laughs.
00:36His collaborations with the Coen brothers gave him a different angle to play characters.
00:41In Barton Fink, he's the upbeat salesman who slowly reveals himself to be a murderer.
00:55Using his natural charms, Goodman can lure people into a false sense of security as a
00:59deceptive antagonist.
01:01His ability to also play heroes in Monsters, Inc. only proves he has a genuine range as
01:07an actor.
01:16After acting on stage, Ben Kingsley made a huge splash in films as one of the great heroes
01:21of the 20th century.
01:23His title role in Gandhi earned him an Oscar for transforming into a historical figure.
01:29Along with a heroic part in Schindler's List, it seemed like Kingsley was always meant to
01:33play good people from history.
01:35His evil performance in Sexy Beast completely changed his career.
01:45Don Logan is the ultimate antagonist, giving the actor a chance to trade Shakespeare for
01:50another kind of colorful language.
01:53His work in Iron Man 3 shows he can shine as a superhero villain until that twist.
01:59Whether he's subdued or acting out, the performer's acting catalogue truly spans from the best
02:04to the worst of people.
02:14As one of the greatest actors of his generation, Philip Seymour Hoffman found humanity in any
02:30role.
02:31He played all kinds of outcasts and complex men, including an award-winning performance
02:36in Capote.
02:37His role in Mission Impossible 3 showed that he could still deliver within the confines
02:42of a Hollywood action film.
02:51Sparring with Tom Cruise, Hoffman could provide menace in both quiet and loud moments.
02:56He can also keep you guessing in a movie like Doubt, where his character's guilt is ultimately
03:01debated.
03:02Gone much too soon, the actor could have played any number of compelling villains if he was
03:07still here.
03:26In the Alien series, Sigourney plays the heroine Ellen Ripley.
03:30She established herself with the iconic role before throwing audiences a few curveballs.
03:35Her turn in Working Girl slowly turns sour until she ends up the villain.
03:44In the film adaptation of Holes, she can turn into the evil warden and put people in their
03:49place without saying a word.
03:52Both characters give a glimpse into the actress' intensity and dedication, no matter the material.
03:57She returned to play Ripley several times, further cementing her status as a heroic figure
04:02in cinema.
04:03Bringing an edge to her many roles, Weaver is somewhat underrated as a stern and even
04:08wicked villain.
04:15In many rom-coms, Hugh Grant reveals his witty sense of humor in the face of romance.
04:32He's sometimes prickly, but always willing to go all out for love.
04:36Paddington, too, gives him the rare chance to play the big bad.
04:39Not only that, the part gives him a chance to be both diabolical and theatrical.
04:49He even makes a convincing journey into the crime genre with his role in The Gentleman.
04:54Through all of these acting transformations, Grant proves that he can really disappear
04:59into roles.
05:00This doesn't mean that he loses any of his charm in doing so, either.
05:17From his days as Michael Scott on The Office, Steve Carell established himself as a comedy
05:22hero.
05:23This makes his turn as Gru in the Despicable Me series seem surprising.
05:33There's still a funny slant to his anti-hero character, making it more expected than something
05:38like Foxcatcher.
05:40He changes his entire personality in order to play John DuPont.
05:52With a fake nose and a soulless look, the actor doesn't let any of his comic persona
05:56through in the Oscar-nominated role.
05:59Some might argue that Bruce Almighty showed his potential for evil parts, but it still
06:03couldn't have prepared us for the chilling presence of DuPont.
06:19For part of the 1990s and early 2000s, Russell Crowe was one of the kings of the period piece.
06:25His heroic characters extended from ancient Rome to 19th century naval dramas.
06:30His heroes, such as Maximus, stand up for injustice, but he's arguably underrated in
06:35his more evil work.
06:37He gives the outlaw, Ben Wade, some gravitas in the remake of 310 to Yuma.
06:48His self-assured attitude and authenticity extend to Les Miserables, despite some people
06:54not liking his singing voice.
06:56He's also returned to the present day for his violent and hypnotic presence in Unhinged.
07:01In the distant past, or current era, Crowe seems to have a promising career as everyone's
07:06nemesis.
07:07Throughout his storied career, Leonardo DiCaprio has played all kinds of heroes.
07:29He's best known to mainstream audiences for his breakthrough in Titanic, epitomizing the
07:34free-spirited and loyal protagonist.
07:37This all makes a heel turn like Calvin Candy all the more exciting.
07:41In Django Unchained, DiCaprio steals the screen with his unforgivable character.
07:46He chews the scenery and unleashes a wicked villain like few others from the 2010s.
07:58Given the chance, the actor would likely knock another role like this out of the park.
08:02He's shown himself to be a good eye for material, waiting for juicy parts that include anti-hero
08:08like Jordan Belfort.
08:23When you think of the best actors from the last half-century, Meryl Streep's name is
08:27bound to be near the top of any list.
08:29Her moving presence gives voice to broken, complicated, and determined characters.
08:34When she isn't playing the lead or a heroic supporting part, she gets to show off the
08:39full range of her acting talents.
08:41The Devil Wears Prada finds her as the icy fashion queen Miranda, who always gets her
08:46way.
08:53It's an iconic performance that ranks alongside many of her greatest achievements.
08:57She even plays the witch in Into the Woods, showing that she can be bad through song.
09:03Is there anything this woman can't do?
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09:271.
09:28Tom Cruise
09:29I don't like you because you're dangerous.
09:30That's right.
09:31Nice.
09:32Man, I am dangerous.
09:37Few actors have embodied the all-American hero quite like Tom Cruise.
09:40In both Top Gun films, he represents the kind of bold hero that viewers love to watch.
09:45By the 2000s, Cruise started exploring the more chaotic and violent parts of American
09:50society.
09:51This includes the magnetic role of Vincent in Collateral.
09:55This hitman takes no prisoners in an electric and physical performance, blending charisma
09:59with the mind of a cold killer.
10:01I can't do this.
10:02I can't drive you around while you're around killing people, man.
10:05It ain't my job.
10:06Tonight it is.
10:07There's also his more comedic take on the villain in Tropic Thunder.
10:10Les Grossman gives us a goofier side to evil, screaming his way into our hearts.
10:15Whether he's starring in a crime thriller or dancing in a Ben Stiller comedy, this star
10:19could play a wide array of bad characters.
10:22You know how you handle an actor?
10:24They whine about anything.
10:25You pull down their pants and you spank their ass.
10:28Did we forget another actor who pleasantly surprised you as a villain?
10:31Let us know in the comments below.
10:33Damn, he's slick.
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