It takes a great actor to play a great villain so it's not surprising that that many DC Comics live-action films' villains have been played by past Oscar winners and even Oscar winners who ended up winning the prestigious award for the DC comics villain they played.
Oscar winners are the cream of the acting crop so casting one adds credence and prestige to the project. Over the years, comic book movie villain roles have become much sought after for great actors to sink their teeth into and, because of this, comic book movie villains are no longer kids stuff but instead, are serious roles for great actors to put their stamp on.
Marion Cotillard
Beginning her career in her home country of France, Marion Cotillard eventually transitioned to Hollywood, appearing in many American films. However, it was her Best Actress Oscar win for playing real-life French singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose that made her Hollywood A-list. This led to a role in Christopher Nolan's Inception and then his next film, The Dark Knight Rises.
In the film, Cotillard plays Miranda Tate, a love interest for Bruce who is ultimately revealed to be Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of Batman's nemesis, Ra's Al Guhl, and the movie's true villain.
Jared Leto
Jared Leto has starred in movies since the 90s, appearing in such films as American Psycho and later Panic Room, and later Dallas Buyers Club.
Following that, Leto put his own spin on the Joker for Suicide Squad. However, his take on the character proved to be controversial and much of his role was cut. Fortunately, he reprised the role for Zack Snyder's Justice League in a short scene that has been praised among fans.
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey had been long in the running to play Lex Luthor through all the Superman incarnations that almost hit the big screen. Finally, he got his chance for 2006's Superman Returns.
Previously, Spacey had won the Best Actor Oscar for American Beauty and the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Usual Suspects. While Superman Returns received mixed reviews, Spacey's performance was praised as bombastic but crueler and darker than previous portrayals.
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken has long been known for kooky roles in such films as The Dead Zone, Mousehunt, and others, but many forget he's actually an Oscar winner. For 1978's The Deer Hunter, he took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing a Vietnam vet with PTSD.
Many years later, Walken joined the cast of Tim Burton's Batman Returns as Max Shreck, a character created for the film and not based on any existing DC comics character. Walken's Schreck is an odious businessman who has a hand in Catwoman's creation and also pulls the strings behind Penguin's mayoral campaign.
Jack Palance
Jack Palance was a classic film star whose heyday was mostly the 50s and 60s, appearing in such films as Shane and Sudden Fear. However, his career had a resurgence in the late 1980s/early 90s, and during which time he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing Curly in the comedy City Slickers opposite Billy Crystal.
During this period, he also starred in Tim Burton's Batman as Boss Carl Grissom, which is a character created for the movie but inspired by the Batman villain Rupert Thorne. In the film, Grissom is the big crime boss in Gotham City, however, after he discovers his lover is having an affair with Jack Napier, he attempts to betray him. Unfortunately, for Grissom, Napier-now-Joker gleefully takes revenge.
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones has acted in movies since the 1970s but became widely recognized in the late 80s and early 90s after starring in Oliver Stone's JFK and then as dedicated U.S Marshal Sam Gerard in The Fugitive, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. After that, Jones became A-List and his role in Joel Schumacher's The Client led to him appearing in the director's next film Batman Forever.
In Batman Forever, Jones plays Harvey Dent AKA Two-Face, a villain that's acid-scarred and has a split personality. While Jones is clearly having fun in the role, he seems to be channeling Jack Nicholson's wild performance from the first Batman film. Starting the movie as the main villain, Two-Face ultimately gets overshadowed by megastar Jim Carrey as The Riddler.
Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton began her career in experimental and independent films before transitioning to more mainstream work such as in films like Vanilla Sky and Adaptation. In 2007, she won the Best Actress Oscar for Michael Clayton where she played Karen Crowder, the ruthless defense for an agricultural company whose products' carcinogens have led to deaths.
In 2005, Swinton played the Archangel Gabriel in the underrated film Constantine, based on the DC comics character Hellblazer, who plans to unleash hell on earth.
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is a classic film actress who first came to prominence in the 1960s, appearing in The Thomas Crowne Affair and Bonnie and Clyde. In the 70s, she appeared in classics like Chinatown and Network. The latter of which earned her an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Diane Christensen, the head of the network's programming.
In the 80s, after starring in the controversial Joan Crawford biopic Mommie Dearest, Dunaway starred as the vain and powerful sorceress Selena in Supergirl, the spinoff about Kal-El's cousin Kara Jor-El starring Helen Slater. However, her character was created specifically for the film. Unfortunately, reviews were not kind for Supergirl and the role earned Dunaway a Razzie for Worst Actress.
Gene Hackman
One of the world's greatest actors is Gene Hackman, and his career has included hard-hitting dramatic roles and comedies. Hackman has won the Oscar twice, a Best Actor award for playing Popeye Doyle in The French Connection and later a Best Supporting Actor Award for Unforgiven.
After becoming a huge star in the 70s, he was brought in to fill out the A-List cast that surrounded newcomer Christopher Reeve in 1978's Superman. Hackman received billing over the title character as Lex Luthor. While at times campy, Hackman's devilish performance has become iconic and, despite refusing to play the character with his trademark baldness, is still the most beloved depiction of the character.
Jack Nicholson
One of the most famous actors of all time, Jack Nicholson has been nominated twelve times for the Oscar and has won Best Actor twice for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, As Good as it Gets, and for Best Supporting Actor for Terms Of Endearment.
Casting Nicholson as the Joker added legitimacy and prestige to Tim Burton's film. For his role, Nicholson received top billing over Batman himself, Michael Keaton, as well as a percentage of the movie's profits. As Joker, Nicholson gave an iconic performance that will long be remembered.
Joaquin Phoenix
Having famously already been portrayed by the likes of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix had big shoes to fill, but he put his own unique spin on the character. Todd Phillips' Joker explores the origins of the Joker and takes place in a grounded, gritty, garbage-filled 1980s Gotham City.
Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, an outcast who inspires a violent uproar against the wealthy. While not exactly the Joker of the comics, it's a chilling and, at times, beautiful performance as a man who won't be forgotten by society anymore. For this role, Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar, the second person to do so for the same character following Heath Ledger.
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger had a great acting career that was cut short way too soon. After coming to prominence in films such as A Knights Tale, Ledger had a career-best with the movie Brokeback Mountain, for which he was nominated for Best Actor.
However, before he passed away, he portrayed the Joker in The Dark Knight. Released posthumously, Ledger's Joker is menacing, complex, and mesmerizing. For this incredible portrayal, Ledger received the Best Supporting Actor Oscar which was accepted by his family.