The Rings of Power series premiered on Amazon on September 2nd, and it peels off the helmet of one of the most infamous Dark Lords in all fantasy. While Sauron isn't the first Dark Lord in the genre, the title has been used over and over again throughout history to the point it's essentially become a cliché.
Dark Lords, evil emperors, sinister sorcerers, and the like have become the gold standard of villains in the realms of sci-fi and fantasy, and speculative fiction is full of them. Whether "lord" is actually part of their title or not, a whole host of characters in modern media fit that description.
Evil Emperor Zurg (Toy Story 2)
While he's not exactly the most threatening dark lord in the world, he does have quite the apt profile to be one. True, he's only about ten inches tall, but he comes equipped with a deadly weapon, a devilish mask, and a black cape that flows over his shoulders. To say there isn't a litany of villains that fit that description would be untrue.
What separates him from the others in his vocation, apart from his size, is that he's not exactly the most dangerous. Considering the blasts from his hand cannon are nerf balls and a fall from an elevator shaft turns him from evil to goofy, he's not going to be taking on the Galactic Alliance any time soon.
Jareth The Goblin King (Labyrinth)
Although Bowie's infamous Goblin King might be a touch too glamorous for the average dark lord, he does serve the role as a villainous king of a magical world. He's no Skeletor or anything, but he has a kingdom of minions, a deceptively charming persona, and he does begin the events of the film by kidnapping a baby.
He's not dark in the literal sense, but he has become one of the most loved villains in modern culture. Of course, David Bowie has always been a spellbinding performer, even when he's playing a baddie.
Profion (Dungeons And Dragons)
Unlike Jareth or Zurg, Profion is a dark Lord by all accounts. He's a dark wizard seeking to control the world by harnessing the power of dragons. Pair that with his long flowing robes, his wicked stare, and his strange hissing, he's more than a little over-qualified for the job.
Anyone who's ever sat down to a game of Dungeons and Dragons will know that it's always nice to have a big bad to take on, and Profion is the textbook definition. He might be more than a little over-the-top in his performance, but that's also part of what gives this movie its eccentric charms.
Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts)
Getting to more seriously evil territory, Grindelwald is perhaps one of the most chilling dark wizards to come to the screen in recent years. As the predecessor to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, an evil wizard of that magnitude should come with more than a warning label or two.
As the planet is on the brink of WWII in the Muggle World, so does Grindelwald's plot mirror the doctrine set forth by Nazi Germany. Not only does he want to enslave the non-magical population, but his hypnotic persona and mastery of the dark arts is enough to ensnare anyone under his power. Voldemort definitely took a few notes.
The Horned King (The Black Cauldron)
Easily one of the most terrifying creations to ever crawl forth from a Disney movie, the Horned King is a tall drink of nightmare fuel who wants to rule Prydain with aid of the zombified Cauldron Born army. Decked out in the height of medieval malevolence and performed by the always incredible John Hurt, this vicious lich makes no secret about being the film's main villain.
The only thing that keeps the Horned King from being one of the greatest dark lords in fantasy is simply because of his brevity. In both the Prydain book series and the Disney version of The Black Cauldron, he's not around very long. That being said, he definitely made a lasting impression.
Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars)
Truly one of the most powerful dark lords in all the galaxy has to be Emperor Palpatine of the Star Wars franchise. Although he did not work alone in his conquest of the star systems, his dealings in darkness acquired him absolute power in both the senate and the dark side of the Force.
Palpatine, like most in his position, delved into forbidden knowledge and took the lives of many to secure his seat of power. As a result, he can command a number of dark forces, leads a massive army, and can conjure powers forbidden to other Force-users. Truly, the Emperor is a powerhouse of evil.
Voldemort (Harry Potter)
When the cast of characters is afraid to even utter his name, that's a clear sign of the scale of Lord Voldemort's power. Known for doing "terrible but great" things over the course of his magical career, Voldemort's quest for immortality and magical purity in the wizarding world are what drive him to reach his levels of magical prowess.
Severing his soul, conjuring a variety of deadly magical energies, and mastering the Unforgivable Curses are just a few of the acts of dark magical power Voldemort is able to perform in the books and movies he appears. There's a reason Harry receives so much praise for being "The Boy Who Lived."
Sauron (The Lord of the Rings)
When many hear the words "The Dark Lord" they typically automatically put the name "Sauron" at the end of the title. Having existed decades before the movie scripts were ever put to paper, Sauron is one of the most famous and powerful villains in the fantasy genre, and many figures who bear the title of "Dark Lord" owe their existence to him.
The Jackson version depicted him as an armored warlord and a massive flaming eye, but the original was a shadowy being who worked in the darkness seeking the return of the One Ring. From his tower, the spirit of Sauron commanded magical and mortal forces of Mordor to do his bidding. Throughout the books and the movies, his essence of evil was practically everywhere.
The Lord Of Darkness (Legend)
If someone were to compile a list of everything a character needs to be a great movie villain, the demonic Lord of Darkness would pass with flying colors. Right out of the gate, Legend's primary antagonist is the very definition of evil. With his devilish appearance, sinister swagger, love of all things dark and malicious, and true-to-form performance from Tim Curry, to say he lives up to his name is an understatement.
At his core, the Lord of Darkness has one ultimate mission, to eradicate all that is light and good in the realm. Sometimes the simplest approach is the best, but when that plot involves slaying unicorns to plunge the world into eternal darkness, he gives it an extra element of viciousness to an already sinister plot.
Darth Vader (Star Wars)
When it comes to dark lords, there are probably few quite as famous as Darth Vader. Not only does Vader have one of the most incredible stories in science fiction, but his presence, appearance, powers, and reputation have made him one of the most iconic antagonists in cinematic history.
He's a fallen Jedi, a disfigured warrior who was seduced by the dark side, a dichotomy of man-vs-machine, and practically a Shakespearean tragedy all rolled into one. He's a warlord of phenomenal power, but a broken man beneath the cybernetic exterior, making him one of the most complex and interesting characters good or evil.