In movies, the hero is usually marketed front and center, for the audience to adore and grab hold of as their character develops and shines; but as viewers get older, they oftentimes relate and connect with the hardships of the so-called villain and the character they portray. After all, what's a hero without a villain to slay? It also depends on the actor that plays the character, in which fans can become more immersed in the villain's story, rather than anyone else.
The '90s were a pinnacle time for the film industry, as things were changing and technology was becoming more advanced; at the same time, some of peoples' most beloved villains were born in this decade, whether they were ridiculously funny and slightly off their rocker or terrifying and hard to forget. From a penguin with no family to a demonic clown set out to terrorize children, some of the most favored villains have their own unique footprint and make viewers burst out in laughter or crawl under the covers and never come out.
Dr. Evil (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, 1997)
Played by iconic comedian and actor Mike Myers, Dr. Evil wasn't so evil as he was power hungry. When Austin Powers first came onto the scene, people all over the world couldn't get enough of the one-liners this film had; villain included.
Dr. Evil had intricate plans devised to take over the world, but his idea to attach lasers to sharks, exploding volcanoes and holding the entire world as random for one million dollars was more comical than it was scary. There's no one quite like Mike Myers to make a memorable villain come to life in a hilarious way.
Edgar The Bug (Men In Black, 1997)
By the end of the '90s, there were a lot of great villains that made their way onto the silver screen but it'll be hard to forget Vincent D'Onofrio's performance as Edgar The Bug.
While actors Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones were perfectly cast for Men in Black, as was D'Onofrio. His impression of the otherworldly creature was spot on and oftentimes creepy. Even though his appearance might have a comedic spin, the way he becomes The Bug is borderline disgusting.
Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin (Batman Returns, 1992)
Though it was victim to a polarizing reception when it first came out, Batman Returns not only was one of the most visually appealing films in the Batman franchise, but it also had some of the most memorable comic book movie villains ever. Cue in Oswald Cobblepot, the penguin/human hybrid that was once an orphan and is now back with a sinister plan to take Gotham and the babies that reside in it.
While the idea is pretty terrifying, his demeanor and appearance make him a bit more mild than other villains in the '90s. Danny DeVito became one with this character and never let it go until his untimely death.
Ghostface (Scream, 1996)
Before the spoof movie Scary Movie all but killed whatever horror it may have once had, Scream redefined horror not just for the '90s but for the future as well.
The movie's simple but effective masked killer with a knife instantly went down in history with the likes of Jason, Freddy and Michael Myers and was repurposed for years to come, in some way or another. Ghostface was merciless, shockingly quick in his get-up (which was essentially assembled in a Halloween store) and obsessed with both Sidney Prescott and horror movie conventions. Right away, Scream had the makings of an iconic franchise, especially thanks to Ghostface.
T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1991)
Some movie sequels turn out to be a dude compared to the original, but Terminator 2: Judgement Day was one of the best. It was packed with action, guns and a cyborg named T-1000 that was out for blood.
Played by Robert Patrick, his character looked like a decently friendly cop, but that was hardly his motive. Shapeshifting between humans and liquid metal, his speed was only an additive for how creepy he really was.
John Doe (Se7en, 1995)
For some movie villains, their appearance may be the terrifying factor, but with John Doe in Se7en, his calm, cool and collected bit is much more sinister. The fact that he only willingly reveals himself to the authorities halfway through the film shows just how terrifying his mind works.
He's so out of touch with reality that he thinks what he's doing to his poor victims isn't only right and logical for humankind, but blessed by a higher power. The way he calculates his next steps and his need to be caught in the police station scene is extremely eerie. But most of all, the ending is one of the most messed up and iconic scenes in film history.
Annie Wilkes (Misery, 1990)
Like many epic villains, the character of Annie Wilkes wouldn't have been so impactful, if not for actress Kathy Bates. She's over the top at times, but her true crazed villain persona shows through when she keeps her favorite author locked up in her home. Based on the Stephen King novel, Misery, she won't stop until author Paul Sheldon completes his last book.
This character is scary because it's realistic and there's no magic or fantasy to help the Annie Wilkes along. The build-up in this movie is insane and when THAT scene finally happens (pictured above), it's undoubtedly terrifying.
The Candyman/Daniel Robitaille (Candyman, 1992)
The sheer nonchalantness of the photo above should give any horror fan a reminder of how creepy Candyman, the vengeful ghost of a Black man who was lynched for having an affair with a white woman, is. The film centers around a graduate student who investigates the Candyman myth, only to be confronted by the specter himself who's now out for those who doubted his power.
As the legends say, say his name in the mirror five times and he'll kill whoever summoned him. Somehow, the hook he has for a hand and the bee's that never seem to leave him will forever leave a permanent stamp in the minds of viewers and the eponymous Candyman will remain as one the the top villains in the film history.
Hannibal Lecter (Silence Of The Lambs, 1991)
For years and years to come, movie producers and directors of the horror genre will always defer to The Silence of the Lambs for inspiration. Some of the best villains of recent years were based on this particular movie and with good reason.
Even though Anthony Hopkins wasn't the first to have the pleasure of playing Hannibal Lector on screen, he certainly takes the cake for being the best. Going head to head with Buffalo Bill as one of the scariest villains in a '90s serial killer movie, Lector's cunning and appetite for human flesh puts him above and beyond.
Pennywise the Dancing Clown (IT, 1990)
It's a shocker that IT was a made-for-TV movie, because it seems like it would've been a must-see in theaters, which is exactly what happened to it decades later. Even though it came out in 1990, this particular adaptation still remains to be one of the creepiest movies of all time. Some people even say that this film is the reason why the idea of clowns being villains and actual monsters instead of comedic relief characters became so normalized.
Actor Tim Curry was phenomenal as Pennywise and somehow remained that way for the entire three-hour film. Besides the appearance of Pennywise, the storyline was terrifying, too. In fact, any storyline that involves kids facing an eldritch nightmare from the darkest recesses of existence instantly ramps up the scare factor, making IT one of the most terrifying '90s movies to date.