Who’s had enough of Disney’s live action remakes? Not us! Because we’re doing a BEC in honor of one. Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Cruella, we’re counting down our favorite movies with female villains. Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
While Quentin Tarantino may not be my favorite director of all time, I cannot deny that he has made some stunning films, one of which is a top film of mine in Kill Bill: Vol. 1. While the titular Bill (played by one of the Carradine clones) doesn’t make a direct appearance, we do get to see a truly epic film where The Bride (Uma Thurman) goes up against her old group, the Deadly Vipers, in a game of life and death. You have a cast in this film where everyone, and I mean literally everyone, blasts their performances out of the park, especially our villains, in a film that kicks butt and takes names every minute. Thurman brings her A game against the likes of Vivica A. Fox and Lucy Liu, who threaten to steal this movie at every moment. Both The Bride’s battle with O-Ren (Lucy Liu), Gogo Yubari, and the Crazy 88 are some of the most epic, bonkers, and bloody fight scenes you’ll ever find. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is an insane and bonkers thrill ride from beginning to end that leaves you hungry for Vol. 2. Just try not to get on The Bride’s bad side. It won’t end well for you. (Joseph Davis)
Some films I look for an excuse to watch any time I can, and this week’s BEC gives me the perfect excuse to go back and revisit The Nice Guys. What’s better than the unlikeliest heroes in Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) up against Judith Kuttner (Kim Basinger) and the Detroit auto industry (normally I’d say spoiler alert, but this film came out in 2016, and even I’ve seen it by now). Few films can say they know exactly which strings to pull, how to pull them, and when, and this film does that and more. The villain herself works perfectly, serves as a critique of government officials working on behalf of businesses and industries, and is just downright evil. Hell, even her minions bring an extra layer to this film that just elevates it well above the competition. They’re the ones who bring March and Healy together in a duo that works despite all belief for a truly epic and brilliant film. (Joseph Davis)
Ah, the villain whose origin story inspired this very list. Note the spelling out of the whole title — that’s because as much as we all love Glenn Close (and her 2021 Oscars dancing), we’re talking the OG Cruella. There’s nothing really subtle about the name Cruella De Vil and it’s got Dana Carvey’s Church Lady running through my head. Emma Stone has got a lot to live up to here, particularly as Cruella goes more off the rails, the animated nature of the film really sells how far gone she is. Even before John Wick, this is the movie that taught if you want an audience to hate your villain, put the puppies in danger. I mean, an evil plan doesn’t get much more dastardly than wanting to kill puppies just so you can make a fur coat. Pure evil. (Jake Bourgeois)
The ultimate twisted murder conspiracy, Gone Girl is a study in film excellence — there, I said it! Telling a complex web of tales where none of the characters are to be trusted and all of them are to be doubted, you never quite know where you stand. The film tells of a man who becomes suspected of murder following his wife’s disappearance, but not everything is as it seems on the surface. Led by a masterful performance at the hand of Rosamund Pike as the effervescent suspect female and the keen eye of director, David Fincher, every moment is gripping, and most importantly, interesting. Whether you’re trying to unravel the mystery at its heart, being horrified by your own morality, or just wanting to have a good time with a well-written thriller, then this is a movie that you can most definitely enjoy. A triumph in filmmaking and an achievement in entertainment, I’m hesitant to call this a date movie given the themes it explores, but I’ll tell you what — it’ll certainly make for an interesting end to the night. (Alice Micheli)
In what is no doubt the most wholesome movie on this list, Paddington is everything you could ask for from a modern day family film whose main character is a CGI bear. Instead of being a movie that will make parents and other adults just wish it was over already, it’s probably one that the adults will appreciate more than the kids. I heard people on Film Twitter singing its praises for years before I finally got around to seeing it, and once I did, I’m pretty sure I saw heaven for a minute. It’s fun, hilarious, and gosh darn cute, all thanks to Paddington being the kindest and most selfless character ever put to the big screen. Nicole Kidman is incredible as the villain, Millicent, which shouldn’t be a surprise after the career she’s had (and continues to have). I can say with confidence that Paddington is the biggest sleeper hit on this list, and that if you haven’t watched it, you need to as soon as possible. (Robert Bouffard)
Look, I know Toy Story 4 isn’t everyone’s favorite film in the Toy Story franchise. When the first trailer came out, many were left wondering why it even needed to exist. I even wrote an article back in the day about it. Some still hate it. However, this is one of my favorites in the franchise. When people talk about the payoff from earlier entries in a franchise, I think this is the ultimate payoff. Sure, Andy went to college, completing what would typically be a trilogy arc. But what about Sheriff Woody? His arc isn’t complete. This whole film re-explores what unconditional love actually is in a way that I think franchise fans will ultimately come to adore 10 years from now. (Austin Belzer)
When we discuss monumental films of our generation, 2009’s Avatar, Mad Max Fury Road, Parasite, and so many more are thrown in for discussion. However, I think Blade Runner 2049 deserves to be in the conversation. We live in an era of storytelling where bigger is better and if people like it, the studio will continue to crank out more of it till it becomes a cash cow. But Blade Runner 2049 is a whole new realm of blockbuster filmmaking. It doesn’t pass the torch onto a new generation and it doesn’t catch people up to speed for those who have never seen the first; none of that. Director Denis Villeneuve understands what is needed for a Hollywood sequel by telling a new story, but keeping it in the film’s overall universe. Blade Runner 2049 will become a foundational film for up-and-coming filmmakers with its breathtaking visuals, its melancholic score, its underlying themes of longing and relationship struggles. Villeneuve pulled off one of the hardest things any Hollywood filmmaker could accomplish, and he somehow made it better than the first film. I cannot wait for him to do it again with Dune. (John Bizub)
The magnificent and evocative artist H.R. Geiger brought to life one of the greatest creatures in all of fiction: the Xenomorph. In James Cameron’s Aliens, there is no finer example of the beautiful, yet vile Xenomorph, the Alien Queen. She is pitted against Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) with their shared goal of protecting their young. The Queen, protecting her colony and Ripley desperately trying to retrieve Newt (Carrie Henn) from the Queen’s clutches. This shared objective has put them at odds, especially when Ripley takes it upon herself to set the Queen’s colony ablaze with no remorse. Until this point in the franchise, the Xenoporphs had never been shown to care for one another in any type of fashion. It was an excellent choice to show that the Queen cares for her young and is relentless in her pursuit to kill Ripley and Newt. It makes for a thrilling third act of the film that is full of excitement and has that big movie fight feel that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. The Xenomorph Queen has stood the test of time visually and still emotionally resonates with fans of film. (Joe Vargas)
What makes a great villain, a great villain? Many villains that stand the test of time are the ones that feel so real. They are the ones we have met and interacted with before. They can be someone in our lives already. A teacher… a banker… a medical professional. One of the greatest of these real-world villains is of course… Nurse Ratched. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a classic of 70s cinema based on a novel straight out of the rebellious 60s. Jack Nicholson’s McMurphy is the quintessential rebel of cinema, but with every great rebel you need an embodiment of control to confront them. Louise Fletcher’s Ratched is cold and calculating in the ways she manipulates her patients. Do you know why Ratched will go down as one of the greatest villains of all time? No other character has ever made me want to jump through the screen and harm them. That is how evil this character is. If you have not experienced One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, what are you waiting for? See it right now. (Shane Conto)
We all have those films that emotionally scarred us at a young age. For me, there were two that stand out. One was The Brave Little Toaster (don’t laugh, that junkyard scene was nightmare fuel), and the other was The Wizard of Oz — specifically, the Wicked Witch of the West. My grandparents love to remind my sister and I that we used to hide behind the couch every time her green visage appeared on screen. It’s been more than 60 years, but there’s been few villains, male or female, that are on her level. The performance is so enduring that nearly 30 years later, she had to go on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to explain it was just an act because of how terrified children still were of her. Heck, Wicked essentially started the villain origin story fad Cruella is continuing. The word “iconic” doesn’t do this villain justice. (Jake Bourgeois)
Honorable Mentions
Thor: Ragnarok
I think a high majority of Marvel fans can agree that Thor: Ragnarok is one of the best superhero movies of the last decade. This time we have the genius mind of Taika Waititi at the helm of directing, bringing a full style of comedy to the universe that we haven’t seen with the Thor films leading up to this point. This change is exactly what was needed for this character to further spike viewers’ interest in taking another look at the god of thunder. Thor wasn’t a boring character prior to this movie, it’s just that the writing here shifts the tone to something that flows a whole lot better than before. I have to mention the great performance put in by Cate Blanchett as Hela. She’s dialed up to 11 here and is so great! This movie is also the introduction to lovable characters like Valkyrie and Korg, two characters I’m very excited to see in future movies. Both of them have some of the best scenes in the movie and completely steal the show. So I’m sure you’ve probably seen Thor: Ragnarok if you’re an MCU fan, but if it’s been a while, then now is a good time to revisit it. (Alex Henderson)
Mean Girls
We are lucky if, once every few years, a movie comes along that really embeds itself into popular culture. Like, to a point where we will quote the movie without even knowing it, sometimes without even having seen the movie. Mean Girls easily falls into that category. I myself did not watch Mean Girls until I was an adult, but I was shocked to see that this was the origin of so many iconic quotes that I had actually used in my life. It takes a truly unique movie to get to that level. Today, Mean Girls is held up as a teenage cinematic classic, as filled to the brim with fantastic moments and lines, wonderful performances, and overall brilliantly captured hilarity. But above all, I think we owe the movie for introducing mainstream audiences to the wonder that is Rachel McAdams. She knocks this role out of the park, immediately creating one of the most iconic teenage movie villains of all times. Without Regina George and McAdams playing that role, it easily could be argued the movie could have been swallowed by time. Instead, it has lived on as it will forever. Mean Girls is a wonderfully fun movie to rewatch if you haven’t caught it in some time. It really is quite… fetch. (Nashua Doll)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
When you think of the Harry Potter series, there is one big villain that looms from start to finish. Lord Voledemort. With his true return, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix signals that things are about to get far more dark and serious. It also introduces two female villains that inflict some real lasting damage to Harry, physically and mentally. First, one of the head Death Eaters, Bellatrix Lestrange, played by the always fantastic Helena Bonham Carter. She brings an incredibly unhinged and dangerous threat that lasts through the rest of the series, but this debut is strong and the casualties she takes hit Harry at his core. The other is the only other character in the entirety of the series to leave a lasting mark. Dolores Umbridge. She causes major havoc for Hogwarts, drives McGonagall batty, successfully gets Dumbledore removed for a short while, and gives Harry another scar that he will have for the rest of his life. While both women play very different tactics and motivations, they both are such strong characters and performances that you can’t help but love to hate them in their own right. I must not tell lies, so when this topic came up, both of these names came to mind immediately. (Evan Lucken)
Dredd
There’s no shortage of action movies in which the hero has to work his way through an endless wave of goons in order to make it to the big bad, and there’s quite a few of those that do it very well. But there’s always the risk that the villain is reduced to an afterthought, like a person sitting in an office calling the shots and generally looking menacing. Lena Headey’s Ma-Ma in Dredd could have been that if not for her performance, which adds some necessary weight to the few scenes that she’s given away from the action. She’s a specific brand of evil that makes Dredd not just another Die Hard movie about a man stuck in a tower. It is, of course, still an action movie where the villain is away from the action for much of it, but the conceit of the drug Slo-Mo allowing for stylish action sequences on the sides of both the protagonist and the antagonist balances the film out where needed. Dredd is a terrific action film that too often loses out to comparisons to The Raid, and it is definitely worth a watch. (Chris Bakker)
Shrek 2
Shrek 2 is a movie I have a lot of fondness for. Sure, the simple fact that it exists may have been the series’ undoing by becoming the very thing the first movie was making satire of, but it still had a lot going for it. Giant gingerbread man, that entire ending, but most importantly the villain. Fairy Godmother (voiced by Jennifer Saunders) created a terrifying twist on a character that, up until that point, we would have assumed could never be evil. Like everything this series tried to do by diverting expectations, it does succeed. Now excuse me while I go watch this movie again as an adult, which I’m sure will once again leave me with some pretty confusing feelings to sort out. (Frank Kemp)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
AV:PD is one of my all time favorite classic movies. It was there at the start of Jim Carrey’s trifecta of blockbusters. He was just a pet detective looking for something that smells like tuna. Naturally, I’m talking about the Miami Dolphins’ missing mascot, Snowflake! Spoiler alert, the mastermind was no other than Lois Einhorn, played by the talented Sean Young. This is a female villain who does a perfect job of hiding it, among a few other things makes this a great film. It may or may not have an ending that may be a little offensive through modern eyes. It was the 90s, dang it. Between this and Sean Young in Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde, I had a lot of personal things to figure out. In closing, sexuality is a spectrum, people. Accept it. (Frank Kemp)
The Devil Wears Prada
Director David Frankel’s comedy, The Devil Wears Prada, is one of those really fun movies where, whenever it’s on TV, I have to watch it, even if it’s just for a half hour. The story follows recent college graduate and aspiring journalist, Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who’s offered the job that “millions girls would kill for.” This job entails being the junior assistant to the icy Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), editor-in-chief of the esteemed fashion magazine, “Runway.” This is a position that could open many doors for Andrea, so long as she can keep up with Miranda’s demands. Streep dominates her role as someone who can instill fear in someone with a stone-faced glance, but also have you admire her for her knowledge of her life’s work in the fashion industry, which is highlighted in the “cerulean sweater” scene. As for the rest of the cast, Hathaway is endearing as the hardworking, eyes-on-the-prize Andrea, Emily Blunt is hilarious as Emily, Miranda’s battle-weary senior assistant, and Stanley Tucci is terrific as Nigel, Runway’s art director who helps Andrea adjust to the office whirlwind. What’s remarkable about this movie is that it’s a rare example of the movie being much, much better than the book, which was written by Lauren Weisberger. Every character in the movie eclipses their book counterpart, and this is the biggest case with Miranda, who’s much more nuanced in the movie, but isn’t anything more than an evil-boss caricature in the book. This is the first time that I’ll say to skip the book and go right to the movie, as you can be sure that the latter will treat you to an abundance of style. (Vincent Abbatecola)
Maleficent
Disney definitely has duds when it comes to live action remakes, but Maleficent is not one of them. Rather than give us an exact replica of Sleeping Beauty, this movie flips the point of view and actually tells a different story. Angelina Jolie plays the titular character in this film about a fairy who is heartbroken and betrayed before going on a revenge plot against the king who wronged her. Her performance effortlessly captures the character’s transition from innocent child to jaded woman and everything in between. Elle Fanning is a delight as Princess Aurora and radiates a youthful energy every time she’s on the screen. The performances of these two are backed by a soundtrack that’s full of whimsy, with a bit of edge. Lana Del Rey has a cover of “Once Upon a Dream” from the 1959 Sleeping Beauty that brings this fairy tale in to the modern world. You may have slept on Maleficent when it came out, but I am here to tell you it is absolutely worth your time. (Abby Schweitzer)
Also See: Sleeping Beauty, Batman Returns, Misery, Cinderella, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Little Mermaid
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