20 Disney Villains We Love to Hate
A movie is nothing without a good villain to hate, and that's something Disney never misses.
- Cyra Sanchez
- 5 min read
There are too many villains, but not all of them are worthy of praise or even fun to hate. The good thing is that Disney never fails to give us a great villain that we’ll remember for a lifetime. Find out who these 20 villains are and what makes them ideal villains.
1. Jafar
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Evil and calculating—that’s what Jafar, the cunning magician in Aladdin, is. He doesn’t operate alone; he also has his entertaining sidekick, a talking parrot named Iago.
2. Captain Hook
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Who wouldn’t enjoy hating on that grumpy, old pirate who’s always trying to sabotage Peter Pan and his plans? Despite his constant annoying schemes, Captain Hook always makes every scene riveting.
3. Lady Tremaine
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Everyone felt terrible for Cinderella whenever her stepmother, Lady Tremaine, tried to ruin every sign of joy and happiness in Cinderella’s life. Always wicked and selfish, the evil and bitter stepmother also made her daughters treat Cinderella as horribly as possible.
4. Cruella de Vil
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Greed and malice… that’s the classic Cruella de Vil. Though we have come to know a different side of her, with the newer movies showing her backstory, she’ll always be one of our favorite Disney villains.
5. Gaston
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No one can be more annoying than Gaston from Beauty and The Beast! After all, he’s the epitome of toxic masculinity who has nothing but unhealthy stereotypical, misogynistic views towards women like Belle.
6. Scar
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We all know someone like Scar — bitter, jealous, and desperately trying to become number one, even if it means using evil schemes. After the betrayal he did to his brother, Mufasa, who could not love to hate that wicked lion?
7. Ursula
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After deceiving the gullible mermaid, Ariel, anyone will find it hard not to hate Ursula. Yet, despite her lies and schemes, she made every scene perfectly entertaining.
8. Maleficent
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In the originals, most people came to hate Maleficent for cursing the innocent Princess Aurora. But after the recent live-action movies, more people had come to love this villain for who she was before becoming a villain.
9. Hans
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“Oh, Anna—if only there was someone out there who loved you” is an unforgettable classic line from Hans of Frozen, and we all hated him for it. Realistic and terrifying, it made the audience love Hans as a villain.
10. Evil Queen
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Spiteful and full of jealousy — that’s the Evil Queen in Snow White. No matter how innocent she is, the Princess can’t escape the Queen’s unjustified hatred, making her a terrifying villain of all time.
11. Mother Gothel
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What makes Mother Gothel so terrifying is she could be your average neighbor down the street, making her one of the most realistic villains in Disney. The way the movie depicted her abuse of Rapunzel and her power reflects many real-life cases, effectively making her one hell of a villain we can hate without guilt.
12. Hades
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Despite being a villain, Hades was loved for his sassy and humorous remarks. His most memorable line was “He’s a guy!” when trying to convince Meg to snap out of her love.
13. Shan Yu
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A cold and ruthless killer - that’s what Shan Yu is from the hit movie Mulan. He feared no enemies, but in the face of Mulan, he was defeated just like most evil villains in Disney.
14. Shere Khan
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Shere Khan barely appeared in the movie Jungle Book, and that’s why he is a well-loved villain. He was remembered for his calm and powerful presence, making him a fun villain to watch in those little scenes he appeared in.
15. Yzma
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Yzma was bizarre, but most entertainingly, she was charismatic for a villain who loved power. Wanting the throne for herself, who couldn’t love to hate Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove?
16. Ernesto de la Cruz
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Ernesto from the film “Coco” had a charming vibe and a radiant outer personality. But behind his bright smiles, he was an intensely ambitious man with a dark secret.
17. Queen of Hearts
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“Off with her head!” It’s a line from The Red Queen that we’re all familiar with. Irrational and unpredictable, she was a villain not to be messed with!
18. Claude Follo
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame is another classic film filled with interesting characters, like Claude Follo. This villain is an ideal example of the dark side of human nature, playing along the lines of obsession and lust.
19. Madame Medusa
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The one overseeing the sketchy pawn shop in The Rescuers, Madame Medusa, is full of nothing but greed. Though the movie is not as popular as others, she still makes it to the list of Disney’s best villains.
20. Dr. Facilier
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The antagonist of The Princess and the Frog, Dr. Facilier, is a fascinating villain who drives us all curious. Hating him is fun; after all, who wants to be turned into a frog?