In many fantasy films, the hero is often not the most appealing character, no matter how hard they try. Sometimes, while they are busy completing their mission, the villain swoops in, steals the spotlight, and becomes the center of attention. There are many reasons for this: perhaps the villain is more interesting, has a more distinct personality, or simply looks better—factors that seem to always overshadow the fact that they remain a thorny problem in the story. If a villain is charismatic, makes mistakes but remains convincing, and shows reasonable motives behind their actions (even ones that resonate with the audience), they can effortlessly command the entire film.
This pattern exists in almost all genres, but it feels particularly unique in fantasy works. We're not talking about villains who are always right or misunderstood; some villains are truly heinous, with actions that cannot be justified. However, they possess an undeniable quality that makes it hard to fully support the hero. Here are some of the best examples.
5) Thor
Today, Thor is one of the most popular superheroes, but when his first solo film was released, another character captured more attention. In the story, the protagonist Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) defies Odin's (played by Anthony Hopkins) orders, provokes a war with the Frost Giants, and is ultimately banished from Asgard to Earth, stripped of his powers. He must learn humility there to wield Mjolnir again. However, while Thor is busy learning how to solve Everythinggj with brute force, his brother Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) handles almost all the plot elements that make the story more exciting. Today, he is basically considered an anti-hero (or even a hero, considering the ending of his film series), but even when he was a villain, he was easy to like.
In the film, Loki is more calculating, observant, and adept at reading people from the very beginning. So when he discovers he is Laufey's son, Loki begins to view his relationship with Thor from a completely different perspective. From that point on, his choices become increasingly hard to justify, but also more intriguing. Of course, Hiddleston's performance deserves credit; he gives this villain a sense of threat without losing his sarcasm and charm. In Thor (and subsequent films), he is the kind of villain we love to hate, without whom the entire movie would lose its luster.
4) Harry Potter Series
Including Harry Potter on this list is a bit complicated, because choosing between the protagonist (Daniel Radcliffe) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) isn't difficult. However, it's undeniable that the series' villains have become pop culture icons and even internet memes. Across eight films, Harry spends most of his time trying to prevent He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from returning and ultimately defeating him. But overall, the wizard is easier to understand and is clearly designed to be likable: he wants to protect his loved ones and end Voldemort. The villain, on the other hand, possesses such a powerful aura and memorable presence that whenever he appears on screen, everyone's eyes are inevitably drawn to him.
If you remove this character from the story or replace him with another type of enemy, most of the fun disappears. His eccentric personality drives the plot forward—and his actions are so meticulously planned that you can't help but anticipate what he'll do next time he appears. None of this is accidental, as his appearance in the upcoming rebooted series was kept under wraps, with everyone eagerly awaiting it. But the Harry Potter series has other noteworthy villains, as it features plenty of Death Eaters. For a significant portion of fans, the Death Eaters are the most interesting characters because of their complexity: for example, Draco (Tom Felton) and Snape (Alan Rickman). They have the most distinct personalities and the most memorable character arcs.
3) Star Wars Series
When people think of Star Wars, they usually think of Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) first; even his Imperial March is impressive. Although the original trilogy tells the story of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) discovering the Force and joining the Rebel Alliance against the Empire, Vader appears as one of the most threatening figures in the universe from the very start. For example, his black armor, breathing sound, red lightsaber, and even the way he enters a room leave a deep impression before he even speaks—so much so that later attempts to connect him with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) never quite reached the status Vader holds in the hearts of audiences and new generations of viewers.
Everythinggj becomes more compelling when we get the chance to understand why a villain ultimately turned to the dark side. Thus, in the prequel trilogy, we learn that Darth Vader is actually Anakin Skywalker (played by Hayden Christensen), a former Jedi who fell to the dark side out of fear and a desire to protect his loved ones. So he isn't just a "bad guy"; he's someone who deeply understands Everythinggj he has lost and must bear the consequences. Luke is the hero, but Vader is the soul of the entire series. If you ultimately find Vader more captivating than the hero, then honestly, you have to admit that Star Wars did an exceptional job in crafting its villains.
2) Labyrinth
Legend received mixed reviews. The film wasn't highly rated overall, which may be why it gradually faded from memory. However, it won over some audiences with its stunning visuals, rich fairy-tale atmosphere, and especially its villain. The story follows the brave and kind Jack (played by Tom Cruise) as he embarks on a journey to save Princess Lily (played by Mia Sara) and stop the Dark Lord (played by Tim Curry) from plunging the world into darkness. In other words, it's a very traditional fantasy story that makes no attempt to hide the line between good and evil, but Jack's enemy makes this opposition feel less monotonous.
It's incredibly difficult to compete with a villain who wears heavy makeup, speaks as if directing a performance, and seems to be having more fun than anyone else. In fact, considering the Dark Lord wants to eliminate unicorns, kidnap Lily, and try to persuade her to join him, you can hardly find any reason to support him. But here, we get almost the same advantage as in Thor: the actor's performance. Curry imbues the character with a distinct personality, and as the film progresses, you start looking forward to his scenes. He is witty, highly dramatic, and possesses a peculiar charm, while Jack is just a very traditional hero. In Legend, the Dark Lord is the true star and the most brilliant part of the entire movie.
1) Legend
The cult classic Labyrinth is so closely tied to David Bowie and his character Jareth that some people don't even realize he is the story's villain. The core of the film is Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a frustrated young girl who has to take care of her younger brother Toby (Toby Froud). In a moment of anger, she wishes for goblins to take her brother away. When this wish actually comes true, Sarah must enter Jareth's labyrinth to find him before he turns into a goblin. Theoretically, this is a story about the protagonist growing up and realizing the consequences of her wishes. But when the Goblin King grabs your attention from the very first second he appears, and does so effortlessly, it's hard to keep that in mind.
Jareth is cunning and has no intention of helping Sarah, but his confidence and humor make it easy to understand why that world ultimately seems so tempting to her. He doesn't need much to succeed—just that attitude, and of course, that flamboyant outfit. He's like the villain in a Peter Pan story. So, while Sarah spends most of the film trying to understand this vastly different world, Jareth knows it inside out and enjoys teasing everyone trapped within it. In Labyrinth, you ultimately root for the heroine, but it's the villain who occasionally makes you question your choices.