Best villains of the 21st century
The Joker? Magneto? Anton Chigurh? Who made the list?
The Joker - 'The Dark Knight'
Perhaps the perfect 21st century villain, Heath Ledger's Joker is less a force of evil than an agent of chaos, delighting in whatever reaction he can elicit from a world numbed by modernity. Visually upsetting, like a fungal rot has started to take hold and have its way with him, and without any actual history, The Joker appears fully formed, no origin needed. No mere details of birth and education could explain the joy he takes from blowing up an ambulance or killing off his own henchman during a robbery or the pencil trick. He is damaged in a way that run deep, right to his DNA. We're not afraid of werewolves or vampires anymore, but when we see someone who takes this much pleasure in, as Alfred puts it, watching the world burn, that cuts right to the heart of what really keeps us up at night.
-Drew McWeeny
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupJcreeper35
August 5, 2012 at 3:56AM EST Reply to CommentWhat about "Jigsaw"
Jcreeper35
August 5, 2012 at 3:57AM EST Reply to CommentMaxim Horvath " the sorcerers apprentice"
Daniel
August 5, 2012 at 4:05AM EST Reply to CommentI'm sure you mean MICHAEL Fassbender as the First Class Lensher.
Migilicuty11
August 5, 2012 at 4:11AM EST Reply to CommentMichael Fassbender...not Matthew
cbard
August 5, 2012 at 5:49AM EST Reply to CommentWhat about Miranda Priestley from the Devil wears prada. Great performance.
cbard
August 5, 2012 at 5:51AM EST Reply to CommentHow about Miranda Priestley in the devil wears prada. Great performance.
Gill
August 5, 2012 at 7:09AM EST Reply to CommentJack Nicholson in "The Departed" hell, even Matt Damon!
Gill
August 5, 2012 at 7:09AM EST Reply to CommentWhat about Jack Nicholson or Matt Damon from "The Departed"
n
August 5, 2012 at 8:29AM EST Reply to CommentStupid list without Agent Smith.
davin The Matrix came out in 99. And the sequels were garbage. Even agent smith couldn't save them.
August 5, 2012 at 9:13AM ESTSumer
August 5, 2012 at 12:03PM EST Reply to CommentOh, God, the pencil trick the Joker did. I still cringe when I think of it.
Sumer
August 5, 2012 at 12:04PM EST Reply to CommentOh, God, the pencil trick te Joker did. I still cringe when I think about it.
Murph
August 5, 2012 at 2:42PM EST Reply to CommentJoaquin Pheonix in Gladiator is easily in my personal top 5 of the 2000s. Possibly top 3.
Revenant
August 15, 2012 at 6:35PM EST Reply to CommentGood list until the last entry.
Jack mama
August 16, 2012 at 12:55AM EST Reply to CommentAmerican Psycho is from the 20th century. I won't question your other 49 opinions, but Patrick Bateman does not belong on this list. Fact beats opinion.
ZTL
August 26, 2012 at 7:30PM EST Reply to CommentAlbert Brooks in Drive
aram peers
August 30, 2012 at 11:38AM EST Reply to CommentWhere is Russell Edgington?
Craig Kell
October 13, 2012 at 12:45PM EST Reply to CommentKevin from We Need to Talk About Kevin
P.S Happy to see Hilly Holbrook on this excellent list
December 24, 2012 at 2:49PM EST Reply to CommentDefinitely would have put Brick Top from Snatch on here. What a creepy psycho.