Villains

mad mel Oct. 6, 2023

The Continental’s Big Bad ProblemThe John Wick spinoff’s worst choice is not just accommodating Mel Gibson’s performative rut, but catering to it.

By Roxana Hadadi

vulture lists May 22, 2023

The 100 Hardest Video-Game Bosses, RankedFrom gods and zombies to a shark and a tree, the one trait they share is an ability to end your game swiftly.

villains May 17, 2022

Is There a Big Fat Liar Easter Egg in Stranger Things, Season 4?Wouldn’t that be fun?

By Lydia Wang

villain origin stories Mar. 9, 2022

HBO Max Is Giving the Penguin a ‘Scarface-Like’ Origin StorySay hello to his little friend (a penguin).

By Rebecca Alter

rogue’s gallery Mar. 8, 2022

Batman Movie Villains, RankedWhere does Paul Dano’s incel Riddler rank?

By Jesse Hassenger

very bad guys Jan. 11, 2022

Every Movie Villain Is a Tech BroThe long-gestating archetype gets at a dull, persistent itch in our psyches that we can’t scratch away.

By Bilge Ebiri

dyune Oct. 22, 2021

A Brief Ode to Sand, a Powerful Cinematic SupervillainForget the lusty sea, it’s time to recognize sand, and then run away from her, screaming.

By Rachel Handler

casting June 13, 2021

Kevin Bacon, Instagram’s Least Toxic Man, Will Play a Toxic Avenger VillainWho will gently serenade his baby farm animals while he’s filming?

By Rebecca Alter

villains Dec. 16, 2020

Leonard Roberts Says Ali Larter and Racist Environment Led to His Heroes ExitAli Larter has responded to Roberts’s essay with an apology.

By Chris Murphy

good one podcast July 15, 2019

The Joke That Defined Gay Villains ForeverOn this week’s Good One podcast, James Adomian revisits his bit about what all the TV and movie villains of his childhood had in common.

By Jesse David Fox

half the horses and half the ants July 9, 2018

Apparently Thanos Also Killed Half of All Animals in Avengers: Infinity WarWhat is that guy’s problem?

By Halle Kiefer

jessica jones Aug. 14, 2017

David Tennant Will Return for Jessica Jones Season TwoThe people want more Tennant.

By Ethan Sapienza

chat room July 18, 2017

Eamon Farren On Playing Twin Peaks’ Embodiment of Evil“It’s truly more scary to not know where [his behavior] comes from. That’s what adds to the horror to Richard.”

By Devon Ivie

June 29, 2017

The Best Supervillains Are Relatable Ones▶️ Three-dimensional villains with a sense of purpose are rare in superhero movies.

By Granger Willson

June 26, 2017

25 Years Later, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman Is Still the Best Superhero VillainShe remains the most incisive depiction of villainy the genre has ever seen cinematically.

By Angelica Jade Bastién

interviews June 9, 2017

How Sofia Boutella Became the Mummy, in 4 Not-So-Easy Steps“I remember there was one look where my tongue was the only thing on my body that was not touched up.”

By Kyle Buchanan

May 17, 2017

Why the Female Villains on The Handmaid’s Tale Are So TerrifyingThe series is most trenchant when it examines the ways women are complicit in patriarchal structures.

By Angelica Jade Bastién

villains Apr. 21, 2017

Dear Katherine Heigl: Please Play More VillainsUnforgettable is a trashy psychosexual thriller. It’s also the former rom-com star’s best work in years.

By Jordan Crucchiola

villains Dec. 13, 2016