10 Best Villains in the X-Men Movies, Ranked

With Deadpool & Wolverine recently releasing in theaters, the X-Men are finally getting their time to shine again, with fans hoping Kevin Feige will incorporate them into the MCU sooner rather than later. The movies focus on heavy themes of oppression and prejudice, with humans looking down on mutants, evolved beings with superior abilities. Usually, a villain in the movies will have some relation to this core message, seeking to liberate mutant-kind or further oppress them.

Whether it be Magneto and his extremist fight for mutant rights or William Stryker wanting to eradicate all mutants while using their power, these antagonistic figures are as compelling as they are ruthless. Villains play a massive part in the X-Men movies and are usually profoundly written to have deep motives and a threatening presence. These are the best villains in the X-Men movies, proving why the series has been such a crucial part of the superhero for over two decades.

10 Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen)

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)

As Deadpool & Wolverine just came out, this entry will avoid spoilers. While Emma Corrin‘s Cassandra Nova was much more terrifying and powerful, she lacked depth that could have been there with more screen time. Mr. Paradox didn’t have any more screen time per se, but he did add something unique to Deadpool & Wolverine. His character is a member of the TVA who brings Deadpool to do his dirty work for him.

It could just be recency bias that scored Mr. Paradox a place among the all-time best X-Men villains, but he is still a unique blend of a man in charge and someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing. He had surprisingly good chemistry with Deadpool and didn’t feel too villainous despite his heinous goals. Being played off as a joke occasionally, Paradox and Cassandra Nova are a perfect villain pairing that allows Deadpool and Wolverine to shine while still adding plenty of charm. Mr. Paradox wasn’t an average villain, adding humor and a great dynamic with everyone he was with on-screen.

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9 Juggernaut (Ryan Reynolds)

‘Deadpool 2’ (2018)

As a secondary villain in Deadpool 2, Juggernaut made a proper appearance in live-action, as many fans would like to forget the character in X-Men: The Last Stand. Also, it may surprise fans to see Ryan Reynolds credited as the hulking figure, but he did actually voice the CGI-manifested monster.

While the character lacks personality, he does have a glimpse of humanity in his relationship with Russell Collins, who shares food with him in prison. The two form a bond, and Juggernaut helps Collin take revenge on his abusive headmaster. Unlike his comic book counterpart, this version of the Juggernaut isn’t complex, but all fans want to see is big dumb fun from him, which is what he delivered. The Unstoppable Force had great action scenes and was overall an excellent addition to the movie.

8 Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber)

‘X-Men: Origins – Wolverine’ (2009)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine serves as the origin story for Wolverine and re-introduces his nemesis, Sabretooth. Tyler Mane played the character in the original X-Men movie but didn’t get to properly shine, as the character was mostly silent, and none of his backstory with Logan got explored. However, Liev Schrieber‘s version embraces Sabretooth’s connection with Logan.

With Sabertooth’s backstory intertwining with Wolverine’s, the character has a lot of depth to help fans understand him more. Fans get to see William Stryker’s influence on Sabretooth, leading to him slowly losing his morals and murdering innocent people. Later, Sabertooth goes on a murder spree, killing former members of Team X and cementing his place as Wolverine’s nemesis. Having seen his backstory and motives, Sabretooth was a great villain in an otherwise disappointing movie.

7 Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage)

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014)

Even with super-powered mutants posing more of a physical threat to the X-Men, humans have always stood out as the real villains. One of these is Bolivar Trask in X-Men: Days of Future Past, who sets out to discover the secret of human DNA and mutants. He started the sentinel program, which took mutant DNA from Mystique to create unbeatable mutant killing machines.

Peter Dinklage played the role incredibly in one of the most rewatchable X-Men films. His survivalist instincts, born from the fear of being replaced by mutants due to humans’ genetic inferiority, create the most threatening invention to destroy the mutants. His presence is felt through the massive impact he will have in the future. Paired with his genius, Trask is a severe threat and a fantastic villain who single-handedly brings the mutants to near-extinction.

6 Sentinels

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014)

One of the few villains more prominent than Bolivar Trask is his creation, the infamous Sentinels. Serving as a symbol of oppression, the Sentinels were designed to kill mutants, making them one of the biggest threats to their existence. Trask used DNA from Mystique to adapt the Sentinels’ form into any mutant they fight, and their impenetrable armor makes them nearly unstoppable.

Prominently featured in a dystopian world, these robots have proved effective, nearly driving mutants to extinction whenever they appear. Their foreboding presence and immense power make these controlled villains a standout in any X-Men media, especially the franchise’s love letter to itself, X-Men: Days of Future Past. The movie revolves around stopping their creation, providing further insight into some of the X-Men’s most powerful enemies.

5 Mystique (Rebecca Romijn and Jennifer Lawrence)

Multiple X-Men Movies

Jennifer Lawrence is more well-known as the character, but Rebecca Romijn‘s performance in the original trilogy is where Mystique shines the most as one of the best villainous sidekicks. Mystique is a genuine threat with the power to shape-shift into any human she pleases and infiltrate anywhere. As a master of espionage, Mystique worked with Magneto to accomplish his dream of a world ruled by mutants.

Her interesting powers, glimpses of humanity, and presence in the films help Mystique become one of the most iconic characters in the X-Men franchise. She kidnaps Senator Kelly, frees Magneto from prison, sabotages Cerebro, and pardons Trask, making her a villain with some of the most significant impacts throughout the franchise. Mystique is a villain and an anti-hero, making her a versatile character who can shift into any alignment she wants.

4 Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon)

‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011)

Played by the legendary Kevin Bacon, Sebastian Shaw is a mutant and leader of the Hellfire Club in X-Men: First Class. A mutant with the ability to absorb energy, Shaw planned to start a nuclear war, hoping to strengthen mutants to rule the world. In 1944, Shaw was a scientist for the Nazi Party who tortured Erik Lehnsherr to try and bring out his powers. Shaw was the primary villain in the iconic prequel that shaped Magneto and Professor X.

His maniacal planning and calm demeanor make him a great choice to drive the story forward. Shaw is ruthless, cold, and always has an arrogant smile on his face, believing himself perpetually in charge. However, the best part of Shaw is the sheer impact he has on Erik, as he is the one who changes him into Magneto. Shaw taught Erik to control his powers using rage, transforming the young mutant into an instrument of revenge that would eventually be his undoing.

3 X-24 (Hugh Jackman)

‘Logan’ (2017)

Serving as a primary villain in the original sendoff to Wolverine, X-24 is a clone of the titular character in the movie Logan. The risky yet satisfying sequel has heartbreak, action, and drama, with X-24 at its center. As a Wolverine clone, he possesses all the same powers, including adamantium claws and regeneration.

In a movie focusing on themes of aging, X-24 represents a younger Logan who never had the guidance or support of a team. He is the perfect choice for a villain, and Jackman delivers an excellent performance as a younger Wolverine completely detached from the original. X-24 is relentless and heartless, killing Charles Xavier and threatening the life of X-23. Even without a personality, the relentless killing machine was a major threat and a perfect foil to an aging Logan.

2 William Stryker (Brian Cox)

‘X2: X-Men United’ (2003)

William Stryker is an X-Men villain who debuted as a mutant-hating military officer in X2: X-Men United. His hatred is primal, stemming not only from his fear of what mutants can do but mainly from his wife’s suicide due to his mutant son. This drive of anger has him using his son ruthlessly to stop the X-Men and kill all of mutant-kind.

A superhero movie regarded as one of the best of all time, X2 is carried by Brian Cox as William Stryker. His character embodies the themes of the X-Men so well with his senseless hatred towards mutants. He has the resources and capacity to leave a positive impact, but his bigotry makes him use his power for evil. Stryker’s ruthless acts and personal connection to Wolverine make him a complex villain with depth and story relevance.

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1 Magneto (Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender)

Multiple X-Men Movies

Who else but Magneto would be the greatest villain for the X-Men? However, Magneto isn’t a villain in every movie, serving as an antagonist in X2 and X-Men Apocalypse and an anti-hero in Days of Future Past and First Class. He was a straight-up villain in the first X-Men and X-Men 3: The Last Stand, where he challenged the world and threatened to destroy humanity.

His close connection to Charles and the rest of the X-Men allows for strong dynamics whenever the character is on screen. Some of Ian McKellen‘s best movies feature him as Magneto, always delivering top-tier performances as the character. His motives are good, but he goes about them in a hateful way, only solidifying prejudice against mutants. Born from hatred, Magneto is a complex character and the biggest threat the X-Men face, a dark mirror of what every mutant can become.

NEXT: Every X-Men Movie Ranked by Rewatchability