10 Best Female Movie Villains of the 2010s, Ranked

Between Voldemort, Kilmonger, Thanos, and Zuckerberg, the 2010s seemed to be a great decade for cinematic villains. Being equal parts cruel as they were cunning, audiences cannot help but hate them and the things they stand for. But what about the female villains? Don’t they deserve their flowers as well? Just look at the Wicked Witch of the West, Annie Wilkes, and Miranda Priestly – each are icons that made viewers quiver in their seats.

So let’s look to the 2010s. The decade of dystopian narratives, comic-book epics, and psychological horrors. Here, female villains also soared as they ranged from masterminds and manipulators, to outright forces of chaos. And this was arguably the harder job, since unlike heroes, villains usually only have one shot to make their mark on film. Luckily, these few do just that, with each bringing their own unique flair to the role of an antagonist.

10 Luv – ‘Blade Runner 2049’ (2017)

Portrayed by Sylvia Hoeks

As the well awaited legacy sequel, Blade Runner 2049 had many expectations. And where there were obvious standouts, from the writing, the cinematography, and the return of Harrison Ford, one of the biggest surprises was the introduction of Sylvia Hoeks‘ Luv – the ruthless right-hand to Niander Wallace (Jared Leto). Though not the main antagonist, Luv’s feelings of superiority and extreme loyalty to her master is what shapes her into a fearful force.

Cunning, efficient, and disturbingly precise, Luv willingly executes violent orders with a cold professionalism and hidden fury. This is amplified by Hoeks, who consistently brings a chilling intensity to her performance, something that is counter balanced by her occasional displays of vulnerability as she seemingly empathizes with the replicants. However, unlike some of the classic henchman roles, Luv doesn’t succumb to a redemption arc. Instead, she embodies a villain’s inability to change. Blinded by her desire to please and be “the best one”, Luv’s ruthlessness backfires and becomes her ultimate downfall.

9 Rose the Hat – ‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019)

Portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson

As the legacy sequel to Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining, which is in itself an adaptation of Stephen King‘s great novel, Doctor Sleep introduces audiences not to another cursed man, but rather, a charismatic vampiric cult leader who feeds on the psychic energy of children. That’s right, Doctor Sleep goes all out on the spooky qualities with Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), as she uses her dark telepathic powers to manipulate and seduce both her followers and prey.

Exuding a sinister stocism, Ferguson injects an unsettling magnetism into Rose, amplifying the shock factor in her brutality. And yet, her cold and calculating demeanor prevails as she demonstrates no remorse in torturing and killing innocents (with most of them being children). Acting as an embodiment of temptation, Rose is the kind of villain that proves how charm and allure can be completely deceptive. All we can do now is be more aware.

8 Harley Quinn – ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016)

Portrayed by Margot Robbie

Despite Suicide Squad having its many flaws, the one thing we can be grateful for is how it introduced the world to a long-awaited live-action Harley Quinn adaptation. Brought to life by the mega-talented Margot Robbie, it’s almost an understatement to describe Harley as chaos personified. Between her wit, charm, and unpredictability, Harley has a magnetism that captures the attention of those around her, and the audiences themselves.

Although inherently tied to the Joker and their toxic relationship, she’s able to set herself apart by being fiercely dangerous and disarmingly vulnerable. This volatility gives her an edge, especially since Robbie balances this with hyper-femininity. Indeed, Harley is simply a girl who’s perfectly menacing and charismatic. So whether she’s attacking people with baseball bats or delivering sharp one-liners, she’ll always be just as gleeful. This unhinged likability is what makes her a villain we can’t help but root for. Thankfully, we get to see her shine even more in the other DCEU films.

7 Hela – ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

Portrayed by Cate Blanchett

Where most Marvel villains are often criticized for being dull, formulaic, and easily forgettable, Hela (Cate Blanchett) proved herself as one of the more formidable ones, with Blanchett exuding a lethal elegance as the Goddess of Death. As Odin’s eldest child, Hela was already set with an interesting backstory and characterization. So it’s great to see how this was brilliantly brought to life by an actor of such a high caliber.

Driven by a sheer thirst for power, Hela seemingly had no boundaries. Willing to discard her family and completely annihilate her entire realm to do so, she is one of the few villains that never wavered in their “villainous tendencies”. Indeed, from destroying the all-powerful Mjölnir to nonchalantly massacring crowds, her desire for domination was clear. And yet she did it all with a sharp wit and dark charisma, making her a villain who easily commands every scene. It’s such a shame we only got to see her in one live action flick. Sure, she may be featured in What If…?, but it’s always a joy to see Blanchett grace the screen in all her bone-chilling glory.

6 Daisy Domergue – ‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015)

Portrayed by Jennifer Jason Leigh

Quentin Tarantino has produced some of the most memorable villains in cinematic history, and yet, one that often flies under the radar is The Hateful Eight‘s Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). As an on-the-run fugitive who’s suddenly taken hostage by a bounty hunter, don’t let her bruised and helpless exterior fool you. Underneath it all, lies a ferociously intelligent woman with a deeply cunning mind.

Bringing a gleeful malevolence to her performance, which earned her a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination, Leigh forges a character that is equally disturbing as she is magnetic. Indeed, by being so willing to manipulate, deceive, and kill anyone who stands in her way, Daisy is a force that injects darkness into her journey of survival. Sadly, the violence she experiences is rather controversial. However, let’s remember that she is a merciless killer who isn’t afraid to make others suffer.

5 Red/Adelaide – ‘Us’ (2019)

Portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o

Giving audiences a masterclass in characterization, Lupita Nyong’o shines in Us by playing not only Adelaide, but her sinister doppelgänger, Red. Upon our first introduction, this “Tether” is immediately frightening with an unsettling voice, eerie movements, and creepy expressions. But of course, this is to be expected from a great psychological horror villain. Instead, what sets Red apart is the tragic backstory that blurs the lines between victim and villain.

Nyong’o’s portrayal injects a palpable sense of pain and rage into Red, which isn’t surprising given that she holds deep resentment and longing for the life that was stolen from her. Such complex motivations make her both terrifying and oddly sympathetic, as she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her happy ending. And yet, the same could be said about Adelaide, leaving audiences to question who the true villain really was. Regardless, the real winner was Nyong’o, who should’ve gotten more praise for such a multi-layered performance.

4 Rose Armitage – ‘Get Out’ (2017)

Portrayed by Allison Williams

As one of the best psychological horrors in modern history, Get Out was a film that predicated on showcasing wolves in sheep’s clothing. And none resembled this more than Rose Armitage (Allison Williams) — the loving girlfriend who turned out to be a vicious captor. Initially drawing us – and Chris (Daniel Kaluuya)– into her warmth and charm, her betrayal was a deeply shocking moment that revealed the truth behind her calculated facade.

Cold, manipulative, and downright creepy — the real Rose was a terrifying individual fueled by hate and racism. Williams delivers a nuanced performance, expertly blending Rose’s amiability and menacing nature, so much so that it kept audiences guessing her true intentions until the very end. Yes, the rest of her family were also horrible, but her active deception is what made Rose so sinister. Indeed, she’s easily one of the most dangerous types of villains, as she’s one that hides in plain sight.

3 Mother Gothel – ‘Tangled’ (2011)

Portrayed by Donna Murphy

Since its early beginnings, Disney has been known for its iconic female villains. But unlike the classics, such as Maleficent and Ursula, Mother Gothel’s (Donna Murphy) villainy is arguably more insidious as it relies not on overt power, but on her abilities as a master manipulator. Indeed, Mother Gothel keeps Rapunzel under her control with psychological tricks and twisted affection. And of course, let’s not forget this all started because she kidnapped her at a young age, all for the promise of eternal youth.

She isn’t misunderstood. The woman is simply evil and cruel. Voiced with the chilling charm of Murphy and her sass, audiences cannot help but quiver at her intense guilt-tripping, passive-aggression, and faux kindness. Perhaps this is because she represents a terrifyingly darker, all-too-real form of emotional manipulation. Well, at least there’s one silver-lining: “Mother Knows Best” — one of the most iconic villain songs in the 21st century.

2 Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madrigal – ‘Dredd’ (2012)

Portrayed by Lena Headey

Having become a cultural icon with her phenomenal portrayal of the sinister Cersei Lannister, let’s not forget Lena Headey’s most ruthless villain role: Ma-Ma in the severely underrated sci-fi classic, Dredd. Once a victim of violence, Ma-Ma transformed from prey to predator, rising the ranks through sheer brutality and ultimately becoming a tyrannical drug lord that all grew to fear.

Chillingly detached, unfazed, and reckless, Ma-Ma is just as intimidating as she is dangerous. Completely desensitized to the horrors of violence, she has no issue murdering and maiming those who threaten her interests. After all, she’s a person completely void of empathy and emotions. Unsurprisingly, Headey’s performance is masterful with her eschewing theatrics and grounding Ma-Ma in dark realism; because above all, she’s someone driven solely by survival and dominance.

1 Amy Dunne – ‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Portrayed by Rosamund Pike

Having orchestrated an intricate plan to frame her unfaithful husband for her murder, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) gives a masterclass in cinematic villainy. Laced with an icy exterior and a complete lack of remorse, Amy’s actions are incredibly terrifying as she proves the drastic lengths one could take in a twisted bid to regain control and revenge. Indeed, with every step being meticulously calculated, her cunning nature knows no bounds.

Of course, none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the talents of Pike. From her expressive eyes, her nuanced expressions, and scintillating voice-overs — Pike’s multifaceted portrayal illustrates one of the best (and darkest) representations of female rage. Seamlessly blurring the lines between victim and villain only heightens the audiences’ unease. As one of the most chilling villains of the decade, it’s unsurprising then to note how it was met with global critical acclaim, with Pike earning Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations.

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