Summary
In theJames Bondfranchise, the villains are almost as important as 007 himself, but many actors who seem like a perfect fit haven’t had the chance to add their names to the list of great Bond villains. There have been plenty of great actors who have squared up with Bond over the years, many of whom are particularly famous for playing villains, such as Mads Mikkelsen, Christopher Lee, and Christoph Waltz. However, there are just as many actors who seem like natural choices who have been overlooked.
The future of theJames Bondfranchise is still a mystery, with thecasting forBond 26no clearer now than it was when Daniel Craig made his final appearance in 2021. As well as selecting the right actor to fill his shoes, the franchise will need to continue its trend of iconic big-screen bad guys. Fortunately, there is no shortage of actors who would be ideally suited to the part of a Bond villain, although many of them should have already had their moment years ago.
15 Best James Bond Movie Villains Ranked
James Bond’s eccentric villains have been a beloved hallmark of the franchise for decades, and the best ones have gone down in film history.
10Ben Kingsley
Don Logan in Sexy Beast (2000)
Years after his Oscar-winning performance inGandhi,Ben Kingsley proved that he could play slimy villains just as easily as peaceful freedom fighters. As Don Logan in the crime dramaSexy Beast, Kingsley is a miniature package of rage and violence. His reputation precedes him, as the other characters fret over his imminent arrival, but Kingsley more than lives up to this billing.
Don Logan is a rather unusual character for Kingsley, who so often plays calm and collected individuals. Even in his other villain roles, Kingsley often plays an evil genius-type.
Don Logan is a rather unusual character for Kingsley, who so often plays calm and collected individuals. Even in his other villain roles, Kingsley often plays an evil genius-type. Don Logan is more emotional and volatile, proving that Kingsley could play a Bond villain who is as detached as Blofeld or as hands-on as Alec Trevelyan or Raoul Silva.Ben Kingsley’s best moviesshow thathe could still play a great villain in his 80s.
9Charles Dance
Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Charles Dance’s most famous villain is arguably Tywin Lannister, the ruthless and cunning head of House Lannister inGame of Thrones.Dance’s innate gravitas and composure make Tywin a formidable enemy, and even his own family can’t trust him completely. However, this is far from Dance’s only performance as a villain. He is also outstanding inGodzilla: King of the Monsters,Last Action Heroand many more films which allow him to showcase his talents as a villain.
Charles Dance’s innate gravitas and composure make Tywin Lannister a formidable enemy, and even his own family can’t trust him completely.
It’s important to note thatCharles Dance has had a very minor role inJames Bondbefore. He made his film debut in 1981’sFor Your Eyes Only,which starred Roger Moore as 007. He appears as the right-hand man to the Belgian assassin Emile Locque during one ofJames Bond’s iconic skiing sequences, but he deserves a much meatier role in the franchise.
8Hugo Weaving
Agent Smith in The Matrix (1999)
Hugo Weaving would have been a brilliant Bond villain during the Pierce Brosnan years, just as he became globally famous with his roles inThe Matrixand theLord of the Ringstrilogy, but he would still be an excellent choice for the next era of the franchise. Weaving played Red Skull, one of theMCU’s best villains, inCaptain America: The First Avenger,and he has a few other villainous roles to his name.
Hugo Weaving would have been a brilliant Bond villain during the Pierce Brosnan years, but he would still be an excellent choice for the next era of the franchise.
2018’sMortal Enginesgave Hugo Weaving his most recent high-profile villain role.He plays Thaddeus Valentine, a power-hungry ego-maniac who wants to bend the world to his will. This type of character has been seen in many Bond movies. Karl Stromberg and Hugo Drax are just two examples, and Weaving could easily have played another off-the-wall antagonist with more money than sense.
7Anthony Hopkins
Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter inThe Silence of the Lambsensured that the character earned a place alongside iconic movie villains such as Norman Bates and Darth Vader. Other actors have tackled the character, but Hopkins' version remains the gold standard. The Welsh actor has played many other villains, but none have been as extravagant as the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Lecter.
Anthony Hopkins never allowed himself to be typecast as a villain, and he has played a wide variety of characters sinceThe Silence of the Lambs.This may be why he never took on the role of a Bond villain.
Anthony Hopkins never allowed himself to be typecast as a villain, and he has played a wide variety of characters sinceThe Silence of the Lambs.This may be why he never took on the role of a Bond villain, althoughhe was considered by the producers as a potential star for both Alec Trevelyan and Raymond Carverduring the Pierce Brosnan years. He would be much older than most Bond villains if he were to take on the challenge now.
6Jason Isaacs
Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise
There are two roles which best highlight Jason Isaac’s potential as a Bond villain, and they each show a different side to his talent as an actor.As Lucius Malfoy in theHarry Potterseries, Isaacs exudes a contemptuos kind of evil.Lucius believes himself to be part of the pure-blooded elite who should claim their place as the rulers of wizarding society and wipe out all opposition.
The Death of Stalinallows Jason Isaacs to play a completely different kind of villain, but he is just as captivating. He’s a no-nonsense operator who isn’t afraid to do everything himself.
The Death of Stalinallows Jason Isaacs to play a completely different kind of villain, but he is just as captivating. Gregory Zhukov, head of the Soviet Army, enters the fray while the politicians have already been squabbling for a while. He’s a no-nonsense operator who isn’t afraid to do everything himself. This makes him seem like a Bond villain and a henchman rolled into one.
5Stellan Skarsgård
Baron Harkonnen in the Dune series
Stellan Skarsgård has already played one of the most eye-catching villains of 2024as Baron Harkonnen inDune: Part Two,but his potential as a Bond villain has been clear for years. As evidenced by Le Chiffre, Emilio Largo and Rosa Klebb, the Bond franchise has a penchant for eccentric European villains, and there are few actors working today who would be a better fit for the archetype than Skarsgård.
Another recent project which highlights Skarsgård’s potential as a Bond villain isAndor,in which he plays a morally gray freedom fighter who has given everything to the resistance.
Stellan Skarsgård brings a lot of much-needed menace to theDunemovies. His minor role in the first movie is enough to show that his character is a powerful and intelligent adversary, but his villainy finds new heights in the sequel. Another recent project which highlights Skarsgård’s potential as a Bond villain isAndor,in which he plays a morally gray freedom fighter who has given everything to the resistance. This is reminiscent of certain Bond villains who aren’t purely selfish, but they believe that they are ushering in a new dawn for the world.
4Tilda Swinton
Minister Mason in Snowpiercer (2013)
TheJames Bondfranchise has been slowly but surely beefing up its female roles in recent years. Lashana Lynch’s Nomi briefly took on the 007 title inNo Time to Die,a movie which also showcased Ana de Armas' potential as afemale James Bondequivalent. While a female Bond still seems highly unlikely, the franchise’s next chapter could at least provide an interesting female villain to compete with the likes of Blofeld and Goldfinger. Elektra Kane is the franchise’s only central villain.
While a female Bond still seems highly unlikely, the franchise’s next chapter could at least provide an interesting female villain to compete with the likes of Blofeld and Goldfinger.
IfBond 26does opt for a female Bond villain, Tilda Swinton would be the perfect option. She has the ability to disappear into any role, and this could serve her well as a wide variety of villain archetypes in a Bond movie.She recently showed in David Fincher’sThe Killerthat she can be just as chilling while playing a more grounded antagonist, but she has enough flair to play a more over-the-top villain if needed. Other female candidates for a Bond villain might include Charlize Theron, Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter or Helen Mirren.
3Cillian Murphy
The Scarecrow in Batman Begins (2005)
Off the back of his Oscar win forOppenheimer,Cillian Murphy will have a lot of freedom to plot his career path going forward. He would be a coup for theJames Bondfranchise if they could get him to play the first villain in the new era, and this could signal the intent of the franchise’s future. Murphy may choose to follow up his role as the quantum physicist Dr. Oppenheimer by playing a Bond villain with a different kind of obsession with nuclear weapons, much like Emilio Largo or Aristotle Kristatos.
Murphy would be a coup for theJames Bondfranchise if they could get him to play the first villain in the new era, and this could signal the intent of the franchise’s future.
Cillian Murphy’s upcoming moviessuggest that he could potentially be open to theJames Bondfranchise. While many actors opt for prestige dramas and passion projects after winning an Academy Award, Murphy is returning toPeaky Blindersand28 Days Later,two franchises that helped him make a name for himself before his recent success. Murphy could bring his intense gaze and measured, eloquent speech to the role of a Bond villain.Batman Beginsis one of only a few movies which have let him show off his talents as a villain.
2Alan Rickman
Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988)
Alan Rickman would have been a fantastic choice for a Bond villain before his death in 2016.After working for a while in theater productions, Rickman made his film debut as Hans Gruber inDie Hard,and he immediately became one of the greatest movie villains of all time. TheDie Hardfranchise would never find another villain as compelling or as contemptible as Rickman’s smug German terrorist.
Rickman made his film debut as Hans Gruber inDie Hard,and he immediately became one of the greatest movie villains of all time.
Rickman played more varied characters throughout the 1990s, but his most famous role of all came when he leaned into his natural flair for portraying villains once more. As Professor Severus Snape in theHarry Potterseries, Rickman helped transition the franchise from lighthearted children’s fare to something darker and more serious. Rickman’s best tools as a villain are his deep, languid voice and his controlled physical movements.
1Gary Oldman
Norman Stansfield in Léon: The Professional (1994)
Gary Oldman’s best moviesshowcase his incredible versatility as an actor. He has played morally dubious heroes in theHarry Potterfranchise, theDark Knighttrilogy, andWar for the Planet of the Apes,but he often saves his best performances for his villain roles.Léon: The Professionalprovides Oldman with his most iconic bad guy, butThe Fifth ElementandBram Stoker’s Draculashouldn’t be overlooked.
Oldman has played all kinds of villains in his career. He can be slick and intelligent or violent and aggressive.
Oldman and the Bond franchise seem like a match made in heaven, but he is yet to star as an antagonist to 007. Oldman has played all kinds of villains in his career. He can be slick and intelligent or violent and aggressive. This means that he could play all manner of Bond villain archetypes, but he has the talent to portray a much more layered character. There are only a handful ofJames Bondmovies which develop their villains as much as their main character, but Oldman would be the ideal choice ifBond 26explores this route.
