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(Though admittedly they bow to no one inhotness.)
(There are some exceptions: WhitherClayface?
OrBaby Doll, who should really be called Dollface?)
First, the parameters here are live-actionBatmanandBatman-adjacent theatrically released movies released from 1989 forward.
The same goes forBatman: Mask of the Phantasm, the terrific 1993 feature spunoff fromBatman: The AnimatedSeries.
At the same time, the villains in question donotneed to have directly faced Batman in their movies.
If Batman exists in their movies universeandthe characters have consistently fought Batman in the comics, theyre in.
28.Superman
28.
Lets move on, shall we?
27.The Joker
27.
How did anyone not tell Leto that he was doing the voice?!
Did they like that he was ripping off Ledgers whole deal?
Did they consider it a tribute and not a ghoulish appropriation?
These Riddler-worthy questions are the only ones Letos misguided one-and-done Joker inspires.
26.Bane
26.
(It is hilarious to see him don a fedora and trenchcoat.)
Like the other Schumacher-era bad guys, his evil schemes are bizarre abstractions of jewel-thieving and destructo-plans.
Twenty-five years on, an older Arnold feels like hemightbe able to summon the regretful gravitas of classic Mr.
Freeze stories; back in 1997, any human dimension was kept on ice.
23.Two-Face
23.
(That Jones had recently given a star-making performance inThe Fugitiveprobably further hurt Williamss chances of returning.)
Still, Jones could have been terrific casting.
Either would have worked!
Instead, we got one hammy, unhinged, buffoonish performance for the price of two.
22.Carmine Falcone and Sal Maroni
22.
Youd be forgiven for mixing them up because they never have simultaneous onscreen roles in live-actionBatmanpictures.
All slightly cartoony mobsters are welcome here!
21.Talia al Ghul
21.
20.The Riddler
20.
19.Deadshot
19.
18.Poison Ivy
18.
But Ivy is one of the more outlandish, supernaturally tinged Bat-foes (see No.
17.Victor Zsasz
17.
1, trailedLambsby just a year and change, and the story is pervasively and impressively creepy.
16.Killer Croc
16.
However, he does wear a hoodie, which I think we can all agree is absolutely darling andbeautiful.
15.The Joker
15.
Time has been less kind to Nicholsons work which is a delight but often scans more Jack than Joker.
Still, Nicholson swanning through a cartoon villain role results in plenty of highlight-reel line readings.
14.Lex Luthor
14.
But inBatman v. Supermanas well as several comics stories (including several set during Luthors presidential administration!
13.Catwoman
13.
But Zoe Kravitz brings this stock part to life, radiating toughness with glimmers of vulnerability and hurt.
12.Bane
12.
But Nolans love for Bond movies emerges through this character whos like a henchman beefed up with extra menaceandpathos.
11.The Penguin
11.
Maybe theyre saving that for the sequel, or the HBO Max series, or the online role-playing game.
10.Ras al Ghul
10.
9.The Riddler
9.
8.Catwoman
8.
(We mean that as a compliment.)
7.Black Mask
7.
Ewan McGregor inBirds of Prey
Now, this is a real Batman-worthy gangster.
He also receives spoiler alert?
6.Scarecrow
6.
5.Two-Face
5.
Aaron Eckhart inThe Dark Knight
The normal-guy-to-supervillain pipeline is tricky to navigate.
Classic Two-Face duality, without the (very fun) gimmicks of the comics version.
4.The Penguin
4.
I am an animal!
3.Harley Quinn
3.
Like Catwoman, she skews good in her film appearances more self-interested than truly evil.
2.The Joker
2.
He went on to win a posthumous Oscar and become a supervillain gold standard.
All of this can distract from just how wonderfully original Ledger is as the Clown Prince of Crime.
), fully worthy of the never-ending sparring with Batman he promises.
1.Catwoman
1.
