Disney villains aren’t just scary; they’re stylish, theatrical, and unforgettable. Some roast whole kingdoms like marshmallows over a campfire. While others work slowly, spoiling one life drop by drop until the light goes out. So today, we’re ranking who’s really the worst.
We’re also bringing a grown-up lens to our childhood faves. As kids, the princess was right and the villain was wrong, end of story. As adults, we see contracts, power moves, and red flags the size of Cinderella Castle. We still love the magic, but we recognize the mess. Ariel, a quick skim of that contract would have saved, well, everything.
Our ranking might ruffle some feathers because your fave might land lower than your heart wants. That’s half the fun and why comment sections exist. Use this list to spark a friendly debate in the queue or at the kitchen table.
12) Yzma (The Emperor’s New Groove)
Yzma is office politics with a lab coat and a flair for purple. She wants Kuzco gone, not because she has a vision, but because he’s in her way. She prefers potions and traps to swords and armies, which keeps the damage smaller and the drama louder. She’s the kind of villain who files an evil plan under “miscellaneous.” Dangerous? Absolutely. World-ending? Not quite.
What cements her spot is the casual way she orders a hit like she’s sending a fax. She treats Kronk like a walking sticky note and complains when he doesn’t file correctly. Her plans create llamas instead of body counts, which is funny until you remember she wanted the opposite. Intent matters, and hers is plenty dark even when the execution wobbles. The chaos is loud, but the harm stays mostly local.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “A llama? He’s supposed to be dead!”
- “Take him out of town and finish the job!”
- “I’ll turn him into a flea… and when it arrives, I’ll smash it with a hammer!”
11) Hans (Frozen)
Hans is the villain who brings no magic, just charm and a plan. He takes one look at Arendelle, decides it’s open seating, and then targets the loneliest heart in the room. He mirrors Anna’s hopes back at her like a funhouse reflection, warm on the surface and warped underneath. When the mask drops, it drops fast, and the temperature with it. This is neglect as a weapon and kindness as bait.
What makes Hans stick is the way he narrates his scheme like it’s a to-do list. He doesn’t rage; he calculates. Which feels far too real outside the movie screen. People become steps on a staircase he intends to climb in record time. And he almost gets there, until a sister’s love rewrites the story.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “Oh, Anna, if only there was someone out there who loved you.”
- “As thirteenth in line, I’ve no shot at my own kingdom.”
- “I thought she’d die on her own.”
10) Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)
Lady Tremaine cruelty towards Cinderella is undeniable, though easily overlooked by characters outside of her bubble. Her treatment of the titular character starts with menial labor, but rises to complete disrespect as we learn Cinderella’s name comes from her family making fun of her and the chores they force her to complete.
She neglects her own stepdaughter, child of the man she supposedly loved, leaving her in a cold cellar with the family scraps. Even then, when they realize she has used them to make something beautiful they claw them back. Lady Tremaine then mocks Cinderella, telling her she can go to the ball after completely a seemingly impossible list of chores. Then locking her away when the prince later comes to find his culmsy mystery date. Diabolical.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “Oh yes. You may go… if you can find something suitable to wear.”
- “I never go back on my word.”
9) Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)
he Queen of Hearts rules by fear and impulse. In a world where rials are performance, and the verdict is decided in advance. People lose their heads because she’s angry, not because of guilt. Her court exists to serve her temper.
This is loud, public harm. She encourages loyalty through threats, not trust. Curiosity is punished and flattery is rewarded. That climate keeps everyone unsafe, but especially Alice.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “Off with her head!”
- “Sentence first—verdict afterwards.”
8) Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
Magic always comes at a price, but Dr. Facilier sells help that costs more than it gives. He reads fears then offers shortcuts with a hidden price. He uses people to reach power in New Orleans, and when the debt comes due, he lets others pay it.
His plan affects both individuals and a whole city. He lies with a smile and enjoys the control, treating souls like currency to close the deal. Scale and intent move him up this list.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “I’ve got friends on the other side.”
- “I can read your future. I can change it ’round some, too.”
7) Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)
Some architypes never change, like Gaston who cannot accept the word “no.” After spending much of the film flouncing about the village touting his completely unearned reputation. He finally hears Belle and turns that rejection into a campaign to spread fear. He incites a mob with fear of the unknown, leads them to the castle doors, and orders an attack. Little does he or anyone realize the occupants are priosners to a curse.
His harm is built on an ego that can’t be tamed and unwarranted attention. And that doesn’t even touch on the resource hoarding – 12 eggs for breakfast?! No one needs that much protein. He tells the town they are brave for fighting the Beast, when all he’s really doing is pushing hate. But the crowd follows because he flatters them first. That mix of influence and violence earns this spot.
Infamously Famous Lines
- “No one says no to Gaston.”
- “It’s not right for a woman to read.”
- “Kill the Beast!”
6) The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
She’s a mirror’s worst nightmare. The Evil Queen asks a simple question and when she doesn’t like the answer, chooses murder over self-reflection. She literally orders Snow White’s heart in a box like it’s an Uber Eats delivery. When that doesn’t work, she weaponizes one of the most widely acceptable and enjoyed fruit. Complete propaganda!
Her rule depends on being first, best, and only. So, when the mirror says otherwise, she doesn’t raise her game; she ends the competition. All Snow White ever did was exist, but for The Evil Queen even existing is an insult.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “Bring back her heart in this.”
- “Now I’ll be fairest in the land!”
- “Dip the apple in the brew…”
5) Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
As a master of “that seems fair, she spots a desperate teenager and designs a deal disguised as hope. Ursula lures Ariel into the trap with empathy and understanding – of course it’s really love, King Triton doesn’t know what he’s talking about! And as our mermaid friend shares her struggles this evil octopus tricks her into signing away her voice, her power in this vast existence, for a fresh crush.
Yes, Ariel should have read the contract, but the fine print is loaded like a game of rigged ring toss, and Ursula knows exactly which prize Ariel wants. When the plan wobbles, she scales up from ink to sea monster in the blink of an eye. It’s this feels-real escalation when she doesn’t get what she wants, and exploitation of Ariels trusting nature that lands her at number 5 on our list.
Infamously Evil Lines
- “Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it?”
- “If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet, you’ve got to pay the toll.”
- “So long, lover boy.”
4) Hades (Hercules)
Hades wants one thing: Zeus off the throne and Olympus under his control. And the only obstacle is a future hero named Hercules. When a plan to strip him of his godhood as a baby fails, Hades realizes he’ll have to go another route.
Enter Meg, whose soul he controls, to lure Hercules into traps. From poisoning a literal child to weaponizing true love, Hades is locked in on his plan for revenge. He holds Meg’s past mistake over her head and calls it a contract. He breaks his word the moment it suits him and aims for mass takeover. The goal, the methods, and the cost to everyone else meet the definition of “super evil.”
Infamously Evil Lines
- “I’ve got twenty-four hours to get rid of this bozo.”
- “We were so close! So close, we tripped at the finish line!”
- “Memo to me: maim you after my meeting.”
3) Scar (The Lion King)
The goal is simple, get the crown. Scar resents Mufasa’s strength and the respect he gets. So, when Simba is born, Scar sees his chances drop to almost nothing.
He builds an alliance with the hyenas and promises them food. He places Simba in the gorge and triggers a wildebeest stampede. Forcing Simba to watch his own father’s death, and then blames him for it. Scar takes the throne and gives the hyenas free reign. Destorying the hunting lands.
He’s beyond evil because he mixes murder with manipulation. He kills his brother, targets a child, and lies to everyone. His rule brings hunger and fear, and he shows no remorse. He risks the entire pride to protect his ego and power. Even at the end, he blames others rather than take responsibility. The Hyena song does still slaps though.
Infamous Lines
- “Long live the king.”
- “I killed Mufasa.”
- “Be prepared.”
2) Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
Maleficent takes a party snub and turns it into a generational curse. The commitment to the bit is, frankly, impressive. She stalks the calendar like a cat, anxiously awaiting the exact day when doom arrives. And when the heroes get bold, she gets bigger, greener, and much… more on fire. Elegance meets escalation, and nobody forgets the show.
Her villainy works because she knows timing and theater. She doesn’t just cast a spell; she curates an event. Honestly, she’s the original event planner. She demands respect and delivers consequences when it’s not offered. On a different day, she’d be a great stage manager; on this day, she is a dragon.
Infamous Lines
- “Before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger…”
- “You poor simple fools.”
- “Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of Hell!”
1) Judge Claude Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
And finally, our number-one most evil villain—by far—is Judge Claude Frollo. Partly because he’s a flawed human who reads like someone you could meet on the street, the scariest kind of bad guy. And partly because he does terrible things while insisting he is the hero of the story. He uses titles and rules to make harsh choices feel tidy, then doubles down when anyone gets hurt. He’ isn’t a ‘s not a lightning storm; he’s a steady, scorching heat.
Frollo’s danger is scale mixed with certainty. He decides who belongs and who doesn’t, then acts like it’s maintenance. He sets fires he calls “order,” and when people are burned, he blames the spark, never the match. The songs soar, the cathedral shines, and his choices keep getting darker. That gap between image and action is why he lands here at the top.
Infamous Lines
- “The world is cruel, and the world is wicked.”
- “You know I am a righteous man.”
Disney has some of the most memorable villains, who taught us right from wrong at an early age. And some of them have made a pretty strong case for themselves in recent years (not Scar), with the live action re-tellings. With a new Villains show at Hollywood Studios, and complete Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom (take that Epic Dark Universe), one thing is certain – we really love a misguided misfit.
That’s our ranking for most eviliest villains, but we’d love to hear yours! Tell us in the comments, who’s at the top of your list?
