In the early days of cinema, female characters were often portrayed as weak, subservient, and in need of saving. However, as the industry evolved, women began to be given more prominent and complex roles, including some of the most iconic and terrifying villains in film history. These deadly female characters shatter the stereotype that women are less capable of being menacing and demonstrate that women can be just as deadly and formidable.

Although the story is often told from the hero's perspective, there’s no denying that a good story is never complete without a vicious villain. A well-written villain adds depth and intrigue to the story, and when that villain is a woman, it adds a layer of complexity and an extra level of intrigue. From witches such as Bellatrix Lestrange to ruthless leaders like Ma-Ma, these women have demonstrated that evil is not only limited to men.

15 Rose Armitage

'Get Out' (2017)

Jordan Peele's horror thriller follows a young Black man (David Kaluuya) who visits his girlfriend's family, only to uncover a sinister secret about this white family. What starts out as an awkward meeting quickly turns into a struggle for survival as a bizarre conspiracy unfolds all around them.

Get Out is a uniquely strange film, but its true terror lies in the hidden main antagonist, Rose (Allison Williams), and her family of murderers. It is truly terrifying how she can switch from seeming caring and sweet to a ruthless psychopath. Tasked with forming relationships with unsuspecting African Americans, in order to lure them to her home, Rose manages to deceive both Chris and the unsuspecting audience to perpetuate her evil.

14 Madeline 'Ma-Ma' Madrigal

'Dredd' (2012)

Following a report of terrible crimes being committed in a slum neighborhood under the control of a dangerous kingpin named Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), Dredd (Karl Urban) and Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby) venture into this danger zone to bring the perpetrators to justice. Trapped in a maze and without any assistance, these cops must fight their way to survival in Dredd.

In this awesome comic-to-film adaptation, Lena Headey plays yet another iconic villain in its apocalyptic world. Her portrayal of the ruthless, brilliant, and unapologetically evil character demonstrates her versatility as an actress. Headey’s outstanding performance, along with other factors, contributes to the overall appeal of this underappreciated sci-fi film.

13 Elle Driver

'Kill Bill Vol. 2' (2004)

To exact her revenge on her former boss and lover, this Lethal female assassin (Uma Thurman) must go through Bill’s younger brother, Budd and Elle in Quentin Tarantino's wild revenge flick, Kill Bill Vol. 2. But with them already on her tail, will she succeed in her mission?

Both Kill Bill movies feature a diverse cast of villainous characters, making it difficult to determine who is the deadliest. However, Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) stands out as the most venomous with her impressive fighting abilities, use of a black mamba, and constantly scheming mind. Despite her missing eye, she proves to be a formidable opponent for the Bride, ultimately receiving a brutal death sentence. Her close-quarters fight scene with the Bride is considered one of the most realistic and brutal in the film.

12 Marla Grayson

'I Care a Lot' (2021)

Few films, even those with villainous characters as the leads, allow the audience to partake and join in on the villainy and excitement of deplorable actions quite like I Care a Lot accomplishes. The film's lead and primary villain is Marla Grayson, a cutthroat no-nonsense hustler who has made riches off of acting as a court-appointed legal guardian and defrauding her clients while trapping them under her care. Her schemes have made her millions through the manipulation and stealing of hundreds of elderly clients, but she finally faces some major pushback when her latest mark has deadly underground ties.

Much like Rosamund Pike's other villainous roles, Marla Grayson succeeds as a villain thanks to her powerful balance of cold, calculated precision as well as being able to turn on a cheery, upbeat facade at a moment's notice. Even when the crime syndicate that she goes up against is far from being heroic, it's difficult to consider Marla the hero by any sense of the word, as the film acts more like a battle between two different parasitic entities.

11 Esther

'Orphan' (2009)

A highly memorable and deeply disturbing horror villain, Esther puts on the simple, innocent appearance of an orphaned 9-year-old, and through the film Orphan, is adopted to fill the void of a struggling couple. However, the truth of the matter is much more terrifying and despicable, as Esther begins doing several mysterious and offputting behaviors, from acting highly mature for her age to killing small animals and terrorizing other children.

While many films have had evil or killer children as their focal point, Esther goes above and beyond in terms of pure villainy and immoral actions, as greatly illustrated in the film's iconic twist. Esther isn't a child at all, but is a 33-year-old woman who due to her hypopituitarism, has incredibly stunted growth and has the appearance of a young girl. Esther has been using her young appearance to her advantage to trick people, and is, in reality, a terrifying serial killer who has murdered at least seven people.

10 Nurse Midlred Ratched

'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975)

This dark psychological dramedy directed by Milos Forman and based on the novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tells the story of Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a criminal who feigns insanity to avoid serving a prison sentence. McMurphy is sent to a mental institution, where he finds himself under the control of Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a tyrannical and oppressive authority figure. McMurphy and other patients must band together to defeat this nurse.

Nurse Ratched is the antithesis of the ideal nurse, as she exacerbates tensions and exploits the patients' vulnerabilities for her own gain. She may not be an over-the-top villain, but her manipulation and cruelty certainly put her on the list of the deadliest female villains. While Nicholson was the star of the movie, Louis Fletcher was simply brilliant in her portrayal of this atrocious nurse and deservedly earned her an Oscar.

9 Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki

'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

The highly memorable and iconic villain from the Best Picture-winning original sci-fi film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Joy Wang is the chaotic essence of what makes the film work so well. Between all the wild and extravagant alternate universes that are shown throughout the film, what makes the character such a powerful threat is that she experiences all universes at once. This has resulted in a deadly nihilistic view of existence as a whole, as her chaotic and rulebreaking quest for answers and an end to it all has ramifications across the entire multiverse.

It speaks volumes that a film whose major selling point is its zany and wacky action and comedy has some of its greatest and most effective character moments from a haunting, down-to-earth portrayal of depression and self-destruction. Combined with Stephanie Hsu's powerful supporting performance, it creates an unforgettable and highly relatable villain for the digital era, where villainous comedy and flashy nonsense are used as an escape from the dreadful realities of life.

8 Ellie

'Evil Dead Rise' (2023)

The Evil Dead franchise is widely known for having numerous iconic and memorable Deadite villains over the years, yet the most recent film's possession of Ellie may stand out as the series' greatest villain. Before being possessed in Evil Dead Rise, Ellie was a single mother attempting to care for three siblings in a Los Angeles apartment building, but after her children unleash the horrors of the Necronomicon, she is transformed into a terrifying and unrelenting monster who has permanently transformed Ellie into a vicious, bloodthirsty menace.

Part of what makes Ellie such an exceptional and memorable villain is the highly entertaining performance from Alyssa Sutherland, who goes all out in terms of terror and villainy to create an iconic horror villain for the ages. The character does all of the classic attributes and actions of a regular villainous Deadite, but Evil Dead Rise's focus on a singular major Deadite as opposed to a larger group creates a much greater focus and attention placed on Ellie as a singular monstrous force.

7 Amy Dune

'Gone Girl' (2014)

Adapted from a novel of the same name, Gone Girl is a psychological thriller that follows a Missouri couple, Nick (Ben Affleck) and Amy Dune (Rosamund Pike) whose seemingly perfect marriage comes crashing down when Amy goes missing. Under serious accusations of being his wife’s killer, Nick must watch his life fall apart while Detective Rhonda pieces the puzzles together.

Amy is unquestionably dark, complex, and yet so realistic in this masterpiece created by David Fincher. Tired of playing the "cool girl," she seeks revenge on her husband in a twisted and sadistic manner. Despite being vengeful, sadistic, and creepy, she manages to elicit sympathy from a lot of viewers with her rather sad story.

6 Alex Forrest

'Fatal Attraction' (1987)

Fatal Attraction centers on a happily married man, Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) who has a causal fling with an editor, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), and becomes an object of her aggressive obsession. As Alex becomes increasingly violent, Dan Gallagher must find a way to protect his family from this stalker.

Due to the themes present in this now-popular example of a stalker movie, it was one of the most talked about films when it was released. Glenn Close's portrayal of Alex Forrest, a chic woman who transforms into a stalker as her obsession with Dan grows, contributed to the film's profound impact. While some may see Forrest as a victim, her manipulative and violent actions solidify her as one of the most terrifying female villains in film history.

5 Dolores Umbridge

'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (2007)

This fantasy adventure film, inspired by J.K. Rowling's beloved children's book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues the story of an orphan who discovers his magical abilities on his eleventh birthday. Enrolled in the school of wizardry, this young wizard must fight the dark forces that pose a threat to their magical world.

Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) is highly detested and is considered one of the series' most villainous characters in the Harry Potter film series. The most terrifying aspect of Dolores’ villain is the demeanor she maintains while committing cruel and oppressive acts. Her ultimate goal may be to maintain order and control, but her methods are brutal and unjust. As she wields her deadly power against anyone who tramples on her ideals, she maintains a deceitful smile that makes her even more menacing.

4 Wicked Witch of the West

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Based on L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel, the musical fantasy movie The Wizard of Oz follows a young girl, Dorothy (Judy Garland), and her dog Toto as they are whisked away to the enchanted land of Oz by a tornado. To return home, she sets out with three newfound friends to seek out the great wizard who will grant their wishes.

After vowing to avenge her sister and retrieve the ruby slippers, the villainous witch (Margaret Hamilton) goes all out to destroy Dorothy. There's no denying that the Wicked Witch of the West was terrifying, dark, dangerous, cruel, and deserving of the title "Wicked." This tyrant was not only despised by the audience and Dorothy, but her castle guards thought her so evil they rejoiced when she melted.

Watch on Max

3 Bellatrix Lestrange

'Harry Potter' Franchise (2001 - 2011)

In this fantasy tale, Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter, as he sets out to defeat the nefarious dark lord. Throughout the story, Harry must navigate a perilous journey as he learns to combat the various villains who threaten his world.

This pure-blood witch (Helena Bonham Carter) is unwaveringly dedicated to serving the Dark Lord and destroying his enemies. Her loyalty borders on the extreme and her methods are often considered to be quite ruthless. One of the most unsettling scenes in the Harry Potter movies is when she tortures Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). The character is played creepily well, and many consider her one of the best in the franchise.

2 Pearl