Best villains from superhero films

[Hanley!]

I was having this conversation with some of my mates after we went to see Civil War yesterday: who do you think is the best big supervillain or comic book villain? And why?

I'm putting this in the movie section, because more people are probably familiar with the movie versions of these characters than anything else. But if you want to name characters from the comic books then go ahead.

For me, the answer is definitely Magneto.

His powers are really cool, and open to being used in a lot of different ways. His motivations are understandable and even sympathetic which makes him a more interesting and fully rounded character. His love/hate relationship with Xavier adds a great dynamic to the best X-Men stories. And he really forwards the civil rights allegory that is the foundation of the X-Men universe.

The fact that he's been portrayed by two great actors in Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender doesn't hurt either.

[Everlong]

Yeah other than ledgers joker I'd probably also go magneto. The character has so much depth, and the fact that he's been portrayed by two awesome actors certainly helps, you're totally right there.

[The Legend]

Joker

/thread.

[Hanley!]

I like Joker as a terrifying force of nature type villain, and agree that he's one of the stronger comic book villains out there. But I just think Magneto has always been more interesting and more multi-dimensional.

Ledger's Joker is one of the great movie portrayals of a comic book icon though, which certainly helps his status when compared to another comic book greats such as Lex Luthor, whose more modern portrayals on screen haven't lived up to the character's reputation.

[KaiserGlider]

Don't leave Mr. Freeze in the cold!

For real though, my list is probably Joker>Magneto>Bane.

[Daz]

Magneto will always be my choice because I'm an X-Men fanboy.

[DBSoT]

Joker and it's not close. I would take Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson over Fassbender and McKellan any day. The interesting part is Joker and Magneto are almost the complete opposite in terms of story arc. We know a very good amount of Magneto's history and why he is now a villain, while on the other hand the Joker's lack of back story and no obvious motive is what makes him exciting.

[Everlong]

Also, I haven't seen Spiderman 2 in years, but I seem to remember Doctor Octopus being a decent villain.

[JDD]

^^ Yes! Doc Oc from Spiderman 2 is my favorite. Alfred Molina did a great job. People forget how awesome of a character Doctor Octopus was in Spiderman 2. Magneto is second for me.

[Westcoastvibes]

The US government. They are always portrayed as the one that wants to help but in the end they are always the most evil