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The Top 10 Women Movie Villains

By Steph Greegor · March 18, 2015

There is a societal perception that women are supposed to be all warm and fuzzy and sweet; but, clearly, society is delusional. And, when these bitches rolled up with deeply entrenched psyches of evil and villainess maneuvers of bad-assery, you can be sure most everyone changed their tune.

From snakes and poison to wire hanger beatings, a female villain is something to marvel. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned—or a female villain with a heart colder than the Arctic carrying an ice pick. From the seemingly benign to the clearly deranged, check out the Top 10 Women Movie Villains from this chick’s perspective.

 

10. Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Speaking of

Miranda Priestly is the kind of woman that makes all women want to die on the spot. From her cold stare to her bitchy comments, she’s never going to be your frienemy. Somewhere inside her rotten, cold body is a bit of a heart, we see that, but not enough to make her anything other than hell on heels—Manolo Blahnik’s, to be exact. Believed to be based on Vogue editor Anna Wintour, the film is alleged to have used at least $1 million worth of designer clothing and accessories, making it one of the more expensive costumed movies in cinematic history.

9. Kathryn Merteuil, Cruel Intentions (1999)

The “You don’t think she’s a villain, but she is a villain,” villain.

You know this girl. I know this girl. We all know this girl. We can relate, which is probably why Cruel Intentions scored over $75 million worldwide at the box office in 1999. She’s the villain that’s got everybody fooled. Kathryn Merteuil could spit in your face and make you appreciate the cocaine residue left behind. The girl’s got tact, as in, “Telling someone to go to hell in a manner that makes them look forward to the trip.” She’s bad news, alright. And makes Gossip Girl antics look like cotton candy dreams. Shout out to Regina George, Mean Girls (2004), the descendant of this manipulative psycho.

8. Hedra Carlson, Single White Female (1992)

Just when you thought it was safe to have a roommate.

Holy. Shit. Remember that time you dreamt of having a bestie to live with, and share stories, and drink wine? Jennifer Jason Leigh put that dream soundly to rest. She won the 1993 MTV Movie Awards Best Villain honor for her portrayal of “Hedy,” a girl who stole her roommate’s life and looks, before killing said roommate’s fiancé and puppy. Eff that noise. Apartment for one, please. #Kthxbye

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2g3mFHATE8]

 

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7. Mystique, Marvel Universe (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2014)

Because, shape-shifting mutant, duh.

Ah, the lovely Mystique. She is one of the prettier villains with her cool, yellow eyes and beautifully artistic blue skin—she also knows how to kick ass. Her best scenes are when she shape shifts mid-kick to the face—oh, hey, Wolverine. Her past is a little shady, too, and no one knows old she really is—Demi Moore, you’ve got competition on who looks better at 80, but age is just a number for this evil phenom.

6. Alex Forrest, Fatal Attraction (1987)

Shit just got real.

Alex Forrest set the standard for psychotic other women everywhere—if your lover goes back to his wife, lie to him about being pregnant, kill a small, defenseless animal and make soup out of it, then try and stab his wife. Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film grossed over $320 million at the box office. Honorable nods to other psychos trying to steal someone else’s man/family—Alicia Silverstone in The Crush (1993) and Rebecca DeMornay in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd521kE7f0A]

 

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5. Catherine Tramell, Basic Instinct (1992)

Men just can’t help themselves, even when there’s an ice pick involved.

Catherine Tramell is a modern day version of the Siren, a beautiful creature in Greek mythology that lured sailors in with her sweet song, only to crash them against the rocks. Or, in this case, stab them with an ice pick. But, whatever, you get the picture. Don’t go near her, Michael Douglas. But you did anyway, idiot. Like a moth to a flame.

4. Annie Wilkes, Misery (1990)

In the battle of Annie Wilkes versus Nurse Ratched, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), advantage Wilkes.

This is just my initial basic instinct, here, (see what I did there?) but in a match-up of bat-shit crazy nurse versus bat-shit crazy nurse, I have to think Annie takes the “W,” especially since Kathy Bates won the 1990 Best Actress Oscar for her performance of the psychopath. Annie Wilkes is just full-on, I have lost my ever-lovin’ mind, break your ankles, and chain you to a bed because I’M YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN, kind of crazy. It makes you re-think the notion of wanting to be famous. Or of ever trusting nurses.

3. Bellatrix LeStrange, Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)

Love made her do it.

Bellatrix LeStrange is not so much le strange, but rather a woman in love. And we all know the lengths a woman will go to for love (refer to this list). LeStrange’s fanatical devotion to Lord Voldemort was really her heart speaking. She was in love with the dark Lord enough to follow his evil ways as a Death Eater and more, despite being married to Rodolphus Lestrange—an arranged marriage. The whole thing leaves single women everywhere wondering how the hell they’re still single and this evil chick was playing two guys.

2. Elle Driver, Kill Bill Universe (2003/2004)

Vipers and poisons and swords, oh my.

Kill Bill offers so many villainess possibilities from its den of Deadly Viper Assassination Squad members, that it’s hard to choose; but, the bottom line is, Elle, code name California Mountain Snake, makes everyone on this list look like Glenda the Good Witch, comparatively. From a Black Mamba to a sword, she’s got ten ways to kill you and she’s happy to use them all.

1. Joan Crawford, Mommy Dearest (1981)

In the category of, “Making Moms everywhere feel better about themselves by comparison,” comes…

No wire hangers EVER!” Nothing will make you appreciate your own mother quite like watching someone else’s mother viciously beat them with a wire hanger, viciously cut their hair or viciously strangle them. Sensing a pattern, here? Faye Dunaway’s portrayal of Joan Crawford makes you want to crawl out of your skin as you listen to a little girl screaming in defense for 90 minutes. Sometimes the worse villains are the ones who are supposed to love you the most.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUkE9qaVgmo]

 

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Honorable Mention

Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The bitch that started it all.

She’s not officially in the top 10 list because, well, women villains have gotten a lot more deranged since the Wicked Witch rolled on the scene. But, as the female villain that ushered in an era of evil chicks ready to claw your eyes out, she deserves some props. Miranda Priestly would be proud of this green-skinned villainess, whose motto should be, “Don’t ever touch a bitch’s shoes.”