From Superman: The Movie to upcoming releases like Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC Comics has seen quite a few of its most iconic villains brought to life on the big screen. However, not all DC movie villains are created equal. So, as Warner Bros. is poised to bring characters like Doomsday and Harley Quinn to theaters in the coming months, we look back at five of the best live-action takes on DC villains. For the record, we’re limiting this list to one selection for each character. So don’t expect multiple selections for iconic villains like the Joker and Lex Luthor.
Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), Superman: The Movie (1978)
Over the years, many actors have had the chance to provide their own interpretations of Superman's arch-nemesis. However, way before Jesse Eisenberg was hired to provide a modern spin to Lex Luthor, Oscar winner Gene Hackman embodied the larger-than-life self-professed criminal mastermind as he faced Christopher Reeve's Superman in the original Richard Donner-directed classic. As dryly witty as he is arrogant, Hackman's Lex provided an intellectual challenge for the Man of Steel — as the character often does — but it is the self-satisfaction with which Hackman plays his scenes with Superman that make his Lex the best big-screen version to date. The actor reprised the role to somewhat less success in Superman II and (certainly) Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, but his more subdued approach still surpasses Kevin Spacey's hammy turn in the mediocre Superman Returns.
General Zod (Terence Stamp), Superman II (1980)
Another Superman foe, General Zod has appeared on the big screen twice, in the forms of Terence Stamp in Superman II and Michael Shannon in Man of Steel. The character provides a more personal threat for the hero due to their shared Kryptonian heritage and, in the latter case, Zod's role in Jor-El's death. However, it is Stamp's portrayal of the military leader that remains the gold standard. His unwavering scowl, his fiery stare and his relentless demand that others kneel before him make Zod one of the most fearsome comic book villains ever to hit theaters, and Stamp nailed his sense of self-importance and thirst for power. With Sarah Douglas' Ursa and Jack O'Halloran's Non by his side, Zod remains among the most intriguing and powerful characters Superman has taken on in the films, though Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice may soon change that.
Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), Batman Returns (1992)
No less than three ladies played Catwoman during the character's run opposite Adam West back in the 1960s (including Lee Meriwether's perfomance in the 1966 Batman: The Movie). Yet, Michelle Pfeiffer handily delivered the strongest version of the character to date in Tim Burton's sequel. While Batman Returns dramatically strays away from Catwoman's comic book origins, once Pfeiffer is suited up and prowling the alleyways of Gotham, she captures the feistiness, agility and dark playfulness of the character to perfection. The film even nicely develops her romantic connections to both Bruce Wayne and Batman, deftly portraying the similarities between the Caped Crusader and his feline counterpart. Since Pfeiffer hung up her claws, Anne Hathaway ably brought the character to life in The Dark Knight Rises, but we have yet to see an actress top Pfeiffer's take thus far. Perhaps Ben Affleck's Batman will meet up with a new Catwoman in the near future.
Joker (Heath Ledger), The Dark Knight (2008)
Although Jack Nicholson delivered an unforgettable performance as the Joker in the 1989 Batman, Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning turn as the Clown Prince of Crime barely edges it out. Rather than focusing on the Joker's darkly humorous side, Ledger hones in on how the character's obsession with chaos and anarchy contrast with Batman's mission to restore order and justice throughout Gotham City. The Dark Knight provides the actor and co-star Christian Bale with the perfect platform to explore the eternally antagonistic relationship between the iconic hero and villain. From his introduction during that instantly classic bank heist sequence to his final laugh-filled moments with Batman, Ledger's Joker brought a fresh take to one of the most overdone comic book villains of all. Jared Leto — who will assume the role for Suicide Squad — certainly has a challenge ahead of him if he hopes to win over audiences in the same way Ledger did.
Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), Watchmen (2009)
In Zack Snyder's Watchmen, Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias declares that he's "not a comic book villain", and while the film is based on the acclaimed Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons graphic novel, the character — as played by Matthew Goode — isn't entirely wrong. Although many super-villains appear to be motivated purely by self-interest, Ozymandias' plot has actually been designed with the long-term future of the human race in mind. Of course, that means the sacrifice of millions of lives in the process, but according to The World's Smartest Man, the only other alternative would likely have been the apocalyptic threat of nuclear war. In this way, Ozymandias simultaneously represents both a standard example of your typical comic book baddie and an anomaly of what fans expect. His methods may be extreme, but it's hard to argue with his assertion that mankind needs dramatic events to stay united against its inevitable destiny to tear itself apart.
What’s your favorite movie villain based on DC Comics? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
