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.