15 Amazing Female Villains Who Outshine The Heroes And Steal Our Hearts

Calling all fans of strong, powerful, and cunning women! It's time to shine the spotlight on the best of the worst - the female villains who we can’t help but love and root for their victory. They steal the show with their devious plans, a razor-sharp wit, and unapologetic badassery. Sure, we love a good hero, but let's be real - there's something irresistible about a female villain who commands the screen with her presence.
From classic literature to modern-day Movies and TV shows, these characters have captured our hearts (and maybe even a bit of our souls). Who can forget the chillingly seductive Poison Ivy from Batman, or the sly and cunning Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones? 
Not just sidekicks or eye candy; these women prove that they are just as capable of taking down the hero as they are of taking over the world. It's time to embrace the dark side, and rethink everything we thought we knew about good and evil.

#1 Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter Series)

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Bellatrix Lestrange is a character in the Harry Potter series who instills fear in us. Bellatrix is a notorious Death Eater who displays merciless behavior, exhibiting unwavering loyalty towards Voldemort and demonstrating a readiness to eliminate anyone. Her conduct bears similarity to that of a psychopath, as she displays an obsessive attachment to Voldemort and is willing to go to any extent to satisfy his wishes. The fate of Dobby the house-elf is still fresh in our memory.
Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of Lestrange is enjoyable to watch, but the character herself is pure evil, with a bone-chilling laugh that can send shivers down your spine. As a member of the Death Eaters, Lestrange is merciless and shouldn't be underestimated.

#2 Annie Wilkes (Misery)

Source: Allstar / Castle Rock Entertainment

Don’t mess with a book lover! Portrayed by Kathy Bates, Wilkes is a nurse who stumbles upon her favorite author, Paul Sheldon (played by James Cann), after he gets into a car accident. Rather than taking him to the hospital, Wilkes brings him to her home to care for him. What starts as a friendly gesture quickly takes a dark turn when Wilkes refuses to let Sheldon leave and even forces him to write a new novel featuring her beloved character, Misery.
Wilkes is a prime example of how an obsession with a fictional world can lead to madness. The scene involving a sledgehammer is particularly horrifying and will leave you gasping in terror. Wilkes is undeniably one of the most dangerous female villains on our list.

#3 Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Source: HBO

The television series Game of Thrones gained immense popularity when it first aired in 2011. The show depicts a fantasy world where various families engage in a battle to claim the Iron Throne, and Cersei Lannister stands out as one of the most cunning villains.
Over the course of the seven seasons, Cersei experiences a range of emotions, starting as a loving mother but eventually turning into a ruthless antagonist who becomes the queen and uses her authority to seek revenge on her enemies in the most vicious ways possible. Despite the tragic loss of her children and father, as well as the betrayal of her brother Tyrion, Cersei remains cruel and manipulative, making her an unforgettable villainous queen.

#4 Amy Elliott Dunne (Gone Girl)

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Amy Elliott Dunne is a woman who disappears and whose husband becomes the main suspect in her disappearance. Rosamund Pike plays the role of Dunne, who is not actually missing but instead is a dangerous femme fatale seeking to frame her husband, played by Ben Affleck, for cheating on her.
However, her plans take a dark turn with bloody consequences when her thinking is forced to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Dunne is the embodiment of the saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

#5 Maleficent (Maleficent)

Source: Walt Disney Studios

If we're talking about the most devilishly wicked Disney villains, Maleficent's name is sure to come up. Played by Angelina Jolie in both the live-action movies, Maleficent and its sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, this curvaceous queen has a fondness for black attire and putting entire kingdoms under her spell with curses.
Sure, she's got a bit of a bad rap, but can you blame her? She's just a misunderstood gal who's constantly feared by others. All Maleficent wants is a little respect, a little recognition, and maybe a warm hug or two. But instead, she's left to cast spells and brood in her castle. Poor thing.

#6 Regina George (Mean Girls)

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While we're used to seeing Rachel McAdams play sweethearts in flicks like The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, and The Vow, she really showed her range by portraying the teenage terror Regina George in Mean Girls. As the head honcho of the Plastics, she's got a tongue sharper than a samurai sword and a heart colder than a popsicle left out in the snow.
Regina's got a talent for tearing down her rivals with insults that pack a punch harder than a heavyweight champ. Let's just say, if you're on the receiving end of one of her verbal attacks, you might need a year's supply of ice cream to recover.

#7 Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

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If you thought Meryl Streep was all smiles and sunshine, think again. In The Devil Wears Prada, she plays Miranda Priestly, the editor of Runway magazine and the ultimate boss from hell. Armed with a razor-sharp wit and a no-nonsense attitude, Miranda rules the roost with an iron fist, leaving her employees trembling in her wake.
Some might call Miranda a bit of a tyrant, but let's be real, she's just got big boss energy. She's not afraid to make moves that ruffle a few feathers, but hey, that's how you stay on top. And if anyone's going to dominate the fashion industry, it might as well be Miranda Priestly.

#8 Joy Wang (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

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We've got a real gem of a character in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s blockbuster, "Everything Everywhere All At Once". We've got Joy Wang, a misunderstood daughter. All she wanted was to help her momma out at the laundromat. But then she transforms into Jobu Tupaki, a badass that can wreck the world!
And let's not forget the wacky wardrobe choices that come with the territory - we've got Elvis vibes, Shakespearean collars, and even teddy bears on the sleeves. But hey, Stephanie Hsu does a darn good job making us care about this grumpy anti-heroine. Who knew doing laundry could lead to world domination?

#9 Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad)

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

The on-and-off girlfriend of The Joker, Harley Quinn made her debut in the 2016 film Suicide Squad, wearing a cheerleader outfit with fishnet stockings, pigtails, and wielding her favorite weapon, a baseball bat. Despite being a villain, she has become somewhat of an anti-hero due to her charming personality and unique appearance, earning her a devoted fan base.
Quinn's popularity led to her own movie, Birds of Prey, and she also appeared in James Gunn's reboot of The Suicide Squad. Quinn is a memorable character who marches to the beat of her own drum.

#10 Cruella de Vil (Cruella)

Source: Walt Disney Studios

The character Cruella De Vil in the movie Cruella is portrayed as the proprietor of the upscale fashion label House of DeVil that specializes in fur clothing. Her fascination with fur is not limited to her professional life but also reflects her personal preferences. Her personality is marked by self-centeredness, an obsession with material possessions, and a callous attitude towards animals.
She would not hesitate to harm innocent puppies for the sake of fashionable apparel. But we have to admit, her outfits always slay.

#11 Nurse Mildred Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)

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Louise Fletcher won an Academy Award for her depiction of Nurse Mildred Ratched in Miloš Forman's tragicomic film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest". Nurse Ratched is a cruel and oppressive character who rules over the hospital ward where Jack Nicholson's character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, is kept. Fletcher's outstanding portrayal of the character has made Nurse Ratched a symbol of institutional power abuse and one of the most unforgettable movie antagonists in history.

#12 O-Ren Ishii (Kill Bill: Vol. 1)

Source: IMDb

O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1", is a former member of the Deadly Vipers who has risen to the top of the Yakuza. She is a brutal woman with formidable sword skills. The protagonist, known as the Bride, places Ishii at the top of her "Kill List". To eliminate the Bride, Ishii dispatches her gang, the Crazy 88, but ultimately faces the Bride in a one-on-one duel and loses her life.

#13 Odile (Black Swan)

Source: IMDb

In Darren Aronofsky's spine-chilling psychological thriller "Black Swan", Natalie Portman's character, Nina Sayers, descends into madness and takes on the persona of the malevolent Odile from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake". Nina's eyes become bloodshot, and she develops feathers, along with an unquenchable desire to eliminate her competitors, regardless of the repercussions.

#14 Scarlet Overkill (Minions)

Source: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

Scarlet Overkill is the baddie boss in the first Minions flick. She ropes in the minions to nick the crown jewels from England. Scarlet's wicked wit, hilarious quips, and alpha attitude make her a role model for aspiring villains. To execute her evil schemes, she's got her hubby on board, who's a gadget genius. So, if you want to learn how to be bad like Scarlet, just take notes and watch your back!

#15 Poison Ivy (Batman)

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

And finally, say hello to Poison Ivy, another one of those pesky bad guys in the DC Universe. She's got the whole seductive temptress thing going on, and she knows it! Her powers come from her unique biology, which pumps out pheromones that make everyone go weak at the knees. Ivy's also a scientific whiz, and she's not shy about flaunting her brain power. In fact, she thinks she's better than everyone else, but hey, we don't blame her because she really is!