Villain origin movies tell the story of how a character becomes a villain. They explore the motivations and backstories of villains and provide insight into their character development.
They can be dramatic, action-packed, or even darkly comedic and are often highly entertaining for audiences. Here are some of the greatest villain origin movies of all time.
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9 Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal Rising (2007)
Dino De Laurentiis Company
Hannibal Rising is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, which serves as a prequel to the other books in the Hannibal Lecter series. The film is set in Eastern Europe during World War II and follows the young Lecter as he tries to come to terms with the deaths of his parents and sister at the hands of a group of deserters from the Soviet Army. As he grows older, Lecter becomes increasingly obsessed with revenge, eventually becoming a killer.
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8 Leatherface - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
Next Entertainment
Leatherface’s origin story is revealed in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, which is the prequel to the original 2003 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Leatherface is portrayed as a young man named Thomas Hewitt, who is born with a severe mental disability due to an incestuous relationship between his mother and grandfather. He is raised in isolation by his family and taught to kill and butcher animals for food. As he grows older, Thomas begins to use his chainsaw to kill humans, and he continues to do so as part of a twisted family tradition.RELATED: The Greatest Villain Introductions of All Time in Movies, Ranked
7 Maleficent - Maleficent (2014)
Walt Disney Pictures
Maleficent was initially a good fairy dwelling in a magical forest, the Moors. A young Maleficent falls in love with Stefan, but they grow apart as they age. The then King, Henry, tries to conquer Maleficent’s forest but is mortally wounded. On his deathbed, he declares that the person who kills Maleficent will be his successor. Stefan betrays Maleficent by drugging her and cutting off her wings. A bitter and enraged Maleficent turns evil, converting the Moors to a dark kingdom.
RELATED: The Best Villain Performances in Cinematic History, Ranked
6 Annabelle - Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Warner Bros.
In Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle Higgins, formerly known as Janice, was one of several orphans who were taken in by a kind couple who had lost their daughter, Annabelle “Bee” Mullins, twelve years prior. The couple, Esther and Mr. Mullins, attempted to use supernatural forces to communicate with their deceased daughter but accidentally summoned a demon named Malthus instead.
Malthus pretends to be Annabelle “Bee” to earn the couple’s trust and asks to be allowed to possess a doll in the house. The couple agreed but eventually realized that the demon was not their daughter and sought the church’s help to seal it in a room. While snooping around Annabelle’s old room, Janice found the doll and unknowingly unleashed the demon, which possessed her and caused her to attack the other orphans and kill the couple.
Janice, now controlled by Malthus and calling herself “Annabelle,” managed to escape and leave the doll behind before making her way to another orphanage, where the Higgins family eventually adopted her.
5 Gru - Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Illumination
Minions: The Rise of Gru is a prequel to the Despicable Me film series and tells the story of how Gru became a supervillain. In the film, Gru is a young child fascinated by the world of villains and dreams of becoming a supervillain. As he grows older, he studies the ways of villainy and eventually becomes a successful supervillain in his own right. Along the way, he meets and befriends the Minions, who become his loyal helpers and eventually join him in his quest to take over the world.
4 Magneto - X-Men: First Class (2011)
Marvel Entertainment
Magneto, born Max Eisenhardt, watched his family executed and dumped in a mass grave. He only survived because his powers manifested, and he deflected a bullet meant for him. As if that is not enough, when he’s all grown and has a family of his own, his daughter is killed, and his wife runs away after seeing him use his powers for vengeance. So, when Professor Xavier tells him that mutants and humans can coexist, he doesn’t see how. This leads to the beginnings of their famous rivalry in X-Men: First Class. Given what he’s gone through, Magneto sees humans destroying the mutants if the mutants don’t kill them first.
3 Loki - Thor (2011)
Marvel Studios
In the first Thor film, Loki becomes envious of Thor and his place in Asgardian society. He is also resentful that he is adopted and is not a true Asgardian. This resentment makes him bitter and jealous, eventually driving him to betray Thor and Asgard to prove his worth and superiority. As a result, he becomes the main antagonist in the first Thor film and several subsequent Marvel films.
2 Darth Vader - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Darth Vader, originally Anakin Skywalker, was a Jedi Knight and Clone Wars hero. He was seduced to the dark side of the Force by Palpatine, making Anakin his apprentice. Palpatine appealed to Anakin’s emotions and personal vulnerabilities. He played on Anakin’s fear of losing those he loved, promising him that the dark side of the Force held power to protect them. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin fully turned against the Jedi Order, helping Palpatine hunt down and kill the other Jedi.
1 The Joker - Joker (2019)
The Joker is possibly one of the most iconic villains of all time. In the film Joker (2019), we learn that the Joker, an aspiring comedian, suffered from neurological disorders, possibly from being abused as a child, that caused him to laugh at inappropriate moments. A strike in Gotham led to the shutdown of social services that he relied on for medication. Lack of medication, combined with rejection, bullying, and people not being able to understand him led to the origin of the Joker.
