Cruella de Vil, Voldemort and the 25 greatest movie villains of all-time

10. Hannibal Lecter

In the history of movies, there have been any number of cannibals that have graced our screens. However, none have been quite as brilliant and terrifying as Hannibal Lecter.

Not only was Lecter a serial killer with a penchant for eating his victims, but he was also a psychiatrist, which means that he could also get into a person’s head in a way that is truly terrifying. And no movie showcases the brilliance of the character quite as powerfully as The Silence of the Lambs.

Sure, we have seen Hannibal Lecter in multiple movies and even TV shows, but in this first big screen outing, Anthony Hopkins portrayal of the serial killer made him one of the greatest cinematic villains to grace our screens. If ever there was an evil genius in our midst, it would have to be Lecter, who was terrifying even while being interview by the FBI behind bars.

And it is hard to deny that he was able to strike fear into our hearts simply because of his willingness to do vile things without remorse. For instance, the fact that he was willing and able to eat a man’s tongue and it was still attached and in their mouth at the time.

Ultimately, the things that Hannibal Lecter does and the way he does them are what make him one of the greatest on-screen villains. And we can’t forget the fact that his training as a psychiatrist makes him even more dangerous than the common killer, as he can get into your head long after he is no longer in the picture.