Disney villains are the ones we love to despise—and honestly, sometimes we just love them. They’re brash, threatening, fashionable, and frequently much more fascinating than the heroes they battle. While the heroes pursue dreams and real love, the villains wreak havoc, seek domination, and leave memorable one-liners along the way. But among this rogues’ gallery, a select few are more than just mischievous—they’re downright brutal. So, which Disney animated villains are the most ruthless of them all? Let’s count down from just plain scary to downright evil.
15. Maleficent – Sleeping Beauty
Few villains make an entrance like Maleficent. She wasn’t invited to a party, so she cursed an entire kingdom and a baby girl. That’s next-level petty. But her sense of vengeance, combined with her elegance and command of dark magic, makes her unforgettable. Turning into a fire-breathing dragon? Iconic. Though later versions tried to make her more sympathetic, the original animated Maleficent remains a chilling example of pride turned deadly.
14. Ursula – The Little Mermaid
Ursula is what you get when you combine charisma with ruthlessness. She makes deals that sound reasonable—until you read the fine print. She uses Ariel to make a deal to give up her voice for legs, just to take power from King Triton. Her appearance, designed in homage to drag legend Divine, coupled with her quick wit and unrepentant swagger, made her immediately iconic. She’s not merely evil—she’s showy about it, and that’s what makes her so frighteningly appealing.
13. Queen Grimhilde – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Evil Queen isn’t seeking a kingdom or domination—she’s got that already. She desires to be the fairest of them all, and she’ll stop at murderous means to ensure nobody else comes close. Dressing up as an old hag and poisoning Snow White with an apple is even one of the most chill, indeed, moments of animation. Her vanity fuels her cruelty, making her one of the more unnerving villains on this list.
12. Dr. Facilier – The Princess and the Frog
Smooth, charming, and bad, Dr. Facilier (or the Shadow Man) manipulates all of those around him using voodoo and smooth words. He is toying with evil forces that he’s barely able to contain, and when those evil forces turn against him, his horrific demise is well-deserved. Although his animation and voice work are of the highest quality, it’s his manipulative nature and self-interested ambition that earn him a place on this list.
11. Mother Gothel – Tangled
Gothel doesn’t yell, threaten, or curse—she gaslights. She imprisons Rapunzel in a tower for years, not with shackles, but with psychological manipulation. Her refined facade conceals a profound selfishness and coldness. What makes her most unsettling is how realistic she is—she’s the kind of villain whom you might encounter in real life, and that makes her brand of evil all the more intimate.
10. Hans – Frozen
When Hans first shows up, he is a prince out of a dream—charming, polite, and slightly clumsy. But behind the smile is a cold-blooded climber who will lie, betray, and murder to take over. His plot turn halfway through the movie is one of the biggest jaw-droppers in Disney history, and it shows how evil isn’t always boisterous or flashy—often, it is subtle and smiling.
9. Hades – Hercules
Sarcastic, explosive, and always plotting, Hades is the underworld god with huge ambition problems. He’s not happy with his domain—he’s plotting to overthrow Olympus. With his burning blue hair and quick-talking cheek, Hades brings comic relief, but don’t be fooled. He’s calculating, manipulative, and would kill anybody (or anything) for a chance at power.
8. Gaston – Beauty and the Beast
Gaston doesn’t have magic, but he has something worse: uncontrolled privilege. He thinks Belle owes it to him because he’s the hottest guy in town, and when she tells him no, his wounded pride goes rabid. His guilt-tripping the people of the village into attacking the Beast’s castle is a demonstration of the fast track from charm to tyranny.
7. Jafar – Aladdin
Jafar is the dictionary definition of a plotter. He begins as the advisor to the Sultan but manipulates every possible angle—from hypnotism to magic—to seize control. His ambition to be in charge not only of Agrabah but also of Jasmine is intensely creepy. By the time he transforms into a hulking sorcerer, he’s become a full-fledged dictator, so his tumble is that much sweeter.
6. Clayton – Tarzan
Clayton is no fairy or royal plotter, but a hunter, and a ruthless, money-grubbing one at that. He has no qualms about exploiting animals, double-crossing friends, and killing for profit. He thinks of the jungle as something to subdue and peddle, and his utter lack of empathy makes him Disney’s most realistic yet ruthless villain.
5. Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians
Cruella isn’t after power, revenge, or romance—she’s after a fur coat. A coat constructed from puppy hides. That kind of coldness is difficult to beat. She’s fashionable, boisterous, and unglued, which makes her one of Disney’s most extravagant and frightening villains. Her name alone has become shorthand for absolutely, stylish evil.
4. Shan Yu – Mulan
Shan Yu doesn’t say much—but when he does, it’s chilling. He commands the Huns through sheer power and wants to bring China to its knees. His eyes alone speak volumes—he’s merciless, cunning, and lacking in empathy. He’s the sort of villain who doesn’t monologue—he just annihilates. And that silence? That says it all.
3. Governor Ratcliffe – Pocahontas
Ratcliffe is greedy, arrogant, and completely unaware of the harm he inflicts. He doesn’t perceive individuals—he perceives impediments to his goal. What makes him so sinister is the fact that he truly thinks he’s in the right, using civilization and manifest destiny as cover for exploitation. His evil stems from a larger historical truth that makes what he does feel all the more sinister.
2. Scar – The Lion King
Scar is a man who thinks in the long term. He kills his brother, tricks his nephew into fleeing, and takes the throne. The Pride Lands crumble under his reign—a clear representation of his corruption from the inside out. Scar’s intelligence, coupled with his dramatic flair, makes him one of the great Disney villains. And though he is witty in his manner, it’s his betrayal that hurts most.
1. Judge Claude Frollo – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
No Disney villain is more disturbing than Frollo. He’s not motivated by greed or ambition solely by obsession, lust, and righteousness. He uses religion to cloak himself and perform abominable acts, from attempted genocide to psychological torment. His hell is revealed in the unforgettable “Hellfire” number, where his lust battles with his twisted morality. Frollo’s not a cartoon bad guy—he’s a frightening projection of actual human evil.
Disney villains are fictional, yet they resonate with us on levels that seem all too real. They are reminders that evil takes many different forms—some grand, some insidious, and some camouflaged behind a veneer of politeness. Whether they have fire-breathing abilities, wield their powers of emotional manipulation, or simply wish to convert puppies into coats, these people continue to hold our attention because they resonate with our innermost fears, insecurities, and moral ambiguities. And that’s what makes them unerasable.