There’s a unique kind of strength in a character who can bring an entire audience together in collective disgust. Whether it’s because they’re just plain terrible, extremely annoying, or simply the wrong person for their tale, some characters leave us with a lasting impression, for all the wrong reasons. From flawlessly performed bad guys to poorly thought-out additions, these are the notorieties that found their place in pop culture’s “Hall of Infamy.
1. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Joffrey Baratheon is the gold standard of hateful TV villains. As Westeros’s sadistic boy king, his every appearance ignited outrage—and that’s saying a lot in a show that’s famous for its shocking twists. Jack Gleeson was so terrifying in his performance that viewers frequently forgot they were watching an actor, not a despot. Love him or hate him, Joffrey raised the bar for contemptible television royalty.
2. Jar Jar Binks (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
Jar Jar Binks was intended as comic relief, but to most fans, he soon became the face of all that was wrong with the prequel trilogy. His over-the-top mannerisms and misplaced humor conflicted with the tone of the Star Wars universe. The backlash was so intense that actor Ahmed Best has since spoken about how it affected his mental health—a reminder of the real-world consequences of criticism from fandom.
3. Skylar White (Breaking Bad)
Skylar White’s placement on this list tells us more about audience perception than the character’s shortcomings. Although she was one of the Breaking Bad moral compasses, too many viewers demonized her for merely being a nuisance to antihero Walter White. Anna Gunn’s complex performance engendered much-needed conversation about how women—particularly those who disturb male heroes—are treated by audiences.
4. Mutt Williams (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Presented as the heir to the next generation of explorers, Mutt Williams never connected with the public’s imagination. The character was thrust into an iconic legacy by Shia LaBeouf’s valiant efforts. His discontinuation from the series in subsequent releases was cleverly executed, showing that the audience—and producers—were ready to let go.
5. Jenny Humphrey (Gossip Girl)
Jenny began as a fiery underdog, but her path towards manipulative social climber status alienated the audience. Even Taylor Momsen’s amazing performance couldn’t rescue the character’s trajectory from becoming steadily off-track. Jenny’s development is a warning about overcooked character arcs.
6. The Joker (Suicide Squad)
In the wake of Heath Ledger’s iconic stint as the Joker, following in his footsteps was bound to be a tall order. Jared Leto’s interpretation went for a more manic, stylized approach but failed to connect. Overt Method acting stories and short screen time only served to feed the backlash.
7. Patty Di Marco (School of Rock)
Sarah Silverman’s Patty is the ultimate party pooper in a film driven by rock ‘n’ roll and rebellion. As the puritanical girlfriend who frowns on all things fun, she was the story’s accidental villain. When Patty was intended to symbolize responsibility and realism, fans were more than willing to see her brought down.
8. Sharpay Evans (High School Musical)
Sharpay was created to be the archetypal high school diva, and Ashley Tisdale played the part with gusto. But her excessive plotting and melodramatic histrionics made her the character everyone cherished to roll their eyes over. Iconic? Definitely. Lovable? Not so much.
9. Mr. Big (Sex and the City)
Mr. Big’s in-and-out relationship with Carrie Bradshaw was a rollercoaster—one most viewers were exhausted from riding. His emotional remoteness and continued errors rendered him an exasperating figure in Carrie’s existence. When the new series finally provided him with a showy departure, it served as closure for the audience as well.
10. Ross Geller (Friends)
Ross is perhaps the most polarizing member of the Friends clique. While some enjoy his clumsy charm, others cite his jealousy, inability to make decisions, and self-pity as reasons for aggravation. Whether it’s the whole “we were on a break” controversy or his sensitive ego, Ross has been a lightning rod among fans for a long time.
11. Dr. Susan McCallister (Deep Blue Sea)
As the genetically modified shark scientist, Dr. McCallister easily became the fall guy for the chaos of the film. Her decisions put everyone at risk, and test audiences reacted so badly that the ending was altered so that she would be devoured. On occasion, sharks simply mirror the wishes of the masses.
Some are hated due to being written as villains. Others are victims of bad writing, tone missteps, or the burden of fan expectation. Regardless of, the hate itself is warranted or not, the fact remains that these characters left an impression. They may not be loved, but they’re remembered.