1. Heath Ledger as Joker (The Dark Knight)
The Joker played by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight has all the elements of a great villain in spades. A criminal mastermind with a chip on his shoulder, this incarnation of the Joker has none of the buffoonish qualities of characters from past Batman movies and TV shows. He wants to create a “world without rules” which means destroying all the institutions that keep society from breaking down. Add to this his freaky look and mannerisms (what’s up with that tongue) and Heath easily outpaces others as the most menacing Hollywood movie villain of all time.