Whether it’s set in a galaxy far, far away, the final frontier, or even here on earth, sci-fi films will always have a villain for the heroes to overthrow. From murderous robots to even comic books antagonists, villains in the world of science fiction come in all shapes and sizes.
While most of these villains win fans over with their character designs or powers, others convince viewers to join the dark side because of their evil schemes. Who doesn’t love a villain who’s actually smart, strategic, or whose plans actually make sense? Here are ten of sci-fi’s smartest villains.
The Thing
Aliens on their own are scary enough. An alien that can become your closest friend or family is something words cannot describe. The Thing from John Carpenter’s The Thing excels at sowing fear and paranoia in its victims’ minds, making for an excellent villain.
While audiences never hear the alien speak in its own voice, it’s actions speak volumes for just how smart it is. The Thing can even assimilate or absorb others into its consciousness, gaining their memories. Combine that with some awesome creature design and you’ve got one smart and terrifying alien.
The Predator
Ruthless, crafty, and brutal are just several words to describe the alien hunter known as the Predator. Essentially an intergalactic game hunter, the Predator hunts the best of the best, tracking them down and taking them out simply for sport.
Utilizing an array of weapons and gadgets, the Predator uses its strengths to its advantage, camouflaging itself, luring its enemies in by changing its voice and then taking them down with precision and efficiency. Easily one of the deadliest hunters around, the Predator is definitely someone you don’t mess with.
Khan
There’s nothing worse than a villain with a grudge. Many villains carry the burden of revenge but only a few really know how to exact it properly. Khan Singh, from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, is a genetically enhanced superhuman who utilizes his intellect and the prospect of revenge to achieve his goal.
Khan is able to manipulate members of the Enterprise and use mind control to set his plan into motion. Using mind control and misdirection, Khan is able to get his revenge and strike a devastating blow to Captain Kirk, his most hated foe.
Emperor Palpatine
The greatest form of evil comes from within. Whether that comes from a literal or mental interpretation, evil is usually the most potent when it lies among heroes. Emperor Palpatine is one such villain who uses the latter.
When the Sith rises up, Palpatine oversees and orders the creation of clones to aid in the war against them. When the war reaches its climax, Palpatine activates a secret order that takes out his enemies. Striking from within, the Emperor is able to take out his most hated rivals.
Ava
Something that humans have always wondered is whether or not robots can act human? This is the question Ava, the villain from Ex Machina answers. Throughout the film, Ava acts as the victim, begging for Caleb’s (the protagonist) help.
However, at the film’s end, it’s revealed Ava has been in fact manipulating Caleb, acting as if she cares in order to escape into the human world. By acting human, Ava is more than capable of getting her way and playing the part of the victim, fooling even the smartest of people.
HAL 9000
Robot villains come in all shapes and sizes. Some use manipulation to get what they want while others use the spread of influence. In the case of HAL 9000, his actual artificial intelligence is his greatest weapon.
Not only does HAL have control over the Discovery one, but he’s also gained self-awareness. Reading the lips of his own crew members, HAL discovers he’s going to be disconnected and uses his knowledge to dispose of them. Possessing great knowledge, HAL is one AI to not be taken lightly.
The Machines
How heavily do humans rely on technology to carry out everyday tasks? They utilize it in almost every action and waking moment of their days. However, how easy would it be for said technology to enslave us if it decided to rise up?
Pretty simple according to the Matrix. In the future, the machines have enslaved people and keep humans locked in the Matrix, a realistic simulation. In the meantime, they use people as literal human batteries, a devious idea that is becoming more and more of a reality.
Ozymandias
There seems to be a rule all villains have to follow, which is to monologue about your scheme and give the hero more time to stop you. Unlike most villains, however, Watchmen villain Ozymandias doesn’t play by the same rules.
Ozymandias is considered to be the smartest man on the planet and when he orchestrates a deadly plot to bring about world peace, he makes sure to cover every basis. Instead of following the villain’s playbook, Ozymandias simply sets his plan in motion thirty-five minutes earlier, besting the heroes.
Helmut Zemo
When it all comes down to it, whenever the hero and villain face-off, it’s typically through a show of power. However, MCU villain Helmut Zemo is one of the few who uses brains over brawns and succeeds. He appeared in Captain America: Civil War and will return for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
In the MCU, Helmut Zemo is simply a man looking for revenge. However, being just a man, he doesn’t have any special abilities. Instead, Zemo utilizes his intellect to turn the Avengers against each other. In the end, Zemo stands as one of the few villains to take on the Avengers and win.
Adrian Griffin
Everyone has either been asked or asked themselves this question once in their lives: What if they could turn invisible? Adrian Griffen, a scientist and psychopath, answers this question in a horrifying manner in The Invisible Man.
What makes Adrian a great villain is how he utilizes his invisibility suit. Instead of simply killing someone by sneaking into their home, Adrian resolves to drive his victims insane. By making them or their loved ones think that they’re crazy, Griffen succeeds in his goals in a truly diabolical manner.
