If we're talking about the worst of the worst here, I'm surprised no one has said Li'l Zé from City Of God. What a hardcore villian.

Also, I can't forget Castor Troy from Face/Off.

Or even Mars from Hostage...he was cold blooded, bad acting or not.

Also, Warden Norton from Shawshank Redemption.

= J

Even though I like whatever Oldman does, that character was poorly written, not a very good villain at all-- why did he want those stones again?

Tommy DeVito

followed closely by

Nicky Santoro

Both personified by Joe Pesci.

I'm astonished that nobody has even mentioned him yet!

Both these characters, based on real life people,
must surely be amongst the most obnoxious and
nastiest S***s that ever appeared on celluloid!

To serve evil.

What about the Bad Guy from Saw? He owned everybody in the film.

Jason.

That would be one of my top choices; Glover also played a good villain in The Chocolate War.
My overall fave is probably Rutger Hauer's imperturbable John Ryder in The Hitcher.

Hey i'm not nearly as bad as some of the other villians in this thread.

Prepare to meet Kali!!!

Russell Crowe in Romper Stomper

I forgot to mention Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator. It's just a coincidence that I picked 2 Russell Crowe movies.

Tommy Lee Jones in 'Eyes of Laura Mars'

100% agree!

Castor Troy

You and I seem to be the only ones who think so Ovid!