Kevin Bacon’s Villain Roles, Ranked (Including The Toxic Avenger)

The remake of “The Toxic Avenger” seemed unlikely to reach viewers, but lo and behold, it’s out now with a wide theatrical release. This also means that we get another film featuring the renowned Kevin Bacon as a villain. Bacon is versatile, but his prowess truly shines when he takes on antagonistic roles. What follows is a ranking of every antagonist portrayed by Bacon in movies, spanning all his years in the industry. It’s not about judging the quality of the films themselves, but the quality of the performances does tend to be influenced by the overall movie.

Instead of being simply an obstacle for the main characters or a character with questionable morals, they must be an outright villain who plays a significant role in the storyline, like Hans Gruber from “Die Hard”, Norman Bates from “Psycho”, or Hannibal Lecter from “The Silence of the Lambs”. Characters such as Willie O’Keefe from “JFK”, John Labat from “MaXXXine”, David Lindhagen from “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”, Chip Diller from “National Lampoon’s Animal House”, or Capt. Jack Ross in “A Few Good Men” are not suitable for this role as they don’t fully fit the antagonist criteria.

15) Hayes in R.I.P.D.

Instead of focusing on X-Men Origins: Wolverine or Green Lantern, it’s important to acknowledge that R.I.P.D., starring Ryan Reynolds, is arguably his least successful comic book movie. If you compare it to Men in Black, imagine if Men in Black were filled with crude humor, subpar special effects, and leads who struggled to create a convincing on-screen chemistry. To add to that, Jeff Bridges’ character in R.I.P.D. is strikingly similar to the one he played in True Grit. This may make his Oscar-nominated performance as Rooster Cogburn seem less exceptional when viewed alongside his portrayal here.

In this movie, Bacon delivers a standout performance, yet his character Bobby Hayes remains fairly ordinary. He’s the associate of Nick Walker, played by Reynolds, who manipulates Walker’s downfall to obtain gold that grants them the means to construct a team. This gold allows the Deados, including themselves, to live forever on Earth. It’s all quite preposterous, and what makes it even worse is that Bacon’s character as the eventual villain is evident from the moment he appears on screen.

14) Captain Cade Grant in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Netflix’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” surpasses “Beverly Hills Cop III,” and it certainly marks a decent comeback. However, this is about as good as the praise gets for it.

Similar to the film R.I.P.D., it too conceals its main antagonist in an unexpected manner, with Captain Cade Grant, portrayed by Bacon, serving as a surprise villain rather than a shocking one. In this movie, he is both the head of the Beverly Hills Police Department and a notorious drug lord, played by Bacon. His role doesn’t offer much complexity for him beyond subtly menacing Eddie Murphy’s character Axel Foley until he becomes explicitly threatening.

Stream Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F on Netflix.

13) Jorge in Beauty Shop

In a departure from his usual roles, Kevin Bacon took on “Beauty Shop,” a spin-off of the “Barbershop” franchise. Yet, it’s precisely these unexpected choices that have shaped him into the versatile actor he is today. He can adapt to a wide range of tones, even the most quirky or humorous ones.

In this production, Bacon portrays Jorge, a past Austrian boss character with long blond hair, who was previously employed by Gina Norris, played by Queen Latifah. Although his role isn’t particularly substantial, Bacon appears to be enjoying himself on set.

Stream Beauty Shop with an MGM+ Prime Video channel subscription.

12) Theo Conroy in You Should Have Left

The film “You Should Have Left ” isn’t one of Blumhouse’s most impactful productions, and it’s uncertain if Kevin Bacon could have made a significant difference. It shares the same level of predictability as films like “Hide and Seek“, starring Robert De Niro, or “Dream House“, starring Daniel Craig.

From those two instances, it becomes clear that while we initially believe Bacon’s character, Theo Conroy, is the hero, he is actually the antagonist. He failed to save his first wife from drowning, and throughout their stay in the house, they have been witnessing a mysterious figure. However, this enigmatic presence turns out to be Theo’s past self. Interestingly, this antagonistic character acknowledges his wrongdoings by imprisoning himself within the haunted house.

Stream You Should Have Left on Peacock.

11) Joe Hickey in Trapped

Joe Hickey, who is married to Courtney Love (Cheryl), tragically lost their daughter Katie due to medical negligence from Dr. Will Jennings. Currently, an upset Cheryl has taken Dr. Jennings hostage, while Joe, married to Karen (played by Charlize Theron), holds someone at his home as well.

In addition, they threaten to keep Dr. Jennings’ daughter, Abby (Dakota Fanning), away from him unless he pays a ransom. This is typical for thriller movies and despite strong performances by Kevin Bacon and Charlize Theron, the film Trapped doesn’t seem to distinguish itself. To his credit, however, Bacon portrays Joe as a more complex character than he might have been with a less skilled actor.

10) Ray Duquette in Wild Things

Among all the enigmatic antagonists on this roster, none resonates with me more than Ray Duquette from “Wild Things.” Unlike other films where a clear hero is established, this movie is a labyrinth of suspects entangled in various vices – sex, theft, and deceit. Even the supposedly upright character, Bacon’s detective, who appears to be the most straightforward for 80% of the film, has his secrets hidden beneath the surface, just like everyone else.

As a devoted fan, I’d say it like this: In the movie, it was me, Duquette, who initiated the chain of events. My actions set everything in motion. I ended the life of Suzie Toller’s friend, which sparked her desire for revenge. Not only that, but I also took the life of Kelly Van Ryan. However, my reign of terror came to an end at the hands of Sam Lombardo, played by Matt Dillon. But just when you thought it was over, he met his match – me, Toller, who stole the cash and sailed off into the sunset, leaving a trail of chaos in our wake.

Stream Wild Things with a Starz Apple TV Channel subscription.

9) Martin Thiel in Criminal Law

Following his character roles in “Footloose”, “Quicksilver”, and “She’s Having a Baby”, Bacon took on a new challenge by delving into entirely villainous characters with the film “Criminal Law”. In this production, he portrays Martin Thiel IV, a ruthless serial killer who targets women, with a particular focus on those who have undergone abortions. Interestingly, his victim list includes procedures performed by his own gynecologist mother.

Martin’s mother has consistently shown indifference towards him, and when he was 14 years old, his father revealed that she had actually wanted to abort him. This revelation caused a significant emotional shift within Martin.

The film “Criminal Law” could be reimagined as “Primal Fear,” with Bacon portraying Thiel in a manner that conveys the necessary detachment and arrogance. Despite the melodramatic content, Bacon delivers a commendable performance.

Stream Criminal Law on MGM+.

8) Jacques in Super

Prior to leading the DCU and before directing the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, James Gunn had already been at the helm of a smaller superhero film titled Super. In this project, he collaborated with Kevin Bacon for the first time who later starred in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

However, in contrast to Kevin Bacon’s character in the Holiday Special, Jacques in Super is quite unlike him. Jacques is far from admirable, a man who uses drugs on his girlfriend and derives amusement from the unfortunate man he replaced. Undeniably, he’s not a pleasant individual.

Stream Super with an AMC+ Prime Video channel subscription.

7) Bob Garbinger in The Toxic Avenger

The refreshing reinterpretation of “The Toxic Avenger” by Troma, although it maintains the unrated nature reminiscent of “Terrifier 3,” boasts a strong ensemble cast throughout. Elijah Wood certainly shines as the villain, Fritz Garbinger, but Paul Bacon also delivers an entertaining performance as his older brother, Bob.

Bob, the CEO of a large corporation with ties to the mafia, finds himself in trouble when he can’t repay them. His situation takes an unexpected turn when he discovers that one of his janitors has transformed into a character named Toxie. Bacon, who portrays Garbinger in this film, enjoys his role due to its dynamic nature. He gets to showcase intense emotions, maintain a friendly demeanor for commercials meant to deceive the public, and even transform into a monster. Among Bacon’s three lesser-known comic book/superhero movie villain roles, this one is considered the best because it offers him the most opportunities to act and he seems to be genuinely enjoying himself.

6) Sheriff Kretzer in Cop Car

In the movie ‘Cop Car,’ Sheriff Kretzer’s pursuit of children is as alarming as one might imagine. Directed by Jon Watts, who later became known for directing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man trilogy, the story follows two ten-year-old boys as they stumble upon an unused police vehicle.

The marked police vehicle actually belongs to Sheriff Kretzer, but what worries him more than recovering the car itself is the mystery of whoever might be hidden inside the trunk. It’s also suggested that Sheriff Kretzer is a murderer, and his priority seems to be covering up this crime.

5) Wade in The River Wild

The movie “The River Wild” might not reach the same heights as its star-studded cast, but it’s undeniably a solid ’90s thriller nonetheless. Not to mention, the ensemble of actors in this film is truly impressive.

The text implies that Wade, portrayed by Bacon in this piece, comes very close to matching Meryl Streep’s exceptional acting skills. Streep is a powerful presence in the movie and beyond, and when she acts alongside Bacon, her character Gail Hartman’s intelligence seems equally matched with the menace emanating from Wade’s character (who doesn’t hesitate to befriend a child as a means of controlling his parents).

In this work, Bacon demonstrates an impressive ability to hold his own against one of the greatest actresses in the industry.

4) Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class

As a movie enthusiast, I wholeheartedly believe that among the X-Men series, none has quite surpassed the brilliance of “X-Men: First Class.” The film’s triumph can be attributed to its exceptional cast, with Bacon delivering an outstanding performance as the enigmatic Sebastian Shaw – a man with a chilling past as a former Nazi doctor, but unbeknownst to many, also a hidden mutant.

Shaw’s objective is to initiate a nuclear conflict, with the intention of fortifying mutantkind and potentially eradicating humanity entirely. Should there be any mutants obstructing this aim, he considers them expendable.

Stream X-Men: First Class on Disney+.

3) Owen Whistler in They/Them

Owen Whistler, who is in charge of The Whistler Gay Conversion Camp, presents himself as a kind and compassionate individual with the best interests of the children at heart. However, beneath this facade lies a psychopath. Even if one were to assume that he wasn’t, running a conversion camp means his idea of what’s best for the kids would not align with their actual well-being; instead, it would involve trying to change them into what he perceives as normal.

In general, while “They/Them” as a whole might not be an exceptional film, it’s worth noting that Owen delivers an outstanding portrayal of a villain. Much like the top pick on this list, his character seems to derive genuine satisfaction from tormenting young people and causing them irreversible harm.

Stream They/Them on Peacock.

2) Sebastian Caine in Hollow Man

The film titled “Hollow Man” is a strong example of a slasher movie, although it’s often overlooked. However, it shines more in its early stages before transitioning into that specific subgenre. Initially, Kevin Bacon’s character, Dr. Sebastian Caine, appears as an ambitious and slightly arrogant scientist, who may compromise ethics for his career advancement, even though he initially seems driven by professional aspirations rather than personal ego.

When Dr. Caine turns invisible in the movie “Hollow Man,” we start to uncover his true nature, particularly when he visits his neighbor’s house and attacks her. As the isolation takes a toll on him, it seems like his insanity isn’t too far from what he was capable of all along. The assault and later murders committed while invisible were actions he had contemplated prior to gaining this power, even if only subconsciously, because within him, whether visible or not, such capacity existed.

1) Nokes in Sleepers

Watching ‘Sleepers’ can be quite challenging due to its intense content. The story revolves around a group of youths from Hell’s Kitchen who are subjected to harsh treatment at a reform school, particularly under the supervision of the head guard, Sean Nokes.

Nokes dominates them, torments them, and manipulates their thoughts. He embodies wickedness, and Bacon portrays him in a despicable manner that leaves no room for empathy or compassion. We never experience even a hint of sympathy towards this character, making him the most morally depraved individual that Bacon has ever portrayed.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/scariest-tremors-movies-ranked-kevin-bacon/embed/#

2025-09-04 04:13