5 Most Painfully Underrated DC Movie Villains, Ranked

by

Some movie villains are undeniably iconic, like the Joker in Batman and The Dark Knight, Lex Luthor in the early Superman films, and the Penguin across several Batman movies. Others, like Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad or Nuclear Man in Superman IV, are generally considered disappointments. But what about the villains who fall somewhere in the middle? Those who are good, but don’t quite reach the level of the most famous and well-regarded antagonists?

Here are some villains who, despite being entertaining or playing important roles in their stories, aren’t usually considered among the best. That deserves to be reconsidered.

5) Ross Webster in Superman III

When Ilya and Alexander Salking, the producers of the first three Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, fired director Richard Donner during the making of Superman II, actors Gene Hackman (who played Lex Luthor) and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) were upset. It’s been debated whether their reactions led to Hackman not returning for Superman III and Kidder having a much smaller role in that film, but the connection is clear.

With the need for a compelling antagonist, Superman III introduced Ross Webster, who stands as a solid imitation of Lex Luthor. Robert Vaughn, who sadly has passed away, always commanded attention on screen, and despite a less developed character, he’s just as entertaining to watch as Gene Hackman was in the role.

4) Max Shreck in Batman Returns

Similar to Ross Webster, Max Shreck from Batman Returns is a rich and powerful businessman who is secretly greedy and malicious. Like Webster, he was created specifically for the movie.

While Christopher Walken’s character is memorable, most fans of Batman Returns would likely think of either Penguin or Catwoman first. However, Max Shreck is the truly captivating villain, and his importance is undeniable – he’s the one who enables Penguin with money and influence, and directly causes Catwoman’s creation through a violent attempt on her life.

3) Black Mask in Birds of Prey

Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask, is a typical gangster, but Ewan McGregor delivers such a fun performance as him that it’s disappointing when his character dies – thrown off a pier with a lit grenade. Overall, Birds of Prey is one of the most overlooked movies in the DC Extended Universe, and McGregor’s portrayal of Black Mask is a major reason why.

The actor brilliantly portrays the character’s fear of germs, making it feel as real as his more disturbing traits. His performance is carefully balanced – it’s heightened enough to be noticeable, but never crosses into overacting. He seems to understand the movie itself is quick-moving and doesn’t always stick to strict realism.

2) Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin

While Batman & Robin wasn’t a critical success, it’s become enjoyably bad – and it’s earned that reputation. It’s not a good movie by any standard, but it’s definitely entertaining.

Okay, so the movie is definitely full of big, dramatic acting, but Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy really stood out to me. She totally got what the movie was going for – a comic book feel – but she played it just right. It was over-the-top, sure, but in a way that was fun and believable, not embarrassing or awkward. She really nailed it!

1) Black Manta in Aquaman & Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Typically, superhero films introduce their main villain during that same movie. If the villain returns in a later film, it’s usually just a brief appearance. For example, most Spider-Man and Batman solo movies follow this pattern. You rarely see a villain appear briefly in one movie, only to become the central antagonist in the sequel.

Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, was a standout character in James Wan’s Aquaman films. The first movie gave him around 30 minutes of screen time to establish his history and motivations for hating Aquaman. By the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrived, audiences already understood his character, allowing the story to focus on his pursuit of revenge. He’s an underrated villain thanks to the way his character was carefully developed, his unique (but not overly comical) design, and Abdul-Mateen II’s performance. While the DCEU concluded with a fairly unremarkable film in Lost Kingdom, Black Manta provided a much-needed sense of genuine conflict and importance.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/why-aquamans-atlantis-stories-have-always-been-dcs-true-game-of-thrones/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-02 18:19