Disney's movies are largely associated with singing princesses and comedic animal sidekicks. As a result, it's easy to forget how the studio has created some of the most evil, twisted, and overpowered villains in animation. From witches to pirates, predators to gods, the House of Mouse likes to make things as hard as possible for its heroes and heroines. Great stories need great antagonists, and Disney's are among the most iconic in pop culture, which is something the company has cashed in on with ventures like the Descendants – a show about the offspring of the most well-known baddies and their struggles with the legacies of their parents. There were even rumors of a scrapped plan to create a villain-themed park called "Disney Dark Kingdom."
Fans have their favorite villains, but as a certain magical mirror might put it: Who is the most powerful of them all? In terms of "raw power," there's physical, magical, occupational, and pure evilness. There's also the success rate of diabolical plans to take into account, how easy each villain is to defeat, and what their weaknesses are. What you won't see on this list are characters from Disney animated TV shows like Aladdin's "Master Trickster" Chaos, or characters from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars or Once Upon A Time.
Updated by Jodi Nicholls on 8th September: This list was updated to enhance the reading experience and keep it in line with current information.
25 Cruella De Vil
101 Dalmatians
As Roger sings over a jingly piano accompaniment, "If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will," viewers are treated to one of the most casually chilling introductions to any movie villain. Cruella De Vil is a rich heiress with too much time and money on her bony hands. She becomes dangerously obsessed with stealing and skinning Roger and Anita's 101 dalmatians in the name of haute couture. Puppy murder ranks quite high on the evil scale, and Cruella's total lack of sympathy, combined with her psychotic rages, makes her far more of a threat than most.
The terrifying glint in her eyes as she races her car – her primary weapon – is etched into many kids' memories. Though she pulls off the impressive dog-napping feat, the fact she's outwitted and out-maneuvered by a bunch of animals is pretty embarrassing for her.
24 Governor Ratcliffe
Pocahontas
In a more symbolic fashion, the real villain in Pocahontas is colonialism, just like man is the real villain in Bambi. However, sticking with physical baddies, it's Governor Ratcliffe who's large, in charge, and willing to do anything to climb the British social hierarchy – including invading a foreign land in search of perceived hidden riches.
Ratcliffe isn't a hands-on villain, but he doesn't need to be when he has a vessel of strapping soldiers under his command. To viewers and Pocahontas' tribe, Ratcliffe is a cold, power-hungry, and conniving villain; however, through Ratcliffe's eyes, it's the "savage" native people who are in the wrong. His belief that his actions and racist attitude are justified is what makes him the biggest threat. Luckily, his own men turn on him and he's shipped back home in chains.
23 Mother Gothel
Tangled
Tangled's villain was inspired by Dame Gothel from the classic tale of Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, on which the film is based. Her appearance was inspired by pop icon Cher, which is unrelated but fun to mention. As far as Disney witches go, Gothel ranks pretty low. Her magic only appears to extend to controlling Rapunzel's magical hair by singing to it, and she's great at disappearing into the shadows.
However, where her magic fails, her deception skills excel. Gothel is a master manipulator. Much like Frozen's Prince Hans, she wormed her way into the heroine's heart to emotionally control her, creating a bond Rapunzel mistook for real love but was actually years of grooming. It's what makes Gothel truly evil. However, once Rapunzel rebelled, Gothel's years of subtle subjugation fell apart, and it only took a haircut courtesy of Eugene to end her for good.
22 Shere Khan
The Jungle Book
If this list just ranked Disney villains on the power of their voices, Shere Khan would appear much higher. The Jungle Books' unofficial "King" of the Indian jungles is a tiger, giving him all the strength and skill of a real-life tiger. In the wild, these big cats can carry double their own body weight, run up to 40mph, and shatter skulls with one swipe of their paws.
As well as his natural tiger attributes, Khan is immune to hypnosis, which is perhaps proof of his intelligence; however, he knows how clever he is too, and his confident manner of speaking and conduct projects enough authority to strike fear into every other animal. "You should know everyone runs from Shere Khan." Unfortunately, his strength and smarts leave him trapped inside a statue of... guess what? Yup, a tiger.
21 Scar
The Lion King
Scar is the brother of Pride Rock's ruler, Mufasa, and the main villain in The Lion King. This gives him both high status and a high level of jealousy, which culminates in his plot to facilitate and guarantee Mufasa's untimely death. If that wasn't bad enough, he also ensures his rise to power by putting the blame on his nephew, Simba, who runs into a self-imposed exile and spends his adolescence eating bugs.
Inspiration for Scar's character came from both the Shakespearian character, Hamlet, and Adolf Hitler, which is evidenced by his ability to rally an army of hyenas and plunge the Pridelands into darkness. If Simba hadn't returned to take his rightful place, Scar's reign would have continued. He puts up a good fight to keep it – right up until he makes the same error battling Simba as Anakin does against Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith: he loses the high ground.
20 Gaston
Beauty and the Beast
There's nothing more manly than a guy who uses antlers in all his decorating; at least, not according to Gaston and the citizens of Belle's town in Beauty and the Beast. If Gaston was writing this list, he'd put himself at number one, and while he isn't worthy of the top spot, he is surprisingly strong. Apparently, eating five dozen eggs every morning gives you the ability to lift three women one-handed and rip off parts of a stone castle.
Apart from being in great shape, Gaston also has pinpoint accuracy, out-stealths the Beast's senses, and is even a decent strategist. For example, he deduces Belle's feelings for the Beast and formulates a diabolical blackmail plan in revenge. He even weaponizes his charisma by whipping up the quiet townsfolk into a hate-fueled siege on a "monster's" castle. Ultimately, it's only his own recklessness that proves his undoing.
19 Captain Hook
Peter Pan
Captain Hook spends a lot of time during Peter Pan being taunted and degraded by a bunch of kids and a crocodile with a very niche palette. But, is Neverland's foremost pirate Captain really that much of a "codfish?" Like most in his line of work, Hook is a highly skilled swordsman and – as seen during his harpsichord performances – a highly skilled hook-user. He's also a keen (and mean) tactician.
Peter might know how to push Hook's buttons, but that works both ways. Hook not only kidnaps Tiger Lily and the Lost Boys to entrap Peter, but he drives a wedge between him and his closest ally: Tinkerbell. He also taunts Peter into not using his flying power to almost defeat him in close combat. Hook also has no qualms about resorting to terrorist tactics by bombing his young adversary's home.
18 Queen Of Hearts
Alice in Wonderland
Although Alice in Wonderland makes it hard to take any villains seriously, if the Queen of Heart's personality and power were put under a realistic lens, no one would trifle with the vicious monarch. No other character in her position in the Disney universe has such tight control over her subjects. She's feared so completely that her love of executions is never questioned by anyone but Alice.
In fact, beheadings are the punishment for even the smallest infractions in Wonderland. The Queen is also hardly a frail lady – her physical strength borders on the superhuman. However, the thing that makes her the most powerful is her irrationality. Of all the Disney villains that exist, she's the most unreasonable.
17 Judge Claude Frollo
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Disney canon is littered with self-righteous antagonists abusing positions of power, and no one fits that description better than The Hunchback of Notre Dame's, Judge Claude Frollo. The religious extremist is also Paris' Minister of Justice, granting him tremendous political sway in the city, which he uses solely to oppress certain minority classes. As well as his ruthlessness and manipulations, Frollo is empowered by his belief that every evil thing he does is for the "good" of the people.
However, underneath it all, Frollo is fueled by self-hatred, which is demonstrated in his "Hellfire" number. During the disturbing song, he admits to having the hots for Esmerelda but blames it on being bewitched, which leads to him sentencing her to death for rejecting his advances. If Quasimodo hadn't found the courage to intervene while she was being burnt at the stake, Frollo's stranglehold would have continued.
16 Shan Yu
Mulan
With his hulking frame and yellow eyes, the leader of the Hun army in Mulan is terrifying to behold. The film really drives home the dire straits China is in because of Shan Yu's tyranny. Not only is he a great military leader, but he's also a brilliant survivalist. He even hones his senses to detect the presence of unseen Imperial scouts close by.
Judging by how he's able to break through armored doors, bust through rooftops, and slice through stone pillars like butter suggests he also has super strength. He's also relentless in his goal, sneaking into the Emperor's palace after surviving an avalanche crashing on top of him. China would have been doomed if it weren't for one plucky crossdresser armed with a sword and a firework.
15 Oogie Boogie
The Nightmare Before Christmas
It says something when a town populated by skeletons, ghosts, and vampires has its own Bogey Man. In The Nightmare Before Christmas' Halloween Town, that lurking presence is Oogie Boogie. He's a gambling burlap sack with a face that's haunted the dreams of kids every Christmas since 1994.
Oogie has superhuman strength, beyond any other spooky creature, and an air-sucking ability with the equivalent strength of a jet engine. Other than his wits, most of Oogie's power comes from his fearsome reputation. However, all that's needed to defeat him is the removal of his sack. Without the comfort of burlap, he collapses into the mass of bugs he is underneath, which, as Santa Claus proves, can be squished like any other insect.
14 Madam Mim
The Sword in the Stone
The Sword in the Stone introduced viewers to one of Disney's versions of the most famous fictional wizards, Merlin. However, Merlin's not the only master of magic. His rival is the cranky witch, "Mad" Madam Mim, who's supposedly based on the Walt Disney critics who didn't like the sentimentality of his films, which explains Mim's hatred of nice things like sunshine.
Mim is capable of vanishing, changing her size, and – like a typical witch – flying on a broomstick. She claims she's Merlin's superior, prompting their "Wizard Duel," where the pair show off their skills in metamorphosis. Mim's claim is almost proved true as she bests him with every beast she chooses, including (illegally) a dragon. However, Merlin's clever transformation into a germ eventually puts her in her place.
13 Ratigan
The Mouse Detective
For readers wondering how a talking rat in a top hat could rank so highly among a list of powerful witches and lions, it's worth pointing out that The Mouse Detective villain is small but mighty – intellectually speaking. As a clear cipher for Professor Moriaty, Ratigan is perhaps the only Disney antagonist who's a certified genius. (Though he's not exactly a weakling either.)
As well as cunning schemes, the Crime Lord channels his intelligence into being highly manipulative and charming while commanding a group of loyal minions. Like most self-absorbed baddies, Ratigan has anger problems but can control them. Basil calls him the hated "R" word (rat) twice, and both times, his nemesis manages to begrudgingly keep his cool and stick to his plan.
12 Yzma
Emperor's New Groove
Yzma began life in Kingdom of the Sun as a straight-up evil sorceress. Then, as the project morphed into the more light-hearted Emperor's New Groove, she turned into a comedic "mad scientist" character instead. This lessened her scare-factor, but Yzma still managed to boot the idiotic Emperor off his throne and take over his kingdom with little resistance.
Her main power lies is transfiguration potions (making her more of an alchemist than a scientist), though she's not averse to resorting to more physically violent deeds with daggers. Viewers spend most of the movie laughing at her, but Yzma's desperation and anger only add to her cold-bloodedness. For an older lady, she's also remarkably spritely. Maybe her alchemy skills extend to life-enhancing elixirs?
11 The Evil Queen
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
As the first Disney villain of her kind, this blackhearted ruler set the bar for all Disney villains thereafter. To the outside world, her main power was her position, and after her husband died, she claimed the throne and was keen to keep it. To do so, she ordered the assassination of her stepdaughter, whose beauty drove her mad with jealousy.
The Evil Queen's heartlessness gave her an affinity with black magic. She not only possessed a magic mirror in her mystical arsenal, but she was capable of brewing instant death-dealing potions like the "Sleeping Death" poison she delivered to Snow White. She also (infamously) gained transformational powers with the ability to disguise herself as an old crone, which only seems to make her more evil. Eighty years later, her cackling still gives fans the creeps.
10 Yokai
Big Hero 6
Yokai is the villainous alter ego of Big Hero 6's Professor Robert Callaghan. As such, he's pretty brainy – particularly when it comes to advanced technology. Like most comic book supervillains, Callaghan operates under the guise of being a friendly brainiac by day and a shadowy figure by night. As the Kabuki-inspired Yokai (Japanese for "ghost"), he's sneaky, fast, and strong.
Once he gets control of Hiro's Microbots, he's near-unstoppable. Using a hidden transmitter, he expertly commands them in creative ways, such as transporting himself across different terrains. He also exacts brute force like throwing concrete blocks and cars at his enemies. His master plan was also foolproof. He was only stopped at the last second by Baymax's sacrificial heroism.
9 Queen Narissa
Enchanted
Queen Narissa is the only character on this list to have both animated and live-action forms within her own film. Enchanted is Disney's self-referential parody of its own tropes, but that doesn't mean it doesn't uphold plenty of them anyway. Narissa has similar origins to the Evil Queen and similar powers to Maleficent; she's a sorceress of dark magic and a power-hungry Queen with an axe to grind against a fair maiden.
By uttering the magic words, "Speciousus, formosus, praeclarus!" she can transfigure herself and others. She can also brew deadly potions, communicate through liquids, control electricity, and shatter glass with her scream. She can also do the standard 'dragon transformation' trick too. As far as evil Queens go, Narissa is the whole package. However, she's still defeated by Giselle, who merely waves a sword at her.
8 The Horned King
The Black Cauldron
Going by fear factor alone, The Black Cauldron's Horned King has most villains beat. After all, it's hard to argue against an enchanted skeleton in a robe. However, measuring his power level is much harder. In terms of what he is, most fans' best guess is that he's a Lich – an undead, skeletal user of dark magic.
His sorcery skills are demonstrated by his ability to teleport and call upon the Cauldron's spirit, which he also has the power to use. He's also extremely strong, which is seen when he attacks Taran near the end of the film. As a king, he controls an undead squadron of minions who are loyal to their master. But, everything else about him is a little vague, which makes him all the more creepy.
7 Doctor Facilier
The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog's Voodoo Bokor has one of the most diverse power sets of any Disney villain. As a practitioner of "Petro Voodoo," he has command of shadow magic. As a Tarot card reader, he can see into people's pasts and desires, which he uses to control them. Like any skilled conjurer, he can pull things from nowhere and relies on sleight of hand trickery.
Facilier's powers are rooted in a mystical talisman he received from "the other side," which lets him store his victim's blood and take on their appearance. His "friends" from this shadow realm are dark spirits who cause havoc in the physical world. This means Facilier's considerable strength has a major weakness: he's indebted to even eviler forces, which ends up being his undoing.
6 Maleficent
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty's dark fairy is a villain who enjoys her work. She didn't receive an invitation to Princess Aurora's christening, but that didn't stop her from gate-crashing the party and "gifting" the baby with a killer curse none of the Three Good Fairies could shift. She also knows how to make a dramatic entrance.
Maleficent describes her magic as being "all the powers of hell," which she certainly backs up. Her staff allows her to teleport, fly, hypnotize people, seek hidden knowledge, project lightning, and – her party trick – turn into a dragon. Merryweather also hints that she can create frost storms. It takes all three fairies and a persevering Prince to take her down.