Gary Oldman's 10 Best Villain Roles, Ranked

Gary Oldman has proven himself to be one of the most adaptable actors of his generation, with a career that spans decades and includes roles that vary from heroic to genuinely frightening. His ability to transform himself has been showcased in leading and supporting roles across many genres. Still, it’s his portrayal of villains that has had a significant impact on audiences. His talent for embodying complex, unpredictable, and terrifying antagonists has solidified his position as one of Hollywood’s most exceptional character actors. His roles demonstrate why the villain can be the best character in the film.

Oldman’s skill at becoming genuinely unrecognizable characters sets him apart in Hollywood, whether depicting historical figures or entirely fictional villains. His approach, which often brings humanity to even the most despicable characters, gives his performances a depth that is hard for anyone to match. Gary Oldman’s best movies and most outstanding villainous roles showcase the range and intensity he brings to every antagonist he portrays. From historical dramas to animated films, each character illustrates Oldman’s remarkable ability to captivate audiences with his most despicable roles.

10 JFK (1991)

Gary Oldman Plays Lee Harvey Oswald

In Oliver Stone’s JFK, Gary Oldman takes on the role of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy. The film follows district attorney Jim Garrison, portrayed by Kevin Costner, as he delves into the events surrounding the assassination. Oldman’s portrayal of Oswald is unsettling and restrained, capturing the enigma and controversy surrounding Oswald’s bizarre character. As the film navigates through conspiracy and political theories, Oldman’s performance stands at the center of it all.

Oldman’s role in JFK is more subdued than his more flamboyant villains, but his quiet intensity makes this performance stand out. His depiction of Oswald evokes a sense of unease that fits a character surrounded by historical controversy. While Oswald’s involvement in the actual assassination remains a matter of debate, Oldman’s understated performance makes the character feel as enigmatic as the real-life figure he is portraying.

9 The Contender (2000)

Gary Oldman Plays Shelly Runyon

In The Contender, Oldman portrays Sheldon ‘Shelly’ Runyon, a power-hungry and ruthless congressman determined to destroy the nomination of a female vice-presidential candidate, Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen). Runyon delves deep into Hanson’s past, aiming to ruin her career through personal attacks, scandal, and half-truths. Oldman’s Runyon is a manipulative and twisted politician, pulling strings behind the scenes to maintain his control over Washington.

Gary Oldman has been nominated three times for Best Actor, twice for his work in
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
(2011) and
Mank
(2020), and a third time, winning the award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in
Darkest Hour
(2017).

Although The Contender is a political drama rather than a traditional good guy-bad guy villain story, Oldman’s portrayal of Shelly Runyon is chilling in its realness. The character embodies the brutality of political ambition, making Runyon one of Oldman’s more grounded and frighteningly believable characters. His ability to distort moral values to serve his own ends is what makes this performance so compelling. While it doesn’t have the physicality or flamboyance of some of Oldman’s other roles, his character’s manipulative nature makes him a unique and realistic antagonist.

8 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Gary Oldman Voices Lord Shen

Oldman provides the voice for the villainous Lord Shen, a peacock determined to conquer China using a powerful new weapon that threatens to end the kung fu era. Shen is a character driven by greed, fueled by a tragic backstory involving his banishment and the prophecy of his eventual end. As the film’s antagonist, Shen’s intelligence and cruelty make him a formidable foe for Po (voiced by Jack Black) and the Furious Five.

Oldman brings a menacing allure to Lord Shen, making the character far more compelling than the typical animated villain. His voice work elevates the character with a cold, calculating nature, hinting at the deep pain and rejection driving his actions. Shen’s tragic backstory adds an emotional layer, making him more than just a typical animated villain. Although it’s an animated role, Oldman’s performance boosts the film, making Shen a memorable and nuanced evil character, although obviously less menacing than some of his live-action counterparts.

7 Air Force One (1997)

Gary Oldman Plays Ivan Korshunov

In Air Force One, Oldman portrays the ruthless terrorist Ivan Korshunov, who leads a group of militants that hijack the U.S. president’s Air Force One plane. The film, a high-stakes action thriller, stars Harrison Ford as President Marshall and features Oldman’s character threatening both the lives of hostages and the stability of international relationships. Ivan is depicted as a cold, brutal figure willing to sacrifice anything for his cause, making him the perfect adversary to Ford’s heroic character.

It has been reported that Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman are legitimately hitting each other during their fight scenes in
Air Force One
.

Oldman’s portrayal of Korshunov is fierce and unsettling. He embodies a methodical terrorist driven by nationalist fanaticism and belief in his own ideals. His violent outbursts and complete lack of remorse for his actions make him a genuinely terrifying antagonist. While Oldman’s performance is filled with intensity and dangerous intentions, Ivan’s motivations are somewhat one-dimensional compared to Oldman’s more complex and intriguing villains.

6 The Book Of Eli (2010)

Gary Oldman Plays Bill Carnegie

In The Book of Eli, Oldman plays Bill Carnegie, a self-appointed warlord who governs a desolate town in a post-apocalyptic America. Carnegie is obsessed with finding a Bible and believes its words will grant him power over the remaining survivors in the country. Denzel Washington’s character, Eli, safeguards the last known Bible and must protect it from falling into the wrong hands, namely, Carnegie’s. Oldman’s Carnegie is manipulative and ruthless yet charismatic, embodying the type of leader who thrives in a world with no laws.

Oldman’s performance in The Book of Eli (one of the best post-apocalyptic films of all time) is particularly compelling, as he melds charm with malevolence. Carnegie is a man who needs power yet uses his charisma to conceal the true extent of his cruelty if it is ever challenged. The way Oldman balances these traits makes Carnegie a uniquely dangerous character in a world where survival is the most important thing. His performance adds tension to much of the film, and while the movie’s post-apocalyptic setting is unique, Carnegie’s motivations and schemes make him a perfectly executed villain.

5 Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Gary Oldman Plays Count Dracula

Oldman transforms into the infamous Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The story follows Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves), who is sent to Dracula’s castle to assist with real estate issues. He discovers that Dracula is a centuries-old vampire determined to relocate to England to seduce Harker’s fiancée, Mina (Winona Ryder). Oldman’s Dracula is both terrifying and tragic, a haunted creature devastated by lost love and driven by his need for human blood.

Oldman’s transformative performance heightened the film’s gothic atmosphere, making this one of the most memorable portrayals of the legendary vampire.

Oldman’s portrayal of Dracula is iconic for its blend of horror and vulnerability. He captures the character’s torment and rage, making Dracula both a menacing force and a deeply sympathetic character. Oldman’s transformative performance heightened the film’s gothic atmosphere, making this one of the most memorable portrayals of the legendary vampire. His Dracula is more than a villain; he’s a tragic figure, and Oldman brings so much to the role that elevates the film beyond a simple horror story.

4 Hannibal (2001)

Gary Oldman Plays Mason Verger

The sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, in which Oldman plays the disfigured and vengeful Mason Verger, a wealthy child molester who was one of Hannibal Lecter’s victims. Lecter mutilated Verger and now seeks revenge, using his wealth and influence to lure Lecter into a trap. Oldman’s performance as Verger, hidden beneath expertly crafted, grotesque prosthetics, is chilling as he portrays a man consumed by hatred and bitterness, which has destroyed him inside and out.

The role of Mason Verger was initially intended for Christopher Reeve, who was known for his portrayal of a wheelchair-using police officer in the movie
Above Suspicion
(1995). Interestingly,
Above Suspicion
was released just six days before the tragic horse-riding accident that resulted in Reeve’s real-life paralysis.

Verger is a compelling villain because of the sheer level of evil he embodies from someone who should be viewed as a victim. Oldman’s portrayal of Verger as a sadistic, broken man determined to enact a gruesome revenge on Lecter is both unsettling and fascinating. The character’s disfigurement is a physical manifestation of his internal corruption. Oldman’s ability to bring such a monstrous figure to life without relying on traditional villain tropes makes this performance stand out, even as Anthony Hopkins’ Lecter remains the primary focus, showcasing Oldman’s ability to dominate scenes through his presence.

3 The Fifth Element (1997)

Gary Oldman Plays Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic The Fifth Element features Oldman as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, a corrupt businessman who collaborates with an ancient evil force to bring about Earth’s demise and destruction. Flamboyant and villainous, Zorg controls vast resources and wields considerable power in the film’s futuristic landscape. Bruce Willis’s Korben Dallas is tasked with stopping Zorg and the impending devastation to save humanity.

Zorg is one of Oldman’s most iconic, eccentric, and entertaining villains in his career. His performance exudes energy, bringing unpredictability to the character, making Zorg simultaneously very comical yet genuinely terrifying. The character’s outlandishness perfectly complements the film’s colorful, chaotic aesthetic, and Oldman’s portrayal elevates Zorg beyond the essential evil antagonist. Zorg’s memorable speeches and distinctive appearance establish him as one of Oldman’s most legendary villains, enhancing the film’s visual impact.

2 True Romance (1993)

Gary Oldman Plays Drexl Spivey

In True Romance, directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino, Oldman takes on the role of Drexl Spivey, a supremely violent, dreadlocked pimp. Drexl becomes a central antagonist in conflict with Christian Slater’s character, Clarence Worley, over the fate of Clarence’s new wife, Alabama (Patricia Arquette). The film blends romance, action, and crime, with Oldman’s Drexl making a solid impression among a diverse cast of colorful characters.

Despite comparatively limited screen time, Oldman delivers a captivating and terrifying performance, solidifying Drexl’s enduring presence as a standout in Oldman’s collection of villainous characters.

Oldman’s portrayal of Drexl is memorable for its unpredictability and raw, enigmatic energy. His complete transformation into this menacing figure is so convincing that it’s hard to believe it’s the same actor known for more restrained takes. Drexl’s combination of dangerous charisma and unhinged violence cements his status as one of the most memorable villains in Tarantino’s (writer) universe. Despite comparatively limited screen time, Oldman delivers a captivating and terrifying performance, solidifying Drexl’s enduring presence as a standout in Oldman’s collection of villainous characters.

1 Léon: The Professional (1994)

Gary Oldman Plays Norman Stansfield

Léon: The Professional, written and directed by Luc Besson, features Oldman as Norman Stansfield, a corrupt, psychotic, and drug-addicted DEA agent who murders the family of young Mathilda (Natalie Portman). Mathilda then teams up with Léon (Jean Reno), a hitman, to seek revenge. Stansfield is an exceptionally volatile figure, often high on drugs, who operates with reckless abandon and sadistic glee, making him one of the most compelling villains in cinematic history.

Oldman’s portrayal of Stansfield is a word, iconic. His unpredictable mood swings, manic energy, and brutal tendencies make Stansfield a villain as terrifying as he is mesmerizing. Oldman plays the role with a startling mix of charisma and gruesomeness, delivering some of the most memorable lines in the film. Stansfield’s constant, deranged outbursts expertly played through Oldman’s unhinged performance, elevating him to the top of this list, making Norman Stansfield not only Gary Oldman’s best villain, but one of the greatest villains in film history.