Batman’s arch-enemy the Joker has defeated Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader and Freddy Krueger to be named Britain’s favourite movie villain.
Heath Ledger’s acclaimed performance in The Dark Knight topped a poll of film fans conducted for Freeview channel Great Action, with 22 per cent choosing the Joker as the most iconic movie villain of all time.
Darth Vader came a close second on 21 per cent, missing out on first place by just one percentage point. The heavy-breathing Sith lord featured in the original Star Wars films, with his voice provided by American actor James Earl Jones and his on-screen performance delivered by Green Cross Code star David Prowse.
Hannibal Lecter claimed third place with 17 per cent. The chilling cannibal was played by Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 hit The Silence Of The Lambs.
Although Hopkins appears on screen for only 16 minutes, his restrained menace made a lasting impression and left audiences wanting more.
The Welsh actor later reprised the role in Hannibal and Red Dragon.
The research comes as cinemas prepare for the release of Clayface, a new DC comic-book film centred on Batman’s shape-shifting Gotham foe. The film premieres on October 23, continuing a growing trend for filmmakers to explore the origins and back stories of supervillains such as the Joker and Kraven the Hunter.
Batman baddie the Joker, played by Heath Ledger, has defeated Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader and Freddy Krueger to be named Britain’s favourite movie villain
Darth Vader came second, missing out on the top spot by a single percentage point
The findings suggest that film lovers have a strong attraction to the dark side. Research by Great TV found that 70 per cent of film fans believe villains are more memorable than traditional heroes and often make better central characters.
Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker was his final role before his death on January 22, 2008.
The Dark Knight was released around six months later, and Ledger received a posthumous Academy Award, Golden Globe and Bafta for his performance.
The Terminator took fourth place with 15 per cent, a fitting result as concerns about the advance of artificial intelligence continue. The cyborg assassin was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger first played the character in the 1984 film, famously declaring, “I’ll be back.” He kept that promise in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and a series of later films. The survey also pointed to growing frustration among many Britons with the volume of superhero movies being released.
Two in five respondents, or 40 per cent, said stories about heroes feel “too similar or predictable”, while 32 per cent believe there are simply “too many superhero films being released”.
Appealing to the nation’s taste for anti-heroes, Great Action will also show the 2018 Marvel film Venom. The movie follows investigative journalist Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, after he becomes host to an alien symbiote that brings carnage into his life.
The film will air at 9pm on Tuesday, October 27, on Great Action, available on Freeview channel 42.
Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 hit The Silence Of The Lambs, took third place
Great Action will also broadcast Punisher: War Zone at 9pm on Friday, October 2. The Marvel adaptation follows Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, a former FBI agent who becomes a ruthless vigilante battling organised crime through violence and whatever other means he considers necessary.
The film stars the much-loved actor Ray Stevenson as Castle. Stevenson died in May 2023 after recently appearing in the Star Wars series Ahsoka.
Kate Gartland, Marketing Director at Great TV, said: ‘Great action films are all about the good guy-bad guy battles – and while the heroes have traditionally taken centre stage, our research shows film fans are drawn to the dark side.
‘At Great Action, we’re committed to giving action fans the films they love, from iconic villains to more complex anti-heroes.
‘From classic movie baddies to unforgettable characters like Venom, we’re bringing audiences plenty of action-packed stories where we’re sometimes rooting for the villain.’
