Remember when villains used to be hideous? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the sexiest female foes to grace the big screen.
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00:00Make love to girl I was pretending to be. Cool girl.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the sexiest female foes to grace the big screen.
00:10You make it so easy, don't you? Always waiting for some bad man to save you.
00:22Before the invention of modern makeup or even electricity,
00:26Anak Sunamun was turning heads in ancient Egypt. In the 13th century BCE,
00:31Anak Sunamun was the mistress of an older pharaoh by the name of Seti I,
00:35until she fell for the high priest Imhotep.
00:38But for their love, they were willing to risk life itself.
00:47Although Egyptian law forbade Imhotep from such a relationship,
00:50Anak Sunamun's beauty was such that he put his life on the line to see her.
00:54And when it seemed as if Seti I might be catching on to their love affair,
00:58the pair plotted to kill their leader to remain together.
01:10Obviously, this plan didn't work out quite as planned.
01:13But when it comes to a woman like Anak Sunamun,
01:15it's not hard to see why Imhotep was willing to risk it all.
01:19Number 29. Meredith Blake – The Parent Trap
01:23Some may argue that Meredith Blake is not a villain at all.
01:26After all, it's not a crime to be young and beautiful.
01:36Still, there's no denying that Meredith is the primary antagonist of The Parent Trap.
01:41She may not initially know that Hallie is actually Annie, but she knows something is up
01:46and firmly stands her ground as Nick's fiancé at every opportunity.
01:58Nick naturally remains clueless for much of the film,
02:01equally distracted by both his love for his daughter and Meredith's intrinsic charm.
02:06But who could blame him?
02:07With perfectly styled hair and a flawless fashion sense
02:10that still holds up decades after the film's release, Meredith is simply irresistible.
02:15Number 28. Rose Armitage – Get Out
02:18Jordan Peele's feature film debut introduced the world to the Armitages,
02:22a white family who appropriated blackness in a horrifyingly literal manner.
02:38Rose was the key to the plot's success, luring men and women alike to the secluded
02:43Armitage homestead so that they could be hypnotized and manipulated by her devilish family.
02:48In order for this to work, Rose herself had to be alluring enough to trick her would-be
02:53friends and lovers into going along with her to her annual road trip back home.
02:57Played by Alison Williams, the Armitage's daughter perfectly performs the role of Girl Next Door,
03:02an unassuming and ostensibly socially conscious young woman
03:05who anyone would believe themselves lucky to date.
03:13Number 27. Sarah Sanderson – Hocus Pocus
03:29In spite of their wicked behavior, the Sanderson sisters are a surprisingly lovable trio,
03:34with their iconic costumes and flamboyant personalities making
03:37them a beloved part of the Halloween season.
03:40When it comes to looks, however, there's no contest for which of these witches we'd rather
03:44be kidnapped by. The instantly magnetic and adorably quirky Sarah is inarguably the hottest
03:49of the Sandersons, lacking her sister's cartoonish smiles and attracting the attention of mortal men
03:55centuries after her birth. The dreamy quality with which actress Sarah Jessica Parker performs
04:00Come Little Children only heightens the character's innate desirability,
04:04and makes her a total shoe-in for this list.
04:10Number 26. Bonnie Parker – Bonnie and Clyde
04:22When your protagonists are hardened criminals known for stealing from funeral homes and
04:27shooting down cops, casting is key to maintaining your audience's trust and attention. In the case
04:32of Bonnie and Clyde, there couldn't have been two actors more perfect for the job than Warren Beatty
04:37and Faye Dunaway. The pair's natural charisma and effortless chemistry made for a compelling
04:52picture, even if it did romanticize its villainous leads in the process. Bonnie in particular is sexy
04:58and stylish, with an emotional depth that could have any viewer second-guessing their alliance
05:03in wishing she didn't meet such a brutal demise. Number 25. Queen Akasha – Queen of the Damned
05:21An adaptation of Anne Rice's novel of the same name, Queen of the Damned does for women what
05:26Interview with the Vampire did for men. That is, allow them to play out the roles of some of the
05:31sexiest and most sinful vampires ever written. Although Lestat de Lioncourt and Armand are still
05:48around, Queen Akasha is the true star of this show, in spite of her not having the screentime
05:53she deserves. Played by the late R&B princess Aaliyah, Akasha is scantily clad in both clothes
05:59and morals, with a grandiose ambition to rule the world. Number 24. Elsa Schneider – Indiana Jones
06:14and the Last Crusade This Austrian art historian should have been the woman of Indy's dreams.
06:30She's classically pretty, smart as a whip, and quickly proves herself to be down for an
06:35adventure. Unfortunately, she also happens to be sympathetic to the Third Reich, and her desired
06:41use for the Holy Grail is to ensure the longevity of their infamous leader. It's a significant
06:46drawback to the otherwise tantalizing femme fatale, and one that the film's protagonist
06:51unsurprisingly finds impossible to reconcile. Nonetheless, we admire Alison Doody's dazzling
06:57performance, and still find it difficult not to be charmed by Elsa's con in the scenes leading up to
07:02her sobering villain reveal. Number 23. Queen Ravenna – Snow White and the Huntsman
07:11Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?
07:22While her heart may not be as pure as Snow White's, Queen Ravenna certainly gives the
07:26young princess a run for her money in the looks department. Actress Charlize Theron plays the
07:30cold and calculating sorceress with a depth that transforms her into a complex human being.
07:35Though her actions remain unsympathetic, there's a twisted logic to her actions,
07:40inspired by the Queen's deep-seated fears and insecurities.
07:55Two years after the release of this action-packed Grimm Brothers adaptation,
07:58Disney put their own spin on an infamous fairy tale villainess with Maleficent.
08:03Angelina Jolie's performance is as captivating as it is emotional, with prosthetics enhancing
08:08the actress' already sharp facial features. Number 22. Tiffany Valentine – The Child's
08:14Play Franchise. Ten years after the release of Child's Play, creator Don Mancini breathed
08:19new life into the franchise with the introduction of Chucky's partner in crime, Tiffany Valentine.
08:24The bleach-blonde villainess was just what the series needed at the time,
08:28providing an emotionally driven foil to Chucky's comedic callousness.
08:38Although like Chucky, the character briefly gets trapped in the body of a doll in Bride and Seed,
08:43the franchise smartly realized that Tiffany's sexuality was one of her biggest assets.
08:48In a meta-plot, she transfers her soul into actress Jennifer Tilly and regains
08:53control of a human body, which coincidentally looks exactly like her old body.
09:01It's best not to think about that too hard. Number 21. Poison Ivy – Batman and Robin.
09:08She's as pretty as a daisy, but look out man, she's crazy. Batman and Robin is often
09:13criticized for its over-the-top story and visuals and flat-leading performance,
09:17but Uma Thurman is regularly highlighted as one of the film's few saving graces.
09:22Hell, I am Mother Nature, and the time has come for plants to take back the world so rightfully
09:30ours. Turned into Poison Ivy by a mad scientist's botched attempt on her life, Pamela Isley finds
09:36that she has gained control over both plants and men. In addition to her homegrown good looks,
09:42Ivy now exudes a hypnotizing pollen and has a kiss laced with poison. Even the Dark Knight and
09:48his boy Wonder end up turning against each other to vie for the affection of the botanical beauty,
09:53though we can't say we blame them. Number 20. Juno Skinner – True Lies.
10:06Money may not buy happiness, but it does buy the ability to live well. That is a fact that
10:11Juno Skinner has come to terms with, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to feel financially
10:16secure. This includes smuggling nukes into the U.S. for a terrorist who is as demented as he
10:28is wealthy. Sure, she doesn't agree with his warmongering ways, but she does agree with his
10:33money. While few would agree with her cynical sense of morality, it's hard not to be taken
10:38in by her beauty and affluence. Maybe you could learn to make things work in a nuclear apocalypse.
10:51Number 19. Hela – Thor Ragnarok. For all its success, the MCU is not perfect,
10:58and one of the most frequently cited criticisms is that its first few phases had a real villain
11:03problem. The baddies often seemed paper-thin, but Hela is squarely part of the solution rather
11:09than the problem. Cate Blanchett's performance drew favorable comparisons to Disney's greatest
11:17magical villains, including Maleficent and Chernabog. She plays the goddess of death,
11:22and succeeds in making this larger-than-life character feel like flesh and blood.
11:28Hela relishes every murder and moment of destruction, and her zeal is intoxicating.
11:38Of course, it doesn't hurt that Cate Blanchett is one of her generation's great beauties.
11:42Many fans would gladly watch Hela strut down the Bifrost all day, despite a potentially fatal
11:47outcome. Number 18. Catherine Murtoy – Cruel Intentions. In the late 90s, Sarah Michelle
11:59Gellar was one of the most beloved and iconic heroes of the small screen. Buffy Summers was
12:08a badass teenage protagonist of a caliber that few could rival. As such, it was a huge shock to
12:13the system when in 1999, she flipped the script and played the villain in this hyper-sexualized
12:19teen drama. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Catherine Murtoy most definitely is not. She wields her
12:35sex appeal with such confidence and in overtly manipulative ways that it's enough to make anyone
12:41weaken the knees. You know that she's got an ulterior motive, most likely a desire to destroy
12:46you for her own amusement. But only the strongest of resolves can resist her charms. Number 17.
12:56Madison Leigh – Charlie's Angels Full Throttle. This sequel might not have had quite the same
13:01cultural impact as its predecessor, but Madison Leigh is reason enough to keep us coming back.
13:06Played by Demi Moore, who was 40 years old at the time, Leigh is an absolute bombshell,
13:11and the camera isn't shy about lingering on her jaw-dropping physique. Whether she's walking
13:15out of the ocean in a tiny bikini or brandishing a gun and lingerie in a robe, she is an absolute
13:21jaw-dropper. Playing the character with a controlled intensity more imbues Leigh with
13:26an intense physicality. Whatever context or space she finds herself in, she absolutely commands the
13:32room. She slays, and we mean that in more ways than one. Number 16. Mystique – The X-Men Franchise.
13:55Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as Mystique, and certainly easy on the eyes.
14:00But in terms of both villainy and raw sex appeal, her predecessor, Rebecca Romijn, has got her beat.
14:07The model-turned-actress feels like a version of Mystique who walked right off of a comic book
14:11panel. Her legginess and slender but muscular physique verges on the cusp of supernatural.
14:29What makes her such an alluring villain is the way she moves. From her walk to her distinctive
14:38combat style, everything is graceful in a way that never fails to convey an implied lethality.
14:43Mystique can go from slow and seductive to a lightning-quick assault in the blink of an eye.
14:48And by the time you realize what she's done, you're probably already dead.
14:59Number 15. Dr. Julia Harris – The Horrible Bosses Franchise.
15:06This might seem like a silly distinction to make in a list about female villains,
15:09but even compared to her competition today, Dr. Julia Harris is crazy.
15:18This film centers around three friends who, all being dissatisfied with the treatment they receive
15:22at work, come up with a plot to kill each other's bosses. Each of these employers is awful in their
15:27own right, but Julia's complex and never-ending harassment strategies are next level. The problem
15:39is, while the character is absolutely twisted, she's played in both the original and the sequel
15:44by sex symbol Jennifer Aniston. So, the audience is forced into an awkward predicament of being
15:49repulsed by her actions, but nonetheless left drooling over her every sexually charged move.
15:57Number 14. Syl – Species.
16:05We've discussed gods and mutants, but this is our first real foray into the realm of the overtly weird.
16:18So, let's just go ahead and clarify that Syl is hot in her human form.
16:22We are every bit as terrified of her alien looks as we should be,
16:25and we hope that you are too. Syl is an extraterrestrial-human hybrid,
16:30who's driven solely by her desire to breed with human men and create more of her kind.
16:41Step one foot out of line, however, and you are going to die a gruesome death.
16:46Syl has many tricks up her sleeve, and yet for all her lethal qualities,
16:50it's almost impossible to deny the appeal of this sexually overcharged predator.
16:56Number 13. Ava Lord – Sin City – A Dame to Kill For.
17:08In this 2014 sequel, Ava Green plays the titular Dame to Kill For.
17:12A master manipulator and the archetypal man-eater, she's an absolute knockout,
17:17who knows all too well the effect that she has on the opposite sex.
17:26Many of the villains on our list today bring a combination of sexuality and lethality,
17:39but it could be said that in Ava Lord's case, her beauty is her greatest weapon.
17:44She's often described as a goddess, and unfortunately, she is not a benevolent one.
17:56Ava Lord is played by Ava Green,
17:58who played a similarly sexy but lethal villain in 300 Rise of an Empire.
18:02As Xerxes' naval commander, Artemisia is driven primarily by her love of war,
18:07but she seems to find many similarities between combat and sex.
18:11Number 12. O-Ren Ishii – Kill Bill Vol. 1.
18:22Beautiful but deadly has rarely applied quite as well as it does to O-Ren Ishii.
18:26The queen of the Tokyo underground, O-Ren is one of Bill's deadly viper assassination squad.
18:41And it could be argued that she's one of the more skilled combatants of the group.
19:00Played by the always stunning Lucy Liu,
19:02this killer with the codename Cottonmouth is among the most graceful
19:05and elegant villains on our list today.
19:08She doesn't generally use her beauty or sexuality as a weapon,
19:13instead relying on her prowess with a blade.
19:16Expert swordswoman though she might be, O-Ren ultimately loses her head to the bride.
19:21But before her blood hit the snow, she made quite the impression on viewers.
19:30Number 11. Gazelle – Kingsman The Secret Service.
19:33Played by the stunning actress, model and dancer Sophia Boutella,
19:37Gazelle is truly a one-of-a-kind villain.
19:44Her lower legs have been replaced with razor-sharp bladed prosthetics.
19:48Artificially enhanced villains are nothing new,
19:50but rarely are they allowed to be notable in appearance
19:52and considered traditionally good-looking.
19:55Which is what makes Gazelle such a refreshing character.
19:58She is gorgeous, composed and the very definition of deadly.
20:03Number 12. Secret Agent – Secret Agent It's also worth noting that because her
20:19weapons of choice are so unique, it makes her very difficult to fight.
20:23The average person or secret agent for that matter,
20:26has never trained for battle against someone with blades for feet.
20:30Gazelle is truly a villain for the ages.
20:34Number 10. Harley Quinn – Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad
20:55Okay, so given her extreme popularity, like other breakout villains,
20:59Harley has slowly but surely evolved into more of an anti-hero.
21:04But regardless of her recent film and increasingly moral decisions in the comics,
21:12Harley Quinn has historically landed closer to villain on the good versus evil paradigm.
21:18She has been party to some nasty plots alongside Mr. J.
21:21And in Suicide Squad, she is one of the bad guys. She even said so herself.
21:29Sex appeal is a big part of Harley Quinn's identity in the movie.
21:33Both in terms of outfits and how she interacts with men, including guards.
21:37Margot Robbie really leans into the character's well-documented craziness.
21:41And it all makes her an absolute pleasure to watch.
21:48Number 9. Jill Valentine – Resident Evil Afterlife and Resident Evil Retribution
21:54Jill Valentine arguably isn't the most well-developed or nuanced character on our list
21:58today. But with that being said, there's just something incredibly appealing about
22:02a character transforming into the dark version of themselves.
22:11It's the classic Sandy from Greece move. And really, few such transitions are as overtly
22:17sexy as that of evil Jill Valentine in the later installments of this long-running video game
22:21franchise. Once a resistance member and ally to Alice, Jill Valentine falls under the control
22:26of Umbrella. And from that point on, the brainwashed version of Jill is all skin-tight
22:31outfits, evil smirks, and shoot-to-kill. She's cruel and utterly without mercy. A true sadist.
22:39And like many female video game villains, she is notably easy on the eyes.
22:44Number 8. T-X – Terminator 3 – Rise of the Machines
22:49Is she Arnie? No. But the villainous Terminator in the third installment of this popular franchise
22:55knows how to turn heads in her own right. The filmmakers were clearly going for the
22:59blonde bombshell angle when developing this film, and it's no surprise that the
23:02villainous Terminator in the third installment of this popular franchise
23:06knows how to turn heads in her own right. The filmmakers were clearly going for the
23:10filmmakers were clearly going for the blonde bombshell angle when developing this character,
23:14and the film doesn't shy away from highlighting T-X's killer assets.
23:28Whether she's driving a car or getting repeatedly hit in the face by the OG Terminator,
23:33T-X always has the same confident look on her face. She is unflappable.
23:40More than just a pretty face though, actress Kristana Loken really got in shape for the role,
23:49packing on muscle in order to live up to the physicality that one expects from a Terminator.
23:54Busty, brawny and absolutely deadly, the Terminatrix is the whole villainous package.
24:00The Devil has taken on many forms over the years across various media, but few iterations of the
24:15biblical root of all evil have made quite as big an impression as the one we get in Bedazzled.
24:24English bombshell Elizabeth Hurley plays the Devil, and the outfit she wears are downright
24:29torture for every person watching. In exchange for his soul, the Devil offers to give Brendan
24:34Fraser's geeky Elliot Richards seven wishes. All he really wants however is to be with his
24:51work crush Alison, and so he repeatedly tries to make this a reality while the Devil finds
24:56twisted ways to mess it up. But honestly, considering how drop-dead gorgeous the Devil is,
25:06we're kinda surprised he can think of anyone but Lucifer herself.
25:15Back to the X-Men, or is that XXX? For decades, Emma Frost has been one of the most scantily
25:21clad and explicitly sexual characters in all of Marvel Comics. And when she made her big screen
25:35debut in 2011's X-Men First Class, well, they did the source material proud. She's a supporting
25:41villain, but the casting of January Jones ensures that all eyes are on her every time she appears
25:46on screen. Like her comic book counterpart, this version of Emma Frost is only too happy to use
25:53her sexuality as a tool or weapon to reach her goals. Though considering she's also an incredibly
25:58powerful telepath, she needn't actually get physical. Add to that her diamond skin, and
26:03Emma Frost is one beauty you do not want to mess with.
26:17Can you say meow? Played by Michelle Pfeiffer, this classic Batman villain became the gold
26:26standard by which all sexy supervillains are judged with the release of this 1992 sequel.
26:32Her skin-tight outfit required the actress to use talcum powder to get it on.
26:36Suffice it to say, that shiny black number leaves nothing to the imagination.
26:47Be gentle, it's my first time.
26:50While Pfeiffer's Catwoman could have made this list based on looks alone, it's the performance
26:54that really earns her such high marks. Pfeiffer really channels the character's slinky feline
26:59sexuality, and the end result is enough to drive a viewer barking or meowing mad. The performance
27:05is utterly captivating, but also fierce and commanding. Intelligent, witty, and gorgeous,
27:12this Catwoman earns her status as a film icon.
27:15It's chilly in here.
27:18I'll warm you.
27:20Down Oswald.
27:24We need to talk.
27:29Her name is certainly a mouthful, but for a chance to get close to her,
27:33we suspect you'll figure it out.
27:35Santana Copandemonium is the queen and matriarch of a seedy strip club in the Mexican desert.
27:39She, like her fellow strippers at the club, is a vampire who preys upon local patrons.
27:49So, while the provocative outfits and Salma Hayek's surreal figure might seem tempting,
27:54this lap dance could very well be your last. But hey, give or take.
27:58It's probably best to avoid women who wear snakes.
28:02Seems like a villainous red flag.
28:09You don't need the gun. Come on, though.
28:12That depends on your definition of safe sex.
28:14The James Bond franchise isn't exactly lacking for sex.
28:18It's a film that's not just about the sex of the characters, but also about the sex of the characters.
28:23That depends on your definition of safe sex.
28:25The James Bond franchise isn't exactly lacking for smoking hot female characters,
28:30be they villains, allies, or damsels in distress.
28:33But of the many Bond girls who have graced the screen over the years,
28:36few have inspired repeat viewings quite like Xenia Onatopp.
28:40Played by Famke Jansen, this suggestively named henchwoman takes pleasure in two things.
28:45Pleasure and murder, preferably at the same time.
28:48How do you take it?
28:51Straight up.
28:52With a twist.
28:54She's described as a sadist, and honestly,
28:56one look at her is enough to tell you that this dark-haired, sultry beauty has villainous intent.
29:01Her preferred method of murder is to crush men between her thighs.
29:05We know what you're thinking, but that's not what she has in mind.
29:08I like a woman who enjoys pulling rank.
29:11Nice to meet you, Mr. Bond.
29:16Rosamund Pike is no stranger to playing deadly but drop-dead gorgeous women.
29:21How about her head-turning performance in Die Another Day?
29:23It was so good of you to bring your gun to bed with us.
29:26As Miranda Frost, she's a force to be reckoned with,
29:29be it in bed or with a sword in her hand.
29:32But it's Pike's performance in Gone Girl that really earns her a spot on the podium.
29:36Burn it just the right amount.
29:39Make sure the cops will find it.
29:42As Amy Dunn, she's utterly captivating.
29:45She's not just beautiful, but absolutely magnetic.
29:48The sort of woman who everyone at the party wants to talk to.
29:51Behind that charming, gorgeous exterior, however,
29:54is a master manipulator with a history of destroying lives.
29:58So Nick, how does it feel to have your wife back?
30:18Number one, Catherine Tramiel, Basic Instinct.
30:22You know I don't wear any underwear, don't you, Nick?
30:27We've seen so many female villains on film in the years since this movie came out,
30:31and many of them have been far more overtly sexualized than Catherine Tramiel.
30:36But it takes more than skimpy outfits, provocative framing,
30:39and malicious intent to make for an iconic femme fatale.
30:42In this erotic thriller, Sharon Stone plays a writer who is carnal in every sense of the word.
30:48She's driven by equal parts lust and bloodlust.
30:51She oozes dangerous sexuality.
30:54Far more than just eye candy though, Sharon Stone delivers an arresting performance.
30:59One that makes Catherine Tramiel not just one of the sexiest villains in film history,
31:03but among the most iconic psycho killers to ever grace the screen.
31:13Which female villain would you want as your adversary?
31:16Let us know in the comments.
31:18This body.
31:21Is this a trick question?
31:22Did you enjoy this video?
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