What are some examples of intelligent villains?

[Gopi Passiflora]

I think the villain of Frozen (2013) is an example of one - he knows how to manipulate people for his own ends while concealing his true nature.

[Theresa Tennyson]

Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) in the ORIGINAL "Cape Fear." Let us not speak of the Robert DeNiro one.

[Krystina Ferraris]

27 minutes ago, Gopi Passiflora said:

I think the villain of Frozen (2013) is an example of one - he knows how to manipulate people for his own ends while concealing his true nature.

So he is a narcissist 😄

[Gopi Passiflora]

Just now, Krystina Ferraris said:

So he is a narcissist 😄

Yep, or perhaps psychopathic or Machiavellian....

[Lyssa Greymoon]

[Rowan Amore]

Hannibal Lecter

[Innula Zenovka]

Sherlock Holmes' opponent, Professor Moriarty.    Or Sexton Blake's nemesis, the lord of strange deaths, Dr Fu Manchu.

In more contemporary popular culture, Lex Luthor, Magneto, or Dr Doom.   

 

[Pixie Kobichenko]

Maybe The Brain from Pinky & The Brain.  Hans Gruber & Lex Luthor but they’ve been named.  
 

But Anton Chigurh. 😱 Portrayed by Javier Braden in the movie adaptation  of Cormac Mcarthy’s No Country For Old Men.  The book itself is stark with short words, clipped dialogue & left me unnerved.  This character has no remorse, no empathy & certainly no sardonic quips at all. He’s just cold, calculated & just gets things done.  
 

[Ceka Cianci]

I remember watching inglorious bastards for the first time and always got really glued the nicer this guy got with someone, as well as got really nervous for them..

He just always seemed like he knew what was up before he entered the room.

[LittleMe Jewell]

Dexter Morgan

Edited June 29, 2021 by LittleMe Jewell

[Mollymews]

7 hours ago, Gopi Passiflora said:

Machiavellian

this would be my pick.  Machiavelli's il Principe (The Prince)

english version here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1232/1232-h/1232-h.htm

i think every creator of character villains draw from this work. Chapters 15 thru 19 particularly

Edited June 29, 2021 by Mollymews
15 19

[Sorciaa]

 

[Orwar]

   "As you can see, I am about to inaugurate a little war. In a matter of hours after America and Russia have annihilated each other, we shall see a new power dominating the world."

[Madelaine McMasters]

...hopefully raises her hand.

[Lindal Kidd]

Marc C. DuQuesne, from E.E. Smith's "The Skylark of Space" series

[Fenimore Hapmouche]

[Rowan Amore]

49 minutes ago, Madelaine McMasters said:

...hopefully raises her hand.

I was gonna but my asbestos underwear are in the wash.

[Innula Zenovka]

On 6/30/2021 at 3:21 AM, Fenimore Hapmouche said:

Brits of a certain age will remember this villain

 

And more recently, we in the UK have had enough of Dominic Cummings to last a lifetime, thank you very much

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by Innula Zenovka

[Love Zhaoying]

Dr. Smith from Lost In Space (the original TV show, not the movie or the reboot). 
 

 

[Ceka Cianci]

Heath Ledgers Joker Has to be up in the list..

He took that character to a whole other level and in my eyes made it his own..

[Bree Giffen]

It's funny how writers always need to make the villains lose to the hero. I guess that's just basic storytelling. We all know that in real life the intellectual villains win all the time.

[Indigo Fae]

How is it nobody hasn't mentioned Darth Vader ? That man got stuff done. Did not tolerate fools or failure. Truly a legendary baddie. 

[Orwar]

Just now, Bree Giffen said:

It's funny how writers always need to make the villains lose to the hero. I guess that's just basic storytelling.

   Well, that's down to either:

• The person the story follows becomes the protagonist through perspective
• The villain is generically evil or has a set of morals that are different from most readers' and thus becomes the antagonist due to that perspective.

   Just try flipping it around. 

   Melkor wanted to create something different than Eru Ilúvatar wanted. Eru says no, and denies him the Secret Flame, so Melkor is forced to try to shape the world to his own vision rather than creating it the way he wants it. Melkor is cast out and starts an earthly rebellion, fighting for his principles even though he probably realises that he can't really actually win. 

   Then again, that whole story is an allegory for the relationship between God and Satan in the Judeo-Christian tradition, which is quite firmly imprinted on practically the whole 'western' audience. Not that that story too can't be twisted around to see it from Lucifer's perspective; Lucifer was God's favourite, suddenly God creates mankind and favours them, and even tells him that the Angels shall serve them - meanwhile he's being all kinds of a bad parent to his new favourites, and also throws Lucifer out of Heaven because apparently not wanting to be a servant of your newly born siblings is 'pride'. 

   But there are stories wherein the antagonist(s) win. 1984 comes to mind. Rosemary's Baby. The Usual Suspects. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. And those are just films that got/were nominated for Oscars!

[Doris Johnsky]

I would submit that any villain of note was/is highly intelligent.   It is not uncommon for serial killers to have a high level of intelligence. 

 

In some ways the two go together (brains and evil).

[Rat Luv]

Iago in 'Othello'.