In 1937, a popular movie called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released. This movie had a main Disney villain, much like other Disney movies and shows. In all of these movies, the villains strive to achieve something—most want revenge, some want power—but they have all done terrible deeds. But what drives them to do these awful things?
1. Chernabog
The Chernabog is based on the god of the night in Slavic mythology. He appears from the peak of Bald Mountain to summon his minions, who dance in tribute before being thrown into a fiery pit. When the morning sun rises and the bells ring, his reign ends. The Chernabog is described as “Satan”; he is the raw embodiment of evil. Although the Chernabog has no backstory or explanation for why he is evil, he simply unleashes chaos to amuse himself, doing anything to achieve that. This is part of why he is so powerful. He rules over a dark realm, summoning demons and manipulating souls. He has the power to unleash hellish realms and spirits. That is what makes the Chernabog widely considered the most powerful Disney villain.
(Villians.fandom.com)
2. Hades
The Disney version of Hades is comedic and highlights his personality through humor, but what makes him one of the most powerful Disney villains? Hades is known for his fiery temper. He and all of his siblings, except for Zeus, were cursed from the start because they were eaten alive by their father, Kronos. Hades was unwillingly granted the title of god of the underworld by his brother, Zeus. Hades despised the underworld. He had two sidekicks, Pain and Panic. Hades’ main goal was to get revenge on his brother, Zeus, because of how miserable he was living in the underworld. To do this, he needed to get rid of his baby nephew, Hercules. So, he sent Pain and Panic to kidnap him, turn him mortal, and kill him. However, after many attempts, Hades failed. Hades is considered evil because of his association with the underworld. His power comes from his control over the Helm of Darkness. As the complete ruler of the underworld, he can command his subjects to do anything. He also has the power to teleport, but what makes him such a perfect Disney villain is that he always keeps his end of the deal. That’s what makes him the second most powerful villain on this list.
3. Maleficent
In 1959, a movie called Sleeping Beauty was released. In this movie, the main villain’s name was Maleficent. Maleficent wanted to curse Princess Aurora to die before her 16th birthday as revenge for not being invited to the christening. Maleficent is based on an evil fairy godmother character. Originally, she was a powerful fairy living in the Moors (a magical forest realm bordering a human kingdom). As a child, Maleficent met and fell in love with a human named Stefan. As they grew older, they grew apart, and Maleficent became the protector of the Moors. When King Henry attacked
The Moors, Maleficent seriously wounded him, causing him to flee. As he lay dying, he declared that anyone who killed Maleficent would marry his daughter, Princess Leila, and be his successor. Stefan visited Maleficent to drug her, but” couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he cut off her wings using iron. Shattered by his betrayal, Maleficent turned the Moors into a dark kingdom and transformed a raven to serve her. “Oh, but she doesn’t, dear. Maleficent doesn’t know anything about love, kindness, or the joy of helping earnestly. You know, sometimes I don’t think she’s really very happy.”(Fauna from the 1959 Sleeping Beauty movie indicates Maleficent’s lack of knowledge of love, indicating she lacks empathy toward others.) Maleficent is part of the Dark Fey species, which makes her incredibly powerful. Maleficent can transform into a dark, black, and purple fire-breathing dragon. She is also the reincarnation of a powerful phoenix, enhancing her abilities and making her one of the most powerful Disney villains.
4. Jafar
Jafar is a wicked wazir and royal vizier of Agrabah who wants to see his boss, the good Sultan, dead. He was charming, slick, and very mysterious. Jafar spent the latter half of his life seeking ownership of a magic lamp containing an all-powerful genie. If he ever found it, he would become the most powerful person alive. In the movie Aladdin, the character Jafar has many quotes, but one of his quotes states, “The power! The absolute power!” ( Aladdin, character Jafar). This quote shows that Jafar wants power, and the most power. Though Jafar wasn’t in his prime years, the Sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine, was beautiful and would soon want to become the next Sultan. Jafar’s desire for power and control drove him to his villainous ways. In Aladdin, Jafar believes he has everything he ever wanted, but soon that is taken away from him, and he is banished to the magic lamp forever—unless he somehow escapes. Since the release of this movie, Jafar has been considered one of the most powerful Disney villains.
5. Evil Queen
The Evil Queen was always jealous of how beautiful Snow White was because, when she was younger, she looked much like Snow White and was considered beautiful herself. Even now, she is still considered beautiful. The Evil Queen’s power lies in her knowledge of dark magic and potions, as well as her ability to see the future through a magic mirror. The Evil Queen’s most famous words are, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Once the mirror shows Snow White as the fairest, the Evil Queen becomes enraged and sets out to kill her. She used a poisoned apple to disguise herself as an old woman, tricking Snow White into taking a bite, which caused Snow White to fall into a deep sleep. The curse is broken only by a kiss of true love, and Snow White awakens. The Evil Queen dies, and Snow White takes her rightful place. The Evil Queen’s jealousy of Snow White’s beauty drove her to madness, using her powerful dark magic to try to kill her.
6. Ursula
Once a resident of King Triton’s palace, Ursula was banished and vowed vengeance. She sought to harness the power of King Triton’s trident to control the seven seas. Her jealousy of her older brother, King Triton, and resentment toward her younger sister, who also hated them both, fueled her desire for power. Ursula’s powers stemmed from ocean magic, but she craved more. She used dark magic to manipulate others, seeking ultimate control over the seas. She would have controlled the entire ocean world if she had succeeded in taking Triton’s power. At the movie’s end, Ursula is impaled and dies, but her reign of terror will always be remembered.
Some have special abilities that make them more powerful than others. Yet they all have one similar thing: they are all evil and will always be evil; they will never change. There will always be villains in the world, but at the same time, the ending never ends well for them, so don’t be a villain, be a hero.