1

Cruella De Vil

Image: Helena Lopes

The Disney adventure comedy One Hundred and One Dalmatians premiered in 1961, and since then, Cruella de Vil has been one of the most iconic villains in animated film history.

This wicked woman is ambitious and capable of doing anything to get new fur for her coats. With the help of her henchmen, she steals the Dalmatian puppies her friends Anita and Roger had refused to sell her. Anyone who hurts cute little puppies to make coats deserves to be on the podium of the most evil villains in history!

2

Jafar

Image: Boris Hamer

Conspiracy and ruthlessness define any bad guy, and _Aladdin_’s villain is no exception. Jafar is capable of destroying anyone who stands in his way to gain more power.

Posing as an honest man, this evil sorcerer takes advantage of his role as the right hand of the Sultan of Agrabah and attempts to marry Princess Jasmine. His true intention, in fact, is to take over her father’s kingdom. If these traits don’t convince you that he is a true villain, just look at how he treats his sidekick, the charismatic parrot Iago.

3

Shan-Yu

Image: Stijn Dijkstra

Shan Yu is the main villain of the Disney movie Mulan (1998). This ruthless leader of the Huns is determined to conquer China. He and his army invade the land to prove his superiority to the emperor.

Cunning and sadistic, Shan-Yu feels no remorse when it comes to taking a life. Luckily, the brave Mulan manages to defeat him and ultimately saves the emperor.

4

Ursula

Image: Brian McGowan

Her tentacles and terrifying appearance are enough to make any child tremble. Ursula, the villain in The Little Mermaid (1989), uses magic to "help" others, although her deals are deceitful and become impossible to accomplish.

Ariel, the protagonist of this story, makes a deal with Ursula, who promises to turn her into a human for three days in exchange for her beautiful voice. If Ariel receives a "true love's kiss," she can be human forever. Despite the villain's attempts to make Ariel fail, she manages to keep her part of the deal by making Prince Eric fall in love with her.

5

Scar

Image: Brian McGowan

In The Lion King (1994), the second heir to the throne becomes one of the most ruthless villains when he murders his own brother and attempts to do the same to his nephew, Simba.

Although Scar only succeeds in causing Mufasa's demise, he convinces his nephew that it was his fault and that he must leave the kingdom forever. Scar orders the hyenas to destroy Simba, but what the evil lion could never have imagined is that the little boy would survive and return to avenge his father's death.

6

Queen Grimhilde

Image: Steven Beyer

Queen Grimhilde, better known as the Evil Queen, is the wicked stepmother in the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . She is considered the first Disney villain.

Obsessed with being the most beautiful in the whole kingdom, she plots to have her stepdaughter —and competition— eliminated and demands Snow White’s heart. She even uses witchcraft to transform into an old lady, which allows her to give a poisoned apple to the naive princess. Can you think of anything more terrifying?

7

Gaston

Image: brunapazini0

In the beginning, the Beast is presented as an irascible and cruel monster, but the real villain of Beauty and the Beast (1991) is Gaston.

The arrogant hunter is determined to marry Belle, even if it has to be by force. This obsession turns him into a ruthless being, capable of doing anything to have his love reciprocated. Luckily, Bella has no time to waste with this evil kind of man.

8

Maleficent

Image: professional_Designers

When it comes to villains, no one can match Maleficent. The powerful sorceress doesn't hesitate when it comes to summoning an army of monsters or using her magic for revenge.

In Sleeping Beauty (1959), Maleficent curses Princess Aurora with eternal sleep for not being invited to her christening. This villain is so popular that Disney has produced two live-action movies with Angelina Jolie in the lead role: Maleficent (2014) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019).

9

Captain Hook

Image: Lalelu2000

One of Disney's most iconic villains is, without a doubt, Captain Hook. In Peter Pan (1953), the ruthless pirate seeks to destroy the Boy Who Would Never Grow Up for being responsible for the loss of his hand and also for taunting him every time their paths cross.

Despite his inherent evilness, we can't help but laugh at Captain Hook and his irrational fear of the crocodile that ate his hand. A villain with such a weakness can't be all that terrifying, don't you think?

10

Lady Tremaine

Image: Gary Cooper

Wicked stepmothers are a classic of Disney movies and the one in Cinderella (1950) is perhaps one of the most iconic. Lady Tremaine made us shudder every time she appeared from the shadows stroking her cat, Lucifer.

To be fair, this stepmother might not have been so scary without the presence of her equally evil daughters, Anastasia and Drizella. Dead jealous, the three women make life miserable for poor Cinderella, relegated to serving and being exploited in her own home after the passing of her father. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Lady Tremaine is that she successfully manages to inflict extreme suffering on Cinderella without laying a finger on her.

11

Governor Ratcliffe

Image: EricThriller

Governor Ratcliffe is the main villain in Disney's historical drama Pocahontas (1995). This money-hungry English settler is greedy, and he doesn't trust the "savages." He sends his men to attack them because he believes they're hiding a gold treasure.

Even when they discover that the Native Americans don't possess the riches, he still declares war on them. In a confrontation, Ratcliffe fires his musket at Chief Powhatan, but Captain John Smith —Pocahontas' love interest— takes the shot to save him. Finally, the settlers turn on Ratcliffe and arrest him for hurting their comrade.

12

Queen of Hearts

Image: Laine Cooper

Although the Queen of Hearts appears only at the end of Disney's version of Alice in Wonderland (1951), it is enough for us to notice the fear she inflicts on her subjects. This villainess is a childish, hotheaded monarch whose catchphrase is "Off with their heads!"

After feeling humiliated during a game of croquet, she loses her temper. The king convinces her to put Alice on trial before cutting off her head. Nothing seems to go right for the girl who must escape to save her life. Luckily, she finally realizes that she is in a dream and manages to wake up before she is caught by the tyrant queen.

1

Edna Foster and Edith Storey (1911)

Even just thirty years after his death, the figure of Billy the Kid was so legendary that films were already being produced based on his life. The first two, both silent shorts, date from 1911 and share an intriguing peculiarity: both star women.

Billy the Kid was directed by Laurence Trimble and is very loosely based on the life of the famous outlaw. It is, however, believed to be a lost film. Edith Storey , an American actress who had played male characters in films such as Oliver Twist , stars as "the Kid."

The Adventures of Billy , on the other hand, was directed by the great pioneer American motion-picture director D. W. Griffith. In this film, the role of Billy is played by American child actress Edna Foster.

2

Johnny Mack Brown (1930)

American college football player and film actor John Mack Brown was the first to play Billy the Kid in the talkies. He was directed by none other than the great film director and producer King Vidor in 1930's Billy the Kid . This film is a pre-Code Western and tells the story of Billy's escape after avenging his boss and the subsequent manhunt by Sheriff Pat Garret.

Johnny Mack Brown had started his career by appearing in a few minor films until he got his big break with this movie. Unfortunately, his career in mainstream cinema did not flourish, leading him to transition into low-budget Westerns. Eventually, he found significant success as a B-movie cowboy , becoming a beloved figure in the genre.

3

Jack Buetel (1943)

Jack Buetel was an inexperienced actor when tycoon Howard Hughes cast him in his next film, The Outlaw , in 1940. Buetel signed a seven-year contract after Hughes promised him that he would make him a star.

The film faced many difficulties. It wasn’t immediately approved due to its erotic scenes, and although it was officially released in 1943, it was not until 1946 that the public was able to finally see it. Produced during the golden age of the genre, The Outlaw is considered a psychological Western. However, it was not well received by the critics of the time, and Buetel's work was especially bashed. After this, Hughes refused to allow Buetel to participate in other films, and his career never really took off.

4

Paul Newman (1958)

Paul Newman is one of the most celebrated actors of the 20th century and is best known for his roles in several classic Westerns. But did you know that the first Western character Paul Newman portrayed was Billy the Kid? In the mid-1950s, Newman was cast to replace James Dean in The Left Handed Gun after Dean's untimely death. This was the beginning of a series of films about the Old West that the beloved American actor would play throughout his career.

Based on a teleplay by Gore Vidal and directed by Arthur Penn, The Left Handed Gun departs from the classic genre iconography to present the famous bandit much closer to the rebellious and tormented antiheroes of the era. Thus, in this film, the characters are complex and nuanced, questioning and revising the traditional portrayal of the savage outlaw.

5

Clu Gulager (1960 - 1962)

The first television series about Billy the Kid was The Tall Man , which aired on NBC from September 10, 1960, to September 1, 1962. Although we all know that the real story ends with Billy being killed by Pat Garrett, this light-hearted action series focuses on the duo's alleged happier days, when they had more of a father-and-son relationship.

Clu Gulager, born in Oklahoma and the son of a cowboy entertainer, plays Billy. Although he was already 32 years old when cast, the actor earned his well-deserved place in the role. After the success of this series, Gulager worked in other Westerns and later had a second career as a horror film actor. His last appearance on the big screen was in 2019, in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

6

Geoffrey Deuel (1970)

While this is not a film specifically about Billy the Kid's life, he does appear as a supporting character. Starring the legendary John Wayne, Chisum tells the story of the 1878 Lincoln County War, an Old West conflict between rival factions involving some famous gunslingers, including William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid.

In this film, Geoffrey Deuel plays Billy the Kid. Although he had already participated in some television series, Chisum was his debut on the big screen.

7

Kris Kristofferson (1973)

Kris Kristofferson is best known for his career as a country musician and his appearance in the 1976 version of A Star is Born alongside Barbra Streisand. But did you know he also portrayed Billy the Kid? In 1973, he was cast in the revisionist Western film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid , directed by Sam Peckinpah.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Kristofferson's involvement in this film is that he introduced Bob Dylan to the director. Dylan was initially hired to write the title song, but ended up composing the whole score and even played the role of "Alias." Among the songs Dylan wrote for the film was the iconic "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

8

Val Kilmer (1989)

American writer Gore Vidal was not pleased with the adaptation of his teleplay for The Left Handed Gun , so he decided to produce his own version. The resulting TV movie premiered on TNT in May 1989, with Val Kilmer cast as Billy the Kid.

Kilmer's version of Billy the Kid is a bit friendlier than his predecessors. He was also the right age for the character, making Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid one of the most historically rigorous accounts of the outlaw's life.

After this film, Val Kilmer's career continued to grow, with standout roles in The Doors and Batman Forever . Billy the Kid wasn’t the only gunslinger he portrayed—Kilmer also famously played Doc Holliday in the 1993 film Tombstone .

9

Dane DeHaan (2019)

American actor Dane DeHaan portrays Billy the Kid in the 2019 film The Kid , alongside Ethan Hawke as lawman Pat Garrett. The physical resemblance between DeHaan—a younger Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike—and the real William H. Bonney is striking, making the Vincent D'Onofrio-directed film not only a fresh take but also one of the closest onscreen renditions of the mythical character.

In an interview, DeHaan said that he accepted the role because he thought it was a very interesting character to play. He also explained that he considered Billy the Kid a victim of the media and explained that the film aims to depict the harsh realities of the Wild West, where survival often drove people to desperate and terrible actions.

10

Tom Blyth (2022 - )

The most recent version of Billy the Kid is played by Tom Blyth, a 29-year-old English actor from Birmingham. Blyth plays the infamous outlaw in the television series Billy the Kid, which premiered on MGM+ in April 2022. Produced by Michael Hirst, the English producer behind hits like The Tudors and Vikings , the series was renewed for a third and final season in 2024.

To prepare for this character, Blyth didn't just read a ton of books about Billy's story; he felt the need to do something more tangible to get into the skin of the famous outlaw. He traveled to Arizona, rented a car, and began a 7-day pilgrimage around New Mexico visiting all the places William H. Bonney had once been. He even visited his grave! His intention was to make the character more palpable and real as opposed to this exaggerated image of the mythical character we are used to.

1

Apple Pie

Image: Patrick Fore

No dessert is more synonymous with American culture than the humble apple pie. Dating back to the colonial era, this sweet treat has evolved from simple fruit-filled pastries to an unofficial symbol of the United States. Whether served à la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or enjoyed on its own, apple pie remains a beloved classic for Americans of all ages.

2

Cheeseburger

Image: Christian Wiediger

While the two basic ingredients that make a hamburger—bread and beef— have been present in the cuisine of most cultures for millennia, historical evidence suggests that the first country where the two were combined into a "hamburger sandwich" was the United States.

However, it was the addition of cheese that catapulted this culinary creation to legendary status. Whether topped with cheddar, American, or blue cheese, the cheeseburger represents the spirit of affordability and innovation that defines American cuisine.

3

Clam Chowder

Image: Louis Hansel

Consumed by Americans at least since the early 19th century, clam chowder is a creamy soup brimming with fresh clams, potatoes, and onions. Although the most popular version of this dish hails from the shores of New England , there are many other regional variations like the Manhattan or Rhode Island clam chowder.

Served in a bread bowl or alongside oyster crackers, this comforting dish has warmed the hearts of generations, earning its place as a regional favorite.

4

Fried Chicken

Image: Shardar Tarikul Islam

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fried chicken is a Southern staple that has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of food lovers nationwide. The origin of this popular dish in the Southern states has been linked to similar recipes from Scottish and West African cuisines.

Today, thanks in part to brands like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Popeyes, fried chicken has become a beloved classic enjoyed across the country and around the world, while still retaining its deep-rooted popularity in the South.

5

Jambalaya

Image: stu_spivack, CC BY-SA 2.0

Hailing from the Louisiana bayou, jambalaya is a flavorful one-pot dish that combines rice with an array of meats, seafood, and vegetables. According to linguists, its curious name comes from the Provençal language —spoken in modern southeastern France—meaning something like a mixup.

While there is some evidence that points to the origin of this dish being the French Quarter of New Orleans, what is certain is that it reflects the complex cultural tapestry of the South , with influences from French, Spanish, and West African cuisines.

6

Pot Roast

Image: charlesdeluvio

A quintessential Sunday supper, pot roast is a slow-cooked marvel that transforms tough cuts of beef into melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Simmered alongside hearty vegetables—often carrots, potatoes, and onions—in a savory broth, this comforting dish has been bringing American families together for generations.

Similar recipes are found in many cultures, but the origin of the "Yankee pot roast," is often thought to be a local variation of the French dish boeuf à la mode ****, also influenced by German sauerbraten and traditional Jewish cuisine.

7

Shepherd's Pie

Image: JIP, CC BY-SA 4.0

Shepherd's pie, with its comforting layers of seasoned ground meat, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes, has long been a staple of American comfort food. Originally hailing from the British Isles—where it was made of lamb meat— this hearty dish found its way to American tables, where it quickly became a timeless classic.

Whether enjoyed on a cold winter's night or as a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, shepherd's pie warms the soul with its hearty flavors and rustic charm.

8

Cornbread

Image: Nik Owens

Cornbread holds a special place in American cuisine, particularly in the South, where it's considered a culinary cornerstone. Made from a simple mixture of cornmeal, flour, milk, and eggs, cornbread is a versatile accompaniment to countless meals , from barbecue ribs to fried chicken.

With origins in Native American cuisine , the role of cornbread as a pillar of the Southern diet emerged mostly out of necessity, as the heat and humidity of the region made it almost impossible to store wheat for long periods of time.

9

Macaroni and Cheese

Image: Ronaldo de Oliveira

Few dishes evoke nostalgic memories quite like macaroni and cheese. By simply combining tender pasta with a creamy cheese sauce, this childhood favorite has been delighting taste buds for generations.

While its origins can be traced back to Europe, macaroni and cheese became an American household staple during the 20th century , thanks in part to its convenience and affordability.

10

Meatloaf

Image: 4marknelson, CC BY-SA 4.0

Meatloaf, with its hearty blend of ground meat, breadcrumbs, and savory seasonings, is the epitome of classic American food. Originating in traditional German, Scandinavian, and Belgian cuisines , the dish as we know it today was likely first prepared in colonial Pennsylvania, using a mixture of ground pork and cornmeal.

This humble but nourishing dish has graced dinner tables all across the nation, and to this day remains a favorite for its simplicity and budget-friendly ingredients.