15 of the most unlikable movie characters of all time

[T_R_Oglodyte]

What does "unlikable" mean? Is it a character that is evil?

That's not the standard I used upthread. My standard was whether it was a character I found distasteful; one that made me feel I had wasted my time on the movie and that gave me no incentive to see the movie again. Sideways did that for me like no other movie I've seen, at least not since the Indian in Body Double. Actually after seeing Body Double I took a great disliking to Brian DePalma overall - may I find a director to be "unlikable"?

*******

Knowing that my definition is probably not the mainstream one on this thread, let me offer couple that are more "mainstream" unlikable:

1. Norman Bates (Psycho)

2. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)

 

[Jan M.]

What does "unlikable" mean? Is it a character that is evil?

For me the character doesn't have to be evil; just that they have personalities or traits that are thoroughly unlikeable. Many actors and actress do an amazing job of making us hate, despise or just generally finding their characters unlikeable. Sometimes the character is evil. sometimes just the bad guy or woman, but sometimes they are just irritating, obnoxious, bullies, etc. Some of the actors and actresses who portrayed their characters so beautifully have found it hard to get other roles because people associate them with that character.

I found Jennifer Connelly's character in House of Sand and Fog so unlikeable that it made it hard for me to watch any movie she was in for a couple years after that. As Bluehende said Ben Kingsley was fantastic in his role and I wouldn't have finished watching the movie if it weren't for him. Easyrider mentioned Percy the guard in The Green Mile. He is another character that is thoroughly unlikeable. And who wasn't happy to see Joeffry die in Game of Thrones? His mother, Cersei, isn't likeable either. Several people mentioned Nurse Ratched, who has become an iconic example of an unlikeable character. There are more other people mentioned and as I read through the posts I kept saying yeah that one too.

Some of us have movie characters we didn't like that other people didn't find unlikeable. Sometimes it's the character but I bet most of us have an actor or actress we find off putting or unlikeable for some reason or another. There is an actor who is my age and has always reminded me of my ex husband in looks, body language and the characters he played in his early years. Those movies made a name for him and because he is a talented actor he was eventually able to get better roles where he wasn't playing the same type of character over and over. Every time I see him in a new movie and particularly an old movie, it still makes me feel grateful to have met and been married to my husband of 40 years.

 

[bluehende]

Captain Quinn? Quint from Jaws.

 

[SandyPGravel]

What does "unlikable" mean?

I took it to mean someone that is despicable. Mean just for the sake of being mean. A jerk, spoiled, entitled. Obviously you aren't going to like someone that is evil and murdering everyone else. Unlikable is not the same standard as evil. Unlikable isn't the same as terrifying. IMO

I agree with

Percy the sadistic guard on Green Mile is the character I like to hate.

I don't think Percy was evil per se, but just too stupid and spoiled to realize how awful what he was doing was.

I also thought of Colin Firth in Circle of friends. (Probably an obscure movie most haven't even heard of.) I really like Colin Firth, but I sure didn't like Simon Westward.

I agree the original list is bad. Voldemort I would classify as evil, way beyond unlikable. I've not seen the Twilight movies and who is #10?

 

[DrQ]

who is #10

I'm assuming you are referring to Denethor. He was the Steward of Gondor in the Lord of the Rings third book. He was convinced that the Fellowship could not defeat Sauron and when his son was knocked out, he thought he was dead and attempted to burn him and himself on a funeral pyre.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I have MORE drama and horror every 3 months in my "day job" than most people in 10 years over their normal life (except cops, EMTs and workers in subsidized housing locales).

On vacation, I want a simple and quiet existance. My male co-workers have been with me almost every work day for OVER 20 years now. My HVAC contractor started working with me in 1985 but we went to HS together ... his son is now my HGVC contractor ...his Dad retired 10 years ago due to a stroke. And his son started answering the HGVC business phone when he was under 2 (TWO) years old.

For those who don't think a 2 yo can actually communicate in a business setting ... KEEP READING.

I would call the work phone number and this little voice would answer with a mumbled "A-lo". I would say "Junior, this is Linda. Daddy sleeping? Go take the phone over to Daddy and HIT him in the head and say, 'Linda'". Next I would hear on the phone "thunk" and then a LOUD "OWWW". Then a little person's voice saying "linnn'da". This was a regular event for several years .... at least 2 or more times a month during the cold weather/heating season.

Junior now runs the business ... I just call his cell phone. Dad drives the van and Junior makes cell phone calls while Dad drives.

 

[chapjim]

Donald Pleasance in Will Penny, a 1960s Charlton Heston movie.

He had several other despicable roles.

 

[DrQ]

Donald Pleasance in Will Penny, a 1960s Charlton Heston movie.

He had several other despicable roles.

Ernst Blofeld
Himmler
Dr. Michaels

 

[DrQ]

Rick from "Rick and Morty"

(I know, it's not a movie, but Rick IS VERY unlikable)

 

[DaveNV]

I have MORE drama and horror every 3 months in my "day job" than most people in 10 years over their normal life (except cops, EMTs and workers in subsidized housing locales).

On vacation, I want a simple and quiet existance. My male co-workers have been with me almost every work day for OVER 20 years now. My HVAC contractor started working with me in 1985 but we went to HS together ... his son is now my HGVC contractor ...his Dad retired 10 years ago due to a stroke. And his son started answering the HGVC business phone when he was under 2 (TWO) years old.

For those who don't think a 2 yo can actually communicate in a business setting ... KEEP READING.

I would call the work phone number and this little voice would answer with a mumbled "A-lo". I would say "Junior, this is Linda. Daddy sleeping? Go take the phone over to Daddy and HIT him in the head and say, 'Linda'". Next I would hear on the phone "thunk" and then a LOUD "OWWW". Then a little person's voice saying "linnn'da". This was a regular event for several years .... at least 2 or more times a month during the cold weather/heating season.

Junior now runs the business ... I just call his cell phone. Dad drives the van and Junior makes cell phone calls while Dad drives.

Linda, sorry, but am I missing something? How does this post relate to dislikable movie villains?

Dave

 

[Talent312]

Villains from TV Land - "Get Smart"
Siegfried (played by Bernie Kopell) and his sidekick, Shtarker.

Showing his range, Kopell also played Dr. Bricker on "Love Boat."
.

 

[wilma]

I have MORE drama and horror every 3 months in my "day job" than most people in 10 years over their normal life (except cops, EMTs and workers in subsidized housing locales).

On vacation, I want a simple and quiet existance. My male co-workers have been with me almost every work day for OVER 20 years now. My HVAC contractor started working with me in 1985 but we went to HS together ... his son is now my HGVC contractor ...his Dad retired 10 years ago due to a stroke. And his son started answering the HGVC business phone when he was under 2 (TWO) years old.

For those who don't think a 2 yo can actually communicate in a business setting ... KEEP READING.

I would call the work phone number and this little voice would answer with a mumbled "A-lo". I would say "Junior, this is Linda. Daddy sleeping? Go take the phone over to Daddy and HIT him in the head and say, 'Linda'". Next I would hear on the phone "thunk" and then a LOUD "OWWW". Then a little person's voice saying "linnn'da". This was a regular event for several years .... at least 2 or more times a month during the cold weather/heating season.

Junior now runs the business ... I just call his cell phone. Dad drives the van and Junior makes cell phone calls while Dad drives.

Huh?