5 Underrated Movie Villains Who Deserve More Respect
We all know the A-list villains of the 80s and 90s. Darth Vader choked people from across the room, Freddy Krueger murdered teens in their dreams, and Hans Gruber fell off a building with style. But what about the B-team baddies? The ones who didn’t get merch deals, video games, or college dorm posters but still delivered iconic villainy?
It’s time we raise a toast (or shake a fist) to the underappreciated, underquoted, and criminally underrated villains of our favorite retro flicks.
Lord Humungus – The Road Warrior (1981)
Played by Kjell Nilsson
Your gym coach, but with more leather and less mercy.
If Mad Max villains were pro wrestlers, Lord Humungus would be the undisputed champion of the apocalypse. Shirtless, jacked, and wearing a hockey mask for no explained reason, he’s part motivational speaker, part nightmare fuel.
What’s so great about him? For one, he delivers entire speeches through a bullhorn while standing shirtless in the desert. That's confidence. And two, he's basically the only guy in the wasteland who tries to resolve things peacefully before going full Mad Max on everybody.
Actor Trivia: Kjell Nilsson was a Swedish Olympic weightlifter before donning the mask. The Road Warrior was his only major movie role. He lifted weights professionally, then lifted an entire film franchise with one performance.
Victor Maitland – Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Played by Steven Berkoff
Crime, but make it classy.
Victor Maitland is your classic “villain in a tailored suit” archetype. He runs an art gallery, which in movie logic means he’s obviously smuggling cocaine in priceless sculptures. He’s so smooth and deadpan, you half expect him to offer you champagne after threatening your life.
What makes him underrated? He plays it so calm and collected that you forget he’s a total psychopath. And the way he casually orders people’s murder like he’s ordering lunch? Ice cold.
Actor Trivia: Steven Berkoff also played General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, and once insulted nearly every Hollywood director in an interview. Respect.
The Kurgan – Highlander (1986)
Played by Clancy Brown
"It’s better to burn out... than to fade away!" – Says the guy with no skincare routine.
The Kurgan is basically what happens when a professional wrestler and a heavy metal album cover have a baby. He’s rude, violent, immortal, and clearly not well-adjusted. He doesn’t just want to win the prize. He wants to burn cities, scare nuns, and laugh like a lunatic while doing it.
Despite being the literal final boss of Highlander, the Kurgan somehow doesn't get the love he deserves. Maybe it's because he’s terrifying. Or maybe it's because no one can pronounce “Kurgan” correctly.
Actor Trivia: Clancy Brown went on to voice Mr. Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants, proving that even evil sword-wielding lunatics can turn into crusty capitalists.
Arjen Rudd – Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Played by Joss Ackland
Smugness with a passport.
Arjen Rudd is a drug-dealing South African diplomat who hides behind “diplomatic immunity” the way kids hide behind “my mom said I could.” He doesn’t have to do much. He just lets his henchmen do the dirty work while he sips wine and acts like he owns the planet.
The best part? His big villain moment isn’t a battle or a speech. It’s him smugly declaring “Diplomatic immunity!” right before getting shot in the face. It's poetic justice in one of the most satisfying movie moments ever.
Actor Trivia: Joss Ackland called his role in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey “absolute rubbish,” but still did the job and cashed the check. Truly a professional villain move.
Richter – Total Recall (1990)
Played by: Michael Ironside
Your middle manager… if he could legally murder you on Mars.
Richter isn’t your typical sci-fi henchman. He’s pissed off, takes everything personally, and chases Arnold around the red planet like a man who just got cut off in traffic and never got over it.
What’s so great about him? He’s not just a corporate thug. He’s a vengeful ex who wants Quaid dead and wants to make sure his boss knows it. He punches, growls, and stress-smokes his way through every scene like the galaxy’s angriest regional supervisor.
Actor Trivia: Michael Ironside built a career playing volatile badasses in Scanners, Top Gun, and Starship Troopers. Off-screen? He’s a soft-spoken writer and artist who once studied at art school. Go figure.
Final Thoughts (and Dramatic Evil Laughter)
These villains may not have merchandise, Funko Pops, or theme park rides, but they made their movies better, weirder, and way more fun. Whether they were philosophical warlords, smug art dealers, or vengeful interplanetary henchmen, they all brought something special to the screen.
So next time you're rewatching your favorite 80s or 90s flick, pour one out for the bad guys who didn’t make the T-shirt but definitely stole the scene.
