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Sometimes it’s fun to be the bad guy. It’s a statement that can come off as a little irresponsible, but it’s not as if many of us haven’t wanted to step into the dark side. Well, that’s where the focus of this piece is. We’re taking the time to give flowers to the Black villains of the silver screen that both sent shivers down our spine and had us cheering them on. 

Dr. Kananga aka Mr. Big: Live and Let Die

Say hello to the first black Bond villain. Portrayed by American actor Yaphet Kotto, Mr. Big was a businessman through and through. Between his restaurant chain in New York, being the head of one of the most vicious gangs in Harlem, and being the de facto dictator of a Caribbean island, you’d think this man would have more than his hands full. But no, he’s a master plate spinner and a criminal mastermind. He also has one of the most disturbing endings in the franchise, and as they say: if you’re going to leave, leave in style. You can see Mr. Big in Live and Let Die on MGM+. 

Erik Killmonger: Black Panther

What’s better than a pure evil villain — a villain whose descent into evil was marked by an event completely out of their control. Erik does some heinous things over the course of Black Panther, but the scary thing is as an audience member it’s not that hard to understand why he is the way he is, especially so when we’re given a proper backstory for his intense anger at T’Challa. It doesn’t make all of the atrocities he’s committed acceptable, but on a certain level, fans can at the least see where Erik is coming from. You can see Black Panther on Disney+. 

Candyman: Candyman (1992)

This is a villain so frightening, so sinister, that it’s dangerous just to speak his name aloud. So let’s keep utterances of his formal title to a minimum. He who must not be named is a horror movie icon, and the title is well earned. The one whose name must never be spoken is a vengeful spirit that thrives off of the legend of his existence and the faith of those who would deny his power. Being haunted and destroyed by a ghoul that gets more powerful when you speak his name is a ghoul worth his salt, or more fittingly, his honey. Yes, Daniel Robitaille uses powers such as hivemind and mind control to have others do his bidding. So not only will he take you out, but he just might use you as his own personal puppet to perform violent acts on his behalf. You can shiver in fright while watching Candyman on Peacock. 

The Prowler: Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

No one is prepared to learn that one of the people they love most in the world is a supervillain. It’s no surprise that it came as a world-shaking shock to Miles that his Uncle Aaron is not only a villain but the henchman to Kingpin. Aaron starts the movie as Miles’s uncle and mentor, but later on we learn that Aaron has always been the more rebellious between him and his brother. It was this rebellious streak and Jefferson’s decision to join law enforcement that drove a wedge between the brothers. Getting to see the contrast between Aaron as the supportive uncle and Prowler the villain is something that gave Into the Spiderverse it’s emotional core. The loss of Aaron is the driving point that inspires Miles to continue his role as Spiderman and keep working to be better not just for the city but for Miles himself. You can see Aaron’s story unfold in full on Hulu or Sling TV. 

Akasha: The Queen of the Damned

Hot take? The Queen of the Damned is not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, it has it’s sticking points that are plain to see while watching the movie, but it’s not an outright disaster as many reviewers have tried to paint it out to be over the years. Aaliyah was able to perfectly capture the sultry and sensual aura of the ancient vampire with ease, mainly as that was a facet of Aaliyah herself that she tapped into with her music and her videos. The Great Mother is herself the first vampire in existence; all vampires we meet in The Vampire Chronicles are her descendants. What makes Akasha such an iconic villain? She’s not in it for the thrill or the desire to cause chaos. She just needs to sustain herself, nothing personal about it. There’s something interesting about seeing someone exist solely for themselves, unattached from morality and empathy. Akasha is described as the one true monster because she doesn’t acknowledge or see herself as a monster. It’s not personal, it’s just a need to feed and create more fledglings. You can watch The Queen of the Damned on Hulu.