James Bond has faced many villains throughout his cinematic adventures, but some stand out for their genius, brutality, or sheer extravagance.
The geek culture website Den of Geek took on the herculean task of analysing the long list of 007’s enemies and ranked all 25 of them, based on their impact on the films and their lasting legacy.
Here’s the Bond fandom’s definitive ranking of the top 5 greatest and most memorable villains of the spy of all time, in order of greatness.
5. Jaws and Karl Stromberg – The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
“The main villain may be Karl Stromberg, but the true evil star of the film is Jaws,” Den of Geek states. Richard Kiel’s towering, steel-toothed assassin completely overshadows Stromberg, making him one of the few henchmen in the Bond franchise to be more memorable than the mastermind he serves. Jaws is virtually indestructible, surviving falls from great heights, electrocutions, and even a shark attack. His gimmicky metal teeth, used to bite through anything from chains to human necks, became one of the most iconic weapons in Bond history.
As for Stromberg, played by Curd Jürgens, he fits the mold of the classic Bond villain: a megalomaniacal billionaire with a world-ending scheme. “He plans to trigger nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, destroying the surface world so he can rebuild civilization beneath the sea,” Den of Geek explains. While his plot is suitably grandiose, his presence is largely overshadowed by Jaws, who became such a fan favorite that he was the only Bond villainous character to return in a sequel.
4. Ernst Stavro Blofeld – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
There have been many versions of Blofeld, but Den of Geek argues that Telly Savalas’ portrayal is “indisputably the best one.” While Donald Pleasence’s scarred, cat-stroking Blofeld is the most visually iconic, Savalas brings a physical menace and genuine rivalry with Bond that previous versions lacked.
This Blofeld doesn’t merely rely on henchmen – he takes a direct role in his plots, engaging Bond in a brutal ski chase and an intense final confrontation. “Unlike Pleasence, Gray, or even Waltz, Savalas is able to physically match Bond in a final chase and shootout,” the article notes. His villainy is also more personal: rather than simply being vitcimised by Bond, he gets the last laugh, orchestrating the tragic murder of Bond’s wife, Tracy, in one of the most heartbreaking endings in the franchise’s history.
3. Alec Trevelyan and Xenia Onatopp – GoldenEye (1995)
GoldenEye revitalized the Bond franchise in the post-Cold War era, and much of its success came from its compelling villains. Sean Bean’s Alec Trevelyan, formerly Agent 006, serves as a dark reflection of Bond – someone with the same skills and training but driven by revenge rather than duty. Den of Geek describes him as “one of the few instances where Bond emanates tangible hate and melancholy” toward an enemy.
Trevelyan’s backstory adds depth to his betrayal. A former ally of Bond, he fakes his own death and resurfaces nine years later as the leader of a criminal syndicate seeking revenge against the British government. His personal connection to Bond makes their final battle one of the most emotional in the series.
But it’s Famke Janssen’s Xenia Onatopp who steals the show, fans state. “Her preferred method of murder is strangulation by thighs. A patently absurd concept, it is just perverse enough to avoid cartoonish fantasy,” says Den of Geek. Her intense fight scene with Bond, which reportedly led to Janssen breaking a rib, remains one of the most visceral confrontations in the series.
2. Rosa Klebb and Red Grant – From Russia with Love (1963)
This is the only entry where it’s unclear who is the main villain and who is the henchman. Den of Geek notes that “both are pawns in SPECTRE’s machinations, but they have such latitude that they come far closer to snuffing out Mr. Bond’s legacy than anyone else in that hapless organization.”
Lotte Lenya’s Rosa Klebb is a terrifyingly effective villain. The ex-Soviet operative-turned-SPECTRE agent selects Tatiana Romanova as bait for Bond and ensures that every step of the mission is rigged against him. “She has one of the most iconic weapons in the series,” the article highlights.
Robert Shaw’s Red Grant, meanwhile, is Bond’s first true doppelgänger. As a highly trained SPECTRE assassin, he infiltrates MI6’s ranks and gains Bond’s trust before revealing his betrayal. Their brutal train fight is still one of the most intense hand-to-hand combat sequences in the franchise. Den of Geek praises Grant as “more ruthless and cunning than even Sean Connery’s uber-Bond.” He nearly defeats Bond, proving to be one of the most competent threats 007 has ever faced.
1. Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob – Goldfinger (1964)
Topping the list is Auric Goldfinger and his lethal sidekick, Oddjob. Their film is one of the most beloved in the franchise, and much of that success comes down to its villains.
Goldfinger himself is a different breed of Bond villain. He’s not out for world domination, he’s “just greedy”. “He enjoys the most brilliant scheme of any Bond villain: he will break into Fort Knox so the Chinese can irradiate the U.S. gold supply with a nuke, thereby increasing his own gold’s value,” Den of Geek explains. He also delivers one of the most iconic villain lines in cinema history: “Do you expect me to talk?” “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!”
Meanwhile, Oddjob is the ultimate evil sidekick. “As the mostly silent Korean hitman and part-time caddy for Goldfinger, Oddjob really does fulfill any request,” notes Den of Geek. Between Goldfinger’s cunning and Oddjob’s sheer physical menace, this duo remains the gold standard for Bond villains.