Bond’s antagonist is a critical to the movie as 007 himself - a great villain can elevate a screenplay to new heights, much like Mads Mikkelsen did as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. But a poor villain can derail a performance, as the character of Lyutsifer Safin in No Time To Die.
Whether it’s a compelling villain, or an actor’s performance that brings gravitas to the role, there are many ways a villain can make or break a Bond movie. Some have even gone down as cult classics in cinema as a whole, being parodied or inspiring other performances.
Here are the 10 best James Bond villains of all-time, including one character that was only meant to be a henchman... but arguably stole the show.
9. Goldfinger (Goldfinger)
It's ironic that perhaps the most memorable line in the entire James Bond franchise comes from a villain. "No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!" is a sentence engrained into every 007 fan's memory. | Shutterstock
10. Blofeld (You Only Live Twice)
A repeat antagonist, Blofeld is to James Bond what the Joker is to Batman, or Moriarty to Sherlock Holmes. Many have played the villain, but it was Donald Pleasance's interpretation that was perhaps the most formidable - and the best performance to boot. | EON