Ever since Superman established that superhero movies deserved to be treated as great cinema, movie-goers have been blessed with seeing their favorite comic book heroes grace the silver screen. Heroes are only as strong as their villains though, and comic book fans are often most excited about the opponent sitting on the opposite side of the ring.
Dramatic reveals and surprise twists are great plot devices, but sometimes introducing a great villain comes down to good old-fashioned storytelling. In the DC Comics cinematic universe, excellent villain introductions are commonplace.
10 General Zod - Superman
Harkening back to where it all began, the opening minutes of Richard Donner's Superman introduces General Zod and his two Kryptonian soldiers during their criminal trial. Though Zod isn't a primary antagonist until the second movie, his inclusion is noteworthy for two reasons.
First, it establishes Donner's serious tone. The scene is eerie and mystical, with Zod and his accomplices trapped within spinning beams as the elders rain down "guilty" charges upon them. This generates the audience's curiosity about Zod's character, about what the Phantom Zone is, and what would happen if he got out. Secondly, Zod's inclusion teases his larger role in Superman II, which Donner was filming but then shockingly got fired from. Nevertheless, the filmmaker became a forefather of sorts for world-building and sequels.
9 The Penguin - Batman Returns
Tim Burton was given near carte blanche in his Batman sequel and Danny DeVito's grotesque Penguin feels like classic Burton. While the character deviates heavily from its comic book counterpart, his intro is tragically riveting.
Young Oswald Cobblepot's story begins after his deformed figure is rejected by his disgusted parents. They throw his baby carrier into a river and it's discovered by penguins under the Gotham Zoo. He spends over three decades underneath Gotham City, and Burton only reveals him through visual imagery like shapes and shadows. The Penguin makes his grand entrance by orchestrating a scheme that makes him look like a hero for saving a kidnapped baby.
8 Gotham - Joker
Part of what makes Joker so excellent isn't simply Joaquin Phoenix's acclaimed performance, but also the decaying society in which a person like Arthur Fleck could realistically go mad in. Director Todd Phillips wastes no time in literally smacking the audience in the face with who the true villain of Arthur's story is: Gotham itself.
Exemplified by the sharp class divide and the mental health system that's hamstrung in their efforts to care for those in desperate need, Joker's villain is slowly unearthed over the course of Arthur's descent. It comes to a final, shocking head in the finale when Arthur murders talk-show host Murray Hamilton and exclaims he's what happens when society abandons its citizens.
7 Two-Face - The Dark Knight
Not all villains are inherently evil; some are just products of their environment and their own demons. In the case of The Dark Knight's Harvey Dent, his inner darkness manifested itself into Two-Face thanks to the Joker and "a little push."
Harvey's transformation is heartbreaking, having to relive Rachel's death when Batman gives him his lucky coin at the hospital. The coin, which Rachel had on her, inadvertently shatters what remains of Harvey's goodness. When Commissioner Gordon later visits his old friend, Harvey's Two-Face persona is revealed, and swears vengeance on Gordon for his inaction.
6 Ra's al Ghul - Batman Begins
Misdirection is a commonly used trope in movies and its effectiveness is often determined by how it works within the story. In Batman Begins, the bait and switch is utilized perfectly when Bruce Wayne's world comes crashing down upon realizing that his mentor Ducard is in fact Ra's al Ghul.
Believing Ra's to be dead following the League of Shadows' destruction, Bruce returns home intent on cleaning Gotham up. As the Batman, he succeeds in apprehending Carmine Falcone and Dr. Crane, who claims he's been working for Ra's al Ghul. Bruce thinks he's lying, but on the night of his birthday party, none other than Ducard himself shows up and reveals he's been the mastermind all along.
5 Ares - Wonder Woman
Ares' revelation to be the proprietor of peace Sir Patrick Morgan is another example of misdirection done extremely well. The story establishes Morgan to be an ally of Diana's early on and then pulls the rug out with the revelation he's the god of war himself.
What helps the reveal land so well is the relative lack of flair. Patty Jenkins directs the scene like a beautifully choreographed stage play as Gal Gadot and David Thewlis quietly debate the merits of human life. However, as soon as Ares disintegrates Diana's "Godkiller" sword, the ante is upped to 11.
4 Ozymandias - Watchmen
Writer Alan Moore once said regarding the beginning of his superhero deconstruction story "I was thinking that'd be a good way to start a comic book: have a famous superhero found dead."
Edward Blake, the Comedian, sits alone in his high-rise apartment. Footsteps approach his door and with a burst of force, kick it in. Blake turns to look at his intruder and upon recognizing them, states "just a matter of time, I suppose."A brutal battle ensues over whimsical waltz music and Blake is flung out the window to his death. Though the murderer isn't revealed to be Ozymandias until later, the scene pulls the audience into the story just the way that Moore intended it to.
3 Joker - Batman
The Dark Knight's catalog is peppered with some of the greatest, most interesting villains of all time. As the first to be seen on screen properly, Jack Nicholson's Joker is an absolute force of nature and his devilish reveal is one the best ever.
After Jack Napier falls into a vat of chemicals ala "The Killing Joke," he returns to face the man who orchestrated his demise, Carl Grissom. Upon realizing Jack is alive, Grissom attempts to negotiate for his life, only to be stunned when the man formerly known as Jack steps into the light and says "Jack is dead. You can call me Joker."
2 Bane - The Dark Knight Rises
Audiences practically knew this one was coming and that didn't diminish the effect one bit. Once Christopher Nolan demonstrated the power of a villain prologue with The Dark Knight, fans hoped to see Tom Hardy's Bane get the same treatment in the sequel.
Bane reveals himself to his captors via a chilling monologue while aboard a CIA plane. He explains his plan involved getting caught and that he's going to crash the plane. Another plane appears and infiltrates Bane's, allowing him to execute his plan perfectly in one of the most astonishing action sequences ever put to film. Nolan's at the top of his game in this unforgettable heist as he introduces Bane's brutality and brilliance, making him a Batman foe like no other.
1 The Joker - The Dark Knight
There can be only one and the Joker's bank heist is it. When Nolan announced he was going to release the first six minutes of The Dark Knight in IMAX theaters as a special preview, fans were excited by what this unique prologue would offer.
What it offered is one of the greatest cinematic openings ever. Heath Ledger's Joker stands patiently on a corner, head down, and motionless. He dons his clown mask as a car stops to pick him up and the bank robbery is on. Shockingly, the robbers begin killing one another during the heist until only the Joker remains. He finally reveals himself to the bank manager who unwisely intervenes, exclaiming "Whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you... stranger." Everything, from Ledger's performance to Hans Zimmer's score, is pitch-perfect.
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