The greatest sci-fi villain of the 2010s comes from an absolute modern classic of the genre, and they had a big hand in making their film so beloved. Since the genre first started, science fiction has been known for some of the best villains of all time. The list of the best sci-fi villains ever often overlaps with the list of the best villains in general, and for good reason. Almost any era of sci-fi is sure to have an absolutely classic villain to tout, but the 2010s had one in particular that became an instant legend.
There were plenty of iconic science fiction villains in the 2010s, so picking the best of them is far from easy. With candidates like Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the Engineer from Prometheus, Koba from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and several others, the list of sci-fi villains has very good company. However, only one can be considered the best. That honor goes to one of the greatest movies in general of the 2010s, one that resurrected a classic franchise and very nearly redefined both the action and sci-fi genres.
Mad Max: Fury Road's Immortan Joe Was The Best Sci-Fi Villain Of The 2010s
Hugh Keays-Byrne Played Immortan Joe Flawlessly
As far as sci-fi in the 2010s go, there's really only one villain and one actor who can be considered the best of the decade: Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road. Immortan Joe himself was one of the greatest villains in sci-fi right from the start. He had an enthralling sense of brutality from the way he treated his people to the way he treated his wives and children, he commanded an amazing post-apocalyptic army, and he has one of the most iconic character designs in sci-fi in general. Immortan Joe was also a big reason Fury Road earned 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Not only was Immortan Joe an incredible villain, he also introduced so many interesting science fiction elements. He made the way he deified water to maintain control over the Citadel, his solution to the water shortage by using breastfeeding mothers, and the technology of his army, like the warboys' thundersticks, the War Rig, and more possible. Any villain who can elevate both the action and sci-fi aspects of a movie is a great character. Hugh Keays-Byrne was also perfectly cast for the role, though, which elevated him further. Keays-Byrne's voice, expressions, and general aura only added to Immortan Joe's ability to intimidate others.
Immortan Joe Continued Mad Max's Long History Of Great Movie Villains
Toecutter, Lord Humungus, Aunty Entity, Immortan Joe, & Dementus Are All Great Villains
Immortan Joe wasn't just an accomplishment for science fiction, though, he also continued Mad Max's trend of creating incredibly compelling villains. Every Mad Max and Furiosa villain, from Toecutter (who was also portrayed by Hugh Keays-Byrne) all the way to Dementus, has been an iconic addition to both the franchise and the genre. Mad Max's villains have almost defined the idea of a post-apocalyptic villain, and for good reason. They're all dripping with madness, viciousness, and a warped sense of morality that highlights the broken-down state of the world of Mad Max.
Immortan Joe truly had it all, from an intimidating presence and design to an emotional connection to the protagonists and a real effectiveness in both his villainy and in running the Citadel
Even with such an incredible cast of villains, Immortan Joe still stands above the rest of Mad Max's antagonists. He essentially used some of the best aspects of every villain who came before and after him, yet left out everything that held them back. Immortan Joe truly had it all, from an intimidating presence and design to an emotional connection to the protagonists and a real effectiveness in both his villainy and in running the Citadel. It's for those reasons that Immortan Joe is not only the best antagonist in Mad Max, but the best sci-fi villain of the 2010s.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes

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9/10
16 9.4/10
Mad Max: Fury Road
R
Action
Adventure
Thriller
Fantasy
Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth film in George Miller's long-running sci-fi franchise, with Tom Hardy starring as Max Rockstansky, a vagabond who lives on the road in an apocalyptic wasteland. When Max comes across a cult group that keeps its people in fear and under control with a monopoly on water and other crucial supplies, he joins up with Imperator Furiosa, a warrior woman leading a rebellion against the cult's leader, Immortan Joe.
- Director
- George Miller
- Release Date
- May 14, 2015
- Studio(s)
- Village Roadshow Pictures , RatPac-Dune Entertainment , Kennedy Miller Mitchell
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Writers
- George Miller , Brendan McCarthy , Nick Lathouris
- Cast
- Tom Hardy , Charlize Theron , Nicholas Hoult , Zoe Kravitz , Hugh Keays-Byrne , Riley Keough , Courtney Eaton , Abbey Lee , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
- Runtime
- 120 Minutes
- Franchise(s)
- Mad Max
- Sequel(s)
- Mad Max: The Wasteland
- prequel(s)
- Mad Max , Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior , Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome , Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- Budget
- $154-185 Million