In assembling a team of psychopaths from the movies this side of 2008, you have to purposefully turn a blind eye to not include The Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. He’s the very definition of a psychopath, especially given that his motives are entirely deranged. He would be the unquestionable ringleader of this and any group of movie psychopaths.
2. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) - Psycho
Norman Bates is one of cinema’s first great psychopaths. Aside from the obvious fact that the title of the film is the shortened term for “psychopath,” Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece dared to feature a main character with this severe of a mental illness, though of course it was used almost exclusively as a plot device. Nonetheless, the unexpected dual nature of Bates’ persona makes him one of the most unpredictable psychopaths of all time.
3. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) - A Clockwork Orange
In this powerful story of whether complete psychopathic deviance can be “cured,” Alex DeLarge emerge as one of the more terrifying psychopaths of film history. His ultra-violence knows no bounds, and worst of all, it’s all for sport. In this collection of psychopaths, he would be the unruly young rebel far too reckless and uncalculating for his own good. He would most certainly look up to the Joker despite considering him too soft and focused.
4. Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) - Monster
Man-killer Aileen Wuornos is easily the only psychopath on this list capable of feeling remorse, but her desperation makes her among the most dangerous psychopaths in movie history. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep herself from getting in trouble, even if she has a panic attack doing it. Her disgust for men would put her at odd with the rest of this grouping as well; consider her the most likely to take one of these guys out.
5. Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) - Reservoir Dogs
If you’ve seen Reservoir Dogs, you know Mr. Blonde doesn’t play well with others. They don’t like him and he certainly couldn’t give a damn. His affinity for torture and riling up just about everyone he doesn’t like makes him the one psychopath on this list you’re assuredly not going to sympathize with, and he’s very okay with that. Quentin Tarantino has invented some sick ****s over the years, but Mr. Blonde remains among his most iconic.
6. Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) - Carrie
Poor Carrie White: so innocent, so troubled. What makes Carrie perfect for a group of film’s nastiest psychopaths is that if she gets mad, they’re all dead — simple as that. Most movie psychopaths have domineering personalities, whereas Carrie is more reserved, but push her buttons and you’re going to regret it. A lot of movie psychopaths are unpredictable, but none is more wildly so than Carrie.
7. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) - American Psycho
If you think Mr. Blonde is a sicko, then you need to see Mary Herron’s American Psycho. Patrick Bateman is a narcissist of the highest order with a totally demented and perverted love of sex and violence. He’s cold and calculating, but when he turns it up a notch or gets his buttons pushed, he’s seven kinds of crazy. As the lone true serial killer on this list, Bateman is a total freak. No matter who your favorite movie psychos are or whether you liked this film, you would be remiss not to include him in any all-star group of psychopaths.
