10 Greatest Disney Twist Villains, Ranked

Warning: This article contains spoilers!

Disney has made a name for itself over the years as being at the absolute forefront of compelling and well-crafted villain characters in their various animated films. Be it from Walt Disney Animation Studios or Pixar, the catalog of iconic and memorable foes has made for some of the most iconic villains in animated film history. One specific archetype that they have found rousing success with, especially in their 21st-century works, is the twist villain.

The inherent shock and allure of a villain deceiving both the audience and the other characters with their nefarious ways is one of the easiest ways for an animated family film to get viewers engaged in its story. Disney has found great success with this concept over the years, even if its best creations are only a few. While they arguably used this trend a bit too much during the 2010s, it cannot be denied that when it works, the twist villain can create a wildly impactful and memorable figure.

10 Pawbert Lynxley — 'Zootopia 2' (2025)

Walt Disney Animation Studios' massive string of twist villains in the 2010s lead to a large lull in the twist villain archetype from the studio for years, although their most recent film, Zootopia 2, saw a return to form with the instantly memorable Pawbert Lynxley. Voiced by Andy Samberg, this youngest member of the high-class Lynxley family has only been helping the heroes find the original patent so that he can destroy it and prove himself to his family.

Even aside from the shock of this twist, after nearly a decade without twist villains from the studio, Pawbert wasn't even on the radar for many audiences since the film already had an effective collection of villains from the rest of the Lynxley family. The film already does a half-twist where it's revealed that Pawbert is helping Gary, so doubling up and presenting him on the same level of villainy as his family makes for an effective and well-crafted twist. Pawbert is just one element that has made Zootopia 2 one of 2025's best family movies.

9 Dawn Bellwether — 'Zootopia' (2016)

While Pawbert may be the talk of the town right now as the most recent twist villain on the block, one still has to recognize the original twist villain of the Zootopia franchise, Dawn Bellwether, and her direct ties to the film's themes of systemic prejudice and how it can be weaponized. Voiced by Jenny Slate, this meek sheep assistant to Mayor Lionheart is revealed to be the mastermind behind the disappearances and night howlers, using them as a propaganda tool to eliminate the predator class from Zootopia.

Bellwether has been a relatively divisive twist villain over the years, due to not having as much screen time as many other notable examples. However, she makes the most of the moments that she does have on-screen, setting up the seeds of corruption and manipulation early on and revealing herself as the true wolf-in-sheep's-clothing in its final act. The character even returned in Zootopia 2, where they fully embraced her status as a deranged criminal mastermind.

8 Clayton — 'Tarzan' (1999)

While not often considered a twist villain in the same way as many of Disney's other iconic examples, Clayton stands tall as one of the first true twist villains from the company, as well as one of the best villains of the Disney Renaissance era. The film doesn't exactly make it a large secret that Clayton is up to no good and committing vicious, dirty dealings behind closed doors, but it doesn't make him any less of an impactful and entertaining villain.

In the film's beautiful story of unexpected romance and human connection, Clayton stands as the cold, unflinching symbol of human greed and evil that seeks to destroy the beauty of what makes the jungle so great. The juxtaposition between how he initially presents himself as a refined gentleman versus his final moments as a psychotic, deranged lunatic further drives home his thematic resonance and pure entertainment factor.

7 Charles Muntz — 'Up' (2009)

It's a commonly spoken lesson of life that one should never meet their heroes, lest they be disappointed by reality. Among Pixar's iconic villains, no one quite lives up to this fact like Up's Charles Muntz, a man who grew mad after spending a lifetime of isolation in South America as he grew obsessed with capturing the bird Kevin. Voiced by Christopher Plummer, it's the shockingly painful depiction of destructive obsession and madness that makes Muntz such an exceptional villain.

The character parallels Carl Fredricksen in a lot of ways, having a similar sense of adventure and determination to get things done. However, Carl was able to put aside his goals for the bigger picture, while Muntz further devolved into egotistical madness. Long before any of his psychopathic tendencies rear themselves, Muntz pulls off an exceptional facade as the one true source of normalcy in the jungle, making his twist reveal all the more impactful.

6 Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear — 'Toy Story 3' (2010)

While far from the most surprising twist villain in Pixar's filmography, considering the Toy Story franchise's history with the trope, Lotso's striking dichotomy as both a lovable teddy bear and a powerful, ruthless godfather figure has made him one of Pixar's most iconic villains. Voiced by Ned Beatty, the pink fur teddy bear acts as the leading figure at the day care center where the toys find themselves, initially acting kind and welcoming before showing his true nature as a dark, sinister force.

Lotso's distinct parallels with Toy Story 3's overall messaging of moving on and accepting having to say goodbye as a toxic abandonment of the good times and memories make him a core element in the film's storytelling brilliance. Even outside his relevance to the themes, Beatty's exceptional vocal performance goes a long way in terms of both the initial welcoming nature and his outbursts of sheer anger and commanding power over those he controls.

5 John Silver — 'Treasure Planet' (2002)

One of many different adaptations of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel, Treasure Island, Treasure Planet had a lot to live up to, especially in terms of its complex twist villain, John Silver. The sci-fi cyborg rendition of the character is distinctly different from the swashbuckling version of old, with a greater focus placed upon his relationship with Jim Hawkins to the point of him regretting having to betray him for his ultimate goals.

Silver continues to be heralded as one of the absolute highlights of one of Disney's most underrated feature films, with his deeply layered and in-depth character portrayal making him one of the most interesting villains Disney has ever had. The twist, in fact, almost works on both ends, as while he initially acts as a traditional twist villain in his betrayal of Jim for his goal of the treasure, he eventually helps Jim during the finale.

4 Stinky Pete — 'Toy Story 2' (1999)

Over a decade before Lotso made a name as a great Toy Story twist villain, Toy Story 2's Stinky Pete laid the groundwork for what an exceptional Pixar twist villain should look like. Initially presenting himself as another joyous new character like Jessie and Bullseye, Pete begins to show his darker side after the painful reality of Woody leaving them becomes increasingly apparent. Fueled by the fear of having to return to the dark box or never be played with, Pete goes to drastic measures to stop Woody's escape and cement his future.

Pete is an interesting case compared to many other twist villains, who, from the very beginning, are hiding their more nefarious schemes. Instead, Pete truly does begin the film as a more kindhearted character without ulterior motives, only dipping into villainy after his hopes for the future are thoroughly dashed. Still, there is an allure of treachery to the character, as he hides the fact that he is able to leave his box from the other toys, shadowing his influence over those around him.

3 Lyle Tiberius Rourke — 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' (2001)

A symbol of colonialism and capitalistic gains, Lyle Tiberius Rourke from Atlantis: The Lost Empire stands as easily one of the most forgotten yet deeply underrated Disney villains of all time. His character starts as a shining symbol of bravery and reliability, leading his men through perils as a commendable leadership figure. However, as the characters delve deeper into the truths surrounding the city of Atlantis, Rourke begins to show his true colors as a ruthless mercenary set on stealing the Heart of Atlantis for financial gain.

Even after Rourke is revealed to be a villainous force, he never truly loses the charm and likability that made him such a commendable character in the first act. Instead, his priorities have simply shifted to a point of making what was once considered likable qualities into sickening detractors and highlighting his true despicable nature. His vicious nature in the mission even ends up turning his beloved allies against him, as he eventually reaches a point of aggressive insanity when his plans begin to fail.

2 Mr. Waternoose — 'Monsters, Inc.' (2001)

A twist villain is always more effective when there is already another foe to keep the audience occupied until the twist is revealed, a facet that makes Mr. Waternoose from Monsters, Inc. one of the most unexpected and impactful enemies in Pixar's lineup. Voiced by James Coburn, the crab monster CEO of Monsters, Inc. initially presents himself as a kind-hearted beacon for monsters to look up to, only to have his visions shadowed by fear of failure and potential growth, like many toxic CEOs of the real world.

While the problems that Waternoose attempted to solve were arguably well-intentioned, dealing with an increasing energy crisis in the Monsters world, his methodology and willingness to kidnap and torture thousands of children to save his company show the vile, disgusting truth of his character. Moreover, his willingness to completely cut out anyone in his company's success, even top employees who were considered the best in their field, showed a ruthlessness that made him truly dangerous.

1 Turbo — 'Wreck-It Ralph' (2012)

Turbo, also known as King Candy, continues to be heralded as the absolute best twist villain in Disney's catalog, the shining example that led to the popularity of the trend throughout the 2010s. On top of being a joy to watch on-screen with all his sadistic, gleeful energy, the character does a great job of hiding his villainous side and coming across as understandable, until his charade is truly revealed.

The Wreck-It Ralph villain has two distinct twists to his character, not just the twist of him being the primary villain, but also the shocking reveal of his identity as Turbo, the original game jumper who abandoned his game after being overshadowed by another. Alan Tudyk's vocal performance is the key that makes everything about the character so effective, with his mannerisms of both sweethearted silliness and sadistic evil joy making him an incredibly memorable villain.