Famous Evil Animals in Movie & TV

Animals have always been an important part of storytelling, with their presence often adding to the tension and drama of a scene. Throughout the years, filmmakers and television creators have used animals to great effect, both as protagonists and as antagonists. In this article, we will focus on the latter and delve into the most famous evil animals in movies and television. 

1. Jaws (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Jaws is a classic example of how an animal can be used as a terrifying villain. The movie tells the story of a great white shark that terrorizes a small New England beach town, killing unsuspecting swimmers. The menacing music score, coupled with the brilliant cinematography, creates an ominous atmosphere that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The shark itself is never fully revealed until the end of the movie, which only adds to its mystique and terror. The movie is also notable for its realistic animatronic shark, which was groundbreaking for its time.

2. Cujo (1983)
Cujo is a 1983 horror movie based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. The movie tells the story of a Saint Bernard dog named Cujo, who becomes rabid and terrorizes a small town in Maine. The movie is notable for its intense and suspenseful scenes, which are amplified by the fact that the villain is a seemingly innocent and lovable dog. The movie was a commercial success and is considered a classic in the horror genre. It also helped establish Stephen King as a master of horror and solidified his place in popular culture.

3. The Birds (1963)
The Birds is a classic horror movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The movie tells the story of a small coastal town that is suddenly attacked by a flock of aggressive birds. The movie is notable for its use of suspense and tension, as the audience is kept on edge throughout the film. The birds themselves are the villains in the movie, and Hitchcock masterfully builds their menace throughout the film. The movie's iconic final shot, where hundreds of birds perch menacingly on a playground, is still one of the most chilling images in cinema.

4. King Kong (1933)
King Kong is a classic adventure movie that tells the story of a giant ape who is captured and brought to New York City. The movie is notable for its groundbreaking special effects, which still hold up to this day. The movie's final scene, where King Kong is shot down from the top of the Empire State Building, is one of the most iconic moments in cinema history. King Kong is also notable for its use of the "monster as metaphor" trope. The movie is often seen as a commentary on the dangers of colonialism and the exploitation of nature.

5. Jurassic Park (1993)
Jurassic Park is a science-fiction movie that tells the story of a theme park that is populated with genetically engineered dinosaurs. The movie is notable for its groundbreaking special effects and its suspenseful and thrilling storyline. The movie's main villain is the velociraptor, a fast and intelligent dinosaur that terrorizes the park's visitors. Jurassic Park was a commercial and critical success and is still regarded as one of the most innovative and thrilling movies of all time. The movie spawned several sequels, although none have quite matched the impact of the original.

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6. Anaconda (1997)
Anaconda is a horror movie that tells the story of a group of filmmakers who are captured by a giant anaconda in the Amazon rainforest. The movie is notable for its intense and thrilling scenes, as well as its impressive special effects that bring the snake to life. The anaconda itself is a terrifying villain, as it uses its size and strength to overpower its victims. The movie was a commercial success and spawned several slithering sequels.

7. Arachnophobia (1990)
Arachnophobia is a horror-comedy movie that tells the story of a small town that is suddenly overrun by deadly spiders. The movie is notable for its use of suspense and humor, as well as its impressive practical effects that bring the spiders to life. The spiders themselves are the villains in the movie, and their menacing presence is felt throughout the film. Arachnophobia was a commercial success and helped establish the horror-comedy genre as a popular subgenre of horror.

8. The Grey (2011)
The Grey is a survival-thriller movie that tells the story of a group of oil rig workers who are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness and hunted by a pack of wolves. The movie is notable for its intense and suspenseful scenes, as well as its stunning cinematography that captures the beauty and danger of the Alaskan wilderness. The wolves themselves are the villains in the movie, and their intelligence and ferocity are portrayed with chilling realism. The Grey was a critical and commercial success and helped establish Liam Neeson as an action star in the later part of his career.

9. Black Sheep (2006)
Black Sheep is a horror-comedy movie that tells the story of genetically engineered sheep that terrorize a New Zealand farm. The movie is notable for its over-the-top gore and humor, as well as its impressive practical effects that bring the sheep to life. The sheep themselves are the villains in the movie, and their absurdity and menace are played up for comedic effect. Black Sheep was a cult hit and helped establish the horror-comedy genre as a popular subgenre of horror.

10. The Revenant (2015)
The Revenant is a survival-thriller movie that tells the story of a frontiersman who is attacked by a grizzly bear and left for dead. The movie is notable for its stunning cinematography and intense and suspenseful scenes. The grizzly bear is the villain in the movie, and its sheer size and ferocity are portrayed with chilling realism. The Revenant was a critical and commercial success and earned Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award for Best Actor. In conclusion, animals have always been an important part of storytelling, and their presence can add to the tension and drama of a scene. Throughout the years, filmmakers and television creators have used animals to great effect, both as protagonists and as antagonists. In this article, we have focused on the latter and delved into the most famous evil animals in movies and television. From the giant shark in Jaws to the genetically engineered dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, these movies have used animals to terrify and thrill audiences. Whether it's the over-the-top gore and humor of Black Sheep or the stunning cinematography of The Revenant, these movies have shown that animals can be just as terrifying as any human villain. These movies have also helped establish certain subgenres of horror, such as the horror-comedy genre and the survival-thriller genre. They have influenced countless filmmakers and helped establish certain animals as iconic villains in popular culture. In the end, the use of animals as villains in movies and television shows us that nature can be just as terrifying as any human-made monster. It reminds us of the power and danger of the natural world and the importance of respecting and understanding it.  

11. The Rats (2002)
The Rats is a horror movie that tells the story of a breed of super-intelligent rats that escape from a laboratory and terrorize the residents of a New York City apartment building. The movie is notable for its creepy atmosphere and the use of real rats instead of CGI. The rats themselves are the villains in the movie, and their intelligence and ferocity are portrayed with chilling realism. The Rats was a made-for-TV movie, but it became a cult favorite among horror fans.

12. Lake Placid (1999)
Lake Placid is a horror-comedy movie that tells the story of a giant man-eating crocodile that terrorizes a small town in Maine. The movie is notable for its over-the-top humor and the impressive animatronics that bring the crocodile to life. The crocodile itself is the villain in the movie, and its massive size and insatiable appetite make it a formidable opponent. Lake Placid was a commercial success and spawned several sequels.

13. Eight-Legged Freaks (2002)
Eight-Legged Freaks is a horror-comedy movie that tells the story of a small town that is suddenly overrun by giant spiders that have been exposed to toxic waste. The movie is notable for its campy humor and the use of practical effects to create the giant spiders. The spiders themselves are the villains in the movie, and their massive size and creepy-crawly appearance make them terrifying to behold. Eight-Legged Freaks was a commercial success and helped establish the horror-comedy genre as a popular subgenre of horror.

14. The Killer Shrews (1959)
The Killer Shrews is a science-fiction horror movie that tells the story of a group of people stranded on an island that is overrun by giant shrews. The movie is notable for its low-budget effects and the use of dogs in shrew costumes to create the illusion of giant shrews. The shrews themselves are the villains in the movie, and their appearance is both comical and creepy. The Killer Shrews was a cult favorite and has since become a camp classic of the horror genre. The use of animals as villains in movies and television has a long and rich history in the horror genre. From the giant man-eating crocodile in Lake Placid to the super-intelligent rats in The Rats, these movies have used animals to terrify and thrill audiences. Whether it's the slow build-up of tension in The Birds or the campy humor of Eight-Legged Freaks, these movies have shown that animals can be just as terrifying as any human villain. These movies have also helped establish certain subgenres of horror, such as the horror-comedy genre and the science-fiction horror genre. They have influenced countless filmmakers and helped establish certain animals as iconic villains in popular culture. Ultimately, the use of animals as villains in movies and television is a testament to the power and danger of the natural world. It reminds us of our place in the food chain and the importance of respecting and understanding the animals we share this planet with. On a lighter note if you are a pet lover you should explore our collection of customized pet portraits that make wonderful gifts for any pet lover. And if you want something villainous in line with the theme of this article, then check our pet portraits that are based on villains.