History Main / OverarchingVillain

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': [[{{Jerkass}} Lucy van Pelt]] is the closest thing the strip had to an ongoing antagonist. She is a bossy and opinionated girl who [[TheBully bullies]] most other characters in the strip, particularly Linus and Charlie Brown.
[[/folder]]

* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: [[TheFairFolk Maleficent]], introduced as the BigBad of ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', is one of the most prominent villains for Disney media in general. She is a recurring villain in ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'', the DragonInChief to the Evil Queen in ''Theatre/{{Fantasmic}}'', the DragonInChief to Chernabog in ''Literature/TheKingdomKeepers'', the mother of ''Film/{{Descendants}}'' protagonist Mal (as well as the first film's BigBad), and a recurring BigBadWannabe in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' franchise.

* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'': The [[FairyDevilmother Fairy Godmother]] and her son [[PrinceCharmless Prince Charming]] are responsible for much of the series' conflict through their machinations to ensure the latter becomes the King of Far Far Away. They are retroactively the [[GreaterScopeVillain Greater-Scope Villains of the first film]], as the Fairy Godmother intended to have her son "rescue" Fiona fron the Dragon's Keep and marry her to [[MotherMakesYouKing put him on the throne]] and reign as queen mother. The film's actual BigBad, [[EvilOverlord Lord Farquaad]], was a SpannerInTheWorks for them. In the second film, the Fairy Godmother is the BigBad, with Charming as her [[TheDragon Dragon]]. In the third film, Charming [[DragonAscendant becomes]] the new BigBad, with the Fairy Godmother as a posthumous GreaterScopeVillain. Charming also made several appearances in spinoff games such as ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' and ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''

* ''WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost'': Kibosh is a recurring villain in modern media, appearing in ''Film/CasperASpiritedBeginning'', ''Casper's Haunted Christmas'', ''Casper: Friends Around the World'', and ''Casper: Spirit Dimensions'', and although he is less villainous in ''Casper's Scare School'' than in his earlier appearances, he still hates Casper and his uncles in the latter appearance.

* ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse and ''Franchise/DuckTales'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Flintheart Glomgold]], [[EvilSorcerer Magica de Spell]], and the Beagle Boys are all among the most prominent adversaries faced by Scrooge [=McDuck=], both in comics and animation.

* ''Franchise/MickeyMouse'':
** [[CatsAreMean Pete]] is one of the most prominent villains in the franchise, serving as the ArchEnemy to WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, and/or WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}, depending on the cartoon. DependingOnTheWriter, he can appear as the BigBad in some works, and TheDragon in others.
** [[DiabolicalMastermind The Phantom Blot]] is one of Mickey's most prominent and dangerous foes in the ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse. Less so in animation, where he's only appeared as a MonsterOfTheWeek in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'', appeared in one episode of ''Mickey Mouse Works'', two shorts and one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'', and one of the 2013 ''Mickey Mouse'' shorts.
* ''Franchise/{{Popeye}}''
** Bluto, despite only appearering in one storyline in the original comic strip, became by far the most recurring antagonist in the [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]] and Creator/FamousStudios cartoons, and has been a prominent villain ever since. He has appeared in multiple cartoons and comics, and was even the BigBad of the [[Film/{{Popeye}} 1980 live-action film]].
** The Sea Hag is an even earlier villain than Bluto, serving as the primary and most recurring antagonist in the original comics. She was absent from the [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]] and Creator/FamousStudios cartoons, but later became one of the primary antagonists of the 1960s Popeye television series. In ''The All-New Popeye Hour'', the Sea Hag was much less-frequent as an adversary than Bluto, but usually served as a more serious threat. She is the BigBad of ''Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy''.
* ''Film/Scarface1983'': Alejandro Sosa is the main antagonist of both the 1983 film and the BroadStrokes sequel ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours''.

* ''Franchise/TheSmurfs'': [[EvilSorcerer Gargamel]] is the most recurring villain in the franchise and the one who causes the Smurfs the most trouble.

* ''WebAnimation/CharlieTheUnicorn'' has [[FalseFriend Pink and Blue]]. Throughout the series, they would drag a [[DidntWantAnAdventure reluctant Charlie]] on adventures before subjecting him to some humiliating, traumatic pain. [[spoiler: Initially]], this entails stealing his kidney, his belongongs, and his horn, [[spoiler: but in Episode 4, their torments of Charlie escalate to blowing up the moon and leaving Charlie to die on it]].
* Every bad thing that happens in ''WebAnimation/LlamasWithHats'' is Carl's fault, intentionally or otherwise.

* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'':
** [[AxCrazy Fliqpy]], the SplitPersonality of [[ShellShockedVeteran Flippy]], is a SpreeKiller whose ''modus operandi'' is brutally murdering whoever happens to be near him when he flips out. He has the second highest kill count in the series, beaten only by [[LethallyStupid Lumpy]]. However, no other character in the series intentionally murders other characters as much as Fliqpy does.
** [[SiblingsInCrime Lifty and Shifty]] are among the most antagonistic characters in the series. Most of their roles consist of them tormenting other characters, typically by stealing their property. While most Tree Friends (barring Fliqpy) will not kill another intentionally in many cases, these two do not have any qualms about harming others or each other to reach their ulterior goal. This includes straight-up murder.
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad is the most prominent villain in the franchise, pulling pranks on the other characters, and being a BigBrotherBully to Strong Sad.

* ''WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses'' doesn't really have a plot, but the closest thing to a BigBad is [[VillainProtagonist the main character, the titular Ask That Guy]]. He and the Narrator are the ''only'' characters in most episodes.

* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'': Creator/MNightShyamalan becomes a recurring villain for the series post-uncancellation. He starts off as a [[BigBad genuine threat]] in ''The Last Airbender'' and [[spoiler:''Devil'']] reviews, but [[VillainDecay later grows harmless]] in subsequent appearances.

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad is the closest thing the franchise has to a main villain. Although he is often ineffective as a villain, he still acts as if he is a villainous mastermind, pulls pranks on the other characters, and is a BigBrotherBully to Strong Sad.

** [[AgentProvocateur Count Dooku]], the leader of the Separatist Alliance, for the Clone Wars Era. He is one of the most consistent threats faced by the heroes, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]]

** Marchion Ro for the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' sub-franchise. He quickly cemented himself as the greatest active threat to the Galaxy, after having [[Literature/StarWarsLightoftheJedi secretly orchestrated the Great Disaster, murdered his father's supposed killer, manipulated the Nihil into declaring them their overall leader following the death of one of their own]], allied himself with the series' other major villains, [[BotanicalAbomination the Drengir]], [[Literature/StarWarsTheRisingStorm publicly attacked the High Republic on Valo and sucessfully unleashed]] [[EldritchAbomination the Great Leveller]] on the Jedi.

** [[BreakoutCharacter Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], and ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.

** ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' sub-franchise has Marchion Ro, who quickly cemented himself as the greatest active threat to the Galaxy, after having [[Literature/StarWarsLightoftheJedi secretly orchestrated the Great Disaster, murdered his father's supposed killer, manipulated the Nihil into declaring them their overall leader following the death of one of their own]], allied himself with the series' other major villains, [[BotanicalAbomination the Drengir]], [[Literature/StarWarsTheRisingStorm publicly attacked the High Republic on Valo and sucessfully unleashed]] [[EldritchAbomination the Great Leveller]] on the Jedi.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Palpatine / Darth Sidious serves as the overall villain for the [[spoiler: Skywalker Saga]] period in the franchise's history, from his rise to power in the years leading up to the Clone Wars to [[spoiler: to his final defeat during the Battle of Exogol]]. However, since Palpatine spends most most of the franchise as either TheManBehindTheMan or an OrcusOnHisThrone, several of his pawns, such as Dooku, Tarkin, and Vader, serve as smaller-scale [[OverarchingVillain Overarching Villains]] for different eras of ''Star Wars'' history.
** Darth Vader is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and he becomes the BigBad of Season 2 following the Grand Inquisitor's defeat in the Season 1 finale. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].
** The Clone Wars Era has Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatist Alliance. He is one of the most prominent threats faced by the heroes, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]].
** The pre-Battle of Yavin Imperial Era has [[AntagonisticGovernor Grand Moff Tarkin]], who serves as one of the main antagonists in the chronological timespan between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope:''. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'', [[spoiler: he has Crosshair's inhibitor chip amplified to ensure his total compliance, and has the rest of Clone Force 99 branded as traitors when they refuse to harm civilians]]. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', Almost all of the Imperial forces, from the Grand Inquisitor to Thrawn, ultimately answer to Tarkin. Tarkin himself, however, only gets actively involved in the last few episodes of the first season, and is perfectly willing to leave the actual fighting of the rebels to Vader and Thrawn for the remainder of the series. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Tarkin is more of a GreaterScopeVillain than a BigBad, though he does seize control of the Death Star from [[SmallNameBigEgo Krennic]], [[spoiler:and he uses the Death Star to blow up Scarif, along with Cassian, Jyn, and Krennic]]. In ''Film/ANewHope'', Tarkin is the outright BigBad, as he holds supreme authority over the Death Star and gives orders to [[DragonInChief Darth Vader]] and poses the biggest threat to the Rebels as a result of being in command.
** Darth Maul, later just Maul, is another major recurring villain from roughly 32 BBY to [[spoiler: his death in]] 2 BBY. He was TheDragon to Darth Sidious in ''ComicBook/DarthMaul'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Following his apparent demise, Sidious replaced him with Count Dooku, and following Maul's reemergence during the Clone Wars, Maul becomes a [[BigBadEnsemble separate antagonist]] from Sidious and his supporters. Maul serves as a major antagonist in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' once he returns "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E21Brothers Brothers]]", with his quest for revenge on Obi-Wan, evolution into a crime lord, and conquest of Mandalore throughout late Season 4 and Season 5 providing major elements of the series' MythArc. He is the VillainProtagonist of ''ComicBook/DarthMaulSonOfDathomir'', and returns as the de facto main antagonist of season 7 of ''The Clone Wars'', being the GreaterScopeVillain to the Pyke Syndicate and the target of the alliance between Ahsoka and Bo-Katan. [[spoiler: He is the GreaterScopeVillain of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', as the crime boss that Dryden Vos — and later, Qi'ra — answers to.]] In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', his agenda to corrupt Ezra into his apprentice makes him a personal enemy for the ''Ghost'' crew, independent of the Empire. In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E19TwilightOfTheApprentice Twilight of]] [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E20TwilightOfTheApprenticePartII the Apprentice]] he attempts to take control of the Sith temple on Malachor, planning to turn it into a weapon against the Emperor while Ahsoka confronts Vader. Throughout the third season he forces Ezra to help him find the location of his old nemesis Obi-Wan Kenobi, [[spoiler: before dying the episode before the two-part season finale.]]
** Boba Fett is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], and ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and he becomes the BigBad of Season 2 following the Grand Inquisitor's defeat in the Season 1 finale. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].
** The Clone Wars Era has [[Characters/StarWarsCountDooku Count Dooku]], the leader of the Separatist Alliance. He is one of the most prominent threats faced by the heroes, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]].

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthMaul Darth Maul]], later just Maul, is another major recurring villain from roughly 32 BBY to [[spoiler: his death in]] 2 BBY. He was TheDragon to Darth Sidious in ''ComicBook/DarthMaul'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Following his apparent demise, Sidious replaced him with Count Dooku, and following Maul's reemergence during the Clone Wars, Maul becomes a [[BigBadEnsemble separate antagonist]] from Sidious and his supporters. Maul serves as a major antagonist in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' once he returns "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E21Brothers Brothers]]", with his quest for revenge on Obi-Wan, evolution into a crime lord, and conquest of Mandalore throughout late Season 4 and Season 5 providing major elements of the series' MythArc. He is the VillainProtagonist of ''ComicBook/DarthMaulSonOfDathomir'', and returns as the de facto main antagonist of season 7 of ''The Clone Wars'', being the GreaterScopeVillain to the Pyke Syndicate and the target of the alliance between Ahsoka and Bo-Katan. [[spoiler: He is the GreaterScopeVillain of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', as the crime boss that Dryden Vos — and later, Qi'ra — answers to.]] In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', his agenda to corrupt Ezra into his apprentice makes him a personal enemy for the ''Ghost'' crew, independent of the Empire. In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E19TwilightOfTheApprentice Twilight of]] [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E20TwilightOfTheApprenticePartII the Apprentice]] he attempts to take control of the Sith temple on Malachor, planning to turn it into a weapon against the Emperor while Ahsoka confronts Vader. Throughout the third season he forces Ezra to help him find the location of his old nemesis Obi-Wan Kenobi, [[spoiler: before dying the episode before the two-part season finale.]]
** [[Characters/StarWarsBobaFett Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], and ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]''. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and he becomes the BigBad of Season 2 following the Grand Inquisitor's defeat in the Season 1 finale. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]''. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and the direct BigBad of Season 2. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Palpatine / Darth Sidious serves as the overall villain for the [[spoiler: Skywalker Saga]] period in the franchise's history, from his rise to power in the years leading up to the Clone Wars to [[spoiler: to his final defeat during the Battle of Exogol]]. However, since Palpatine spends most most of the franchise as either TheManBehindTheMan or an OrcusOnHisThrone, several of his pawns, such as Dooku, Tarkin, and Vader (see Live-Action Films for Vader), serve as smaller-scale [[OverarchingVillain Overarching Villains]] for different eras of ''Star Wars'' history.

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''The Clone Wars'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]''. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''Rebels'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and the direct BigBad of Season 2. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''The Clone Wars'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]''. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''Rebels'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and the direct BigBad of Season 2. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior to the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].

** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthVaderAndServants Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy and ''The Clone Wars'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]''. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''Rebels'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and the direct BigBad of Season 2. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior to the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].

** The Clone Wars Era has [[IconOfRebellion Count Dooku]], the leader of the Separatist Alliance. He is one of the most prominent threats faced by the heroes, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]].
** The pre-Battle of Yavin Imperial Era has [[AntagonisticGovernor Grand Moff Tarkin]], who serves as the main antagonist in the chronological timespan between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope:''. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'', [[spoiler: he has Crosshair's inhibitor chip amplified to ensure his total compliance, and has the rest of Clone Force 99 branded as traitors when they refuse to harm civilians]]. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', Almost all of the Imperial forces, from the Grand Inquisitor to Thrawn, ultimately answer to Tarkin. Tarkin himself, however, only gets actively involved in the last few episodes of the first season, and is perfectly willing to leave the actual fighting of the rebels to Vader and Thrawn for the remainder of the series. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Tarkin is more of a GreaterScopeVillain than a BigBad, though he does seize control of the Death Star from [[SmallNameBigEgo Krennic]], [[spoiler:and he uses the Death Star to blow up Scarif, along with Cassian, Jyn, and Krennic]]. In ''Film/ANewHope'', Tarkin is the outright BigBad, as he holds supreme authority over the Death Star and gives orders to [[DragonInChief Darth Vader]] and poses the biggest threat to the Rebels as a result of being in command.

** [[Characters/StarWarsBobaFett Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], with ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.

** ''The Old Republic'' sub-franchise has the [[EvilOverlord Sith Emperor Vitiate]]. He manipulated the Mandalorians into declaring war against the Galactic Republic, triggering the Mandalorian Wars, which the ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic KOTOR]]'' comics are set during. Vitiate was also responsible for Revan and Malak's fall to the Dark Side, and thus the events of the ''KOTOR'' games. The Sith Emperor serves as the BigBad in ''Literature/{{Revan}}'', and is the main antagonist of the overarching plot of the MMORPG ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''.

[[folder:Multiple Media]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* ''Wrestling/{{WWE}}'': Wrestling/VinceMcMahon is one of the most prominent [[BigBad Big Bads]] of the franchise. Since he's the owner of the company, he's arguably responsible (directly or indirectly) for everything that has happened in WWE since he took over the company in 1982. Although he serves as the BigGood on the occasions that he is a Face, he plays the BigBad a lot more often, and sometimes his face turn is just part of his EvilPlan and he's EvilAllAlong (such as him being the Higher Power to the Ministry of Darkness).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* ''Wrestling/{{WWE}}'': Wrestling/VinceMcMahon is one of the most prominent [[BigBad Big Bads]] of the franchise. Since he's the owner of the company, he's arguably responsible (directly or indirectly) for everything that has happened in WWE since he took over the company in 1982. Although he serves as the BigGood on the occasions that he is a Face, he plays the BigBad a lot more often, and sometimes his face turn is just part of his EvilPlan and he's EvilAllAlong (such as him being the Higher Power to the Ministry of Darkness).

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/OldHarrysGame'':
** Almost every episode in the early seasons has {{Satan}} attempting to break the Professor in some way. However, after [[spoiler:Satan convinced God to allow the Professor to [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence go to Heaven]]]], he became the NominalHero more often than not.
** Downplayed with Thomas Crimp. He's as evil as can be, and plays an important role in every episode. However, [[VillainOfAnotherStory since he's already dead and in Hell by the time of the series, he's really just a punching bag who never gets the chance to do anything truly evil, not counting the myriad of crimes he committed before we first see him]].
* ''Radio/TheShadow'' has Shiwan Khan, who, out of the many villains the Shadow faced, has appeared the most in his other appearances, including in his 1994 movie.

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''Franchise/{{Warhammer}}'': The [[EldritchAbomination Chaos Gods]] Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle and Slaanesh are the [[GreaterScopeVillain Greater-Scope Villains]] for both ''TableTopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. They rarely pay any attention to mortal affairs, spending the vast majority of their time [[EnemyCivilWar fighting each other]] but the powers that are available to mortals because of their very existence (and the [[TheCorruption corruption]] and [[PowerBornOfMadness madness]] that results from them) are the cause of multiple evil factions in both settings.

* OverarchingVillain/MultipleMedia

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad is the most prominent villain in the franchise. Although he is often ineffective as a villain, he is still occasionally referred to as an antagonist, due to the pranks that he, Strong Mad, and The Cheat play on the other characters, and his [[BigBrotherBully abusive treatment]] of Strong Sad.

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad is the most prominent villain in the franchise. Although he became less effective as a villain as time went on, he is still occasionally referred to as an antagonist, due to the pranks that he, Strong Mad, and The Cheat play on the other characters, and his [[BigBrotherBully abusive treatment]] of Strong Sad.

[[folder:Multiple Media]]
* The [[MegaCorp Weyland-Yutani Corporation]] is the collective non-Xenomorph antagonistic group of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise. They are connected to many of the conflicts and tragedies in the franchise. Antagonists such as [[Film/{{Alien}} Ash]], [[Film/{{Aliens}} Carter Burke]], Karl Bishop Weyland, and [[VideoGame/AlienIsolation APOLLO]] are all affiliated with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' has [[BigBad Makuta Teridax]], whose role in [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu forcing the Great Spirit Mata Nui into a deep sleep]] drives the main arc of waking the Great Spirit up/saving him from dying. Even when he's not confronting the heroes directly he acts as the GreaterScopeVillain as his minions, {{Unwitting Pawn}}s, or co-conspirators in the [[BrotherhoodOfEvil Brotherhood of Makuta]] do his dirty work. The only two times he wasn't the ManBehindTheMan to the {{Arc Villain}}s were in the Mahri Nui arc, where they were actually old enemies he thought to be long-dead and was [[EnemyMine working with the heroes to stop them]], and in the Bara Magna arc, [[spoiler:as he [[TheBadGuyWins had already won]] and Mata Nui was on a different planet solving the problems of the locals in an attempt to find a method of fighting back against him]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost'': Kibosh is a recurring villain in modern media, appearing in ''Film/CasperASpiritedBeginning'', ''Casper's Haunted Christmas'', ''Casper: Friends Around the World'', and ''Casper: Spirit Dimensions'', and although he is less villainous in ''Casper's Scare School'' than in his earlier appearances, he still hates Casper and his uncles in the latter appearance.
* ''Franchise/TheDarkCrystal'' has [[EvilChancellor skekSil the Chamberlain]], who is TheHeavy of both ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'' and [[Film/TheDarkCrystal the 1982 film]], despite the position of BigBad being held by [=skekSo=] in ''Age of Resistance'', and [=skekUng=] in the film. In ''Age of Resistance'', his scheming drives a lot of the plot, and he''s also revealed to be the one who first gave the Scientist the idea to use the Crystal of Truth to drain Gelflings of their essence and use it to give the Skeksis immortality, and is shown to be the one who came up with the idea for the creation of the Garthim, making him retroactively responsible for the Gelflings' near extinction. In the 1982 film, skekSil's actions towards Jen and Kira make him more of a personal and proactive antagonist than [=skekUng=] since he's not confined in the castle.
* ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse and ''Franchise/DuckTales'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Flintheart Glomgold]], [[EvilSorcerer Magica de Spell]], and the Beagle Boys are all among the most prominent adversaries faced by Scrooge [=McDuck=], both in comics and animation.
* ''Franchise/EvilDead'':
** The Evil Force that brings about the Deadites, possesses people and trees and even Ash's severed hand, is the main antagonist of the series. In the third movie it incarnates itself as an undead clone of Ash. In the second film, it is forced to manifest a physical form and becomes a huge head that uses the trees as arms.
** Ruby Knowby is revealed at the end of Season 1 in ''Series/AshVsEvilDead'' to be a Dark One and the author of the ''Necronomicon'', retroactively making her the GreaterScopeVillain during the previous movies. In season 2 the past version of Ruby teams up with Baal to overrun the world with demons, even [[spoiler: killing her present self after the latter's Heel–Face Turn.]] In season 3 the same version of Ruby resurfaces to again enact her nefarious schemes, this time forming an alliance with Kaya, a treacherous member of the Knights of Sumeria.
* ''Franchise/GIJoe'' has the Cobra Commander, who serves as the BigBad, or at least a major villain, in most iterations of the series.
* ''Franchise/JurassicPark'''s ''Jurassic World'' sub-franchise has [[EvilutionaryBiologist Doctor Henry Wu]]. While [[SmugSnake Vic Hoskins]] and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Eli Mills]] are the main human antagonists of ''Film/JurassicWorld'' and ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'', respectively, their plans would never have gotten off the ground without Wu’s work behind the scenes in each film. The ''Indominus rex'' and the ''Indoraptor'' are also his creations as part of his ongoing agenda. [[spoiler: He conspires with Vic Hoskins to make the ''Indominus rex'' an unstoppable killing machine, whose rampage causes the 2015 Isla Nublar incident. Said incident formed the main conflict of the first ''Jurassic World'' film and triggered the main conflict of ''WesternAnimation/JurassicWorldCampCretaceous'', as it led to the campers being stranded on Isla Nublar after they were left behind during the evacuation.]] [[spoiler: Dr. Wu would personally serve as the ArcVillain of the last couple of episodes of Season 3 in ''Camp Cretaceous''.]] He is set to return in ''Jurassic World: Dominion''.
** ''Camp Cretaceous'' also has Mantah Corp, a rival company to Masrani Global, in this role. [[GreaterScopeVillain They mostly appear in the background]], being the ones that told Sammy Gutierrez to spy on Masrani Global and sent drones on the island. They take center stage in Season 4, though, where it's revealed that their leader is [[spoiler: Daniel Kon, who is the father of Kenji, another one of the campers.]]
* ''Franchise/TheKarateKid'':
** [[SenseiForScoundrels John Kreese]], under whom the Cobra Kai dojo becomes a band of bullies. He is the BigBad of ''Film/TheKarateKid1984'', as the leader of the Cobra Kai dojo, with his student [[JerkJock Johnny Lawrence]] serving as the film's [[TheHeavy Heavy]]. He is the StarterVillain of ''Film/TheKarateKidPartII''. In ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII'', Kreese is part of a BigBadDuumvirate with his friend, Terry Silver. In ''Series/CobraKai'', Kreese is the GreaterScopeVillain of Season 1, since Johnny unwittingly channels Kreese's teachings when he accidentally corrupts his own students into the same type of bullies he used to be. In Season 2 of ''Cobra Kai'', Kreese returns as the BigBad, where he's responsible for encouraging the aggression of the Cobra Kai kids, primarily Hawk and Tory, leading to a school brawl that allows him to seize control of the dojo from Johnny. [[spoiler: He further corrupts Robby into joining Cobra Kai and convinces Terry Silver to fall back into his old habits, although this comes back to bite him at the end of Season 4, when Silver gets him arrested to take control himself.]]
** [[ManipulativeBastard Terry Silver]], John Kreese's war buddy, also counts. He was the one who gave his old war buddy Kreese the resources to open up Cobra Kai in the first place, making him the unseen GreaterScopeVillain of the first film, before stepping up as the main antagonist of the third film, [[ToxicFriendInfluence convincing Kreese to continue his vendetta against Miyagi and Daniel]] (had it not been for Silver, Kreese would have completely given up Cobra Kai for good) with ambitions to further expand Cobra Kai into a chain of [[ThugDojo Thug Dojos]]. His misconduct during the 1985 All-Valley Tournament results in Cobra Kai receiving a lifetime ban from the All-Valley Tournament, which becomes a plot point in Season 1 of ''Series/CobraKai'' as Johnny Lawrence, now the sensei of a new Cobra Kai, wishes to enter Cobra Kai into the 2018 Tournament, and has to make an appeal to get the ban overturned before they can participate. Silver's backstory is explored through Season 3's flashbacks, and he reappears in Season 4 as part of a BigBadDuumvirate with Kreese [[spoiler: until Silver completely usurps control of the dojo in the season finale.]]
* ''Franchise/MickeyMouse'':
** [[CatsAreMean Pete]] is one of the most prominent villains in the franchise, serving as the ArchEnemy to WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, and/or WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}, depending on the cartoon. DependingOnTheWriter, he can appear as the BigBad in some works, and TheDragon in others.
** [[DiabolicalMastermind The Phantom Blot]] is one of Mickey's most prominent and dangerous foes in the ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse. Less so in animation, where he's only appeared as a MonsterOfTheWeek in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'', appeared in one episode of ''Mickey Mouse Works'', two shorts and one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'', and one of the 2013 ''Mickey Mouse'' shorts.
* ''Franchise/{{Popeye}}''
** Bluto, despite only appearering in one storyline in the original comic strip, became by far the most recurring antagonist in the [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]] and Creator/FamousStudios cartoons, and has been a prominent villain ever since. He has appeared in multiple cartoons and comics, and was even the BigBad of the [[Film/{{Popeye}} 1980 live-action film]].
** The Sea Hag is an even earlier villain than Bluto, serving as the primary and most recurring antagonist in the original comics. She was absent from the [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]] and Creator/FamousStudios cartoons, but later became one of the primary antagonists of the 1960s Popeye television series. In ''The All-New Popeye Hour'', the Sea Hag was much less-frequent as an adversary than Bluto, but usually served as a more serious threat. She is the BigBad of ''Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy''.
* ''Film/Scarface1983'': Alejandro Sosa is the main antagonist of both the 1983 film and the BroadStrokes sequel ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours''.
* ''ComicBook/SinCity'':
** [[CorruptPolitician Senator Roark]]'s obsession with securing power and crafting a legacy have led him to do much damage to Sin City, such as covering up Junior's tracks in ''That Yellow Bastard'', and refusing to acknowledge his illegitimate son, Johnny, make him a very personal foe to many characters. He serves as the BigBad in ''The Long Bad Night'' and ''Nancy's Last Dance''.
** [[TheDon Herr Wallenquist]] also counts. He has had a hand in many of the story arcs. He was Maxwell Lord's main business partner in ''A Dame To Kill For'', sent Manute to retrieve Jackie Boy's head and take over Old Town in ''Big Fat Kill'', and was the Colonel's boss in ''Hell and Back'', just to name a few.
* ''Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos'': [[HumanoidAbomination The Slender Man]] himself, also known as the Operator or the Administrator, is the central villain of the franchise. In ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'', the Operator is the prime antagonist of the series, although [[spoiler:Alex]] is often treated as [[TheHeavy the greater immediate threat]]. In ''WebVideo/EverymanHYBRID'', the Slender Man is part of a BigBadEnsemble with HABIT, although the former treats the latter like a [[BigBadWannabe minor annoyance]]. In ''WebVideo/TribeTwelve'', the Administrator is at the root of the Asher-Maxwell conflict of the series. The Slender Man is also the BigBad of the video games ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}'' and ''VideoGame/SlenderTheArrival''.
* ''Franchise/TheSmurfs'': [[EvilSorcerer Gargamel]] is the most recurring villain in the franchise and the one who causes the Smurfs the most trouble.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Palpatine / Darth Sidious serves as the overall villain for the [[spoiler: Skywalker Saga]] period in the franchise's history, from his rise to power in the years leading up to the Clone Wars to [[spoiler: to his final defeat during the Battle of Exogol]]. However, since Palpatine spends most most of the franchise as either TheManBehindTheMan or an OrcusOnHisThrone, several of his pawns, such as Dooku, Tarkin, and Vader (see Live-Action Films for Vader), serve as smaller-scale [[OverarchingVillain Overarching Villains]] for different eras of ''Star Wars'' history.
** The Clone Wars Era has [[IconOfRebellion Count Dooku]], the leader of the Separatist Alliance. He is one of the most prominent threats faced by the heroes, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]].
** The pre-Battle of Yavin Imperial Era has [[AntagonisticGovernor Grand Moff Tarkin]], who serves as the main antagonist in the chronological timespan between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope:''. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'', [[spoiler: he has Crosshair's inhibitor chip amplified to ensure his total compliance, and has the rest of Clone Force 99 branded as traitors when they refuse to harm civilians]]. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', Almost all of the Imperial forces, from the Grand Inquisitor to Thrawn, ultimately answer to Tarkin. Tarkin himself, however, only gets actively involved in the last few episodes of the first season, and is perfectly willing to leave the actual fighting of the rebels to Vader and Thrawn for the remainder of the series. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Tarkin is more of a GreaterScopeVillain than a BigBad, though he does seize control of the Death Star from [[SmallNameBigEgo Krennic]], [[spoiler:and he uses the Death Star to blow up Scarif, along with Cassian, Jyn, and Krennic]]. In ''Film/ANewHope'', Tarkin is the outright BigBad, as he holds supreme authority over the Death Star and gives orders to [[DragonInChief Darth Vader]] and poses the biggest threat to the Rebels as a result of being in command.
** [[Characters/StarWarsDarthMaul Darth Maul]], later just Maul, is another major recurring villain from roughly 32 BBY to [[spoiler: his death in]] 2 BBY. He was TheDragon to Darth Sidious in ''ComicBook/DarthMaul'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Following his apparent demise, Sidious replaced him with Count Dooku, and following Maul's reemergence during the Clone Wars, Maul becomes a [[BigBadEnsemble separate antagonist]] from Sidious and his supporters. Maul serves as a major antagonist in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' once he returns "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E21Brothers Brothers]]", with his quest for revenge on Obi-Wan, evolution into a crime lord, and conquest of Mandalore throughout late Season 4 and Season 5 providing major elements of the series' MythArc. He is the VillainProtagonist of ''ComicBook/DarthMaulSonOfDathomir'', and returns as the de facto main antagonist of season 7 of ''The Clone Wars'', being the GreaterScopeVillain to the Pyke Syndicate and the target of the alliance between Ahsoka and Bo-Katan. [[spoiler: He is the GreaterScopeVillain of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', as the crime boss that Dryden Vos — and later, Qi'ra — answers to.]] In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', his agenda to corrupt Ezra into his apprentice makes him a personal enemy for the ''Ghost'' crew, independent of the Empire. In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E19TwilightOfTheApprentice Twilight of]] [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E20TwilightOfTheApprenticePartII the Apprentice]] he attempts to take control of the Sith temple on Malachor, planning to turn it into a weapon against the Emperor while Ahsoka confronts Vader. Throughout the third season he forces Ezra to help him find the location of his old nemesis Obi-Wan Kenobi, [[spoiler: before dying the episode before the two-part season finale.]]
** [[Characters/StarWarsBobaFett Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], with ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.
** ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' sub-franchise has Marchion Ro, who quickly cemented himself as the greatest active threat to the Galaxy, after having [[Literature/StarWarsLightoftheJedi secretly orchestrated the Great Disaster, murdered his father's supposed killer, manipulated the Nihil into declaring them their overall leader following the death of one of their own]], allied himself with the series' other major villains, [[BotanicalAbomination the Drengir]], [[Literature/StarWarsTheRisingStorm publicly attacked the High Republic on Valo and sucessfully unleashed]] [[EldritchAbomination the Great Leveller]] on the Jedi.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' had the Dark Side -- which is more of an abstract cosmic force that can't be dealt with directly -- and the Sith, the ArchEnemy of the Jedi and the BigBad of almost every major conflict over a 5000-year period of galactic history, building evil empires and instigating wars directly and indirectly. There have been various iterations of the Sith Order and they fight themselves as much as the Jedi, but they operate as part of the same overarching tradition and are considered such a threat that simply being a Sith is considered grounds for arrest and possible summary ''execution'' if resistance is met.
** ''The Old Republic'' sub-franchise has the [[EvilOverlord Sith Emperor Vitiate]]. He manipulated the Mandalorians into declaring war against the Galactic Republic, triggering the Mandalorian Wars, which the ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic KOTOR]]'' comics are set during. Vitiate was also responsible for Revan and Malak's fall to the Dark Side, and thus the events of the ''KOTOR'' games. The Sith Emperor serves as the BigBad in ''Literature/{{Revan}}'', and is the main antagonist of the overarching plot of the MMORPG ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''.
** [[DarthVaderClone Lumiya]], the self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith, is one of the most prominent villains in post-''Return of the Jedi'' Legends material. Introduced in the [[ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977 Marvel series]] as TheMole for Darth Vader, after the events of ''Return of the Jedi'', she becomes one of the [[BigBad Big Bads]] for the remainder of Marvel series. She was also retconned into being TheManBehindTheMan to [[ComicBook/StarWarsCrimsonEmpire Carnor Jax]]. It is also retroactively revealed that she was engineering Jacen's turn to the Dark Side during the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' series, via the actions of her ally Vergere. She returns as the BigBad for the first half of ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce'', where she [[ManipulativeBastard manipulates]] Jacen into falling to the Dark Side and turn him against Luke, eventually leading to the death of Mara Jade as Jacen's hands. Despite being killed by Luke halfway through the book series, she becomes a posthumous GreaterScopeVillain for the second half of the series, through the actions of [[DragonAscendant Jacen]], now known as [[BigBad Darth Caedus]]. She remains a posthumous antagonist in ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi'', as the GFFA begin to crack down on the Jedi as a result of Caedus' actions, and by extension, Lumiya's machinations.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' has the Shredder, leader of the Foot Clan. Ironically starting off as the StarterVillain and [[MonsterOfTheWeek villain of the week]], the Shredder has become the most traditional antagonist of the franchise, and is usually expected to be the BigBad whenever he appears.
* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' has Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons and the ArchEnemy of Optimus Prime, since his first appearance he has been the most traditional and most recurring BigBad of the franchise, even if loses his status as leader, he always takes back the position.
[[/folder]]

* The [[MegaCorp Weyland-Yutani Corporation]] is the collective non-Xenomorph antagonist of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise. They are connected to many of the conflicts and tragedies in the franchise. Antagonists such as [[Film/{{Alien}} Ash]], [[Film/{{Aliens}} Carter Burke]], Karl Bishop Weyland, and [[VideoGame/AlienIsolation APOLLO]] are all affiliated with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.