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---
title: Reddit Debates the Best Villains of All Time
description: The internet is having a discussion about the best villains in pop culture, with Reddit trying to figure out the best baddies of all time
canonical: https://time.com/5061566/best-villains-reddit/
author: Ashley Hoffman
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article:published_time: 2017-12-15T00:14:53.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:43:53.907Z
og:title: The Internet Wants to Know: Who Is the Best Villain Ever?
og:description: Vader or Voldemort?
og:url: https://time.com/5061566/best-villains-reddit/
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twitter:title: The Internet Wants to Know: Who Is the Best Villain Ever?
twitter:description: Vader or Voldemort?
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# The Internet Wants to Know: Who Is the Best Villain Ever?

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> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=c74efb71-f0fa-4dcc-a7b0-527b05ecc2f4&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### The seven newsletters

| Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% |
| Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% |
| Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% |
| Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% |
| D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% |
| Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% |
| In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% |

Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience.

### Key data points

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Publishing since | 1923 | TIME |

### TIME Newsletters: key statements

*   Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read.
*   All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=c74efb71-f0fa-4dcc-a7b0-527b05ecc2f4&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).
*   The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=c74efb71-f0fa-4dcc-a7b0-527b05ecc2f4&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What newsletters does TIME publish?

TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.

#### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?

It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.

#### Are TIME's newsletters free?

Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes TIME's newsletters?

TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.

#### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?

Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/G108LyRO.m3u8" -->
## Video: History of Going to the Movies

[Watch (HLS stream): History of Going to the Movies](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/G108LyRO.m3u8) (1:59)

![History of Going to the Movies](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/G108LyRO/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2017-11-29. History of Going to the Movies_


by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Dec 15, 2017 12:14 AM UTC

by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Dec 15, 2017 12:14 AM UTC

_TIME’s new_ [_weekly roundup_](http://time.com/5050708/strangers-kindness-internet-reddit-terry-crews-tonka/) _brings you the best and most surprising things happening on Reddit._

People love to watch [villains](http://time.com/3988925/supercut-super-villains/) ruin things for heroes so much that many have devout fans. So which [beloved evildoers](http://time.com/2801704/maleficent-villains-wicked-witch-catwoman/) were the best and doing their worst this year? Or for that matter, ever? People on Reddit have been keeping busy sharing their thoughts on who’s so good at doing bad.

### **Villain with the best lines?**

One of the most popular [best villain line suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7irvth/what%5Fis%5Fyour%5Ffavorite%5Fvillain%5Fquote/) from _Goldfinger_ didn’t come from full-time quote-machine and part-time spy James Bond. It was his nemesis’s comeback. Bond’s question: “do you expect me to talk?” Goldfinger’s answer: “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.” Another redditor floated a comforting swatch of prose from Satan in Milton’s classic tome _Paradise Lost_ “The mind is it’s own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” Leave it to the devil himself.

![<i>Goldfinger</i>](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt421e99fb14ec620c/6988690cab6d77870c6a6c0d/50-bond-goldfinger-dubbed-24.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Goldfinger Everett

### **Which villain actually had a reason for being so villainous?** 

As for which villains had a motive you could believe, look no further than a “which villain actually had a point” [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7eg8l2/which%5Fvillain%5Factually%5Fhad%5Fa%5Fpoint/), where users namechecked Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) from _Ocean’s Eleven_, Hades from Disney’s _Hercules_ (James Woods), and The Joker (Heath Ledger) from _The Dark Knight_.


![14_DarkKight_Ledger.jpg](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2e7dd8aa67ce3cf1/69876ff5cd1bba99dc6f44a5/movie-sequels-03.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

The Dark Knight In Christopher Nolan’s 2008 sequel to Batman Begins, Christian Bale returns as Batman, this time joined by Heath Ledger as the ultra-creepy villain known as The Joker. Warner Bros.

### **And the best video game villain?**

[MaximumGamer1](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7i7n9d/what%5Fis%5Fthe%5Fbest%5Fvillain%5Fin%5Fvideo%5Fgame%5Fhistory/) put forth the case for Majora who is out to destroy Termina in the game _The Legend of Zelda’s: Majora’s Mask_.

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4ec5748ec91f1389/69877c35f887dc0e56e89c70/zelda-majoras-mask.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Nintendo

**And Reddit’s favorite villain of all time?** 

Darth Vader and Voldemort were baddies that kicked off an [interesting discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7d2hv8/who%5Fis%5Fyour%5Fmost%5Ffavorite%5Fvillain%5Fof%5Fall%5Ftime/). Because even their dastardly henchmen are freaked out by their evil acts.


![Voldemort Death Eaters Harry Potter](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7b3a3e7ed621a0a6/69885d44a988caa0026b3b28/voldemort-death-eaters1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

(L-r) HELENA BONHAM CARTER as Bellatrix Lestrange and RALPH FIENNES as Lord Voldemort in Warner Bros. Pictures’ fantasy adventure “HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Warner Bros. Pictures

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