Disney animated movies are filled with fearless heroes, reliable sidekicks, and some of the coolest movie villains in the world of animation. These movies not only have unforgettable characters, but they all come with their very own Disney song, and it's the same when it comes to Disney villains.
A great song can come from one of the greatest Disney side characters, although nothing will be as chilling as a villain song that fits perfectly with the character's storyline. The world's most beloved animation studio brought to life more than a hundred villains over the past decades, who sang some of the greatest Disney songs of all time.
Updated November 13, 2022 by Via Erhard: Over many decades, Disney gave its fans some of the most iconic animated movie villains of all time. These Disney villains became so popular that they even overshadowed the heroes of the story. They also had some of the eeriest yet catchy Disney villain songs that became instant classics and are often one of the most beloved parts of these celebrated animated movies.
Thanks to these dark songs' complexity that evokes very specific emotions Disney lovers can enjoy their favorites decades later even as adults. While it's hard to rank the best villain songs of Disney there are a selected few spooky and stirring melodies that no Disney fans could ever forget.
12 Love Is An Open Door - Frozen
While Frozen's sweet 'Love is an Open Door' song might seem like a cheery love song on the surface it's actually Han's Disney villain song. The song is about true love, which was true on Anna's part. In reality, Hans was just using and manipulating the young girl only so he could be the king of Arendelle.
Hans is also the first handsome and charming Disney prince who turned out to be a villain and his iconic Disney villain song that was disguised as a love song became an instant classic. Frozen had many unique twists as well as one of the most iconic dresses in Disney movies. The story followed Anna and her friends' journey as they tried to find her sister, Elsa, who ran away because of her dangerous ice powers.
11 Shiny - Moana
'Shiny' is one of the most fun villain songs of Disney that was inspired by and a tribute to David Bowie. Tamatoa's catchy song tells the sad story of this flashy crab and how he became this materialistic and arrogant creature who only cares about his shiny shell.
While he was a tiny and ugly crab as a kid, Tamatoa became a powerful and shiny creature who attracts and consumes all shallow beings who dare to come close enough to him. Moana is one of the most imaginative and adventurous Disney animated movies of all time. Its story follows the brave Moana who sails across the ocean with a once-mighty demigod Maui to become a master Wayfinder.
10 Prince Ali Reprise - Aladdin
'Prince Ali Reprise' is Jafar's memorable and fun Disney villain song. While it's a short song it's also one of the most well-designed ones with great lyrics. The song was sung by the movie's main villain, Jafar, who was finally taking over the Agrabah and exposed Aladdin to Jasmine with the help of the evil Genie.
What makes this iconic Disney villain song even more special is that it's the evil version of Aladdin's hero song, 'Prince Alie', which was sung by Genie. Aladdin is a beloved classic Disney animated movie with one of the best vocal performances in animated movies of all time. The story follows a young boy Aladdin who accidentally finds a magical Genie lamp in a mysterious tomb and tries to use his three wishes to make Princess Jasmine fall in love with him.
9 Cruella De Vil - One Hundred And One Dalmatians
Cruella de Vil is no doubt Disney's most widely recognized and most devious Disney villain. Naturally, one of the best villain songs of Disney also has to do something with her iconic and wicked personality. The song is actually sung by Roger who tried to joke around but actually summed up Cruella's personality and motives pretty well.
This iconic Disney villainess from the '60s inspired many other villains and even got her own feature titled Cruella in which fans could get to know her backstory. One Hundred and One Dalmatians is one of the most beloved Disney animated movies of all time. The story follows the adventures of a litter of Dalmatian puppies who try to find their way back home after being kidnaped by Cruella de Vil.
8 In The Dark Of The Night - Anastasia
Anastasia's megalomaniac villain is one of the darkest evil wizards in movies and until the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney he was the most popular non-Disney animated villain. This diabolical villain wanted power so much that he would even kill the entire Romanov family.
While eventually, it turned out that he was unsuccessful at killing the eight-year-old girl, he remains one of the most ruthless villains in animated movie history. His most famous song perfectly shows just how menacing he is. And the chilling lyrics and tunes are accompanied by equally creepy visuals in the movie.
7 Friends On The Other Side - The Princess And The Frog
Dr. Facilier's spooky musical moment is not only one of the best songs in the movie, but it has one of the most quotable lines too. This cold sorcerer is capable of using powerful dark voodoo to achieve any goal he wants. He's also the one who turned Prince Naveen into a frog.
Dr. Facilier is able to see into the past and see others' true desires. Then he uses these unfulfilled dreams against them and forces his victims into shady deals. His most iconic song perfectly shows just how manipulative and persuasive he can be.
6 Mother Knows Best - Tangled
Gothel is one of the most calculating evil witches in movies who kept Rapunzel in the tower her whole life. She manipulated her and scared her every time she tried to leave the tower by telling her just how dangerous the outside world was.
While Gothel pretended to care about Rapunzel the truth was that she only cared about Rapunzel's healing powers. Mother Gothel was a vain evil villain who would have kept Rapunzel in that tower forever. Her song perfectly sums up just how manipulative and selfish she is.
5 Gaston - Beauty And The Beast
The fact that Gaston doesn't seem like a particularly scary character gives his real power. Gaston is an arrogant hunter in the story who always expects people to fall over him and becomes violent when Bell turns her down.
There are many variations of this character in movies with Beauty & The Beast trope, and even in Disney's animated version, Gaston proves to be an annoying and dangerous antagonist. His song is kind of funny but shows perfectly Gaston's holier-than-thou way of thinking and how the town's people and his sidekick, LeFou, enable him.
4 I Wan'na Be Like You - The Jungle Book
King Louie is easily the rowdiest Disney villain who can be both dangerous and silly at the same time. He's an arrogant orangutan who wants to become more human and increase his power by learning how to make fire.
King Louie kidnaps Mowgli and holds him hostage until he finally reveals the secret of the "Red Flower". His villain song is upbeat and seemingly fun, and it introduces this character as an untrustworthy and sly character. This song and Louie's two-faced character thought young viewers the important lesson that things and people are not always what they seem.
3 Hellfire - The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Judge Claude Frollo's iconic track is easily one of Disney's most adult villain songs. Frollo is also one of the most despicable characters who is a racist religious fanatic. He believes that Romani people are evil incarnates and dedicated his entire life to getting rid of them by all means necessary.
While Frollo loved to think of himself as the personification of morality and integrity he was just an evil and rotten man who pretended to be good. His lust for Esmeralda causes many internal conflicts in him and turns him into a raging lunatic who eventually burns down a whole city.
2 Poor Unfortunate Souls - The Little Mermaid
Ursula is Disney's most liked flamboyant villain who would surely be just as memorable in a terrifying live-action remake. She is a powerful sea witch who is filled with hatred toward both the human and the mermaid world. She uses her powers and impressive manipulative skills to make deals with others.
Her song is one of the most iconic Disney songs ever created and its deep, dark, and lovely tunes introduce the character perfectly. Ursula loves cheating and gets especially excited when the powerful mermaid king's daughter asks her for help.
1 Be Prepared - The Lion King
No other Disney villain made viewers cry so hard as Scar. The conniving lion wanted power so much that he killed his own brother and banished Simba from The Pride Lands. This iconic Disney character was also immortalized not only in movies but in classic Disney games too.
Scar's song is spooky and catchy at the same time, and it showed viewers the lengths he's willing to go to get what he wants. The scene also has one of the best visuals in the entire movie which made the song even more memorable and celebrated.