Top 20 most hated characters in movies and shows

You just can't stop hating certain characters in films and on television. Their evil schemes, annoying behavior, or morally reprehensible acts simply elicit strong anger and frustration. They could be scheming antagonists or self-centered protagonists, but these characters often leave a lasting impression on audiences. Here is our list of top 20 most hated screen characters. Each one of them is reprehensible in their own way, inciting viewers into hoping that they fall.

1) Joffrey Baratheon – Game of Thrones

Joffrey Baratheon is the quintessential hateworthy character in Game of Thrones. As a sadistic and power-hungry king, Joffrey's cruelty toward everybody around him, especially Sansa Stark, and his privilege made him universally disliked. His impulsive nature, coupled with the fact that he hurt others for amusement, left the audience horrified and enraged. Portrayed by the Irish actor Jack Gleeson, Joffrey Baratheon was a tyrant, and his brutal death in the end was exactly what the fans had hoped for.

2) Jar Jar Binks – Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Jar Jar Binks is one of the most divisive characters in movie history. Originally designed to be comedic relief in The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar's awkward antics, poor grammar, and tendency to goof up tested audience patience. His character is deemed a racial stereotype, too. Though he was meant to add humor to the series, Jar Jar's repetitive antics only made him an object of derision. Considered a reviled characters in pop culture today, he was all but erased from future Star Wars films.

3) Skyler White – Breaking Bad

Skyler White was a loving mother but also one of the most polarizing characters in Breaking Bad. Fans were quick to criticize her for not resisting Walter's slide into crime. Rather, she willingly laundered his money. When Skyler, played by Anna Gunn, resisted, the reasons were more desperate than moral, in order to protect her family from the dark transformation Walter was undergoing.

4) Jenny Humphrey – Gossip Girl

Jenny Humphrey, "Queen of the Uppers" in Gossip Girl, is detested for her transformation from a sweet, innocent girl to a manipulative and power-hungry social climber. Early efforts of Jenny, played by Taylor Momsen, to get into the Upper East Side elite were still acceptable, but her subsequent betrayals of friends, particularly Blair Waldorf, marked her as a villain. Jenny's schemes and constant efforts to go one-up on Blair any which way turned her into one of the most reviled teen drama characters ever.

5) Ashur – Spartacus

Ashur, portrayed by Nick E. Tarabay, was a deceitful and cunning slave with hateful traits. His villainy became obvious when effortlessly betrayed Spartacus. Constantly looking for ways to become more powerful, Ashur's manipulative tendencies made him hateful, especially because he managed to lure many gladiators. His evil deeds and the selling out of even his closest relatives meant viewers never wanted him to succeed. Despite his relentless villainy, he knew enough tricks to survive, which made viewers keenly wait for his demise.

6) Paolo – Lost

Paolo is one of the most frustrating and unbearable characters in Lost. In many ways, his high-maintenance arrogance and pride overshadowed his importance, earning him quick disdain by the other survivors in the story as well as audiences. Paolo's betrayal, selfishness, and attempt to get ahead at the expense of other people made him possibly the least sympathetic character on the island. The death of Paolo, played by Rodrigo Santoro, was as inconsequential as his existence to many viewers, who felt he had it coming.

7) Seymour Skinner – The Simpsons

Principal Seymour Skinner's misguided authoritarian style and attempts to control students of Springfield Elementary in The Simpsons often drew the frustration and ire of viewers. He often indulged in petty power trips with characters such as Bart Simpson, who he would never cease trying to discipline. Although at times depicted as a nice fellow, Seymour Skinner, voiced by Harry Shearer on the iconic show, seemed obsessed with micromanaging things. His not being able to stand up to his dominating mother, Agnes, was another reason the fans found his hateworthy.

8) Dawn Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Dawn Summers is the younger sister of protagonist Buffy Summers and has been a constant source of frustration for most fans of the series. Whiny, self-absorbed in nature with a tendency to constantly rebel against her sister, Dawn has been an important part of the show in the later seasons. Fans used to Buffy's world suddenly have had to deal with Dawn's tantrums and constant need for attention. Portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg, Dawn's role as The Key, or the energy that can open gates between dimensions, was important. However, she became one of the most hated characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer thanks to her earlier seasons of selfishness.

9) Dolores Umbridge – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Acclaimed English actress Imelda Staunton played Dolores Umbridge, a character that seemed to outdo even some of the dark forces that Harry Potter fought. Her supercilious attitude, dominant trait, and total disregard for students' welfare, made her one of the most loathed characters in the wizard world. As Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and eventually headmistress of Hogwarts, her sadistic tendency to punish, especifically using a blood quill, made her an unfavorable character for fans.

10) Sharpay Evans – High School Musical

Sharpay Evans in High School Musical is the archetypal "mean girl". Her over-the-top diva behavior initially seemed comedic. However, with time, her unrelenting manipulation tactics, as well as tendency to undermine classmates, particularly Gabriella Montez, has made her the most reviled character on the show. Her obsession to be a star, along with traits such as jealousy and the desire to sabotage the efforts of others just for fame has alienated her from fans. Although there is a sort of redemption in High School Musical 3, Sharpay, played by Ashley Tisdale, continues to be an antagonist in the trilogy.

11) Carrie Bradshaw – Sex and the City

Carrie Bradshaw is a protagonist on the hit series, Sex and the City. Her wit and sense of fashion have made her popular but she is also hated by many for her selfishness and reluctance to help friends. Often erratic in behaviour and prone to prioritise men, particularly Mr Big, over close friends, Carrie is brilliantly portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Viewers dislike the fact that Carrie tends to judge everyone else. They also feel it is ungrateful of her to disregard the love and support she gets from people around her.

12) Piper Chapman – Orange Is the New Black

A complex character, Piper Chapman, evokes mixed feelings, and her journey on Orange Is the New Black has frustrated many viewers. As the protagonist of the show, Piper's privilege and lack of self-awareness concerning her situation has often placed her in conflict with the rest of the prison population. Her selfishness, constant grumbling over minor inconveniences, and prioritising herself above all others has alienated most viewers. As the series progressed, the character development of Piper, played by Taylor Schilling, became stagnant at times.

13) Dawson Leery – Dawson's Creek

Protagonist Dawson Leery, more than any other character in Dawson's Creek, has often frustrated viewers with his constant indecisiveness and self-centered behavior. His love triangles with Joey and Jen, and his constant need to make everything about himself, merely added to the melodrama on the show. Emotionally, Dawson, played by James Van Der Beek, simply refused to grow up and remained obsessed with his dreams. He allowed the people around him to suffer and was also one of the most whiny characters to emerge on television in the late nineties and early 2000s teen drama landscape.

14) Emily Waltham – Friends

Emily Waltham, played by Helen Baxendale, was Ross's second wife in Friends. She became a hated character for hardcore fans of the show and its protagonists, because of her controlling behavior when it comes to Ross, and the jealousy she shows toward Rachel. Her overbearing nature, where she insisted that Ross break all contact with Rachel, and the insistence that she dictate each and every detail of their wedding, did not go down well with fans. She was quite an antagonizing factor in the love triangle involving Ross, Rachel, and herself. Besides a controlling nature, Emily was never fully able to trust Ross. She soon became unpopular among fans of the show and her exit was welcome news for them.

15) Paige McCullers – Pretty Little Liars

Paige McCullers started off as the love interest of Emily, one of the protagonists on the series, but has become probably the most reviled character in Pretty Little Liars. There was widespread fan criticism over Paige's toxic streaks of jealousy and possessiveness, especially when it comes to Emily. It was unpleasant seeing her trying to dominate Emily's socializing time and then pushing the latter further away from her friends. Paige, played by Lindsey Shaw, eventual got a redemption arc but that did not quite succeed in erasing her earlier wrongs, making her perhaps the most divisive character on the show.

16) Ezra Fitz – Pretty Little Liars

Ian Harding played the infamous Ezra in Fitz Pretty Little Liars. He is a teacher romantically involved with Aria. Introduced to the audience as a charming man, he has gradually emerged as a morally ambiguous person revealing traits of secretive behavior because of his involvement in the mystery surrounding "A." His inappropriate relationship with a high school student and tendency to manipulate others were condemned. Although Ezra had a few redeeming qualities, his early deception and the way he emotionally controlled Aria made the audience question his morality.

17) Lori Grimes – The Walking Dead

Lori Grimes is disliked for her lack of emotional control and self-centered behavior in The Walking Dead. She thinks her husband Rick is dead and promptly starts an affair with his partner, Shane. Her ambiguous morality has frustrated fans, as has her tendency to take decisions solely based on emotions. Lori, played by Sarah Wayne Callies, shows an inability to accept mistakes and also does not reveal much change in mentality over time, which has made her one of the least favorite characters on the show.

18) Richie Aprile – The Sopranos

Richie Aprile in The Sopranos was detested due to his violent and arbitrary nature, besides toxic behavior toward Janice. His vicious attitude towards women and his streak of megalomania were hateworthy traits. Richie, played by David Proval, was power-hungry and had no respect for people, and a dangerous person. His lack of emotional expression made him unlikeable, too, and his violent end brought relief to many viewers.

19) Roose Bolton – Game of Thrones

Roose Bolton was sadist and a manipulator on Game of Thrones. Scheming and detached by nature, the character played by Michael McElhatton was a rather discomforting figure in the show. His lack of sympathy, even towards his family members, and his willingness to sacrifice anyone for the sake of power, made him a ruthless villain.

20) Janice Soprano – The Sopranos

Janice Soprano was the narcissistic sister of protagonist Tony in The Sopranos. She was mostly hated by fans of the show for her manipulative nature. She would always interfere in Tony's life and gets what she wanted through emotional blackmail. Her relationships were toxic, particularly with the violent Richie Aprile. It frustrated viewers to see that she refused to emotionally grow up and take responsibility. Janice Soprano, played by Aida Turturro, ranks high among the characters that elicit least sympathy on the show.