As a franchise that has spanned multiple decades, Star Wars has had its fair share of villains. In addition to the iconic Darth Vader, there is a big bad in every corner of the galaxy for brave, bold heroes to fight.
Darth Vader gets a lot of love in the movies, but several villains have not received the same treatment. Many villains have a cool appearance and fascinating backstory, but the films do very little with it. It is up to media such as The Clone Wars or various series on Disney+ to flesh out the characters. But even that is not enough most of the time, and these characters don't always get their due.
10 General Hux
General Hux was set up to be the Grand Moff Tarkin of the sequel trilogy. As Snoke's second-in-command of the First Order, the hot-headed Hux had a great rivalry with Kylo Ren, which ultimately did not lead to much.
After Snoke's 'death' in The Last Jedi, Hux defected to the Resistance, becoming a spy against the First Order. However, his main motive was to spite his rival. This was all for nothing in the end, as both characters turned to the light side. Hux showcases Disney's habit of converting minor villains into heroes, rather than exploring their capacity for evil.
9 Captain Phasma
A silver Stormtrooper played by Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie seemed like the recipe to make an amazing Star Wars villain. Sadly, the attempt fell flat on its face. Poor writing and a mess of a trilogy led to Captain Phasma being cast aside, and she had to settle for a small part in Rise of Skywalker which ended in her demise.
The character deserved more screen time and personality during her limited moments. There had not been a named Stormtrooper before, and it would have been great to see more from her, especially considering Christie's acting prowess.
8 Darth Maul
Darth Maul, or as he was known in his later life, simply Maul, was introduced in The Phantom Menace. Though he had an amazing design, the character had limited lines and 'died' at the end of the film.
The character was revealed to have survived, and got his redemption in The Clone Wars with several storylines that really gave Maul the appreciation he deserved. But in his silver screen appearances, Maul is underused. Apart from his debut, he has appeared as a hologram in a late scene in Solo: A Star Wars Story, setting up his role as a villain in a sequel which may never come. If not for his animated appearances, Maul would certainly be higher up this list.
7 Savage Opress
The brother of Darth Maul, Savage Opress was bestowed with Nightsister magic that made him into a feral warrior, increasing his size and power. Opress was a significant part of the Clone Wars, but died at the hands of Darth Sidious without really making a mark on the Star Wars universe.
One Darth Maul is cool, but two Darth Mauls could have been even better. It is a shame that the character left as quick as he came. If fans ever get a Maul solo project, there will be hope Savage Opress makes some sort of a comeback.
6 Grand Admiral Thrawn
Thrawn was a superb servant to the Galactic Empire. He rose to the ranks of Grand Admiral and was revered for being a ruthless strategist. The character was created in the novels and made his way into the mainstream media in Star Wars: Rebels. He is yet to appear in live action, but is set to make that debut in Ahsoka.
A true embodiment of what the Empire stands for, Thrawn deserves to be more widely known among the fanbase. Perhaps the upcoming Star Wars Disney+ series will give him the limelight he deserves.
5 Snoke
There hasn't been a Star Wars mystery quite the one surrounding who Snoke really is. The Supreme Leader of the First Order was shrouded in enigma, and the true answer of his identity was revealed after his death. He was simply a cloned pawn of the Emperor. Many fans felt this was lazy writing, especially considering it was revealed in the opening credits to Rise of the Skywalker.
There were hundreds of fan theories to who Snoke really was, and the truth left fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. A new, fresh villain should have been introduced for the sequels. At the very least, the reveal could have been more clever.
4 Jango Fett
Despite being the template for every single clone trooper and his reputation as a fierce bounty hunter across the galaxy, Jango Fett doesn't appear that much in the grand scheme of things. His son Boba gets a lot more screen time.
Jango was a key player in the Clone Wars, but due to his death in Attack of the Clones, there is little room for any more play with the character. However, there is no reason that he can't appear in any flashbacks or prequels. Fans deserve an explanation of why Jango was used as the clone template, and how he earned his fearsome reputation.
3 The Grand Inquisitor
A former Jedi temple guard, The Grand Inquisitor defected to the Dark Side. He became the leader of the Inquisitors, a band of Jedi Hunters that served the Galactic Empire.
The Grand Inquisitor first appeared in Star Wars: Rebels and made his way to live-action in Kenobi, but his role in that series was not as big as it could have been. There wasn't really a sense of how powerful this character is like fans seen in Rebels. Ultimately, the character meets a cruel fate, so it is unlikely that he will appear again in series set after the events of Return of the Jedi. However, stranger things have happened in Star Wars, and he could have just as well survived.
2 General Grievous
One of the main players in the Clone Wars, Grievous served as the general of the Separatist Droid Army but also learned lightsaber combat from Count Dooku. Only appearing in one film, Revenge of the Sith, Grievous was criminally underused.
He did get some time to shine in The Clone Wars series, but many fans get the sense that he could offer so much more to the franchise. Grievous, armed with his four lightsabers, is an iconic villain with a rich backstory that should be explored in more detail on the big screen.
1 Count Dooku
There's no question Christopher Lee's Count Dooku is the most underused villain of the franchise. Dooku was a former Jedi who became disillusioned by the Order and turned to the Dark Side, operating as Darth Sidious' apprentice. This all happened off-screen, which is a crying shame as it would have been a gripping story to watch unfold.
Dooku is a powerful lightsaber combatant, and his use of the Force is equally strong. Only two movies that feature this character, and he dies at the beginning of one of them. Dooku needs more screen time. The story of Star Wars before The Phantom Menace is untold, and Dooku is a big player in the events during that time. A prequel series/movie is a must.