To many, Kiefer Sutherland is known best as 24 protagonist Jack Bauer, but before the action series began, the actor was known for playing multiple villainous characters. Some of Sutherland's more sympathetic characters make it difficult to believe he could portray such memorable antagonists like those in Eye for an Eye and Stand By Me. Yet every villainous character portrayed by Sutherland was believable and wholly embodied by the Canadian actor.

In recent years, Sutherland's filmography hasn't been strictly defined by such characters as it was in the '80s and '90s. Still, rare, strong villain characters can still be seen. In 2023, Sutherland appeared in the sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyrone where he delivered an interesting villainous performance in a ing role. Both longtime fans and newcomers can enjoy going back through Sutherland's filmography and seeing his range through his best villain performances.

10 Senator Corvus

Pompeii (2014)

Receiving mixed reviews from critics upon its release and adding to Sutherland's lowest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes is Pompeii. The 2014 disaster film is set in ancient times and is inspired by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the titular city. Sutherland plays a corrupt Roman Senator Corvus. Pompeii isn't a particularly bad film, but it failed to impress critics with its formulaic adventure tale.

Unfortunately, Sutherland wasn't immune to harsh criticism as his accent and campy, villainous performance was a miss for some critics. Still, there is much to be appreciated about Pompeii. Director Paul W. S. Anderson sought accuracy when reconstructing the historical events and had numerous archaeologists and volcanologists praising the film's attention to detail. Additionally, the action in Pompeii is lively and though Sutherland doesn't give his best performance, he's still a source of pure entertainment, as one would expect.

9 Robert Doob

Eye for an Eye (1996)

Widely panned by critics for its thin plot, Eye for an Eye still features a bold villain played by Sutherland. Rounding out the main cast of Eye for an Eye are Sally Field and Ed Harris. The psychological thriller follows an enraged mother (Field) who takes matters into her own hands when her daughter is assaulted and killed by a delivery driver (Sutherland).

Eye for an Eye has never been a favorite of critics or audiences as the film tends to put its main characters, namely Field's character, through an endless amount of trauma without ever exploring the effects of such events beyond the surface level. Sutherland doesn't deliver a terrible performance in Eye for an Eye, but unlike his other antagonists, there are no redeeming qualities to Robert, making it difficult to watch as he continues to cause trouble.

8 Nixon

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

With They Cloned Tyrone makes several references to the Blaxploitation and science fiction genres, all with a decent amount of surreal humor.

Sutherland has a ing role in They Cloned Tyrone as Nixon, the man in charge of the cloning process. Nixon isn't Sutherland's toughest villain and the actor doesn't stay in the film for long. However, even with the limitations, Sutherland makes it clear to both audiences and the film's characters that he isn't to be messed with. As Nixon, Sutherland has a calm and confident manner that's equally chilling as it is impressive.

7 Robert "Bob" Wolverton

Freeway (1996)

In Freeway, Sutherland s Brooke Shields and a young Reese Witherspoon early on in her career. The black comedy crime film follows a runaway teen (Witherspoon) who gets picked up by Sutherland's Bob Wolverton. The plot acts as a twisted take on the famous Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale with Sutherland's character embodying the story's cunning wolf.

Without spoiling Bob's true identity, it's safe to say Sutherland is excitingly wicked. He's not someone audiences root for by any means, but there's a subtle charm to his performance that still manages to captivate audiences. Freeway is considered one of Shields' best movies, but it is Witherspoon that truly shines, giving audiences a taste of the talent that would define her later career. Freeway did open in theaters to disappointing results, but the film's campy tones and satire allowed it to achieve a cult status over the years.

6 Dr. Daniel Schreber

Dark City (1998)

In a recent interview with GQ, Sutherland reflected on some of his most iconic characters. One of which comes from the Alex Proyas film Dark City. The film is led by Rufus Sewell, playing a man suspected of murder. Having had most of his memories wiped, Sewell's John Murdoch is on the hunt for the real perpetrator, as well as his true identity, but not before getting interrupted by an unknown group of people known as the "Strangers."

In Dark City, Sutherland plays Dr. Daniel Schreber, a psychologist teaming up with the Strangers to conduct experiments on humans. Sutherland is delightfully strange and, unlike a few of his other villain roles, Dr. Schreber isn't so simple. There are layers to the complex villain, which become more clear as the film continues. Dark City didn't do well at the box office but it has continued to be enjoyed by audiences and received positive remarks from critics.

5 Lt. Jonathan Kendrick

A Few Good Men (1992)

Following When Harry Met Sally and Misery was Rob Reiner's A Few Good Men. The absorbing legal drama is full of memorable performances from actors like Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore to name a few. A Few Good Men is centered on a trial involving two U.S. Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine. Sutherland appears in the film in a ing role as Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick, the commanding officer of the deceased individual.

Aaron Sorkin's writing — the film is based on his late '80s play of the same name — combined with the cast's talent resulted in powerful performances. Though Cruise and Nicholson's performances are talked about most, Sutherland too gives a notable show. Sutherland captures the cold demeanor of a lieutenant who believes in strict codes of conduct and harsh means of punishment.

4 David

The Lost Boys (1987)

The Lost Boys brought life to on-screen depictions of vampires, inspiring a new wave of such supernatural stories that opted to focus on younger, energetic characters more than ever before. The humorous supernatural film follows two brothers (Jason Patric and Corey Haim) who move to a new town that happens to be home to fanged, bloodthirsty creatures. Sutherland plays David, the leader of the film's vampire gang.

David isn't as aggressive as some of Sutherland's other villains, but he is extremely determined to get the town's new residents to kill, thereby transforming them into full vampires. David may not be the first name one thinks of when recalling the most iconic '80s horror movie characters, but Sutherland's performance ensured that the character would be ed. The character's moody personality and aesthetic inspired countless on-screen depictions of vampires in the years that followed.

3 Freddie Lee Cobb

A Time to Kill (1996)

Based on John Grisham's novel of the same name, A Time to Kill paints a jarring, yet honest portrait of racism and the justice system. A Time to Kill follows Carl (Samuel L. Jackson), an angered father who takes matters into his own hands when it's believed the white men accused of assaulting his young daughter will walk away free. The film continues as Carl is put on trial. Sutherland plays Freddie Lee Cobb, the brother of one of the accused and later killed attackers.

Freddie teams up with white supremacists in the local area to rally with the goal of getting Carl convicted and given a life sentence. Sutherland is always committed to the roles he plays and Freddie isn't an exception. Sutherland has said people were hesitant to greet him after the release of the movie because of his character's actions. However, he feels strongly about portraying Freddie and stresses the importance of telling stories about racism.

2 The Caller

Phone Booth (2002)

Despite its limited setting and simple premise, the thrilling Phone Booth excels in establishing high levels of suspense. Colin Farrell delivers an infectious antsy performance as the film's lead who enters a phone booth only to answer the call of a sniper voiced by Sutherland. Phone Booth is quickly paced and works to keep audiences on the edge of their seats for its entire runtime.

Farrell, confined to the tight space of the phone booth, expresses his extreme distress as he's given an ultimatum by Sutherland's character. Sutherland is given a similar challenge. Using only his voice, it was crucial for the actor to get across the earnest threat his character possesses. Seen a few times already throughout his career, Sutherland delivers his threats to Farrell's character with a composed tone, which makes him all the more terrifying.

1 Ace Merrill

Stand by Me (1986)

One of the best movies based on Stephen King's work, Stand by Me is a coming-of-age story that follows four young boys who set out to find the body of a missing boy. Stand by Me has been lauded for its nostalgic depiction of childhood friendships, striking the ideal balance of heartfelt moments and adventure. Stand by Me was released early in the careers of its main cast, including Sutherland.

Sutherland portrayed the all too familiar childhood bully Ace Merrill who taunts the younger group in the film. There was no desire or need to sympathize with Ace. His purpose in the film is straightforward, but Sutherland handled the character effectively — which can explain his stint as an antagonist for much of his career. Like Sutherland, the rest of Stand by Me's cast earned praise for their polished, yet playful performances.