Scooby-Doo: 10 Funniest Franchise Villains, Ranked

Across the Scooby-Doo franchise, there are plenty of villains. Some, such as El Chupacabra, were terrifying, and others, like The Phantom Virus, were quite comical. Though they were villains, some among the line-up had notable appearances in which they weren’t particularly spooky or scary, but instead boasted classic lines, memorable encounters with the gang, and unforgettable chase scenes.

Count Dracula certainly stands out among the villains for his determination to keep Shaggy a werewolf, and all the misadventures that went with it, and Joker and Penguin didn’t miss an opportunity to mess with Shaggy and Scooby – making them among the funniest Scooby-Doo villains.

10 Gunslinger

Though the Gunslinger’s appearance was brief in The New Scooby-Doo Movies, his character stands out given he told Scooby and Shaggy to “draw” and “get out of town.” For a moment, Shaggy hilariously thought he meant coloring! Scooby stands up to the Gunslinger; that is, until he produces a gun and Scooby scurries away.

Soon afterward, Scooby inadvertently rolls into the Gunslinger with a barrel, sending the villain into a major mechanical malfunction which Shaggy aptly calls “the fastest short circuit in the West.” Though short and sweet, the entire encounter was pretty funny and offered the chance to see Scooby and Shaggy have an Old West moment.

9  The Mummy Of Ankha

The Mummy of Ankha was one of the best villains from the original Scooby-Doo cartoon. He was after a rare coin that would unlock an ancient treasure. He doesn’t seem so scary when he chases after the gang uttering “coin, coin” the whole time, or frequently misses chances to just snatch the coin right from them.

Dr. Najib, who disguised himself as the Mummy, was definitely patient, demonstrating his determination to get his hands on the treasure. He seemed to enjoy the chase more than anything, but his limited dialogue certainly reduces his funniness.

8 The Ghost Of Redbeard

Redbeard’s pirate ways were no joke, but he was often one of the goofiest Scooby-Doo villains and he loved to laugh. He goes and makes Shaggy and Scooby cook him a meal when he catches them, but then refuses to eat it.

Given the ingredients they used, audiences wouldn’t want to eat it either, but instead of pushing it away, he forces the duo to eat their creation, which they then use to ultimately escape thanks to the power of bubbles. Plus, Redbeard had a notable capture when a jackhammer wound up in his pants and he was later trapped in tires. His many humorous moments help him rank among the funniest Scooby-Doo villains.

7 Miner Forty-Niner

The Miner Forty-Niner not only has a memorable name, but also a memorable appearance. He chases after the gang no problem despite the fact that he wears stilts, and it’s hilarious how he keeps appearing in the doorway every time Scooby opens the door, and simply grunts.

Chasing after Scooby and Shaggy in the mining carts was pretty uproarious as well, making for an unforgettable chase scene in the original series. Either way, audiences always get a good laugh when they watch the Miner!

6 The Phantom Shadows

The Phantom Shadows were actually two lawyers just trying to keep a fortune for themselves, but they were memorable villains. Plus, the fact that they frequently giggled was a signature aspect of their characters. Villains that are constantly laughing are hardly dangerous, and by extension, it made it pretty funny given they seemed to be enjoying themselves and could easily make themselves laugh.

They were also known as the “giggling green ghosts,” and even danced with Shaggy and Scooby in one memorable scene. They also ended up ultimately captured by a flying washing machine, which only added to the humor!

5 Farquard

Farquard definitely played the creepy butler to a T. He also didn’t keep it secret that he wanted Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy out so he could have Shaggy’s uncle’s treasure all to himself.

He makes several comments in regards to how he feels that, given his service, he deserves the treasure, and he even steals one of the treasures at one point, much to Scrappy’s consternation. He’s not particularly vicious, just greedy and passive-aggressive, but his sarcasm and wit definitely made him stand out as a villain. When it came to comedy, he certainly had some good lines!

4 The Phantom Virus

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase introduced a new villain in the film franchise with The Phantom Virus. Though not one of the scariest Scooby-Doo villains, he was creepy and certainly powerful given his ability to manipulate technology. However, Scooby fans have to appreciate his corny sense of humor, especially given his frequent baseball puns.

The phantom would make references such as “let’s play ball!” and “you’re in the major leagues now,” which perfectly suited the given scene. Despite how scary and dangerous he is, his passion for baseball puns is perfectly timed and hilarious.

3 The Joker And Penguin

Joker and Penguin are an iconic duo in themselves and the two made a couple of appearances in the best episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies. Joker, naturally, tells his corny jokes and puns, usually just making himself laugh, while Penguin acts as the brains behind their schemes.

In both of their appearances, they were foiled by Batman, Robin, Scooby, and the rest of the gang. Usually they played brutal pranks trying to scare the gang, but the interactions between themselves were funny, as they usually turned on one another after having been caught.

2 Scrappy

In the live-action Scooby-Doo film, Scrappy is the main villain. From moment one, Scrappy was ridiculously annoying, especially given his rant about “puppy power” and how he thought the gang should make him their leader, which was unrealistic.

His revenge plot is brutal, but also ludicrous as he’s essentially seeking world domination, and loses horribly. Audiences feel sorry for Scrappy but also can’t help but laugh a little at how outrageous things get. While it was mean for the gang to just leave him in the middle of nowhere, Scrappy didn’t make it easy for them to be around him given his constant harassment.

1 Count Dracula

Count Dracula is a memorable character in himself, but in Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf, he’s not exactly up to the task of turning, and keeping, Shaggy a werewolf. Dracula frequently goofs his own attempts to stop Shaggy from winning the race, and lands in a few sticky situations himself, alongside his sidekicks, the Hunch Bunch, who are also noteworthy villains in the film.

Dracula also has a tendency to throw fits when things don’t go his way, which only adds to the comedy. In the film’s conclusion, it’s hinted that Shaggy will have another run-in with Dracula and the Hunch Bunch, given they show up at his house and not so subtly announce “we’re back!”

About The Author

Kacie Lillejord
(374 Articles Published)

A Seattle native, Kacie has loved entertainment in the forms of books, films, television and music since day one. Inspired by a filmmaker relative, Kacie has been pursuing a career in the film and television industry in Los Angeles ever since. A graduate of The University of Arizona, Kacie has written for her college newspaper The Daily Wildcat, Harness Magazine, 25YL, and now has added Screen Rant to her resume. She loves writing and all things pop culture.

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