In recognition of one of humanity’s oldest fictional characters (whether you believe he’s real or not), Paste has gathered this list of the Top 25 Devils in Film. As a character in movies, Satan presents filmmakers with all sorts of intriguing choices: Will he spew fire and brimstone or leave his threats implied? Will he snarl and threaten or seduce and cajole? He’s the very personification of dread, and yet enough of a figure of fun that Christian Bale can just casually thank him for inspiring a performance.
Those who are of a mind to deal with him must know he’s seen and heard it all before, but they still think they might be the one to ante up against him and win. He’s been around since the dawn of time and shows no signs of slowing down with age.
He wears many faces, answers to many names and takes many forms.
