Generic doomsday villain



The Generic Doomsday Villain is an overpowering antagonist with no clear motive or plan behind their actions. They do not fancy themselves to be doing the right thing, they're not driven by envy, they have no personal vendetta against any of their victims, they're not being compelled in any way, they are not in it for the money or power, they're not seeking revenge for any real or imagined wrong done to them, they're not trying to satiate their excessive pride, they're not even a sadist who enjoys hurting people. They may have an objective, but they never have a coherent reason behind it. Essentially, a villain who is a flat Character, defined solely by the threat they pose.

Animated Films

 * Krona (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights)

Live-Action Films

 * The Bye Bye Man (The Bye Bye Man)
 * Doomsday (DC Extended Universe)
 * The Incubus (DC Extended Universe)
 * Dracula's brides (Dracula (1931))
 * Galactus (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer)
 * The unnamed killer (Final Exam)
 * Gozer the Destroyer (Ghostbusters)
 * August Kuratov (Guardians)
 * Frank Miller (High Noon)
 * The Alien (Independence Day)
 * Russel Van Velt (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle)
 * Malekith the Accursed (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Dormammu (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Surtur (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * The Elementals (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Ivan Drago (Rocky IV) pre-character development
 * The Bandit Gang (Seven Samurai)
 * Shinzon (Star Trek: Nemesis)
 * Gavin Elster (Vertigo)
 * Various C-list Kaijus

Live-Action TV

 * The First Evil (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * The Judge (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * The Night King (Game of Thrones)
 * Dark Spectre (Power Rangers in Space)
 * Omni the Magnificence (Power Rangers S.P.D.)

Western Animation

 * GOLB (Adventure Time)
 * Vaatu (The Legend of Korra)
 * Ragnarok (Ben 10: Alien Force)
 * Diagon (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien)
 * Pariah Dark (Danny Phantom)
 * Nocturne, Vortex and various other Season 3 villains (Danny Phantom)
 * King Sombra (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) pre-Season 9
 * The King of Shadows (Rainbow Brite)
 * The Puppet King (Teen Titans)
 * Cinderblock, Plasmus, Overload, the Chrysalis Eater, Cardiac (Teen Titans)

Why This Trope Sucks

 * 1) Nearly anytime this is used, the character is basically a walking plot device who only exist to cause conflict to their world.
 * 2) They never have any properly explained motivations for their actions, or even any defining personality traits or entertainment factors to make up for it, which makes the villain very dull to watch.
 * 3) With the villain in this position, the audience can't really have a proper reaction towards them.
 * 4) Very often, these characters will be portrayed as an absolute threat or extremely dark and menacing, even though they barely do anything warranting that title.