From his debut in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has been a beloved character for kids and adults alike. Along with his quirky and fun-loving friends in Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob has faced many obstacles and challenges, including some of the most devious and evil villains in the animated world. From Plankton’s attempts to steal the secret Krabby Patty formula to the menacing Man Ray, SpongeBob SquarePants has encountered a host of villains throughout his many years in Bikini Bottom. But which of these baddies reigns supreme as the most devious, the most dastardly, and the most downright evil? In this article, I’ll be ranking the 21 best SpongeBob villains, from those who are merely bad to those who are truly, irredeemably evil. So grab some Krabby Patties and settle in as we delve into the dark side of this beloved cartoon series.
21. Madame Hagfish
Starting this list of Spongebob villains, Madame Hagfish is a humanoid hagfish who is known for being the proprietor of the Shady Shoals retirement home in Bikini Bottom. Madame Hagfish is a very unpleasant character, with a harsh and raspy voice, and an overall cruel demeanor. She is known for her mistreatment and neglect of the elderly residents in her care. She is shown to be neglectful of their needs and comfort, leaving them in unsanitary and dangerous conditions. In the episode “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V”, Madame Hagfish locks Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in the “Sponge Room” as punishment for their attempts to escape from the home. In the same episode, Madame Hagfish also demonstrates her greed by attempting to steal Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy’s utility belts for personal profit, making her one of the more despicable characters in the SpongeBob universe!
20. PlanKrab
Well, well, well, it looks like Plankton has finally succeeded in his nefarious plans. Or should I say, Plankrab? That’s right, Plankton has gone and created a clone of himself and Mr. Krabs, and the result is… not pretty. Plankrab has got one thing on his mind: taking over the Krusty Krab. And boy, does he do it in style. Plankrab is a master of persuasion, and he uses his magical handshake to convince everyone to do his bidding. PlanKrab managed to infiltrate the Krusty Krab and steal the formula right out from under Mr. Krabs’ nose. He also brainwashed SpongeBob and Squidward and took over the Krusty Krab, turning it into the Krusty Bucket. He even convinced Plankton to give up the Chum Bucket and join forces with him. These evil schemes, make Plankrab one of the evilest SpongeBob villains ever!
19. The Earworm
In the episode titled “Earworm”, a catchy song causes the Earworm to sneak into SpongeBob’s mind, hindering his work and causing him to be sent home. Sandy comes to his aid and discovers the issue. To eliminate the Earworm, Squidward’s clarinet is used as another Earworm. Despite Squidward’s subpar playing, it successfully gets rid of the Earworm, leaving it with a scowl. The Earworm is a small, green worm-like creature. Its main purpose in the episode is to cause SpongeBob trouble by getting stuck in his head, and the only way to get rid of it is to replace the catchy song with another one. Now, that’s true evil right there! The Earworm is one of the most resilient villains in SpongeBob, and it was really hard to get rid of him.
18. Mrs. Gristlepuss
In the episode “Banned in Bikini Bottom” of SpongeBob SquarePants, Mrs. Gristlepuss, a cantankerous judge, pays a visit to the Krusty Krab restaurant. Upon witnessing SpongeBob’s affection for Krabby Patties, she decides to outlaw them, as she is a member of an unusual organization called The United Organization of Fish Against Things That Are Fun and Delicious. Although the organization is legally recognized, it seems strange to some. When SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs are caught selling Krabby Patties and subsequently arrested by Mrs. Gristlepuss, they break her stubborn demeanor by giving her a taste of the delicious burgers. As a result, Mrs. Gristlepuss reverses her decision and legalizes Krabby Patties again. Still, I consider her one of the main Spongebob villains just for contemplating forbidding Krabby Patties!
17. DoodleBob
DoodleBob first appears in the SpongeBob SquarePants 2002 episode “Frankendoodle.” He is a doodle version of SpongeBob created by SpongeBob with a magic pencil. While not necessarily evil, DoodleBob is portrayed as mischievous and tends to cause chaos and destruction. In the episode, DoodleBob initially appears harmless and childlike, but after SpongeBob accidentally drops the magic pencil, DoodleBob gains sentience and begins wreaking havoc on Bikini Bottom. DoodleBob is shown to be mischievous and unpredictable, making it difficult for SpongeBob and his friends to stop him. Despite his chaotic behavior, it’s worth noting that DoodleBob doesn’t seem to be intentionally malicious or evil. He simply has difficulty communicating and understanding the world around him, which leads to his destructive behavior. In the end, SpongeBob manages to defeat DoodleBob by erasing him with the magic pencil. Still, DoodleBob has a place in any list of villains of SpongeBob.
16. Master Udon
So, there’s this fish named Master Udon who calls SpongeBob to come to Karate Island. He seems like a legit martial arts master but turns out he’s just a con man and the kind of guy who’d try to sell you a condo in a swamp. But here’s the kicker: at the end of the episode, Master Udon reveals his secret weapon. He’s got extremely large muscles. Like, bodybuilder-level muscles. Unfortunately for him, his fighting skills don’t quite match his muscles. He’s more of a failure than a fighter, throwing sloppy punches and forward slaps. All in all, Master Udon is quite the character. He’s a con man, a criminal mastermind, and a bodybuilder fish all rolled into one. I bet he’s got some crazy stories to tell if you can get past all the shady business. Just make sure you don’t buy a condo from him.
15. Gale Doppler
Gale was the most renowned weatherman in Bikini Bottom. People would always stop him on the street, asking him what the weather would be like for the day, and he would never disappoint them. That is until Drizzle, a stray storm cloud, came to town. SpongeBob had found Drizzle, who was left behind by his parents, and brought him to Bikini Bottom. Gale didn’t like Drizzle from the start. He was unpredictable and messed up his forecasts. So, he tried to suck Drizzle up with a reef blower, but it didn’t work. Gale came up with a new plan to send Drizzle through a shredder. He thought this would be the end of the storm cloud. But Drizzle’s parents showed up and saved him from being shredded. Drizzle’s folks were not happy with Gale, and they let him know it. They blew him away with their powerful gusts of wind.
14. Bubble Bass
Known for their larger-than-life size and their love for Krabby Pattie, Bubble Bass is a green fish with a large belly and rather a nasty attitude. He mostly acts like a rival to SpongeBob and is a bit of a bully. In the episode “Pickles,” Bubble Bass challenges SpongeBob to make a perfect Krabby Patty and then tries to cheat by hiding the pickles, which is the only ingredient SpongeBob forgot to add. In another episode, “Plankton’s Good Eye,” Bubble Bass works with Plankton to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. Bubble Bass is a grumpy and unpleasant character who enjoys causing trouble for others.
13. Alaskian Bull Worm
The Alaskan Bull Worm is a large, menacing creature that appears in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Sandy, SpongeBob, and the Worm.” It is a giant, worm-like creature that lives in the wilderness of Bikini Bottom, Alaska. The Alaskan Bull Worm is a dangerous and destructive force! It has enormous size and strength, and its movements can cause earthquakes and other natural disasters. When it first appears in the episode, it rampages through Bikini Bottom, destroying everything in its path. Sandy Cheeks, a scientist, and friend of SpongeBob devise a plan to stop the Alaskan Bull Worm by feeding it a large, explosive pie. The plan succeeds, and the Bull Worm is defeated. However, in a later episode, “My Leg!” a different character claims to have been attacked by the Alaskan Bull Worm, indicating that it may still be alive and well in the wilderness of Bikini Bottom.
12. The Tattletale Strangler
Now we’re getting to one of the most notorious SpongeBob villains, The Tattletale Strangler is a muscular and menacing fish with a deep voice. His primary goal is to seek revenge on those who have “tattled” on him in the past. He has a violent and vengeful nature and he is willing to harm others, including innocent individuals, to achieve his revenge. Additionally, he does not show any remorse for his actions, making him a particularly dangerous character. In the episode “SpongeBob Meets The Strangler,” The Tattletale Strangler is shown attempting to strangle SpongeBob after he mistakenly believes that SpongeBob has tattled on him. However, it is later revealed that SpongeBob did not tattle on The Tattletale Strangler, and the two end up becoming friends. Despite this, The Tattletale Strangler’s evil nature remains a key aspect of his character.
11. Triton
Triton, the son of King Neptune and Queen Amphitrite, was known for being a swell kid. Unlike his dad, who enjoyed destroying mortals, Triton was busy creating a vaccine for diseases. But things took a dark turn when Neptune caged him for being too nice. After being locked up, Triton became cold and hostile towards his father and the world around him. But things got even worse when SpongeBob freed him. Triton went on a rampage across town, destroying everything just to show off his new godly powers. To make matters worse, he even locked up Neptune and his friends. But, hey, at least Triton eventually made up with his old man. Although, it’s a bit concerning that it was only after Neptune expressed approval of Triton using his god powers for evil. Like father, like son, I guess.
10. Dennis
Dennis is a ruthless bounty hunter! His only purpose in life was to kill none other than our beloved SpongeBob. And to make matters worse, Dennis was more than capable of doing so. He was an embodiment of the mean tough guy, from his knife necklace to his skull belt buckle. Dennis appeared to be fearless, meaning nothing could stop him from completing his deadly job. Even when a giant Cyclops stepped on him, he remained stuck to Cyclops’ shoe only to reform as though nothing happened. But despite his frightening appearance, in the end, Dennis proved to be no match for SpongeBob’s wits. And although he may have failed in his mission, Dennis will forever be remembered as one of the most menacing characters in SpongeBob’s history.
9. Flats the Flounder
Flats the Flounder is a tall, muscular, and aggressive flounder who attends boating school with SpongeBob and his friends. He has a violent and sadistic nature, and he is shown to take pleasure in bullying and intimidating other students, including SpongeBob. He is willing to use physical violence to assert his dominance and has been known to threaten others with harm. In the episode “The Bully,” Flats the Flounder targets SpongeBob and threatens to beat him up after class. Despite SpongeBob’s attempts to avoid him, Flats ultimately catches up to him and prepares to physically assault him. However, SpongeBob’s unexpected resilience and flexibility cause Flats to accidentally harm himself, leading him to flee in fear. Serves him right!
8. The Cyclops
The Cyclops, who is introduced in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, is a human hardhat diver whose primary objective is to capture sea creatures and turn them into trinkets for the Shell City gift shop. Despite only appearing briefly, The Cyclops is established as one of the most malevolent antagonists SpongeBob has ever faced, as he derives pleasure from inflicting harm on animals. When he kidnaps sea creatures, he deliberately dehydrates them over time, causing them immense suffering. Additionally, due to his imposing size, The Cyclops easily abducts SpongeBob and Patrick from the ocean.
7. The Flying Dutchman
This ghostly underwater pirate haunts the seas of Bikini Bottom and is feared by all who encounter him. The Flying Dutchman is known for his love of scaring and tormenting others, often taking pleasure in their fear and distress. He also has a reputation for being cruel and merciless towards those who cross him and for stealing souls and causing chaos. In the episode “Shanghaied,” The Flying Dutchman kidnaps SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward and forces them to become his new ghostly crew. He puts them through a series of dangerous and humiliating tasks, threatening to kill them if they fail. However, SpongeBob and his friends ultimately outsmart The Flying Dutchman and take control of his ship.
6. Man Ray
As you can tell by his uniform, Man Ray is a supervillain. He schemes to rule the world and its riches and has a very manipulative and cunning personality. In the episode “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III,” Man Ray tricks SpongeBob into setting him free from a jar, in which Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy had trapped him. Once free, he attempts to cause chaos in Bikini Bottom but is eventually defeated by the efforts of SpongeBob and his friends. In another episode, Man Ray attempts to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula with the help of SpongeBob’s nemesis, Plankton. However, that plan backfired!
5. Dirty Bubble
Dirty Bubble is a living bubble, resembling a soap bubble, but with a face. He is the founder of the Dastardly Bad Guy Club for Villains and is known for his evil laugh and his tendency to destroy Bikini Bottom. One of the unique aspects of Dirty Bubble is that he is a former superhero, known as Bubble Boy, who turned to the dark side due to the corrupting influence of a discarded piece of chewing gum. This backstory gives him a sense of tragedy and complexity, making him a more interesting villain. Throughout the series, Dirty Bubble has engaged in various evil deeds, such as stealing and vandalism. In the episode “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI,” Dirty Bubble and two other villains team up to form the “E.V.I.L. League” and attempt to take over Bikini Bottom.
4. Sheldon J. Plankton
Plankton is a small, green, one-eyed creature, who runs the Chum Bucket restaurant. He constantly tries to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, which is the main ingredient in Krusty Krab’s famous burgers. He is willing to go to any lengths to obtain the formula, including manipulating and cheating. Throughout the series, Plankton has taken many evil measures to obtain the formula: he created a fake Krusty Krab restaurant to trick SpongeBob into thinking that the real Krusty Krab has been destroyed. In one episode Plankton uses a machine to switch lives with Mr. Krabs, hoping that this will give him access to the secret formula. Another time, he created a mind-control device that he used to control the citizens of Bikini Bottom and steal the formula. His actions often lead to chaos in Bikini Bottom, making him one of the show’s primary antagonists.
3. Burger Beard
The antagonist of the 2015 “Sponge Out of Water” movie, Burger Beard is a live-action pirate, who comes to life in SpongeBob’s world through the magic of a book. Burger Beard does the most despicable thing – he steals the secret Krabby Patty formula and uses it to become the most successful fast-food entrepreneur in the world. He is greedy, with no concern for the well-being of others. In the movie, Burger Beard is shown to have a group of seagulls as his loyal minions. He is also a skilled fighter, able to hold his own against SpongeBob and his friends when they confront him. Ultimately, Burger Beard is defeated when SpongeBob travels through time to retrieve the formula before he can get his hands on it. The movie ends with Burger Beard being chased by the seagulls, who have turned against him. Serves him well!
2. Planktonamor
Planktonamor was not your typical medieval ancestor. He was more like a medieval monster, and just as evil – if not more – as his modern-day descendant, Plankton. Planktonamor was a wizard, but that wasn’t his only trick. He also had a dragon jellyfish working on his side. Yes, a dragon jellyfish. Anyway, things took a turn for the worst when Planktonamor kidnapped Princess Pearl Krabs. SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidly Tentacles, and the Dark Knight all teamed up to stop the villainous wizard. It was an epic battle, but Planktonamor was almost victorious. Almost. That’s when the dragon jellyfish decided to switch sides. It all started when the dragon jellyfish ate SpongeBob’s, Krabby Patty. Suddenly, it became obedient to SpongeBob, and Planktonamor didn’t see it coming. Zap! Planktonamor was down for the count, and everyone was relieved. They even threw a party to celebrate their victory over the medieval monster.
1. The Jelliens
The Jelliens are a group of evil jellyfish clones that appear in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Planet of the Jellyfish.” They are created by the evil Queen Jellyfish, who seeks to take over Bikini Bottom and enslave its inhabitants. In the episode “Planet of the Jellyfish,” the Jelliens invade Bikini Bottom and start cloning the residents, including SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy. They then replace the real residents with their clones, allowing them to take over the town. The Jelliens try to brainwash the real SpongeBob into joining their side by using a mind-control device. Ultimately, SpongeBob can break free from the jellyfish’s control and finds a way to reverse their mind control on the other characters, restoring order to Bikini Bottom. However, the Jelliens pose such a great threat to everyone in Bikini Bottom that they are my top picks for this list of 21 best SpongeBob villains.
