Five times Tom Hardy showed us he’s Hollywood’s best bad guy

Brought to you by Sony Pictures

It feels good to be bad.

Heroes might get most of the credit, but the simple fact is they'd be nothing without a good villain in their way. Some actors (Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Christopher Hopkins, etc) were born to play the role of a villain, and Tom Hardy can rank himself amongst the best. Judging by what we've seen so far, VENOM will be business as usual for hard-man Hardy. While Eddie Brock might not start off as a bad guy, it's a whole other ball game once he takes on his alter-ego of the villainous symbiote known as Venom. Tom Hardy says we have enough superheroes. We don't have the guts to argue with him. Taking a look back at what he's offered us so far, take a look at our five times Tom Hardy proved he's the best bad guy in Hollywood.

Legend (2015)

In his role as both of the Kray twins, Hardy was able as convincing as the cunning Reggie as he was portraying the unpredictable Ronnie. After a while it really is easy to forget they were both played by the same man, such is how good our man Tom is. If you're ever in a pub with Tom Hardy and feel the urge to threaten him, just leave the man to finish his pint... Clip via Ya Nan

The Revenant (2015)

He's said to have based his role of John Fitzgerald off Tom Berenger's performance in Platoon, and watching the two of them you can clearly see the similarities. The gravelly voice that would crack stone, and general aura of "don't f*ck with me" make him the real star of this Oscar-winning movie. The look in his eyes as he tells a story of when his father found god is unforgettable. You can't teach that kind of acting, it's a talent you either have, or you don't. Clip via Kaan Çakır

Peaky Blinders (2013-present)

As untouchable Cillian Murphy is as Tommy Shelby, we'd gladly watch a spin-off series based around Tom Hardy's Alfie Solomons. He effectively steals every scene he's been part of (there haven't been enough so far), and his chemistry with Murphy is as good as anything else you'll find on the big or small screen. His ability to switch from friendly neighbourhood baker to lethal gangster linchpin never gets old. Clip via BBC

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Heath Ledger's Joker deservedly goes down as the best performance of any Batman villain, but Tom Hardy's Bane was the one who challenged the Dark Knight more than anyone else. After successfully taking over the city of Gotham and breaking Bruce Wayne's back, the physical unit that is Bane has to be one of the most intimidating of Batman's enemies. We reckon the only way Bane could have done more damage in that football stadium would be if he decided to play... Clip via Scopian01

Bronson (2008)

This has to have been the role that made Christopher Nolan realise that Tom Hardy was the ideal choice to play Bane in his next Batman movie. Bronson (literally) allowed Hardy to really flex his bad guy muscles, and he's done nothing but get better in the years since. We dare you to make fun of that moustache... Clip via Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters is coming to Irish cinemas on Wednesday, 3 October. Starring Academy Award®-nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom, expect to see Hardy at his villainous best. Follow the movie on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and trailers.