For the audience, Sofia Vergara’s Griselda has been an emotional roller coaster. Since its Netflix premiere, it has received nothing but positive reviews and controversy prior to release. The excitement surrounding the program is largely due to Vergara’s talent, but the genre has also seen a resurgence in interest. Thus, we’ve compiled a list of 20 of the scariest drug lords ever seen on television, enough to make anyone tremble.
Frank White (King Of New York)
Frank White is the very opposite of someone who would be scared to get his hands filthy, even in his elegant million-dollar clothes and five-star hotels. Remarkably, he is the movie’s hero rather than its enemy. Although he was once a feared drug lord, the story follows him as he adopts the persona of Robin Hood in an attempt to pilfer money from his former rivals and give it to the underprivileged.
Nino Brown (New Jack City)
The audience was first introduced to the ever-charming and terrifying Nino Brown in the 1991 picture. The primary antagonist, played by Wesley Snipes, fulfilled every expectation of a Kingpin and then some. Never one to back down from a murderous opportunity, he would quickly demoralize his adversaries with his weaponry and one-liners.
Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, is not someone you want to fool around with. Possibly the most well-known fictional kingpin from Breaking Bad, his judgment gets progressively worse as the show progresses as his life spirals out of hand following his lung cancer diagnosis.
Elena Sanchez (Savages)
Few actors can elicit the kind of spine-tingling anxiety that Salma Hayek’s portrayal of Elena Sanchez did for the audience. All who were unfortunate enough to find themselves on the wrong side of her, she’d have no problem cutting them down to size, and she’d do it without ever even getting her own hands dirty.
Pablo Escobar (Narcos)
Pablo Escobar, renowned worldwide for his violent and illicit activities, is the Leonardo DiCaprio of the cartel world. The only thing that comes close to the savagery of the real Escobar is his on-screen persona. At one point, the Head of the Medellín cartel was considered so brutal and dangerous that he was on the wanted list of every drug officer.
Frank Lucas (American Gangster)
Without a doubt, one of Denzel Washington’s most recognizable portrayals is that of Frank Lucas. The real-life Kingpin who becomes a drug lord in Southeast Asia by smuggling heroin into the coffins of Vietnam dead troops is the central figure of the novel. As if this truth alone wasn’t heinous enough, Frank was also infamous for his horrifying violence and extremely short fuse.
Tony Montana (Scarface)
When it comes to portraying a sad Kingpin on the big screen, Al Pacino’s Tony Montana is the pioneer. Scarface was and continues to be a trailblazer in the genre of underworld films. It seems like every movie that even slightly touches on the cartel is paying tribute to Montana.
Teresa Mendoza (Queen of the South)
Teresa Mendoza’s drive to become a drug boss was motivated more by her desire for power than by her desire for love. However, as the season goes on, Alice Braga’s on-screen character grows more and more bloodthirsty and revenge-hungry. Mendoza did not create this planet, but she would eventually come to dominate it none the less.
Marlo Stanfield (The Wire)
The ‘lord’ in drug lord is Marlo Stanfield, as portrayed by Jamie Hector. The twentysomething, facing one of the most influential individuals in the city, sported a proud “f-ck around” attitude until he made the decision to come clean.
Reese Feldman (Starsky & Hutch)
A 1975 masterpiece, Starsky & Hutch offers a novel perspective on the buddy police genre. The captivating drug lord Resse Feldman, whose favorite pastime was murdering people, is what many people may remember about this film. One of Vince Vaughn’s most famous lines is “to access his unhinged personality.”
Tommy Bundy (Belly)
Unadulterated and authentic Tommy Bundy from Belly is a character you might run into in the local park or restaurant. In contrast to his contemporaries, who were dressed in opulent suits and Armani shoes, DMX’s persona chose to dress more modestly in a white shirt and basic jeans.
Louie Fomorowski (The Man with the Golden Arm)
Frank Sinatra’s performance of The Man with the Golden Arm is the one that most people remember. Many people might not be aware of the intense debate that erupted around this movie when it was first released in 1955. At the time, drugs and drug addiction were still taboo topics, which made this film a groundbreaking endeavor.
Milo (The Pusher Trilogy)
Milo was a little more of a human being than the other Kingpins on our list, but he was still untouchable. Zlatko Burić’s character in The Pusher was definitely the best dog in town, but his devotion for his child made him stand out from many of his fictional predecessors.
Carter Verone (2 Fast 2 Furious)
One of the first antagonists in the Fast and Furious series was Carter Verone. Like everyone else on the list, he would kill without hesitation, but his method was to subject his opponents to excruciating anguish to the point where they would want to die; cue the rat scene.
Big Worm (Friday)
Friday from 1995 plays with the humor of being in debt to a drug dealer. Big Worm is a surprising antagonist despite not fitting in with some of the other names on this list due to his short fuse and inability to foresee what foolish act will make him snap.
Li’l Zé (City of God)
Li’l Zé from City of God is arguably one of the most malevolent Kingpins on our list. He was ravenous for fame and power and would stop at nothing to obtain his goals.Leandro Firmino da Hora portrayed the demonic figure in human form. The Brazilian favela’s director ruled with an iron grip, using his methods to turn the tables on him.
Esteban Calderone (Miami Vice)
You do not want Esteban Calderone to be your adversary. That Miami Vice villain would shoot you in the head as a warning; he is vicious and terrifying. The Head of the Calderone cartel, played by Miguel Piñero, ran drugs as a family company while dodging the government for many years.
Ted Jones (Pineapple Express)
The film on this list that offers a unique and humorous perspective on the drug-ridden underworld is Pineapple Express. Despite having a cast that includes well-known actors like James Franco and Seth Rogan, the film’s true star was the extremely gifted Gary Cole’s portrayal of the wonderfully scary antagonist Ted Jones. Throughout his storyline in the movie, the drug lord posed a threat to the community.
Antonio Fouchet (Bad Boys)
The Frech Drung Lord, Antoine Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo), epitomized the big, evil villain, and people were immediately cheering against him. It was evident right away that crossing the Kingpin is something you should never do in your wildest fantasies.
Drexl Spivey (True Romance)
The primary foe of the first quarter of this iconic 1993 action-romance was Drexl Spivey. Gary Oldman’s Spivey, who is characterized by some of the most intense romance, is the ideal antagonist for the star-crossed lovers at the start of the film. Even though the character doesn’t live to tell the whole story, his manner and utter malice are enough to make for an excellent read.
