When it comes to background screening, red flags matter—whether it's a gap in employment history or, say, a tendency to destroy cities with zero remorse. At Bchex, we take background checks seriously, but even we like to have a little fun with the process once in a while.
So what if Hollywood's most notorious villains tried to land a job in today’s competitive job market? Here's how they’d hold up under a thorough screening (spoiler: not well).
1. Darth Vader
Crimes: Planetary destruction, terrorism, multiple counts of homicide
Why He'd Fail: You can’t just change your name and hope HR doesn’t notice. Between his war crimes, poor anger management, and literal breath-control issues, he’d never make it past a criminal background check.
2. The Joker
Crimes: Arson, armed robbery, mass chaos, no known identity
Why He'd Fail: With no verifiable name, address, or resume, this candidate is a background check’s worst nightmare. Psychological screening? Immediate disqualification.
3. Hannibal Lecter
Crimes: Multiple homicides, cannibalism, ethics violations in medicine
Why He'd Fail: His credentials check out—until you discover the criminal record. Even a brilliant mind can’t mask a history of predatory behavior (literally).
4. Lord Voldemort
Crimes: Domestic terrorism, attempted murder, forming a death cult
Why He'd Fail: Uses an alias to avoid detection, led a violent insurgency, and left no clean reference behind. No organization wants a candidate who can’t even put a nose on their application.
5. Scar (The Lion King)
Crimes: Regicide, corruption, environmental mismanagement
Why He'd Fail: A single reference check would reveal his betrayal of leadership and disastrous handling of the kingdom’s resources. Not leadership material.
6. Norman Bates
Crimes: Multiple homicides, impersonation, mental instability
Why He'd Fail: His quiet demeanor hides a deeply concerning psychological profile. Any reputable hospitality brand would pass after one glance at his background.
7. Cruella de Vil
Crimes: Animal cruelty, theft, intent to manufacture clothing from puppies
Why She'd Fail: There’s edgy fashion, and then there’s illegal fur trade. Her portfolio might raise eyebrows—and serious legal concerns.
8. Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
Crimes: Homicide, financial fraud, narcissistic psychopathy
Why He'd Fail: Bateman has a respectable résumé on paper—Wall Street firm, Ivy League education—but dig into the criminal history and you’ll find violent crimes, delusions, and an unchecked ego. He's a perfect example of why a background check should go beyond the surface.
9. Amy Dunne (Gone Girl)
Crimes: Faking her own death, framing others for murder, manipulation
Why She'd Fail: On paper, Amy is polished, articulate, and intelligent. But a background investigation would uncover a pattern of deceit, staged incidents, and emotional manipulation. High-functioning sociopaths don’t make great teammates.
10. Thanos
Crimes: Genocide, intergalactic terrorism, delusions of moral superiority
Why He'd Fail: Snapping away half the workforce isn't a viable cost-cutting strategy. Even with his “big picture” thinking, he lacks empathy, legal compliance, and basic HR awareness.
Real Lessons From Fictional Villains
While this list is a humorous take on movie villains, the real point remains: background screening matters. It’s the most effective way to protect your organization from bad hires, whether they come with a fake diploma, a sketchy employment history, or a criminal past.
At Bchex, we provide fast, thorough, and compliant screening solutions that help companies hire smart—no supervillains allowed.
