5 Terrifying Hive Mind Villains in Movies That’ll Make You Scared of Ants

5. The Xenomorphs from Aliens (1986)

If you’re not a fan of video games where the hive mind trope is used more often than in movies, the Xenomorphs from James Cameron ’s Aliens are probably the most well-known example of a hive mind villain to you. It’s a classic interpretation of the trope, even before the telepathic connection became its obligatory part.

All the Xenomorphs, much like ants, serve one giant Queen. The Queen hatches thousands of eggs which produce Facehuggers. Those, in turn, “impregnate” other life forms with drones, the creatures we typically associate with the Xenomorphs, and the cycle continues. Exterminating these folks is impossible…but worth trying.

4. The Borg from Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

The Borgs, too, are a rather classic interpretation of the hive mind concept — but thankfully, they are not giant insect-like things. The Borg Queen exists, too, and it controls all the Borg whose sole purpose is to assimilate more living creatures into the hive mind controlled by the Queen, improving her power in the Galaxy.

The Borg are a menace as they can take over entire planets which is the optimal path for them, and their programming allows no remorse or doubt. They are equipped with unique technologies, too, which makes them more formidable and unique foes than many other hive minds who are too primitive in their ways.

3. The Bugs from Starship Troopers (1997)

Remember how we just thanked the Borg for not being giant insect-like things? Well, our next contestants are literally the Bugs — or, to give them proper respect, Arachnids. Of course, they are too big for comfort and highly advanced, and their hive mind allows them to chew through human armies with terrifying efficiency.

These scary insectoids share a telepathic connection and are coordinated by their “superiors,” making their attacks devastating and flawless. No non-hive-mind opponents stand a chance against the Bugs, but fortunately, as it often happens with hive minds, their telepathy can be used against them as well as be their weapon.

2. The Kaiju from Pacific Rim (2013)

Typically, hive minds have their own, well, minds, but not the Kaiju. These enormous monsters were artificially created for destruction, so their goals aren’t their own — but it doesn’t make them any less terrifying. One Kaiju is the equivalent of several Godzillas, and when there are more, they are borderline unstoppable.

The Kaiju, too, share a telepathic connection, allowing these giant creatures to coordinate their attacks and battle strategies. To counter them, humans had to create giant mechs that also utilize the shared mind technology. Ultimately, the only thing that can take down a Kaiju is a nuclear warhead — or an arsenal for all of them.

1. Starro from The Suicide Squad (2021)

It’s so annoying when a gigantic starfish with an unblinking hateful eye in its center sends its mini-versions to tear through people’s faces to make them part of its mind-controlled army, isn’t it? Starro sounds like a rather bizarre antagonist, but that’s only because it is; still, it’s a formidable foe that has its own hive mind.

Starro controls its smaller copies directly, as well as the people whose brains they consume. Each controlled human makes Starro stronger in both a literal and a metaphorical way, and its army makes quite an impact before the beast is finally taken down. Starro is in The Suicide Squad, not Suicide Squad, so if you’re down to watch a giant starfish’s military domination, don’t mistake these two movies.