14 of the worst onscreen neighbors

Worst Onscreen Neighbors, WandaVision, Neighbors, You — Kathryn Hahn in 'WandaVision'; Zac Efron and Dave Franco in 'Neighbors'; Penn Badgley on 'You'. Photo:
Suzanne Tenner/Marvel; Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; Netflix

If you've ever logged onto the Nextdoor app, you know that most people have at least one neighbor horror story up their sleeve (or maybe, they themselves are the problem). Proximity doesn't always guarantee harmony; neighbors can be destructive, Nosy Nellies, boundary-deficient, or literal criminals — and Hollywood has given the foulest of the lot their proper representation. These characters shine when making the lives of those nearby an ongoing nightmare, and while Mr. Heckles' (Larry Hankin) petty complaints on Friends don't quite match up to Joe Goldberg's (Penn Badgley) misdeeds on You, all earn their place on this list in their own unique ways.

Read below for the worst neighbors in movies and on TV.

Agnes/Agatha in WandaVision (2021)

Kathryn Hahn as Agatha in 'WandaVision' — Kathryn Hahn in 'WandaVision'. Suzanne Tenner/Marvel Studios

Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) rarely ever saw a day without her overbearing, babbling neighbor Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) butting into the mix. However — spoiler alert — the gossipy housewife was the supervillain witch Agatha Harkness "all along," secretly turning Wanda's seemingly idyllic life into one hell of an ordeal. (Even with being a dreadful neighbor, Agatha was far too entertaining and landed her own spinoff series, which is set to premiere on Sept. 18, 2024.) —James Mercadante

Teddy Sanders and Pete Regazolli in Neighbors (2014)

Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) and Pete Regazolli (Dave Franco) in 'Neighbors' — Dave Franco and Zac Efron in ‘Neighbors’. Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures

The namesake for their 2014 movie, Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) and Pete Regazolli (Dave Franco) are nightmare neighbors for married couple Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne). The frat boys move in next door and quickly start shenanigans on the block with their partying. —Madeline Boardman

Mr. Heckles on Friends (1994–2004)

Mr. Heckles (Larry Hankin) in Friends — From left: Larry Hankin, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, and Jennifer Aniston on 'Friends'. Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank

Mr. Heckles was an oddball nuisance for the Friends gang. He lived below Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and complained at their every step. —M.B.

Joe Goldberg on You (2018–present)

You. Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in episode 401 of You. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix Â© 2022 — Penn Badgley on 'You'. Netflix

You's Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is quite adept at convincing himself he's the good guy next door. However, his numerous acts of stalking, kidnapping, violence, and — oh, yeah — murder make it clear that the only home he should be living in is one behind bars. —J.M.

The Klopeks in The 'Burbs (1989)

Life in the suburbs isn't quite so charming in The 'Burbs thanks to the Klopeks. The Petersons are in for a surprise when they meet their new neighbors and start to theorize about the mysterious residents' seemingly dark personal lives. —M.B.

Abel Turner in Lakewood Terrace (2008)

Abel Turner (Samuel L Jackson) in Lakewood Terrace — Patrick Wilson and Samuel L. Jackson in 'Lakewood Terrace'. Chuck Zlotnick

When Chris (Patrick Wilson) and Lisa Mattson (Kerry Washington) move into their new California home, they don't expect to be greeted by Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson). The hostile neighbor sets a foreboding tone from their first meeting and only turns up the heat as the months go on. —M.B.

Dennis the Menace

First introduced as a 1950s comic character and later reinterpreted for both television and film, Dennis the Menace is a force to be reckoned with. One of the OG bad neighbors, Dennis always causes a ruckus with his various neighborhood shenanigans. —M.B.

Val Bassett (Molly Shannon) on Will & Grace (1998–2006; 2017–2020)

Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Molly Shannon in Will and Grace — From left: Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, and Molly Shannon on 'Will and Grace'.
Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Will (Eric McCormack) and Grace's (Debra Messing) upstairs resident Val Bassett (Molly Shannon) carries a whole lot of baggage, thanks to her unusual childhood, messy divorce, alcohol problem, and so forth. Val is envious of Grace's tight-knit bond with Will — sparking a never-ending rivalry — and she's obsessed with their friend Jack (Sean Hayes), even going as far as wearing his dirty bathwater around her neck and using his jockstrap as an oxygen mask. Basically, she's the original blueprint for Barry Keoghan's character in Saltburn (2023). —J.M.

Vic and Ramona in Neighbors (1981)

Vic (Dan Aykroyd) and Ramona (Cathy Moriarty) in Neighbors — Dan Aykroyd, Josh Belusi, and Cathy Moriarty in 'Neighbors'. Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Years before the duo of Zac Efron and Dave Franco, there was Dan Aykroyd and Cathy Moriarty. The famed actors play Vic and Ramona in Neighbors, a daring young couple who change the neighborhood when they move in. —M.B.

Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched (1964–1972)

Gladys Kravitz (Alice Pearce, Later Sandra Gould) on 'Bewitched' — Elizabeth Montgomery and Alice Pearce on 'Bewitched'. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

Originated by Alice Pearce and later played by Sandra Gould, the character of Gladys Kravitz provides ample neighborly fodder for Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) and Darrin Stephens (Dick York, later Dick Sargent). Gladys is nosy, obnoxious, and often causing problems for Samantha as she gets into her business. —M.B.

The Castevets in Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

The Castevets (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer) in 'Rosemary’s Baby' — Ruth Gordon and Mia Farrow in 'Rosemary's Baby'. Courtesy Everett Collection

While some people welcome their neighbors with pies or casseroles, the Castevets (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer) chose to greet Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) with a demonic presence. —M.B.

Jan Bellows on Only Murders in the Building (2021–present)

Amy Ryan in Only Murders in the Building — Amy Ryan on 'Only Murders in the Building'.
Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu

While Charles (Steve Martin) and his amateur sleuth friends (Martin Short, Selena Gomez) attempt to solve a murder that occurred in their Upper West Side apartment complex, he also embarks on a romantic fling with the neighborly bassoonist, Jan Bellows (Amy Ryan). Unfortunately, there's a lot more to Jan than what meets Charles' eye. —J.M.

Sid Phillips in Toy Story (1995)

Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) in Toy Story — Sid Phillips lighting a match in 'Toy Story'.
Disney/Pixar

Sid Phillips (voiced by Erik von Detten) is a nightmare for his toy neighbors in Toy Story. He makes his disregard for the toys known with his constant torturing and carelessness. —M.B.

The Griswolds in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Despite their favorable positioning in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the members of the expansive Griswold family (Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki) are actually the bad neighbors in question. Whether they are causing problems with their Christmas lights or making a scene with their troublesome relatives, the Griswolds are hardly preferable residents. —M.B.

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