15 Sopranos Characters Ranked By Worst Behavior
The Sopranos never pretended its characters were role models.
Bad decisions, selfish instincts, and moral blind spots came baked into daily life, often blurring the line between survival and cruelty. Violence was obvious, but the quieter behavior sometimes cut deeper.
Manipulation, betrayal, emotional abuse, and casual hypocrisy piled up episode after episode, making it hard to separate personal weakness from calculated harm.
This list looks at fifteen figures whose actions caused the most harm, whether through brutality, manipulation, or the steady erosion of everyone unlucky enough to be in their orbit.
Disclaimer: This ranking reflects editorial opinion and interpretation of on-screen behavior, not definitive fact, universal consensus, or a clinical or legal judgment of any character.
1. Tony Soprano
At the heart of every broken promise and shattered life stands Tony.
His charisma masks something darker: a man who manipulates family, betrays friends, and justifies violence as business.
Self-awareness becomes his cruelest trait because he understands the harm he causes but never stops. Therapy sessions reveal his inner turmoil, yet nothing changes his actions.
Everyone around him suffers, from his wife to his children to his crew, all caught in the blast radius of his choices.
2. Ralph Cifaretto
Cruelty comes naturally to Ralph, kind of like breathing. He finds entertainment in causing pain, whether beating someone senseless or making disturbing jokes that cross every boundary imaginable.
His actions destabilize entire operations, creating chaos that ripples through both families and criminal enterprises.
Even when faced with retaliation, he shrugs and continues down his destructive path without hesitation.
3. Richie Aprile
Pure rage drives every interaction Richie has with the world.
Released from prison expecting respect, he instead finds a landscape that moved on without him, fueling his resentment.
Empathy doesn’t exist in his vocabulary. Whether hitting his girlfriend or challenging Tony’s authority, he operates on intimidation alone, refusing to adapt to changing circumstances.
Old-school brutality meets modern mob politics, and Richie can’t accept that times have changed, making him dangerously unpredictable.
4. Livia Soprano
Without ever raising a fist, she destroys her children emotionally, wielding guilt like a precision weapon that cuts deep.
Manipulation flows from her naturally, disguised as maternal concern.
Every conversation becomes a minefield where love and cruelty intertwine until you can’t tell them apart. Her influence poisons everything, even from beyond the grave.
Tony’s therapy sessions constantly circle back to the damage she inflicted throughout his childhood and beyond.
5. Christopher Moltisanti
Self-pity becomes Christopher’s defining characteristic, paired with explosive violence that erupts without warning. His dreams of Hollywood glory clash with his mob reality, creating constant internal conflict.
Addiction fuels a cycle of harm that touches everyone close to him.
Girlfriends, friends, and family all become collateral damage in his desperate attempts to fill an emptiness inside.
Repeated chances at redemption slip through his fingers because he sabotages himself every time success seems possible.
6. Phil Leotardo
Pride drives Phil to transform minor disputes into blood feuds that consume everything.
Twenty years in prison hardened him into someone who values respect above reason, making compromise impossible.
Rather than building bridges, he burns them, escalating conflicts until violence becomes the only possible outcome for everyone involved.
His rigid worldview leaves no room for negotiation, turning business disagreements into personal vendettas that end in tragedy.
7. Paulie Gualtieri
Pettiness defines Paulie’s approach to every situation, big or small.
Superstitions control his decisions, leading to bizarre conflicts that seem ridiculous until someone gets hurt over nothing.
Small cruelties add up over time, creating a trail of resentment and pain.
His inability to let anything go transforms minor slights into major confrontations that spiral out of control.
Constant complaints and paranoid suspicions make him exhausting to be around, yet his loyalty to Tony keeps him in the inner circle.
8. Janice Soprano
Emotional opportunism guides every relationship Janice enters.
She shape-shifts to match whatever situation benefits her most, discarding personalities like costume changes when they no longer serve her purposes.
Whether exploiting Bobby’s kindness or manipulating her mother’s estate, she transforms human connections into transactional arrangements that leave others empty.
Anger management issues lurk beneath her spiritual facade, erupting violently when things don’t go her way, revealing the darkness she tries desperately to hide.
9. Silvio Dante
Calm professionalism masks Silvio’s capacity for cold-blooded violence.
As Tony’s consigliere, he provides rational counsel, yet executes brutal orders without hesitation when business demands it.
His treatment of Adriana reveals the darkness beneath his composed exterior.
Leading her into the woods, he shows no mercy, demonstrating that loyalty to the organization outweighs any human consideration.
10. Carmela Soprano
She enjoys the benefits of Tony’s criminal enterprise while selectively condemning the violence that funds her lifestyle, creating cognitive dissonance she struggles with daily.
Selective blindness protects her comfortable existence.
Church attendance and charity work attempt to balance the blood money that pays for everything, though deep down she knows the truth.
By staying and accepting the luxury, she enables Tony’s behavior, making her part of the system she occasionally criticizes.
11. Tony Blundetto
Good intentions pave Tony B’s road to destruction.
Fresh from prison, he genuinely tries going straight, working legitimate jobs and avoiding his old life’s temptations with impressive determination.
However, impulsive decisions detonate everything he’s built.
One choice to settle old scores escalates tensions between New Jersey and New York, creating a war that threatens everyone involved.
His inability to control his anger ultimately seals his fate, proving that sometimes trying isn’t enough when violence lurks in your DNA.
12. Junior Soprano
Insecurity drives Junior to betray his own nephew. Unable to accept a diminished role, his ego demands respect that his position no longer commands, leading to decisions that nearly destroy the family.
Cruelty stems from wounded pride rather than pure malice.
His attempts to maintain authority through intimidation backfire repeatedly, revealing a man trapped by his own limitations and fears.
Decline eventually softens his edges as dementia clouds his memories, transforming the once-dangerous boss into a confused old man who barely remembers his crimes.
13. Furio Giunta
Imported from Italy, he brings old-world professionalism to his work, executing orders with precision that lacks the sadistic pleasure others display.
His violence serves business purposes rather than personal satisfaction.
When he intimidates or hurts someone, it’s calculated and controlled, making him a true professional in a world of volatile amateurs.
Surprisingly, his feelings for Carmela reveal humanity beneath the enforcer exterior.
14. Bobby Baccalieri
Conscience sets Bobby apart from most of the crew. His gentle nature and devotion to his family create stark contrast with the violence his position requires, making his journey particularly tragic.
Reluctance marks his entry into the darker aspects of mob life.
Unlike others who embrace the brutality, Bobby hesitates, showing visible discomfort with actions that others perform without second thought.
Complicity still defines his role despite his decency.
By participating in the organization, he enables the system, proving that being nicer than murderers doesn’t make you innocent.
15. Meadow Soprano
Privilege shapes Meadow’s worldview in ways she doesn’t fully recognize.
Growing up surrounded by luxury funded by violence, she develops moral blind spots that allow her to rationalize her father’s actions.
Despite her education and awareness, she constructs elaborate justifications for the family business, defending the indefensible with impressive mental gymnastics.
Her journey shows how environment corrupts even good intentions.
