Top 10 Movie Characters You Didn't Realize Are Evil
It turns out these good guys aren't so good...Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at film characters who may appear charming but actually demonstrate villainous and selfish qualities over the course of the plot.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at film characters who may appear
00:08charming, but actually demonstrate villainous and selfish qualities over the
00:12course of the plot. Spoilers ahead.
00:1410. The Nerds – Revenge of the Nerds
00:22The raunchy comedy Revenge of the Nerds may be silly and cliched, but audiences love it.
00:28It follows a group of oddball college students who are repeatedly humiliated by athletic
00:45frat members before exacting their revenge. Yes, the jocks are terrible, and have us initially
00:51rooting for the underdogs, but do the nerds take their revenge too far? Absolutely.
00:56Becoming peeping toms and concealing one's identity to become intimate with a foe's
01:03unaware girlfriend, among other things, talk about pushing the boundaries of acceptable
01:12behavior. The film's comedic tone may downplay these depraved actions, but a closer look
01:17reveals who the true bad guys are.
01:199. Jimmy Popeye Doyle – The French Connection
01:27Popeye, from director William Friedkin's gritty 1971 classic, is a tough detective
01:33who enforces his own brand of justice through brutal means. Yet, he's somehow the film's
01:43compelling hero. Based on Robin Moore's book, The French Connection follows two
01:47hardcore New York cops determined to bust a major drug operation. Popeye, however,
01:53is not shy about using excessive force and offensive language. He's basically the embodiment
02:03of evil. In such a harsh landscape, it may be difficult to see him for what he truly
02:08is at first. But, in truth, he's a bad detective, as terrible as the criminals he pursues. Though
02:14Gene Hackman brings the charisma, his charming portrayal can no longer distract us from the
02:19character's awful nature.
02:228. Briony Tallis – Atonement
02:29Stunning and soul-crushing, Atonement is fought with as many misinterpretations as the beloved
02:35novel it adapts. The heart of this doomed romance are
02:44lovers whose lives are shattered by the precocious Briony's lie. Since the story is mainly told
02:50from her perspective, it's no surprise we sympathise with her, especially as she seems
02:55to suffer plenty. Some may argue that she was only 13 and didn't understand the consequences
03:00of her actions, but her identifying Robbie as a predator has consequences that cannot
03:06be undone.
03:07What's more, she is an intelligent child infatuated with him. Jealousy likely drives
03:21her calculated betrayal. Though portrayed convincingly, even her guilt is arguably a
03:27ruse. Her atonement only exists in her manuscript. She had us fooled all along.
03:337. Qui-Gon Jinn – Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace
03:47The legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi's master is often seen as a noble character with deep
03:51commitment to the Force. But could there be a dark side to this unconventional Jedi?
04:09George Lucas's opening chapter to an epic saga skillfully sets the stage for characters
04:14we've come to love. More importantly, it lays the foundation for Anakin Skywalker's
04:29transformation into Darth Vader. His fall into evil can be traced to Qui-Gon, who took
04:35a young Anakin from his mother, leaving her to die alone, enslaved. This painful separation
04:41caused emotional turmoil, ultimately helping Anakin's descent to the dark side. While
04:51Qui-Gon may not be an outright villain, he's certainly not blameless.
04:596. Ferris Bueller – Ferris Bueller's Day Off
05:08John Hughes' cinematic gem is loaded with memorable quotes, iconic characters, and a
05:13hilarious escapade through Chicago. Ferris, the mastermind behind this adventure, is a
05:29rebellious teenager with an undeniable charm. How could this lovable rogue ever do wrong?
05:35Doesn't he stand as the very symbol of youthful freedom and fun? Sure, Ferris may not have
05:43malicious intentions, but he lies and manipulates others to get what he wants. His family and
05:57Dean of Students Ed Rooney aren't the only ones who suffer from his antics. Indeed, even
06:03his best friend Cameron is a victim of his machinations. Let's face it, there's a thin
06:08line between Ferris being an adorable, free-spirited teenager and an unfeeling, pathological liar.
06:145. Paul Atreides – Dune Part 2
06:23Dune is a sensational adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, celebrated as a monumental
06:29achievement in science fiction. Protagonist Paul Atreides is intriguing, but the sequel
06:44imbues him with more complexity. What has become of our hero? Here we see Paul team up with Charney
06:50and the Fremen to avenge his family. However, the ending leaves us unsure of what to think
07:11of him. While he was the people's saviour in the first movie, he seems to align more
07:15closely with Herbert's original vision in Dune Part 2. Despite knowing the horrific
07:24holy war his rise to power will lead to, Paul embraces that destiny, becoming the very thing
07:29he fought against. Once god-like, he now may be the monster.
07:474. Daniel Hillard – Mrs. Doubtfire Mrs. Doubtfire tells the heartwarming story
07:57of a divorced dad learning responsibility after losing custody of his kids. Daniel is
08:05hilarious and likeable, but he arguably goes too far to win back his family. He inserts
08:10himself into their lives, manipulates them, and tries to sabotage his ex Miranda's relationship
08:16with Stu as he pretends to be the titular character. Let's not forget Stu choking
08:27at the restaurant is basically his fault. Aren't these clear signs that he's evil?
08:33In any other genre, Daniel Hillard would clearly be seen as a mean-spirited man, but in comedy,
08:38we find humour in his outrageous behaviours. Perhaps Robin Williams' brilliant performance
08:51blinds us to Daniel's more villainous traits, but that doesn't excuse them.
08:583. Willy Wonka – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
09:03Based on Roald Dahl's children's book, this whimsical classic follows Charlie, who
09:07wins a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. While Grandpa Joe might
09:20raise eyebrows, it's Willy who's truly villainous. He wants to find his heir, and
09:24doesn't care who gets harmed in the process. He also claims he saved the Oompa Loompas,
09:38but they sure don't seem happy. Beyond exploiting them, he also appears to have purposely set
09:43these kids up for failure. The children who mysteriously vanish certainly didn't deserve
09:58such harsh outcomes for not complying with Wonka's twisted morality. And what about
10:03the creepy Mr. Slugworth, who is ultimately revealed to work for him? Wonka is more than
10:09just an eccentric chocolatier, he's something of an evil genius.
10:192. John Hammond – Jurassic Park
10:30A charismatic and endearing grandfather, this central character is hardly what many would
10:35describe as a villain. While the 1993 movie portrays Hammond as sympathetic, he's depicted
10:49in a more sinister light in Michael Crichton's novel. Jurassic Park follows a group visiting
10:54a dinosaur-themed park only to discover its dangers. For playing God with nature, Hammond
11:00is largely responsible for the mishaps that occur. Even Nedry is driven to his actions
11:17because he was underpaid by Hammond. John may merely seem flawed, but prioritizing profits
11:36over human lives makes him as cold as his literary counterpart. He's simply better
11:42at hiding his dubious nature in the film.
12:061. Glinda – The Good Witch of the North – The Wizard of Oz
12:10The Wizard of Oz is regarded as a spectacular classic, despite not being a huge moneymaker
12:15upon release. The iconic villain is the Wicked Witch of the West, who relentlessly pursues
12:31Dorothy. It's Glinda, the Good Witch, who helps our protagonist.
12:40But what if we told you Glinda was a subtle villain, and Dorothy was a pawn in her scheme?
12:45By eliminating other witches, Glinda knew she'd become the most powerful one in Oz,
12:50and Dorothy was her unsuspecting ally. Doesn't that make her manipulative and self-serving?
13:03How about not initially telling our heroine that the ruby slippers are her ticket home?
13:08Or making her the Wicked Witch's target by giving them to her in the first place?
13:13That sounds like outright, calculated wickedness.
13:20Which revelation about these characters' true nature surprised you the most? Let us
13:25know in the comment section.
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