Sometimes a great villain is so compelling that they are brought back as an ally, or they undergo a redemption arc to salvage their reputations. In long-running franchises, popular villains can stick around in different ways. On the other hand, some characters go from evil to lovable in just one movie. These are usually some of the most interesting characters, since they are layered and multifaceted.
Characters with both good and badin them are more realistic, and seeing their transformative journey can make them the highlight of their movies or their franchises. Just because a character starts off as an evil villain doesn’t mean that they will always remain that way. As long as they have understandable motives and something relatable about them, they could eventually became fan favorite characters, just like the heroes.
8 Times We Secretly Agreed With The Villain
Villains whom audiences can partially agree with drive stories about the protagonist recognizing their failures, even as they fight the villain.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
When Loki is first introduced inThor, he is a conniving pretender to the Asgardian throne, willing to do whatever it takes to get both Thor and Odin out of his way. A year later, he returns for the firstAvengersmovie with even more hate in his heart. His attempt to take over the Earth and subjugate all humans under his autocratic rule makes him the perfect first villain for the Avengers to team up against.
Even at his most evil, Loki is all about mischief and deceit. This makes him seem tame in comparison to some of the MCU’s other villains.
Since being defeated in the Battle of New York and tossed around like a rag doll by Hulk, Loki’s character has undergone some major changes. Even at his most evil, Loki is all about mischief and deceit. This makes him seem tame in comparison to some of the MCU’s other villains. With Tom Hiddleston’s charming performances and some good humor,Loki has slowly redeemed himself and become a fan-favorite character.Lokiseason 2’s endingshows just how much the character has changed.
The Fate of the Furious (2017)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)
Fast X (2023)
Jason Statham’sFast and Furiouscharacter is teased in a mid-credits scene at the end ofFast & Furious 6,and he makes a splash when he finally appears inFurious 7,two years later. Deckard Shaw is a volatile villain who seeks revenge for his brother Owen. He even kills Han, or at least he believes he does, and he pursues the rest of Dom’s crew in America shortly after.
By switching over to becoming one of Dom’s allies, Statham gets the chance to show off his underrated comedy chops.
Deckard teams up with Mose Jakande to get to Dom, proving that his quest for vengeance has no limits. Statham makes a great addition to theFast and Furiousfranchise, so, fortunately,Deckard’s arrest at the end ofFurious 7is just the beginning of the character’s story. Statham gets to show off his martial arts skills in Deckard’s prison escape scene, and by switching over to becoming one of Dom’s allies, Statham also has the chance to show off his underrated comedy chops. It seems as though Deckard will play a part in thefinalFast and Furiousmovie.
Ratatouilleis one ofPixar’s best movies, and Anton Ego has an important role to play. The snooty food critic is the hardest man to impress in Paris, and he represents the stuffy high-society types who usually shun unorthodox approaches. IfRatatouillecan be seen as a metaphor for the artistic process, Anton embodies an artist’s fear that their work will never be good enough or serious enough.
IfRatatouillecan be seen as a metaphor for the artistic process, Anton embodies an artist’s fear that their work will never be good enough or serious enough.
Ultimately, Anton’s cool demeanor dissolves when he tastes the dish Remy prepares for him. He is immediately transported back to his childhood, and this experience reconnects him with his passion for good food.His glowing review for Gusteau’s is as much an admission of his arrogance as he is likely to muster, but his appearance at the restaurant at the end ofRatatouilleshows that he has made a permanent change.
7Severus Snape
Harry Potter
One of the big problems facingHBO’sHarry PotterTV serieswill be casting Professor Severus Snape. Not only was Alan Rickman J.K. Rowling’s personal choice for the role, but he quickly became synonymous with the character. Rickman’s slow, ponderous voice is perfect for Snape, since the potions professor is a mysterious figure with a hint of danger. It takes years before Harry figures him out.
The potions professor is a mysterious figure with a hint of danger. It takes years before Harry figures him out.
Snape initially appears to be a stern disciplinarian who gives favorable treatment to Slytherins, and particularly unfavorable treatment to Harry and his fellow Gryffindors. Ultimately, Snape isn’t as evil as he seems. He may have some darkness within him, but he works as a double agent for Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. His treatment of Harry is tied to his tragic backstory, which makes him even more sympathetic.Harry eventually names one of his children after Snape,showing how drastically his opinions on the professor change.
Boromir isn’t truly evil, but he is tempted by the power of the ring,and he’s the one member of the Fellowship Frodo feels he has to keep a wary eye on as they travel toward Mordor. Boromir wants to use the ring to fight against Sauron, and to provide Gondor with greater strength than their enemies in Middle Earth. Eventually, his greed takes over, and he tries to forcefully take the ring from Frodo.
By fighting to protect Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai, Boromir submits himself to the most heroic death possible.
Although Boromir reaches a low point near the end ofTheFellowship of the Ring,he comes to his senses and lays his body on the line to protect his allies. By fighting to protect Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai, Boromir submits himself to the most heroic death possible. He also reconciles his petty feud with Aragorn before drawing his last breath, ensuring that Boromir is remembered as a noble warrior, and he isn’t defined by his lust for the ring’s power.
TheSonic the Hedgehogmovies didn’t introduce every popular video game at once, meaning that Knuckles has a lot more focus inSonic the Hedgehog 2than he would have had in the first movie. He starts out by allying himself with Dr. Robotnik in his search for the Master Emerald, but he gradually realizes just how evil Robotnik is, and he switches over to Sonic’s side.
Even when he is looking for the Master Emerald, he has more noble motivations than Dr. Robotnik, and he never shows such a callous disregard for life.
Even when he is looking for the Master Emerald, he has more noble motivations than Dr. Robotnik, and he never shows such a callous disregard for life. Knuckles always has more in common with Sonic than Dr. Robotnik, even if their goals are briefly opposed.It’s satisfying when the two heroes eventually team up, along with Tails, and they seem like a natural trio ahead ofSonic the Hedgehog 3,where they will face Shadow.
4Captain Hector Barbossa
Pirates of the Caribbean
Captain Barbossa is introduced as the cursed captain of the Black Pearl in the firstPirates of the Caribbeanmovie. From betraying Jack Sparrow to terrorizing Port Royal, Barbossa embodies the lawless villainy of pirates. Geoffrey Rush reprises his role in all fourPirates of the Caribbeansequels, and his character slowly becomes a trusted ally and a more virtuous individual.
He dies to save his daughter’s life, resolving his story and proving that he has become more selfless and loving.
Barbossa’s difficult relationship with Jack marks him out as a villain in the first movie, buthe is far from the only person who has made an enemy of Captain Jack Sparrow.Once the squabbling duo put their feud behind them, Barbossa accompanies Jack, Will and Elizabeth on plenty of perilous adventures. He dies to save his daughter’s life, resolving his story and proving that he has become more selfless and loving.
3Darth Vader
Star Wars
As one of the most terrifying movie villains in history, Darth Vader’s crimes far outweigh his meager redemption, but his final moments do show the human side behind the mask. By sacrificing himself to kill the Emperor, Darth Vader shows that he still has some connection to his former self, and he hasn’t been totally consumed by the dark side of the force. He shares one emotional moment with his son before he dies.
With his iconic helmet off, Darth Vader looks weak and almost pitiful.
With his iconic helmet off, Darth Vader looks weak and almost pitiful. His appearance reflects the humanity that he conceals from everyone else, and the toll that the dark side has taken on him. It’s easy to feel sympathy for him in his dying moments, but the prequel trilogy showed that his fearsome reputation was well-earned.It’s debatable whether Darth Vader’s final heroic deed makes up for Anakin slaying the younglings or not.
Sam Rockwell delivers a career-defining performance in Martin McDonagh’sThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,as he shows his ability to get a laugh out of even the darkest circumstances. He plays Jason Dixon, an alcoholic cop who enjoys wielding his small amount of power over the populace of his small town. Jason’s life is ruled by his bitterness and hatred.
Once Jason receives a letter from his deceased chief of police and friend, Bill Willoughby, his outlook begins to change.
Once Jason receives a letter from his deceased chief of police and friend, Bill Willoughby, his outlook begins to change. He apologizes to Welby, who he recently tossed out of a window, and begins a path of redemption. Eventually, Jason tries to help Mildred in any way he can. He still has his own problems to deal with, butsimplytrying to be a better person is a big step, especially considering who Jason was before.
1The Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
EveryGrinchmoviewhich adapts Dr. Seuss' beloved Christmas classic follows the story of a misanthropic grump who discovers the joy of Christmas and community.The Grinch’s heart grows three sizes, which is just about the most radical character change possible. In less than 30 minutes,How the Grinch Stole Christmasestablishes his character and flips it on its head.
The expressive animation highlights the Grinch’s transformation from serial thief to lovable hero.
With an animation style directly inspired by Dr. Seuss' illustrations and a heartwarming soundtrack, the original adaptation ofHow the Grinch Stole Christmasis still the sweetest. The expressive animation highlights the Grinch’s transformation from serial thief to lovable hero, as he sheds his hunched-over plodding in favor of a more upright posture with his bright blue eyes shining out.
