12 Movie Villains Who Were Really the Heroes

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 03/29/2025 in ftw

Every compelling villain needs a strong motive, something that makes you question your own values and see the truth from multiple perspectives.

But some movies are a little too good with their backstories and a little too weak with their protagonists.

The result?

A movie where the bad guys are really the heroes.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club
Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.
2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully
He’s just an exterminator called to do his job. Instead, he’s attacked by an army of insects.
3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin
Mr. Freeze is only trying to save his wife.
4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy inadvertently killed her sister and stole her shoes. The Witch had every right to hate her. And that’s without the “Wicked” backstory.
5. Bruce, Jaws
Bruce is a shark. He’s just trying to eat.
6. Tom, Tom & Jerry
Tom is just a house car trying to do his job. Jerry is the intrusive pest.
7. Ice Man, Top Gun
Ice Man is right, Maverick is dangerous. He is a threat to himself, his copilot, and every other friendly airplane out there.
8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan
Peter Pan discards young men when they grow up, and Captain Hook leads those men against him. Tinkerbell also betrays them all because she's jealous that Wendy's getting all the attention.
9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise
Humans were never going to peacefully coexist with mutants. War against mutants WAS inevitable.
10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy is right that the natural side of the Earth is in grave peril, thanks to humanity’s actions.
11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder
The God slayer was right. The Gods were selfish, pleasing themselves and for the most part ignoring the needs of their followers.
12. Loki, The Avengers
“He thought that he was hot and should get to rule the world. He was right.”

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club
Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.
2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully
He’s just an exterminator called to do his job. Instead, he’s attacked by an army of insects.
3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin
Mr. Freeze is only trying to save his wife.
4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy inadvertently killed her sister and stole her shoes. The Witch had every right to hate her. And that’s without the “Wicked” backstory.
5. Bruce, Jaws
Bruce is a shark. He’s just trying to eat.
6. Tom, Tom & Jerry
Tom is just a house car trying to do his job. Jerry is the intrusive pest.
7. Ice Man, Top Gun
Ice Man is right, Maverick is dangerous. He is a threat to himself, his copilot, and every other friendly airplane out there.
8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan
Peter Pan discards young men when they grow up, and Captain Hook leads those men against him. Tinkerbell also betrays them all because she's jealous that Wendy's getting all the attention.
9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise
Humans were never going to peacefully coexist with mutants. War against mutants WAS inevitable.
10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy is right that the natural side of the Earth is in grave peril, thanks to humanity’s actions.
11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder
The God slayer was right. The Gods were selfish, pleasing themselves and for the most part ignoring the needs of their followers.
12. Loki, The Avengers
“He thought that he was hot and should get to rule the world. He was right.”

Share This Image

REPLAY GALLERY
Share on Facebook

Replay
12 Movie Villains Who Were Really the Heroes

NEXT GALLERY
20 Photos Of The Most 1970s Things In Existence

RELATED MEDIA

Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club
Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.

12/12

1/12

Share
Tweet
Flip
Email
Pin It

Categories: Ftw Movies Pop Culture

Tags: movies pop_culture ftw

NEXT GALLERY 20 Photos Of The Most 1970s Things In Existence

12 Movie Villains Who Were Really the Heroes

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club
Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.

2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully
He’s just an exterminator called to do his job. Instead, he’s attacked by an army of insects.

3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin
Mr. Freeze is only trying to save his wife.

4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy inadvertently killed her sister and stole her shoes. The Witch had every right to hate her. And that’s without the “Wicked” backstory.

5. Bruce, Jaws
Bruce is a shark. He’s just trying to eat.

6. Tom, Tom & Jerry
Tom is just a house car trying to do his job. Jerry is the intrusive pest.

7. Ice Man, Top Gun
Ice Man is right, Maverick is dangerous. He is a threat to himself, his copilot, and every other friendly airplane out there.

8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan
Peter Pan discards young men when they grow up, and Captain Hook leads those men against him. Tinkerbell also betrays them all because she's jealous that Wendy's getting all the attention.

9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise
Humans were never going to peacefully coexist with mutants. War against mutants WAS inevitable.

10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy is right that the natural side of the Earth is in grave peril, thanks to humanity’s actions.

11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder
The God slayer was right. The Gods were selfish, pleasing themselves and for the most part ignoring the needs of their followers.

12. Loki, The Avengers
“He thought that he was hot and should get to rule the world. He was right.”

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club

2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully

3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin

4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz

5. Bruce, Jaws

6. Tom, Tom & Jerry

7. Ice Man, Top Gun

8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan

9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise

10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin

11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder

12. Loki, The Avengers

Share This Image

2 Comments

eBaum's Picks

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.

2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully He’s just an exterminator called to do his job. Instead, he’s attacked by an army of insects.

3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin Mr. Freeze is only trying to save his wife.

4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz Dorothy inadvertently killed her sister and stole her shoes. The Witch had every right to hate her. And that’s without the “Wicked” backstory.

5. Bruce, Jaws Bruce is a shark. He’s just trying to eat.

6. Tom, Tom & Jerry Tom is just a house car trying to do his job. Jerry is the intrusive pest.

7. Ice Man, Top Gun Ice Man is right, Maverick is dangerous. He is a threat to himself, his copilot, and every other friendly airplane out there.

8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan Peter Pan discards young men when they grow up, and Captain Hook leads those men against him. Tinkerbell also betrays them all because she's jealous that Wendy's getting all the attention.

9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise Humans were never going to peacefully coexist with mutants. War against mutants WAS inevitable.

10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin Poison Ivy is right that the natural side of the Earth is in grave peril, thanks to humanity’s actions.

11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder The God slayer was right. The Gods were selfish, pleasing themselves and for the most part ignoring the needs of their followers.

12. Loki, The Avengers “He thought that he was hot and should get to rule the world. He was right.”

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club

2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully

3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin

4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz

5. Bruce, Jaws

6. Tom, Tom & Jerry

7. Ice Man, Top Gun

8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan

9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise

10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin

11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder

12. Loki, The Avengers

Share This Image

2 Comments

eBaum's Picks

1. Principal Vernon, The Breakfast Club
Most of the kids ARE very disrespectful and selfish.

2. The Exterminator, The Ant Bully
He’s just an exterminator called to do his job. Instead, he’s attacked by an army of insects.

3. Mr. Freeze, Batman & Robin
Mr. Freeze is only trying to save his wife.

4. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy inadvertently killed her sister and stole her shoes. The Witch had every right to hate her. And that’s without the “Wicked” backstory.

5. Bruce, Jaws
Bruce is a shark. He’s just trying to eat.

6. Tom, Tom & Jerry
Tom is just a house car trying to do his job. Jerry is the intrusive pest.

7. Ice Man, Top Gun
Ice Man is right, Maverick is dangerous. He is a threat to himself, his copilot, and every other friendly airplane out there.

8. Captain Hook, Peter Pan
Peter Pan discards young men when they grow up, and Captain Hook leads those men against him. Tinkerbell also betrays them all because she's jealous that Wendy's getting all the attention.

9. Magneto, The X-Men Franchise
Humans were never going to peacefully coexist with mutants. War against mutants WAS inevitable.

10. Poison Ivy, Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy is right that the natural side of the Earth is in grave peril, thanks to humanity’s actions.

11. Gorr, Thor: Love and Thunder
The God slayer was right. The Gods were selfish, pleasing themselves and for the most part ignoring the needs of their followers.

12. Loki, The Avengers
“He thought that he was hot and should get to rule the world. He was right.”