We normally see a movie and root for the hero. They’re the good guy, after all. We want to see good triumph over evil and get a happy ending.
Sometimes, a strong performance from the actor means we end up rooting for the villain. It can be due to a sympathetic backstory, while other times, it’s due to an award-winning performance.
Whatever the reason, here are some examples of movies where the villain stole the show.
The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as The Joker rightfully earned him a posthumous Academy Award.
His portrayal of Batman’s iconic villain is not only haunting but also stands toe-to-toe with two other iconic performances: Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamill.
Star Wars
Speaking of Hamill, his performance as Luke Skywalker is exactly what Star Wars needed: a young, optimistic, and slightly naive kid ready to take on the galaxy.
However, it’s not Luke Skywalker that every kid wants to be; it’s Darth Vader. Well, at least this kid did, but can you blame me? Vader is one of the most iconic villains ever, and his presence is felt throughout the Star Wars universe.
Avengers: Infinity War
Motion Pictures.
One of the biggest reasons for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s recent struggles is the failure to build to the next major event. Of course, when Thanos isn’t waiting in the wings, it’s hard to build that even to begin with.
Josh Brolin’s performance as Thanos helped legitimize the stakes during Infinity War, especially when he succeeds and destroys half of all life in the universe. In a movie that was all about superhero team-ups, it’s Thanos who makes the biggest impact.
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No Country For Old Men
“What’s the most you’ve ever lost in a coin toss?”
That one question from Javier Bardem’s Anthon Chigur in No Country For Old Men still resonates with me after all these years. It’s the role that launched Bardem to stardom, and he delivered as one of the most frightening villains in movie history.
Die Hard
Bruce Willis is the definition of an action star, but Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber is his perfect foil, stealing the show at every chance he gets.
After all, the saying goes, “It’s not Christmas until I see Hans Gruber fall from Nakatomi Plaza,” for a reason.
The Fifth Element
Even though I just mentioned Willis’ strength as an action star, his performance as Korben Dallas in The Fifth Element feels more reminiscent of a “regular guy thrust into battle” than a bonafide hero.
So even though he’s the protagonist here, he’s outshined by Gary Oldman’s iconic performance, adding the right amount of danger and over-the-top zaniness the sci-fi classic needs.
Inglorious Basterds
Christoph Waltz doesn’t just outperform one protagonist in this Quentin Tarantino film, he outperforms them all.
Yes, the movie follows the black ops commando unit designed to instill fear in Nazis, but Waltz gives the performance of a lifetime as Hans Landa, winning an Academy Award that year for Best Supporting Actor.
The Terminator
Quick: can you name the protagonist of the original Terminator movie? Yes, it’s Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor, and we all know Linda Hamilton plays Connor, but you might have to rack your brain a little harder to remember Michael Biehn as Reese.
That’s not to knock on their performances, but let’s not beat around the bush: this is Arnold’s movie. He is the Terminator.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
And yet, in the sequel, when Arnold changes sides and plays the hero protecting John Connor, Robert Patrick’s performance steals the show.
We already know how powerful Arnold’s Terminator is, and Patrick’s performance lets us believe that the two can stand toe-to-toe against each other. There is no other worth advisory in the franchise.
Face/Off
Here’s the deal: Nic Cage is the villain of Face/Off, but since he switches faces with John Travolta, Cage is actually the protagonist, and Travolta is the villain, who is really just doing his best Nic Cage impression. Got it? Good.
Look, the plot is stupid, but we don’t watch this movie for the story. We watch it for Travolta’s overacting and its insane action.
The Silence of the Lambs
The amount of star power at the front of Silence of the Lambs is impressive, as it took home the “big four” Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress).
As good as Jodie Foster’s performance as Clarice Starling is, Anthony Hopkins’ Dr. Hannibal Lecter has left the biggest impact. From the haunting greeting of “Hello, Clarice” to the character’s legacy across several movies and a television series, Hopkins’ presence as Dr. Lecter is still felt today.
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