10 Movies Where The Protagonist Is Also The Villain

Summary

• Villain protagonists in movies are used to explore the darkest aspects of the human psyche.
• Some of the best crime movies feature morally depraved protagonists driven by greed.
• Villain-focused movies like
  Joker
  and
  Nightcrawler
  delve into toxic mentalities and societal issues.

Movies where the protagonist is also the villain tend to be from the horror and/or thriller genres, but there are possibilities beyond this. Everyone loves a good villain in the same vein as the best Disney villains who are pure evil, but movies where the main character is the villain are inherently darker. This structure is typically used to delve into the most disturbing aspects of the human psyche and what crimes a person will commit to get what they want.

Several of the best crime movies to watch over and over are led by characters who are arguably the villain, as the whole point of the story is their morally depraved actions to increase their power. Other villain protagonists may be vigilante crusaders who take their noble intentions too far or are just generally destructive. For as long as people like watching movies with villains, an occasional movie entirely about a villain will be interesting, further exploring this basic character framework of someone who harms others.

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Related 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.

10 Scarface (1983)

Tony Montana (Al Pacino)

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Al Pacino is one of the most famous gangster actors of all time, leading both Scarface and The Godfather as a character who is undeniably a villain when his activities aren’t any better than those who oppose him. Pacino’s second big crime drama follows an aspiring crime boss building his empire rather than inheriting it. However, this means that there are only that many more heinous crimes for him to commit to rise to the top.

The worst things Tony Montana does in Scarface include but are not limited to many murders and having his own sister beaten up for dating someone he didn’t approve of. Most crime movies like this lean into the theme of threats and violence wielded to maintain power. Characters like Tony Montana and Michael Corleone always expect to get what they want and terrorize their enemies, business partners, and families to make sure this happens. They both achieve enormous wealth at the cost of their moral integrity, destroying most relationships in their lives as a result.

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Brian De Palma’s iconic crime drama is loosely based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who begins a life of crime after arriving in Miami. It chronicles his rise from a penniless thug to one of the richest and most ruthless kingpins in the world, amassing a criminal empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Director Brian De Palma Release Date December 9, 1983 Writers Oliver Stone , Howard Hawks , Ben Hecht Cast Al Pacino , Michelle Pfeiffer , Robert Loggia , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Miriam Colon , F. Murray Abraham Runtime 170 minutes

9 The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio)

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The Wolf of Wall Street bears resemblance to the rest of Martin Scorsese’s crime epics as well as The Godfather and Scarface, but with a more modern streak. Based on the true story of criminal stockbrokers, The Wolf of Wall Street is almost nothing but greed and depravity. The multi-Oscar-nominee is framed to give rise to dark comedy and showcase Jordan Belfort’s perspective, as it is based on his post-prison autobiography. However, no one is likely to excuse what he does.

As he climbs the ranks in his profession as a stockbroker, Jordan commits massive fraud to grow his own fortune. Along the way, Jordan is also generally terrible to his family, ditching one wife for a younger woman he meets at a party and eventually driving her to leave him as well. Few of Scorsese’s characters are moral paragons when the legendary director is so fascinated with patterns of greed and corruption in American history.

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Directed by Martin Scorcese, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), based on his memoir of the same name. It chronicles the rise of Belfort and the subsequent corruption of his firm as he engages in a wide assortment of criminal acts while amassing a staggering fortune. Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Kyle Chandler also star alongside DiCaprio.

Director Martin Scorsese Release Date December 25, 2013 Writers Terence Winter Cast Leonardo DiCaprio , Jonah Hill , Margot Robbie , Kyle Chandler , Matthew McConaughey , Rob Reiner , Jon Bernthal , Jon Favreau Runtime 180 Minutes

8 A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell)

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There isn’t much to say about Alex DeLarge, one of the most famous villains to get his own movie in history. Alex and his gang are murderers and rapists who run rampant in the streets of a dystopian Britain with no remorse, leading the movie to depict some controversial, ultra-violent scenes. This is the preamble for the movie’s main premise of Alex getting arrested and undergoing horrific reconditioning to become repulsed by violence, then the aftermath when he is released.

The genre conventions of dystopias and the deeply unsettling Ludovico treatment scenes might lead people to the conclusion that the British government is A Clockwork Orange‘s villainous entity. Alex’s relationship with it is perilous, but that doesn’t make him a better person. The movie isn’t meant to achieve any kind of redemption for him but to pose bigger, disturbing philosophical questions about his life of violence and where it leads him.

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Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s 1962 dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange presents a dark future where violent gangs roam the streets. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is a sadistic gang member who gets arrested and subjected to a controversial form of behavior therapy.

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Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date February 2, 1972 Writers Stanley Kubrick , Anthony Burgess Cast Malcolm McDowell , Patrick Magee , Michael Bates , Warren Clarke , John Clive , Adrienne Corri Runtime 136 minutes

7 Tragedy Girls (2017)

Sadie & McKayla (Brianna Hildenbrand & Alexandra Shipp)

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If Carrie is the villain of her movie, then Sadie and McKayla are certainly the villains of theirs. Tragedy Girls demonstrates two teenage girls’ desire for success, being laughed at for their few followers as they try to build an online brand. However, like many other high school-centric thrillers, teenage angst and wants manifest in murder when Sadie and McKayala start killing their classmates to fuel their new true crime blog.

Sadie and McKayla commit murder for superficial reasons and are only rewarded for it.

Sadie and McKayla commit murder for superficial reasons and are only rewarded for it. Tragedy Girls is a classic villain-focused movie in that it shows the main characters being ridiculously horrible and doesn’t offer a moral lesson. What’s left to discuss is whether Tragedy Girls offers some commentary on today’s high school experience, perhaps showcasing the desperation for online popularity in the form of a modern slasher.

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Tragedy Girls is a 2017 satirical horror-comedy film directed by Tyler MacIntyre. The film follows high school best friends Sadie Cunningham (Brianna Hildebrand) and McKayla Hooper (Alexandra Shipp) who run a true crime blog. They take their passion for criminology to the next level by capturing a serial killer and committing murders themselves to boost their online fame.

Director Tyler MacIntyre Release Date October 20, 2017 Writers Chris Lee Hill , Tyler MacIntyre , Justin Olson Cast Rosalind Chao , Alexandra Shipp , Craig Robinson , Jack Quaid , Kevin Durand , Nicky Whelan , Austin Abrams , Josh Hutcherson , Brianna Hildebrand

6 Nightcrawler (2014)

Louis Bloom (Jaeke Gyllenhaal)

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Louis “Lou” Bloom is an intensely creepy character, resolutely unbothered by what he does to become a successful crime journalist. This includes constantly pressuring his sole employee into putting himself into increasingly dangerous situations, holding the promise of an eventual promotion and the paycheck Rick badly needs over his head. Meanwhile, Lou sexually harasses Nina, a news producer who depends on the footage Lou sells her to further her own career.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance sells the entire thing as a completely irredeemable villain protagonist, with the movie’s only purpose being to show how far he will go. His complete emotional detachment from all that he does is the most disturbing part, illustrating how people will make calculated choices with no concern for morality. Nightcrawler might not give people the ending they want concerning Lou’s character.

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Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler follows petty thief Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) after he learns of a potentially lucrative job opportunity selling footage of violent events to local media outlets. Lou becomes a “stringer” – a freelance journalist who captures and records footage for news stations – and finds that the profession sucks him into the most dangerous parts of Los Angeles. Drawn deeper into his dark obsession, Lou becomes increasingly fixated with violence and crime.  

Director Dan Gilroy Release Date October 31, 2014 Writers Dan Gilroy Cast Riz Ahmed , Bill Paxton , Jake Gyllenhaal , Rene Russo , Kevin Rahm , Michael Hyatt , Ann Cusack Runtime 117 Minutes

Related 10 Most Chilling Movie Villains That Aren’t From Horror Films

While horror movies are known for having visceral, terrifying villains, many of the most chilling antagonists come from non-horror films.

5 American Psycho (2000)

Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale)

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There isn’t that much to American Psycho beyond what the title suggests. The main character is a bored banking executive who moonlights as a serial killer, taking out his friends, colleagues, and people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The audience gets the thriller part of the movie from watching the slasher from the perspective of the murderer. Maybe there is something there about basic human nature, but the protagonist is still indulging in violent tendencies in service of this philosophy.

American Psycho‘s ending complicates this seemingly simple premise. If all of Patrick’s murders never even happened, his villain status is innately different. However, Patrick is not an especially likable character without all the murders. While it may be framed by a dream-like scenario, American Psycho is about an egotistical man envisioning how he can be even more terrible to those around him.

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Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) an investment banker in New York in 1987 who leads a double life as a serial killer. As investigators circle Bateman after the disappearance of a colleague, he finds himself trapped in a spiral of murder and excess, unable to stop himself from giving in to his increasingly dark urges. Also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon. 

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Director Mary Harron Release Date April 14, 2000 Writers Bret Easton Ellis , Mary Harron , Guinevere Turner Cast Jared Leto , Reese Witherspoon , Chloe Sevigny , Willem Dafoe , Justin Theroux , Christian Bale Runtime 101 minutes

4 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman/Chris Sarandon)

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The Nightmare Before Christmas technically does give the audience another villain — the iconic Oogie Boogie — so Jack can exist separately as a protagonist who ruins everything through his hubris. However, Oogie Boogie’s isolation prevents him from being a villain in the way people expect; he spends the whole movie in his lair and the only reason he ends up with Santa in his grasp is Jack. Jack is the character with the agency and the resources to spark conflict in a way only a villain can.

Ultimately, Jack’s inadvertent villainy is the only reason The Nightmare Before Christmas happens.

After garnering some sympathy with his musical illustration of discontentment, Jack embarks on one misadventure after another that causes misery for others. He is terrifyingly arrogant; even if he could execute Christmas correctly, he still has no right to take the holiday from the people who usually create it. Ultimately, Jack’s inadvertent villainy is the only reason The Nightmare Before Christmas happens.

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PGAnimationFantasyHoliday

Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.

Director Henry Selick Release Date October 29, 1993 Writers Caroline Thompson Cast Catherine O’Hara , Glenn Shadix , Ken Page , William Hickey , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Danny Elfman Runtime 76 minutes

3 Shattered Glass (2003)

Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen)

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Shattered Glass presents Stephen Glass in a uniquely sympathetic light which is tempting to buy into, even if a viewer goes into this movie with the context of Glass’ real downfall. The staff of The New Republic are fiercely loyal to each other, with one co-worker wondering if she should quit in protest of Stephen being scrutinized. The initial discrepancies in Stephen’s articles seem like they could be genuine misunderstandings and mistakes, but there are hints at a bigger problem.

As the movie goes on, Stephen becomes less likable, coming across as whiny and a producer of inexcusably shoddy work. It eventually becomes clear that he blatantly made up stories to further his career and is manipulating his editor and co-workers at every turn to maintain their sympathy. Satisfaction only comes in Shattered Glass when the rest of The New Republic accepts that they need to disavow Stephen and proudly draft an apology to their readers.

2 Fight Club (1999)

Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt)

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Fight Club depicts toxic masculinity and the battle against a capitalist culture taken to the extreme, spearheaded by the enigmatic and destructive figure of Tyler Durden. The Narrator, deeply bored and philosophically disillusioned with his life, conjures up Tyler to make things more interesting. While it initially seems like the Narrator and Tyler are just running a fight club and living outside the norm with willing conspirators, their movement turns into a dangerous plot to destroy the world.

To its credit, Fight Club vividly illustrates the mind-numbing mundanity of the corporate world and consumerism as the characters see it, and how they believe it threatens them personally. However, Tyler then plots a series of bombings to launch society into chaos and destroy the true oppressor of civilization itself. Fight Club‘s violent ending shows that while Tyler might have been a tempting idea for the Narrator, he was poisonous and dangerous all along.

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Fight Club, David Fincher’s 1999 thriller starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter, is the cinematic adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s eponymous 1996 novel. In it, reckless soapmaker Tyler Durden helps the desolate Narrator find meaning in his monotonous life by creating an underground fight club where dejected men release their frustration in the form of fistfights.

Director David Fincher Release Date October 15, 1999 Writers Jim Uhls Cast Brad Pitt , Meat Loaf , Edward Norton , Jared Leto , Helena Bonham Carter Runtime 139 minutes

Related 10 Great Movies Where The Heroes Were The Villains All Along

Movies that turn their heroes into villains can surprise audiences, subvert their expectations, or pave new pathways for cinematic storytelling.

1 Joker (2019)

Arthur Fleck/Joker (Joaquin Phoenix)

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Each subsequent take on Batman arguably gets better at addressing the wealth gap in Gotham City that gives rise to some of the most famous Batman villains. In Joker, Arthur and his mother are extremely poor, making it more difficult for Arthur to care for her and get the treatment he needs for his mental health condition. While other people in Gotham are already angry at the wealthy class that the Waynes represent, Arthur is given additional reason to hate them when his mother claims that Thomas Wayne is his father.

Joker shows how a series of bad circumstances give rise to the Joker, who is still a villain when he takes out his anger towards the Waynes and the rich by inciting anarchy that will only lead to death and destruction. The movie is a psychological thriller, showing the human side of the Joker in one possible origin story. However, it is a case in point for movies with a villain protagonist, as people would have seen the marketing and gone to see Joker expecting a movie that indulges in the main character’s villainy.

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Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.

Director Todd Phillips Release Date October 2, 2019 Writers Todd Phillips , Scott Silver Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Robert De Niro , Zazie Beetz , Frances Conroy , Brett Cullen , Shea Whigham Runtime 122 minutes

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