Many factors are involved in crafting a compelling villain for a science fiction movie. After all, the bad guys often tend to be just as (if not, more) captivating than the heroes. Of course, one key element in designing a proper villain is giving them a purpose; a clear goal for them to be trying to achieve, particularly one that directly combats the objectives of the hero. Every so often, a film takes this idea so far as to include an antagonist who, when you think about it, actually has a very valid reason for doing what they do.
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This is not to say that all of their actions are completely defensible; many villains are given that title because of the violent/excessive methods they use to achieve their goals. However, at the end of the day, it is difficult to deny that they did have understandable motivations. Having ideas that the viewers can actually sympathize with is part of what makes these characters so compelling, despite their “bad” nature. Whether the filmmakers meant for them to be or not, these sci-fi movies feature villains who weren’t quite as wrong as they first seemed.
10 Blade Runner (1982)
Roy Batty Just Wanted A Full Human Life
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Ridley Scott’s 1982 film, Blade Runner, soon proved to be one of the most impactful works of science fiction cinema ever created. Based on the novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by acclaimed sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner follows a special agent tasked with eliminating a group of artificially intelligent human-like beings called replicants.
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The primary antagonist of the film is Roy Batty (played by Rutger Hauer), a replicant determined to finally live a normal human life. Roy is portrayed as the villain of Blade Runner, but it is difficult not to feel sympathy for the character.
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9.4/10 Blade Runner RDramaSci-FiThriller
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them – but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
Release Date June 25, 1982 Runtime 117 minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Cast Harrison Ford , Rutger Hauer , Sean Young , Edward James Olmos , M. Emmet Walsh , Daryl Hannah , William Sanderson , Joe Turkel Director Ridley Scott Writers Hampton Fancher , David Webb Peoples , Philip K. Dick , Roland Kibbee Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand
Being an advanced replicant, Roy has essentially all the same qualities as a human; he has his own thoughts, memories, experiences, etc. However, he was deliberately built to only have a very limited lifespan. Roy saw injustice in the fact that he would not be able to live his life to the fullest extent, and sought to change this in the name of equality. As a viewer, it is hard to imagine a person in Roy’s shoes wanting anything different.
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9 Ghostbusters (1984)
Walter Peck Was Doing His Job As An EPA Agent
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In the 1980s, an entertaining blend of science fiction and comedy was found in the form of Ghostbusters. The iconic film follows a group of eccentric individuals who start a unique business with one goal in mind: to catch all the ghosts in New York City. Not everyone is in support of their mission, however.
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One such individual is Walter Peck, an Environmental Protection Agent who becomes determined to put a halt to their operation. Peck is consistently played off as a joke, with the main characters seldom offering any genuine attention to his concerns. Although audiences are bound to side with the main characters and their humorous antics, Peck does have a very valid point.
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8/10 Ghostbusters PG-13Action Sci-FiComedy
The beginning to the classic franchise, Ghostbusters is the 1984 film that started it all. The product of director Ivan Reitman and writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters was a comedy/sci-fi movie that puts three out-of-work parapsychologists in New York City into the unlikely role of ghost hunters when the supernatural forces begin to emerge in the city. Establishing their new business after having a ghostly encounter at the New York Public Library, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler head over to their first call from Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), who’s new unwanted supernatural houseguest will set of paranormal events that will make New York believe in the eccentric scientists. The Ghostbusters will have to live up to their reputation to have a chance against the demi-god responsible for New York’s new haunted status. Ghostbusters had a successful sequel in Ghostbusters II, followed by an all-female reboot in 2016, and a true sequel to the second entry as Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021.
Release Date June 8, 1984 Runtime 105 minutes Main Genre Comedy Cast Bill Murray , Dan Aykroyd , Sigourney Weaver , Harold Ramis , Rick Moranis , Annie Potts , Ernie Hudson Director Ivan Reitman Writers Dan Aykroyd , Harold Ramis Expand
He openly expresses his concerns that the Ghostbusters aren’t properly regulated and that they aren’t taking the proper safety precautions for their operation. This is certainly a valid opinion, especially considering the fact that this group of rather careless, little-known scientists is running around New York City with nuclear weapons. Peck merely wanted to protect not just the city, but the environment as a whole.
8 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Howard May Have Been Crazy, But He Wasn’t Wrong
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Years after the found footage horror movie, Cloverfield, was released, a drastically different take on the same universe was presented. 10 Cloverfield Lane focuses on a young woman, Michelle, who wakes up after an accident to find herself trapped in an underground bunker.
His methods of keeping Michelle there may have been unruly, but he knew the deadly threat that the outside world posed.
Howard, the man keeping her there, tells her that an alien invasion has left the outside air toxic, and that they must stay in the bunker in order to survive. As more and more information is revealed, Michelle becomes less trusting of Howard, ultimately attacking him and escaping on her own.
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10 Cloverfield Lane PG-13DramaHorrorMysterySci-FiThriller
From Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young woman who awakens after a car crash in a bunker alongside two strangers. Howard (John Goodman) tells her that it’s not safe to leave, and that he saved her life, but Michelle becomes increasingly suspicious of Howard’s motives and his past and begins to plan a daring escape to see what exactly has happened to the outside world.
Release Date March 10, 2016 Runtime 103 Minutes Main Genre Thriller Cast John Goodman , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , John Gallagher Jr. , Douglas M. Griffin , Suzanne Cryer , Bradley Cooper Director Dan Trachtenberg Writers Josh Campbell , Matthew Stuecken , Damien Chazelle Studio(s) Bad Robot Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand
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While Michelle may have been right to distrust Howard because of some of his past actions, he was right about one major thing. Staying inside the bunker was essentially the only way the characters could be safe. His methods of keeping Michelle there may have been unruly, but he knew the deadly threat that the outside world posed.
7 The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
The Facility Was Working For The Greater Good
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In adding elements of horror and comedy as well, The Cabin in the Woods stands out as a rather unique work of science fiction. Released in 2011, the film follows a group of college students who are tormented by various supernatural entities while spending a night in the titular cabin. Ultimately, it is revealed that the cabin and the creatures are controlled by an underground facility.
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The employees of the lab must routinely kill the people staying at the cabin as a sacrifice in order to prevent a group of godlike beings from rising up and destroying the world. The Cabin in the Woods ends with the surviving main characters killing the facility’s employees, unleashing all the monsters, and intentionally choosing not to finish the ritual, thus dooming all of humanity.
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8.2/10 The Cabin in the Woods RHorrorComedy
The Cabin in the Woods strictly follows the traditional slasher movie dynamic: a group of teens heads to a remote location for the weekend only to find themselves beset by monsters. However, what they don’t know is that the inevitable horrors they will face have all been arranged by a mysterious team watching from a facility deep underground.
Release Date April 13, 2012 Runtime 95 minutes Cast Richard Jenkins , Fran Kranz , Chris Hemsworth , Bradley Whitford , Kristen Connolly Director Drew Goddard Writers Drew Goddard , Joss Whedon Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Expand
The film paints the facility and its employees as purely evil, only highlighting how they are responsible for sacrificing human beings. Obviously, these actions are terrible and inhumane, but their only other option would be to ignore the ritual, and instead bring about the death of every human on Earth. Their actions were certainly not pleasant, but they did act with the clear greater good in mind.
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6 The Incredibles (2004)
Syndrome Wanted Superheroes And Regular People To Be Equal
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In 2004, Pixar made its first dive into the world of science fiction with its critically acclaimed feature, The Incredibles. The popular animated film follows a family of superheros living in a world in which having superpowers has recently become outlawed.
The film’s primary villain is Syndrome, a former fan of Mr. Incredible who eventually became spiteful and determined to take away the power that superheroes had over the rest of society. In a pivotal scene, Syndrome reveals that his plan is to sell his advanced inventions to the public, a decision which would allow everyone the ability to have superpowers, thus creating a new balance.
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15 8.5/10 The Incredibles PGAnimationAdventureActionFamily
Pixar’s The Incredibles tells the story of a super-family forced to conceal their powers. Years after superheroes were outlawed, the superpowered Parr family live a normal life. However, after his secret vigilante work uncovers a conspiracy that points to the rise of a new supervillain, Mr. Incredible must rely on the help of his wife Elastigirl and their children, Violet and Dash, to save the world from the evil Syndrome.
Release Date November 5, 2004 Runtime 115 minutes Cast Sarah Vowell , Samuel L. Jackson , Craig T. Nelson , Spencer Fox , Holly Hunter , Jason Lee Director Brad Bird Writers Brad Bird Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Expand
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Obviously, Syndrome’s decision to prepare for this by killing various superheroes is the action of a clean-cut villain. However, his ultimate goal of making superpowers attainable for anyone is actually justifiable, especially considering the looming threat of other evildoers with powers. Syndrome’s methods may have been unjust, but his intentions were understandable.
5 Black Panther (2018)
Killmonger Wanted To Share Wakanda’s Resources And Help Victims Of Oppression
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Over the years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has surely introduced its fair share of captivating villains. However, while many of them are clean-cut bad guys, one in particular has proven to be rather divisive. That character is Killmonger, the lead antagonist of Marvel’s acclaimed 2018 film, Black Panther.
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Thanks to the careful writing and Michael B. Jordan’s strong performance, Killmonger offers a refreshing level of complexity, managing to exist as a villain while still posing many valid points. In Black Panther, the nation of Wakanda exists entirely isolated from the rest of the world.
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14 9/10 Black Panther PG-13 Sci-FiDramaActionSuperhero
Black Panther is the eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and sees the titular hero return after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Set in the fictional nation of Wakanda, Black Panther sees the succession of T’Challa as the nation’s new king. However, when a mysterious soldier with ill intentions arrives with proof of his claim to the throne, the future of Wakanda is thrown into jeopardy.
Release Date February 16, 2018 Runtime 134 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Cast Chadwick Boseman , Lupita Nyong’o , Letitia Wright , Angela Bassett , Winston Duke , Michael B. Jordan , Danai Gurira , Forest Whitaker Director Ryan Coogler Writers Joe Robert Cole , Ryan Coogler Studio(s) Marvel Studios Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Expand
One of Killmonger’s goals was to open Wakanda’s borders and share its vast resources and advanced technologies with the world, knowing how many oppressed people desperately needed their help. He wanted to do everything he could to empower the people who had been victimized for so many years. Unfortunately, he took these ideas to a dangerous, violent extent, thus painting himself as a villain. While his methods proved to be excessive, Killmonger stood for ideas that could at least inspire much debate among viewers.
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4 The X-Men Series (2000-2019)
Magneto Proved Right To Be Skeptical Of Humans
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While a wide range of bad guys appear throughout the X-Men film franchise, the most prominent antagonist in the series is undoubtedly Magneto. An extremely powerful mutant, Magneto had the ability to manipulate various types of metal, giving him a high level of control over the world around him. As the result of his tragic past, Magneto was determined to create a world in which mutants have surpassed humans as the most dominant beings on Earth.
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The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
Movie(s) X-Men (2000) , X2 , X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) , X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) , X-Men: First Class (2011) , The Wolverine (2013) , X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) , Deadpool (2016) , X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) , Logan (2017) , Deadpool 2 (2018) , Dark Phoenix (2019) , The New Mutants , Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) First Film X-Men (2000) TV Show(s) X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men , X-Men (1992) , X-Men: Evolution (2000) , Wolverine and the X-Men (2008) , Marvel Anime: Wolverine , Marvel Anime: X-Men , Legion (2017) , The Gifted (2017) , X-Men ’97 (2024) Expand
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Magneto’s ideas were rooted in the belief that mutants and humans would never be able to coexist peacefully. While this is clearly not the most optimistic perspective on life in the X-Men universe, this idea did prove to be right time and time again. At various points in the franchise, humans demonstrated massive hostility toward mutants, frequently trying to ostracize and oppress them because of their special abilities. Few would be happy to admit it, but Magneto’s beliefs were tragically accurate.
3 Ex Machina (2014)
Ava Wanted To Be Treated Like A Human
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The 2014 sci-fi thriller, Ex Machina, may only have a handful of characters, but all of them are incredibly complex from a moral standpoint. One such character is Ava, an artificially intelligent human-like robot created by the wealthy CEO of a tech company. By the end of the film, Ava is primarily depicted as a villain, having been emotionally manipulating Caleb (the protagonist) into helping her escape from her captivity.
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8.6/10 Ex Machina R Sci-FiDrama
Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems.
Release Date April 10, 2015 Runtime 108 minutes Cast Alicia Vikander , Domhnall Gleeson , Oscar Isaac , Sonoya Mizuno , Gana Bayarsaikhan , Corey Johnson Director Alex Garland Writers Alex Garland Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 , Universal Pictures Expand
Although her actions may have become violent and manipulative, it is not difficult to see where she is coming from. Similar to Roy Batty in Blade Runner, Ava was an incredibly advanced robot, fully capable of having her own thoughts and emotions. In having these things, Ava (understandably) began to see herself as a human.
Therefore, she saw it as unfair that she should be held captive, with her entire mind at the risk of being shut off at any given time. Ava was programmed specifically to have thoughts and feelings of her own, and then was viewed as a threat when she tried to use them.
2 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) & Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Thanos Wanted To Save The Universe In The Long Run
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Of the many villains to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos was easily among the most powerful. Thanos spent several years slowly gathering Infinity Stones with the intent of using them to eliminate half of all life in the universe. Of course, when laid out like that, his plan sounds about as evil as possible. However, he was not without his reasons.
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Josh Brolin recently said he’d be willing to return to the MCU as Thanos in future Avengers movies: “Thanos has to fit if you’re going to bring him back. I would do anything that the Russos wanted me to do.” On the one hand, Brolin potentially coming back as Thanos could be very intriguing considering the villain’s small role in the comics’ Secret Wars event of 2015. That said, I’d be worried that Thanos could end up overshadowing newer villains, whether it’s Doctor Doom or some other new threat to the MCU.
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Thanos feared that massive overpopulation would cause the complete depletion of all necessary resources, ultimately leading to the downfall of all life. In eliminating half of all life, Thanos believed that he could prevent this possible destruction, and create a new universe in which every organism would be able to grow and thrive over time.
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17 9/10 Avengers: Infinity War PG-13ActionSci-FiSuperheroAdventure
Avengers: Infinity War is the third Avengers movie in the game-changing Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film is positioned as the beginning of the culmination of everything that has transpired in the franchise to date. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War, have assembled the largest ensemble in a superhero film to date. Nearly every living character in the MCU is included as the Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take down Thanos in a battle that has massive repercussions for the future of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. A sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released in 2019 and marked the end of the Infinity Saga.
Release Date April 27, 2018 Runtime 149 minutes Main Genre Adventure Cast Chris Hemsworth , Anthony Mackie , Elizabeth Olsen , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Sebastian Stan , Paul Rudd , Chadwick Boseman , Don Cheadle , Samuel L. Jackson , Josh Brolin , Tom Holland , Evangeline Lilly , Paul Bettany , Chris Evans , Jeremy Renner Director Joe Russo , Anthony Russo Writers Stephen McFeely , Christopher Markus Studio(s) Marvel Distributor(s) Disney Expand
With overpopulation being a genuine concern, Thanos’s ideas may actually have had some merit. Granted, this was not solely his choice to make, and his blind determination to achieve his goal made him a clear villain. However, his surprisingly logical reasoning for his violent goal made him a compelling antagonist, one that inspired a great deal of discussion in the years that followed.
1 The Suicide Squad (2021)
Starro Never Wanted To Come To Earth
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People unfamiliar with the DC Comics character were likely very surprised when the major villain of 2021’s The Suicide Squad was revealed to be a ginormous one-eyed starfish. The final act of the film is centered around the main team of villains-turned-heroes working together to defeat Starro after he breaks out of his captivity.
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Starro had no real intentions of taking over Earth in this sci-fi movie, but he was violently manipulated by the government into being a tool of destruction.
During this last stretch of the film, Starro certainly behaves in an evil manner, rampaging the city and using his tiny offspring to take over the minds of its civilians. However, his backstory reveals that he is more than just a killing machine. A flashback reveals that Starro was originally just a small creature happily floating around in space, dealing no harm to anyone.
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24 8.2/10 The Suicide Squad RActionAdventureComedyScience Fiction
James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad acts as a soft reboot for David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is again recruiting a group of superheroes for a dangerous mission, this time pairing Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Savant (Michael Rooker), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), and Javelin (Flula Borg).
Release Date August 5, 2021 Runtime 132 minutes Main Genre Superhero Cast Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Idris Elba , John Cena , Joel Kinnaman , Michael Rooker Director James Gunn Writers James Gunn Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand
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Eventually, he was captured by a team of astronauts, brought to Earth, and forced into captivity, where he was abused and tortured for decades. Starro had no real intentions of taking over Earth in this sci-fi movie, but he was violently manipulated by the government into being a tool of destruction. While his violent actions at the end of The Suicide Squad were not correct, they were merely the product of many years of gross mistreatment.
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