The thing aboutmovie villainsis that they are created to be the most difficult obstacle the hero has to face. Antagonists craft an exciting narrative, especially when they are given a fleshed-out motivation that forces the audience to understand that they may have a point in comparison to villains who are evil because the plot requires the hero to fight someone. But, in some interesting cases, the story’s central antagonist is not actually the most evil character in the movie.
Whether it be because they have less screen time to make their point or show the full extent of their dangers, or because someone else turns out to cause more harm to the story’s main character, the central antagonist can be outdone in the evil department by numerous other characters, whether they be other villains, supporting characters, or even the main hero.
Characters like Daniel LaRusso and Peter Parker constantly have new battles to face against various antagonists. Harry Potter faces off against various minor villains on the way to his final confrontation with Voldemort. Sometimes, the reason the main villain is outdone is that another rises from behind with a secret agenda that does not show their true motivations until it is too late.
10Do Revenge (2022) - Max’s Actions Could Have Cost Drea Everything
Do Revengefollows fellow outcasts Drea and Eleanor, whose unlikely friendship encourages them to take revenge on those who have hurt them. In Drea’s case, it is Max, whose purposeful release of a private video resulted in constant strife from others and the separation from her friend group friendship, while Max claims that his phone got hacked and the video leaked, not that Drea believes him. Meanwhile, Eleanor wishes vengeance on a girl who had wrongfully spread the rumor that Eleanor was a predator.
Drea and Eleanor Both Go too Far, but Max Is the Real Villain
Do Revengeeventually reveals the plot twist that Eleanor’s real plan was to get revenge on Drea, as Drea was the girl who had spread the rumor of Eleanor being a predator but had forgotten it over time. However, even with how far Drea and Eleanor go, which includes drugging the entire class, it is Max’s behavior that starts all of Drea’s problems.
Max is egotistic, and the idea that Drea could be succeeding outside of him and not show that she was grateful to him, caused him to wish harm against her. Max purposefully leaked Drea’s private video, knowing it would humiliate her and how it would affect her future. He did not care. In the end, Max’s admission of all he had done results in the entire student body recognizing Max as the main antagonist of the story.Stream on Netflix.
Do Revenge
RELATED:Luckiest Girl Alive, Do Revenge, and the Era of Women Vengeance
9Legally Blonde (2001) - Vivian and Warner Are a Distraction from Professor Callahan’s Behavior
Legally Blondefollowed Elle Woods, a young and optimistic woman who believes her long-time boyfriend, Warner, is about to propose as they move on from their college undergraduate programs. But, when he breaks up with her instead, declaring he needs to start getting serious as he heads over to Harvard Law School, Elle begins a scheme to prove she can be serious.Legally Blondeultimately turns into a film about Elle stepping upin law school for herself and not for a man. Meanwhile, things get awkward when Elle realizes that Warner already has a new girlfriend, Vivian.
Professor Callahan Is the Real Problem
For as much of a jerk as Warner may be, and as the movie initially wants to suggest discomfort between Elle and Vivian, in the end, it is Professor Callahan who comes out on top as the movie’s most evil character. At first, his actions as a professor might be suspicious, but they can easily be wiped away as the actions of a strict teacher without a real sense of humor. Who is looking at Professor Callahan when Warner broke Elle’s heart and started a new relationship so quickly?
However, as it turns out, the audience should be looking at Professor Callahan far earlier. He ends up showing his true colors when Elle and he are alone, and he makes a move on her. Professor Callahan’s decision to make a move on his student and touch her shows his disgusting nature as a person and highlights him as the real monster in the film.Stream on MAX.
Legally Blonde (2001)
8Divergent (2014) - Caleb Constantly Betrays Tris
Jeanine Matthews is who most would look at as the main antagonist ofDivergent. She is a direct threat to Tris, who is trying to survive Dauntless while not allowing other people to discover the massive secret that makes her different from most others. However, for as much as the secrets lie beyond Chicago, and Jeanine’s dangerous manipulations lie at the heart of the villainous actions of the series, for Tris individually, her biggest problem is much closer to home.
Caleb Proves Himself Untrustworthy
Initially, while blood is considered to be less significant than one’s faction, Tris never thought the person who would sell her out would be her brother. Unfortunately, Caleb’s willingness to be connected to Erudite and Jeanine causes a major rift in his relationship with Tris. Caleb convinces Tris he is with her, only to be working with Jeanine the entire time.
However, in the final novel, Tris is still willing to sacrifice herself for Caleb, allowing herself to be killed in his place, even after all the pain and strife he caused her. While Jeanine and those beyond the gates are significant villains, Caleb has the biggest impact on the plot because his betrayal is the most integral to the main character.Stream theDivergentfranchise on DIRECTV.
RELATED:8 Secondary Movie Villains Who Were More Terrifying Than the Main
7Spider-Man 3 (2007) - Peter Parker Is His Own Biggest Problem
Harry and Sandman round out as being two of the major villains ofSpider-Man 3. While Harry wants to avenge his father’s death while dealing with the pain of knowing that his best friend had played a role in Norman’s passing, Sandman’s ultimate main goal is to return to his daughter. While both end up doing some bad things in the process of wishing to achieve their goals, ultimately, it is Peter who steps in his own way.
Peter’s Dark-Suit Phase is Dangerous
When Peter takes on a new version of the Spider-Man suit, it also affects his personality. Usually kind-hearted and a bit awkward, Peter’s personality has transformed into a much darker version of the character. Under the influence of the suit, Peter is a danger to others around him, including Mary Jane. His strut down the sidewalk is not where Peter’s personal issues end.
He physically harms MJ by hitting her, something Peter never would have done otherwise. It takes most of the movie for Peter to wake up, and recognize the effects the suit is having on him, and get rid of it. Turning the protagonist into a villain out of his own control adds another layer to the conflicts of the movie: Peter’s understanding of the making of a villain, the outlook he has on hero work, and his relationships moving forward.Stream on Disney+.
Spider-Man 3
6The Karate Kid (1984) - Johnny Lawrence Is Nothing In Comparison To Kreese and Terry’s Vengeance
Johnny Lawrence takes up the role of the main villain inThe Karate Kid.He hates Daniel for practically no reason other than that his ex-girlfriend Ali is bonding with him. So, Johnny takes it upon himself to make Daniel’s life miserable. But, for as much trouble as Johnny brings to Daniel in the first film, it is the secondary villain, Kreese, who ends up leaving the larger mark.
The Karate Kid Part 3 Pushes Kreese Into the Spotlight
The previous supporting character, John Kreese, becomes a much bigger threatwhen he teams up with Terry Silverto take down Daniel. At this point, Kreese and Terry find a dangerous karate student, Mike Barnes, to brutally harm Daniel during the competition. Beforehand, they manipulate Daniel into hurting himself and hurt Mr. Miyagi by putting Daniel through such painfully strenuous physical pain.
While Johnny was a school bully, he never hurt Daniel enough to kill him, even though he did cross the line several times. Still, the combined efforts of Kreese and Terry were enough to cause physical harm and try to tear down Daniel’s spirit.StreamThe Karate Kidtrilogy on Netflix.
The Karate Kid
5Gone Girl (2014) - Nick and Amy Are Both Terrible
InGone Girl,the mystery has everyone, including Nick, questioning what really happened to Amy when she mysteriously disappeared, framing Nick for her murder, and having him trying to unravel the truth about what really happened to Amy. But, Amy’s scheme for revenge is born out of her discovering that Nick was having an affair.
There Are No Heroes
In this case, Nick and Amy are both horrible people and villains in the film. Amy is willing to send Nick to jail, or to his death, for a murder he never committed because he cheated on her. Nick forces the narrative around. They play a constant game of going back and forth and even end up together in the end when Amy reveals she had taken Nick’s sperm and used it to get pregnant. This action initially causes Nick to try and physically strike her. This couple is clearly toxic, as everything they do causes pain to the other.Stream on DIRECTV.
4The Avengers (2012) - Loki Is Preparation for Thanos
Considering Loki made a splash inThor, it was exciting to see how the rest of the Avengers deal with the God of Mischief. But, Loki’s plan for world domination has a secret puppeteer pulling the strings, getting the pieces in place for his large future scheme. AlthoughLoki may be a fan-favorite villain, it is Thanos, who appears in the final scenes of the movie, who is ultimately the more evil character.
A First Glimpse of Thanos
For fans of the movies who had no knowledge of what occurred in the comic books, it would be impossible to know just how significant Thanos would come to be. His role as a villain inGuardians of the Galaxy: Volume 1did some work to understand what was to come with this man. But, it would not be untilAvengers: Infinity Warthat Thanos' true plan finally gets put in motion.
The Avengersknew it could use Loki, an already established villain, as its main antagonist due to the familiarity and pre-existing connection to Thor. But, by sneaking Thanos into the film as well, it set up everything that was next to come for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thanos would go on to kill Gamora and snap half the universe out of existence.Stream the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+.
The Avengers
3Mrs. Doubtfire - A Plan to Save His Family Breaks All Boundaries
When Daniel is not stepping up to his wife Miranda’s expectations, and then causes a chaotic birthday party against her wishes, Miranda has had enough and files for divorce. Being unemployed and homeless, Daniel is left to see his children every other week if he manages to find a job and housing. But, when Miranda places an ad for a caretaker, Daniel fakes the female persona to spend time with his children.
It’s All About Perspective
Mrs. Doubtfireis a movie that takes place from Daniel’s perspective. In Daniel’s eyes, Miranda is the villain. She divorces him and then separates him from his children. She grows a new romantic attachment to Stu, her new boyfriend, to Daniel’s intense jealousy. Miranda’s workaholic behavior makes her come off as the antagonist in comparison to Daniel’s more calm demeanor.
However, on the other hand, Daniel is the villain, as he ignores Miranda’s boundaries and pretends to be someone he is not in order to be in the house and watch the kids. She is unknowingly paying him, and Daniel is lying to all of his loved ones. They both cause hurt to each other various times throughout the movie.Stream on Disney+.
Mrs. Doubtfire
2The Hunger Games Franchise - Snow’s Actions Are Clear While Coin Hides Behind Revolution
President Snow is always a clear villaininThe Hunger Games. He makes his positive stance on the use of children killing each other for sport known as an integral way to prevent a justified rising rebellion. Since President Snow is always transparently the antagonist of the series, his evil behavior is actually outdone by someone who had not been so outwardly wicked.
President Coin Is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Initially, President Coin appears as a savior. The leader of District 13 and someone to look to as being at the helm of the rebellion against the Capitol. While she may be a bit rough around the edges, that can just be what preparation for war can look like. Except, President Coin’s true outlook comes out once the rebellion has won. President Coin, desiring power, plays the opposite of President Snow, but with a similar regime in mind. After all the Districts have gone through, what is the harm in one final Hunger Games, but with the Capitol’s children instead?
Rather than fighting to kick-start a brand-new world immediately, she leans on the exact thing that the Districts had fought so hard against, basically choosing revenge instead of creating a better world. For as much asThe Hunger Gameshad slowly prepared the audience for Katniss and Snow’s rivalry to come to an end with Katniss' arrow, her decision to kill President Coin instead, while allowing President Snow to meet his end through natural illness and the attack of Panem’s citizens, allows Katniss to prevent another dictatorship regime.StreamThe Hunger Gamesfranchise on AMC+.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
1Harry Potter Franchise - Umbridge Is Crueler Than Voldemort
Lord Voldemort is unquestionably the main villain in theHarry Potterfranchise. The story kicks off with Harry surviving the killing curse Voldemort had used on him, and it becomes understood that he is not going away any time soon when they meet again ten years later. Voldemort has a dangerous reputation, as most of the wizarding world refuses to speak his name out of fear. But, with all of Voldemort’s moments that constitute him as one of the franchise’s villains,he is not the worst.
Dolores Umbridge Enjoys Torturing Children
There is not a lot that can be said about where Voldemort places the moral line of the type of people he will not torture. He tried to murder a baby, after all. However, the franchise never shows Voldemort specifically targeting children to harm other than Harry. Umbridge, however, turns Hogwarts into a torturing playground. She forces the students to use blood quills while in detention.
She prevents them from using wands in class to stifle them from understanding the practicality of using spells because she views all the students as a threat to the Minister. Umbridge leaves no stone unturned, even willing to use an unforgivable curse on Harry. Perhaps one of the worst elements about Umbridge is her capability to actively cast a Patronus Charm, a spell that requires a happy memory, while simultaneously wrongfully interrogating Muggle Borns and allowing harm to come to them.Stream theHarry Potterfranchise on MAX.
