Redditors recently got together onr/movies, the largest film subreddit, to discuss the best films where the main character is a villain. We’re nottalking an antihero hereor a good guy with a couple of flaws. We’re talking full-on bad guy, a character who commits a ton of dastardly deeds.
The discussion leads to some interesting exchanges, with Redditors debating whether figures like Ender fromEnder’s Gameor Leonard fromMementofit the bill. Their picks range from animated comedies to gritty crime films. These characters are the best at being bad.
10’Megamind' (2010)
Megamindputs a comedic twist on the superhero genre, following the story of a supervillain (Will Ferrell) who, after defeating his longtime foe, must come to terms with his own identity and sense of purpose. It gleefully subverts classic good vs. evil tropes, making Megamind one of the best villain main characters in years.
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On top of Ferrell’s great performance, the film also serves up stunning animation and an all-star supporting cast that includesTina Fey,Brad Pitt, andJonah Hill. Multiple Redditors praised it for the way it depicts its lead character. “He’s just a misunderstood character,” saidthe user GrimReaperAngelOf23, whileuser Romulus3799said, “Megamindis definitely my favorite gangster movie.”
9’Maniac' (2012)
Maniacis a psychological horror starringElijah Woodas Frank, a mannequin store’s disturbed and delusional owner. It’s a remake of the 1980 slasher film of the same name and features an unconventional perspective, shot entirely from Frank’s point of view. The audience is taken on a journey through Frank’s twisted mind as he becomes increasingly obsessed with a young artist named Anna (Nora Arnezeder).
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It’s especially fun to see Wood take on a much more menacing role than the characters he’s famous for. “Maniac 2012remake with Elijah Wood is completely POV of the killer,” saidthe user Klutzy-Bug7427. “You actually just see him a few moments in a car mirror or a reflection.”
8’Avengers: Infinity War' (2018)
Infinity Warwas the culmination of over a decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing together characters from across multiple films and franchises in a battle against the ultimate villain, Thanos (Josh Brolin). While it has a sprawling cast, in many ways, the main character is Thanos himself.
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“TheRussoshave said that Thanos did go on a hero’s journey,“said the Redditor comrade_batmanexplains. “It parallels Thor’s journey in the film except at the end Thanos is the one who wins and completes his mission, not Thor. Had Thor gone for the head the film would have been his and not Thanos.”
7’The Death of Stalin' (2017)
The Death of Stalinis a satirical comedy directed byArmando Iannucciand starring an ensemble cast that includesSteve Buscemi,Simon Russell Beale, andJeffrey Tambor. It’s based on the real-life events surrounding the death of Soviet leaderJoseph Stalinand the subsequent struggle for power among his inner circle.
“Most of the main characters are power-hungry communists,” saidRedditor TheCosmicFailure. LikeTarantino’sThe Hateful Eight, the fun here is in watching a hosting of villainous cretins fighting it out to come out on top. The cast clearly take a delight in these dastardly roles, with Buscemi’s portrayal ofNikita Khrushchevand Beale’s performance asLavrentiy Beriabeing particularly noteworthy.
6’To Live and Die in LA' (1985)
To Live and Die in LAis a crime thriller directed byWilliam Friedkinabout a cop and his partner trying to take down a counterfeiting ring in Los Angeles, leading them down a path filled with corruption and violence.
“To Live And Die In LAis an interesting case,” saidthe user GodFlinstone. “It starsWilliam Petersenas a Secret Service Agent whose hunt for a counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe) reaches insane levels after the counterfeiter kills his partner. By the end of the film, Petersen’s character has left such a trail of death and destruction through LA streets that you’re left wondering who was the real villain.”
5’Heat' (1995)
Thisiconic crime filmbyMichael MannfeaturesRobert De Niroas master thief Neil McCauley andAl Pacinoas LAPD detective Vincent Hanna. The film centers on the cat-and-mouse game between McCauley’s criminal crew and Hanna’s police force, culminating in an intense and unforgettable shootout on the streets of Los Angeles.
Mann’s direction is stylish and visually stunning, and the performances from De Niro and Pacino are some of their best, with their characters' conflicting ideologies and obsessions driving the film’s central conflict. “Heatoften gets overlooked because the characters there are not ‘gangsters’ but they are the textbook definitions of sociopaths,” saidthe Redditor Pretend_Pension_8585. “Just completely devoid of emotions.”
4’Cruising' (1980)
Another William Friedkin film,Cruisingstars Al Pacino as Steve Burns, a young New York City police officer who goes undercover in the city’s gay BDSM scene to catch a serial killer. It has become a cult classic, drawing praise from directors like Tarantino, theSafdie brothers,andNicolas Winding Refn.
The highlight is Pacino. He turns in a nuanced performance as a conflicted and troubled cop, who becomes increasingly twisted as the story progresses. “You’re left wondering if he’s started serial killing,” saidthe user NoHandBananaNo.
3’The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013)
SeveralRedditorssuggestedMartin Scorsese’s wild epic about an amoral banker. The film explores the life ofJordan Belfort(Leonardo DiCaprio), a stockbroker who becomes extremely wealthy through fraud and corruption. It makes for one of the most darkly funny commentaries on greed and excess ever put to film.
Some critics slammed the movie for the way that Belfort basically gets away scot-free at the end without paying a price for his crimes. However, this is actually the movie’s genius. Rather than having a feel-good ending where justice is served à laWall Street, the movie reminds us that more often than not, people in Belfort’s position are never held to account.
2’Richard III' (1995)
Ian McKellenstars in this historical drama as the titular character, the power-hungry and ruthless King of England. It’s an adaptation ofWilliam Shakespeare’splay, but relocates the setting to an alternate reality 1930s England, with Richard portrayed as a fascist dictator.
McKellen delivers a mesmerizing performance, capturing the character’s manipulation, cruelty, and dark humor. It ranks among the very best screen adaptations ofthe Bard’s work, offering a fresh take on the classic story. “This is such a great film,” saidthe user NoHandBananaNo.
1’Citizen Kane' (1941)
Widely considered one of the best movies ever made,Citizen Kanetells the story of Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), a powerful newspaper magnate. It follows him from humble beginnings to rise to power and eventual downfall. Welles' direction was innovative for its time, with the film’s use of deep-focus cinematography and non-linear storytelling techniques still influencing filmmakers today. The main character is iconic, but also deeply flawed, to the point that some Redditors say he is the villain.
“Kane was the protagonist who turned out to be a megalomaniac narcissist. The journalists were trying to see if he had any humanity remaining for anyone else but himself. He did not. All he cared about was his missing sled “rosebud” that represented his youth and abundant future still ahead of himself,” saidthe Redditor butcherbunbun10. “Kane fits this bill due to his choices whereas (to Kane) anyone threatening his legacy (aka journalists) are bad antagonists. However, the journalists are really the heroes of the story trying to find the truth behind the larger-than-life image of Kane.”
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