These Movie Heroes Are More Villainous Than You Think

Leaving the protagonists’ alignment up to the viewer’s interpretation is a popular way for screenwriters to keep you hooked on their characters and engaged with their story. The only problem is that successfully pulling this off isn’t easy.

8

Woody (Tom Hanks)

Toy Story

• Genre: Adventure Comedy
• Release Year: 1995
• Country: United States

Woody is the protagonist of the Toy Story movies and the self-proclaimed leader of Andy’s toys. While many regard him as the hero of the first movie, he isn’t. Woody only cares about Andy and things important to Andy, which is why other toys he sees in the movies are just tools he uses to get his work done.

He even manipulates Andy’s toys by making them puppets and pulling their strings so they do his bidding. In the first Toy Story, Woody tried to stop the toys from warming up to Buzz Lightyear, who was Andy’s new favorite toy. This displayed how much Woody wanted to remain at the center of the attention and his jealousy towards Buzz Lightyear, whom he felt threatened by.

7

Jim Preston (Chris Pratt)

Passengers

• Genre: Sci-fi Romantic
• Release Year: 2016
• Country: United States

In Passengers, Jim Preston is portrayed as a victim who lived alone on a spaceship for a long time after accidentally waking up from a cryosleep state while everyone is en route to a far-away planet. Eventually, his loneliness forces him to wake up Aurora Lane, another passenger aboard the ship. While it’s true that a lot of time without being able to talk to someone is hard, he essentially killed Aurora because he was tired of being alone.

He selfishly doesn’t tell her that he woke her up on purpose and manipulated her for approximately a year. Even after Aurora finds out the truth, Jim is shown in a positive light, and viewers are supposed to feel sorry for him. Unfortunately for Aurora, Jim’s isolation kills her, and she never makes it to the new planet.

6

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio)

The Karate Kid

• Genre: Martial Arts, Drama
• Release Year: 1984
• Country: United States

Daniel LaRusso is portrayed as the hero who’s bullied by William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid, but the hidden truth may be something else. Daniel is a very confrontational person whose emotions get the better of him. This is evidenced when he throws the punch during the confrontation with Johnny while sticking up for Ali Mills. Johnny got physical first during the confrontation by pushing Daniel, who retaliated with fury.

Throughout the movie, Daniel is portrayed as the underdog who wants to learn to fight to protect himself from bullies. However, the reality is, most of the events could’ve been avoided if Daniel had been less entitled and avoided the issues rather than escalating them. Cobra Kai adds more depth to the characters and, in a sense, turns them both into heroes.

5

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams)

Mrs. Doubtfire

• Genre: Comedy
• Release Year: 1993
• Country: United States

Robin Williams was a comedic genius who could do the wildest things, and you’d still find them amusing. When he transforms himself into Mrs. Doubtfire and becomes his own children’s nanny to return to the house after his divorce, things become fun. His deception is so he can spend time with his family, and that’s why not many people consider it a big deal.

However, the things he does to try o break up his wife with her new partner are too extreme. The worst of which was tampering with the boyfriend’s car and food to add something he’s allergic to. These aren’t just villainous things; they are crimes that could have led him to jail. Many people overlook serious wrongdoings because the movie is a comedy.

4

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio)

Inception

• Genre: Sci-fi Action Heist
• Release Year: 2010
• Country: United States

Dom Cobb is a complex character who the movie seemingly shows in a noble light. He does everything he does to return to his family but at others’ cost. Dom hides that his wife appears in his dreams from his team. This increases the risk for other members because they don’t know that Dom is unstable, which can lead to dire consequences.

He agrees to infiltrate Fischer’s mind and essentially ruin his business. While this will profit Dom’s client and Dom, Fischer will be the one who faces the consequences. The movie portrays Dom as an action hero, but his actions show him to be a mercenary who’ll do anything and hurt anyone if he gets what he wants.

3

Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

• Genre: Fantasy
• Release Year: 1971
• Country: United States

Willy Wonka isn’t your typical villain who’s out to take over the world and kill people, but the character has elements that hint at his non-heroic nature. Just look at how he treats the children he deems spoiled. While he teaches them life lessons, the way he goes about it is highly risky and manipulative.

The character’s most malicious act may be how he exploits and essentially keeps the Oompa Loompas as slaves. Wonka smuggled the Oompa Loompas into his factory and used them to experiment and test various ingredients. The chocolate genius fired humans and used the subservient Oompa Loompas as the only workforce in his factory, only paying them with cacao beans.

2

V (Hugo Weaving)

V For Vendetta

• Genre: Dystopian Thriller
• Release Year: 2005
• Country: United Kingdom/United States

The main character from V for Vendetta becomes relatable when he saves Evey Hammond from abuse. While this act in itself is a good one, it doesn’t take away from the other things he does. He allows the innocent to be killed and manipulates people on his journey toward change.

V’s tactics are extremely violent and against what you would expect from a good person. He thinks acting with his fists is normal as long as the ends justify the means. However, this goes against what heroes usually do, as they would rather save one person than take someone’s life.

1

Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)

The Godfather

• Genre: Epic Crime
• Release Year: 1972
• Country: United States

Mafia and gangster movies usually have a very black and white view of heroes and villains. Michael Corleone is an exception as he shows his disapproval of the family business and wants to stay away from the life. Destiny has a different plan for him, though, as he has to take over the helm when his father is shot.

Michael Corleone wants to protect his father’s legacy and so makes many choices that transition him from a hero to a villain. The movie does a good job of portraying him as the son who is taking revenge for his father. This is why, even after he becomes a don who lives for crime, he seems to be a hero instead of a villain.