00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at film characters who may appear
00:08charming, but actually demonstrate villainous and selfish qualities over the
00:12course of the plot. Spoilers ahead.
00:1410. The Nerds – Revenge of the Nerds
00:22The raunchy comedy Revenge of the Nerds may be silly and cliched, but audiences love it.
00:28It follows a group of oddball college students who are repeatedly humiliated by athletic
00:45frat members before exacting their revenge. Yes, the jocks are terrible, and have us initially
00:51rooting for the underdogs, but do the nerds take their revenge too far? Absolutely.
00:56Becoming peeping toms and concealing one's identity to become intimate with a foe's
01:03unaware girlfriend, among other things, talk about pushing the boundaries of acceptable
01:12behavior. The film's comedic tone may downplay these depraved actions, but a closer look
01:17reveals who the true bad guys are.
01:199. Jimmy Popeye Doyle – The French Connection
01:27Popeye, from director William Friedkin's gritty 1971 classic, is a tough detective
01:33who enforces his own brand of justice through brutal means. Yet, he's somehow the film's
01:43compelling hero. Based on Robin Moore's book, The French Connection follows two
01:47hardcore New York cops determined to bust a major drug operation. Popeye, however,
01:53is not shy about using excessive force and offensive language. He's basically the embodiment
02:03of evil. In such a harsh landscape, it may be difficult to see him for what he truly
02:08is at first. But, in truth, he's a bad detective, as terrible as the criminals he pursues. Though
02:14Gene Hackman brings the charisma, his charming portrayal can no longer distract us from the
02:19character's awful nature.
02:228. Briony Tallis – Atonement
02:29Stunning and soul-crushing, Atonement is fought with as many misinterpretations as the beloved
02:35novel it adapts. The heart of this doomed romance are
02:44lovers whose lives are shattered by the precocious Briony's lie. Since the story is mainly told
02:50from her perspective, it's no surprise we sympathise with her, especially as she seems
02:55to suffer plenty. Some may argue that she was only 13 and didn't understand the consequences
03:00of her actions, but her identifying Robbie as a predator has consequences that cannot
03:06be undone.
03:07What's more, she is an intelligent child infatuated with him. Jealousy likely drives
03:21her calculated betrayal. Though portrayed convincingly, even her guilt is arguably a
03:27ruse. Her atonement only exists in her manuscript. She had us fooled all along.
03:337. Qui-Gon Jinn – Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace
03:47The legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi's master is often seen as a noble character with deep
03:51commitment to the Force. But could there be a dark side to this unconventional Jedi?
04:09George Lucas's opening chapter to an epic saga skillfully sets the stage for characters
04:14we've come to love. More importantly, it lays the foundation for Anakin Skywalker's
04:29transformation into Darth Vader. His fall into evil can be traced to Qui-Gon, who took
04:35a young Anakin from his mother, leaving her to die alone, enslaved. This painful separation
04:41caused emotional turmoil, ultimately helping Anakin's descent to the dark side. While
04:51Qui-Gon may not be an outright villain, he's certainly not blameless.
04:596. Ferris Bueller – Ferris Bueller's Day Off
05:08John Hughes' cinematic gem is loaded with memorable quotes, iconic characters, and a
05:13hilarious escapade through Chicago. Ferris, the mastermind behind this adventure, is a
05:29rebellious teenager with an undeniable charm. How could this lovable rogue ever do wrong?
05:35Doesn't he stand as the very symbol of youthful freedom and fun? Sure, Ferris may not have
05:43malicious intentions, but he lies and manipulates others to get what he wants. His family and
05:57Dean of Students Ed Rooney aren't the only ones who suffer from his antics. Indeed, even
06:03his best friend Cameron is a victim of his machinations. Let's face it, there's a thin
06:08line between Ferris being an adorable, free-spirited teenager and an unfeeling, pathological liar.
06:145. Paul Atreides – Dune Part 2
06:23Dune is a sensational adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, celebrated as a monumental
06:29achievement in science fiction. Protagonist Paul Atreides is intriguing, but the sequel
06:44imbues him with more complexity. What has become of our hero? Here we see Paul team up with Charney
06:50and the Fremen to avenge his family. However, the ending leaves us unsure of what to think
07:11of him. While he was the people's saviour in the first movie, he seems to align more
07:15closely with Herbert's original vision in Dune Part 2. Despite knowing the horrific
07:24holy war his rise to power will lead to, Paul embraces that destiny, becoming the very thing
07:29he fought against. Once god-like, he now may be the monster.
07:474. Daniel Hillard – Mrs. Doubtfire Mrs. Doubtfire tells the heartwarming story
07:57of a divorced dad learning responsibility after losing custody of his kids. Daniel is
08:05hilarious and likeable, but he arguably goes too far to win back his family. He inserts
08:10himself into their lives, manipulates them, and tries to sabotage his ex Miranda's relationship
08:16with Stu as he pretends to be the titular character. Let's not forget Stu choking
08:27at the restaurant is basically his fault. Aren't these clear signs that he's evil?
08:33In any other genre, Daniel Hillard would clearly be seen as a mean-spirited man, but in comedy,
08:38we find humour in his outrageous behaviours. Perhaps Robin Williams' brilliant performance
08:51blinds us to Daniel's more villainous traits, but that doesn't excuse them.
08:583. Willy Wonka – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
09:03Based on Roald Dahl's children's book, this whimsical classic follows Charlie, who
09:07wins a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. While Grandpa Joe might
09:20raise eyebrows, it's Willy who's truly villainous. He wants to find his heir, and
09:24doesn't care who gets harmed in the process. He also claims he saved the Oompa Loompas,
09:38but they sure don't seem happy. Beyond exploiting them, he also appears to have purposely set
09:43these kids up for failure. The children who mysteriously vanish certainly didn't deserve
09:58such harsh outcomes for not complying with Wonka's twisted morality. And what about
10:03the creepy Mr. Slugworth, who is ultimately revealed to work for him? Wonka is more than
10:09just an eccentric chocolatier, he's something of an evil genius.
10:192. John Hammond – Jurassic Park
10:30A charismatic and endearing grandfather, this central character is hardly what many would
10:35describe as a villain. While the 1993 movie portrays Hammond as sympathetic, he's depicted
10:49in a more sinister light in Michael Crichton's novel. Jurassic Park follows a group visiting
10:54a dinosaur-themed park only to discover its dangers. For playing God with nature, Hammond
11:00is largely responsible for the mishaps that occur. Even Nedry is driven to his actions
11:17because he was underpaid by Hammond. John may merely seem flawed, but prioritizing profits
11:36over human lives makes him as cold as his literary counterpart. He's simply better
11:42at hiding his dubious nature in the film.
12:061. Glinda – The Good Witch of the North – The Wizard of Oz
12:10The Wizard of Oz is regarded as a spectacular classic, despite not being a huge moneymaker
12:15upon release. The iconic villain is the Wicked Witch of the West, who relentlessly pursues
12:31Dorothy. It's Glinda, the Good Witch, who helps our protagonist.
12:40But what if we told you Glinda was a subtle villain, and Dorothy was a pawn in her scheme?
12:45By eliminating other witches, Glinda knew she'd become the most powerful one in Oz,
12:50and Dorothy was her unsuspecting ally. Doesn't that make her manipulative and self-serving?
13:03How about not initially telling our heroine that the ruby slippers are her ticket home?
13:08Or making her the Wicked Witch's target by giving them to her in the first place?
13:13That sounds like outright, calculated wickedness.
13:20Which revelation about these characters' true nature surprised you the most? Let us
13:25know in the comment section.
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