10 Great Movies Where the Hero Is Secretly the Villain

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Who needs a villain in their movie when you’ve got main characters as objectively awful as these?

Characters with flaws and complexities, sometimes even villainous ones, are common in movies. Audiences often find themselves drawn to protagonists who possess a blend of complexity and imperfection, or even a hint of wickedness, provided they’re driven by compelling motives and exude charm that justifies their misdeeds.

Some popular film protagonists perform actions that are questionable at best or downright harmful to others, making us question why we once supported them. This invites viewers to delve deeper, contemplating their initial allegiances.

To illustrate, consider Cady Heron from the movie “Mean Girls” (2004). Initially educated at home, Cady is a teenage protagonist who shares many traits with common people, and certainly isn’t an outright villain. However, her character development takes a turn for the worse as she succumbs to mean-spirited behavior, much like the film satirizes. At one point in the movie, Cady acts so maliciously that it appears the only friend she has left is the audience watching her unfold.

In the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Grandpa Joe, who lives in Charlie Bucket’s humble home, serves as a central figure. While he appears cheerful and affectionate, he is, in reality, quite greedy, manipulative, and reckless. He puts Charlie in danger and jeopardizes his chance to win the factory by his irresponsible actions.

Without a doubt, let’s not delve into Clark Griswold, the character played by Chevy Chase in the 1983 movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” He portrayed a typical suburban father/husband who embodied suburban fury at its peak. His self-absorption and lack of compassion were camouflaged by his supposed commitment to providing his family with an ideal vacation, no matter the expense or inconvenience.

Although they aren’t necessarily wicked, their questionable actions can often be attributed to factors such as their environment, upbringing, lack of self-awareness, or age. Upon closer inspection, these main characters can certainly be quite frustrating.

Movies Where the Main Character Is Actually the Worst

1. Dumb and Dumber

Lloyd Christmas, played by Jim Carrey, undeniably lives up to his role as the “less intelligent” half of the comedic duo in the 1994 cult classic film “Dumb and Dumber.” However, his idiocy isn’t the only aspect that stands out. His reckless actions often lead to others getting hurt, and he can be downright mean towards his friend Harry (Jeff Daniels). To top it off, Lloyd even goes as far as slipping laxatives into Harry’s coffee without a second thought.

Moreover, Lloyd becomes infatuated with a woman named Mary, despite barely knowing her, and his affection borders on stalking in his pursuit of her. The most questionable of all his actions is when he deceives a blind child into buying a dead bird, which crosses a line of decency. That’s truly unsettling behavior.

2. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

In the 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”, Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) shares a close bond with Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson). However, under this facade of grandparently love, Grandpa Joe is actually quite selfish and self-centered. He’s been pretending to be bedridden for 20 years due to the cold floor, leaving his daughter to labor tirelessly to support their struggling family. His thoughts are only ever about himself, as he smokes a daily pipe of tobacco – a luxury they can hardly afford given their poverty.

But when Charlie wins a Golden Ticket to Wonka’s factory, Grandpa Joe miraculously regains his strength and starts dancing. Later, at the factory, he manipulates Charlie into breaking Willy Wonka’s rules by stealing fizzy lifting drinks. This reckless act not only puts Charlie’s life in danger but also jeopardizes Charlie’s chance of winning the grand prize.

3. You’ve Got Mail

1998 was a time when Tom Hanks’ captivating charisma made it challenging not to cheer for Joe Fox in the movie “You’ve Got Mail.” However, looking back on Nora Ephron’s classic today, it seems more like a chilling horror flick than a heartwarming romantic comedy. Joe, with his cold-hearted capitalistic rampage, resembles a modern-day slasher, systematically eliminating the charm and livelihood of small businesses. Despite winning over Meg Ryan’s innocent Kathleen through anonymous online flirtation, in reality, Joe is a relentless magnate of superstores who ultimately tears apart a family-owned bookshop. Flowers? Yes, he sends them. But let’s be honest, that’s little consolation for the destruction of a beloved local business.

4. Mrs. Doubtfire

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I must admit that Robin Williams’ iconic portrayal of Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire in the 1993 family comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire” holds a special place in my heart from my childhood years. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the character isn’t as endearing and lovable as we once thought.

In truth, Daniel is not only sneaky but also downright creepy when he deceives his ex-wife Miranda (Sally Field) by disguising himself as Mrs. Doubtfire to gain access back into our shared family home. Things get even more questionable when he accepts payment for this deception. Once inside, Daniel doesn’t hesitate to manipulate her new boyfriend and undermine her authority as a parent, all in pursuit of his own self-serving desires.

The film may portray Daniel as a victim of divorce, but let’s not forget that Miranda left him because he proved himself to be unreliable, immature, and irresponsible as both a co-parent and partner. To top it off, Daniel also violates a court order in the process.

While his charisma and talent are undeniable, it’s essential to remember that characters like Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire are complex, and their actions are not always as innocent as they might seem at first glance.

5. Mean Girls

In the movie “Mean Girls,” the character Cady Heron, portrayed by Lindsay Lohan, ironically turns into the very thing she seeks to defeat when she tries to unseat her rival Regina George (Rachel McAdams) as the high school’s Queen Bee. As Cady becomes more vapid, self-absorbed, and superficial, she mirrors the Plastics – a group of cold, shiny, hard-to-handle girls that the movie is named after. During this transformation, she causes harm to many: She tricks Regina into gaining weight with nutrition bars, manipulates her boyfriend Aaron, makes Gretchen believe Regina dislikes her, spreads a rumor about their teacher selling drugs, and dumps her friends Janice and Damian to throw a party they’re not even invited to.

6. Superbad

In the 2007 film “Superbad,” Jonah Hill’s character Seth is prominently featured alongside Fogell/McLovin (played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse), and while he’s one of the three main leads, his actions often contrast those you’d typically associate with a hero. For instance, he becomes angry at his friend Evan (portrayed by Michael Cera) when Evan contemplates attending a different college, and he goes to great lengths to pursue Jules (Emma Stone) because he desires to lose his virginity before graduation. Moreover, he abandons Fogell at the hands of law enforcement after compelling him to purchase alcohol for a party, although all three characters are underage. Seth is characterized by his rough demeanor, aggressive behavior, and self-centered nature. He also makes some questionable comments that border on sexism and homophobia, even going so far as to discuss his friend’s mother’s physical attributes. That’s definitely not the right move, buddy!

7. Meet the Parents

In the 2000 film “Meet the Parents,” Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) consistently sets up Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) for failure. She might even be more challenging than Jack (Robert De Niro). For instance, she has her partner lie about them cohabitating. Upon arriving at the Byrnes’ family home for a wedding, she tells her parents, who own a cat, that Greg dislikes cats, causing everyone to feel uneasy. The next morning, she allows Greg to sleep in while her meticulous family is gathered in the kitchen, making him seem lazy. Later, she persuades him to visit her brother’s room, whom he’s never met, to borrow clothes, including underwear.

Pam frequently places Greg in awkward predicaments, such as disclosing during dinner with her ex-fiancé that she was once engaged. Instead of defending herself and Greg when dealing with her father, Pam chooses the simpler path by either lying or pretending everything is normal, which not only worsens her father’s behavior but also increases Greg’s distress.

8. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Ferris Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick, is a beloved yet questionable character from ’80s cinema. Though many consider him a hero, Ferris from John Hughes’ 1986 comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is quite manipulative. For instance, he persuades his anxious friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to steal his father’s prized car for their adventures, using the vehicle for his personal gain. He has a negative impact on his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sarah), encouraging her to skip school with him while treating his best friend Cameron like an unwanted third wheel. Ferris is deceptive, steals dinner reservations, and hacks the school’s attendance system. Despite being irresponsible, he manages to escape consequences, even earning praise from his parents and peers.

9. Passengers

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d rephrase the given description as follows:

In “Passengers,” I find myself aboard a spaceship bound for a new planet, following Earth’s ecosystem’s collapse. Initially, it appears to be a captivating sci-fi romance starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. However, upon deeper reflection, the film takes on a chilling tone reminiscent of a horror movie.

You see, a malfunction in the hibernation pod leaves Chris Pratt’s character, Jim Preston, wide awake for the lengthy 120-year journey – a predicament that leads him to resort to desperate measures. Desperate for companionship, he forcefully awakens the stunning Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), who, like me, was peacefully slumbering away.

As time passes, our pair develop feelings for each other and eventually fall in love. Yet, Jim’s decision to wake Aurora without her consent is monstrous and selfish – it strips her of her autonomy and dooms her to a life marooned in deep space with him. While I can appreciate the ensuing romance between the two characters, I can’t help but question whether love can ever truly justify such an act.

10. National Lampoon’s Vacation

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I find myself identifying with Clark Griswold’s chaotic journey in the 1983 film “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” However, it’s hard not to feel that this self-absorbed everyman gets exactly what he deserves, given his consistent disregard for his family’s wellbeing and safety.

Throughout their trip, Clark’s idealistic dream of the “perfect vacation” consistently overpowers common sense, leading him to make reckless decisions that put everyone in danger. He even comes close to betraying his wife’s trust and causing her pain. His lack of remorse is striking, especially when he accidentally kills his aunt’s dog and, worse still, shows little emotion upon learning about his aunt’s death – instead feeling more inconvenienced than grief-stricken. He treats his aunt’s corpse callously, strapping it to the roof of their car and abandoning her body at her son’s house.

Later in the story, Clark breaks into a closed theme park, holds a security guard captive, and implicates his family in his senseless criminal acts. His behavior is hostile, proud, arrogant, and hints at sociopathic tendencies…and it seems he only grows more unhinged in the sequels.

13 Terrible Movie Lines So Bad They’ve Become Iconic

“They’re eating her! And then they’re going to eat me! Oh my goooood!”

They’re eating her! [Pause.] And then they’re going to eat me! [Longer pause.] Oh my goodness!!!” The line may be flawed, and the performance questionable, yet one must show leniency. In reality, she was being eaten, and he would be next on their menu. (Oh my goodness!!!)

“Too bad YOU… will die!”

In Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997), we won’t delve too deeply into the intricate lore leading up to this film. To put it simply, the ruler of Outworld, Shao Kahn, has brought Queen Sindel, mother of Kitana, back to life with malicious intentions to harness her power and invade Earthrealm. During a meeting, Kitana (played by Talisa Soto), who had been captured by Kahn’s forces, encounters her resurrected mother. Overwhelmed, she exclaims, “Mother, you’re alive!”, but the joyful reunion soon turns sour as it becomes evident that Sindel is under Shao Kahn’s control. Instead of welcoming her daughter with an embrace, Sindel (played by Musetta Vander) coldly points a finger and delivers a chilling threat: “Too bad YOU… will die!” This line, although somewhat cringe-worthy, pales in comparison to the truly appalling hairstyle Sindel sports.

“Do you know what happens to a toad when it’s struck by lightning?”

As a fanatic of the X-Men saga (originally portrayed in 2000), allow me to recount an unforgettable moment between Storm, played by Halle Berry, and the notorious Toad, Ray Park’s character. In the epic Statue of Liberty battle concluding the movie, during the fierce clash between the X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants, Storm engaged in a physical altercation with Toad that was as much verbal as it was physical.

In the heat of battle, right before Toad plummeted off the edge of the statue’s balcony, clinging for survival by the tip of his prehensile tongue, Storm seized the opportunity to deliver a witty quip. “You know what happens when a toad gets struck by lightning?” she taunted, summoning her storm clouds. “Well, the same thing that happens to everything else,” she continued, preparing her final blow.

Now, I’m not a scientist, but I have to admit that this particular jest might need some tweaking for maximum impact in future encounters. After all, it’s always important to make our quips count!

“I think World War II just started!”

In the movie “Pearl Harbor” (2001), an attempt was made to modernize the familiar line “We’ve got company!” with questionable results. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, character Danny Walker (played by Josh Hartnett) urgently contacts aircraft mechanic Earl Sistern (Tom Sizemore). In a manner out of historical context, Danny exclaims, “I think World War II just began!” This line echoes the phrase “Shit just got real,” but in an even more blatant fashion. To avoid political overtones, it’s worth noting that this portrayal reflects the initial American perception of the war, prior to U.S. involvement: a distant conflict with no direct impact on us. However, it’s important to clarify that while people may have used “World War II” casually beforehand, the term didn’t gain widespread popularity until 1945, when President Harry Truman officially named it during the final stages of the war.

“Looks like meat’s back on our menu, boys!”

One amusing aspect about the Lord of the Rings films lies in their portrayal of orcs as rough, working-class characters reminiscent of those seen in Ken Loach movies. Whenever they appear on screen, it’s expected that an orc will say something unexpected, disrupting the immersive high fantasy atmosphere. A famous instance happens in The Two Towers when they argue about eating kidnapped hobbits Merry and Pippin. A brawl erupts, one orc gets decapitated, and their Uruk-hai leader Uglúk (Nathaniel Lees) comments: “It seems we can eat meat again, lads!” The reason and means by which the orcs of Middle-earth understand what a menu is are never clarified.

“I don’t like sand.”

In the Star Wars prequel series, there seems to be an infamous line following another, such as “What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?”, “This is where the fun begins.”, or “I am the Senate.” However, if we’re focusing on iconic moments, it’s sand that truly stands out. Particularly, Anakin’s (Hayden Christensen) disdain for sand in ‘Attack of the Clones’. During a scene on Naboo’s balcony, with Padmé (Natalie Portman) beside him, he expresses his distaste for sand: “I don’t like sand. It’s harsh and rough, it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here, everything is soft… and smooth.” Although the dialogue may make us cringe, Christensen’s portrayal included, this line serves a deeper purpose in the narrative. After all, Anakin’s dislike for sand mirrors his distaste for his childhood home, Tatooine, and his longing for his mother, whom he had to leave behind. Unfortunately, the scene and their interaction often detract from their chemistry.

“It’s turkey time. Gobble gobble.”

In Gigli’s long list of faults, one stands out as particularly noteworthy: the dialogue, much of which is inexcusably bad. The absolute low point comes during a scene where Larry Gigli (played by Ben Affleck) and his accomplice Ricki (portrayed by Jennifer Lopez) finally express their feelings for each other. With Ricki reclining on the bed in a silky robe, she mysteriously utters, “It’s turkey time.” I, Ben Affleck’s character, respond with a puzzled “Huh?” Ricki then prompts me, saying “Gobble gobble,” effectively killing any remaining romantic atmosphere with a groan. On a brighter note, the movie did manage to spark Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s real-life relationship, which has been on and off throughout the years.

“What a story, Mark!”

In the film titled “The Room” (2003), the dialogue seems as if it was penned by an extraterrestrial (given Tommy Wiseau’s unique persona, this could be plausible). Yet, it’s this very peculiarity that makes the dialogues linger in our memories. Characters in “The Room” don’t speak like ordinary people; they converse as if they are Sims who have just mastered English. In one of the movie’s most iconic scenes on the rooftop, Mark (played by Greg Sestero) narrates to his friend Johnny (Wiseau) a harrowing tale about a girl with multiple suitors, one of whom brutally assaulted her, leaving her in a hospital on Guerrero Street. Although the story is distressing, instead of expressing sympathy or concern, Johnny merely chuckles mechanically and comments, “What a story, Mark!” Indeed, it was quite a tale.

“Now dig on this.”

During the peak of the symbiote’s control halfway through the movie “Spider-Man 3” (2007), Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) performs an unexpected action: He takes his date, Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), to a club and dances in a jazzy style with the intention of embarrassing his ex, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). It’s debatable whether Peter was supposed to appear “cool” during this scene, but the club-goers seemed to enjoy it when he moved a chair around. The most troubling aspect from a thematic perspective is when Gwen realizes that the date was orchestrated to make another woman feel miserable. However, the most cringe-worthy moment in actuality occurs when Peter says, “Now dig on this,” and begins to snap his fingers and move suggestively. An honorable mention goes to the earlier moment in the same scene where Peter tells the hostess, “Find us some shade. Thanks, hot legs.” In this universe, Venom seems to transform Peter into a 1900s gangster.

“You better hold on tight, spider monkey.”

In the movie Twilight (2008), you might find it interesting to know that the famous cringe-worthy dialogue “You better hold on tight, spider monkey” was actually Robert Pattinson’s choice! If you’ve seen the Twilight commentaries or are familiar with Pattinson, this might not be too surprising. You see, he was the one who picked this line from a list of options that director Catherine Hardwicke had written the night before filming the treetop scene. Most of the scenes between Pattinson and Kristen Stewart prior to this had been more about gazing into each other’s eyes than actual conversation. Knowing this fun behind-the-scenes fact, it almost makes the line’s inclusion a little endearing. A little.

“I need the CHEMS!”

In the film “The Bourne Legacy” (2012), featuring Jeremy Renner as a genetically enhanced agent, you’ll notice that there’s extensive discussion about these substances referred to as “chems.” These chems are potent drugs given to agents to boost their mental and physical endurance. Throughout the movie, Aaron Cross (Renner) is in dire need of more chems because his supply is running out. He repeatedly demands, “Where are the CHEMS? I need the CHEMS!”, even going so far as to yell this at Rachel Weisz’s character. The majority of their interactions revolve around obtaining more chems, discussing their necessity, and whether Cross should continue taking them. It’s crucial that he gets a fresh supply of chems!

“We some kind of Suicide Squad?”

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the moments when characters refer to the very film they’re in. This trope is present in timeless classics like “Back to the Future,” “The Dark Knight,” and even “Tenet.” It’s also found throughout the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Regrettably, even in my beloved “Suicide Squad” (2016), this convention is employed, but with a certain unrefined flair. In particular, they make Will Smith’s character, Deadshot, do it. During a conversation with his commanding officer Rick Flag, played by Joel Kinnaman, he asks, “So that’s it?” After being informed that the government is assembling a team of misfits to combat threats from metahumans, he then queries, “What? We some kind of Suicide Squad?” Indeed, you could say they’ve assembled quite the motley crew!

“Somehow, Palpatine returned.”

Despite being a fan favorite, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) has a confusing plot. It seems like an entire trilogy was squeezed into one movie due to the excessive introduction of new elements and characters. The storyline starts with the return of the Sith lord Palpatine, which is not well-explained, instead vaguely hinted at through dialogue such as “We’ve decoded the intel from the First Order spy, and it confirms the worst,” spoken by Poe Dameron. This explanation feels hasty and lacks detail, making one wonder about the discussions between directors J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio regarding this plot point. The line “They fly now” is particularly disappointing in this context, adding to the overall sense of underwhelm.

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2025-09-08 23:59