Often, the best movie villains are those who reflect the heroes’ core characteristics. By acting as a foil, villains can highlight the protagonist’s flaws or they can act as a cautionary tale about what could happen to heroes if they stray too far from the light. The most interesting villains in cinema tend to be those who share a deep connection with the heroes, as if they were two sides of the same coin.
Great movie villains must seem as nuanced and realistic as the protagonists, or else the entire conflict can fizzle out. While pure evil villains have their place, it’s often more thought-provoking when the villain is just a step away from the hero. By showing the hero and villain competing for the same goal, films can delve deeper into each character, highlighting the subtle differences that define them.
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Rey and Kylo Ren
The Star Wars sequel trilogy
Many of the main story elements in the Star Wars The sequel trilogy echoes details from the original trilogy. Rey and Kylo’s intense relationship isn’t the first time the franchise has had a hero and villain with a deep personal connection. Their dynamic evokes that of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in some ways, as they also tried to pull each other to their side of the force, rather than simply trying to destroy each other.
Rey doesn’t know who she is when her story begins. She clings to the vague promise that her parents will return for her one day, but she doesn’t allow herself to truly examine her origins and potential until she feels a connection to Kylo Ren. Just like Rey, Kylo is trying to build a new life for himself after feeling betrayed by his parents. The main difference between the two is that Rey responds with hope, while Kylo is bitter and resentful.
9
Neo and Agent Smith
The Matrix (1999)
The Oracle tells Neo that Agent Smith is his opposite and his negative. He is the great evil that Neo will have to overcome if he wants to truly free himself from the matrix. Their differences manifest themselves in many ways, from their appearance to their fighting styles. Although Neo is commonly referred to as “the One,” Agent Smith gains power by being able to multiply himself into infinite copies of himself.
Like Neo, Smith is a force that exists outside the programmed parameters of the matrix.
Neo and Smith’s battle continues throughout the Headquarters franchisesince Smith is not deleted by Neo at the end of The Matrix. Since Smith’s code is linked to Neo, it can avoid deletion and become a harmful virus. Like Neo, Smith is a force that exists outside the programmed parameters of the matrix. As one gains strength, so does the other, and they are linked by destiny as well as programming.
8
Batman and the Joker
The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is a big reason The Dark Knight is generally considered the best entry in Christopher Nolan’s story Batman trilogy. The Joker appears unbalanced and irrational, but his devotion to chaos is part of an intelligent philosophy. His idea is to highlight the darkness within everyone and pierce the thin veneer of polite society that suffocates man’s true nature.
As the Joker tells Batman in their final confrontation, he believes they are fighting for the soul of Gotham.
As the Joker tells Batman in their final confrontation, he believes they are fighting for the soul of Gotham. On a more personal level, The Joker also wants to defeat Batman, proving that he is not such a noble guardian of the city. This is highlighted by the moment when the Joker stands in the middle of the street and urges Batman to knock him down with the Batpod and kill him.
7
Johnny Utah and Bodhi
Breaking Point (1991)
Bodhi is the leader of a gang of bank robbers and Johnny Utah is the rookie FBI agent tasked with bringing him to justice, but the two end up having a lot in common. After Johnny infiltrates Bodhi’s inner circle, he begins to sympathize with Bodhi’s free-minded philosophy. Johnny has the chance to shoot Bodhi and stop his crimes once and for all, but he can’t pull the trigger.
After Johnny infiltrates Bodhi’s inner circle, he begins to sympathize with Bodhi’s free-minded philosophy.
Johnny is a former college football star, but a catastrophic injury ruined his chances of turning pro. He takes a job at the FBI, but it becomes clear that’s not what inspires him. Bodhi represents what Johnny’s life would be like if he sought the same excitement and freedom he had during his college days.. Johnny leaves the FBI when Bodhi dies in a storm. For both men, they made the decision to reject the hand they were dealt.
6
James Bond and Scaramanga
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Fall from the skyRaoul Silva is often cited as one of the best James Bond villains, in part because he mirrors Bond in some important ways. He’s a former MI6 agent who served his country until he was betrayed and left for dead, and he suggests that Bond should be as uncomfortable and outraged as he is. This is not the first time that Connection franchise created a villain that reflects its hero, as The Man with the Golden Gun I got there 38 years earlier.
Scaramanga sees Bond as a professional colleague and thinks the only difference between them is their employer.
Christopher Lee’s Scaramanga is a high-class assassin who charges $1 million per hit. As he explains to Bond, both men are experienced assassins who enjoy their work, whether Bond wants to admit it or not. Scaramanga sees Bond as a professional colleague and thinks the only difference between them is their employer. This intriguing relationship between hero and villain is one of the reasons why The Man with the Golden Gun is a hugely underrated Bond film.
5
Mr. Terrific and Syndrome
The Incredibles (2004)
Syndrome’s path toward evil begins when he is just a child and is despised by his hero Mr. From then on, Syndrome vows to become strong enough to rid the world of superheroes for good. If he can’t be a hero, then he doesn’t want anyone to enjoy public adulation. In some ways, he’s like Mr. Incredible, or he’s a vision of what Mr. Incredible might be like without his powers.
Syndrome values strength and he takes great pleasure in playing the role of a superhero when he lets his omnidroid loose around the city. Mr. Bright rejects his methods, but also enjoys the thrill of being a hero and feeling the love of a large crowd. If Mr. Incredible didn’t have his powers, he would be as bitter as Syndrome, just like he is when he has to hide his powers and work a boring administrative job. Syndrome remains one of Pixar’s best villains, in part because he suits the hero perfectly.
4
Indiana Jones and Belloq
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Belloq says it best when he tells Indy “Archaeology is our religion, but we both have fallen from pure faith.” Belloq may be working with the Nazis, but he sees that Indy also has his own agenda that goes against what most archaeologists would want. Like Belloq, Indy is fascinated by his own search for truth. The similarities between the characters are clear from the beginning, when both men search for the same golden idol.
Belloq is probably the best Indiana Jones villain, based on how he challenges Indy and reflects the darkest parts of his soul.
Indy proves that his morality is not as firm as he believes when he is given the chance to destroy the Ark of the Covenant. Belloq calls his bluff and encourages him to fire his RPG at it, but Indy would rather see what’s inside, even if it means the Ark falls into enemy hands. Belloq is probably the best Indiana Jones villain, based on how he challenges Indy and reflects the darkest parts of his soul.
3
Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley
Heat (1995)
Michael Mann Warm up is a pulse-pounding action thriller, but maintains a sharp focus on its two main characters. Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley are two dedicated and troubled men on opposite sides of the law. They develop a strange respect for each other as their cat and mouse game continues, and ultimately it’s hard to see either of them as a villain. McCauley may be a criminal, but he has a lot in common with Hanna.
Ultimately, it’s hard to see any of them as a villain. McCauley may be a criminal, but he has a lot in common with Hanna.
Hanna and McCauley come face to face Warm upfamous dinner scene. Both men describe their similar philosophies about life and work, and reveal their human vulnerabilities to each other, despite the fact that they are engaged in a battle that can only end in death. Hanna shows a touch of sadness when he finally shoots his rivalknowing that it was pure luck that differentiated the two. Mann will have to get his cast right for the next one Heat 2, which will serve as a prequel and sequel.
2
Caesar and Koba
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Caesar rejects Koba’s anti-human stance, but he has more in common with his rival than he would like to think. Both Caesar and Koba want to protect and lead the apes. Both want security from human aggression. The only real difference is the way the two monkeys try to deal with this problem. Caesar repeatedly believes that apes can coexist peacefully with humans. Ultimately, the humans continue to break his trust, proving that Koba may be right after all.
Even after Koba is defeated, his shadow looms over Caesar.
Even after Koba is defeated, his shadow looms over Caesar, showing that he represents the darkness lurking within Caesar. In War for the Planet of the Apes, Caesar sees humans enslaving and abusing apes and begins to come around to the idea that violent revolution may be the only answer. In the end, he feels sorry for the Colonel when he sees him in a moment of weakness and understands once again that human aggression is always a response to fear.
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Harry Potter and Voldemort
The Harry Potter franchise
From the moment he is born, Harry is linked to Voldemort. Their fates are intertwined each time Voldemort reappears during Harry’s time at Hogwarts, whether they are fighting for the philosopher’s stone or meeting after the Triwizard Tournament when Voldemort is resurrected using Harry’s blood. Harry eventually discovers that he is one of Voldemort’s horcruxes, meaning that Voldemort cannot die while he is still alive.
Although Harry and Voldemort are mortal enemies, they share some important similarities. Both have extreme innate magical powers and both show great promise at Hogwarts. Voldemort merely represents what could happen to Harry if he sought revenge against the Muggle society that mistreated him throughout his life. Instead of choosing darkness, Harry finds solace in his new community at Hogwarts, and it is this that helps him defeat Voldemort.