A movie having a protagonist who has gray shades is common, but having a full-blown evil main character isn’t as easy to successfully pull off. This is why some filmmakers avoid making their main characters too evil.
However, multiple popular protagonists in cinema are actually villains. Some may become evil because of their situations and others are rotten to their core. Regardless of their inspiration, a villain as a protagonist makes the story unique.
8The Guest
There Is No Choice
In The Guest, the main character, David Collins, shows up at Peterson’s residence and claims to be the friend of their late son, Caleb. David says he’s there to help and he does. From saving Caleb’s brother Luke from bullies to helping Caleb’s father Spencer get promoted by apparently killing his boss, it seems like David’s presence spells good luck for the family.
After Luke and his sister Anna attempt to find out more about David, a hit team attacks Peterson’s house. David kills everyone except Major Carver, who explains the truth about David. It’s revealed that he’s a military test subject who is programmed to kill anyone who might compromise his identity. Carver says David likely won’t be able to stop, so there is no choice but to kill him, turning the protagonist into the primary antagonist.
7American Psycho
Patrick Bateman Is An Idea
American Psycho tellsthe story of Patrick Bateman, an investment banker who moonlights as a serial killer. He is a charming main character who kills colleagues for simply mocking him and attempts to kill one for having a better business card than him. Throughout the movie, he kills more than 40 people and confesses to his crime, but nobody takes him seriously.
In the end, he gives up trying to surrender and accepts that his dull life will stay the same. It’s unclear how much of the story was within Patrick’s mind and how much of it really happened. Regardless, Patrick is a psychopath and a villain who will kill people for the smallest things.
6Pain & Gain
We Can’t Just Kidnap A Guy And Take His Things
Pain & Gain retells the true crimes of the Sun Gym gang, a group of bodybuilders who committed various crimes over the years. The movie follows the lives of Daniel Lugo, Paul Doyle, and Adrian Doorbal as they kidnap their victims and rob them blind. Their greed leads to them getting sloppy and eventually caught.
While the three are very charming and main character material, they are certainly the villains of the movie. Lugo is a manipulative person who convinces the other two to commit crimes and then continues to use them so he can keep getting rich. That’s not to say the others are any less guilty, as they all committed crimes for their benefit.
5Scarface
I Always Tell The Truth
Scarface is considered one of the greatest criminal movies of all time. The main character, Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, arrives in Miami and starts to work with the drug lord, Frank Lopez. Slowly, Tony starts to get bigger and wants more, so he strikes a deal with the drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa.
He starts his operation and destroys many things in the process, including his relationship with his sister and best friend. In the end, he kills his best friend, and his sister shoots him. While he survives, his estate is swarmed by enemies, and he tries to kill as many as he can but ends up dead in his pool.
4Law Abiding Citizen
It’s Gonna Be Biblical
Clyde Shelton, a victim of a home invasion, watches as the culprits, Clarence Darby and Rupert Ames, murder his wife and daughter. Prosecutor Nick Rick tries to get both convicted but has to strike a deal with Darby to testify against Ames because of a low chance of conviction. Darby is jailed and Ames is found guilty and sentenced to death, but Clyde feels like Nick and the justice system betrayed him.
Clyde plans and murders Darby years later. He surrenders himself and the rest of the movie shows how he takes revenge even while imprisoned. Nick figures out what Clyde is doing and tries to stop him but is largely unsuccessful. While Clyde was avenging his family, his methods were wrong and unlawful, turning him into a villain.
3Training Day
Live With Your Decision
Training Day recounts the events of one day when LAPD officer Jake Hoyt rides with a decorated narcotics detective, Alonzo Harris, to see if he should join the squad. During the various things that happen during the day, Alfonzo is shown to not be the hero you think he is. He makes Jake smoke illegal substances, steals money, and stages an encounter to make it seem like everything he is doing is legit.
Jake later finds out Alfonzo needs to pay the Russians because of a scuffle he got into as he’s about to be killed. The killer Alfonzo has hired lets Jake go because of a good deed he did during the day. He goes to confront Alfonzo and the famed detective ends up dead, succumbing to his wounds in the very neighborhood he used to terrorize.
2Catch Me If You Can
An Honest Man Has Nothing To Fear
Catch Me If you may is the story of the infamous conman, Frank Abagnale Jr., who made millions by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a doctor, and many other identities.Tom Hanks plays the roleof an FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, who is after Frank. The movie makes you empathize with Frank to the extent that you almost forget he’s the bad guy.
The kid has had a rough life, and that’s why he chose the life of crime, but it doesn’t take away from all the people he conned and the money he stole. The movie ends with Carl finally catching Frank and the latter is later offered a post as an FBI consultant to help catch those the bureau can’t on its own.
1The Wolf Of Wall Street
There’s No Nobility In Poverty
The protagonist of The Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, isn’t your typical villain who starts shooting people. Jordan is a penny stockbroker who uses fraudulent schemes, such as pump and dump, to manipulate the market. He inflated the stock prices of worthless stocks and made a fortune while his clients suffered the consequences.
The character has a savvy and cool personality worthy of the best of protagonists, and he has a lavish lifestyle that most could only dream of. Despite all the glitter, the man suffers from drug and alcohol addiction, which is shown in the movie. In addition, he ends up pleading guilty to the charges against him when he’s eventually caught.
