Top 10 Evil Characters That Were Good ALL ALONG

“Home Alone” (1990)
Even Boo Radley never had this bad of a reputation. Rumored to be a murderous serial killer called the South Bend Shovel Slayer, Marley put the fear of God in Kevin McCallister’s soul. Granted, the wizened face, dark clothing, and the shovel didn’t help matters. Eventually, though, Kevin makes Marley’s acquaintance at a local church, and there Marley debunks those wild rumors about him. It turns out that he was estranged from his son due to an argument, preventing Marley from seeing his beloved granddaughter. Kevin’s friendship with Marley proved lifesaving, as Marley rescued him from the Wet Bandits. Appearances really can be deceiving.

“Groundhog Day” (1993)
Sometimes protagonists can be the worst villains. Weatherman Phil Connors is a real piece of work in particular. Snobbish, rude, and condescending, Phil is forced to stay in Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day, intending to leave the following morning. Instead, Phil finds himself in a time loop, waking up each morning to Sonny & Cher and repeating the same events. It takes a while, but Phil eventually strives to use the time loop for good, helping the people of Punxsutawney and even falling in love with his colleague Rita. His change of heart complete, he finally awakens the next day—with Rita by his side. This is one redemption arc we approve of.

“Deadpool 2” (2018)
A time-traveling soldier, Cable is introduced as just another villain Wade Wilson must fight. When he attacks a young mutant, Russell Collins, Wade wastes no time to protect the latter. But Russell betrays him big time when he solicits inmate Juggernaut in a revenge plot, with Juggernaut ripping Wade in half. As Wade recovers, Cable explains that Russell becomes a serial killer in the future, killing Cable’s family. Wade agrees to help take Russell down, sacrificing himself. Cable then travels back in time not only to save Wade, but also his girlfriend Vanessa. The real hero, it turns out, is the one you least expect.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022)
It’s bad enough learning about several parallel universes. But what if your daughter were a villain in all of them? Evelyn Wang is a struggling Chinese immigrant with a strained relationship with her daughter, Joy. While her laundromat is being audited by the IRS, her husband from a parallel universe saddles her with devastating news: Alpha Joy, known as Jobu Tupaki, is going to destroy the multiverse. But Jobu’s villainy is a cry for help—what she wants is for Evelyn to join her in the nihilist void. Evelyn instead chooses radical empathy, saving Jobu from the nihilistic Everything Bagel and reconciling with her daughter. Lesson learned: Do not underestimate the power of bagels.

“The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-23)
A man on the inside is always requisite in a revolution. We are introduced to Plutarch Heavensbee as little more than a Capital stooge, the new Gamemaker after Seneca Crane dies. Plutarch also advises President Snow that the best way to destroy Katniss is to destroy her image. But it isn’t until Katniss is rescued by the District 13 rebels at the end of “Catching Fire” that Plutarch’s true loyalties are revealed. Plutarch is a secret rebel against the Capitol, even helping to shield Katniss’s prep team from torture. He would eventually become Panem’s Secretary of Communications under the new regime, so his subterfuge wasn’t totally disinterested. Still, we can be assured that Plutarch is one with his moral compass still intact.

“The Rock” (1996)
Everybody likes a rebel with a cause. Once a loyal state stooge, General Frank Hummel and his second-in-command now go against the U.S. government itself, taking the island of Alcatraz prisoner. The demands? $100 million due to his men and the families of those who died on covert missions and were not compensated. If not, then San Francisco will get the worst rocket show imaginable. But Hummel is not a case of a character with a good motive but bad means. His rocket threat was a bluff, detonating it harmlessly into the sea. Hummel then valiantly tries to call off the mission. His refusal to endanger civilians leads to his tragic death due to mutiny. The true heroes are often the most unexpected ones.

“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
He’s a mean one, all right, but like Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch isn’t totally irredeemable. Detesting the very idea of Christmas and the holidays, the Grinch hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the residents of Whoville. In this adaptation, however, the Grinch’s hatred for the holiday stems from schoolyard bullying and the materialistic culture of Whovian Christmas in general. The Grinch steals everybody’s presents—only to find the townspeople have taken his criticism to heart and began to sing carols. Realizing the true meaning of Christmas for the first time, the Grinch returns the presents and apologizes for his actions. This Grinch is truly no humbug.

“Casablanca” (1942)
We were shocked, we tell you, when this shamelessly corrupt police captain turned out to be not such a bad guy. Granted, Renault was just a minor antagonist in this tale of loyalties, lost love, and fighting Nazis. The worst he ever did was to try and arrest Ilsa’s husband, Laszlo. But Renault does do Rick a solid when the latter shoots Strasser dead, protecting Rick from police arrest. It turns out corruption can go both ways and may be used for good. And of course, there is Rick’s now iconic line about his and Renault’s new alliance.

“Blade Runner” (1982)
It isn’t easy being a replicant. In this dystopian future of “Blade Runner,” these humanoid androids are created and destroyed once their use in the space colonies has been fulfilled. One such replicant is Roy Batty, who manages to elude the authorities with his fellows, seeking out his corporate creator to give him more life. But it isn’t long before Rick Deckard catches up to him and Roy’s own body begins to fail him. He dies, uttering a now-iconic monologue. What he wanted, in the end, was what we all would want—more time on this brief earth. And that is the most human thing of all.

“Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
There are few “Harry Potter” characters that inspire such love and hate as Hogwarts’ own Potions Master and ex-Death Eater. Severus Snape is acerbic, bullying, and truly hates Harry for the sins of his father, who had bullied Snape in school. But Snape ultimately turns from Voldemort’s pureblood terrorism due to the love he had for a Muggleborn: Lily, Harry’s own mother. Despite Snape’s trauma and grudges, he successfully protects not only Harry, but his fellow students. He isn’t even guilty of Dumbledore’s death, since Snape only killed him on his orders. In the end, Snape deserved credit for his covert and heroic actions—and for teaching us that being nice is different than being good.