Top 10 Villains Who Weren't Evil Just Broken

Jaime Lannister established his villain status in the very first episode of “Game of Thrones.” After being discovered in a compromising position with his own twin sister, he pushed a child from a high window and never showed a hint of remorse. Still, once we got to know him better - and watched him suffer through some humbling experiences - we began to find excuses for his bad behavior. Jaime’s tenure as Kingsguard to Aerys II was pretty traumatic. Being branded as a murderous traitor as a teen must have hurt, especially when he should have been the savior of the hour. Jaime’s good deeds don’t cancel out the many bad ones, but you’ve still got to feel for the guy.

In the early “Harry Potter” movies, Professor Snape makes it his mission to victimize and humiliate our young hero. However, the more we unearth Snape’s backstory, the more his nastiness makes sense. Draco Malfoy occasionally cuts a pitiful figure but if we’re comparing damaged villains, his troubles are nothing compared to Snape’s. The Potions master was raised by an abusive father and tormented mercilessly at school. He later lost the unrequited love of his life, and was forced to live with the guilt for his part in her death. Tied into unending servitude with Dumbledore, he tried to make amends, but still spent his final days despised by all. No, Snape wasn’t very nice, but we don’t think he deserved all that.

Darth Vader is the quintessential old school villain - but underneath it all, he’s still human. Throughout his origin story, we watch Anakin Skywalker grow and suffer, while wrestling with the darkness inside him. However, even before the prequels, there was plenty of room to feel sorry for the masked man. By “Return of the Jedi,” Luke’s father had done a lot of bad things. There was a bit of torture, a few slaughtered innocents and an entire civilisation destroyed on his watch. But he’s hurting, and you know he wishes things were different. Darth Vader may have crossed too many lines to get his happily ever after but it’s never too late for some last minute remorse. Ultimately, he dies an honorable death.

They say one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter, but the antagonist of “Black Panther” feels like both. Erik Killmonger was abandoned as a child after his father was killed by his own brother, the king of Wakanda. He then made it his life’s mission to overthrow the rule of his cousin T’Challa. However, his end goal was the liberation of people of African descent around the world. Erik is a dangerous man, but the little lost boy isn’t far below the surface. Even his enemies can see that he doesn’t play the villain just for fun - he’s fighting for a cause that he passionately believes in. Yes, he had to be stopped, but we’re glad he got to see that sunset before he died.

Although technically a villain, Thor’s little brother seems to spend half his time in the Marvel universe balancing on the precipice of redemption. Still, he never quite fits in with the good guys and is constantly backsliding into his dark little world. He is the trickster god after all and mischief is his business. However, it’s Loki’s outcast status that makes him just so likable. An adopted son, he was always in the shadow of his golden haired brother, and his strengths - wit and sorcery - were not valued in Asgardian society. Plus, he believed he was destined to turn into a villain, which caused a self-fulfilling prophecy. Complex and unfathomably charming, he’s become a firm favorite with fans despite his dastardly deeds.

‘The chosen one’ is a common trope in superhero movies but the role of the antagonist often seems just as predestined. “Megamind” plays with this idea, presenting us with a main character who’s raised to be a supervillain, despite actually being a pretty nice guy. Dropped into a prison and pushed around at school, Megamind eventually decides to become the villain everyone supposes him to be. With such a distinctive look, how could he be anything else? However, after defeating his arch nemesis, Metro Man, the big blue bad guy discovers that he’s lonely. He’s then forced to create a new adversary to fight, but finds himself unwittingly playing the hero - and frankly, it suits him much better.

The depiction of Cruella De Vil subtly alters with each new retelling of her story. In Dodie Smith’s novel, she’s a decadent London heiress with a furrier husband. In subsequent adaptations, she lost the man and gained a fashion career, but remained as wicked as ever. However, the newest incarnation of the character is much more sympathetic. Emma Stone’s Cruella was picked on at school, thanks to her distinctive hair, and later orphaned by a pack of vicious Dalmatians. Young Cruella takes to the streets of London but soon finds her feet as a fabulous fashionista - and she doesn’t even wear real fur. The character remains a self-proclaimed bad girl, and as eccentric as ever, but we wouldn’t exactly call her cruel.

Referred to by one critic as “the best redemption arc in the history of television,” Prince Zuko’s journey from ruthless antagonist to loyal member of the gang, is a thing of beauty. He’s introduced as the villain of the piece, but it’s not long before we realize how much hero potential Zuko has. We discover that standing up for others got him banished from his kingdom - he was even forced to fight his own father and sacrifice his honor. Zuko’s sense of right and wrong is tested throughout his quest to find the Avatar. Like Kuvira, from spin-off series “The Legend of Korra” , Zuko slowly comes to accept that he’s one of the bad guys, and begins to make a change.

The Joker comes in many guises, and every version of the character has a little bit of sad mixed in with the bad and the mad. Of all the movies that featured this creepy persona, arguably none strayed into the ‘tortured villain’ territory more than 2019’s “Joker.” As the first movie dedicated solely to the infamous antagonist, it delves deeper into the character’s psyche, painting him as a man in the grip of mental illness. Arthur Fleck, alias The Joker, begins the film as a working clown and failed stand-up comedian. He also suffers from uncontrollable laughing fits due to a neurological condition. Taunted and attacked by thugs, Fleck commits his first murder, laying the groundwork for his descent into nihilism and insanity.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sandman, “Spider-Man 3” (2007)
He Did Everything Just to Help His Sick Daughter

Dr. Doofenschmirtz, “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
The Evil Doctor Had to Contend with Mean Kids, Bad Parents & a Balloon for a Best Friend

Xu Wenwu, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021)
He Became a Powerful Assassin in Order to Seek Revenge for His Murdered Wife

Regina Mills, “Once Upon a Time”(2011-18)
A Forced Marriage & a Broken Heart Made Her Into a Wicked Queen

Homelander, “The Boys” (2019-)
Raised in a Lab Without Love, All He Really Craves Is Adoration

In the original “Sleeping Beauty” animation, Maleficent truly is the mistress of all evil. Bad to the bone, she delights in cursing babies and tormenting princes and parents. Disney’s live action prequel gives its anti-heroine a sympathetic backstory and a reason for revenge that has nothing to do with a missing invite. Betrayed by King Stefan, who she once loved, Maleficent turns to the dark side, but she never lets it claim her altogether. Even lead actress Angelina Jolie called her character “slightly crazy, extremely vibrant, a little wicked, with big sense of humor.” She’s less cruel and more vulnerable here, and although we love the pantomime villainy of the original, we can also appreciate the nuance of the 2014 movie.