Top 10 Best Movies Where the Bad Guy Wins
Have you ever found yourself surprisingly rooting for the villain in a movie? Or, perhaps more likely, been utterly taken aback when the credits rolled and the good guys hadn't triumphed? There's a certain thrill to those films, isn't there? A sense of audacious originality, subverting the tried and true "heroes always win" narrative and presenting a dark, sometimes uncomfortable mirror to the real world where, sadly, virtue doesn't always come out on top. These are the stories where the bad guys, against all our expectations, clinch the victory. They shock us, they intrigue us, and they open up a fascinating realm of discourse on the nature of storytelling itself. So, the question arises - what are the best movies where the bad guy wins?Hollywood and international cinema have had a long history of these narrative curveballs. Films that challenge our perspective on justice, on triumph, and on the very concept of good and evil. From ruthless crime lords to cunning tricksters, from master manipulators to unstoppable forces of nature, these characters have outwitted, outlasted, and overcome their opposition, leaving audiences with a sense of morbid fascination, or even an eerie satisfaction, as the story unfolded against our traditional expectations.
The Top Ten
1 Seven
A seasoned detective and his new partner are hot on the trail of a serial killer, who uses the seven deadly sins as a theme for his murders. In a climactic showdown, the antagonist forces one of the detectives to commit wrath, the final sin, thus fulfilling his grotesque plan.
A seasoned detective and his new partner are hot on the trail of a serial killer, who uses the seven deadly sins as a theme for his murders. In a climactic showdown, the antagonist forces one of the detectives to commit wrath, the final sin, thus fulfilling his grotesque plan.
2 The Usual Suspects
Five criminals meet in a police line-up and plan a heist that goes disastrously wrong. The seemingly innocent, crippled 'Verbal' Kint tells their story, only to be revealed as the feared underworld boss, Keyser Söze, who disappears into thin air after duping the investigators.
Five criminals meet in a police line-up and plan a heist that goes disastrously wrong. The seemingly innocent, crippled 'Verbal' Kint tells their story, only to be revealed as the feared underworld boss, Keyser Söze, who disappears into thin air after duping the investigators.
3 No Country for Old Men
When a hunter stumbles upon the grisly aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and makes off with the money, he sets off a deadly chain of events. Anton Chigurh, the relentless hitman pursuing him, leaves a trail of violence in his wake and eventually escapes unpunished.
When a hunter stumbles upon the grisly aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and makes off with the money, he sets off a deadly chain of events. Anton Chigurh, the relentless hitman pursuing him, leaves a trail of violence in his wake and eventually escapes unpunished.
4 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
In a mental institution ruled with an iron fist by Nurse Ratched, a rebellious patient incites the inmates to revolt. Despite the rebellion, Nurse Ratched maintains her control, leading to the tragic end of the protagonist.
In a mental institution ruled with an iron fist by Nurse Ratched, a rebellious patient incites the inmates to revolt. Despite the rebellion, Nurse Ratched maintains her control, leading to the tragic end of the protagonist.
5 The Silence of the Lambs
Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling seeks the help of imprisoned cannibalistic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer. Lecter, using his cunning and manipulation, manages to escape during the course of the investigation.
Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling seeks the help of imprisoned cannibalistic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer. Lecter, using his cunning and manipulation, manages to escape during the course of the investigation.
6 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
In the second chapter of the original Star Wars saga, the Rebels suffer a series of defeats at the hands of the Galactic Empire. With Han Solo captured and Luke Skywalker learning a disturbing truth, it's a clear victory for Darth Vader and the Empire.
In the second chapter of the original Star Wars saga, the Rebels suffer a series of defeats at the hands of the Galactic Empire. With Han Solo captured and Luke Skywalker learning a disturbing truth, it's a clear victory for Darth Vader and the Empire.
7 Primal Fear
A young altar boy is accused of a brutal murder, with his lawyer believing him to be innocent due to his apparent split personality. In a shocking twist, it's revealed that the boy was feigning mental illness all along, managing to secure an acquittal.
A young altar boy is accused of a brutal murder, with his lawyer believing him to be innocent due to his apparent split personality. In a shocking twist, it's revealed that the boy was feigning mental illness all along, managing to secure an acquittal.
8 The Dark Knight
As Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent take on organized crime in Gotham, the Joker emerges, throwing the city into chaos. While Batman saves the day in one aspect, the Joker succeeds in his grander plan, turning Gotham's White Knight, Harvey Dent, into the villainous Two-Face.
As Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent take on organized crime in Gotham, the Joker emerges, throwing the city into chaos. While Batman saves the day in one aspect, the Joker succeeds in his grander plan, turning Gotham's White Knight, Harvey Dent, into the villainous Two-Face.
9 A Clockwork Orange
Alex, a violent youth and leader of a gang, undergoes a controversial rehabilitation experiment but soon returns to his old ways. Despite his brutal and inhuman behavior, he ultimately evades true justice and is allowed back into society.
Alex, a violent youth and leader of a gang, undergoes a controversial rehabilitation experiment but soon returns to his old ways. Despite his brutal and inhuman behavior, he ultimately evades true justice and is allowed back into society.
10 Captain America: Civil War
Fractures form within the Avengers when they're forced to choose sides in a debate over government oversight. The antagonist, Zemo, capitalizes on their discord to break them apart, succeeding in his plan to make the Avengers crumble from within.
Fractures form within the Avengers when they're forced to choose sides in a debate over government oversight. The antagonist, Zemo, capitalizes on their discord to break them apart, succeeding in his plan to make the Avengers crumble from within.The Contenders
11 Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
The third episode of the Star Wars saga sees Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. Despite the best efforts of the Jedi Order, Chancellor Palpatine emerges victorious, signaling the birth of the Galactic Empire.
The third episode of the Star Wars saga sees Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. Despite the best efforts of the Jedi Order, Chancellor Palpatine emerges victorious, signaling the birth of the Galactic Empire.
12 Pulp Fiction
In this Quentin Tarantino masterpiece, various interconnected narratives unfold, involving two hitmen, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and two robbers. Despite their morally dubious actions, these characters generally evade punishment, allowing for a villainous victory in each storyline.
In this Quentin Tarantino masterpiece, various interconnected narratives unfold, involving two hitmen, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and two robbers. Despite their morally dubious actions, these characters generally evade punishment, allowing for a villainous victory in each storyline.
13 Saw
Two men wake up in a grimy bathroom, chained at opposite ends and part of a gruesome game set by the mysterious Jigsaw Killer. Despite their desperate attempts to escape, Jigsaw's twisted plan concludes as he intended.
Two men wake up in a grimy bathroom, chained at opposite ends and part of a gruesome game set by the mysterious Jigsaw Killer. Despite their desperate attempts to escape, Jigsaw's twisted plan concludes as he intended.
14 Fight Club
A disillusioned office worker, seeking an escape from his monotonous life, forms an underground fight club with a charismatic soap salesman. However, the fight club spirals into an anarchic movement, and it's revealed that both characters are the same person, with the darker persona gaining control.
A disillusioned office worker, seeking an escape from his monotonous life, forms an underground fight club with a charismatic soap salesman. However, the fight club spirals into an anarchic movement, and it's revealed that both characters are the same person, with the darker persona gaining control.
15 Avengers: Infinity War
The Avengers and their allies band together to stop Thanos from acquiring all six Infinity Stones. Despite their efforts, Thanos succeeds in his mission and wipes out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers.
The Avengers and their allies band together to stop Thanos from acquiring all six Infinity Stones. Despite their efforts, Thanos succeeds in his mission and wipes out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers.
16 The Vanishing
After a man's girlfriend goes missing at a rest area, he becomes obsessed with finding her. The kidnapper eventually reveals himself and offers the man the chance to learn his girlfriend's fate, leading him straight into a horrifying trap.
After a man's girlfriend goes missing at a rest area, he becomes obsessed with finding her. The kidnapper eventually reveals himself and offers the man the chance to learn his girlfriend's fate, leading him straight into a horrifying trap.
17 The Omen
18 Chinatown
19 Brazil
Set in a dystopian society, Sam Lowry, a low-level government employee, attempts to correct an administrative error that led to an innocent man's death. Despite his best efforts, the oppressive regime ultimately crushes Sam's rebellion and spirit.
Set in a dystopian society, Sam Lowry, a low-level government employee, attempts to correct an administrative error that led to an innocent man's death. Despite his best efforts, the oppressive regime ultimately crushes Sam's rebellion and spirit.
20 The Grudge
When an American nurse works in Tokyo, she encounters a supernatural curse that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim. Despite her attempts to break free, the curse prevails.
When an American nurse works in Tokyo, she encounters a supernatural curse that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim. Despite her attempts to break free, the curse prevails.
21 The Great Silence
In this subversive spaghetti western, a mute gunslinger named Silence stands against brutal bounty killers tormenting a group of outlaws. However, in a stark departure from the genre's conventions, the villains brutally defeat Silence in the climax.
In this subversive spaghetti western, a mute gunslinger named Silence stands against brutal bounty killers tormenting a group of outlaws. However, in a stark departure from the genre's conventions, the villains brutally defeat Silence in the climax.
22 The Collector
A handyman planning a heist stumbles upon a horrifying scene: a masked man has booby-trapped the house and is torturing the family. Despite his attempts to outwit the killer and save the family, he ends up in the sadistic hands of the Collector.
A handyman planning a heist stumbles upon a horrifying scene: a masked man has booby-trapped the house and is torturing the family. Despite his attempts to outwit the killer and save the family, he ends up in the sadistic hands of the Collector.
23 The Cabin in the Woods
Five friends go for a vacation at a remote cabin, unaware they're part of a ritualistic sacrifice orchestrated by a secret organization. Despite their fight for survival, the organization succeeds, leading to an apocalyptic ending.
Five friends go for a vacation at a remote cabin, unaware they're part of a ritualistic sacrifice orchestrated by a secret organization. Despite their fight for survival, the organization succeeds, leading to an apocalyptic ending.
24 Phone Booth
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