32 Supervillains You Might Actually Sympathize With!

As a film enthusiast who’s always got an eye for superhero flicks, I reckon we can all concur: the top-tier superhero movies are those where the antagonist isn’t just a one-dimensional baddie you love to loathe, but rather, a complex character that provokes introspection. Sure, their schemes may be questionable or downright cruel, but they often have a reasoning behind their actions that resonates and makes you pause, even if only for a moment.

Consider the most formidable antagonists from Marvel films, DC films, as well as other notable comic book adaptations that didn’t belong to either universe. These characters, despite their villainous roles, had a certain charm that might have made us sympathize with them if only they weren’t so cruel.

Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War)

In the movie “Avengers: Infinity War,” Thanos, the initial major antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, took center stage as the main adversary. His goal was to gather all the Infinity Stones to prevent Earth’s annihilation and establish harmony across the entire cosmos, albeit through mass genocide. This portrayal of the Mad Titan in the 2018 film is generally considered an upgrade over his characterization from the early ’90s comic books, where he eliminated half the universe to win over Death, whom he was infatuated with.

The Riddler (The Batman)

Much like Paul Dano’s portrayal of The Riddler in 2022’s “The Batman,” his character from “Batman Forever” played by Jim Carrey, harbors a grudge against Bruce Wayne and suspects him to be working with the vigilante, Robert Pattinson. However, unlike the Dark Knight, Riddler does not adhere to his no-killing policy in his pursuit of justice and eliminating corruption within Gotham City.

Magneto (The X-Men Movies)

In the world of the X-Men comics, Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, known as Magneto, are often compared to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X due to their shared objective of combating mutant suppression. However, they differ significantly in their methods to achieve this goal. The metal manipulator, portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender in the X-Men films, is not advocating for harmony between humans and mutants; instead, he aspires for his kind to rise above and become the superior race.

Syndrome (The Incredibles)

In one of Pixar’s top-tier films, “The Incredibles,” released in 2004, the character Syndrome (Jason Lee) harbors a desire to kill retired superheroes and assume their roles following his childhood disappointment with his idol, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson). Similarly, the antagonist from the 2018 sequel, Evelyn “Screenslaver” Deavor (Catherine Keener), seeks to outlaw supers due to a comparable sense of disillusionment.

Baron Zemo (Captain America: Civil War)

In 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War”, the Avengers were on the brink of disintegration before the Sokovia Accords came into play. However, things took a turn for the worse when Baron Zemo falsely accused Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) of a murder. As it turns out, his plan was to split up the heroes as a means of retribution for the unintentional deaths of his wife and child during the climactic battle in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”.

Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

At the outset of 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, Adrian “Vulture” Toomes (played by Michael Keaton) finds himself jobless after the cleanup following the Chitauri battle in The Avengers (2012). In order to provide for his family, he resorts to utilizing the alien technology from that incident to craft dangerous weapons and illegally peddle them to criminal elements.

Catwoman (Batman Returns)

It doesn’t feel entirely right to label Selina Kyle as a villain due to her thefts often having good motives. However, if there is one version of Catwoman that fits the bill, it’s Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal from 1992’s “Batman Returns”. After all, who could fault her for targeting Max Schreck (Christopher Walken), given his intent to kill her and his reputation as an abysmal boss?

Loki (Thor)

Following the revelation that he was deceived about his real identity throughout his childhood, allowing his elder brother (portrayed by Chris Hemsworth) to bask in all the limelight, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) makes a choice in 2011’s Thor. He elects to grab the spotlight for himself instead. Subsequently, he attempts to seize control of the world in The Avengers, and usurps Asgard by disguising himself as his father in Thor: The Dark World. However, Loki’s journey towards redemption culminates fittingly on his self-named Disney+ TV series.

Ozymandias (Watchmen)

At times, it appears that achieving global peace might require a single, shared adversary – a notion echoed by the character Adrian Veidt in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ renowned graphic novel, Watchmen. In the 2009 film adaptation directed by Zack Snyder, this character (also known as Ozymandias, played by Matthew Goode) seeks to mend his fractured world by portraying Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) as a common enemy and orchestrating a devastating explosion.

Killmonger (Black Panther)

Following Michael B. Jordan’s character, Erik Killmonger, seizing the Wakandan throne brutally in 2018’s Black Panther, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who has since been revived, finds himself compelled to protect his country by continuing his fight against him. Yet, as the king, he found himself empathizing with his estranged relative’s argument that Wakanda’s wealth could significantly aid those experiencing oppression worldwide, particularly in America.

Two-Face (The Dark Knight)

In the critically-adored Batman film directed by Christopher Nolan, titled The Dark Knight, District Attorney Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart, embodies his conviction that one either perishes as a hero or witnesses oneself transform into a villain following the loss of his girlfriend, career, and half of his face. It’s not hard to imagine how someone enduring such an ordeal might be swayed by The Joker’s (Heath Ledger) suggestion to embrace chaos, just like him.

Sandman (Spider-Man 3)

Among the top-tier Spider-Man movie antagonists, and arguably the most compassionate, is Flint Marko, portrayed by Thomas Haden Church. Known as Sandman following his transformation into a rough material, this character was driven to criminal activities long before his accident, primarily to care for his sick daughter. This backstory moves Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) to show mercy towards him despite Sandman’s actions leading to the death of Peter’s uncle in 2007’s Spider-Man 3.

Prince Nuada (Hellboy II: The Golden Army)

In the realm of Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy films, mythical beings adhere to an old pact and dwell hidden beneath the earth while humans dominate above ground. However, this arrangement is disrupted when Hellboy (portrayed by Ron Perlman) makes his public debut in the 2008 follow-up, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. This revelation triggers elvish Prince Nuada (played by Luke Goss), who seeks to liberate his downtrodden kin by setting loose a robotic army intended to destroy humanity.

Orm (Aquaman)

When Orm Marius, also known as the Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson), ascends to the throne of Atlantis, he aims to protect marine life from pollution, a noble objective indeed. However, his preferred solution is humanity’s extinction, which puts him at odds with his half-human brother, Arthur “Aquaman” Curry, who is called upon to thwart Orm in director James Wan’s 2018 DC film.

Scarlet Witch (Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness)

In the finale of the Emmy-winning series “WandaVision”, Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch (played by Elizabeth Olsen), is compelled to relinquish the make-believe life she had constructed for herself, complete with her two fictitious sons, Billy and Tommy. In the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” released in 2022, she learns that these boys do exist in different realities and endeavors to be reunited with them by capturing America Chavez (portrayed by Xochitl Gomez), who has the ability to traverse the Marvel Multiverse.

Mr Freeze (Batman & Robin)

Among Batman’s intricate rogue’s gallery, one character stands out for his emotional depth – Dr. Victor Fries, also known as Mr. Freeze. Driven by crime due to his desperate quest to find a cure for his ailing wife, he uses cryogenic sleep technology, which ironically grants him resistance to temperatures above freezing. This theme is reflected in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, although Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal was marred by excessive puns and a puzzling demand for diamonds to energize his freeze suit.

Xu Wenwu (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “The Mandarin” character, initially depicted in Iron Man 3 by Ben Kingsley, was presented as a ruthless, merciless terrorist. However, it later emerged that this portrayal was false, with the true identity of The Mandarin being Trevor Slattery, an actor. The authentic Mandarin, Xu Wenwu, as played by Tony Leung in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is an ancient warrior who possesses a strong family commitment and will go to extreme lengths, including violence, to safeguard his kin and uphold their heritage.

Zod (Man Of Steel)

If you were one of the few remaining members of a critically endangered species, wouldn’t you strive to do whatever it takes to save your kind? That’s essentially what character Zod (played by Michael Shannon) intends in the 2013 film Man of Steel, but since his actions include forcibly seizing Earth, Superman (Henry Cavill) is compelled to vanquish him.

Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man)

In 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man”, Dr. Curtis Connors (played by Rhys Ifans) yearned for a method to regenerate his severed right arm. He never anticipated that the experimental re-growth serum made from lizard DNA would lead to him transforming into a creature with both human and reptilian features.

Ghost (Ant-Man And The Wasp)

As a devoted movie enthusiast, in the thrilling flick “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” I found myself captivated by Hannah John-Kamen’s portrayal of Ava Starr. After enduring a tragic accident involving quantum energy that claimed her parents’ lives, Ava gained an extraordinary ability – the power to become invisible. However, this gift came at a price; she was gradually depleting of quantum energy herself and faced imminent death. Desperate for survival, Ava sought to seize Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) Quantum Tunnel. Her plan was to absorb what she needed from it, but doing so would have proved fatal for Jane Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Gorr The God-Butcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)

After the passing of his daughter, Gorr (Christian Bale) sought aid from a band of celestials, only to discover they were far from divine. This revelation fueled an intense hatred within him. Regrettably, he overlooks that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are indeed deities who deserve admiration, such as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, the Asgardian, portrayed in 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder.” This Thor aims to prevent Gorr from eradicating beings like himself.

Silver Samurai (The Wolverine)

In the movie Logan, played by Hugh Jackman, views his immortality as a burden. Consequently, when a Japanese man named Ichirō Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi), whom Wolverine had earlier saved during World War II, proposes a cure for his eternal life, it’s enticing. Although the condition is that Yashida wants to live forever too, this becomes clear given his status as a cancer patient.

Bolivar Trask (X-Men: Days Of Future Past)

In one of Marvel’s initial time travel films, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Peter Dinklage portrays Bolivar Trask, who stands in stark contrast to Magneto. He is an anti-Vietnam War activist, striving to safeguard the human race. However, his protective measures lead him to create a robot army designed to eliminate mutants. Ironically, these robots are fated to usher in a dismal future state.

Black Manta (Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom)

In the initial Aquaman film, the character Arthur Curry, portrayed by Jason Momoa, chose to abandon pirate Jessie Kane (Michael Beach) to perish as a form of retribution for killing innocents. This decision set off a series of events leading to David Kane’s (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) thirst for vengeance, which carried over into Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom where Black Manta, his persona, emerged as the primary adversary.

Arishem (Eternals)

In the movie Eternals, Arishem the Judge appears with the goal of shielding the universe and spawning a new Celestial. This action would lead to the birth of trillions of new beings and the development of numerous planets. However, this plan potentially results in the death of millions of humans, which compels the title characters – a band of immortal champions – to return from their retirement.

Starro (The Suicide Squad)

In James Gunn’s movie titled “The Suicide Squad“, the modern-day Task Force X encounters an extraordinary discovery: “Project Starfish” is a colossal alien resembling a starfish, which spawns smaller beings that latch onto human faces, creating a unified consciousness. This revelation allows the band of anti-heroes to understand that “Starro”, its true name, had no intention of being transported to Earth and was previously living peacefully in space before it was forcefully taken and unwillingly turned into a weapon.

Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

2022 saw the introduction of Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” In this movie, Shuri (Letitia Wright) discovers that the water-dwelling character desires to safeguard his city, Tal’Kona, and its vibranium reserves. However, she also finds out that he seeks an alliance with Wakanda to form a global power, which conflicts with the wishes of T’Challa’s sister. This union is something she isn’t willing to accept.

Kingpin (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

In many portrayals, Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk appears as nothing more than a relentless, crooked tycoon. However, the 2018 blockbuster film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, presents a different facet of this character. Lending his voice to the character, Liev Schreiber’s Fisk is driven by the desire to be reunited with his deceased wife and child. Yet, this quest for reunion comes with a dangerous device capable of traveling between dimensions, but with the risk of causing massive destruction.

Yokai (Big Hero 6)

Initially, Robert Callaghan (James Cromwell) was a highly respected scientist with dreams of making the world a better place. However, an unfortunate incident occurred when his daughter Abigail (Shiyoon Kim), who was testing new teleportation tech as a pilot, went missing. This tragic event led to Callaghan assuming a new identity, Yokai, and ultimately positioning himself as the primary villain in Disney’s Big Hero 6.

Mysterio (Spider-Man: Far From Home)

In 2019’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” Quentin Beck (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) initially came across as a heroic interdimensional explorer, seemingly helping Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and others stop disasters. But it was later exposed that those catastrophes were fake, orchestrated by him. His ultimate goal was to persuade Peter into handing over AI-enhanced glasses created by the late Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a man who had previously been his boss and took credit for his inventions. I can see how someone might want revenge on a former employer who claimed their ideas as their own.

Sebastian Shaw (X-Men: First Class)

Prior to Magneto’s determination to establish mutants as Earth’s supreme race, it was Sebastian Shaw (portrayed by Kevin Bacon) who spearheaded this faction in the 2011 movie “X-Men: First Class”. While I can appreciate an individual driven to resolve humanity’s fundamental shortcomings, any approach that lacks a peaceful resolution, in my opinion, makes you a villain.

Poison Ivy (Batman & Robin)

Regardless of which version of Poison Ivy you’re talking about, it’s clear that this Gotham City villain has an unwavering mission to safeguard the environment. This dedication, however, sometimes leads her to actions that cause distress for humanity. Actress Uma Thurman delivers a particularly humorous portrayal of this eco-terrorist in the movie “Batman & Robin”.

2025-03-29 21:39