History AffablyEvil / LiveActionFilms

** Film/NeverSayNeverAgain is an independently-produced remake of ''Thunderball'' featuring Klaus Maria Brandauer as an utterly charming version of Maximilian Largo. Shame about the psychosis lurking just under the easy-going, good-humoured facade...

* ''Film/KaamelottPremierVolet'': Alzagar the BountyHunter kills the captain of the boat he {{board|ing party}}s with a {{multishot}} crossbow, then politely talks to the crew in order to find what they hide onboard.

%%* ''Film/MillersCrossing'': Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney).%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample

* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan:'' The nameless robber who ends up killing Uncle Ben. He robs a convenience store, but on before heading out he hands Peter Parker the chocolate milk that the latter couldn't buy because of the clerk was being too petty. Also, him killing Uncle Ben was completely an accident and he's very visibly shocked over his action.

* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'': Despite being considered the worst ''Batman'' film, one of the few redeeming qualities is that its version of Mr. Freeze is a fairly three-dimensional villain. His crimes are committed only so he can fund his research into finding a cure for his terminally ill wife, as opposed to being violent for the sake of violence like the last handful of antagonists. He comes close to a HeelFaceTurn at the end by helping Batman cure the dying Alfred. He ''does'' get some occasional KickTheDog moments, such as [[OffingTheAnnoyance executing a henchman for walking into his office when he wanted some privacy]].

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
** ''Film/IronMan3'': [[spoiler: Trevor Slattery, the "fake" Mandarin, is actually pretty nice. He is completely oblivious to the machinations of the film's true villain, Aldrich Killian.]]
** Loki from ''Film/{{Thor}}'' is very sympathetic and tragic given that his [[FaceHeelTurn fall to villainy]] was all [[WellDoneSonGuy because his adoptive father Odin wouldn't respect him as his son nor allow him to take the throne of Asgard.]]
** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', Helmut Zemo is a noble and wise human being who shows great respect towards the Avengers despite his vendetta against them [[MisplacedRetribution for creating Ultron who killed his family.]] He is also very understanding of other people and would show great sympathy towards them, as he did with T'Challa whose father he killed and framed Bucky for the murder.
** In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', Adrian Toomes is a very respected family man and former businessman turned supervillain. He values his daughter Liz deeply as much as any father would and [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer even warned Peter to treat her right]] while dropping them off at the HighSchoolDance. And despite his vendetta against both Iron Man and Spider-Man, he [[VillainRespect admires the latter for his heroism and conviction]] and even defended him from a prison inmate in TheStinger.
** ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' has the secondary villain The Grandmaster (Creator/JeffGoldblum, and that casting says a lot right there), who rules a trash planet and delights in all manner of hedonism, in particular making "prisoners with jobs" (aka slaves) fight to the death in GladiatorGames. At the same time he's rather pleasant to be around provided one doesn't wind up on the wrong end of his "melt stick" and even then he doesn't think that, say, talking out of turn is a killable offense (although his {{Mook}}s' behavior may imply he doesn't always feel that way). As Loki puts it to Thor, "He's a lunatic, but he can be amenable." In the "Team Darryl" bonus short on the DVD release, [[spoiler: he even becomes Darryl's roommate on Earth after being overthrown]]!
** [[BigBad Thanos]] of all people turns out to be this as well. Unlike in the comics, Thanos is actually a WellIntentionedExtremist who thinks the only way to save the universe and its limited resources is to wipe out half the life in the universe. He commends bravery and sympathizes with his opponents, and is [[NobleDemon a man of his word]].
** Xu Wenwu, aka [[spoiler: the true Mandarin]] from ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' may be an immortal DiabolicalMastermind and one of the most dangerous individuals in the entire MCU, but he's also polite, patient, empathizes with Katy's HeritageDisconnect and [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely loves his family,]] to the point that [[spoiler: he was willing to set aside the Ten Rings so he could live out his final days with his beloved wife before her murder at the hands of the Iron Gang]]. His love for his children is also shown when he locks them up rather than actually hurt them and [[spoiler: his final moments are spent rescuing his son Shang-Chi and passing down the Ten Rings to him]]. Also, while it's a downplayed aspect in the film, he's implied to be [[AFatherToHisMen a good leader and inspires great loyalty in his men]].

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Doctor Octopus, Harry Osborn, and Sandman all qualify.
** Doctor Octopus is a TragicVillain and a WellIntentionedExtremist. The AI in his tentacles manipulate him into believing that his inventions will help people, and the only fatalities under his belt were solely on the actuators instead of Octavius himself. While he's not above endangering civilians, he mostly does so to discourage pursuit and never forces Spiderman into a SadisticChoice like his predecessor. He even has a HeelRealization at the end. It helps that Octavius was genuinely a NiceGuy before his StartOfDarkness.
** Harry Osborn's only beef is with Spiderman for seemingly killing his father. He doesn't care about attacking or oppressing civilians like the former Green Goblin.
** Sandman is a KnightTemplarParent trying to get money to cure his terminally ill daughter, and he was only arrested prior to the movie's start because he stayed behind to call for help for his accidental victim.

* ''Film/SupermanFilmSeries'': Lex Luthor is played like this, especially by Creator/GeneHackman; at least, he ''can'' be a smooth talker and affords Superman respect as a WorthyOpponent, yet he's willing to sink California to the bottom of the sea for profit.

* ''Film/Venom2018'': The Venom symbiote despite being aggressive and violent can be friendly, polite and kind to those it genuinely cares about and loves like with Eddie Brock and Anne Weying. It doesn't kill anyone senseless unlike Riot and even protects those who are innocent as it shields people in the next building from the Life Foundation's forces gunfire even though it didn't need to do that at all as it could have just protected Eddie instead.

* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': [[spoiler:Ares]] also is BrutallyHonest with Diana and tells her the truth about the world while beating her to a pulp. He actually doesn't want to fight her, not because he thinks she can beat him, but because he believes he is right. He even lets her get her sword back.
* In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Bolivar Trask is polite, believes in world peace, and does not even hate mutants. However, he still allows often fatal experiments on mutants in an attempt to achieve that peace.

* In Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Shoot the Pianist'' with Charles Aznavour, the two gangsters who were betrayed by the titular pianist's brothers are easygoing fellows who have nice {{Seinfeldian Conversation}}s with anyone they kidnap, and even react somewhat politely when their hostages escape.

* Gideon Grays in ‘’Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld’’, at least when he’s first introduced. After the final act begins, not so much.

* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'': The Operative is a man who is [[WellIntentionedExtremist convinced of the righteousness of his actions]], and holds no particular ill will for his enemies. Indeed, he goes so far as to compliment his foes' tenacity, bravery, or the good work they've done, even when he's ''impaled them on his sword and watching them die.'' Even more so is how he kills certain people with the sword. He paralyzes them, then lets them fall on it because he believes it's an honorable way to die. He's also willing to kill innocent civilians (including children and clergy), not because they stood in his way or had something he needed, but just to make sure his target has nobody to hide them. To his credit, [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans despite his sincere belief in the necessity of his evil actions]], [[NoPlaceForMeThere he knows he is a monster with no place in the paradise he is trying to create]].

* ''Film/TheJungleBook2016'' portrays [[WildCard Kaa]] in this light, partly due to [[GenderFlip her]] having only one brief appearance in the whole film. While it's true that she jives Mowgli with false promises of keeping him safe, hypnotizes him into immobility and nearly [[EatenAlive eats]] him [[SwallowedWhole whole]], she speaks to him in a nearly motherly way for the entire time and [[MsExposition truthfully tells him how he came to live in the jungle]]. Her intention is to merely eat the boy, which is the way any hungry predator would proceed with such a vulnerable prey when it walks right into their territory. That kind of intention seems less drastic when compared to [[BigBad Shere Khan]] -- who wants to kill Mowgli [[FantasticRacism simply for existing]] -- and [[BigBadWannabe King Louie]] -- who wants to make Mowgli teach him the secret of creating fire as a means [[AmbitionIsEvil to gain more power]].

* ''Film/{{District 9}}'': At least initially, Wikus in several ways; he's an amiable, well-liked [[ObstructiveBureaucrat low-level functionary]]...who is casually racist and brutal towards the oppressed aliens[[spoiler:, and laughs and makes jokes when 'aborting' alien eggs]].

* ''Film/DrunkenMaster2'': John, one of the main antagonists, is some form of this. He's very cheerful for almost the entire film, except when being brow-beaten by the British Ambassador he's working for, and [[spoiler:when Fei-Hong is beating the crap out of him at the end of the film.]] He even gives a cheery thumbs-up and a big grin after [[spoiler:kicking Fei-Hong onto burning coals.]]

* ''Film/NightOfTheDemon'': Julian Karswell is charming, charismatic, pleasant, loves his mother, hosts parties for local children... and is a Satan-worshiping cult leader who uses black magic to kill casual acquaintances.

** Xu Wenwu, aka [[spoiler: The true Mandarin]] from ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' may be an immortal DiabolicalMastermind and one of the most dangerous individuals in the entire MCU, but he's also polite, patient, empathizes with Katy's HeritageDisconnect and [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely loves his family,]] to the point that [[spoiler: he was willing to set aside the Ten Rings so he could live out his final days with his beloved wife before her murder at the hands of the Iron Gang]]. His love for his children is also shown when he locks them up rather than actually hurt them and [[spoiler: his final moments are spent rescuing his son Shang-Chi and passing down the Ten Rings to him]]. Also, while it's a downplayed aspect in the film, he's implied to be [[AFatherToHisMen a good leader and inspires great loyalty in his men]].

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', Zemo is a noble and wise human being who shows great respect towards the Avengers despite his vendetta against them [[MisplacedRetribution for creating Ultron who killed his family.]] He is also very understanding of other people and would show great sympathy towards them, as he did with T'Challa whose father he killed and framed Bucky for the murder.
** In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', Toomes is a very respected family man and former businessman turned supervillain. He values his daughter Liz deeply as much as any father would and [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer even warned Peter to treat her right]] while dropping them off at the HighSchoolDance. And despite his vendetta against both Iron Man and Spider-Man, he [[VillainRespect admires the latter for his heroism and conviction]] and even defended him from a prison inmate in TheStinger.
** ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' has the secondary villain The Grandmaster (Creator/JeffGoldblum, and that casting says a lot right there), who rules a trash planet and delights in all manner of hedonism, in particular making "prisoners with jobs" (aka slaves) fight to the death in GladiatorGames. At the same time he's rather pleasant to be around provided one doesn't wind up on the wrong end of his "melt stick", and even then he doesn't think that, say, talking out of turn is a killable offense (although his {{Mook}}s' behaviour may imply he doesn't always feel that way). As Loki puts it to Thor, "He's a lunatic, but he can be amenable." In the "Team Darryl" bonus short on the DVD release, [[spoiler: he even becomes Darryl's roommate on Earth after being overthrown]]!

** Xu Wenwu, aka [[spoiler: The True Mandarin]] from ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' may be an immortal DiabolicalMastermind and one of the most dangerous individuals in the entire MCU, but he's also polite, patient, empathises with Katy's HeritageDisconnect and [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely loves his family,]] to the point that [[spoiler: he was willing to set aside the Ten Rings so he could live out his final days with his beloved wife before her murder at the hands of the Iron Gang]]. His love for his children is also shown when he locks them up rather than actually hurt them and [[spoiler: his final moments are spent rescuing his son Shang-Chi and passing down the Ten Rings to him.]] Also, while it's a downplayed aspect in the film, he's implied to be [[AFatherToHisMen a good leader and inspires great loyalty in his men.]]

* ''Film/{{Batman and Robin}}'': Despite being considered the worst ''Batman'' film, one of the few redeeming qualities is that its version of Mr. Freeze is a fairly three-dimensional villain. His crimes are committed only so he can fund his research into finding a cure for his terminally-ill wife, as opposed to being violent for the sake of violence like the last handful of antagonists. He comes close to a HeelFaceTurn at the end by helping Batman cure the dying Alfred. He ''does'' get some occasional KickTheDog moments, such as [[OffingTheAnnoyance executing a henchman for walking into his office when he wanted some privacy]].
* ''Film/{{Bedazzled|2000}}'': Elizabeth Hurley as {{Satan}} in the 2000 remake. She's out for Elliot's soul, but she generally acts friendly and sympathetic to him most of the time. Even after [[spoiler:he nullifies their contract and saves himself]], she stays polite and cordial before seeing him off. [[spoiler:Actually a subversion, since the end of the film reveals that she's not evil at all.]]

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': ComicBook/LexLuthor is played like this in the original ''Film/{{Superman}}'' films, especially by Gene Hackman; at least, he ''can'' be a smooth talker and affords Superman respect as a WorthyOpponent. Yet he's willing to sink California to the bottom of the sea for profit.
* ''Film/{{SWAT}}'': Martin is part of an international drug ring and has apparently been stealing from his family. However, he is also a jovial dinner companion who passionately discusses sauce quality and encourages Alex to extend his visit to America so they can spend more time together.
* ''Film/{{Twenty One Jump Street}}'': Eric may be badass drug dealer, but he is actually a very nice guy.
* ''Film/{{Twenty Two Jump Street}}'': [[spoiler: The Yank twins]] are rather friendly considering their envolvement with the drugs.

* ''{{Film/What We Do In The Shadows}}'':

** Ferrari is the head of the Italian outfit, Rick's chief competitor and has his fingers in every illegal pie in Casablanca. He is also a BigFun-type and prefers honestly trying to buy Rick out over attempting to strong-arm him, and even then, he is more than willing to take "no" for an answer.