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!!Films -- Animated
* Human Twilight in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' is motivated by a desire to understand the magic that emerges from Canterlot High School. At first, she's blackmailed into participating in the Friendship Games by [[NonActionBigBad Principal Cinch]], but Twilight's own desires still keep her going even when her amulet starts stealing magic and opening rifts in reality. [[spoiler:At the movie's climax, she unleashes the stolen magic and transforms into Midnight Sparkle, getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide and almost destroying the world.]]
* In Disney's ''Disney/TreasurePlanet'', John Silver is [[DesignatedVillain supposed to be the bad guy]]; and he does it pretty well, most of the time. But he also turns out to be a great father figure to Jim Hawkins and his soft spot for the lad pushes him to do the right thing now and then. His core motivation of wanting to get what is, in his eyes, rightfully owed to him, is more complex than just standard pirate-related greed.
* King Haggard of ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'', as shown in the scene where he explains ''why'' he [[spoiler:captured the Unicorns. Not from greed, or power... but because they're the only things that makes him ''happy''.]]
* Rameses in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (yes, ''the'' Pharaoh). Unlike the Pharaoh of Literature/TheBible, he's shown to be a well-meaning man who genuinely loves his brother Moses and is [[WellDoneSonGuy struggling with his father's shadow]], but because of his upbringing, he's blind to certain things in life, like the suffering of the slaves. Yet he's not villainous at all until Moses starts demanding that he let his people go. The writers deliberately humanized him, but made him so sympathetic and tragic that, at some points, they had to rewrite some scenes between him and Moses because ''Moses'' came off as being cruel to him. ''And even then, he still is a very tragic figure''.
* Aladdin's father in ''Disney/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves''. As implied by the title, he is the leader of the forty thieves. However, it's implied that his only motivation for wanting to lead them, as well as stealing various treasures, and why he left the family to lead them, was to allow his family to not be impoverished anymore. He also intended to return to his family once he had amassed enough wealth, but by the time he returned, he was unable to find them, and thus he believed they had died.
* Tony in ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' demands that pack traditions be upheld and is pretty willing to lead an all-out war to claim the Western Pack's territory. However, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he's only willing to do so in order to ensure that his pack survives with the food and resources that the Western Pack has]]. He's a fairly decent wolf otherwise, if not a bit temperamental and a stickler for tradition. He becomes a lot [[TookaLevelinKindness nicer]] in the sequels as well.
** Princess in the sequel ''A Howl-iday Adventure'' also fills this role, greatly contrasting [[CardCarryingVillain her father King]] who serves as the film's BigBad. She's his [[TheDragon Dragon]] but is motivated by loyalty to her father, not the collective [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] views of King and his pack. There's also how she cares for Runt while he's their hostage, not considering him weak and worthless like the other Rogues.
* The Once-ler in the 2012 adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' is quite friendly and sympathetic for most of the movie, despite being the nemesis of the title character. He eventually makes a FaceHeelTurn partially due to the influence of his family and becomes a rapacious, amoral CorruptCorporateExecutive, and ''then'' he has a severe MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment after it's too late and spends the rest of his life as a guilt-wracked hermit.
* Xibalba from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' is a Type 2. He only wants to rule his wife's world out of loneliness.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', the BigBad [[spoiler:is an ordinary guy who just wants to keep his LEGO models organised, although he has a rather {{Jerkass}} way of going about it]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Home}}'', the Gorg may have destroyed the Boov's original home planet, but [[spoiler:his children were stolen from him. It's not entirely hard to see why he’d be so upset]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has, well, [[ProtagonistTitle Megamind]] as this. Metro City (or to him, Metrocity) has treated him like he's an EvilGenius who needs to be stopped, even when he was a child. The truth is that he isn't and was never evil. When he was a kid, all he was trying to do was make [[IJustWantToHaveFriends friends]] and impress them with his inventions, which horribly backfired on him. Once he defeats his longtime foe, Metro Man, he decides that he's done being the bad guy. [[spoiler:That is if you don't count him giving Hal powers and said character turning into a ''real'' villain.]]
!!Films -- Live-Action
* ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
--->'''Dr. Zaius:''' "What I do, I do with no pleasure."
* ''Film/StarWars'': Darth Vader, who in the end of the original series turns out to be something of a TragicMonster. In the prequels we see him as an anti-villain, someone with noble ideals who is manipulated into evil means. Eventually he's consumed by self-loathing.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever portrayed. When a group of vigilante career criminals finally apprehends him, he delivers a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, painting himself as a victim of compulsion while accusing them of being criminals by choice.
* Samara in ''TheRingTwo''. Sure, she killed a bunch of people, but she just wanted to be loved. This is different from how she is in ''Film/TheRing''.
--->'''Doctor:''' "You don't want to hurt anyone, Samara."
--->'''Samara:''' [[CreepyChild "But I do]]."
* Colonel Saito in ''Film/TheBridgeOverTheRiverKwai'', who is NotSoDifferent from our heroes.
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'':
** Doc Ock in ''Film/SpiderMan2''. Altruistic guy, working for "the good of mankind", accidentally kills his wife and turns himself into a monster with no inhibitions, and fixates on his dream, still believing that he is trying to help humanity, when he is actually constructing the means to destroy half of New York City. He's manipulated by his own technology to boot. [[spoiler:Regains his senses at the end and pulls a RedemptionEqualsDeath to atone for his crimes.]]
** In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', the Sandman is a textbook Anti-Villain, pursuing noble ends (saving his daughter's life) through criminal means.
* Prince Nuada in ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy''. Nuada is striking back at humanity because it is destroying his world. Nuada insists, and the film supports, that the world will be a worse place without his kind. Director Guillermo del Toro notes that Nuada has more morals than most of the heroes, notably Abe and Liz, who both place their own love before the fate of the world... Although Nuada ''is'' also a hypocrite and somewhat AxCrazy, such that you shouldn't be outright ''rooting'' for him to win.
* Fredrick Zoller is almost the most conventionally heroic character in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' until his very last lines. He's brave, humble, seems like a DoggedNiceGuy RomanticComedy protagonist while courting Shoshanna, and actually seems to have some remorse and trauma from his war service. But on the other hand...he's a Nazi (albeit a reluctant one), and then it turns out that he doesn't like to take "No" for an answer.
* Vaako, the NobleDemon from ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', comes off this way at times. He's surprisingly competent, genuinely believes in the ReligionOfEvil, shows signs of HonorBeforeReason, and, to the surprise of everyone, ''doesn't'' attempt a KlingonPromotion on the Lord Marshall (well, not until [[LadyMacBeth his wife]] convinces him that the Lord Marshall has violated the ReligionOfEvil).
* In ''Film/TheRock'', General Hummel (Ed Harris) is an American Vietnam War hero who is motivated to get the government to acknowledge the sacrifices of soldiers who died during black ops...even if he has to hold an entire city hostage to do it. [[spoiler:Furthermore, late in the movie it's revealed that he had no intention of ever letting innocents die, and [[HeroicSacrifice gets killed trying]] to stop his AxCrazy subordinates from launching nerve gas at San Francisco.]]
* The [[MagnificentBastard bank robbers]] in ''Film/InsideMan'' are doing it to get even with a former Nazi Collaborator. They have scruples that involve not hurting or killing anyone, and not stealing cash from the bank but only some diamonds from a man guilty of war crimes. They freely admit they are no martyrs but don't fit under the label of plain old villains either.
* ''Film/BladeRunner'' Roy Batty. All he wants is a way for himself and his fellow [[ArtificialHuman Replicants]] to live longer than the four years allowed to them.
* ''Film/{{Downfall}}'' is about the final disintegration of the Nazis and portrays UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a a broken man. Between his paranoia, willful ignorance, uncontrolled sobbing, and tirades that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord he's often thought of to be.
* The original ''Film/{{Scarface|1932}}'', the one from 1932, has an Anti-Villain as its titular character, who [[PetTheDog pets the dog]] at multiple points in the film. It was very controversial at the time because of this.
* William "D-FENS" Foster from ''Film/FallingDown''. He's dangerously insane and becomes increasingly violent, but at the same time he's also clearly a victim of powers beyond his control, and the audience is encouraged to feel catharsis through his actions even as the movie condemns them.
* Sybok from ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier'' uses his powerful telepathic abilities to cure people of their deepest emotional pain in order to win them over to his side and help him achieve his goals. It's unclear whether he's more motivated by altruism or selfish ends...though he achieves both either way.
* The villains of ''Film/TheAdjustmentBureau'' aren't really very evil. In fact, they're trying as hard as they can to save humanity from its own evil. They just have a heavy-handed, LawfulNeutral way of doing it.
* Lestat in the film adaptation of ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'': he's a remorseless, amoral killer, but he has an incredible capacity for compassion and empathy. And, as he'd point out, he's just obeying his nature when he kills.
* Chip Douglas from ''Film/TheCableGuy''. His creepy and obsessive stalking of the main character is driven by the fact that he's been socially isolated for his entire life and is desperate for somebody to be his friend.
* [[spoiler: Robert]] from ''Film/MysteryTeam''. He didn't want Brianna's parents to be killed[[spoiler:, and took her and her sister in]]. He didn't even interfere with the Mystery Team. That said, his motives are rather sinister, [[spoiler: risking the lives of thousands of employees and customers to save money]].
* The Operative from ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' is willing to do virtually anything to achieve his ends, even kill innocent children, but he sees himself as NecessarilyEvil, and is even the TropeNamer for NoPlaceForMeThere.
* Loki, the villain from ''Film/{{Thor}}'', is continuously doing the wrong things for the right reasons. He's actually just a screwed-up WellDoneSonGuy trying to win his father's approval through pretty much the worst means possible.
* Claudia in ''Film/SnowWhiteATaleofTerror''. She is only really a villain once the miscarriage drives her mad and the enchanted mirror starts manipulating her. And then what does she want? A living child and the love of her husband.
* ''Film/TheStreetFighter'': Sue Shiomi and Junjo Shikenbaru.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality.
* The vampires in ''Film/WeAreTheNight'' are bloodthirsty killers, but are deeply tragic characters.
* [[BigBad General Zod]] in ''Film/ManOfSteel''. [[spoiler: While he is willing to commit genocide on the human race he sums himself up magnificently in a single quote, "Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the good of my people." He was [[DesignerBabies bred]]]][[spoiler: to be a warrior, to defend his race no matter how monstrous he had to be to do so.]]
* In ''Film/NowYouSeeMe'', The Horsemen never harm any innocents, and the people they're stealing from have wronged many others in the past [[spoiler:and indirectly caused the death of one man as well as cheating the family out of his inheritance.]]
* DesignatedVillain Lucian in ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' - while employing some rather [[WellIntentionedExtremist dubious tactics]] - was a former slave who led an uprising after his lover and unborn child were brutally killed, and is only trying to prevent his people from being exterminated. If his plan in the first film had succeeded, the end result would have been peace between the two sides.
* Boss Johns in the third ''Film/{{Riddick}}'' is after Riddick, but his grudge is quite personal, since he wants to know what happenened to his son on M6-117 and if Riddick killed him. He also views Riddick as a dangerous, murdering savage. [[spoiler:After learning that his son was a child-killing junkie, he keeps his promise to Riddick and they leave on good terms.]]
* Major König in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' is hunting down Vasily and killing his friends, but he's involved in a brutal war which naturally requires him to kill, doesn't engage in atrocities himself [[spoiler:until he hangs Sacha (and that's for being a spy)]], disapproves of torture as shown when he's told of Volodya's capture, and has only come to Stalingrad to avenge the death of his son.
* General Ross in the 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' movie, as opposed to his ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' version. Considering the long history of [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk comics]] neither is exactly inaccurate to the comics. He's portrayed as a concerned general who deeply loves his daughter and is just trying to stop the hulk menace, but goes out of his way to pursue and distrust Banner [[SinsOfOurFathers because of who his father is]].
* The zombies from ''Film/LandOfTheDead''. They're horrifying undead predators, of course, but a few of them seem to be regaining [[ItCanThink a semblance of sentience]], and their attack on [[WretchedHive Fiddler's Garden]] seems to be motivated by revenge. Amazingly, they're ''more'' sympathetic than the human characters of the film (HumansAreBastards is in full effect).
* Frank Abagnale Jr. of Creator/StevenSpielberg's ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' becomes an elusive ConMan who lives a rich life by stealing millions of dollars from the government and the banks. He also came from [[FreudianExcuse a family that fell from grace and broke up]], and [[JustifiedCriminal started out with his schemes to support himself.]] He's never purposely malicious, more an irresponsible kid who should know better, tries to [[FriendlyEnemy remain friendly with the officer pursuing him]], and [[ChronicVillainy genuinely wants to stop his crimes by the halfway point but can't]]. [[spoiler:He ends the movie being prematurely released from prison and inducted into the FBI Financial Crimes Unit with Hanratty's help.]]
* ''Film/{{Elysium}}'':
** President Patel, Elysium's board of directors, and Delacourt's unfortunate assistants are [[EvenEvilHasStandards repulsed]] by Delacourt's EstablishingCharacterMoment (which nearly leads to Delacourt losing her job as Defense Secretary). Not that Patel's any more tolerant of undesirables from Earth, but he prefers to simply round them up and deport them.
** Delacourt is a slight example, as her stated reason for taking control of Elysium is to [[WellIntentionedExtremist ensure a future for the children of Elysium]].
* Paul Doyle in ''Film/PainAndGain''. He didn't want to be part of the kidnapping at all but was persuaded by Daniel and Noel into doing so and felt guilty the entire time.
* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', Elsa Schneider was basically a foil for Indiana Jones. She was an ambitious scholar who wanted the Holy Grail even more than Indiana’s father. Her intentions are mostly selfish in nature, but she sees the grail as a priceless artifact to be preserved. Unfortunately, she sides with the Nazis to achieve her goals. In the end, she cannot be spared a KarmicDeath. Despite Indiana’s efforts to save her, Elsa attempts to reach for the grail while hanging over an abyss. Her hand suddenly slips from his hold and she falls to her death.
* In the Holocaust film ''Film/{{Conspiracy}}'', there are two such characters:
** Dr. Kritzinger is the only Nazi official present at the conference who [[EvenEvilHasStandards feels that the wholesale extermination of the Jews is wrong]]. He feels legitimately betrayed when he figures out that he has been kept in the dark with false promises that they would be spared by the regime. Heydrich [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this for Kritzinger by noting that he's only barely better than the rest of them because he never had any problems with terrorizing, enslaving and sterilizing the Jewish populations in Europe so long as they weren't immediately being killed.
** Rudolf Lange is an SS officer who [[ShellShockedVeteran has personally seen the horrors of war in the east]]. He actively hates the Jews he has ordered to be killed but even he is disturbed by the ad hoc mass murders in Latvia. He gets pissed off at Heydrich for the casual way in which he couches the ensuing genocide with euphemisms and has become quite introspective about his station.
* Another WWII biopic, ''Film/IntoTheStorm2009'', has a lighter example: Lord Halifax is something of an antagonist in the first half of the movie (as he seeks peace with Hitler, opposite to Churchill), but he's portrayed as simply a misguided man. He's shown as wise, calm, well-mannered and respectful. Churchill himself notes Halifax is no enemy of his.
* Teddy from ''Film/{{Neighbors 2014}}'' goes way too far with the feud but the film establishes he's not not really a bad guy, just an immature one who is desperately afraid of his limited prospects after college. [[spoiler: By the end of the film he and Mac make up as friends.]]
* The Mutos, not really apparent until near the end of ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}''. Their goal is merely to reunite with one another, have offspring, and ensue the resurgence of their species. Even with the amount of destruction they cause, they are at least sympathetic in this regard. In addition, they usually only cause destruction solely because they're so large and through the movie they act like actual animals.
* Aberline from ''Film/TheWolfman2010''. He antagonizes Lawrence, but is technically one of the good guys.
* ''Film/XMen'':
** Magneto has an unquestionably sympathetic backstory and very good reason to believe that humans are out to eradicate the mutant race. However, he is a dangerous individual with few limits on his devotion and what must be done to ensure the survival of his kind. Even his best and oldest friend isn't safe from [[MyGreatestFailure his extreme methods and beliefs.]]
-->'''Warren Worthington II''': "It's not like he's forcing mutants to take the cure."
** Likewise, Dr. Kavita Rao is just doing her job.
** Magneto and Mystique become this at the end of ''Film/XMenFirstClass''.
** Bolivar Trask in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. Unlike other characters obsessed in exterminating the mutants, he does so not out of hatred, but a desire to see humanity united against a common threat, and actually admires mutants for helping him accomplish that goal. Pity he has no empathy...
* Gorgon from the ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' film. He's supposed to be the main antagonist of the film and also kills the father of TheHero, but it's only because he is a predator and only trying to survive and feed his pack. He even unintentionally delivers LaserGuidedKarma to the movie's resident {{Jerkass}}.
* Ben Russell from ''Film/ColdInJuly'' is a Type II. He is only looking to avenge his son's death. Then it turns out [[spoiler: his son isn't dead at all and he joins forces with his son's supposed killer to find out what happened.]]
* Dean Vernon Wormer from ''Film/AnimalHouse''. He's the primary antagonist, and he has a short temper and some definite sinister moments, but he's only doing what any reasonable college administrator would when confronted with Delta house's reign of property damage, terrifying pranks, and occasional sexual harassment. He gets bonus points for his clear disgust with the brothers of Omega house, whose violence, racism, and abuse of their power within Faber University make them much more straightforwardly villainous.
* In ''Film/RobinHood1991'', Baron Daguerre is against Robin due more to the law than to malice, though he does allow acts of cruelty in the course of enforcing the law. At the start, he's Robert's friend and tries to be fair to all sides when Sir Miles Folcanet demands that Robert be tried for aiding a poacher. He orders just one stroke of the lash, but this is too much for Robert who insults them both and gets outlawed. And he and Robin basically agree that Saxons and Normans ought to get along, unlike Folcanet and Prince John.
* Mr. Morton in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest''. A powerful RailroadBaron, he's crippled, terminally ill and just wants to complete his transcontinental railroad before dying. His biggest failure is hiring the [[PsychoForHire clearly psychotic Frank]], who doesn't share his scruples about murdering anyone (regardless of age or gender) who gets in Morton's way. Morton chews Frank out for this several times, and even gains some audience sympathy when Frank [[TheStarscream usurps his power]] and tries to kill him. Morton [[spoiler:even gets a tragically ironic death scene, crawling towards a puddle.]]
* ''Film/StonehearstAsylum'': Lamb. While he ''is'' a little insane and does some pretty nasty things, his methods are much more humane than those of Salt's.
* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie, and is sort of an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot. He also has a strong love for family, shown in the scene where he gets into a fight with his brother after finding out about the deaths of his parents, whom he supposedly turned to a life of crime to care for and whose passing he was genuinely thunderstruck by. It's shown that while he's a bad man, he's also terribly misguided, which is what makes him so "Ugly" inside.
* ''Film/JugFace'': Sustin leads the town in worshipping an EldritchAbomination and making sacrifices to it, but he only does it so his town can use the aforementioned Abomination's healing properties.
* King Yeongjo from ''Film/TheThrone'' is a corrupt and despotic ruler who didn't even want to be king in the first place, and who [[AbusiveParents treats his son like crap]], eventually punishing him by locking him in a rice chest for eight days. However, he deeply regrets everything when he finds the posthumously named Sado dead, admitting he wouldn't have abused him so much if he hadn't been the king, and Sado the crown prince.
----
* Human Twilight in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' is motivated by a desire to understand the magic that emerges from Canterlot High School. At first, she's blackmailed into participating in the Friendship Games by [[NonActionBigBad Principal Cinch]], but Twilight's own desires still keep her going even when her amulet starts stealing magic and opening rifts in reality. [[spoiler:At the movie's climax, she unleashes the stolen magic and transforms into Midnight Sparkle, getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide and almost destroying the world.]]
* In Disney's ''Disney/TreasurePlanet'', John Silver is [[DesignatedVillain supposed to be the bad guy]]; and he does it pretty well, most of the time. But he also turns out to be a great father figure to Jim Hawkins and his soft spot for the lad pushes him to do the right thing now and then. His core motivation of wanting to get what is, in his eyes, rightfully owed to him, is more complex than just standard pirate-related greed.
* King Haggard of ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'', as shown in the scene where he explains ''why'' he [[spoiler:captured the Unicorns. Not from greed, or power... but because they're the only things that makes him ''happy''.]]
* Rameses in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (yes, ''the'' Pharaoh). Unlike the Pharaoh of Literature/TheBible, he's shown to be a well-meaning man who genuinely loves his brother Moses and is [[WellDoneSonGuy struggling with his father's shadow]], but because of his upbringing, he's blind to certain things in life, like the suffering of the slaves. Yet he's not villainous at all until Moses starts demanding that he let his people go. The writers deliberately humanized him, but made him so sympathetic and tragic that, at some points, they had to rewrite some scenes between him and Moses because ''Moses'' came off as being cruel to him. ''And even then, he still is a very tragic figure''.
* Aladdin's father in ''Disney/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves''. As implied by the title, he is the leader of the forty thieves. However, it's implied that his only motivation for wanting to lead them, as well as stealing various treasures, and why he left the family to lead them, was to allow his family to not be impoverished anymore. He also intended to return to his family once he had amassed enough wealth, but by the time he returned, he was unable to find them, and thus he believed they had died.
* Tony in ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' demands that pack traditions be upheld and is pretty willing to lead an all-out war to claim the Western Pack's territory. However, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he's only willing to do so in order to ensure that his pack survives with the food and resources that the Western Pack has]]. He's a fairly decent wolf otherwise, if not a bit temperamental and a stickler for tradition. He becomes a lot [[TookaLevelinKindness nicer]] in the sequels as well.
** Princess in the sequel ''A Howl-iday Adventure'' also fills this role, greatly contrasting [[CardCarryingVillain her father King]] who serves as the film's BigBad. She's his [[TheDragon Dragon]] but is motivated by loyalty to her father, not the collective [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] views of King and his pack. There's also how she cares for Runt while he's their hostage, not considering him weak and worthless like the other Rogues.
* The Once-ler in the 2012 adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' is quite friendly and sympathetic for most of the movie, despite being the nemesis of the title character. He eventually makes a FaceHeelTurn partially due to the influence of his family and becomes a rapacious, amoral CorruptCorporateExecutive, and ''then'' he has a severe MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment after it's too late and spends the rest of his life as a guilt-wracked hermit.
* Xibalba from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' is a Type 2. He only wants to rule his wife's world out of loneliness.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', the BigBad [[spoiler:is an ordinary guy who just wants to keep his LEGO models organised, although he has a rather {{Jerkass}} way of going about it]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Home}}'', the Gorg may have destroyed the Boov's original home planet, but [[spoiler:his children were stolen from him. It's not entirely hard to see why he’d be so upset]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has, well, [[ProtagonistTitle Megamind]] as this. Metro City (or to him, Metrocity) has treated him like he's an EvilGenius who needs to be stopped, even when he was a child. The truth is that he isn't and was never evil. When he was a kid, all he was trying to do was make [[IJustWantToHaveFriends friends]] and impress them with his inventions, which horribly backfired on him. Once he defeats his longtime foe, Metro Man, he decides that he's done being the bad guy. [[spoiler:That is if you don't count him giving Hal powers and said character turning into a ''real'' villain.]]
!!Films -- Live-Action
* ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
--->'''Dr. Zaius:''' "What I do, I do with no pleasure."
* ''Film/StarWars'': Darth Vader, who in the end of the original series turns out to be something of a TragicMonster. In the prequels we see him as an anti-villain, someone with noble ideals who is manipulated into evil means. Eventually he's consumed by self-loathing.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever portrayed. When a group of vigilante career criminals finally apprehends him, he delivers a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, painting himself as a victim of compulsion while accusing them of being criminals by choice.
* Samara in ''TheRingTwo''. Sure, she killed a bunch of people, but she just wanted to be loved. This is different from how she is in ''Film/TheRing''.
--->'''Doctor:''' "You don't want to hurt anyone, Samara."
--->'''Samara:''' [[CreepyChild "But I do]]."
* Colonel Saito in ''Film/TheBridgeOverTheRiverKwai'', who is NotSoDifferent from our heroes.
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'':
** Doc Ock in ''Film/SpiderMan2''. Altruistic guy, working for "the good of mankind", accidentally kills his wife and turns himself into a monster with no inhibitions, and fixates on his dream, still believing that he is trying to help humanity, when he is actually constructing the means to destroy half of New York City. He's manipulated by his own technology to boot. [[spoiler:Regains his senses at the end and pulls a RedemptionEqualsDeath to atone for his crimes.]]
** In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', the Sandman is a textbook Anti-Villain, pursuing noble ends (saving his daughter's life) through criminal means.
* Prince Nuada in ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy''. Nuada is striking back at humanity because it is destroying his world. Nuada insists, and the film supports, that the world will be a worse place without his kind. Director Guillermo del Toro notes that Nuada has more morals than most of the heroes, notably Abe and Liz, who both place their own love before the fate of the world... Although Nuada ''is'' also a hypocrite and somewhat AxCrazy, such that you shouldn't be outright ''rooting'' for him to win.
* Fredrick Zoller is almost the most conventionally heroic character in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' until his very last lines. He's brave, humble, seems like a DoggedNiceGuy RomanticComedy protagonist while courting Shoshanna, and actually seems to have some remorse and trauma from his war service. But on the other hand...he's a Nazi (albeit a reluctant one), and then it turns out that he doesn't like to take "No" for an answer.
* Vaako, the NobleDemon from ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', comes off this way at times. He's surprisingly competent, genuinely believes in the ReligionOfEvil, shows signs of HonorBeforeReason, and, to the surprise of everyone, ''doesn't'' attempt a KlingonPromotion on the Lord Marshall (well, not until [[LadyMacBeth his wife]] convinces him that the Lord Marshall has violated the ReligionOfEvil).
* In ''Film/TheRock'', General Hummel (Ed Harris) is an American Vietnam War hero who is motivated to get the government to acknowledge the sacrifices of soldiers who died during black ops...even if he has to hold an entire city hostage to do it. [[spoiler:Furthermore, late in the movie it's revealed that he had no intention of ever letting innocents die, and [[HeroicSacrifice gets killed trying]] to stop his AxCrazy subordinates from launching nerve gas at San Francisco.]]
* The [[MagnificentBastard bank robbers]] in ''Film/InsideMan'' are doing it to get even with a former Nazi Collaborator. They have scruples that involve not hurting or killing anyone, and not stealing cash from the bank but only some diamonds from a man guilty of war crimes. They freely admit they are no martyrs but don't fit under the label of plain old villains either.
* ''Film/BladeRunner'' Roy Batty. All he wants is a way for himself and his fellow [[ArtificialHuman Replicants]] to live longer than the four years allowed to them.
* ''Film/{{Downfall}}'' is about the final disintegration of the Nazis and portrays UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a a broken man. Between his paranoia, willful ignorance, uncontrolled sobbing, and tirades that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord he's often thought of to be.
* The original ''Film/{{Scarface|1932}}'', the one from 1932, has an Anti-Villain as its titular character, who [[PetTheDog pets the dog]] at multiple points in the film. It was very controversial at the time because of this.
* William "D-FENS" Foster from ''Film/FallingDown''. He's dangerously insane and becomes increasingly violent, but at the same time he's also clearly a victim of powers beyond his control, and the audience is encouraged to feel catharsis through his actions even as the movie condemns them.
* Sybok from ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier'' uses his powerful telepathic abilities to cure people of their deepest emotional pain in order to win them over to his side and help him achieve his goals. It's unclear whether he's more motivated by altruism or selfish ends...though he achieves both either way.
* The villains of ''Film/TheAdjustmentBureau'' aren't really very evil. In fact, they're trying as hard as they can to save humanity from its own evil. They just have a heavy-handed, LawfulNeutral way of doing it.
* Lestat in the film adaptation of ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'': he's a remorseless, amoral killer, but he has an incredible capacity for compassion and empathy. And, as he'd point out, he's just obeying his nature when he kills.
* Chip Douglas from ''Film/TheCableGuy''. His creepy and obsessive stalking of the main character is driven by the fact that he's been socially isolated for his entire life and is desperate for somebody to be his friend.
* [[spoiler: Robert]] from ''Film/MysteryTeam''. He didn't want Brianna's parents to be killed[[spoiler:, and took her and her sister in]]. He didn't even interfere with the Mystery Team. That said, his motives are rather sinister, [[spoiler: risking the lives of thousands of employees and customers to save money]].
* The Operative from ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' is willing to do virtually anything to achieve his ends, even kill innocent children, but he sees himself as NecessarilyEvil, and is even the TropeNamer for NoPlaceForMeThere.
* Loki, the villain from ''Film/{{Thor}}'', is continuously doing the wrong things for the right reasons. He's actually just a screwed-up WellDoneSonGuy trying to win his father's approval through pretty much the worst means possible.
* Claudia in ''Film/SnowWhiteATaleofTerror''. She is only really a villain once the miscarriage drives her mad and the enchanted mirror starts manipulating her. And then what does she want? A living child and the love of her husband.
* ''Film/TheStreetFighter'': Sue Shiomi and Junjo Shikenbaru.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality.
* The vampires in ''Film/WeAreTheNight'' are bloodthirsty killers, but are deeply tragic characters.
* [[BigBad General Zod]] in ''Film/ManOfSteel''. [[spoiler: While he is willing to commit genocide on the human race he sums himself up magnificently in a single quote, "Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the good of my people." He was [[DesignerBabies bred]]]][[spoiler: to be a warrior, to defend his race no matter how monstrous he had to be to do so.]]
* In ''Film/NowYouSeeMe'', The Horsemen never harm any innocents, and the people they're stealing from have wronged many others in the past [[spoiler:and indirectly caused the death of one man as well as cheating the family out of his inheritance.]]
* DesignatedVillain Lucian in ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' - while employing some rather [[WellIntentionedExtremist dubious tactics]] - was a former slave who led an uprising after his lover and unborn child were brutally killed, and is only trying to prevent his people from being exterminated. If his plan in the first film had succeeded, the end result would have been peace between the two sides.
* Boss Johns in the third ''Film/{{Riddick}}'' is after Riddick, but his grudge is quite personal, since he wants to know what happenened to his son on M6-117 and if Riddick killed him. He also views Riddick as a dangerous, murdering savage. [[spoiler:After learning that his son was a child-killing junkie, he keeps his promise to Riddick and they leave on good terms.]]
* Major König in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' is hunting down Vasily and killing his friends, but he's involved in a brutal war which naturally requires him to kill, doesn't engage in atrocities himself [[spoiler:until he hangs Sacha (and that's for being a spy)]], disapproves of torture as shown when he's told of Volodya's capture, and has only come to Stalingrad to avenge the death of his son.
* General Ross in the 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' movie, as opposed to his ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' version. Considering the long history of [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk comics]] neither is exactly inaccurate to the comics. He's portrayed as a concerned general who deeply loves his daughter and is just trying to stop the hulk menace, but goes out of his way to pursue and distrust Banner [[SinsOfOurFathers because of who his father is]].
* The zombies from ''Film/LandOfTheDead''. They're horrifying undead predators, of course, but a few of them seem to be regaining [[ItCanThink a semblance of sentience]], and their attack on [[WretchedHive Fiddler's Garden]] seems to be motivated by revenge. Amazingly, they're ''more'' sympathetic than the human characters of the film (HumansAreBastards is in full effect).
* Frank Abagnale Jr. of Creator/StevenSpielberg's ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' becomes an elusive ConMan who lives a rich life by stealing millions of dollars from the government and the banks. He also came from [[FreudianExcuse a family that fell from grace and broke up]], and [[JustifiedCriminal started out with his schemes to support himself.]] He's never purposely malicious, more an irresponsible kid who should know better, tries to [[FriendlyEnemy remain friendly with the officer pursuing him]], and [[ChronicVillainy genuinely wants to stop his crimes by the halfway point but can't]]. [[spoiler:He ends the movie being prematurely released from prison and inducted into the FBI Financial Crimes Unit with Hanratty's help.]]
* ''Film/{{Elysium}}'':
** President Patel, Elysium's board of directors, and Delacourt's unfortunate assistants are [[EvenEvilHasStandards repulsed]] by Delacourt's EstablishingCharacterMoment (which nearly leads to Delacourt losing her job as Defense Secretary). Not that Patel's any more tolerant of undesirables from Earth, but he prefers to simply round them up and deport them.
** Delacourt is a slight example, as her stated reason for taking control of Elysium is to [[WellIntentionedExtremist ensure a future for the children of Elysium]].
* Paul Doyle in ''Film/PainAndGain''. He didn't want to be part of the kidnapping at all but was persuaded by Daniel and Noel into doing so and felt guilty the entire time.
* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', Elsa Schneider was basically a foil for Indiana Jones. She was an ambitious scholar who wanted the Holy Grail even more than Indiana’s father. Her intentions are mostly selfish in nature, but she sees the grail as a priceless artifact to be preserved. Unfortunately, she sides with the Nazis to achieve her goals. In the end, she cannot be spared a KarmicDeath. Despite Indiana’s efforts to save her, Elsa attempts to reach for the grail while hanging over an abyss. Her hand suddenly slips from his hold and she falls to her death.
* In the Holocaust film ''Film/{{Conspiracy}}'', there are two such characters:
** Dr. Kritzinger is the only Nazi official present at the conference who [[EvenEvilHasStandards feels that the wholesale extermination of the Jews is wrong]]. He feels legitimately betrayed when he figures out that he has been kept in the dark with false promises that they would be spared by the regime. Heydrich [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this for Kritzinger by noting that he's only barely better than the rest of them because he never had any problems with terrorizing, enslaving and sterilizing the Jewish populations in Europe so long as they weren't immediately being killed.
** Rudolf Lange is an SS officer who [[ShellShockedVeteran has personally seen the horrors of war in the east]]. He actively hates the Jews he has ordered to be killed but even he is disturbed by the ad hoc mass murders in Latvia. He gets pissed off at Heydrich for the casual way in which he couches the ensuing genocide with euphemisms and has become quite introspective about his station.
* Another WWII biopic, ''Film/IntoTheStorm2009'', has a lighter example: Lord Halifax is something of an antagonist in the first half of the movie (as he seeks peace with Hitler, opposite to Churchill), but he's portrayed as simply a misguided man. He's shown as wise, calm, well-mannered and respectful. Churchill himself notes Halifax is no enemy of his.
* Teddy from ''Film/{{Neighbors 2014}}'' goes way too far with the feud but the film establishes he's not not really a bad guy, just an immature one who is desperately afraid of his limited prospects after college. [[spoiler: By the end of the film he and Mac make up as friends.]]
* The Mutos, not really apparent until near the end of ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}''. Their goal is merely to reunite with one another, have offspring, and ensue the resurgence of their species. Even with the amount of destruction they cause, they are at least sympathetic in this regard. In addition, they usually only cause destruction solely because they're so large and through the movie they act like actual animals.
* Aberline from ''Film/TheWolfman2010''. He antagonizes Lawrence, but is technically one of the good guys.
* ''Film/XMen'':
** Magneto has an unquestionably sympathetic backstory and very good reason to believe that humans are out to eradicate the mutant race. However, he is a dangerous individual with few limits on his devotion and what must be done to ensure the survival of his kind. Even his best and oldest friend isn't safe from [[MyGreatestFailure his extreme methods and beliefs.]]
-->'''Warren Worthington II''': "It's not like he's forcing mutants to take the cure."
** Likewise, Dr. Kavita Rao is just doing her job.
** Magneto and Mystique become this at the end of ''Film/XMenFirstClass''.
** Bolivar Trask in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. Unlike other characters obsessed in exterminating the mutants, he does so not out of hatred, but a desire to see humanity united against a common threat, and actually admires mutants for helping him accomplish that goal. Pity he has no empathy...
* Gorgon from the ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' film. He's supposed to be the main antagonist of the film and also kills the father of TheHero, but it's only because he is a predator and only trying to survive and feed his pack. He even unintentionally delivers LaserGuidedKarma to the movie's resident {{Jerkass}}.
* Ben Russell from ''Film/ColdInJuly'' is a Type II. He is only looking to avenge his son's death. Then it turns out [[spoiler: his son isn't dead at all and he joins forces with his son's supposed killer to find out what happened.]]
* Dean Vernon Wormer from ''Film/AnimalHouse''. He's the primary antagonist, and he has a short temper and some definite sinister moments, but he's only doing what any reasonable college administrator would when confronted with Delta house's reign of property damage, terrifying pranks, and occasional sexual harassment. He gets bonus points for his clear disgust with the brothers of Omega house, whose violence, racism, and abuse of their power within Faber University make them much more straightforwardly villainous.
* In ''Film/RobinHood1991'', Baron Daguerre is against Robin due more to the law than to malice, though he does allow acts of cruelty in the course of enforcing the law. At the start, he's Robert's friend and tries to be fair to all sides when Sir Miles Folcanet demands that Robert be tried for aiding a poacher. He orders just one stroke of the lash, but this is too much for Robert who insults them both and gets outlawed. And he and Robin basically agree that Saxons and Normans ought to get along, unlike Folcanet and Prince John.
* Mr. Morton in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest''. A powerful RailroadBaron, he's crippled, terminally ill and just wants to complete his transcontinental railroad before dying. His biggest failure is hiring the [[PsychoForHire clearly psychotic Frank]], who doesn't share his scruples about murdering anyone (regardless of age or gender) who gets in Morton's way. Morton chews Frank out for this several times, and even gains some audience sympathy when Frank [[TheStarscream usurps his power]] and tries to kill him. Morton [[spoiler:even gets a tragically ironic death scene, crawling towards a puddle.]]
* ''Film/StonehearstAsylum'': Lamb. While he ''is'' a little insane and does some pretty nasty things, his methods are much more humane than those of Salt's.
* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie, and is sort of an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot. He also has a strong love for family, shown in the scene where he gets into a fight with his brother after finding out about the deaths of his parents, whom he supposedly turned to a life of crime to care for and whose passing he was genuinely thunderstruck by. It's shown that while he's a bad man, he's also terribly misguided, which is what makes him so "Ugly" inside.
* ''Film/JugFace'': Sustin leads the town in worshipping an EldritchAbomination and making sacrifices to it, but he only does it so his town can use the aforementioned Abomination's healing properties.
* King Yeongjo from ''Film/TheThrone'' is a corrupt and despotic ruler who didn't even want to be king in the first place, and who [[AbusiveParents treats his son like crap]], eventually punishing him by locking him in a rice chest for eight days. However, he deeply regrets everything when he finds the posthumously named Sado dead, admitting he wouldn't have abused him so much if he hadn't been the king, and Sado the crown prince.
----
to:
* Human Twilight in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' is motivated by a desire to understand the magic that emerges from Canterlot High School. At first, she's blackmailed into participating in the Friendship Games by [[NonActionBigBad Principal Cinch]], but Twilight's own desires still keep her going even when her amulet starts stealing magic and opening rifts in reality. [[spoiler:At the movie's climax, she unleashes the stolen magic and transforms into Midnight Sparkle, getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide and almost destroying the world.]]
* In Disney's ''Disney/TreasurePlanet'', John Silver is [[DesignatedVillain supposed to be the bad guy]]; and he does it pretty well, most of the time. But he also turns out to be a great father figure to Jim Hawkins and his soft spot for the lad pushes him to do the right thing now and then. His core motivation of wanting to get what is, in his eyes, rightfully owed to him, is more complex than just standard pirate-related greed.
* King Haggard of ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'', as shown in the scene where he explains ''why'' he [[spoiler:captured the Unicorns. Not from greed, or power... but because they're the only things that makes him ''happy''.]]
* Rameses in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (yes, ''the'' Pharaoh). Unlike the Pharaoh of Literature/TheBible, he's shown to be a well-meaning man who genuinely loves his brother Moses and is [[WellDoneSonGuy struggling with his father's shadow]], but because of his upbringing, he's blind to certain things in life, like the suffering of the slaves. Yet he's not villainous at all until Moses starts demanding that he let his people go. The writers deliberately humanized him, but made him so sympathetic and tragic that, at some points, they had to rewrite some scenes between him and Moses because ''Moses'' came off as being cruel to him. ''And even then, he still is a very tragic figure''.
* Aladdin's father in ''Disney/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves''. As implied by the title, he is the leader of the forty thieves. However, it's implied that his only motivation for wanting to lead them, as well as stealing various treasures, and why he left the family to lead them, was to allow his family to not be impoverished anymore. He also intended to return to his family once he had amassed enough wealth, but by the time he returned, he was unable to find them, and thus he believed they had died.
* Tony in ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' demands that pack traditions be upheld and is pretty willing to lead an all-out war to claim the Western Pack's territory. However, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he's only willing to do so in order to ensure that his pack survives with the food and resources that the Western Pack has]]. He's a fairly decent wolf otherwise, if not a bit temperamental and a stickler for tradition. He becomes a lot [[TookaLevelinKindness nicer]] in the sequels as well.
** Princess in the sequel ''A Howl-iday Adventure'' also fills this role, greatly contrasting [[CardCarryingVillain her father King]] who serves as the film's BigBad. She's his [[TheDragon Dragon]] but is motivated by loyalty to her father, not the collective [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] views of King and his pack. There's also how she cares for Runt while he's their hostage, not considering him weak and worthless like the other Rogues.
* The Once-ler in the 2012 adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' is quite friendly and sympathetic for most of the movie, despite being the nemesis of the title character. He eventually makes a FaceHeelTurn partially due to the influence of his family and becomes a rapacious, amoral CorruptCorporateExecutive, and ''then'' he has a severe MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment after it's too late and spends the rest of his life as a guilt-wracked hermit.
* Xibalba from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' is a Type 2. He only wants to rule his wife's world out of loneliness.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', the BigBad [[spoiler:is an ordinary guy who just wants to keep his LEGO models organised, although he has a rather {{Jerkass}} way of going about it]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Home}}'', the Gorg may have destroyed the Boov's original home planet, but [[spoiler:his children were stolen from him. It's not entirely hard to see why he’d be so upset]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has, well, [[ProtagonistTitle Megamind]] as this. Metro City (or to him, Metrocity) has treated him like he's an EvilGenius who needs to be stopped, even when he was a child. The truth is that he isn't and was never evil. When he was a kid, all he was trying to do was make [[IJustWantToHaveFriends friends]] and impress them with his inventions, which horribly backfired on him. Once he defeats his longtime foe, Metro Man, he decides that he's done being the bad guy. [[spoiler:That is if you don't count him giving Hal powers and said character turning into a ''real'' villain.]]
!!Films -- Live-Action
* ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
--->'''Dr. Zaius:''' "What I do, I do with no pleasure."
* ''Film/StarWars'': Darth Vader, who in the end of the original series turns out to be something of a TragicMonster. In the prequels we see him as an anti-villain, someone with noble ideals who is manipulated into evil means. Eventually he's consumed by self-loathing.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever portrayed. When a group of vigilante career criminals finally apprehends him, he delivers a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, painting himself as a victim of compulsion while accusing them of being criminals by choice.
* Samara in ''TheRingTwo''. Sure, she killed a bunch of people, but she just wanted to be loved. This is different from how she is in ''Film/TheRing''.
--->'''Doctor:''' "You don't want to hurt anyone, Samara."
--->'''Samara:''' [[CreepyChild "But I do]]."
* Colonel Saito in ''Film/TheBridgeOverTheRiverKwai'', who is NotSoDifferent from our heroes.
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'':
** Doc Ock in ''Film/SpiderMan2''. Altruistic guy, working for "the good of mankind", accidentally kills his wife and turns himself into a monster with no inhibitions, and fixates on his dream, still believing that he is trying to help humanity, when he is actually constructing the means to destroy half of New York City. He's manipulated by his own technology to boot. [[spoiler:Regains his senses at the end and pulls a RedemptionEqualsDeath to atone for his crimes.]]
** In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', the Sandman is a textbook Anti-Villain, pursuing noble ends (saving his daughter's life) through criminal means.
* Prince Nuada in ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy''. Nuada is striking back at humanity because it is destroying his world. Nuada insists, and the film supports, that the world will be a worse place without his kind. Director Guillermo del Toro notes that Nuada has more morals than most of the heroes, notably Abe and Liz, who both place their own love before the fate of the world... Although Nuada ''is'' also a hypocrite and somewhat AxCrazy, such that you shouldn't be outright ''rooting'' for him to win.
* Fredrick Zoller is almost the most conventionally heroic character in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' until his very last lines. He's brave, humble, seems like a DoggedNiceGuy RomanticComedy protagonist while courting Shoshanna, and actually seems to have some remorse and trauma from his war service. But on the other hand...he's a Nazi (albeit a reluctant one), and then it turns out that he doesn't like to take "No" for an answer.
* Vaako, the NobleDemon from ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', comes off this way at times. He's surprisingly competent, genuinely believes in the ReligionOfEvil, shows signs of HonorBeforeReason, and, to the surprise of everyone, ''doesn't'' attempt a KlingonPromotion on the Lord Marshall (well, not until [[LadyMacBeth his wife]] convinces him that the Lord Marshall has violated the ReligionOfEvil).
* In ''Film/TheRock'', General Hummel (Ed Harris) is an American Vietnam War hero who is motivated to get the government to acknowledge the sacrifices of soldiers who died during black ops...even if he has to hold an entire city hostage to do it. [[spoiler:Furthermore, late in the movie it's revealed that he had no intention of ever letting innocents die, and [[HeroicSacrifice gets killed trying]] to stop his AxCrazy subordinates from launching nerve gas at San Francisco.]]
* The [[MagnificentBastard bank robbers]] in ''Film/InsideMan'' are doing it to get even with a former Nazi Collaborator. They have scruples that involve not hurting or killing anyone, and not stealing cash from the bank but only some diamonds from a man guilty of war crimes. They freely admit they are no martyrs but don't fit under the label of plain old villains either.
* ''Film/BladeRunner'' Roy Batty. All he wants is a way for himself and his fellow [[ArtificialHuman Replicants]] to live longer than the four years allowed to them.
* ''Film/{{Downfall}}'' is about the final disintegration of the Nazis and portrays UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a a broken man. Between his paranoia, willful ignorance, uncontrolled sobbing, and tirades that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord he's often thought of to be.
* The original ''Film/{{Scarface|1932}}'', the one from 1932, has an Anti-Villain as its titular character, who [[PetTheDog pets the dog]] at multiple points in the film. It was very controversial at the time because of this.
* William "D-FENS" Foster from ''Film/FallingDown''. He's dangerously insane and becomes increasingly violent, but at the same time he's also clearly a victim of powers beyond his control, and the audience is encouraged to feel catharsis through his actions even as the movie condemns them.
* Sybok from ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier'' uses his powerful telepathic abilities to cure people of their deepest emotional pain in order to win them over to his side and help him achieve his goals. It's unclear whether he's more motivated by altruism or selfish ends...though he achieves both either way.
* The villains of ''Film/TheAdjustmentBureau'' aren't really very evil. In fact, they're trying as hard as they can to save humanity from its own evil. They just have a heavy-handed, LawfulNeutral way of doing it.
* Lestat in the film adaptation of ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'': he's a remorseless, amoral killer, but he has an incredible capacity for compassion and empathy. And, as he'd point out, he's just obeying his nature when he kills.
* Chip Douglas from ''Film/TheCableGuy''. His creepy and obsessive stalking of the main character is driven by the fact that he's been socially isolated for his entire life and is desperate for somebody to be his friend.
* [[spoiler: Robert]] from ''Film/MysteryTeam''. He didn't want Brianna's parents to be killed[[spoiler:, and took her and her sister in]]. He didn't even interfere with the Mystery Team. That said, his motives are rather sinister, [[spoiler: risking the lives of thousands of employees and customers to save money]].
* The Operative from ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' is willing to do virtually anything to achieve his ends, even kill innocent children, but he sees himself as NecessarilyEvil, and is even the TropeNamer for NoPlaceForMeThere.
* Loki, the villain from ''Film/{{Thor}}'', is continuously doing the wrong things for the right reasons. He's actually just a screwed-up WellDoneSonGuy trying to win his father's approval through pretty much the worst means possible.
* Claudia in ''Film/SnowWhiteATaleofTerror''. She is only really a villain once the miscarriage drives her mad and the enchanted mirror starts manipulating her. And then what does she want? A living child and the love of her husband.
* ''Film/TheStreetFighter'': Sue Shiomi and Junjo Shikenbaru.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality.
* The vampires in ''Film/WeAreTheNight'' are bloodthirsty killers, but are deeply tragic characters.
* [[BigBad General Zod]] in ''Film/ManOfSteel''. [[spoiler: While he is willing to commit genocide on the human race he sums himself up magnificently in a single quote, "Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the good of my people." He was [[DesignerBabies bred]]]][[spoiler: to be a warrior, to defend his race no matter how monstrous he had to be to do so.]]
* In ''Film/NowYouSeeMe'', The Horsemen never harm any innocents, and the people they're stealing from have wronged many others in the past [[spoiler:and indirectly caused the death of one man as well as cheating the family out of his inheritance.]]
* DesignatedVillain Lucian in ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' - while employing some rather [[WellIntentionedExtremist dubious tactics]] - was a former slave who led an uprising after his lover and unborn child were brutally killed, and is only trying to prevent his people from being exterminated. If his plan in the first film had succeeded, the end result would have been peace between the two sides.
* Boss Johns in the third ''Film/{{Riddick}}'' is after Riddick, but his grudge is quite personal, since he wants to know what happenened to his son on M6-117 and if Riddick killed him. He also views Riddick as a dangerous, murdering savage. [[spoiler:After learning that his son was a child-killing junkie, he keeps his promise to Riddick and they leave on good terms.]]
* Major König in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' is hunting down Vasily and killing his friends, but he's involved in a brutal war which naturally requires him to kill, doesn't engage in atrocities himself [[spoiler:until he hangs Sacha (and that's for being a spy)]], disapproves of torture as shown when he's told of Volodya's capture, and has only come to Stalingrad to avenge the death of his son.
* General Ross in the 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' movie, as opposed to his ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' version. Considering the long history of [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk comics]] neither is exactly inaccurate to the comics. He's portrayed as a concerned general who deeply loves his daughter and is just trying to stop the hulk menace, but goes out of his way to pursue and distrust Banner [[SinsOfOurFathers because of who his father is]].
* The zombies from ''Film/LandOfTheDead''. They're horrifying undead predators, of course, but a few of them seem to be regaining [[ItCanThink a semblance of sentience]], and their attack on [[WretchedHive Fiddler's Garden]] seems to be motivated by revenge. Amazingly, they're ''more'' sympathetic than the human characters of the film (HumansAreBastards is in full effect).
* Frank Abagnale Jr. of Creator/StevenSpielberg's ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' becomes an elusive ConMan who lives a rich life by stealing millions of dollars from the government and the banks. He also came from [[FreudianExcuse a family that fell from grace and broke up]], and [[JustifiedCriminal started out with his schemes to support himself.]] He's never purposely malicious, more an irresponsible kid who should know better, tries to [[FriendlyEnemy remain friendly with the officer pursuing him]], and [[ChronicVillainy genuinely wants to stop his crimes by the halfway point but can't]]. [[spoiler:He ends the movie being prematurely released from prison and inducted into the FBI Financial Crimes Unit with Hanratty's help.]]
* ''Film/{{Elysium}}'':
** President Patel, Elysium's board of directors, and Delacourt's unfortunate assistants are [[EvenEvilHasStandards repulsed]] by Delacourt's EstablishingCharacterMoment (which nearly leads to Delacourt losing her job as Defense Secretary). Not that Patel's any more tolerant of undesirables from Earth, but he prefers to simply round them up and deport them.
** Delacourt is a slight example, as her stated reason for taking control of Elysium is to [[WellIntentionedExtremist ensure a future for the children of Elysium]].
* Paul Doyle in ''Film/PainAndGain''. He didn't want to be part of the kidnapping at all but was persuaded by Daniel and Noel into doing so and felt guilty the entire time.
* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', Elsa Schneider was basically a foil for Indiana Jones. She was an ambitious scholar who wanted the Holy Grail even more than Indiana’s father. Her intentions are mostly selfish in nature, but she sees the grail as a priceless artifact to be preserved. Unfortunately, she sides with the Nazis to achieve her goals. In the end, she cannot be spared a KarmicDeath. Despite Indiana’s efforts to save her, Elsa attempts to reach for the grail while hanging over an abyss. Her hand suddenly slips from his hold and she falls to her death.
* In the Holocaust film ''Film/{{Conspiracy}}'', there are two such characters:
** Dr. Kritzinger is the only Nazi official present at the conference who [[EvenEvilHasStandards feels that the wholesale extermination of the Jews is wrong]]. He feels legitimately betrayed when he figures out that he has been kept in the dark with false promises that they would be spared by the regime. Heydrich [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this for Kritzinger by noting that he's only barely better than the rest of them because he never had any problems with terrorizing, enslaving and sterilizing the Jewish populations in Europe so long as they weren't immediately being killed.
** Rudolf Lange is an SS officer who [[ShellShockedVeteran has personally seen the horrors of war in the east]]. He actively hates the Jews he has ordered to be killed but even he is disturbed by the ad hoc mass murders in Latvia. He gets pissed off at Heydrich for the casual way in which he couches the ensuing genocide with euphemisms and has become quite introspective about his station.
* Another WWII biopic, ''Film/IntoTheStorm2009'', has a lighter example: Lord Halifax is something of an antagonist in the first half of the movie (as he seeks peace with Hitler, opposite to Churchill), but he's portrayed as simply a misguided man. He's shown as wise, calm, well-mannered and respectful. Churchill himself notes Halifax is no enemy of his.
* Teddy from ''Film/{{Neighbors 2014}}'' goes way too far with the feud but the film establishes he's not not really a bad guy, just an immature one who is desperately afraid of his limited prospects after college. [[spoiler: By the end of the film he and Mac make up as friends.]]
* The Mutos, not really apparent until near the end of ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}''. Their goal is merely to reunite with one another, have offspring, and ensue the resurgence of their species. Even with the amount of destruction they cause, they are at least sympathetic in this regard. In addition, they usually only cause destruction solely because they're so large and through the movie they act like actual animals.
* Aberline from ''Film/TheWolfman2010''. He antagonizes Lawrence, but is technically one of the good guys.
* ''Film/XMen'':
** Magneto has an unquestionably sympathetic backstory and very good reason to believe that humans are out to eradicate the mutant race. However, he is a dangerous individual with few limits on his devotion and what must be done to ensure the survival of his kind. Even his best and oldest friend isn't safe from [[MyGreatestFailure his extreme methods and beliefs.]]
-->'''Warren Worthington II''': "It's not like he's forcing mutants to take the cure."
** Likewise, Dr. Kavita Rao is just doing her job.
** Magneto and Mystique become this at the end of ''Film/XMenFirstClass''.
** Bolivar Trask in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. Unlike other characters obsessed in exterminating the mutants, he does so not out of hatred, but a desire to see humanity united against a common threat, and actually admires mutants for helping him accomplish that goal. Pity he has no empathy...
* Gorgon from the ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' film. He's supposed to be the main antagonist of the film and also kills the father of TheHero, but it's only because he is a predator and only trying to survive and feed his pack. He even unintentionally delivers LaserGuidedKarma to the movie's resident {{Jerkass}}.
* Ben Russell from ''Film/ColdInJuly'' is a Type II. He is only looking to avenge his son's death. Then it turns out [[spoiler: his son isn't dead at all and he joins forces with his son's supposed killer to find out what happened.]]
* Dean Vernon Wormer from ''Film/AnimalHouse''. He's the primary antagonist, and he has a short temper and some definite sinister moments, but he's only doing what any reasonable college administrator would when confronted with Delta house's reign of property damage, terrifying pranks, and occasional sexual harassment. He gets bonus points for his clear disgust with the brothers of Omega house, whose violence, racism, and abuse of their power within Faber University make them much more straightforwardly villainous.
* In ''Film/RobinHood1991'', Baron Daguerre is against Robin due more to the law than to malice, though he does allow acts of cruelty in the course of enforcing the law. At the start, he's Robert's friend and tries to be fair to all sides when Sir Miles Folcanet demands that Robert be tried for aiding a poacher. He orders just one stroke of the lash, but this is too much for Robert who insults them both and gets outlawed. And he and Robin basically agree that Saxons and Normans ought to get along, unlike Folcanet and Prince John.
* Mr. Morton in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest''. A powerful RailroadBaron, he's crippled, terminally ill and just wants to complete his transcontinental railroad before dying. His biggest failure is hiring the [[PsychoForHire clearly psychotic Frank]], who doesn't share his scruples about murdering anyone (regardless of age or gender) who gets in Morton's way. Morton chews Frank out for this several times, and even gains some audience sympathy when Frank [[TheStarscream usurps his power]] and tries to kill him. Morton [[spoiler:even gets a tragically ironic death scene, crawling towards a puddle.]]
* ''Film/StonehearstAsylum'': Lamb. While he ''is'' a little insane and does some pretty nasty things, his methods are much more humane than those of Salt's.
* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie, and is sort of an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot. He also has a strong love for family, shown in the scene where he gets into a fight with his brother after finding out about the deaths of his parents, whom he supposedly turned to a life of crime to care for and whose passing he was genuinely thunderstruck by. It's shown that while he's a bad man, he's also terribly misguided, which is what makes him so "Ugly" inside.
* ''Film/JugFace'': Sustin leads the town in worshipping an EldritchAbomination and making sacrifices to it, but he only does it so his town can use the aforementioned Abomination's healing properties.
* King Yeongjo from ''Film/TheThrone'' is a corrupt and despotic ruler who didn't even want to be king in the first place, and who [[AbusiveParents treats his son like crap]], eventually punishing him by locking him in a rice chest for eight days. However, he deeply regrets everything when he finds the posthumously named Sado dead, admitting he wouldn't have abused him so much if he hadn't been the king, and Sado the crown prince.
----
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* ''Film/PlanetoftheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
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* ''Film/PlanetoftheApes'': ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
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* ''Film/PlanetoftheApes'': Dr. Zaius, although ruthless and even evil in his actions, is working to make sure that ape society doesn't suffer the same fate as human society. He is one of the very few apes who know the truth about the origins of the ape society, and in the end it's shown that his hatred of humankind isn't necessarily unwarranted. In contrast to the blind optimism of Zira or Cornelius or the ignorant violence of the gorilla soldiers, Zaius can be seen as an official who's willing to get his hands dirty to keep society functioning. He is also willing to talk personally with Taylor, going so far as to call him by name, to find out the truth of Taylor's origin. Also shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in which it's said that although he insisted on bringing Zira and Cornelius to trial for heresy, he asked for clemency on their behalf.
--->'''Dr. Zaius:''' "What I do, I do with no pleasure."
--->'''Dr. Zaius:''' "What I do, I do with no pleasure."
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* [[StarWars Darth Vader]], who in the end of the original series turns out to be something of a TragicMonster. In the prequels we see him as an anti-villain, someone with noble ideals who is manipulated into evil means. Eventually he's consumed by self-loathing.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever portrayed.
** For that matter, the fraternity of criminals who take it on themselves to track him down is, at some points, almost indistinguishable from the actual police. Even to the point of throwing him a [[JokerJury "trial"]], which they somewhat bleakly joke is legitimate because they're all legal experts, what with so much experience with the judicial system. Then they almost tear him apart...
*** Which leads to an epic ReasonYouSuckSpeech by ''Beckert'' himself, who asks the fraternity what right they, "lazy bastards" who commit crimes for things they could have avoided if they learned a decent trade, have passing judgment on someone who is compelled by powerful impulses to do the things he does "against his will". He seems to genuinely hate himself for what he does as much as anyone else.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever portrayed.
** For that matter, the fraternity of criminals who take it on themselves to track him down is, at some points, almost indistinguishable from the actual police. Even to the point of throwing him a [[JokerJury "trial"]], which they somewhat bleakly joke is legitimate because they're all legal experts, what with so much experience with the judicial system. Then they almost tear him apart...
*** Which leads to an epic ReasonYouSuckSpeech by ''Beckert'' himself, who asks the fraternity what right they, "lazy bastards" who commit crimes for things they could have avoided if they learned a decent trade, have passing judgment on someone who is compelled by powerful impulses to do the things he does "against his will". He seems to genuinely hate himself for what he does as much as anyone else.
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* [[StarWars ''Film/StarWars'': Darth Vader]], Vader, who in the end of the original series turns out to be something of a TragicMonster. In the prequels we see him as an anti-villain, someone with noble ideals who is manipulated into evil means. Eventually he's consumed by self-loathing.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains everportrayed.
** For that matter, the fraternityportrayed. When a group of vigilante career criminals who take it on themselves to track him down is, at some points, almost indistinguishable from the actual police. Even to the point of throwing him a [[JokerJury "trial"]], which they somewhat bleakly joke is legitimate because they're all legal experts, what with so much experience with the judicial system. Then they almost tear him apart...
*** Which leads to an epic ReasonYouSuckSpeech by ''Beckert'' himself, who asks the fraternity what right they, "lazy bastards" who commit crimes for things they could have avoided if they learned a decent trade, have passing judgment on someone who is compelled by powerful impulses to do the thingsfinally apprehends him, he does "against his will". He seems to genuinely hate delivers a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, painting himself for what he does as much as anyone else.a victim of compulsion while accusing them of being criminals by choice.
* ''Film/{{M}}'' starred PeterLorre in the role of Hans Beckert, the first SerialKiller in all of film and an implied pedophile, and one of the most pitiable villains ever
** For that matter, the fraternity
*** Which leads to an epic ReasonYouSuckSpeech by ''Beckert'' himself, who asks the fraternity what right they, "lazy bastards" who commit crimes for things they could have avoided if they learned a decent trade, have passing judgment on someone who is compelled by powerful impulses to do the things
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* [[Film/BladeRunner Roy Batty]] was nothing if not this trope; all he wanted was a way for himself and his fellow [[ArtificialHuman Replicants]] to live longer than the four years allowed to them.
* Believe it or not, ''[[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]]'' in ''Film/{{Downfall}}'', though his actions were not exactly noble, per se. He's portrayed as a broken man. Between his paranoia, uncontrolled sobbing, and screaming that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord which the mainstream media likes to portray him as. Many were offended that Hitler could ever be portrayed sympathetically, but the directors defended it by saying that they were portraying him as a three-dimensional person and not just doing it ForTheEvulz.
* Believe it or not, ''[[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]]'' in ''Film/{{Downfall}}'', though his actions were not exactly noble, per se. He's portrayed as a broken man. Between his paranoia, uncontrolled sobbing, and screaming that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord which the mainstream media likes to portray him as. Many were offended that Hitler could ever be portrayed sympathetically, but the directors defended it by saying that they were portraying him as a three-dimensional person and not just doing it ForTheEvulz.
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* [[Film/BladeRunner ''Film/BladeRunner'' Roy Batty]] was nothing if not this trope; all Batty. All he wanted was wants is a way for himself and his fellow [[ArtificialHuman Replicants]] to live longer than the four years allowed to them.
*Believe it or not, ''[[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]]'' in ''Film/{{Downfall}}'', though his actions were not exactly noble, per se. He's portrayed ''Film/{{Downfall}}'' is about the final disintegration of the Nazis and portrays UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a a broken man. Between his paranoia, willful ignorance, uncontrolled sobbing, and screaming tirades that the German people all deserve to die for failing him, the directors were really trying to reveal him to be a pitiful, mentally ill waste of life, rather than a diabolical supergenius warlord which the mainstream media likes he's often thought of to portray him as. Many were offended that Hitler could ever be portrayed sympathetically, but the directors defended it by saying that they were portraying him as a three-dimensional person and not just doing it ForTheEvulz.be.
*
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* John Hammond in the movie version of ''Film/JurassicPark''. In [[Literature/JurassicPark the book]], he's a regular villain in it [[MoneyDearBoy for the money]].
** In fact thanks to his altruist Walt Disney like personality, it's pretty hard to even call the movie version a villain at all.
** In fact thanks to his altruist Walt Disney like personality, it's pretty hard to even call the movie version a villain at all.
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* Sue Shiomi has played at least a couple of these, most notably in ''Film/TheStreetFighter'' and ''Creator/SonnyChiba's DragonPrincess'', the latter where she also doubles as an [[VillainProtagonist Anti-Villain Protagonist]].
** Speaking of ''Film/TheStreetFighter'', Junjo Shikenbaru also counts.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality. %% This entry was added automatically by FELH2. In case the wording doesn't make sense, rewrite it as you like, remove this comment and tell this troper.
** Speaking of ''Film/TheStreetFighter'', Junjo Shikenbaru also counts.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality. %% This entry was added automatically by FELH2. In case the wording doesn't make sense, rewrite it as you like, remove this comment and tell this troper.
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* ''Film/TheStreetFighter'': Sue Shiomi has played at least a couple of these, most notably in ''Film/TheStreetFighter'' and ''Creator/SonnyChiba's DragonPrincess'', the latter where she also doubles as an [[VillainProtagonist Anti-Villain Protagonist]].
** Speaking of ''Film/TheStreetFighter'',Junjo Shikenbaru also counts.
Shikenbaru.
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality.%% This entry was added automatically by FELH2. In case the wording doesn't make sense, rewrite it as you like, remove this comment and tell this troper.
** Speaking of ''Film/TheStreetFighter'',
* In the 2011 film ''Film/{{Warrior}}'': Both Brendan and Tommy are treated sympathetically throughout the film, but Tommy fulfills the role of the villain. He's a complete jerk to both his brother and father throughout the film, refusing to help them reconcile their old family demons (although not [[FreudianExcuse without reason]]). He also fights like a classic screen villain, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] his foes with anger and brutality.
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* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has, well, [[ProtagonistTitle Megamind]] as this. Metro City (or to him, Metrocity) has treated him like he's an EvilGenius who needs to be stopped, even when he was a child. The truth is that he isn't and was never evil. When he was a kid, all he was trying to do was make [[IJustWantToHaveFriends friends]] and impress them with his inventions, which horribly backfired on him. Once he defeats his longtime foe, Metro Man, he decides that he's done being the bad guy. [[spoiler:That is if you don't count him giving Hal powers and said character turning into a ''real'' villain.]]
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* Human Twilight in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' is motivated by a desire to understand the magic that emerges from Canterlot High School. At first, she's blackmailed into participating in the Friendship Games by [[NonActionBigBad Principal Cinch]], but Twilight's own desires still keep her going even when her amulet starts stealing magic and opening rifts in reality. [[spoiler:At the movie's climax, she unleashes the stolen magic and transforms into Midnight Sparkle, getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide and almost destroying the world.]]
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* King Yeongjo from ''Film/TheThrone'' is a corrupt and despotic ruler who didn't even want to be king in the first place, and who [[AbusiveParents treats his son like crap]], eventually punishing him by locking him in a rice chest for eight days. However, he deeply regrets everything when he finds the posthumously named Sado dead, admitting he wouldn't have abused him so much if he hadn't been the king, and Sado the crown prince.
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* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie, and is sort of an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot.
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* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie, and is sort of an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot. He also has a strong love for family, shown in the scene where he gets into a fight with his brother after finding out about the deaths of his parents, whom he supposedly turned to a life of crime to care for and whose passing he was genuinely thunderstruck by. It's shown that while he's a bad man, he's also terribly misguided, which is what makes him so "Ugly" inside.
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* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie. It's helped by the fact that he's the only extrovert of the trio.
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* Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Remirez from ''TheGoodtheBadandtheUgly'' is the most morally ambiguous of the trio. He has an extensive rap list of crimes including rape, murder and embezzlement, but he's also the most likable and sympathetic character in the entire movie. It's helped by the fact that he's the only extrovert movie, and is sort of the trio.an underdog loser, who's LaughablyEvil to boot.
