History ContrastingSequelAntagonist / LiveActionFilms

* In ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'', Gozer the Gozerian is an evil Sumerian God who travels to other universes and destroy them, taking on a new form in each world it visited before wiping entire populations. In ''Film/GhostbustersII'', Vigo the Carpathian is the ghost of a 16th century warlord and sorcerer, wanting to possess the infant son of Dana so he could be reborn and aim for world domination. In the essential third movie, ''VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame'', [[spoiler:Ivo Shandor]] was a former philanthropist turned misanthropic servant of Gozer who grew disappointed at his master's defeat by the Ghostbusters, then decided "Why worship a god, when you can BECOME one?"; he decided to kidnap his current living relative to help take on his own Destructor form. ''Film/GhostbustersAfterlife'' once again features Gozer as the main antagonist with a similar goal as before.

** While Grindlewald once loved Dumbledore, Voldemort holds no love for anyone.

** The Big One from the first film is a ''Velociraptor'' that causes the first films premise. By killing the worker at the beginning of the film, the Big One made the investors nervous about the park's safety, which causes Hammond to invite experts like Grant and Malcolm to the island in order to quell their fears.
** The ''T-Rex'' family from The Lost World are a pack of ''T-Rex’s'' that are obviously a family and the adults are much more scary than the Big One during the film climax, Buck becomes the most dangerous threat in the film by going on a rampage to find his baby, unlike the Big One and her pack where they were killed at the end of the first movie, the ''T-Rex'' family live at the end of the film living peacefully on Site B.

** The Indoraptor from ''Fallen Kingdom'', seems to have been designed in opposition to the ''Indominus rex''. The ''Indominus'' was an albino with a solid color, specifically based on a ''T-rex'' with exaggerated raptor features, and hunted for sport. The ''Indoraptor'' is a textbook case of Dark Is Evil with gold stripes running down his sides and back, looks more like a big raptor with some ''T-rex'' features, and hunts primarily because he was made to do so and out of hunger but still manages to indulge his sadism. He's also specifically male rather than female. His behavior is also very distinct from his predecessor, while the ''Indominus rex's'' psychopathic nature seemed to be expressed in a state of perpetual anger and her attacks were her lashing out, the ''Indoraptor'' has a sense of humor and seems to take amusement in his actions.

** While ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'' introduces De Nomolos, a terrorist from the future who sends robot duplicates to KillAndReplace the duo and change history.

** In ''Film/BillAndTedFaceTheMusic'' the new leader of the organisation that gave Bill and Ted the time machine in the first place is trying to kill them because she thinks their deaths will bring about utopia. Though she does send another robot assassin after them. Ted's dad is still being a FantasyForbiddingFather but he's in no position to send his adult son to military school.

*** "Pretty" Ricky Conlan was just a champion for Donnie to prove himself as a boxer worthy of the professional stage, and had no prior connection with Donnie whatsoever. The only thing antagonistic about him is that he's a trash talker (which is very common in sports) and that he is set to go to jail for an off-screen crime (which didn't even involve ''Donnie'' himself). Viktor Drago was a physical representation of Rocky's and his own father's dark past that Donnie has to overcome in finding peace for his own legacy; the connection that Viktor had to Donnie was mainly through their parental figures: Ivan Drago for Viktor, Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed for Adonis. He's antagonistic mainly because he wants to remove the shame from his family after his father, Ivan lost to Rocky Balboa — and the only way for him to do so is to defeat Rocky's mentee, Adonis Creed himself. Damian "Dame" Anderson is a figure of Creed's ''own past'' as his ''childhood friend'' turned enemy, who resented Donnie for living the life that he never had due to being locked up and Donnie himself getting away with the crime. His antagonism towards Donnie is easily more personal than Drago and Conlan.

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[[quoteright:350:[[Film/CaptainAmerica https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/collage_maker_04_oct_2023_05_16_pm_1194_8.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:From a [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Nazi scientist]] to a [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier shadowy politician]].]]
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%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without further discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900

* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse does this a lot.
** [[Film/IronMan1 Iron Monger]] was Tony Stark's former mentor and friend. [[Film/IronMan2 Whiplash]] was the son of his father's co-worker, making them dark mirrors of each other. Also the Iron Monger had great ambitions and plans after getting rid of Tony. Ivan Vanko just wanted to destroy Tony, holding a vendetta against the Stark family and did not care about his own well-being. [[Film/IronMan3 Aldrich Killian]] rose from nothing to just settle a grudge. Killian is also the only one of the three to never use PoweredArmor, instead using the powers granted by the Extremis virus. The second film also features Justin Hammer, who like Stane is involved in making weapons. However, whereas Stane was a FauxAffablyEvil second in command who sought to retake the reins of Stark Industries through secret means, Hammer is the head of his own company and is a SmugSnake openly trying to supplant Stark. Killian also had his own company, but whereas Hammer just wanted to outdo Tony, Killian actively is violently seizing power and intends to kill the President so he can be the de facto ruler of the country though his puppet the Vice President.
** [[Film/{{Thor}} Loki]] was Thor's brother turned to villainy, so they were close and conflicted. [[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld Malekith]] and the dark elves were from time thought legend and far less personal. Malekith doesn't even learn Thor's name. [[Film/ThorRagnarok Hela]] is Odin's firstborn and is trying to conquer the Nine Realms, but treats Thor mostly as a nuisance instead of a genuine threat while being far more powerful and threatening than Loki and Malekith, as she is a [[OneManArmy one-woman army]], therefore unlike them, she does not require a powerful weapon to be a real threat. She is also less of a personal threat when compared to Loki, but more so than Malekith. [[Film/ThorLoveAndThunder Gorr]] isn't interested in power or conquest like his predecessors, but is seeking vengeance for the death of his daughter, who died after his prayers for salvation went unanswered. He holds a vendetta against gods and wishes to wipe them out. While Loki and Hela both proclaimed AGodAmI, Gorr actively resents such JerkassGods for their hubris.
** [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Red Skull]] stood for everything Captain America was fighting against and wanted to destroy. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier The Winter Soldier]] was his friend brainwashed and was his country's dark side and thus highly conflicted to battle, with the real main antagonist being TheManBehindTheMan Alexander Pierce, who contrasts with the ObviouslyEvil and super-powered Red Skull by being a FauxAffablyEvil NonActionBigBad. [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar Colonel Helmut Zemo]] is a vengeance-driven schemer whose existence was unknown by Cap, and who contrasts all of the previous villains by working largely alone and independent of HYDRA's leadership.
** For the ''[[Film/TheAvengers2012 Avengers]]'' movies: Loki wants to rob humanity of all freedoms in the name of security, though that is ultimately nothing more than an excuse to justify an oppressive rule over Earth out of spite. In the [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron sequel]], Comicbook/{{Ultron}} wants to destroy all protections that the Avengers offer so that [[SocialDarwinist humanity can grow]]. At first, anyway. Meanwhile, in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', ComicBook/{{Thanos}} wants to eliminate half of the life in the universe to keep it thriving. Ironically, [[WellIntentionedExtremist this makes him arguably more sympathetic compared to the previous two]]. In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' Thanos is contrasted by [[spoiler:himself from four years prior to ''Infinity War'', who, upon seeing that the universe will never be grateful for his actions, becomes a full-blown OmnicidalManiac with his new plan to completely destroy the universe and remake it in his own image.]]
** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': Ronan the Accuser was an ObviouslyEvil, deranged fanatic who set out to destroy Xandar out of his hatred for the Xandarian people and their culture, and was characterized as a rabid psychopath who never made any effort at being personable or even acting like it, and he had a very dark, grim style. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', [[spoiler: Ego]] seems benevolent at a glance, and even when his true nature comes out, he's driven by what he sees as his purpose in life rather than any actual hatred for the people who will die as a result. He is also gregarious and easy-going, although that serves as a cover for his moral bankruptcy, and he's surrounded by colour and light, with Meredith describing him as [[spoiler:"an angel, composed out of pure light"]]. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'', the High Evolutionary puts on a facade of being a sophisticated man of culture who strives to make a perfect society, as opposed to [[spoiler:Ego's]] initially more laid back personality, but ultimately proves himself a cruel and psychotic maniac. He has no qualms about destroying the civilizations he has created and starting anew and while [[spoiler:Ego]] was implied to have BlueAndOrangeMorality in his goal of destroying the universe, the High Evolutionary is ultimately a PsychopathicManchild with a god complex who believes that anything that falls below his impossibly high standards doesn't deserve to exist. As a matter of fact, each Guardians of the Galaxy BigBad just so happens to be a personal ArchEnemy to one of the Guardians who expresses hatred for them. For Ronan, it's Drax the Destroyer who openly swears vengeance against him after the former kills the latter's wife and daughter, while having no sympathy whatsoever. For Ego, it's Peter Quill/Star-Lord, being his father who uses brain cancer to ''slowly'' murder his mother as a means to continue on his "expansion" (and to add extra-assholery, squish his walkman). For the High Evolutionary, it's Rocket Raccoon who was one of his test subjects, but murdered his friends out of dissatisfaction for not being "perfect" enough.
** [[Film/AntMan1 Darren Cross]] was a former protege of Hank Pym who took over his company and wants to weaponize and sell the Pym Particle technology for profit and when his plan fails, uses the Yellowjacket suit to try to destroy his enemies. [[Film/AntManAndTheWasp Ava Starr]] is a survivor of a lab accident afflicted by molecular disequilibrium caused by the excitement that's leaving her physically intangible and in a constant state of pain and near death, who wants to use the energy from the Quantum Realm to cure herself, and is motivated by desperation rather than malice. [[Film/AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania Kang]] is a ruthless conquerer who intends to take over the Multiverse and rule it with an iron fist.
** ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' vs ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'': [[spoiler:Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch serves as one to Kaecilius. Both are magic wielding [[FallenHero Fallen Heroes]] whose turn to villainy was caused by a combination of the loss of loved ones and being corrupted by dark magic. However, while Kaecilius has other former Kamar-Taj pupils under his command, Wanda is a OneWomanArmy who works alone. Additionally, while Kaecilius remains a villain and is [[FateWorseThanDeath trapped by Dormammu in the Dark Dimension forever]], Wanda has a HeelRealization and [[UncertainDoom ambiguously sacrifices herself]] to destroy the Darkhold so it won't corrupt anybody else.]]
** In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' the Vulture uses anonymity to create a black market business for superhuman tech, explicitly he wants nothing to do with the Avengers. ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' has [[spoiler:Quentin Beck use illusions to convince Peter he is the new hero the world needs in the wake of the Avengers, Tony in particular.]] ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' sees a displaced Green Goblin from ''Film/SpiderMan1'' taking the role of BigBad, being the first superhuman to do so as opposed to relying solely on technology, who wanted to be free to cause chaos on the MCU Earth with no real goal outside of a new world to play with. Both of the first two also hated Tony Stark, for different reasons. Vulture was due to how Stark's Damage Control got him and his cleanup crew fired to remove Chitauri technology. [[spoiler:Mysterio was a former employee who wanted revenge on his recently deceased boss for using his holographic technology and naming it "B.A.R.F.", while also fired for his emotional instability.]] Being from a different universe, Goblin had no history with Stark, but could be seen as a sort of EvilCounterpart in that he too is a billionaire scientist who uses a suit and and technology to fly. Vulture was enemies with Peter but felt he was a good kid, [[spoiler:protected his secret identity out of gratitude.]] [[spoiler:Mysterio pretended to be Peter’s friend, but betrayed him, psychologically tortured him, and revealed his secret identity.]] And while Vulture was gruff and more openly villainous, but ultimately a BenevolentBoss and a NobleDemon with several good qualities, [[spoiler:Mysterio acts heroic and like a BenevolentBoss to his employees but is actually a cruel, selfish sociopath who cares only for himself.]] Green Goblin, though among the other displaced villains, is not their leader despite convincing them not to be cured and resented Peter for wanting to help Norman be rid of his evil half, [[spoiler:so he causes the death of Aunt May out of pettiness and to hurt Peter.]]
** [[Film/BlackPanther2018 N'Jadaka/Erik 'Killmonger' Stevens]] vs. [[Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever Ch'ah Toh Almehen/K'uk'ulkan/Namor]]. Once he took the throne, Erik wanted to use Wakanda's mighty army and its advanced vibranium technology to subjugate the rest of the world and tried to justify it as 'freeing the oppressed', even though deep down he just wanted to vent his anger on everyone else for what he went through. Meanwhile, Namor initially only wanted to keep Talokan's existence a secret, but the surface world's encroachment on Talokan's territory for its vibranium resources means he won't hesitate to go to war with the entire world to ensure Talokan's safety. Erik also didn’t actually care about the Wakandan culture and dealt a severe blow to it by ordering the destruction of the heart-shaped herbs, ensuring that there won’t be any future Black Panther [[spoiler:until Shuri manages to recreate it]], while Namor’s entire reason for conflict is to protect the Talokan way of life, even if it results in the destruction of Wakanda, another country that’s also trapped in a similar circumstance and threatened by the outside world. Both villains are ruthless conquerors driven by childhood memories of witnessing inequality and injustice done to their respective ethnic groups by white oppressors, but of the two, Namor is far nobler than Erik ever was.

* [[AdaptationalVillainy Sweet]] [[WesternAnimation/PeterPan Pete]], the BigBad of ''Film/ChipandDaleRescueRangers2022'' appears to be this to Judge Doom, the BigBad of ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. Both are rogue toons out to get revenge on Hollywood's animation studios by torturing innocent toons, but while Judge Doom was once a friendly toon [[MeanCharacterNiceActor who only played villains]] until an accident caused him to become a villain for real, with his evil plan involving killing innocent toons using a harmful substance called "The Dip", Sweet Pete, on the other hand, was a FormerChildStar who was fired after becoming too old to star in animated movies, with his evil plans involving kidnapping innocent toons, [[AndIMustScream erasing their mouths so they can't scream]], and using a machine that "bootlegs" them into a more deformed version of themselves, which Pete then forces them into starring in [[TheMockbuster his ripoff movies instead.]]

** In ''Film/FastX'', the main villain is Dante Reyes, the son of the fifth movie's villain who wishes his avenge his father's death.

* Each entry in ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' films has a villain that contrasts from the previous one in one or more ways.

** ''Film/FuriousSeven'' has a BigBadDuumvirate with Moses Jakande a Nigerian terrorist and Deckard Shaw the brother of the aforementioned Owen. Jakande is seeking the hacking device known as the God's Eye while Deckard seeks to avenge his brother's defeat in the previous film.

** Owen Shaw from ''Film/FastAndFuriousSix'' is an [[FallenHero ex-Special Air Service]] soldier who leads a [[PsychoRangers team of criminals whose skills mirror that of Dom's friends]]. Shaw is also the first villain in the series who fights Dom in the climax.

* ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' and ''Film/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'' had contrasting villains. [[spoiler: Scrappy-Doo]] was kicked out by Mystery Inc. and held the Spooky Island owner hostage. He wanted the souls of the visitors to transform into a monster. [[spoiler: Jonathan Jacobo]] is a MadScientist who faked his death, posed as both a female news reporter and a masked menace and converted costumes into monsters.

** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': Ronan the Accuser was an ObviouslyEvil, deranged fanatic who set out to destroy Xandar out of his hatred for the Xandarian people and their culture, and was characterized as a rabid psychopath who never made any effort at being personable or even acting like it, and he had a very dark, grim style. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', [[spoiler: Ego]] seems benevolent at a glance, and even when his true nature comes out, he's driven by what he sees as his purpose in life rather than any actual hatred for the people who will die as a result. He is also gregarious and easy-going, although that serves as a cover for his moral bankruptcy, and he's surrounded by colour and light, with Meredith describing him as [[spoiler:"an angel, composed out of pure light"]]. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'', the High Evolutionary puts on a facade of being a sophisticated man of culture who strives to make a perfect society, as opposed to [[spoiler:Ego’s]] initially more laid back personality, but ultimately proves himself a cruel and psychotic maniac. He has no qualms about destroying the civilizations he has created and starting anew and while [[spoiler:Ego]] was implied to have BlueAndOrangeMorality in his goal of destroying the universe, the High Evolutionary is ultimately a PsychopathicManchild with a god complex who believes that anything that falls below his impossibly high standards doesn’t deserve to exist. As a matter of fact, each Guardians of the Galaxy BigBad just so happens to be a personal ArchEnemy to one of the Guardians who expresses hatred for them. For Ronan, it's Drax the Destroyer who openly swears vengeance against him after the former kills the latter's wife and daughter, while having no sympathy whatsoever. For Ego, it's Peter Quill/Star-Lord, being his father who uses brain cancer to ''slowly'' murder his mother as a means to continue on his "expansion" (and to add extra-assholery, squish his walkman). For the High Evolutionary, it's Rocket Raccoon who was one of his test subjects, but murdered his friends out of dissatisfaction for not being "perfect" enough.

* ''Film/HighlanderIIITheSorcerer'': Kane is very similar to the Kurgan from ''Film/{{Highlander}}'', a sword-wielding barbarian madman who has clashed with Connor in the past, beheaded an important mentor of his, and is still pursuing Connor to get the Prize. They differ in that Kane starts out with two allies before going solo and is also a MagicKnight, which makes him more dangerous.

* ''Franchise/{{Paddington}}'': Millicent, from the first film, is a NoNonsenseNemesis with a personal vendetta against Paddington, ends up despising the slap-on-the-wrist punishment she gets. Phoenix, from the second, is camp and flamboyant, has plans that don't involve Paddington until the bear inserts himself into them, and who eagerly accepts his prison sentence.

* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse does this a lot.
** [[Film/IronMan1 Iron Monger]] was Tony Stark's former mentor and friend. [[Film/IronMan2 Whiplash]] was the son of his father's co-worker, making them dark mirrors of each other. Also the Iron Monger had great ambitions and plans after getting rid of Tony. Ivan Vanko just wanted to destroy Tony, holding a vendetta against the Stark family and did not care about his own well-being. [[Film/IronMan3 Aldrich Killian]] rose from nothing to just settle a grudge. Killian is also the only one of the three to never use PoweredArmor, instead using the powers granted by the Extremis virus. The second film also features Justin Hammer, who like Stane is involved in making weapons. However, whereas Stane was a FauxAffablyEvil second in command who sought to retake the reins of Stark Industries through secret means, Hammer is the head of his own company and is a SmugSnake openly trying to supplant Stark. Killian also had his own company, but whereas Hammer just wanted to outdo Tony, Killian actively is violently seizing power and intends to kill the President so he can be the de facto ruler of the country though his puppet the Vice President.
** [[Film/{{Thor}} Loki]] was Thor's brother turned to villainy, so they were close and conflicted. [[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld Malekith]] and the dark elves were from time thought legend and far less personal. Malekith doesn't even learn Thor's name. [[Film/ThorRagnarok Hela]] is Odin's firstborn and is trying to conquer the Nine Realms, but treats Thor mostly as a nuisance instead of a genuine threat while being far more powerful and threatening than Loki and Malekith, as she is a [[OneManArmy one-woman army]], therefore unlike them, she does not require a powerful weapon to be a real threat. She is also less of a personal threat when compared to Loki, but more so than Malekith. [[Film/ThorLoveAndThunder Gorr]] isn't interested in power or conquest like his predecessors, but is seeking vengeance for the death of his daughter, who died after his prayers for salvation went unanswered. He holds a vendetta against gods and wishes to wipe them out. While Loki and Hela both proclaimed AGodAmI, Gorr actively resents such JerkassGods for their hubris.
** [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Red Skull]] stood for everything Captain America was fighting against and wanted to destroy. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier The Winter Soldier]] was his friend brainwashed and was his country's dark side and thus highly conflicted to battle, with the real main antagonist being TheManBehindTheMan Alexander Pierce, who contrasts with the ObviouslyEvil and super-powered Red Skull by being a FauxAffablyEvil NonActionBigBad. [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar Colonel Helmut Zemo]] is a vengeance-driven schemer whose existence was unknown by Cap, and who contrasts all of the previous villains by working largely alone and independent of HYDRA's leadership.
** For the ''[[Film/TheAvengers2012 Avengers]]'' movies: Loki wants to rob humanity of all freedoms in the name of security, though that is ultimately nothing more than an excuse to justify an oppressive rule over Earth out of spite. In the [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron sequel]], Comicbook/{{Ultron}} wants to destroy all protections that the Avengers offer so that [[SocialDarwinist humanity can grow]]. At first, anyway. Meanwhile, in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', ComicBook/{{Thanos}} wants to eliminate half of the life in the universe to keep it thriving. Ironically, [[WellIntentionedExtremist this makes him arguably more sympathetic compared to the previous two]]. In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' Thanos is contrasted by [[spoiler:himself from four years prior to ''Infinity War'', who, upon seeing that the universe will never be grateful for his actions, becomes a full-blown OmnicidalManiac with his new plan to completely destroy the universe and remake it in his own image.]]
** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': Ronan the Accuser was an ObviouslyEvil, deranged fanatic who set out to destroy Xandar out of his hatred for the Xandarian people and their culture, and was characterized as a rabid psychopath who never made any effort at being personable or even acting like it, and he had a very dark, grim style. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', [[spoiler: Ego]] seems benevolent at a glance, and even when his true nature comes out, he's driven by what he sees as his purpose in life rather than any actual hatred for the people who will die as a result. He is also gregarious and easy-going, although that serves as a cover for his moral bankruptcy, and he's surrounded by colour and light, with Meredith describing him as [[spoiler:"an angel, composed out of pure light"]]. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'', the High Evolutionary puts on a facade of being a sophisticated man of culture who strives to make a perfect society, as opposed to [[spoiler:Ego’s]] initially more laid back personality, but ultimately proves himself a cruel and psychotic maniac. He has no qualms about destroying the civilizations he has created and starting anew and while [[spoiler:Ego]] was implied to have BlueAndOrangeMorality in his goal of destroying the universe, the High Evolutionary is ultimately a PsychopathicManchild with a god complex who believes that anything that falls below his impossibly high standards doesn’t deserve to exist. As a matter of fact, each Guardians of the Galaxy BigBad just so happens to be a personal ArchEnemy to one of the Guardians who expresses hatred for them. For Ronan, it's Drax the Destroyer who openly swears vengeance against him after the former kills the latter's wife and daughter, while having no sympathy whatsoever. For Ego, it's Peter Quill/Star-Lord, being his father who uses brain cancer to ''slowly'' murder his mother as a means to continue on his "expansion" (and to add extra-assholery, squish his walkman). For the High Evolutionary, it's Rocket Raccoon who was one of his test subjects, but murdered his friends out of dissatisfaction for not being "perfect" enough.
** [[Film/AntMan1 Darren Cross]] was a former protege of Hank Pym who took over his company and wants to weaponize and sell the Pym Particle technology for profit and when his plan fails, uses the Yellowjacket suit to try to destroy his enemies. [[Film/AntManAndTheWasp Ava Starr]] is a survivor of a lab accident afflicted by molecular disequilibrium caused by the excitement that's leaving her physically intangible and in a constant state of pain and near death, who wants to use the energy from the Quantum Realm to cure herself, and is motivated by desperation rather than malice. [[Film/AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania Kang]] is a ruthless conquerer who intends to take over the Multiverse and rule it with an iron fist.
** ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' vs ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'': [[spoiler:Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch serves as one to Kaecilius. Both are magic wielding [[FallenHero Fallen Heroes]] whose turn to villainy was caused by a combination of the loss of loved ones and being corrupted by dark magic. However, while Kaecilius has other former Kamar-Taj pupils under his command, Wanda is a OneWomanArmy who works alone. Additionally, while Kaecilius remains a villain and is [[FateWorseThanDeath trapped by Dormammu in the Dark Dimension forever]], Wanda has a HeelRealization and [[UncertainDoom ambiguously sacrifices herself]] to destroy the Darkhold so it won't corrupt anybody else.]]
** In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' the Vulture uses anonymity to create a black market business for superhuman tech, explicitly he wants nothing to do with the Avengers. ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' has [[spoiler:Quentin Beck use illusions to convince Peter he is the new hero the world needs in the wake of the Avengers, Tony in particular.]] ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' sees a displaced Green Goblin from ''Film/SpiderMan1'' taking the role of BigBad, being the first superhuman to do so as opposed to relying solely on technology, who wanted to be free to cause chaos on the MCU Earth with no real goal outside of a new world to play with. Both of the first two also hated Tony Stark, for different reasons. Vulture was due to how Stark's Damage Control got him and his cleanup crew fired to remove Chitauri technology. [[spoiler:Mysterio was a former employee who wanted revenge on his recently deceased boss for using his holographic technology and naming it "B.A.R.F.", while also fired for his emotional instability.]] Being from a different universe, Goblin had no history with Stark, but could be seen as a sort of EvilCounterpart in that he too is a billionaire scientist who uses a suit and and technology to fly. Vulture was enemies with Peter but felt he was a good kid, [[spoiler:protected his secret identity out of gratitude.]] [[spoiler:Mysterio pretended to be Peter’s friend, but betrayed him, psychologically tortured him, and revealed his secret identity.]] And while Vulture was gruff and more openly villainous, but ultimately a BenevolentBoss and a NobleDemon with several good qualities, [[spoiler:Mysterio acts heroic and like a BenevolentBoss to his employees but is actually a cruel, selfish sociopath who cares only for himself.]] Green Goblin, though among the other displaced villains, is not their leader despite convincing them not to be cured and resented Peter for wanting to help Norman be rid of his evil half, [[spoiler:so he causes the death of Aunt May out of pettiness and to hurt Peter.]]
** [[Film/BlackPanther2018 N'Jadaka/Erik 'Killmonger' Stevens]] vs. [[Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever Ch'ah Toh Almehen/K'uk'ulkan/Namor]]. Once he took the throne, Erik wanted to use Wakanda's mighty army and its advanced vibranium technology to subjugate the rest of the world and tried to justify it as 'freeing the oppressed', even though deep down he just wanted to vent his anger on everyone else for what he went through. Meanwhile, Namor initially only wanted to keep Talokan's existence a secret, but the surface world's encroachment on Talokan's territory for its vibranium resources means he won't hesitate to go to war with the entire world to ensure Talokan's safety. Erik also didn’t actually care about the Wakandan culture and dealt a severe blow to it by ordering the destruction of the heart-shaped herbs, ensuring that there won’t be any future Black Panther [[spoiler:until Shuri manages to recreate it]], while Namor’s entire reason for conflict is to protect the Talokan way of life, even if it results in the destruction of Wakanda, another country that’s also trapped in a similar circumstance and threatened by the outside world. Both villains are ruthless conquerors driven by childhood memories of witnessing inequality and injustice done to their respective ethnic groups by white oppressors, but of the two, Namor is far nobler than Erik ever was.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** In the prequels, Maul is basically an attack dog with a red lightsaber. By contrast, Dooku is elegant, stylish, and cultured. He's also a political manipulator, and a powerful nobleman in his own right, who left the Jedi Order. Incidentally, ''The Clone Wars'' and ''Rebels'' expanded on Maul's character. He's driven by rage and revenge, and Dooku is driven by doubt in the Jedi and Republic. Anakin cut off Dooku's hands, while Obi-Wan separated Maul from his legs. Dooku has a classy and archaic curved lightsaber, while Maul has a standard Sith double-bladed one.
** Kylo Ren from ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' initially seems like a carbon copy of Darth Vader, but it's quickly revealed that [[spoiler:he is an uncertain, emotionally unstable man-child who also turns out, despite his innate skill, to not be fully trained in Force combat, in contrast to Vader's coldly menacing, dark, brooding presence and expertly channeled rage (of course, Vader had a good 20+ years to develop into a hardened veteran)]]. Also, their motivations are quite different: Anakin is a classic example of LoveMakesYouEvil, and his transformation into Darth Vader was caused by his desire to protect those closest to him. Even as a Sith Lord, most of his actions regarding Luke are born from his warped, twisted attempts to save him by luring him to the Dark Side. [[spoiler:Ren, on the other hand, [[LoveIsAWeakness views love as a weakness]], and even murders his own father in cold blood in order to cut off his emotional attachment to his old life.]] ''Film/TheLastJedi'' takes this even further; Vader ultimately tried to preserve the past in his fall to darkness and even at his darkest was dedicated to maintaining the current status quo; Ren ultimately [[spoiler:decides to destroy as much of the past as he can, Jedi or Sith, and unlike Vader after killing his master, doesn't turn from his path]]. And while Vader wore his armor and mask because he was dependent on them due to the horrific burns he got from fighting Obi-Wan, Ren doesn't need his armor at all and wears it only for dramatic effect, going almost the entire second film without his mask, and has a perfectly normal, even handsome, appearance underneath.
** After ''The Last Jedi'', Kylo Ren becomes the political successor of Emperor Palpatine[=/=]Darth Sidious after taking the title of Supreme Leader of the First Order. Sidious is [[EvilOldFolks old]], calculating, methodical, and [[TheSociopath without feelings]], whereas Kylo Ren is a YoungConqueror who's impulsive, unpredictable, erratic, and still torn by emotions that he tries to put aside for his ambitions. Much like Palpatine, Kylo is responsible for the end of his era's Jedi Order and drives its leader into an exile of impoverished seclusion, though in Sidious' case it was because Yoda fought him to a draw and Yoda fled to survive, whereas Kylo shatters Luke's morale, driving him away in shame over their confrontation. Sidious and Kylo both murder their masters, Darth Plagueis the Wise and Snoke respectively, to further their grab for power. Where Palpatine is content to [[OrcusOnHisThrone rule from a distance]] and govern through subordinates (Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Vader, his army commanders), Kylo Ren is hands on, insisting on [[FrontlineGeneral micro-managing and commanding his troops]] and personally executing "traitors" who resist. In many respects, Kylo Ren is the Skywalker heir Palpatine wanted all along, being neither dependent on life support like Anakin, nor incorruptible like Luke, and carrying out the act of {{Patricide}} that Luke refused to do at the Emperor's command.
** In contrast to Grand Moff Tarkin, who was an ice-cold seasoned veteran who had clear authority over Darth Vader, General Armitage Hux is young, a lot more emotional, and butts heads with Kylo Ren repeatedly. The contrast only deepens when Kylo seizes power and chokes Hux into submission; Tarkin was able to order Vader to stop Force-choking a disrespectful Admiral Motti, while Hux is completely helpless in the face of Kylo's wrath.
** ''Film/RogueOne'': Orson Krennic is a grouchy {{Jerkass}}, extremely passionate about his work, dresses all in white, and speaks with Creator/BenMendelsohn's natural Australian accent, whereas most of the other Imperial villains in the franchise, especially Tarkin, are FauxAffablyEvil, borderline emotionless about their duty, dress in grey or black, and speak with [[EvilBrit recieved pronunciation]] accents. Fittingly, Krennic and Tarkin absolutely ''loathe'' one another.
* ''Film/TheShaolinTemple'' trilogy flips their villains around; the first movie's BigBad, Emperor Wang Shi-chong, is a ruthless tyrant and monarch dominating the whole of China with an iron fist, while the second movie has a pair of unnamed bandit brothers leading their underlings (the second film is LighterAndSofter as a result). The third movie, ''Martial Arts of Shaolin'', walks the middle line with it's main villain being a Manchurian warlord and a corrupt minister ruling a small town.
* Creator/GuyRitchie's ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'' has Lord Henry Blackwood, who goes out of his way to be ObviouslyEvil, creating an image of himself as a [[EvilSorceror black-magic-wielding]] {{Antichrist}} figure who [[TheDreaded everyone should be afraid of]], and whose end goal is to seize control of the British Government and the Empire and rule it through fear. The sequel ''[[Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows Game of Shadows]]'' has Professor Moriarty, who prefers the VillainWithGoodPublicity approach, he creates the persona of a jovial and respected Cambridge professor, is a trusted adviser to the Prime Minister, and his plans rely on keeping his criminal activities as discreet as possible and manipulating events from behind the scenes. And his plan is [[spoiler:to cause enough chaos to basically kick World War 1 off early, which he will profit from.]]
* In ''Film/Hellboy2004'', [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Grigori Rasputin]] is a bald but bearded human mystic who wants to bring about the destruction of the world by summoning the Lovecraftian [[EldritchAbomination Ogdru Jahad]], and who mostly relies on other people and monsters (Karl Kroenen, Ilsa Haupstein, Sammael) to do his bidding for him. In the second, Prince Nuada is a long-haired, clean-shaven elven prince who wants to destroy ''only'' mankind ([[WellIntentionedExtremist so that the fair folk might live]]) by summoning the mechanical Golden Army, and is a skilled fighter who does pretty much all of his own dirty work.

** The ''Indominus rex'' from ''Film/JurassicWorld'' is the first dinosaur bred specifically for increased aggression, both for increased thrill factor and, more surreptitiously, as a prototype bioweapon. Plus she's raised in complete isolation with no positive associations other than the crate that brings her food. Naturally, when she finally breaks out, she attacks just about everything in sight. Also, she's actively the main cause and central focus of the film's major crisis, whereas previous dinosaur main antagonists like the original raptors, the ''T. rexes'', and the ''Spinosaurus'' were simply the most dangerous hazard that happened to be present during a crisis.

* Staple of the ''Franchise/{{Rocky}}'' movies.
** To wit:
*** ''Film/{{Rocky}}'' and ''[[Film/RockyII II]]'' feature Apollo Creed, a dominant and charismatic boxing champ who fights the amateur Rocky for an [[OnlyInItForTheMoney easy, fun payday]]... [[ItsPersonal at first]]. In the sequel, he's motivated by proving himself worthy of the title after negative press accused him of fixing the fight.
*** ''[[Film/RockyIII III]]'' gives us Clubber Lang, a [[HotBlooded fiery]] [[TrashTalk loudmouth]] [[UnskilledButStrong brute]]. He's the no.1 contender for Rocky's title, and pulverizing the champ is all that matters to him. While Apollo was a truly [[StrongAndSkilled well-rounded fighter]], Lang is [[TheBerserker all about aggression and power]]. Creed was also image-conscious to a fault, [[note]]both fights with Rocky were ultimately about bolstering Creed's reputation[[/note]] while Lang ''doesn't give a shit'' about public opinion of him--he just wants to dominate, and Rocky is the man to beat.
*** ''[[Film/RockyIV IV]]'' introduces Ivan Drago, a [[TheStoic stoic]] [[HuskyRusskie Russian juggernaut]] out to prove Soviet superiority who gets Rocky's attention by [[CasualtyInTheRing killing Apollo]]. Compared to Clubber Lang, who was a HotBlooded, angry loudmouth ArrogantKungFuGuy, Drago, on the other hand, is cold, quiet and stoic.
*** While Tommy Gunn, Rocky's [[TheBerserker wild, troubled]] [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil ex-protégé]], is TheHeavy of ''Film/RockyV'', his shady [[NonActionBigBad promoter]] George Washington Duke is the true villain of the piece. Rather than posing a physical threat, Duke is a scheming manager who tries to convince Rocky to come out of retirement, and resorts to various underhanded, manipulative tactics to do so.
*** Finally, we meet Mason Dixon in ''Film/RockyBalboa''. Like Creed, he's a dominant champ; unlike Creed, he's unassuming and the public hates him. He challenges the aged Rocky to a charity match to boost his cred with fans.
** This is also extended in the ''Creed'' spin-off series, where Apollo Creed's son and Rocky Balboa's mentee Adonis gets his own set of rivals.
*** "Pretty" Ricky Conlan was just a champion for Donnie to prove himself as a boxer worthy of the professional stage, and had no prior connection with Donnie whatsoever. The only thing antagonistic about him is that he's a trash talker (which is very common in sports) and that he is set to go to jail for an off-screen crime (which didn't even involve ''Donnie'' himself). Viktor Drago was a physical representation of Rocky's and his own father's dark past that Donnie has to overcome in finding peace for his own legacy; the connection that Viktor had to Donnie was mainly through their parental figures: Ivan Drago for Viktor, Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed for Adonis. He's antagonistic mainly because he wants to remove the shame from his family after his father, Ivan lost to Rocky Balboa — and the only way for him to do so is to defeat Rocky's mentee, Adonis Creed himself. Damian "Dame" Anderson is a figure of Creed's ''own past'' as his ''childhood friend'' turned enemy, who resented Donnie for living the life that he never had due to being locked up and Donnie himself getting away with the crime. His antagonism towards Donnie is easily more personal than Drago and Conlan.
*** Donnie's rivals also stand out in terms of their nationalities and where Donnie fought them in the films' climaxes. "Pretty" Ricky Conlan is British (with his actor being half-white, half-black); as such, Donnie fights him at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. Viktor Drago is Ukrainian with Russian heritage from his parents; as such, Donnie fights him at Moscow, Russia. Damian "Dame" Anderson is African-American; as such, Donnie fight him at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
* In ''Film/StarTrek2009'', the BigBad Nero is an angry working-class BadassNormal Romulan from the 24th century who winds up [[FishOutOfTemporalWater stuck in the past]] after falling through a vortex, and strikes off on a mission of revenge against the Federation for failing to prevent the destruction of his home planet. In ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', the BigBad John Harrison is the exact opposite: a stoic, WickedCultured genetically augmented human [[spoiler: from the 21st century]] who attacks the Federation after being [[spoiler: forcibly revived from [[HumanPopsicle cryogenic stasis]]]], wants to complete a mission of [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]] that he began [[spoiler: centuries in the past]], and turns out to be [[spoiler: secretly in league with a rogue Starfleet admiral]]. Krall from ''Film/StarTrekBeyond'' contrasts both of them, being a [[spoiler: rogue Federation [[SpaceMarine MACO]] with an [[Really700YearsOld artificially prolonged lifespan]]]] who twists himself into [[spoiler: a semi-human alien monstrosity]], and wants to destroy the Federation because [[spoiler: [[KnightTemplar he believes that they've abandoned their principles]]]].
* In ''Film/TheLibrarian'' film trilogy (for the follow-up TV series, see the appropriate section below):

* ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' and ''Film/{{Elektra}}'':
** Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin is the head of all crime in New York. Roshi is the head of The Hand. They are both a CorruptCorporateExecutive and TheManBehindTheMan. Fisk has a personal feud he didn't know of with Daredevil having killed his father but did know he ordered Elektra's father to die, Roshi likely was the man who headed the death of Elektra's mother. Neither of them ever have one scene with Elektra, though Fisk was at least around her and fought Daredevil while Roshi never takes part in combat.
** Bullseye and Kirigi were both assassins responsible for killing one of Elektra's parents, her father and mother respectively. Bullseye is a bald Irish man in black leather while Kirigi is Japanese man in white with a long mane. Bullseye [[CardCarryingVillain embraced the evil he commits]] ForTheEvulz and didn't deny how attractive he found Elektra to be and wanted to kiss her. Kirigi is stoic and fixated only on his task, but didn't shy away from mocking Elektra for her dead parent.
* ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'' and ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'':
** Valentine is an AffablyEvil black man who shares a genuine VillainousFriendship with his henchwoman-in-chief and dislikes the sight of blood and gore. He's a WellIntentionedExtremist motivated by concerns about overpopulation and the environment.
** Poppy is a FauxAffablyEvil white woman who treats most of her employees [[BadBoss terribly]] and has no issue with seeing people who displease her thrown into meat grinders. Her villainous motivations are purely selfish.
* [[FauxAffablyEvil Sebastian Shaw]] in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' and [[AffablyEvil Bolivar Trask]] in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'':
** Sebastian Shaw is a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]], [[OneManArmy physically powerful]] mutant who leads a handful of mutants and tries to start WorldWarIII, so in the end he could seize power after humans eliminated themselves and emerge as the leader of the surviving mutants. He tries to manipulate people, but he usually resorts [[TheBully to intimidating them]] to do his biding. He worked for the Nazis, and also owns a [[ManofWealthandTaste seedy night club]]. The bad future is averted by killing him, even though it costs the relationship of Mystique, Charles Xavier and Magneto, who all become more disillusioned and cynical as a result.
** Bolivar Trask is a brilliant WellIntentionedExtremist [[MadScientist human inventor]] who creates [[HumongousMecha mutant-hunting robots]] to achieve world peace. He is a smooth-talking fearmonger who [[ManipulativeBastard successfully manipulates people]]. He was voted the man of the year, made [[VillainWithGoodPublicity prosthetics for children]] and creates weapons for the U.S. government. The bad future is averted by letting him live, and the events help to actually mend the relationship of the three mutants in the long term and helps them move on to a better path (even if it is temporary in the case of Magneto).
* Hans Gruber in ''Film/DieHard'' and William Stuart in ''Film/DieHard2''.
** Gruber is a GentlemanThief from Germany, with him and his crew robbing Nakatomi Plaza while posing as [[DirtyCommunists far-left]] WesternTerrorists in order to deflect police attention from what they're actually up to. While he once was a leftist terrorist himself, he has long since abandoned any political ideals; his motive here is [[OnlyInItForTheMoney purely about getting rich]].
** Stuart is an American ex-Special Forces colonel who launches a genuine terrorist attack at Dulles International Airport, seeking to rescue Ramon Esperanza, the drug lord dictator of a Latin American BananaRepublic. His motive is expressly political and anti-communist, seeing Esperanza as a key ally in the UsefulNotes/ColdWar who the US recklessly removed from power.
* Seen in the ''Film/BlackMask'' duology. The first film's main antagonist, The Commander is a fighter who leads the dreaded 701-Unit on a killing spree, is a highly-capable combatant who gives Black Mask a run for his money and intends to overthrow the government for initiating the SuperSoldier project before pulling the plug. Dr. Moloch, the villain of the sequel, ''City of Masks'', on the other hand is an EvilutionaryBiologist and largely a NonActionBigBad who throws his genetically-enhanced BeastMen at Black Mask, who supports the government so he could continue his experiments unoppposed.
* Eldon Tyrell in ''Film/BladeRunner'' is a short-haired, clean-shaved old man who dresses in white, wears thick glasses, talks in a friendly, grandfatherly tone and treats people and Replicants alike [[AffablyEvil respectfully]], and [[spoiler: is killed in the third act]]. [[Film/BladeRunner2049 Niander Wallace]] is a long-haired, bearded young man who dresses in black, is blind and can only see through camera drones, talks in a [[CreepyMonotone flatly]] [[SoftSpokenSadist sinister]] voice, [[LackOfEmpathy has no empathy for anyone]] and [[spoiler: [[KarmaHoudini survives the movie.]] ]]
** In addition, Wallace is a nigh-emotionless ColdHam human villain who commands a vast corporation and [[NonActionBigBad never fights]], in contrast to Roy Batty, a highly emotional LargeHam replicant villain who leads a tiny band of escaped replicants and personally hunts Deckard in his film's climax. Roy has spiky bleached-blond hair, believes in the value of life (human and replicant), seems visibly torn about the murders he commits, and [[spoiler: saves Deckard's life in the final moments of his own]], while Wallace has shaggy dark brown hair, has no respect for the value of life whatsoever, casually murders humans and replicants alike, and [[spoiler: tries to tempt Deckard to his side with a copy of Rachael, then orders him brought offworld for torture when he won't cooperate.]]
** [[TheDragon Luv]], as the main Replicant antagonist of the movie, also strongly contrasts with Roy. Physically, they're opposites, Roy is a bleached-blond man who usually dresses in black, while Luv is a brunette woman who usually wears white or grey. Roy Batty was very much his own man, even [[spoiler: killing his own creator]], albeit reluctantly, and is shown to have a deep respect for the value of life, gently holding a pigeon in his hand without harming it and famously saving Deckard in the climax. Luv is [[UndyingLoyalty fanatically loyal]] to Wallace and a sadist to boot, who delights in hurting and killing things less powerful than she is, and is obsessed with proving [[{{Pride}} how much superior she is]] to everyone else. Finally, while it's clear that Tyrell sees Roy as his greatest triumph, and assures Roy that no one has lived as fulfilling a life as he [[note]]''"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long — and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy."''[[/note]], Wallace largely sees Luv as little more than an expendable tool, and subjects her to [[ManipulativeBastard emotional abuse]] and condescending praise. [[note]]''"The best angel of all...aren't you, Luv?"''[[/note]]
* A remake rather than a sequel, but compare ''Film/It1990'' to ''Film/It2017'':
** To contrast Creator/TimCurry's famous performance, Creator/BillSkarsgard goes the ColdHam route, rarely raising his voice while remaining utterly creepy. He's also a lot more openly sadistic.
** Tim Curry's Pennywise wore a brightly-coloured outfit, and could ''almost'' pass for someone you'd see at an actual kid's birthday party. Bill Skarsgard's version wears a primarily-white outfit that makes him look more like a ''Renaissance'' clown.
* Gellert Grindlewald is this of the {{Prequel}} variety in ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' to Voldemort from ''Literature/HarryPotter''.
** Grindlewald doesn't care about blood supremacy like Voldemort did, he's a WellIntentionedExtremist who wants wizards to come out of hiding.
** Voldemort was [[DontFearTheReaper so terrified of dying]] that he intentionally created six different [[SoulJar Horcruxes]] to hide segments of his soul. Grindelwald isn't afraid of dying. He actually willingly dies telling Voldemort to shove it (and laughs in his face) when the latter comes calling to his prison cell looking for the Elder Wand.
** Voldemort also is a megalomaniac who thinks he can do no wrong while both Harry and "Dumbledore" (it's not clear if he's literally the ghost of Dumbledore or simply a manifestation of Harry's subconscious) believe that Grindlewald did eventually come to regret what he'd done.
** Grindlewald has a much broader knowledge of magic and more tricks in his arsenal than Voldemort ever did. He mostly just defaulted to the killing curse and comes off as more UnskilledButStrong.
** Voldemort was a BadBoss whose underlings were loyal to him out of fear. Grindlewald treats his followers better and they’re genuinely loyal to him and not just his cause.
** Grindlewald’s FatalFlaw is his HairTriggerTemper whereas Voldemort’s was his {{Pride}}.
** Grindelwald puts up an AffablyEvil act and uses his SilverTongue/charisma to get people to do his bidding at first and then defaults to violence if it doesn't work. Voldemort after young adult years never bothered to be charming and weaseled his way into power using sheer brute force.
** While Grindlewald once loved Dumbledore, Voldemort holds no love for anyone.
* ''Franchise/BillAndTed'':
** The closest thing to an antagonist in ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' is Ted's dad who threatens to send him to military school and arrests the historical figures that the boys need for their history report.
** While ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'' introduces De Nomolos, a terrorist from the future who sends robot duplicates to KillAndReplace the duo and change history.
** In ''Film/BillAndTedFaceTheMusic'' the new leader of the organisation that gave Bill and Ted the time machine in the first place is trying to kill them because she thinks their deaths will bring about utopia. Though she does send another robot assassin after them. Ted's dad is still being a FantasyForbiddingFather but he's in no position to send his adult son to military school.
* Dr Frank N. Further from ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' is an alien scientist whose main goal is to seduce everyone. Due to Creator/TimCurry not wanting to reprise the role, ''Film/ShockTreatment'' replaces him with Farley Flavors, a billionaire who wants to steal the protagonist's wife and turns out to be his [[LongLostRelative long-lost twin brother]].
* The main antagonists of the ''Planet of the Apes'' reboot trilogy contrast each other in many ways:
** In ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', Steven Jacobs of is a cold and corrupt businessman whose only goal in life is to [[OnlyInItForTheMoney make a profit]] off whatever scientific advancements his company [=GenSys=] makes, no matter what the worldwide repercussions are. He also shows absolute disregard towards the well-being of the apes, who he only sees as test subjects with no other value. Rather notably, he never directly interacts with Caesar, the protagonist, until near [[spoiler:the end of his life]]; instead, all of his clashes are with Will Rodman, the film's {{Deuteragonist}} and DecoyProtagonist.
** ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' has Koba, who starts off as one of Caesar's most trusted advisers, but his evil tendencies emerge when the apes and humans attempt to coexist. Serving as a direct {{Foil}} to Caesar, he holds a bitter, long-seated hatred towards humans for his mistreatment at their hands in the past, and clashes with Caesar over their opinions of them. When he temporarily overthrows Caesar and becomes the new ape ruler, Koba proves to be TheCaligula and has no qualms about killing apes as well if it meant satisfying his bloodlust. Also see below under ''Film/BattleForThePlanetOfTheApes'' for General Aldo, of whom Koba is an {{expy}}.
** ''Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes'' has Colonel [=McCullough=] is a Special Forces Colonel who has made it his mission to eradicate the apes and the Simian Flu virus from the face of the Earth and start human civilization anew. He has no qualms about killing human and ape alike, though it is out of a genuine (and possibly misguided) hope to eradicate all traces of the Simian Flu. He is another {{Foil}} to Caesar, but only in the sense of their messianic natures. He also holds a NothingPersonal attitude about his antagonistic actions throughout the course of the film.
* The original ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'' movies have a bit of this, too. Distrust between apes and humans is a pretty big theme of the series, so most of the villains are variations on that.

** Zaius returns in ''Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes'' but is basically a FriendlyEnemy at this point, and he's really just along for the ride. The real villains of that film are [[GeneralRipper General]] Ursus - a warmongering KillerGorilla [[TheBrute brute]] - and Mendez XXVI, a mutated human and the leader of a bomb-worshipping CargoCult. Zaius and Ursus are motivated by a [[HumansAreBastards reasonable]] mistrust of humans and our destructive tendencies, and Mendez represents an embrace of every human trait they fear, together with mistrust of the apes, which is also pretty reasonable: as Zaius and Ursus both show, apes can be jerks too. Notably, the apes' [[SacredScripture Sacred Scroll]] warns of man's tendency to "kill for sport" and willingness to "murder his brother to possess his brother's land", and Ursus invades the mutants' city for [[{{Hypocrite}} that exact reason]]: he thinks their land might be worth something, though presumably he's able to justify it since his targets are humans, [[MoralMyopia whom he does not consider his brothers]].

* The main villain of ''Film/SpecialFemaleForce'', The President, is an [[EvilOldFolks elderly terrorist mastermind]] who commands an elite army of insurgents, and plots to unleash a powerful SyntheticPlague to TakeOverTheWorld; the villain of the sequel is a disgruntled ex-cop dissatisfied with his treatment in the police, who leads a group of untrained hooligans and street punks and only targets his fellow ex-colleagues, with his modus operandi far more subdued.
* The alien villain of ''Film/SpeciesII'' is a male hybrid instead of a female one like in ''Film/{{Species}}''. Also, whereas Sil came across as emotionally immature and scared about being on a planet dominated by humans, Patrick's plan to feed the alien invasion is far more determined and calculating.
* ''Film/TheKarateKid'': The Karate Kid trilogy has Daniel's rivals and their [[EvilMentor evil mentors]] stand out in their unique way.
** The ''Film/TheKarateKid1984'' has Johnny Lawrence bully Daniel out of jealousy, self-gratification, and the fact that his personality was influenced by his sensei, John Kreese, who is mainly an over-the-top DrillSergeantNasty to his students.
** The ''Film/TheKarateKidPartII'' has Chozen Toguchi bully Daniel out of the fact that Daniel is a foreigner, coupled by his twisted sense of honor regarding Mr. Miyagi's history with his family. Speaking of family, Sato Toguchi (Chozen's uncle) is driven by his hatred for Mr. Miyagi being a "coward." Unlike Kreese (and eventually Silver), Sato has a sense of honor in the trilogy that the two Cobra Kai founders lack, [[spoiler:and he ultimately reforms himself]].
** The ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII'' has Mike Barnes bully Daniel out of greed (given that Terry Silver will guarantee him money for beating him in the tournament). Speaking of Silver, he is (later revealed to be) a cocaine-addict who goes over the top to manipulate Daniel into torture out of revenge on behalf of his war buddy's loss.
* ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy'':
** Imhotep in the first movie was an Egyptian priest whose main goal was to reunite with his lover, and he gained immortality and powers through the curse cast upon him as punishment.
** The Scorpion King in the second movie was not a mummy, but a warlord turned into HumanoidAbomination for striking a deal with Anubis to gain victory over his enemies.
** The Dragon Emperor in the third movie was Chinese warlord whose main goal has always been conquest, and he actively sought immortality and learned to control the five elements before he was tricked to receive a curse upon himself.
* ''Film/TheScorpionKing'' series gives different {{Evil Overlord}} flavors:
** Memnon was a MasterSwordsman leading a massive horde that sought to conquer the known world that used [[HotWitch the Sorceress']] visions to predict his enemies' moves and defeat them. Otherwise, he was a completely ordinary and normal (albeit skilled) human. Mathayus is initially hired to kill him, but after his contractor is killed and Memnon murders his brother, he makes [[ItsPersonal it personal]].
** Sargon, on the other hand, is [[MagicKnight both a brutish fighter]] ''[[MagicKnight and]]'' [[MagicKnight a sorcerer]] due to gaining his magical gifts from worshipping [[GreaterScopeVillain Astarte]]. His ambition is greater than just conquer the world but [[GodhoodSeeker to become a god too]], and not only he kills one of Mathayus' brother, he also killed his father too (making it ''extra personal'').
** Talus is an EvilSorcerer that seeks the Book of the Dead to gain dominance over his neighbors. Besides his magical gift, he is a NonActionBigBad who [[spoiler: isn't even killed by the protagonist, but lynched by a mob instead]]. Also unlike the previous two, he [[YouKilledMyFather did not kill any of Mathayus' relatives]] to push him in search of revenge.
** Draven is a [[TheEvilPrince prince]] at first and pretending to be Mathayus' sidekick before being revealed to be EvilAllAlong. Unlike his predecessors, he has no magical skill and is an average fighter who relies more on his {{mooks}}.
** Nebserek is somewhat similar to Sargon (mighty fighter wielding unholy powers given by a evil deity and revered like GodEmperor), but what differs him from all antagonists that precede him is that he is driven by revenge against the titular character for the death of his tribesmen, making him the closest thing to an EvilCounterpart to Mathayus at least in regards to the first two movies.
* The {{mummy}} movies that Universal put out in the '30s and '40s also have this relationship to each other:
** ''Film/TheMummy1932'' features a version of Imhotep very much along the lines of his later portrayal in ''Film/TheMummy1999'': a cunning, articulate EvilSorcerer who very quickly regenerates his original, living body and persues his own agenda of reuniting with his long-lost love.
** This is in contrast to Kharis, the villain of ''Film/TheMummysHand'', a lumbering, mute, bandage-wrapped ImplacableMan who needs the guidance of the priest Andoheb, and is motivated only by a desire to avenge the desecration of a tomb.
** The sequels to ''The Mummy's Hand'' avert this, retaining Kharis as their central mummy, and giving Andoheb a string of {{suspiciously similar substitute}} apprentices taking over his role, most of whom have the bad habit of [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty falling in love with the heroine]].
* Franchise/{{Godzilla}} can be both this ''and'' ContrastingSequelMainCharacter as the character has alternated between hero and villain depending on the movie with [[Film/Godzilla1954 the original Godzilla]] being a TragicMonster, the Godzilla of ''Film/ShinGodzilla''[='=]s mere existence as an radiated creature is a tragedy onto itself and the Godzilla of [[Anime/GodzillaPlanetOfTheMonsters the]] [[Anime/GodzillaCityOnTheEdgeOfBattle anime]] [[Anime/GodzillaThePlanetEater trilogy]] can and will actively destroy anything in his way -- and that's without getting into the Godzillas of the reboot-happy Millennium series.
** See the Multiple Media folder for Franchise/MonsterVerse examples.
* If ''Film/{{Krampus}}'' is to be taken as a SpiritualSequel to ''Film/TrickRTreat'', the contrasts between their respective villains, TheKrampus and Sam, are worth noting. Both are supernatural beings associated with the folklore of their respective holidays - [[UsefulNOtes/AllHallowsEve Halloween]] and [[TwistedChristmas Christmas]] - who punish those who [[TheGrinch don't properly honour]] that holiday, and both show a kind of ambiguous mercy to those who [[ScareEmStraight learn their lesson]], but beyond that, there are some pretty noticeable differences: the Krampus is [[{{Acrofatic}} constantly leaping about despite being very big]], while Sam is a child who moves with the slow stride of an ImplacableMan. At the climax of ''Trick R Treat'', Sam's [[ScaryScarecrows Scary Scarecrow]] mask is [[DramaticUnmask dramatically removed]] to reveal he is [[spoiler: a PumpkinPerson]], but we ''never'' see the Krampus' real face; even his mask is hidden behind the hood of a [[BadSanta shabby Santa Claus outfit]] for most of the movie, though underneath the costume he seems to be a goatlike BeastMan.
* Each entry in ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' films has a villain that contrasts from the previous one in one or more ways.
** The villain of [[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious2001 first film]] is Dominic Toretto, the leader of a carjacking gang. Dom is an AffablyEvil NobleDemon who greatly respects loyalty. Dom could also be considered the {{Deuteragonist}} of the film. Over the course of the following films, Dom becomes less of a villain and more of a hero.
** The sequel ''Film/TwoFastTwoFurious'' has Carter Verone, a ruthless drug kingpin from Miami. Verone has neither Dom's skills as a driver nor any of his redeeming qualities. While Dom hated cops, Verone has no trouble bribing or blackmailing them into his services. He also ends up in prison unlike Dom.
** Takashi aka the Drift King from ''Film/TheFastAndTheFuriousTokyoDrift''. Unlike Verone who was American and wasn't a driver himself, Takashi is Japanese and is a driver. Takashi is also younger and more temperamental than Verone.
** Artuto Braga aka Roman Campos from ''Film/FastAndFurious''. Braga is a drug trafficker who was born in South America and poses as his own second-in-command, Roman Campos. Because of this, the audience doesn't realize he is the main villain until much later in the movie. He has no driving skills and is older than Takashi.
** Hernan Reyes from ''Film/FastFive'' is a Brazilian drug lord [[VillainWithGoodPublicity posing as a legitimate businessman]]. Unlike Braga who only uses other criminals for his dirty work, Reyes also has the entire Rio de Janiro police force in his pocket.
** Owen Shaw from ''Film/FastAndFuriousSix'' is an [[FallenHero ex-Special Air Service]] soldier who leads a [[PsychoRangers team of criminals whose skills mirror that of Dom's friends]]. Shaw is also the first villain in the series who fights Dom in the climax.
** ''Film/FuriousSeven'' has a BigBadDuumvirate with Moses Jakande a Nigerian terrorist and Deckard Shaw the brother of the aforementioned Owen. Jakande is seeking the hacking device known as the God's Eye while Deckard seeks to avenge his brother's defeat in the previous film.
** Cipher is the villain of ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'' and the GreaterScopeVillain for the fourth, sixth and seventh films. She was the one who [[TheCorrupter corrupted Owen Shaw]] which led to him coming into conflict with Dom and his crew. As Braga was working under Shaw, she is also in part responsible for him as well. She hired Moses Jakande and Deckard Shaw to steal the Nightshade device and the God's Eye. As a cyber terrorist, Cipher contrasts the previous villains who are either drug lords, carjackers or thieves.
* ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' and ''Film/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'' had contrasting villains. [[spoiler: Scrappy-Doo]] was kicked out by Mystery Inc. and held the Spooky Island owner hostage. He wanted the souls of the visitors to transform into a monster. [[spoiler: Jonathan Jacobo]] is a MadScientist who faked his death, posed as both a female news reporter and a masked menace and converted costumes into monsters.
* [[spoiler: Sam Bailey]] from ''Film/MysteryRoad'' is this to Johnny from it's sequel, ''Film/{{Goldstone}}''. [[spoiler: Sam]] was a fairly blue-collar rancher, Johnny is a CorruptCorporateExecutive. [[spoiler: Sam]] came across as somewhat AxCrazy, believing that MurderIsTheBestSolution and often committing the murders himself, Johnny prefers to bribe people to leave him alone or delegate his killing to others. [[spoiler: Sam]] controlled sex workers through drugs, Johnny controls them through legal chicanery. [[spoiler: Sam]] had a low-ranking DirtyCop in his organization, while the influential local Mayor is in Johnny's pocket. [[spoiler: Sam]] is an outspoken racist, as are his men, while any racism Johnny displays is more subtle an he's at least willing to employ Aboriginal and Asian henchmen. [[spoiler: Sam]] goes to the final battle with the rest of his gang (albeit lingering in the back), while Johnny is a NonActionGuy who cuts and runs the first chance he gets. [[spoiler: Sam is shot dead, while Johnny escapes town]].

** The Big Bad of ''Film/SawIV'' to ''Film/Saw3D'' is Mark Hoffman, another Jigsaw apprentice who contrasts both John and Amanda. Whereas John and Amanda were considerably average civilians within their society, Hoffman is a DirtyCop. He was never actually loyal to John due to the latter basically forcing him into becoming an apprentice after setting a frame-up for him in his first murder, and is motivated to leave a Jigsaw legacy in which he's the most important figure, kicking John and Amanda away. Hoffman is also much stronger than John and Amanda, and is just as smart as the former.

* ''Franchise/Paddington'': Millicent, from the first film, is a NoNonsenseNemesis with a personal vendetta against Paddington, ends up despising the slap-on-the-wrist punishment she gets. Phoenix, from the second, is camp and flamboyant, has plans that don't involve Paddington until the bear inserts himself into them, and who eagerly accepts his prison sentence.

[[quoteright:1000:[[Film/CaptainAmerica https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/collage_maker_04_oct_2023_05_16_pm_1194_8.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:From a [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Nazi scientist]] to a [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier shadowy politician]].]]

** Boris "the Animal" was a cold-blooded assassin and a member of the Boglodites, a race of parasitic aliens who sustained themselves by siphoning the natural resources of whichever planet was in their path. While "Edgar" was wanted to feed his brethren and Serleena desired to conquer the galaxy, Boris sought revenge against K for shooting off his left arm and deploying the Arcnet forcefield that prevented his species from feeding off Earth and making them starve to extinction before they could reach the next planet. Unlike Edgar and Serleena, Boris needed to do little to disguise himself as a human, albeit a brutish and unkempt-looking one with spots of his true form showing through. In terms of fighting style, Boris was a combination of Edgar's brawler and Serleena's long range attacker due to being both immensely strong and a deadly shot with the spikes he was able to project from his palm via his pet called "Weasel". Though he is an evil alien who has history with Agent K, it turns out he affected both the protagonists since he was the one who [[spoiler: spitefully murdered J's father when K successfully deployed the Arcnet, and not killing Boris over that is what K considered [[MyGreatestFailure the worst mistake he ever made]].]]

** [[spoiler:Ransom Drysdale]] in ''Film/KnivesOut'' is a [[spoiler:grandson]] of a millionaire detective novelist, born into privileged, who reacts to a perspective of being written out of the will and losing said lifestyle by condoning an extremely clever scheme to murder the man and frame someone else for it. Said scheme goes largely undetected and once it risks being unraveled, [[spoiler: Ransom]] engages in XanatosSpeedChess to get it back on track, proving to have a truly devious mind. Once defeat, [[spoiler: Ransom]] attempts one last desperate act to take the one who uncovered the intrigue down [[spoiler:that fails due to his own ignorance about knives]], but seems impressed by clever thinking of person who foiled him.
** [[spoiler:Miles Bron]] in ''Film/GlassOnion'' gained huge fame and fortune by ridding someone else's coattails and [[spoiler:stealing the credit for their accomplishments]]. When presented with a perspective of losing it all, [[spoiler:he]] commits a murder so incredibly poorly thought out that it begins to fall apart near immediately and [[spoiler:his]] attempts at covering it up are so ill-conceived and blunt they almost fly under Benoit Blanc's radar because he cannot believe the killer could be ''this'' dumb. When the whole thing is revealed [[spoiler:Miles]] successfully destroys crucial evidence, only to be undone in a different way and suffers a VillainousBreakdown.