History Main / CriminalCravesLegitimacy

* ''Franchise/SaintsRow'':

Contrast with VisionaryVillain, whose endgame is normally far grander. Compare with PunchClockVillain, since they're just a normal character trying to make some money. The inverse is JustAGangster. See also TragicVillain (which may overlap in some cases).

* In "Today We Choose Faces" by Creator/RogerZelazny, the opening premise is that the Mafia has done precisely that and is now a publicly traded company on Wall Street. The reason that the protagonist has been revived is that they need somebody from the old days to handle a job that legitimate businessmen would have no talent for and he was the only mob boss to have himself cryogenically frozen and thus be available.

* In "Today We Choose Faces" by Roger Zelazny the opening premise is that the Mafia has done precisely that and is now a publicly traded company on Wall Street. The reason that the protagonist has been revived is that they need somebody from the old days to handle A job that legitimate businessmen would have no talent for and he was the only mob boss to have himself cyrogenically frozen and thus be available.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Jinx of the Fearsome Five starts out as a villain. In the episode that sows the seeds for her HeelFaceTurn, she admits that she is quite ambitious and one of the reasons she became a villain was because she wanted to be on the same level as her idol Madame Rouge. A combination of Rouge becoming a BrokenPedestal for her and her teammates' laziness and stupidity ultimately results in Jinx joining the heroes.

** In another episode, [[GreenThumb Poison Ivy]] seems to have turned over a new leaf (forgive the IncrediblyLamePun) and, in Batman's own words, doesn't do anything more incriminating than forget to return a rented video on time. Ivy actually ''does'' want to have a crime-free life, but her plant-based biology has left her infertile, so she instead attempts to generate plant-based lifeforms to be her "family," which Batman can't abide.

*** An earlier episode garners Penguin some [[SympathyForTheDevil genuine sympathy.]] A [[RichBitch catty society woman]], egged on by her friends, decides to play a nasty trick on Penguin by pretending to be interested in him romantically. He's stunned by her affections (at this point, he was a serious {{Gonk}}) and tries to clean up his act to impress her, even bravely defending her from thugs. The woman eventually has second thoughts, but when her friends reveal the whole thing was a ruse, Penguin is legitimately heartbroken and decides to [[ThenLetMeBeEvil be just as evil as they thought he was.]]

** This trope is used for a TwistEnding in "Judgment Day," a ''New Adventures'' episode. A mysterious new villain known only as "The Judge" appears in Gotham and starts doling out [[VigilanteMan vigilante justice]] to super-criminals. One of his targets is [[LiteralSplitPersonality Two-Face]], prompting Batman to an attempt an EnemyMine situation, which the former D.A. rejects. The end, though, reveals that the Judge actually ''was'' Two-Face--or, more specifically, a third personality that wanted Harvey Dent to return to his legal roots and dole out punishments again. The dissociative split was so great that Two-Face himself had no idea that he was the Judge.

** In "Harley's Holiday," [[VillainousHarlequin Harley Quinn]] passes her competency hearing at Arkham Asylum and is slated for release. She tries her absolute best to keep from causing trouble, but a series of mishaps in a department store lead to a downward spiral. She's ultimately returned to Arkham by the episode's end, although both Batman and the doctors there believe that with a little extra time and care, she'd be OK again in the future.

** One episode sees [[CriminalMindGames The Riddler]] apparently going straight and using his genius intellect to design puzzles and games to earn a fortune honestly. Unlike most examples on this list, it's [[SubvertedTrope subverted]], as Riddler isn't ''really'' interested in his work--he's just pretending to gain public favor and continues his crime sprees, deliberately taunting the Dark Knight with clues to his latest robberies in his sales pitches.

*** An earlier episode garners Penguin some [[SympathyForTheDevil genuine sympathy.]] A [[RichBitch catty society woman]] and her friends decide to play a nasty trick on Penguin by pretending to be interested in him romantically. He's stunned by her affections (at this point, he was a serious {{Gonk}}) and decides to genuinely try to clean up his act to impress her, even bravely defending her from thugs. The woman eventually has second thoughts, but when her friends reveal the whole thing was a ruse, Penguin is legitimately heartbroken and decides to [[ThenLetMeBeEvil be just as evil as they thought he was.]]

Contrast with VisionaryVillain, whose endgame is normally far grander. Compare with PunchClockVillain, since they're just a normal character trying to make some money.

Some villains want to watch the world burn. Some want to become TheCity's biggest crimelord. Others, however, would much rather work the 9-5 as the mayor or quite simply [[RetiredMonster spend the rest of their lives]] on a tropical beach drinking cocktails with little umbrellas.

The villain knows crime doesn't pay and that good will always triumph in the end; as a result, their plan involves propelling themselves into civilized society, or simply casting their troubles aside to retire early and count their money.

Sounds like a noble idea to not be evil anymore. This evil enterprise however will normally involve the death and suffering of others. Requiring the hero to step in and stop them.

* ''Film/DieHard'': Hans's plan is fairly simple: make everyone think they are terrorists, steal 600 million dollars, fake their deaths, and then sit on a beach and earn 20% off their stolen (and believed destroyed) loot.

* ''Film/TheLongGoodFriday'': Cockney crime boss Harold Shand has been able to bankroll the transformation of the derelict London dockyards into a possible venue for a future Olympic Games. Which will allow him to leave the world of crime for good.

* In "Today We Choose Faces" by Roger Zelazny the opening premise is that the Mafia has done precisely that and is now a publicly traded company on Wall Street. The reason that the protagonist has been revived is that they need somebody from the old days to handle A job that leg I mate businessmen would have no talent for and he was the only mob boss to have himself cyrogenically frozen and thus be available.

* In ''Literature/TheGodfather'', Michael Corleone plans to move his family to Nevada and go straight.

Some villains want to watch the world burn. Some want to become TheCity's biggest crimelord. Others, however, would much rather work the 9-5 as the mayor or quite simply [[RetiredCompleteMonster spend the rest of their lives]] on a tropical beach drinking cocktails with little umbrellas.

* ''Film/DieHard'': Hans's plan is fairly simple: make everyone think they are terrorists, steal 600 million dollars, fake their deaths and then sit on a beach and earn 20% off their stolen (and believed destroyed) loot.

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* ''Film/TheGodfather'': The reason why Michael went to College. Don Corleone wanted his son to be a senator or a governor. Michael's end goal is to move the business into the more legitimate territory and leave the world of crime behind.

* ''Film/DieHard'': Hans's plan is fairly simple: make everyone think they are terrorists, fake their deaths and then sit on a beach and earn 20%.

--> Kay, my father's way of doing things is over, it's finished. Even he knows that. I mean in five years, the Corleone Family is going to be completely legitimate. Trust me. That's all I can tell you about my business.

-->-- '''Michael''',''Film/TheGodfather''

Contrast with VisionaryVillain whose endgame is normally far grander. Compare with PunchClockVillain, since a punch clock villain is just a minion trying to make some money.

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** In season 2, Frank Sobotka is the head of the local stevedore union, and uses money he obtains by helping a smuggler known only as [[TheDon The Greek]] move cargo ranging from, among other things, fund lobbying efforts to restore the port and bring in more legitimate business. [[spoiler: He ends up being killed by the Greek]].