History Main / EvilIsCool

** ''{{Batman}}'' in general is a magnet for this. When your main character is a traumatized billionaire dressed as a bat and you have villains drawing your attention far away from ''that'', it really says something.

* Arguably ''the point'' of mob films like ''TheGodfather'', ''{{Scarface}}'' and ''GoodFellas''.

* The Principality of Zeon in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. They have the fancy uniforms and scary CyberCyclops, and gained huge legions of fans in Japan and everywhere. [[{{Gundam 00}} Ali al-Saachez]] is ''incredibly'' popular with the fans. Why? Well, for the girls, there's his [[EvilIsSexy rugged]] [[FetishFuel good looks]], and for the guys? Put simply, Ali is horribly evil...and he's [[BadAss made]] [[LaughablyEvil of]] [[BadAssNormal awesome.]]

** Tommy Vercetti from ''GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' is a perfect example. He's a BadAss, BadAssInANiceSuit, and a BloodKnight mobster.
** CJ and the Grove Street Families from ''GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' as well.
** And Johnny Klebitz from ''GrandTheftAutoIV''.

* [[{{Badass}} Tai Lung]] of ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', all the way. He's also one of the most [[WellDoneSonGuy sympathetic]] characters in the film.
** And [[FeatheredFiend Lord Shen]] from the sequel, as well.
** Their [[Creator/IanMcshane respective]] [[GaryOldman voice actors]] have a lot to do with it.

* SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker from ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' is both incredibly evil and [[MisaimedFandom highly admired by audiences]]. His [[MagnificentBastard skill in committing crimes]], his [[DeadpanSnarker witty commentary on a variety of subjects]], his [[GenreSavvy clever assessments of how people are going to react]], his [[CrossesTheLineTwice darkly]] [[LaughablyEvil comedic]] approach, his [[TheHyena willingness to laugh at everything]], including [[TooKinkyToTorture being beaten up by vigilantes]] (who he [[StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred would rather see kill him if it means proving that the potential for brutality is within them]]), and his overall [[CrazyAwesome highly unconventional approach to villainy]] probably [[CaptainObvious has something to do with this]].

** Really, any villain played or voiced by Tim Curry will [[EvilIsCool shine so much]] that it can be almost dangerous in how awesome they turn out. Screw the protagonists, let's throw them in a death trap so we can hear the bad guy do that evil laugh again!

* The (extremely fangirled) WhiteHairedAndBlackHearted Pollution in Creator/TerryPratchett and NeilGaiman's book ''Literature/GoodOmens'' is VERY MUCH EvilIsCool. And [[EvilIsSexy hot]].

** Often subverted in the lyrical content, however. A lot of black metal is individualistic in the NietzscheWannabe tradition, while death metal tends towards either nihilism or more traditional "punk ethics". In these cases, the EvilIsCool aesthetics are intended to be provocative and anti-social, rather than to be taken at face value. It's much less a rejoicing in actual evil as it is simply an embracing of this trope at an aesthetic level. Lyricists are aware that people, and they themselves, find villains, darkness, and horror to be interesting. As bands like CannibalCorpse have said, very few extreme metal bands take their own lyrics seriously, and those who do are usually rather unstable. As Black Sabbath also stated, they're intended to be viewed much in the same light as horror films. A lot of bands simply use their music as a VillainBasedFranchise.

** [[DarkActionGirl Shego]] lives for this Trope. For starters, her backstory reveals that she started as a hero but turned villain since {{evil is cool}}er. And then she does, in fact, become the coolest person in the show.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars''
** Darth Vader.
** There are only two things in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' that are, without debate, universally considered awesome: [[AwesomeMusic/JohnWilliams Duel of the Fates]] New World Symphony and Darth Maul. Both of which occur at the same time.
** Emperor Palpatine's spectacular combination of [[LargeHam hammery]], {{badass}}ery, and MagnificentBastard-ry in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
** [[CoolStarship Star Destroyers, Super Star Destroyers, TIE Defenders, and the fucking Death Star.]]
** [[BountyHunter Boba Fett]]
** Also, Grand Moff Tarkin. There's only two people in the universe that can order Darth Vader around--the Emperor and Grand Moff Tarkin. And Tarkin's not even a Jedi nor a Sith of any kind.
* Frank from ''OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' fits very well to the trope. Its combination of BadAss, ProfessionalKiller, DeadpanSnarker and his suit practically makes him a cool villain.
* Arguably ''the point'' of mob films like ''TheGodfather'', ''{{Scarface}}'' and ''GoodFellas''.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'' has an obvious example of this trope: Agent Smith. HugoWeaving in general apparently loves playing awesome bad guys. Take a look at ''Film/{{V|ForVendetta}}'' and [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Red Skull]] Even more so, Megatron (see below).
* [[Film/TheCabinetOfDrCaligari Cesare]]. There's a reason that so many other characters - usually nicer ones - [[LooksLikeCesare look like him]].
* Almost every Disney villain imaginable turns out to be cooler and much more lovable and funny than the protagonist. Having really awesome [[VillainSong Villain Songs]] probably helps.

** Scar from ''Disney/TheLionKing''. He's a regicidal, fratricidal bastard, and yet none of us can shake off just how much we love Jeremy Irons. Aside from that, [[MagnificentBastard he has to be among the Disney villain whose plans reach fruition the fastest (halfway through).]] For most villains, even in general, they have to wait till the third act to get their dark rewards. He keeps them longest, too, leaving aside folks like Maleficent, who wasn't looking to ''gain'' anything as such. Plus, he has one of the best {{Villain Song}}s ever.
** And, if you consider them truly evil, the hyena trio definitely fits this trope.

** And what about [[Disney/SleepingBeauty Maleficent?]] Probably the most obvious Disney Villain example! Why because she can summon lightning and a valley of thorns when angry, yet is subtle enough to hypnotize Aurora into touching a spindle of her own creation, [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy captures the prince before he can save the girl]] and oh [[OneWingedAngel can turn into a dragon that causes everyone to go "Oh Crap"]].

** Clu from ''Film/TronLegacy''. He has [[CoolShip really]] [[CoolPlane nice]] [[CoolBike vehicles]], some [[CoolHelmet great headgear]], pretty badass EliteMooks, and a [[TheFaceless faceless]] DualWielding [[TheDragon dragon]] [[spoiler:that happens to be a BrainwashedAndCrazy Tron, and not just a random grunt]]. All covered in orange or red TronLines.
*** Clu's aforementioned [[TheDragon Dragon]], Rinzler. He has a cool outfit and mad fighting skills, [[spoiler: and his being Tron himself not only makes him cooler, but also makes his HeelFaceTurn and subsequent HeroicSacrifice that much more poignant]].

** Why hasn't the {{Badass}} [[Disney/TheJungleBook Shere Khan]] been mentioned yet?
* "Disney/TheBlackCauldron" may have not been a smash hit, but the [[HornedHumanoid Horned King]] is by far the most redeemable part of the movie, being subtle, yet terrifying and can get scarier when excited.

** ''Film/{{Legend}}'' thrives on this. People may complain that Tom Cruise isn't wearing pants and there's glitter on everything, but those horrifically cheesy lines the Lord of Darkness provides? Priceless.

* Hans Landa from ''Film/InglouriousBasterds''.

* Sharptooth from ''The Land Before Time''. Despite killing Littlefoot's mother, there is no doubt he is this, and probably the coolest Tyranosaurus ever to appear in an animated film.

* Who was your favorite character from ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}''? If you responded anything but [[OurGargoylesRock Chernabog]], the towering demon on the mountain from the end of the movie, your pants are now on fire.

* In ''{{Rango}}'', this is pretty much the reason behind Rattlesnake Jake's popularity. The RuleOfCool runs very high for him; he's a black hat rattlesnake western outlaw modeled after [[TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly Angel Eyes]], he weaves words of hellfire and damnation into his speech (which is provided by Bill Nighy), and has a [[GatlingGood Gatling gun]] grafted onto [[BewareMyStingerTail his tail]]. He's CreepyAwesome and CrazyAwesome all rolled into one!

[[OverlyLongGag Ooh, look,]] ''[[BrickJoke toys]]!''

* Generally, this is the point of Eric Cartman from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', especially as The Coon from the "Coon & Friends" trilogy.

** Additionally, there's [[MagikarpPower Gyarados]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Salamence]], [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks Garchomp]], and [[SpiderTank Metagross]]. While not Dark-types, they're just as savage and deadly as Hydreigon.

* All of the major ''Manga/DragonBall'' villains fall into this with Freeza and Cell being the kings of it. In universe example: Vegeta [[spoiler: makes a FaceHeelTurn to get his badassery back.]]

** The villains always have cooler ''names''. The Autobots have "Optimus Prime", "Bumblebee", "Ironhide", "Ultra Magnus", "Trailbreaker", "Cliffjumper", "Bulkhead" and "Blurr", but how do they compare with Decepticons "Megatron", "Starscream", "Devastator", "Demolishor", "Frenzy", "Bonecrusher", "Barricade", "Blitzwing", "Shockwave", "Skullcruncher", and..."The Fallen"?

* ''Film/TheMatrix'' has an obvious example of this trope: Agent Smith. HugoWeaving in general apparently loves playing awesome bad guys. Take a look at ''{{V|ForVendetta}}'' and [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Red Skull]] Even more so, Megatron (see below).

* Umm...''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'', anyone?

** While the men of Gondor are [[GoodIsBoring just a bunch of unshaven men wearing plate mail]], Sauron has not just his orcs and trolls, but the soldiers of Rhûn, spearmen with remotely creative looking armor and warchants that sound like the Haka, and the Haradim, who ride mumakil, which are essentially the ninety foot tall war elephants that Hannibal had wet dreams about. Their impact onto the frontlines of a charge from the Riders of Rohan (which had routed an orc army of dramatically superior size) was a moment where even the orchestra abandoned the forces of order as the Haradim rampaged through the helpless Riders until driven off by the StrongAsTheyNeedToBe protagonists.

** For a giant eyeball, Sauron is quite cool-looking himself. And then there's the Nazgul.
** Even though he was a minor bad guy, the Uruk-Hai captain that popped up at the end of the first flick was also cool. He's one of the few characters that gets to smack Aragorn around a little, does a really cool CaptainAmerica-like shield throw, and has the audacity to shove Aragorn's sword into his gut the rest of the way [[FaceDeathWithDignity with utter contempt and defiance]].

* Creator/StephenKing reportedly hates this idea, and his later works try to send the message that "evil is pathetic". This is probably why the villains from his ''TheDarkTower'' series suffered ''severe'' VillainDecay in the last book.

* Of all games, {{Robopon}} has this with the BigBad, Dr. Zero. [[http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/robopon-gba/art-char-01.jpg Just look at him]].

Why is all that true? Why does the bad guy get all the cool stuff? The more interesting the bad guy, the more interesting the story. It really is that simple. You don't have a story unless you have conflict. The bad guy in most cases ''is'' the conflict: TheVillainMakesThePlot.

Compare GoodIsBoring. Contrast ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil and BeingEvilSucks. See also BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil. Ignore GoodFeelsGood, those [[HeelFaceTurn traitors]] don't know what they're talking about. And those ''[[RuleOfThree wonderful]]''... Ahhh, forget it. The reason LoveToHate exists. DarkIsNotEvil, {{Noble Demon}}s, and some {{Anti Hero}}es (especially {{Nineties Anti Hero}}es) harness the coolness of evil without the actual ''evil''.

** [[SociopathicSoldier Solf J. Kimblee]]: MadBomber meets HannibalLecture and ThePhilosopher, all wrapped up in the height of [[BadassInANiceSuit 1920s fashion]]. And that's without mentioning his [[EvilIsSexy appearance]], NiceHat, {{Badass}}ery, and [[MomentOfAwesome epic sendoff]].

* [[Film/DieHard Hans Gruber.]] That is all.
** His brother Simon also qualifies.
** Don't forget Alan Rickman's other villainous turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, cancelling Christmas in ''Robin Hood Prince of Thieves''.

* Defied in the TortallUniverse. Kel is disappointed that [[EvilGenius Blayce]] is ''not'' some grand wizard, and instead, just a short and ugly wimp. [[TheBrute His muscle]] isn't too impressive either.

* [[BigBad Amon]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' is already getting this rep. He's voiced by SteveBlum and therefore has a [[EvilSoundsDeep deep voice]] that he uses in frightening threats, a cool and scary mask, doesn't even flinch when fire blasts into the room he and his mooks are in (incapacitating them) and [[spoiler:can resist the assault of a powerful rogue bloodbender, something only an equally powerful waterbender has been shown to do]]. Finally, he absolutely terrifies Korra. A guy who claims to be a [[BadassNormal normal non-bender]] manages to terrify the most powerful bender in the world. And just as she's starting to get her confidence back, he ambushes her and delivers a HannibalLecture so effective that [[HeroicBSOD she breaks down into tears afterwards.]]
** Amon has achieved true MagnificentBastard status in record time. It took only six episodes to achieve it and he's only had a major part in THREE!
** His {{Mook}}s, the chi-blockers, also count, as not only do they look cool, but are also some of the competent and dangerous mooks ever put into WesternAnimation. They're like an entire army of EliteMooks. Two of them can put up a strong fight against two very powerful benders.

* Frank from ''OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' fits very well to the trope. Its combination of BadAss, DeadpanSnarker and his suit practically makes him a cool villain.

** EricBAndRakim, more especially on the song "Know The Ledge".

* This is the point in GangstaRap rappers like EazyE, NotoriousBIG, IceT and {{NWA}}

* This is the point in GangstaRap rappers like EazyE, IceT and {{NWA}}.

** CJ and the Grove Street Families as well.
** Also, Johnny Klebitz from ''GrandTheftAutoIVLostAndDanmed''.

* Jean Descole from the Franchise/ProfessorLayton series was most likely created with this trope in mind. He is a MalevolentMaskedMan who combines [[NiceHat almost]] [[BadassInANiceSuit all]] [[CoolMask the]] [[PrettyInMink over the top]] [[BadassCape clothing]] tropes and actually ''pulls it off'', and is the EvilCounterpart of Professor Layton, since he's a BadassBookworm who wishes nothing more than to unlock the mysteries of the world. And his coolness goes UpToEleven in the movie ''Anime/ProfessorLaytonAndTheEternalDiva''.
* Used quite a bit the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series. Dante's enemies (primarily his EvilCounterpart, his brother Vergil) are pretty darn cool, but Dante still generally mops the floor with them with style.