History PunchClockVillain / LiveActionFilms

*** [[BeleagueredBureaucrat Grand Moff Jerjerrod]] has his hands full in getting the Second Death Star's weapon operational in time before not just Vader, but even the [[FromBadToWorse Emperor]] will lose their patience. This is taken up to eleven in deleted scenes where Palpatine orders him to shoot the Endor moon if the rebels manages to destroy the shield generator. Jerjerrod protests, as there are several Imperials stationed there, but reluctantly complies when ordered further. When the shield goes down, he's very hesistant in ordering the station to target the moon.

* ''Film/FastAndFurious'': Gisele may be a [[{{Mook}} henchwoman]] to [[BigBad Arturo Braga]], but she's JustFollowingOrders and does not aprrove of her boss's malicious intentions. She even does a HeelFaceTurn after Dom saved her life and joined his crew in the [[Film/FastFive sequ]][[Film/FastAndFuriousSix els]].

-->'''Wade Wilson:''' You only ''work'' for that shit-spackled muppet fart! So, I'mma give you a chance for y'all to lay down your firearms...''

* ''Film/{{Paul}}'' has the [[ThoseTwoGuys ineffective and affable]] [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]] Haggard and O'Reilly, who're chasing the main characters because they were told to and have no idea that they're after an alien refugee. [[spoiler:Deconstructed once they ''do'' find out, because they figure that they can get a promotion and start getting a lot more ruthless and determined, if not more effective. Especially Haggard, who goes from a friendly nerd to [[KickTheSonOfABitch shooting Ruth's father]]]].

* In ''Film/TheIsland'' (2005), the mercenary who pursued the heroes throughout the movie helps them the moment his job is technically finished.

* A {{discussed trope}} in ''Film/{{Clerks}}'', Dante and Randal debate the ethics of the Rebels blowing up the Death Star in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', given that many of the workers building it were probably independent contractors with no particular allegiance to the Empire. The current customer overhears and just happens to be a contractor himself. He shares a story about how he turned down a job for a mafia boss despite the lucrative paycheck. His buddy took the job instead and ended up getting hit by a stray bullet and dying during a drive-by attack on the mobster's house. The moral being that even a ''punch-clock'' villain has to accept the risks and moral cost of the job, and anyone who willingly took a job on the Death Star has themselves to blame.

* ''Film/{{Paul}}'' has the [[ThoseTwoGuys ineffective and affable]] [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]] Haggard and O'Reilly, who're chasing the main characters because they were told to and have no idea that they're after an alien refugee. [[spoiler:Deconstructed once they ''do'' find out, because they figure that they can get a promotion and start getting a lot more ruthless and determined, if not more effective. Especially Haggard, who goes from a friendly {{Nerd}} to [[KickTheSonOfABitch shooting Ruth's father]]]].

* ''Film/{{Freejack}}'': Vacendak ([[Music/TheRollingStones Mick Jagger]]), the bounty hunter pursuing Alex Furlong, actually helps out Furlong once he's no longer being paid to capture him.

*** [[BeleagueredBureaucrat Grand Moff Jerjerrod]] has his hands full in getting the Second Death Star's weapon operational in time before not just Vader, but even the [[FromBadToWorse Emperor]] will lose their patience. This is taken UpToEleven in deleted scenes where Palpatine orders him to shoot the Endor moon if the rebels manages to destroy the shield generator. Jerjerrod protests, as there are several Imperials stationed there, but reluctantly complies when ordered further. When the shield goes down, he's very hesistant in ordering the station to target the moon.

--> '''Experienced Baldwin-Felts man''': "Opportunity for red-blooded American men. Immediate openings, high pay, travel, chance for advancement. Apply Baldwin-Felts and write your own ticket." When the natives get restless someplace, they put that out. Hook some more CannonFodder.* ''Film/TheMexican'' has a cute one: Creator/JamesGandolfini playing Winston Baldry abducts Creator/JuliaRoberts because "it's my job", then the two of them start a girly friend relationship (turns out this punch clock villain is also gay).

* ''Film/TheMexican'' has a cute one: Creator/JamesGandolfini playing Winston Baldry abducts Creator/JuliaRoberts because "it's my job", then the two of them start a girly friend relationship (turns out this punch clock villain is also gay).

* This is understood to be how America expects ''Film/ThePurge'' will go, with the country taking time to be muderers and rapists for 12 hours before things go back to normal. The films' plots are understandably critical of the idea.

* ''Film/SinCity'': Josh Hartnett's version of The Salesman is a ProfessionalKiller who chats up his victims before killing them. In the brief span we see him, he doesn't harbor any ill will towards his targets or derive pleasure from their deaths. After he kills the woman in red, he holds her in his arms, then casually notes that he'll cash her check the next morning.

* In ''Film/TheCabinInTheWoods'', all the people working at the facility. An example of the darker side of this trope, as the fact that it's just a job means they set up a betting pool, pride themselves on good work, and have a party once it's over. They don't do it out of malice, but they don't care or regret it either.

* ''Film/FastAndFurious'': Gisele may be a [[{{Mook}} henchwoman]] to [[BigBad Arturo Braga]], but she's JustFollowingOrders and does not aprrove of her boss's malicious intentions. She even does a HeelFaceTurn after Dom saved her life and joined his crew in the [[Film/FastFive sequ]][[Film/FastSix els]].

* In ''Film/RogerAndMe'', Deputy Fred Ross has the duty of evicting people who can't pay their rent, no matter how distasteful it is.

* ''Film/{{Rocky}}'': Our hero starts off the film as a part-time goon for loan sharks to supplement his floundering boxing career. He's a nice guy and doesn't like the work, and his big shot at the title allows him to put those days behind him.

* ''Film/TheMexican'' has a cute one: James Gandolfini playing Winston Baldry abducts Creator/JuliaRoberts because "it's my job", then the two of them start a girly friend relationship (turns out this punch clock villain is also gay).

%%* Sharon Stone's character in the original ''Film/TotalRecall1990''. She said it best, "I just work here".
%%* ''Film/WildWind'' has demoralised mooks working for the evil German commander.