Let’s be real—sometimes the so-called “villain” is the most interesting aspect of the story. They’re the ones keeping us reading, binge-watching, or scrolling through fan theory rabbit holes at 2 a.m. Misunderstood villains can push us to look beyond our assumptions of right and wrong and find that morality is seldom black and white. Whether tragic, magnetic, or simply incredibly complicated, these characters show that there’s always more to the story than the label that’s been assigned to them. Here’s our list of ten villains not as evil as you might think.
10. Javert (Les Misérables)
Inspector Javert devotes his life to pursuing Jean Valjean, but he is not motivated by cruelty—only relentless faith in the law. His shortcoming is an inability to perceive that justice sans compassion is no justice. Ultimately, it is not evil that brings him down, but the devastating epiphany that his world cannot endure the truth.
9. Anastasia Tremaine (Cinderella Sequels)
Too often grouped with her cruel sister and stepmother, Anastasia is as much a victim of circumstances as she is an outright villain. Fear and pressures from home keep her an active participant in their actions. Subsequent films offer her redemption, indicating she was never beyond being redeemed—simply never given the chance to stand on her own.
8. Harley Quinn (DC Universe)
Harley’s fall into villainy isn’t about destroying for entertainment purposes—it’s the heartbreaking result of a lifetime of abuse. The Joker’s manipulation warps her perception of love and loyalty, corrupting her into a pattern of toxic behavior. Her journey is actually about rediscovering herself and gaining agency, not about wreaking havoc.
7. Mother Gothel (Tangled)
Mother Gothel appears to be a shallow kidnapper who’s holding onto her youth. What lies beneath, however, is a fundamentally insecure woman scared of getting older and losing the little authority she’s got. It doesn’t justify what she does, but it makes her less of a cackling witch and more a person dominated by fear of change.
6. Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter)
Draco is introduced to the series as a snide bully, but he’s a kid shaped by an unhealthy environment. He was taught to believe in blood purity and class, and is a product of a system that educates hate. When the time comes to perform actual evil, he vacillates—indicating that cruelty is not always born, but learned.
5. Loki (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Loki’s mischief often overshadows his real motivation: a deep need for recognition and belonging. Growing up in Thor’s shadow, he turns to scheming not purely for destruction, but to prove his worth and competence. Many of his most “villainous” acts come from frustration with the leadership of Asgard, not a thirst for chaos.
4. Roy Batty (Blade Runner)
Roy begins as the villainous replicant antagonist, but his battle is one of survival. Ultimately, he is motivated by the simple, human desire to survive. His last moments—displaying mercy rather than revenge—show a character who holds life and beauty more dear than those who seek to kill him.
3. Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
For the majority of the series, Snape is the caustic, bullying professor whom we adore to detest. But reality reveals a man tormented by loss, laboring in the shadows to safeguard the very child he appears to disdain. His existence is a lesson in the complicated intersection of love, regret, and redemption.
2. The Villain Who Gets the Girl (Multiple Romantasy Novels)
From Shatter Me to Hooked, romance readers adore the morally gray love interest—the villain whose devotion burns as fiercely as his ambition. These characters challenge the idea that only “heroes” deserve love, flipping the script so the so-called bad guy is the one we’re rooting for.
1. The Villain Who Was the Hero All Along
Sometimes the greatest twist isn’t that the hero becomes evil—but that the “villain” was a good guy all along. These tales uncover rotten systems, imperfect heroes, and a self-proclaimed “villain” who’s the only one brave enough to make tough decisions in order to repair a broken society. When done well, it’s a tasty twist that leaves us doubting everything we believed about the world.
In literature, villains need not be merely obstacles for the hero to defeat—they can be mirrors, warning signs, or even the moral anchor of the story. And sometimes, hero and villain are simply a matter of perspective.