Top 10 Times Smug Movie Characters Got What They Deserved
#10: James Franco
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“This Is the End” (2013) One thing can be said about this movie’s cast - they weren’t afraid to make themselves look really unlikable. “This Is the End” is a scathing satire of the entertainment industry, painting many celebrities as vain, entitled, and utterly selfish people. And none are as smug as the fictionalized James Franco. In fact, his pompous attitude directly results in his death. Franco is actually raptured after a display of selflessness, but he ruins it by crudely mocking Danny McBride on the way up. He then swiftly falls back to Earth, where he is promptly consumed. Some of the characters ultimately learn their lesson. James Franco certainly does not.
#9: Scut Farkus
“A Christmas Story” (1983) No one likes a tyrant, and “A Christmas Story” has a bad one. The movie follows young Ralphie Parker throughout the 1940 holiday season. Like many kids, he’s excited about that one great present. But he’s also forced to deal with a nasty piece of work in Scut Farkus. Even the name is horrible! Scut mistreats Ralphie and his friends, often scaring them with his “yellow eyes” and putting them in painful positions until they beg “uncle”. But he finally gets his after throwing a snowball at Ralphie. The frustrated kid’s had enough, and attacks his enemy with a flurry of punches and insults. While we don’t condone violence, it’s nice to see our protagonist standing up for himself to teach Farkus a lesson.
#8: The Riddler
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“Batman Forever” (1995) Casting Jim Carrey as the Riddler was a stroke of genius. He’s a very lively character, and Carrey’s unique brand of energy is a perfect fit. The Riddler is incredibly self-satisfied throughout “Batman Forever.” We all know the type - those who think they’re smarter than everyone around them and aren’t afraid to boast about it. This smugness is practically ingrained in the character, as evidenced by the way he maliciously taunts the hero with elaborate puzzles. It doesn’t help that the Riddler is actually a formidable foe, figuring out Bruce’s identity and successfully destroying the Batcave. Still, Batman gets the last laugh, wrecking the brainwave collector that was crucial to the Riddler’s plan, while the villain ends up at Arkham Asylum.
#7: Fred O'Bannion
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“Dazed and Confused” (1993) We return to the theme of school tormentors with Fred O'Bannion, a senior who loves mistreating freshmen. Ben Affleck does a great job playing the character, and certainly has the imposing presence needed for the part. Thanks to his convincing portrayal, we understand that — unlike most of the other seniors — O’Bannion doesn’t see the initiation-style rituals as a source of “fun”. No, he genuinely hates the younger students, going to horrid extremes in making their lives miserable. Of course, this makes his very messy comeuppance all the sweeter. Sick of O'Bannion’s arrogance and behavior, Mitch and his pals scheme to cover him in white paint. It works perfectly, and the antagonist can do nothing but throw a hissy fit and storm away in his car.
#6: Clark
“Good Will Hunting” (1997) Clark plays a minor but iconic part in the story of “Good Will Hunting.” A pretentious Harvard student with bad hair, he’s the type of scholar who takes great pride in his intelligence. He’s unbelievably arrogant, often showing off his memorized knowledge in a bid to be praised. He wants to be the smartest guy in the room, but his desperation reeks of snooty haughtiness. Thankfully, he’s eventually put in his place by Will, who shatters his ego and dismantles his “education,” which is really just plagiarizing textbooks. The protagonist later shows off a bit himself, displaying a woman named Skylar’s number to a befuddled Clark. We don’t think he likes them apples.
#5: Ed Rooney
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“Ferris Bueller's Day Off” (1986) Dean of Students Ed Rooney has a good motive in theory - one of his students has been perpetually missing school, and he wants to get to the bottom of it. But he goes about it in all the wrong ways. He makes it his personal vendetta to track Ferris Bueller down, and that means skipping school for the day himself. We suppose he doesn’t see the irony. He’s also a very unlikable man, often acting self-righteously and committing crimes. But ultimately, he pays the price. Rooney gets absolutely battered throughout the film, and by the end, he’s left a filthy, disheveled mess without a car or any dignity. And to think, Ferris gets away with everything, so all that misery was for nothing.
#4: Hans Gruber
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“Die Hard” (1988) Hans Gruber is a great villain for numerous reasons, namely because he’s a very smart criminal. His plan is quite elaborate, he leads his team with confidence, and he’s carefully thought everything out. The problem is that Hans knows he’s smart, which makes him a rather boastful man. At one point he even calls himself “an exceptional thief.” Calling yourself “exceptional” is the very definition of smugness. But the good news is that hero John McClane foils everything. He kills most of the villain’s crew, saves the bearer bonds, and personally dispatches with Hans himself. The exceptional thief dies with a horrified expression on his face, and it’s very satisfying to see.
#3: Hans Landa
“Inglourious Basterds” (2009) Few movie villains are as smug as Hans Landa. A Nazi officer, Hans is responsible for taking the lives of countless innocent people in occupied France. Like Hans Gruber, Landa knows he’s smart. He enjoys toying with his victims and often plays polite before dropping the veneer and watching them squirm. He’s all smiles by the end of the film, as he betrays Hitler and ends the war for his own selfish reasons. But in a very gratifying act of intelligence, protagonist Aldo Raine finds a loophole of sorts in the deal that Hans created. And in the process, he crafts a very, shall we say, permanent way of identifying the villain’s allegiances.
#2: Dolores Umbridge
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“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007) It’s no small feat to rival Voldemort in terms of sheer evil, but Dolores Umbridge is certainly in the running. Her sickly sweet fashion sense betrays her true motive, which is to squash any and all mention of Voldemort at Hogwarts. She’s essentially the Ministry’s propaganda machine, and she rules Hogwarts with an iron fist. Umbridge is also just fiercely unappealing, with her draconian rules, use of unforgivable curses, and that annoying little titter. This makes it all the more rewarding when Harry Potter uses her own words against her. Hermione tricks Umbridge into entering the Forbidden Forest, and Harry unleashes a zinger of a goodbye as she is hauled away by the centaurs.
#1: Jabba the Hutt
“Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983) Karma comes to Jabba the Hutt in the most satisfying manner possible, and it serves as a highlight in the “Star Wars” canon. Jabba is a real nasty piece of work, and perhaps one of the greediest antagonists around. Aside from the violence, humiliation, and mistreatment he inflicts on others, Jabba is also very conceited. He sees himself as an all-powerful gangster who couldn’t possibly be defeated, and he continuously defies the heroes. He underestimates them, but he really shouldn’t have. Luke Skywalker and his band of good guys aptly defeat Jabba. In a wonderful bit of symbolism, Princess Leia kills the crime lord with the chains he forced her to don. Karmic defeat has never looked so sweet.
