Top 10 Movie Victims Who Turned Into Villains

#10: Gollum

“The Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-03)

While he might be helpful, this Tolkien character also has a dark side. Sméagol comes under the influence of the One Ring and is forever deformed. It’s a shocking transformation into Gollum, doomed to obsess over the mystical jewelry. Stealing it back at the peril of Middle-earth becomes his motivation for leading the hobbits to Mordor. Sméagol is helpless to resist Gollum’s vice. The villainous figure even contemplates his actions by talking to himself. In these tense moments, the good and bad sides of him come out. His tragic demise shows that despite his attempts to change, he can’t stop coveting the ring.

#9: The Tethered

“Us” (2019)

As a child, Adelaide Thomas encounters her double Red. It takes many years for them to reunite. By that time, other doppelgangers attack Thomas’s family and others. The Tethered are part of an experiment gone wrong and left to live underground. Seeking revenge for their situation, they naturally go after the people they’ve been forced to copy. You can’t help but pity the doubles for the way their situation turned out. The final reveal only underscores the desperation of the villains, with a surprise that’ll leave you speechless. From the mind of horror master Jordan Peele, these menacing enemies are set on never going back to the way things were.

#8: Roy Batty

“Blade Runner” (1982)

In this Philip K. Dick adaptation, replicants work for a corporation until their life cycle ends. Roy Batty and his fellow androids flee to Earth and become the target of Rick Deckard. Understandably, Batty and his allies don’t want to spend their final days under contract. His brutal methods and confrontation with Tyrell also reveal his darker side. At the end of a huge fight, the villain saves his pursuer’s life and gives a profound speech. His last words reveal that he should have never been taken for granted. Actor Rutger Hauer lends some humanity to this role, giving depth to a classic sci-fi tale.

#7: Doc Ock

“Spider-Man 2” (2004)

In another case of an ambitious scientist going mad, Dr. Otto Octavius has his work cut out for him. He attempts to use a new energy source and machine arms. This ends with his wife dead and him in critical condition, turning the man into a raving villain. He even could have been a savior had things gone another way. His Doc Ock persona eventually wears off, with his final moments showing his more heroic side. Much like Sandman in “Spider-Man 3,” Octavius has a heart beneath his rough exterior. Doc Ock is perhaps the most memorable villain of Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” series for his complicated life.

#6: Raoul Silva

“Skyfall” (2012)

Sometimes the most dangerous people used to work for the good guys. Raoul Silva was an MI6 agent, but he was handed over to the Chinese for unauthorized hacking. He also disfigured his face with a cyanide capsule. This all motivates a plot against his former boss and the organization that left him to rot. He uses all of his technological skills to set traps for James Bond. Getting captured, Silva even has a plan to escape and confront M himself. The diabolical villain makes his case for revenge and then shows just how evil he’s become.

#5: Khan

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982)

This antagonist was many years in the making. Reprising his role from an original “Star Trek” episode, Ricardo Montalbán came back to play Khan Noonien Singh. His character seeks revenge for being left on a doomed planet where his wife died. He searches out the people responsible, declaring a personal war on Captain James T. Kirk and his associates. Khan proves to be one of the more formidable villains in franchise history. Powered by anger, the baddie stops at nothing to destroy his enemies. His compelling plot is one of the reasons this might be the best film in the series.

#4: Two-Face

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

At the start of the story, Harvey Dent tries to bring down criminals through the legal system. It’s only after he loses everything that he changes his position. After a bomb disfigures his face, Dent reels from the injury and the death of Rachel Dawes. He then becomes a vigilante that lets a coin decide people’s fate. The conversion is even more shocking for someone that started out as a clear hero. With so much pain in his life, the former district attorney lashes out at an unfair system and those that take advantage of it. It’s hard to imagine what could have happened if the Joker had never ruined his life.

#3: King Kong

“King Kong” franchise (1933-)

This monster was just minding his own business on Skull Island. When travelers explore the place, they stumble upon an ape that doesn’t take kindly to visitors. The humans could have easily left without disturbing King Kong any further. Instead they choose to capture him and turn him into an attraction. To put it lightly, this plan doesn’t go well and turns into a battle at the Empire State Building. It’s yet another case of curiosity backfiring in a spectacular way. To be fair, the creature reacts accordingly after being kidnapped and brought to New York City.

#2: Magneto

“X-Men” franchise (2000-)

In the “X-Men” universe, this man is arguably the most famous villain. The mutant also has one of the more tragic backstories. After surviving the Holocaust, Erik Lehnsherr comes to realize the potential of his powers. His shaky relationship with Charles Xavier also reveals some of his humanity. He does however stand up for the rights of mutants, putting him at odds with humans and their collaborators. Magneto always has a reason for what he is doing, even if he chooses to do it in a sinister way. It’s undeniable that his character represents one of the richest and most detailed of anyone in this franchise.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Grinch, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)

Jim Carrey’s Version Brings out Both the Tragic Soul & the Menace of the Villain

Sweeney Todd, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007)

The Murderous Barber’s Revenge Comes from a Sad & Deeply Moving Place

Candyman, “Candyman” (1992)

Don’t Say His Name Five Times or Forget About His History as a Victim

#1: Frankenstein’s Monster

“Frankenstein” (1931)

This guy might be one of the most feared monsters in film history. When you consider his origins, he becomes much more sympathetic. Dr. Frankenstein reanimates the corpse and isn’t exactly careful about his experiments. The monster ultimately represents one man’s fumbled attempt to be a god. He doesn’t even necessarily know what he’s doing, making him almost like an animal that’s been let out of its cage. The villagers come after the creature and only make it worse. If anything, the title scientist deserves much more blame for losing control of this wild creation.

Did we forget another compelling victim-to-villain story? Let us know in the comments below.