WatchMojo

Login Now!

OR   Sign in with Google   Sign in with Facebook
advertisememt
VOICE OVER: Lisa Yang WRITTEN BY: Lauren Clancey
We've all felt the sharp pain of betrayal at some point, but there's nothing quite like watching the heart-dropping moment played out on screen. For this list, we're looking at those big screen characters that were initially trusted by their fellow characters and/or audiences, but that turned out to be traitors, hypocrites and or underhanded when our backs were turned. Since betrayal in film often means a plot twist or reveal, consider this your official spoiler alert. Our list includes Dennis Nedry, Loki, Dr. Elsa Schneider, Lando Calrissian, Peter Pettigrew, and more! Join MsMojo as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Movie Backstabbers of All Time.

#10: Hans “Frozen” (2013)

Also in:

Top 10 Best Hans Zimmer Scores

For a Disney prince, he’s a guy who seems to have it all: dreamy good looks, a handsome uniform and the ability to burst into song. However, this happily ever after doesn’t last for long in this twist on the normal Disney Princess narrative, as the knight in shining armor does not save the damsel in distress. On the brink of performing “true love’s kiss” to save Anna’s life, he reveals he never really loved her. Prince Hans only ever wanted to marry Anna to become King of Arendelle. He then leaves her while she’s moments away from death, in pursuit of eliminating her sister, Elsa. So cold.

#9: Dennis Nedry “Jurassic Park” (1993)

Also in:

Top 10 Dennis Hopper Performances

Would the catastrophe at Jurassic Park ever have happened without Dennis Nedry? Possibly not. In pursuit of making a quick buck and gaining revenge on Richard Hammond for being “cheap”; Dennis Nedry agrees to smuggle out top secret fertilized dinosaur embryos to Richard Hammond’s corporate rival. In order to make his escape from the park possible, Dennis hacks and deactivates the park’s security system. Without the “magic word,” there is no hope to reboot the system and, consequently, the dinosaurs are freed. Cue the man-eating madness and mayhem that is Jurassic Park.

#8: Loki Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008)

Also in:

Top 10 Best Loki MCU Moments

Although Sir Patrick Morgan's betrayal in Wonder Woman is badass, Loki is still the nastiest superhero movie backstabber, particularly as he is in the 2011 “Thor” movie. Wanting to be king and to gain the approval of their father, Loki betrays his brother, Thor in an example of sibling rivalry at its heavyweight finest. As it turns out, Loki is the mastermind behind Thor losing his powers and being banished to Earth. Once Thor is on Earth, Loki watches over him and orders the Destroyer to kill Thor. Not only this, but he tells Thor their father is dead - when he isn’t.

#7: Captain Dudley Smith “L.A. Confidential” (1997)

Also in:

Top 10 Epic Moments In Captain Marvel

Corrupt and morally bankrupt, Captain Dudley Smith will stop at nothing to hold the power in L.A. Killing, lying and cheating; Smith makes his way to the top of the criminal food chain in L.A. As other officers are suspicious of his behavior and the crime scene in L.A., it is not long before Smith kills one of his sergeants, Jack Vincennes, to buy himself more time. Abusing his position of power, Smith betrays anyone that dares to challenge him.

#6: Dr. Elsa Schneider “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)

Also in:

Another Top 10 Worst Movie Plot Twists

With this entry, we’ve got another betrayal of the heart thanks to a “damsel in distress” with a ruthless streak. In the quest for the Holy Grail, Elsa will stop at nothing to claim the grail for herself. After seducing and tricking both Indiana Jones and his father, Elsa reveals her alliance with the Nazi party and her scheme to take the grail from them. In another act of betrayal, Elsa turns against her partner working with the Nazis, Walter Donovan, which results in his death. In her final moments, she grabs the grail for herself once more, claiming to want to share it with Indiana, before falling to her death.

#5: Fredo Corleone “The Godfather Part II” (1974)

This one makes up a famous family feud. The unpredictable, badly behaved brother, Fredo repeatedly makes poor decisions that impact his brother, Michael and the rest of the family. Regularly mocked and excluded from family business, Fredo makes a deal with Corleone rival, Hyman Roth and associate Johnny Ola, in an embittered chance to gain fortune for himself. The exact nature of his family betrayal isn’t ever made known, and it’s unclear as to whether Fredo’s betrayal was a selfish act or whether he was trying to take his brother down. But either way, he certainly pays the price for crossing the Corleones.

#4: Saruman “Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-2003)

In the quest for the ring, Saruman betrays both parties in the war; he’s a morally ambiguous character with a determination to always work for his own ends. Originally a member of the council of wizards opposing Sauron, Saruman abandoned the White Council to side with Sauron, in a plan to better his chances at obtaining the ring. He eventually also betrays Sauron, in the hopes of taking the ring for himself and ruling Middle-earth. One ring to rule them all...and also one to mostly kill them all. Saruman gets his comeuppance, but never the ring.

#3: Lando Calrissian “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)

Also in:

Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian to Get His Own STAR WARS Movie? – The CineFiles Ep. 72

Han Solo’s luck runs out when he reconnects with old friend, Lando Calrissian. A former mercenary like Han now working for the Cloud City, Lando welcomes Han, Chewbacca and Princess Leia on to Cloud City. He lulls them into a false sense of security, right before handing them over directly to Darth Vader. Although Lando was strong-armed and lied to by Darth Vader, his actions lead to Han Solo being frozen in carbonite. Trying to right his wrongs, Lando later helps the Rebels free Han from Boba Fett and he joins the Rebel Alliance. He may be a backstabber with a conscience, but he nonetheless betrayed an old friend and aided the dark side.

#2: Peter Pettigrew “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004)

Also in:

Comparing All The Peter Pan Movies

The weak-minded friend of Harry Potter’s parents is a rat in more than one sense of the word. While acting as a protector of James and Lily Potter, Peter hands them over to Voldemort, fakes his own death and frames Sirius Black for the murders. Meaning not only do Harry’s parents die but also his godfather, Sirius, is sent to Azkaban prison, which leaves Harry Potter an orphan, and fated to live with his cruel aunt and uncle. After hiding for years, Peter joins forces with Voldemort for the second time and helps him to gain power once again. Spineless and snivelling, Peter is a sneaky backstabber. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear “Toy Story 3” (2010) Cady Heron “Mean Girls” (2004) Elle Driver “Kill Bill” (2003-04)

#1: Cypher “The Matrix” (1999)

The things a juicy steak can make a person do… and in this case, we mean the one and only, Cypher. To be released from reality and enter the Matrix again, Cypher betrays his fellow rebels on the Nebuchadnezzar to Agent Smith. In a one-man mutiny, Cypher eventually becomes responsible for the death of several of his crewmembers, though he actually planned to kill all of them. Even though he claims to have been in love with Trinity, he aims to kill her too. He has no remorse for his actions and is 100% self-serving to the end.

Comments
User
Send
I definitely agreed with this list.
advertisememt