10 Best Thrillers Where You Root for the Villain

In thrillers, some villains stand out because they elicit sympathy from audiences, even as they commit heinous acts. Other villainous characters might just be evil but are still hard to hate due to their charm and the clever ways they enact such bad behavior. Regardless of their motives, these characters are often responsible for violence and chaos, with performances by their actors that make them feel grounded in desperation, survival, or revenge, making their actions more relatable. Whether their backstory is tragic or their personal stakes feel more important than those of the heroes, these villains become characters audiences can’t help but root for. Their flawed humanity, paired with entertaining stories, keeps viewers hooked.

What makes these thrillers so captivating is the way they highlight the complexity of their antagonists. Rather than simply being vessels for destruction, these villains often take center stage, with their stories of betrayal, heartbreak, or injustice resonating with the audience. Despite their dark paths, their rebellious spirits and determination to fight against overwhelming odds make them surprisingly likable. As a result, viewers find themselves unable to look away, even as these characters continue their descent into chaos.

10

‘Titane’ (2021)

What some consider the weirdest movie of 2021, Titane introduces Alexia (Agathe Rousselle), a woman whose obsession with automobiles turns deadly. After a string of brutal murders, she goes into hiding by assuming the identity of a missing boy, infiltrating the life of a grieving yet unhinged firefighter (Vincent Lindon). While Alexia’s violent tendencies make her an unconventional protagonist, her desperate attempts to survive – paired with the surreal and oddly tender moments between her and her newfound father figure – make her oddly compelling.

Despite her cold and remorseless nature, audiences can’t help but sympathize with Alexia as she navigates her bizarre circumstances. Her unpredictable journey, combined with filmmaker Julia Ducournau’s masterful blend of body horror and psychological drama, makes Titane a hypnotic and unsettling experience. Whether viewers are drawn to her resilience, fascinated by her transformation, or simply unable to look away, Alexia cements herself as a villain worth rooting for.

9

‘Under the Skin’ (2013)

Under the Skin

Release Date

April 4, 2014

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Jonathan Glazer

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In Under the Skin, Scarlett Johansson delivers a mesmerizing performance as an alien predator known only as The Female. Disguised as a beautiful human woman, she prowls the Scottish countryside, luring unsuspecting men into a surreal, nightmarish trap where they are harvested for unknown purposes. Her detached, almost mechanical approach to seduction and destruction makes her a chilling figure, but as the film progresses, her character begins to shift. She starts questioning her own existence, forming a quiet but poignant commentary on identity, autonomy, and humanity itself.

Despite her initial role as a ruthless predator, The Female gradually becomes a tragic figure. As she experiences empathy and vulnerability for the first time, she attempts to break free from her programmed nature. Her arc transforms Under the Skin into more than just a sci-fi thriller. It transforms into a Kubrickian masterpiece of the 21st Century with an unnerving yet strangely compassionate exploration of what it means to be human, making The Female a villain audiences can’t help but root for.

8

‘Scarface’ (1983)

Scarface

Release Date

December 9, 1983

Runtime

170 minutes

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Tony Montana, the larger-than-life antihero of Scarface, is a ruthless criminal whose rise and fall define one of the most iconic crime thrillers in movie history. Played with unhinged intensity by Al Pacino, Tony is a Cuban immigrant who claws his way to the top of Miami’s drug empire, fueled by greed, ambition, and an insatiable hunger for power. He is far from a traditional protagonist – he’s violent, impulsive, and dangerously possessive of his sister. Yet, despite his many flaws, audiences can’t help but root for him as he takes on corrupt officials, rival cartels, and his own self-destructive behavior.

Tony’s charisma and unwavering confidence make him an oddly compelling figure, even as his empire crumbles under the weight of his paranoia and excess. His infamous last stand, complete with a grenade launcher and a defiant final roar – “Say hello to my little friend!” – cements him as one of cinema’s most unforgettable villains. His journey may be doomed, but his rebellious spirit and refusal to back down ensure that audiences remain captivated until the very last moment.

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7

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Gone Girl

Release Date

October 1, 2014

Runtime

2h 29m

Amy Dunne, played brilliantly by Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl, is a villain audiences can’t help but admire, even as she manipulates, deceives, and destroys lives. This murder mystery movie has her faking her disappearance and framing her husband for her murder, which is undeniably extreme, but her actions stem from a place of deep betrayal. Her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), not only neglects her but cheats on her with a younger woman, reinforcing Amy’s cynical belief that men only want the mythical “Cool Girl”- a woman who caters to their every whim without complaint. Her meticulously crafted revenge may be horrifying, but it’s also undeniably entertaining, making it impossible to look away.

What makes Amy especially enthralling is her razor-sharp intellect and complete control over every situation. She exposes societal double standards, weaponizing the media and law enforcement to her advantage in a way that is both terrifying and genius. While she’s far from a traditional heroine, her ability to turn the tables on those who underestimate her makes her a villain worth rooting for – especially for anyone who has ever felt overlooked or wronged.

6

‘Law Abiding Citizen’ (2009)

Clyde Shelton, in Law Abiding Citizen, is a man driven to the edge by a broken justice system. After witnessing the cruel murder of his wife and daughter, he expects the courts to deliver justice – only to watch in horror as the legal system lets one of the killers walk free. Fueled by grief and betrayal, Clyde takes matters into his own hands, orchestrating a series of elaborate, brutal acts of vengeance not just against the criminals but against the very system that failed him. This underrated Gerard Butler movie has him play a man with a calculated, almost genius-level ability to outmaneuver law enforcement and keep audiences enthralled, making it hard not to root for him despite his ruthless methods.

What makes Clyde such a compelling villain is that his rage feels justified – his pain is real, and his frustrations with the legal system resonate deeply. Even as his revenge escalates into terrifying extremes, there’s a lingering sense that he’s exposing a flawed system rather than simply acting out of malice. While his descent into full-scale terrorism forces the audience to question their allegiance, Clyde remains a fascinating antihero whose motives, no matter how brutal, are impossible to ignore.

5

‘Monster’ (2003)

Monster

Release Date

December 24, 2003

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Patty Jenkins

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Charlize Theron’s transformative performance in Monster turns real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos into a deeply complex and tragic figure. Aileen’s life is a cycle of abuse, poverty, and desperation, pushing her into prostitution and, eventually, a string of murders. While her crimes are terrible, the film presents her not as a cold-blooded killer but as a woman who has been repeatedly failed by society. Her first killing is framed as self-defense against a violent client, making her descent into further violence feel like an inevitable response to years of trauma rather than sheer malice.

What makes Aileen such a standout villain is the raw vulnerability beneath her rage. Her relationship with Selby (Christina Ricci) offers a glimpse into her desire for love and normalcy, but her circumstances make it impossible to escape her fate. Theron’s powerhouse performance captures every facet of Aileen’s pain and helps tell the story from the villain’s perspective. It makes Monster not just a chilling crime thriller but a devastating character study that leaves audiences torn between fear and sympathy.

4

‘Pearl’ (2022)

Pearl

Release Date

September 16, 2022

Runtime

102 minutes

Ti West’s X trilogy offers a fascinating look at the making of a killer, with Mia Goth delivering a powerhouse performance as Pearl Douglass. Spanning multiple decades and film styles, the series follows Pearl from a repressed young woman with Hollywood dreams to a bitter, murderous old woman. Pearl reveals the character’s tragic origins, showing how a suffocating home life and societal rejections slowly chip away at her sanity, leading her to commit multiple murders – including her own parents. By the time X rolls around, she’s an elderly woman, still seething with resentment and continuing her violent tendencies alongside her husband, Howard.

Despite her villainous nature, Pearl remains a deeply sympathetic character. Her yearning for a bigger, more fulfilling life resonates with anyone who has ever felt trapped by their circumstances. Her infamous monologue in the prequel, where she confesses her heartbreak over being overlooked and unloved, cements her as one of the most tragically compelling villains in modern horror. Though her actions are unforgivable, her pain is undeniably human, making her impossible to fully root against.

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3

‘Fight Club’ (1999)

Fight Club

Release Date

October 15, 1999

Runtime

139 minutes

Tyler Durden is the ultimate rebellious antihero, embodying the raw, anarchic energy that many secretly wish they could unleash. As the uninhibited alter ego of Edward Norton’s nameless narrator in Fight Club, Tyler represents a complete rejection of modern consumerism and societal constraints. His extreme methods – ranging from stealing liposuction fat to make soap to orchestrating large-scale destruction – are undeniably unhinged, yet his anti-capitalist philosophy resonates by being a good example of one of the best revolutions depicted on film. He exposes the hollow nature of materialism, urging men to embrace chaos and break free from their mundane lives.

What makes Tyler so captivating isn’t just his ideology but his sheer magnetism. Played by Brad Pitt at his most effortlessly cool, Tyler exudes confidence, wit, and an intoxicating sense of freedom. His presence turns the narrator’s bleak existence into something thrilling, making it easy to get swept up in his vision – at least until the full extent of his extremism is revealed. Even then, Fight Club ensures that Tyler remains a figure of twisted admiration, a villain whose raw honesty makes him impossible to ignore.

2

‘Joker’ (2019)

Joker

Release Date

October 2, 2019

Runtime

122 minutes

Arthur Fleck’s transformation into the Joker is both tragic and terrifying, making him one of the most compelling villains in modern cinema. Joaquin Phoenix delivers an Oscar-winning performance, depicting a man crushed under the weight of a failing mental health system, societal neglect, and personal trauma. Arthur is initially a meek, struggling comedian who simply wants to be seen and understood. However, as he faces relentless cruelty – from being attacked on the subway to losing access to medication – his descent into madness feels not only inevitable but, in some ways, justified.

What makes Arthur such a stand-out villain is how Joker forces audiences to empathize with him while never excusing his disturbing choices. By the time he fully embraces his chaotic persona, inspiring an anarchic uprising, it’s clear he has become a monster. Yet, his journey is so heartbreakingly raw that it’s impossible to look away, even if it wipes a smile off someone’s face. His story resonates as a cautionary tale, making Joker a thriller where the villain’s rise feels just as exciting as any hero’s.

1

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Few villains command the screen, like Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. Played with chilling precision by Javier Bardem, Chigurh is a ruthless hitman with a cryptic sense of morality. He doesn’t kill indiscriminately – he lets fate decide, often using a coin toss to determine his victims’ lives. His eerie calmness and methodical approach to violence make him an unsettling yet mesmerizing presence. Despite his role as the film’s antagonist, audiences can’t help but be drawn to his enigmatic persona and the unnerving tension he brings to every scene.

While Chigurh is undeniably terrifying, his philosophical undertones make him more than just a hired gun. He represents the inevitability of death, the randomness of fate, and the inability of outdated institutions to confront true chaos. His unsettling moral code and quiet intensity make him one of the most fascinating villains in thriller history – one who lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.