25 Awesome Movies Where Bad Guys Win At The End

And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• October 16, 2021

It is in your nature to always cheer for the good guys to win in movies. We are probably tired of seeing all the injustice around us in the real world. For those two hours, while we are watching a movie, we need to separate ourselves entirely from the harsh reality around us.

That implies that the good guys always win. They might be up to their necks in … trouble, but they will eventually win against all odds. And they always get the girl (or a boy) at the end. What could be better?

Well, maybe a movie where bad guys win? It’s hard to believe, but there are actually awesome movies where bad guys take the day. But they are rare.

It takes a lot of effort from the writers, directors, and actors to portray a likable bad guy. The kind of bad guy that wouldn’t ruin the movie’s chances at the box office...

We have chosen 25 of the best “bad guys win” movies, and we hope they will inspire you to watch them if you haven’t already. Oh, damn, we’ve ruined their endings for you. But it doesn’t matter, they are still great to watch.

It goes without saying that you will see some major spoilers ahead:

1. Watchmen (2009)

2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

3. Fallen (1998)

4. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

These villains are crafted so well that they keep us pinned to the screen. We simply love to hate them and can’t get enough. But, as we said before, it takes a lot of effort to create a bad guy who will win without sinking the movie at the box office.

In general, we want the good guys to win – always. So we will hate the movie if we see a character we don’t like emerging from the battle as a winner. That’s why it is so challenging to create a bad guy that we love to hate.

And, of course, a character that would make us think the movie is excellent even though the end is different than what we subconsciously want.

6. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (1999)

7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

8. No Country For Old Men (2004)

9. Fight Club (1999)

10. Saw (2004)

11. Taxi Driver (1976)

12. The Green Mile (1999)

13. Primal Fear (1996)

14. Cool Hand Luke (1967)

15. The Usual Suspects (1995)

16. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

17. Hannibal (2001)

18. Se7en (1995)

19. Memento (2000)

20. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

21. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

22. The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

23. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

24. The Omen (1976)

25. Shutter Island (2011)

These are genuinely excellent movies, and you should definitely watch them.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list. Who doesn’t love these guys? Darth Vader or Hannibal Lecter. Who is your favorite?

Damjan