In every movie, there’s a complete jerk who gets a bad rap for speaking their minds. However, when you really think about it, some of them were actually totally right! Here are 18 film characters that, despite what the film would have you think, were actually right.
Syndrome in The Incredibles
Sure, Syndrome went about things in totally the wrong way. But the underlying issue he was trying to fix, which was the exclusivity of superheroes, was totally understandable. He was trying to make people aware that natural-born supers had an unfair advantage over regular folks. His solution was extreme, but his desire for a level playing field? Not so villainous.
Sharpay Evans in High School Musical
Sharpay, with her pink princess demeanor, seemed like your typical high school villain. But peel back the layers, and you’ll see a dedicated, passionate performer who was simply protecting her turf. She was determined to put in the effort not only to help herself but also to get Troy Bolton a good career. What’s wrong with that?
The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz
Technically, the Wicked Witch of the West was just trying to get revenge after her sister’s death. She was determined to get those ruby slippers back, which, you could argue, actually belonged to her. Yes, flying monkeys and spells were not the way to go about it, but you can hardly blame her.
Squidward Tentacles in SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
We’ve all had those days where we’re craving a quiet night in, yet for some reason or another, we’re just not able to get it. That’s exactly what Squidward tries to do in the Spongebob movie! All he wants is a peaceful shower, which is hardly a crime. He’s more of a tired adult than a nasty jerk.
Ed Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Rooney’s determination to catch Ferris in the act came from a sense of duty that would put most hall monitors to shame. If anything, his constant effort shows just how seriously he took the school’s attendance policies. In any other context, you’d praise him for being hard-working, so what’s the difference here?
Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada
You’re meant to dislike Miranda in this movie because of her ice-cold attitude and cold decision-making skills. But is there anything wrong with that? She runs a tight ship in a sea of trends and is all the more successful for it. Andy’s horror about becoming like Miranda seems totally misplaced – she was a smart businesswoman!
Ivan Drago in Rocky IV
Drago’s calm attitude and robotic efficiency were his way of coping with the immense pressure of representing his country. Behind the steroid-induced brawn, there was a man who was taught to believe that winning was everything. In a way, his journey was a warning about the cost of valuing victory over humanity. You can’t hate him for that.
Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
Okay, we’ll admit that Gaston’s relentless pursuit of Belle was a little creepy. He genuinely believed that he loved her – or at least, a very Gaston-esque version of it. His methods were certainly questionable, but his confidence and dedication were undeniably impressive. In a different story, he might have been the hero…just probably not one you’d want to date.
Captain Hook in Peter Pan
Hook’s obsession with Peter Pan might have bordered on the pathological, but can you blame him? Imagine dealing with a flying kid who refuses to grow up and keeps causing you trouble. Hook’s desire for a bit of order in Neverland doesn’t seem so unreasonable when you think about it like that.
Biff Tannen in Back to the Future
Imagine if Biff had a mentor to channel his “inner go-getter” towards something less… punchable. We’re not saying he’s totally justified in what he did, but you’ve got to remember that t behind every schoolyard tyrant, there might just be a missed opportunity for guidance. And let’s not even start on the hair – a true tragedy of the ’50s.
The Other Mother in Coraline
A world where you can get any wish you want, no questions asked – sounds great, right? Enter the Other Mother, offering exactly. Sure, she’s the villain, but she also serves up a reality check on a silver platter – sometimes, getting everything you want can be a real nightmare. Who knew demonic parenting could offer such good life advice?
Terence Fletcher in Whiplash
Fletcher was definitely an overdemanding teacher who took “practice makes perfect” to a whole new level. However, buried under those flying chairs and insults was a twisted sort of motivation seminar. He’s the guy you love to hate but kind of thank for teaching you what “tough love” really means.
Javert in Les Misérables
Javert was a complete stickler for rules, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. He chased after Valjean not for revenge but because he was obsessed with following rules. Whether or not the rules are justified is another question, but simply doing what you’re told isn’t enough to make us hate Javert. After all, who else could make relentless pursuit look so operatic?
Eleanor Shaw Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate
Eleanor Shaw was a tough cookie, and she had to be one in the political arena. Her character showed us the dangers of a win-at-all-costs mentality. She’s the poster woman for what happens when you become too ambitious and ignore your morality. Like Javert, she was convinced that she was doing the right thing, which doesn’t make her a bad person.
Lotso in Toy Story 3
Lotso turned the toy box into a dictatorship faster than you can say “cuddle.” However, later, it became clear that he was just a toy who didn’t want to be hurt again, and his authoritarian regime was how he achieved this. Let’s face it, we all might have a bit of a grudge if we were replaced and then had to smell like strawberries forever.
Norman Osborn in Spider-Man
Norman Osborn is what happens when “take your work home with you” goes too far. His transformation into the Green Goblin came from his obsession with work, which wasn’t entirely his fault. After all, he was kinda forced to rush his experiments and test them on himself! Honestly, the real villains here were his bosses and the Green Goblin, not Norman himself.
Vivian Liberto in Walk the Line
Vivian Liberto comes across as an opponent to Johnny and June’s relationship. But if you look deeper, she’s really just a woman dealing with the collapse of her family, struggling to hold the pieces together against the odds. Viewing her as a simple object in the love story completely oversimplifies the challenges of real-life relationships and the pain of feeling replaced.
Stuart ‘Stu’ Dunmeyer from Mrs. Doubtfire
Stuart ‘Stu’ Dunmeyer is nothing but supportive and affectionate towards Sally Field’s character and her children. He steps into a ready-made family with openness and kindness, which is more than you can say for most. He’s not a bad guy – he’s a genuinely caring person who is committed to his new family.
