12 Movie Villains Who Secretly Won
Some movie villains may have looked like they lost, but their plans still worked in important ways.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Villains are usually written to be defeated, but several movies show them getting real results. Some changed the world around them, while others achieved the goals they cared about most. Looking closely, these victories show they were not as defeated as they seemed.
1. The Joker in The Dark Knight
Nicholas Gemini on Wikimedia Commons
The Joker’s plan was to break Gotham’s hope by corrupting Harvey Dent. By the end of the film, Dent turned into Two-Face, which proved the Joker’s point. Gotham lost its symbol of justice, leaving Batman to take the blame for Dent’s crimes. Even though the Joker was arrested, his mission was successful.
2. Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War
Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma on Wikimedia Commons
Thanos set out to remove half of all life in the universe to bring what he saw as balance. He collected all six Infinity Stones and completed the snap. The heroes failed to stop him, and many people vanished. At that point, Thanos had fully achieved his plan.
3. Hans Gruber in Die Hard
Marie-Lan Nguyen on Wikimedia Commons
Hans Gruber’s real objective was to steal bearer bonds from Nakatomi Plaza. He organized the heist in a way that fooled police into thinking it was terrorism. Although John McClane stopped him in the end, his plan was close to working. He nearly escaped with millions before being killed.
4. Raoul Silva in Skyfall
Siebbi on Wikimedia Commons
Silva wanted revenge against M, blaming her for betraying him years earlier. He carried out attacks that crippled MI6 and forced M into hiding. Even though Bond stopped him, Silva still succeeded in causing M’s death. His mission ended in his favor, despite his own death.
5. Count Dooku in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Vertmueller on Wikimedia Commons
Count Dooku helped Palpatine start the Clone Wars by leading the Separatists. The war gave Palpatine emergency powers and greater control over the Republic. Dooku’s actions put the galaxy into a conflict that could not be stopped. Even after Dooku’s defeat, his role ensured the rise of the Empire.
6. Ozymandias in Watchmen
BlaiseM281 on Wikimedia Commons
Ozymandias believed the world would unite only under the threat of destruction. He staged an attack that killed millions but convinced nations to cooperate. The other heroes discovered his plan too late to stop it. His vision of global unity through fear became reality.
7. Loki in Thor
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Loki’s desire was recognition and influence in Asgard. He manipulated events to put himself at the center of attention. Even after being stopped, he survived and remained important in Asgard’s future. His influence carried on, making him a continuing presence in the story.
8. The Machines in The Matrix
Clockready on Wikimedia Commons
The Machines kept humans under control through the Matrix program. Even though Neo won small battles, humanity remained trapped. The system was never fully broken, and the Machines still fed on human energy. Their dominance continued despite resistance.
9. Scar in The Lion King
Giles Laurent on Wikimedia Commons
Scar killed Mufasa and forced Simba into exile. For years, he ruled as king over the Pride Lands. Although his rule failed in the long run, he lived as king for a significant time. His rise to power was a clear victory before his downfall.
10. Commodus in Gladiator
Harald Krichel on Wikimedia Commons
Commodus killed his father, Marcus Aurelius, and claimed the throne of Rome. He ruled as emperor for several years before being killed by Maximus. His reign was cruel but still gave him the power he wanted. During that period, he had everything he fought for.
11. Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV on Wikimedia Commons
Nurse Ratched kept strict control over the mental institution. McMurphy tried to challenge her, but she ended his rebellion by having him lobotomized. This silenced him and made the other patients fearful again. Her authority remained firmly in place.
12. The Xenomorph in Alien
Hossam el-Hamalawy on Wikimedia Commons
The Xenomorph killed nearly every crew member aboard the Nostromo. Its only purpose was survival and reproduction, which it achieved until Ripley escaped. By the time it died, it had eliminated almost all resistance. The humans failed to contain the threat until the very last moment.