19 Villains across movies and TV shows, who were forced to choose the wrong path

Across movies and television, many villains begin with good intentions only to stray off the path due to circumstances that transpire outside of their control. Walter White, in "Breaking Bad," goes from a desperate teacher wanting to care for his family to a dark path due to power and pride. Such characters remind us that villainy is often better described as a tragic consequence of choice or circumstance rather than some sort of outright evil. Their tales serve as a cautionary tale about how good and righteous men can easily falter. Here is a list of 19 Villains across movies and TV Shows, who were forced to choose the wrong path.

19) Shere Khan ( The Jungle Book, 2016)

When we talk about villains forced to choose the wrong path, Shere Khan from The Jungle Book appears in our minds. He is one of the earliest villains we are introduced to as kids. We know Shere Khan hated humans, even harmless children like Mowgli. But his hatred had valid reasons behind it. He was traumatized by the destruction that the humans incited to the environment, including the jungle making him hate humans with all his might.

18) The Wicked Witch of the West ( The Wizard of Oz, 1939)

The Wicked Witch Of The West is one of the villains from The Wizard Of Oz. She is another villain who fits the list because she wants to avenge her sister's death and take her ruby slippers back from Dorothy. This urge to take revenge stems from losing her sister, The Wicked Witch of The East.

17) Ursula (The Little Mermaid, 1989)

Ursula is another unfortunate character in the Disney world who was forced to become a villain by the circumstances around her. In the movie The Little Mermaid, she was banished by King Triton, Ariel's father, and wanted to gain power and fight the King to take over the sea. The isolation that she lived in made her what she was.

16) Loki ( Thor )

Loki, the God of mischief, played by Tom Hiddleston, falls rather in the morally gray area now but in the first Thor movies and The Avengers, he surely was one of the villains. But his misguided actions were developed from the absence of his father's love coupled with finding out about his adoption and mother's death.

15) Homelander (The Boys, 2019- )

The Boys introduced us to how corporations controlled superheroes and used them to influence people and earn money. Homelander is the leader of the group The Seven and is the most powerful. However, all this power came at a cost. He apparently was raised in a lab going through multiple experiments to become what he is today. Devoid of a healthy childhood and emotions, made him a villain.

14) Lena Luthor (Supergirl, 2015-2021)

Another morally gray character who tries hard to get out of her family's wrongdoings and often succeeds is Lena Luther from Supergirl. However, there were moments in the show when Lena, due to multiple betrayals chose the wrong path. Complex and diverse, Lena's character stems from a search for validation and acceptance. At times an antihero and at others merely a common villain. Her redemption in the end speaks of forgiveness and empathy.

13) Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Daredevil, 2015-2018)

Wilson Fisk's character, also known as Kingpin is one of the main villains in the show Daredevil. A complex character who is driven by the desire for power and control isn't always like that. Wilson as a child was abused by his father who was too strict with him. There were moments when his father gave him harsh punishments for minor mistakes which made Fisk resent his father and eventually killed him. This marked the making of a supervillain.

12) Negan (The Walking Dead, 2010-2022)

Negan's transformation into a brutal and cruel leader of The Survivors in The Walking Dead stems from his need to survive in the post-apocalyptic world. The story of Negan losing his wife Lucille Smith is shown in flashbacks in the series. Alone and terrified in the new world, without his wife, he resorts to the wrong path becoming brutal and most terrifying among the villains of The Walking Dead universe.

11) Syndrome ( The Incredibles, 2004)

Buddy Pine, popularly known as Syndrome, used to be a kid who idolized Mr. Incredible, a superhero. However, after being turned down to be the sidekick, Buddy's fascination grew into obsession and bitterness. Consumed by a need for validation from Mr. Incredible, he employed his brains and wealth, becoming Syndrome, a supervillain with a mission to destroy the person he once idolized to prove to the world he was that much better.

10) Maleficent ( Maleficent, 2014)

Maleficent: the all-powerful, benevolent fairy turned wicked from betrayal and heartbreak. Victim of King Stefan's atrocious attack, mutilated in a way that sent her into despair and rage carrying a request for vengeance. The very pain of her betrayed heart twisted Maleficent and transformed her into an evil spirit in a dark crusade to curse King Stefan's daughter, Aurora, and allegedly claim the throne.

9) Harley Quinn ( Suicide Squad, 2016)

Harleen Quinzel, an incredibly bright yet ambitious psychiatrist, was appointed to treat the Joker in Arkham Asylum. She ultimately became obsessed with her patient and eventually fell in love with him. Quinn was abused as a child and mentally weak from the beginning which gave The Joker a chance to manipulate her and as a result, she became the quirky villain Harley Quinn.

8) Adar ( The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, Season 1)

Adar, a former Elf-lord corrupted by the darkness of Morgoth's vices, was once a noble and just leader, but in the promise of power and control, was lured. His own darkness and the burdens of the wrongs done by him consumed him, driving for vengeance against the Elves who wronged him. His slow descent into villainy was out of despair in seeking power and vengeance

7) Bane ( The Dark Knight Rises, 2012)

Once a prisoner, Bane was molded into a villain because of the harsh atmosphere of his island prison, Pena Duro. In darkness from birth, he was obliged to fend for himself in a ruthless environment where he was tortured and experimented upon. His physical pain became an emotional bruise which obliterated into revenge against the society that had wronged him. More specifically, he'd wreak havoc and destruction deep within the city of Gotham.

6) Severus Snape ( Harry Potter)

Severus Snape's transformation holds its roots in both a terribly sad childhood and an unrequited love for Lily Evans Potter. Snape was bullied and ostracized by his peers, which made him a bitter recluse. His subsequent work with the Death Eaters and unrelenting love for Lily created a complex stew of motivations, driving him along the excruciatingly thin line between villainy and redemption.

5) Kilgrave (Jessica Jones, 2015-2019)

Kilgrave was born with a brain disease. His parents were scientists who conducted experiments on him which was traumatic for him while also giving him the power to control people's minds. The experiences made Kilgrave hate his parents and lose empathy in general. As he honed his powers, he became more and more ruthless and exploited those powers to manipulate and control others for his own enjoyment and to satisfy his yearning for validation, including Jessica Jones.

4) Killmonger (Black Panther, 2018)

Erik Killmonger's transition into a villain could be described as fueled by anger, abandonment, and a lifetime of resentment. Leaving him to fend for himself in Oakland very much meant that he grew up in poverty, violence, and systemic oppression. However, after he learns of his Wakandan heritage and how his father was murdered, he finds a zealous desire for revenge and the need to reclaim his father's throne as king, leading him to confront T'Challa and forcefully overthrow the Wakandan monarchy.

3) Joker (Joker, 2019)

Arthur Fleck is a struggling comedian who has been driven mad by the cruelty and indifference of society. As a mentally ill person who had been cast off by the system, he became isolated and increasingly pessimistic. After a breakdown due to a mix of being denied prescribed medication and social services, his fragile hold on reality snapped and he became the Joker, a wild anarchic and destructive pretense.

2) Magneto from (X-Men)

Erik Lehnsherr, aka Magneto, was deeply affected by the horrors he went through in the Holocaust. After he saw his family slaughtered and humans committing cruelty, he developed a deep distrust and hatred towards humanity. Later in his life, after he discovered his magnetic powers and his belief that mutants are superior to humans, he further progressed to extremes and started down a path of ruthless villainy, convinced that mutants should be protected at all costs.

1) Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)

Anakin Skywalker, a gallant Jedi Knight, fell prey to the Dark Side. Fearful of losing Padmé Amidala, the woman he loved, and lured by Palpatine's promises of power and control over death, he became increasingly disenchanted with Jedi. Fears, anger, and feelings of injustice led to his becoming the infamous villain: Darth Vader.