10 Actors Who Perfectly Played Both Heroes And Villains

[@jameshollan1160]

Kinda sad to see that Josh Brolin didn't make the list for his roles in Deadpool 2/Men in Black III & Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame

[@Shaz-Daz]

Who actually watched MIB 3?!? 😅

[@jameshollan1160]

@@Shaz-Daz lol me. I have it on DVD along with the first two.

[@ДимчоДимов-ж7е]

Jonah Hex

[@jameshollan1160]

@@ДимчоДимов-ж7е I forgot about that movie lol

[@SamuelMcAlpin-ft3uu]

Interview with the Vampire was good, but Tom Cruise’s best villainous performance is definitely Collateral.

[@nixeleth]

Especially since Lestat is only technically a "villain" from the perspective of Louis, who was still in a snit about him and vampires in general, at the time. rofl

[@hazrover]

Collateral is SUCH a good film.

[@user-lb9xw4xf2q]

Some additional options have multiple examples, but limited to one hero and one villain apiece: Christoph Waltz - Dr. King Schultz (Django Unchained) and Hans Landa (Inglorious Basterds) Christian Bale - Bruce Wayne/Batman (The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) Cillian Murphy - Jim (28 Days Later) and Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Dark Knight Trilogy) Heath Ledger - William Thatcher (A Knight's Tale) and Joker (The Dark Knight) Tom Hardy - Max Rockatansky (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Bane (The Dark Knight Rises) Josh Brolin - Llewelyn Moss (No Country For Old Men) and Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame) James McAvoy - Professor Charles Xavier (X-Men Prequel/Crossovers) and Kevin Wendell Crumb / The Beast (Split) Denzel Washington - Eli (The Book of Eli) and Alonzo Harris (Training Day) Robert Downey Jr. - Tony Stark/Iron Man (MCU) and Lewis Strauss (Oppenheimer) Willem Dafoe - Sgt. Elias Grodin (Platoon) and Norman Osborn/Green Goblin (Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and No Way Home) Song Kang-ho - Park Gang-du (The Host) and Ki-taek (Parasite) Tilda Swinton - Dr. Josef Klemperer (Suspiria) and Madame Blanc (Also Suspiria) Cate Blanchett - Galadriel (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies) and Hela (Thor: Ragnarok) Timothy Dalton - James Bond (The 007 movies he was in) and Simon Skinner (Hot Fuzz) Jamie Foxx - Django Freeman (Django Unchained) and Max Dillon/Electro (Spider-Man: No Way Home) Alan Rickman - Metatron (Dogma) and Hans Gruber (Die Hard) Brad Pitt - Lt. Aldo Raine (Inglourious Basterds) and Tyler Durden (Fight Club) Probably more, but ten minutes is already too long to type up something that two or three people at best will read.

[@jamespope7669]

James McAvoy was better hero/villain in Filth and Trance. Obviously both are better than X-Men and split.

[@beppington5947]

Willem dafoe's has truly one of the greatest hero-villain transitions in different movies

[@katesjanice]

Hugo Weaving’s best role was as V in V for Vendetta. As a man who never removes his mask, he cannot use facial features to enhance his performance. He depends entirely on vocal & physical acting. Brilliant!

[@Shaz-Daz]

You forgot to mention Robin Williams' role in Insomnia. He played the "co-villian" well with Al Pacino if you get me 😅😅

[@markgreen2238]

Denzel Washington in Training Day and any of his Equalizer films or Philadelphia as a couple of examples. Great actor

[@jamespope7669]

His character in Philadelphia was homophobic, he wasn't a hero, he used prejudice just to win.

[@kevinmurry8803]

Also, the soldier in Glory.

[@beatrixdobson4795]

I think Alan Rickman should have made this list.

[@hermiona1147]

Also David Tennant

[@cool_alienempire6884]

​@@hermiona1147Yes!

[@claymathewselevator8121]

❤️

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Hans Gruber

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I feel like he would’ve been a great Dr Strange

[@ericrietvelt1970]

You forgot Sam Neil was also Damian Thorn in the Omen 3.

[@simonashtear2739]

David Tennant Bad guy: Bad Samaritan, Jessica Jones, and a brief snarling unhinged moment in one of the Harry Potter movies. Good guy: Good Omens, Doctor Who, Duck Tales. Every time he plays a bad guy, he's just so chilling!

[@jimmeans1638]

Alan Rickman. Hero; Colonel Brandon, Pride and Prejudice. Villain; Hans Gruber, Die Hard. And my favorite Gary Oldman role; Rosecrantz in Rosecrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

[@themayhemofmadness7038]

You forgot Alan Rickman, he was Hans Gruber and also did play a hero part in Galaxy Quest. And of course the enigmatic Severus Snape who walked the line between. Also David Thewlis was Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise as well as Ares in Wonder Woman.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Love The Fifth Element

[@willhuey]

Gary also played Sirius black

[@jaeusa160]

You could fill a Top 100 with "Movies You Probably Don't Know/Remember Featuring Gary Oldman" Dude might be the actor I can most associate with being in damned near every movie somewhere.

[@djyanno]

I always loved Kiefer Sutherland for that: Stand by me / Young Guns

[@kevinmurry8803]

Jack Bauer. Then playing the Sniper in Phone Booth.

[@djyanno]

@@kevinmurry8803 not to mention David in Lost Boys

[@djyanno]

@@kevinmurry8803 or Robert Doob in Eye for an eye

[@kevinmurry8803]

@@djyanno Thanks. I forgot about that.

[@richardjamesgallardojr.7584]

Samuel was great as the Antichrist in The Omen and as the bad guy in daybreakers those are some pretty cool movies

[@josephbrownjr3564]

Gary oldman in True Romance

[@garywinnie6745]

This!

[@jamespope7669]

Drexl rocks

[@walterlovejoychiradza1343]

Josh Brolin deserves a spot on this list

[@Hogtownboy1]

Gary Oldman in slow horses. Tom cruise in Collatreal as the stone cold hitman, Ian is the monster in God and monster.And Keaton is straight up villian in Beetlejuice

[@hermiona1147]

Wait I never realized it was the same actor in LotR and The Matrix

[@ArcherSuh4721]

Lots of people don't realize he was also V in V For Vendetta... but in all fairness, it is tough to recognize him.

[@Trilleth]

He was also the original Red Skull in Captain America TFA.

[@devinfaucette]

He's also in an amazing movie that most people haven't seen called The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

[@kevinmurry8803]

😄

[@BroodallyHonest]

Williams wasn't the villain in "One Hour Photo", the husband was

[@jaeusa160]

Or both were.

[@BroodallyHonest]

@@jaeusa160 Williams was creepy and socially awkward. He didn't hurt anyone. He actually did a good thing by exposing the husband

[@carriesmigla-didier8900]

I love how versatile Gary Oldman is. I also think it's odd that for European audiences the name of that amazing movie starting Jean Reno and Natalie Portman is Leon vs American audiences The Professional. Shrug.

[@thewriterstuff]

I think there could have been better comparisons. Tom Cruise's bad guy in Collateral, Liam Neeson's savior in Schindler's List, Gary Oldman's bad guy in Leon: The Professional.

[@generybarczyk6993]

How 'bout Daniel Day-Lewis and Harrison Ford already? I mean, really.

[@ArcherSuh4721]

Honorable Mention: Max Von Sydow, who expertly portrayed Jesus in The Greatest Story Ever Told and then decaded later gave an incredible performance as the Devil in Needful Things. Now THAT is having range as an actor!

[@wasienka]

Oldman may have played in quite a few prestige movies but I love his role in Rosecrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead the most.

[@Swampthing71]

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury(MCU) & Richmond Valentine (Kingsman The Secret Service) Josh Brolin as Thanos(Avengers Infinity War/Endgame) & Cable(Deadpool 2) Gary Oldman as Commissioner James Gordon (The Dark Knight Trilogy) & Count Dracula(Bram Stoker's Dracula) Kurt Russell as Jack Burton(Big Trouble In Little China) & Ego The Living Planet(Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2) Chrstoph Waltz as Dr. King Shultz(Django Unchained) & Hans Landa(Inglorious Basterds) Heath Ledger as William Thacher(A Knight's Tale) & The Joker(The Dark Knight) Tom Hardy as Max Rockstansky(Mad Max Fury Road) & Bane(Thr Dark Knight Rises) Brad Pitt ad Lt. Aldo Raine(Inglorious Basterds) & Tyler Durden(Fight Club) Christian Bale as Batman(The Dark Trilogy) & Patrick Bates (American Psycho)

[@stickman4087]

How could you not put James McAvoy on this list??? Seriously, Split, and Xmen, I would easily put him above half the people on this list

[@Aprilpixie]

You are not over critical. Your points are valid and I found the underworld strangely empty too.

[@obiemichaels9675]

What about Jeffrey wright as Felix leiter and peoples Hernandez

[@markkuijpers3818]

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained. Perhaps an honourable mention for Chris Hemsworth in the MCU and Bad Times at the El Royale

[@g3ngar04]

Ethan Hawke: hero - The Purge, villain - The Black Phone. Bill Skarsgard, hero - Mama, villain - IT or John Wick chapter 4. Cary Elwes: hero - The Princess Bride/Robin Hood men in tights, villain - Stranger Things/SAW. Jeff Goldblum: hero - The Jurassic Park/World series, villain - The Fly. Matthew Lillard, hero - Scooby Doo/Wing Commander, villain - Scream, Five Nights at Freddie’s. Just to name a few more

[@SN_Sims]

Good list but Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Jonny Depp and Jason Statham, Viggo Mortenson and Mads Mikkelsen were all were great candidates for this one.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

Another Dark Keaton movie? Pacific Heights! He's so terrifying!!!

[@jaeusa160]

You could probably make enough of these lists for 50 and still have plenty of well liked choices.

[@jamespope7669]

Gary Oldman as Drexl in True Romance "white boy day" and Stansfield in Leon "I haven't got time for this Mickey mouse bs" 😂

[@claymathewselevator8121]

One Hour Photo is an underrated movie

[@theoriginalThud]

Gary Oldman = 🐐…and don’t forget his heart felt performance on Sirius Black in HP. And speaking of HP, You have to include Alan Rickman for amazing performances as one of the true heroes in HP and villains in Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. And then there is James Spader who impressively plays what could be considered both a hero and a villain all in one character in two different shows - The Blacklist and Boston Legal.

[@lightscameronreaction6860]

Ian should’ve been #1.

[@redfive5856]

Gary Oldman does not get credit for his chilling performance as Jackie Flannery in "State of Grace". An underrated and underappreciated movie. Standiing upon my hill shouting: Killmonger wasn't wrong. Tom Cruise was better and more villainous in "Collateral". Keaton is a bigger hero in "Mr Mom".

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Hugo Weaving was great as Megatron

[@justinboockoff7282]

It’s gonna sound basic, but my favorite Gary Oldman role was Sirius Black

[@jamespope7669]

He's more than Harry Potter. Stansfield in Leon and Drexl in True Romance, even Fifth Element Zorg.

[@justinboockoff7282]

@@jamespope7669 I’m well aware that he has a lot of good roles. I’m saying, in my opinion, Sirius Black was my favorite of his roles.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

This is amazing 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@newageBoundhippie]

the video focused on films but damn if David Tennant doesn't deserve a mention for his roles as The Doctor ( both the 10th and the 14th ) in Doctor Who and Killgrave in Jessica Jones

[@seanhertzsch]

I don't see how you have Hugo Weaving without mentioning Priscilla Queen of the Desert as the "Hero". His acting in that role was completely different from anything else that he has done.

[@str8ballinonyou]

Denzel should have eaisly made this list. Dude is a chameleon when it comes to hopping between heroes and villains, a n give Idris a nod too.

[@ryanbrown5460]

Hugo Weaving was a hero in "V for Vendetta"

[@fredricclack7137]

Hugo: Princilla 👑😅

[@JohnKay79]

Gary Oldman in True Romance is the best

[@Change376]

Tom Cruise best bad guy role was Vincent in Collateral. Like evil Ethan Hunt. Great movie.

[@azozeto]

Do the same list but with films released in the same year.

[@robertlie325]

Walton Goggins needs to be on such a list his villians in movies like tomb raider, american ultra, fatman or django unchained or great also his good guys in h8teful eight or his character in the series justified; there he shows the character as pure evil villian, purified penitent, honest friend and a man haunted by his past to fall again just comeback in unexpected ways

[@jopalm3649]

Christoph Waltz, Di Caprio, Nicholson

[@katesjanice]

Gary Oldman - a tie between Dracula & Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

[@ArmyCop]

How about Daniel Day-Lewis for Abe Lincoln in Lincoln and for Bill “The Butcher” Cutting in Gangs of New York?

[@fredricclack7137]

Robin- Final 🪓; What Dreams, & 1HR 📸

[@d.a.baracus]

Michael B. Jordan plays the same guy in every performance with a slightly different perspective. Lots of actors are like this; the Rock, Michelle Rodriguez, Mark Wahlberg, Ryan Reynolds...

[@zakk219]

Samuel L. Jackson also played a great villain in the first Kingsman movie. The second one would have been a lot better if it had a villain of his quality.

[@kameranlane4413]

What about Stephen from Django

[@sogggy]

Most of these actors act the same whether they are a hero or a villain. Gary Oldman is very good at being a villain. The characters he plays are very different from each other.

[@austinstorm4551]

Matt Smith for Doctor Who and HOTD

[@johnsmith-kc8rk]

Gary Oldman in True Romance

[@johnsmith-kc8rk]

Robin Williams also played the killer in Insomnia

[@jabarileitner]

How could you not use "collateral" as Tom Cruz villain movie?!

[@DeeInyomouwf]

Lestat is a anti hero, Interview With a Vampire was Louis take on Lestat, if you read the actual material Lestat was destined to have most of the fledglings he care about to hate him, he saved the world, we just didn't get a chance for the Vampire Lestat movie to come out to clear his name

[@Lost.Yeti.315]

How do you not mention Cristoph Waltz for Hans Landa and King Schultz?! Wtf?!

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Both Red Skull and Megatron would later be recasted after Hugo Weaving

[@bryandavidson4414]

Where was Christoph Waltz as both Col. Hans Landa and then Dr. King Schultz?

[@jamespope7669]

Dr king Schultz is a bounty hunter, not exactly a good guy lol

[@thefacelessmist]

Henry Fonda in most of his films vs Once Upon a Time in the West. Also Michael Keaton in Pacific Heights, he's evil...

[@nareanmano]

Tom cruise played villian in collateral

[@whopito422]

Tom cruise tropic thunder

[@tychobrodie]

Michael B Jordan's killmonger was not the villain in that movie

[@fredricclack7137]

GO: Nobody's 🍼😂

[@braedenmartin8596]

I forgot he was megatron

[@jyveturkey1894]

Robin Williams insomnia!

[@larrystrauchman5126]

Cable/thanos anybody???

[@fredricclack7137]

#1: 🕊️ ♂️😮

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

Another Sam Neil evil performance? The Final Conflict, the 3rd movie in The Omen series.

[@brucenatelee]

I forget Sam Jackson plays a lot of villains.

[@devinfaucette]

🤷🏾‍♂️ I think Gary Oldman's Drexl in True Romance is a waaay better villain than Dracula....just saying....🙄 C'mon, Gareth.... Sam Neil's best heroic role was Jurassic Park? No love for Merlin, huh? And sorry. Samuel L. Jackson's role in Lakeview Terrace made me hate him way the hell more than I hated him in Unbreakable 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@adamwallace985]

Tom Hardy?

[@zacharycunningham1789]

Way to dumb down the legacy of one of the greatest actors of his or any generation! Sir Ian is bigger than Gandalf or Magneto (who wasn’t entirely a villain) while not even mentioning his turns as Macbeth and Richard III. That’s a disgrace to him and a betrayal of using the word “Culture” in your title. (Honestly, I like you guys but think you have the platform to encourage your audience to embrace and relate to more than just poppy stuff.)

[@asphyxiapunktwister8534]

JARED LETO has to be in this list. 😆😂

[@moriconvallaria1279]

I'm sorry, but while Ian McKellen was great as Gandalf, as a longtime X- Men fan, I found him lacking as Magneto. He possessed none of the intensity, none of the always boiling beneath the surface fury, and was instead rather sedate, and utterly unbelievable in the role, and I hated it 🤷‍♀️

[@CSC52698]

Michael B. Jordan sucked in Black Panther. He pretty much ruined the movie for me.