Top 10 Action Movies Where the Bad Guy Wins

FX’s The Old Man. All New Thursdays on FX. Stream on Hulu.
Turns out that sometimes crime does pay. For this list, we’ll be looking at various action movies in which the hero loses and the villain emerges triumphant. Our countdown includes “Inglourious Basterds”, "The Great Escape", "300", and more! Which of these endings did you find the most shocking? Let us know in the comments below!
Watch more great action videos here:
Top 50 Best Action Films of All Time: • Top 50 Best Action Fil...
Top 20 Most Rewatched Action Movie Scenes Ever: • Top 20 Most Rewatched ...
Top 10 Worst Action Movie Box Office Bombs: • Top 10 Worst Action Mo...
Test your Trivia Power!
www.watchmojo....
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/watc...
Visit WatchMojo Club for Great Deals!
wmojo.com/Watc...
Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news on Film, TV, Video Games, Comics, Celeb, Music and Superheroes.
#Movies
#Action
#Villains
#ActionMovies
#MovieVillains
#ActionMovieVillains
#BestVillains
#TheMatrix
#300
#JamesBond
#Terminator

[@WatchMojo]

FX’s The Old Man. All New Thursdays on FX. Stream on Hulu.

[@amit1986]

Can you do top 10 action movies where the hero wins.

[@TheWarmachine375]

What about Revenge of the Sith where Palpatine succeeded in turning the Republic into the Galactic Empire, killed most of the Jedi with Order 66 and turned Anakin Skywalker into the Dark Side as Darth Vader?

[@beaudavis3808]

Are you forgetting about Senator Organa bringing Leia to his wife and Obi-Wan giving Luke to Beru and she carrying him to Owens with them looking at the suns setting in the sky over Tatooine?

[@tonythehappynerd7241]

that's more science fiction fantasy

[@amirspellman6793]

Nobody cares about that bullshit

[@margaret91]

I was looking for this comment

[@IndianaJenkins615]

@@beaudavis3808 Sith still won the war, numerous jedi were killed, Obi Wan/Yoda hide in exile and the Empire ruled the galaxy for over 25 years.

[@Survivor-dw7we]

Se7en should've made the top of this list. The killer " John Doe " took everything from Detective Mills : his Wife, his unborn child ( he didn't know about ), his law enforcement career, and made Mills carry out the final act of his 7 deadly sins murder spree. Even Detective Somerset was wrecked by the movie's shock ending.

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@billny33]

@@jimbo9208 I think it could definitely be interpreted as action. Also the Usual Suspects Keyser Soze should be here. But I learned about a lot of movie plot twists I had never heard of so I'm not complaining too much. I already knew about Se7en and Usual Suspects.

[@cmzf947]

If superhero movies were included, there is no doubt that Thanos wiping out half of humanity in Avengers Infinity War would take the number one spot, not just because that sort of thing almost never happens in those kind of movies, but everyone had to watch many of their favourite superheroes, including Spider-Man turn into dust which was just heartbreaking.

[@awesauce1]

Also the first time the avengers lost in the mcu.

[@lukeclover3420]

Dark Knight probably would've been #2

[@Neags]

@@awesauce1 I beg to differ, Civil war was the first

[@Soldier-Boy1954]

Avengers infinity war is awesome movie, but not enough for movie classics like for example: Star Wars Episode 7, inglourious basterds, Watchmen, Fight Club or Dark knight... So i think it wouldn't be on 1# spot but ok

[@lupinvash3]

The Watchmen

[@VanRocCarMor]

How is No Country For Old Men not on this list? Anton Chigurh kills almost every protagonist and walks away from a car crash. That’s literally the end of the movie.

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@VanRocCarMor]

@@jimbo9208 well…. Shit… I’ll take the L on this one

[@larryfoulkeofficial8609]

​@@VanRocCarMorplus it was featured in their other video

[@manuelacosta9463]

As innacuratly over the top as 300 was, Leonidas reminding Xerxes of his mortality in his last stand was badass. The look of shocked horror on Xerxes's face was priceless given the god tier ego he was strutting about with the entire film.

[@lukesutton7488]

Correct. It's common in mythology that gods don't bleed, and that mortals can't kill a god, only demi-gods or gods, this is why Leonidas' line "...and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed" even more epic when we see it

[@Jay-Zech]

I know Avengers: Infinity War doesn’t count, but honestly, Thanos’ win was one, if not the best villain victories of all time(aside from Palpatine taking the Galaxy in Revenge of The Sith of course)

[@Jackal_El_Lobo34]

No that definitely counts. The Thanos’s success was short term but he did win at the end of Infinity War. 👍🏻

[@davidgiraudy6883]

@@Jackal_El_Lobo34 had the heroes depressed for 5 years definitely counts

[@srstriker6420]

Well Zemo from Civil War should been on this along with Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix Joker

[@hookkch4120]

that's half of the story, he didint win [thanos]

[@davidtaylor1164]

@@hookkch4120 But they included the Matrix, which had a sequel after it, like Infinity War. Inconsistencies!

[@avidgames91091]

Empire Strikes Back should’ve made the list where the imperials succeed in taking over Bespin and Hoth and with Luke finding out Vader’s his father after losing his hand.

[@coinsaver]

Agreed

[@filippofittipaldi8050]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service was one of my favorite Bond films. Even as a horney teenager, I enjoyed Bond falling in love and getting married. And the ending was truly heartbreaking, but it was also touching. Bond felt more human in this film.

[@jamesgarner8262]

10. One Her Majesty's Secret Service ™️ 9. G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra ™️ 8. Inglorious Basterds 7. Gangs of Wassyport 6. Terminator ®️3: The Rise of the Machines ™️ 5. The Great Escape 4. Skyfall™️ 3. 300™️ 2. The Matrix: Reloaded ™️ 1. Old 👦 Boy

[@gladiatorsfury]

7. it's gangs of wasseypur

[@jamesdayton2598]

Thank you

[@generaljellybeans9524]

I feel like Life with Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson should be on here

[@jaysharpESQ]

Oh HELL YEAH 👍😑

[@BigFella117]

“Maybe the future has been written. I don’t know, all I know is what the Terminator taught me, never stop fighting. And I never will. The battle has just begun.” - John Connor, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

[@olleselin]

Great message

[@BigFella117]

@@olleselin agreed

[@Vindix007]

Awful movie with an awesome ending.

[@BlazerK1914]

The 3rd film should never exist. T2 should have been the last, and its end credit scene should’ve been more noticeable.

[@rashminpatel6708]

Its great to see Gangs of Wasseypur get the fame it deserves

[@rashminpatel6708]

@flisnoo shaboo Im not talking about just being on a Watch Mojo list but it has become a cult classic. A movie starring lesser known actors to get the fame it did in India is very rare. It kickstarted careers of many amazing actors. Its a movie that shows that Indian films are not all always about musical numbers and dance sequences. They have gripping stories to tell and its about time people in the western world start seeing it. And being on a Watch Mojo list is a solid start to just that.

[@TheWarmachine375]

0:53 Thanos giving Thor a heads up

[@a.jthomas6132]

Star Wars Episode 3- Revenge of the Sith, to me, is still the best Star Wars movie!

[@a.jthomas6132]

You kinda forget that the TX terminator model was sent back in time to eliminate John Connor’s future lieutenants and ignite the nuclear war by making Skynet become self aware.

[@williamthomas3359]

I wouldn't really call inglorious basterds an action film. Landa is definitely the antagonist, but in that one you could say both the protagonist and antagonist wins. Definitely one of the more unique endings there are.

[@davidtaylor1164]

Yah, if they counted that one, then they should've counted Valkyrie.

[@LeonardoKlotz]

People shouldn't blame TIM MILLER for the failure of "Terminator: Dark Fate" He was the director, NOT the writer Killing John Connor was James Cameron's idea Miller deserves another chance because he still got a lot to offer He gave us DEADPOOL and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, directed by his friend, Jeff Fowler Plus, have anyone seen LOVE, DEATH and ROBOTS?

[@olleselin]

Miller is Awesome!

[@LeonardoKlotz]

@@olleselin he could direct the next TMNT reboot

[@joewas2225]

Finally someone gets Dark Fate. It wasn't even a bad movie. Arnold was still awesome. I loved seeing Linda Hamilton reprise her role. Action was good. T3 is by far the worst in the franchise.

[@dashtoroya2838]

@@joewas2225 t4 and t5 were way horrible then t3.

[@TheCommenterDragon]

I will admit that while i like movies where the good guys win most of the time, it's also good to see films where the bad guys win every once in awhile as well.

[@luisbernal9336]

Yeah 👍 same here! It's very satisfying to see the villain/villains win and defeat the protagonists every now and then.!

[@yoder6162]

Too bad about #1

[@markzuckergecko621]

I think Rocky deserves an honorable mention, even though Apollo isn't really a "bad" guy, he's actually a pretty good guy, he's just the antagonist, and you can really only loosely call it an action movie, more of a sports drama. But still, it's one of the best movies of all time where the good guy loses.

[@Jordan_Kazama]

Just as Rocky Balboa

[@colleenross8752]

Not really. Rocky went the distance, he proved himself. I'd take that as a win

[@Jordan_Kazama]

@@colleenross8752 It is a win,but technically is a loss,it just have a bigger meaning

[@Mangolite]

Who would have thought Gangs of Wasseypur be on the list and Old Boy take the top spot?

[@a.jthomas6132]

Since we have yet to wrap up the canceled Sarah Connor Chronicles, many of the Terminator fans suspected that John Connor spend most his time in the futuristic war between the human resistance and Skynet before being sent to an alternative late 90’s era prior events before Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I really liked the ending in terminator 3 rise of the machines 👍

[@godkinghell15]

Me too

[@Christrulesall2]

Very fun and underrated film. It was an excellent follow up to T2.

[@VenkmanPhD]

I maintain John Connor is the mist mistreated character in blockbuster movies. end of T2 he was set up to be a soldier of fortune, full tilt survivalist rebel with a peek into the future and turned him into a dickless drifter.

[@jamalvargas6146]

300 Hate To Sound Like a Broken Record But I do not like Xercese winning even though it's in the Original Dark Horse Comic it's no fair

[@michaellynes3540]

The Joker from “The Dark Knight.” He killed everyone around Batman, including Rachel. He created Harvey Dent into Two-Face and made him go on a rampage, killing those he believed were responsible for Rachel’s death. And to add insult to injury, the Joker made Batman break his one rule to not kill anyone on Two-Face (though it was on accident and Two-Face pointed a loaded gun on Commissioner Gordon’s son) and Batman had to take the blame for Two-Face’s killings.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Out of the few James Bond films I’ve seen, _Skyfall_ is my favorite.

[@DJGamingSmash]

Watchmen? Empire Strikes Back? Infinity War? You missed a ton for honorable mentions.

[@jimbo9208]

no superhero movies

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines is such an underrated movie that deserves more love for it´s amazing story

[@michael56521]

I did love the trilogy I also hope they make a film that's set in the future like the video game 'terminator resistance'

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

@@michael56521 Terminator Salation was following that path, but no, Cameron had to rebooted

[@michael56521]

@@javiersantanaaviles5885 I know but I mean like on its final hrs till the resistance finally destroys skynet

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

@@michael56521 Yes, but we will never watched it because Cameron destroy the franchise for good

[@a.jthomas6132]

Who came for the 300 graphic novel after Zack Snyder’s film?

[@ericseitzler81]

In desperate measures with Michael Keaton he played the bad guy and he sort of won.the good guy got what he wanted but the bad guy escaped in the end but nobody remembers that movie

[@kundanbhotmange1305]

I didn't expect Gangs of Wasseypur to be on the list but it deserves to be on the list.

[@disclaimer.imjokin]

Terminator 3 ending is one of the best endings of all time

[@thebrownbatman9223]

I never knew I would see gangs of Wasseypur here. It’s like one of the greatest gangster film ever. Just because it’s not Hollywood film, it hasn’t gotten it’s due credit worldwide.

[@andrewmcnamara6305]

According to TV Tropes this list would be an example of "The Bad Guy Wins."

[@AmazingSpider-Man]

I love it that in the end the T-800 won by finally killing John Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate. It's particularly satisfactory when you remember that in the previous movie John mocks him by saying "You were never strong enough to defeat me.".

[@adamdestro123]

What about the movie Upgrade? Stem took full control of Grey's body at the end after breaking his mind.

[@demonwolf5553]

Oh yeah, that was a good depressing ending

[@LeonardoKlotz]

Warner bros' take on TERMINATOR was a lot better than Paramount' take

[@angelaholmes8888]

You are so right about that 💯👍

[@greendemon2859]

If superhero movies were allowed on here, The Dark Knight deserves top 3 What did Joker really want throughout the movie? For Batman to break his one rule and kill someone. And what does Batman do at the end, kill Harvey Dent. Joker really won in the end when you think about it...

[@1neOfN0ne]

I haven't gotten through the entire list yet but Deep Impact better be on it. The meteor is the villain and it definitely wins in the end

[@jakeybaby2438]

I feel like No Time to Die is more of the bad guy wins then Skyfall

[@Toledotourbillion]

I think 2002 Hero starring Jet Li fits nicely in this list. He died so the Emperor rules a prosperous kingdom.

[@rickhibdon11]

The Wild Bunch, The Usual Suspects, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Empire Strikes Back, Seven, Saving Private Ryan, Invasion of the Body Snatchers ( both movies), The Thing, and it goes on

[@coinsaver]

Silence Of The Lambs?

[@georgekostelis3013]

Well you forgot the 2001 movie Swordfish with John Travolta-Halle Berry-Hugh Jackman.

[@tyvulpintaur2732]

GoldenEye, Janus steals billions of dollars from companies in the UK, but the money is never retrieved.

[@jalabi99]

Honorable Mention: _Life_ starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. It's not a comedy, it's a serious drama, and the bad guys win.

[@Katkayz]

They were not bad guys , they were Framed

[@trexadvent4726]

Can you do top 10 villains who could be the main villain of the Fantastic Four movie in the MCU? I think it should be the U-Foes

[@spacejam8765]

Technically it wasn't Blofield who killed Tracy. It was Lrma Bunt who shot Tracy. Hell she actually did get away with murder because Ilse Steppat who played Lrma, sadly passed away 4 day's after the film was released.

[@disclaimer.imjokin]

Sounds like she didn't get away with anything mwhahahhahahhahahha

[@kingbsb]

Since you are promoting old man I am suprised you didn't use Arlington Road staring Jeff Bridges.

[@walterroche8192]

Ah, T3. Probably one of the most hated of the original trilogy movies. All because people still cling to the ideas that time can be subverted and things that are Fated to happen will. I think that Frankstien should be in the list as no one wins, just like Skyfall but nearly 70 years before

[@thedarkcriminal1658]

300 is a masterpiece. Zach created a phenomenal movie because that's exactly how Greeks and Spartans were.

[@everlenaoliver6912]

5:30 Terminator 3 gets a lot of hate for no reason. I like it's gutsy, downer ending.

[@alexhidalgo7110]

The 300 movie I remember

[@thedrinkinggamemaker9749]

Leonidas won

[@naveensharma6800]

Thank You So Much for Including The Epic Indian Classy Crime Drama Movie!!! I wish I can constantly like this video. Hope more Indian movie will feature in your upcoming videos.

[@geo_ashburn]

You left off The Karate Kid where Larusso beats Johnny with an illegal crane kick to the face 😂😂😂

[@adamballou4680]

You forgot Star Wars A New Hope. Those evil rebel scum were allowed to win.

[@abhyudaykanoje]

Damn, I am so happy to see Gangs of wasseeypur in the list...

[@ktmrider4084]

M really in shock or just amazed to see Gangs of wasseypur in a mojo list thanks mojo for recognising this Indian masterpiece ❤️❤️

[@technospaz]

How could they forget Mile 22? The ending was epic 👍

[@123blakes8]

Should have gone for the head…. Am I the only one thinking go for the arm…

[@user-ns3sb5gi8b]

😆

[@HeyInternetErichere]

How did Se7en not make the list?!?!?

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@AJARyan-yn2uv]

I know The Dark Knight is about a superhero, but surely that could count on this list. The Joker, while he gets caught, manages to get Harvey Dent killed (by Batman no less), rock the GCPD to its core and ended the Batman for 8 years.

[@DarkMarwin]

That Terminator 3 ending where nuclear missiles were launched all around the world was scary asf

[@jordancobb2855]

I don’t think some of the movies are entirely accurate. For one in Inglorious Bastard, the villain still gets his comeuppance by the two Americans when one of them killed the villains assistant, as well as getting stabbed on his forehead leaving a scar on his forehead. Which made him feel the agonizing pain on his forehead from one of their knives. So technically, that’s not entirely true that all the villains in these movies won. The same goes for the Matrix Reloaded, for Neo chose to save Trinity for he didn’t wanted to lose her for he no longer wanted to save everyone else in movie until M: Revolution came out.

[@Fuggernaut]

Choi Min-sik (Dea-su Oh) was also in I Saw The Devil. That’s another movie in which the bad guy wins.

[@Msshadylady21]

Love that movie.

[@TravisPflanz]

Great movie

[@homeacoustics101]

How is No Country For Old Men not on this list?

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@mayarandolph8788]

@@jimbo9208 westerns are literally action movies. Duh

[@jimbo9208]

@@mayarandolph8788 yes but no country for old men is a crime/drama

[@VictorPerez-hg2ed]

The rise of cobra was my favorite ending.

[@ayushovhal640]

Damn! been watching watchmojo videos since years and never ever would i have thought of seeing gangs of Wasseypur getting included in a list!

[@chrischris308]

Sorry, sorry, sorry, but there's no Way, absolutely NO WAY to cast aside Arlington Road, as well as Seven. Should be in this List, definitely.

[@flynnegan2880]

Some films should’ve been at the list but Oldboy at number 1 is a big ass W

[@varangiantactical8843]

300 is one of the most historically accurate movie; you're just missing the key detail of the film.

[@loganstolberg2743]

Skyfall is the easily the most underrated James Bond movie!!

[@terrelltownsend8016]

Zemo in Captain America: Civil War is an honorable mention in my opinion. My goal was to turn the Avengers against each other and he succeeded.

[@faronjoseph84]

Can't believe No Country For Old Men didn't make the list.

[@colleenross8752]

It's not really an action film

[@Luisv951]

I don’t know , that ending on repo men, caught me off guard 😳

[@evanblack8642]

What about "The Empire Strikes Back", since Luke Skywalker loses to Darth Vader AND Boba Fett captures Han Solo at the end

[@chuumon95]

I never watched 300 but I after this and learning from the episode “An Ancient History of Violence” from the show Animated History that the Spartans were a bunch of child slave driving pedophiles, I don’t ever plan to.

[@benjaminschiel3339]

Well the compleet time are was somtimes called the age of slavary... also what was define as children in that region and place was not the same deffenition as ourers. they are still tribal cultures that see a 12-14 years old boy as male if he pass some test. and a women when she first bleed! and when the nazi loosing the War and the troops already stand in berline they also recrutet boys to slow down the USSR troops. (wel the whole nazi scout truup thin the Hitler jugend was more or les a early militariy training it should brainwash the children into the next generation of nazi citzen and soldier)

[@gosigrattagosigmus8510]

Excepted Dark Knight on 1st.

[@JtotheR23]

Where is No Country for old Men? I loved that movie because the bad guy wins :(

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@crimsonvoid1595]

Interesting fact. Sparta was founded by Heracles. Which explains where the Spartans got their tenacity from.

[@biguy617]

The Usual Suspects, Keyser Soze wins in the end of the movie and disappears.

[@munnawinchester587]

Gangs of wasseypur being here is such an honor ngl. It's one of the best indian movie.

[@williamsummerson1204]

I think it's refreshing to see the villain win once in a while. I know it doesn't count but in the end of se7en the villain wins.

[@robertcatania1120]

as well as "The Usual Suspects" but also does not count as an action movie

[@williamsummerson1204]

@@robertcatania1120 👍

[@nymetsfan9121]

Really thought number one would’ve been empire strikes back

[@paulroberts8479]

Does the Godfather count? Corrupting Michael into the godfather?

[@jimbo9208]

not an action movie

[@Jackal_El_Lobo34]

Out of all the movies chosen, I don’t get why Terminator 3 and GI Joe Rise of Cobra are on the list. Yes they’re technically movies where the bad guy wins but they suck. They’re crap movies. There are better better film examples out there where the villain wins like “Chinatown”.

[@jimbo9208]

no one said they had to be good movies

[@jeuryrabassa4724]

Like anyone is going to defend the G.I.Joe. animated series and movie anyway. Atleast they weren't as bad as most of mediocre 2010's movies and some of 2020's movies *cough* Mobius *cough* .

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Terminator 3 is the one movie that audiences keep being told isn’t canon. There’s like 4 Terminator 3’s.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

What happened in OldBoy was so unbelievable and tragic. The performances were so great, nonetheless

[@detpak]

#1 Should of been The Empire Strikes. The Empire crushes the Rebellion to near non existence. Luke is devasted with the revelation from Vader,loses his hand as well in combat vs Vader. Han is captured and handed over to Boba Fett.

[@thedevilsrockstxr2309]

The fact that u think the US kept their promise to Hans is hilarious

[@jagannathmohanty6488]

Gangs of Wasseypur is considered legendary in India!

[@dashtoroya2838]

Well now yeah, but back when it was released many people were offended including the entire bollywood

[@michaelmonthey5974]

There’s not very many superhero movies where the supervillain actually won.

[@emilysclone]

For the last one, didn't he have his memories erased again? Then he went back to having a romantic relationship with his daughter?

[@IndianaJenkins615]

Fist of Fury, starring Bruce Lee, bad guys won. Lee lived in Japanese occupied China pre-WW2, Lee sought revenge after his martial arts school was attacked by Japanese assassins. Lee got revenge but as way to ensure the school's safety from future attacks, Lee sacrificed himself to the imperial Japanese Army where he was killed by firing squad.

[@con106]

If I had a nickel for everytime Javier Bardeem played a villain that wins, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. (Skyfall and No Country For Old Men)

[@xXLightvsDeathXx]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought what happened in the end of Old Boy is that the man captive escapes and puts the villain in the captivity that was meant for him, basically so he could get a taste of his own medicine. In which, the villain does not win so to speak, or am I mixing that with a different movie?

[@con106]

A shame they didn’t include superhero movies, not quite sure why though. Aside from Infinity War being the obvious choice, Captain America: Civil War is another great superhero movie where the bad guy wins.

[@lesterdx]

Arlington road (1999) starring Tim Robbins and Jeff Bridges is missing

[@TheWarmachine375]

5:29 Guess fate can never be defied no matter how much you time traveled and it is still inevitable.

[@Herowebcomics]

Terminator 3 had a crazy but awesome ending! They could not prevent Judgment day, but they could become the leaders of the resistance and save lives!

[@dustinpahel5950]

Now do a top 10 movies told from the villains perspective