10 Movie Villains Who Turned Heroes Evil

10. Emperor Palpatine

Anakin Skywalker’s fate was predetermined from the very beginning. By the time we first meet him in A New Hope, he’s already the powerful fallen Jedi serving a totalitarian Empire.

Anakin's transformation from miracle baby born into servitude to one of the galaxy’s most powerful Sith Lords is down to Emperor Palpatine. The initially unnamed Emperor is Darth Vader’s master from the outset, but his full role in the downfall of Anakin is uncovered in the prequels.

Senator Palpatine at first appears as a well-meaning, charismatic politician with only the best of intentions, helping the galaxy-wide Republic to prosper. He is ultimately revealed to be Sith lord Darth Sidious, with anything but good intentions.

Under the guise of diplomacy, Palpatine steadily manipulates the council over the course of the prequels, ultimately taking complete control over the Republic and turning it into the Empire we knew from the originals.

Part of his plan involved wiping out the Jedi, and as such targeting a Jedi believed to bring balance to the force to become his Sith apprentice would be a solid move.

Anakin's turn to the darkside is at least initially motivated by love; he truly believes Palpatine is the only one who can save his wife Padme, who he foresaw would die in childbirth. This simple inroad leads to Palpetine's manipulation of from the good-natured, intelligent, loving young boy into a Sith lord driven by fear and hate.