10 Movie Villains Who Unexpectedly Survived Franchises

9. The Freaks - Death Wish

The entire, five-film Death Wish franchise was propelled into existence by the murder of architect Paul Kersey's (Charles Bronson) wife and the horrific assault of his daughter during a home invasion.

The three criminals responsible, or "freaks" as the movie calls them - one of whom is played by a young Jeff Goldblum - are what motivates Kersey to become a gun-totting vigilante who "cleans up" the streets of New York City.

And yet, this particular trio of freaks exit the movie after ruining Kersey's life and are never actually seen again. 

While you might assume that one of the sequels might see Kersey finally track them down, it never happens - they just get away with it scot-free and that's that.

Sure, you can argue that criminals this depraved would probably end up crossing the wrong person eventually and pay for it with their lives, but considering now thoroughly they wronged our protagonist, it's actually pretty shocking that they never got their on-screen comeuppance, as realistic an outcome as it is.