12 Movies Where The Villain Turns Good

12. Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises)

Not the nicest of people to start with, Selina Kyle kicks a hobbled Bruce Wayne’s cane out from under him and steals his late mother’s pearls. She proceeds to kidnap a politician, provide Wayne’s fingerprints to the monstrous Bane and eventually trick Batman into receiving the worst beating of his life. As humorous and likeable as Catwoman is throughout the film, her level of destruction and villainy early on is only outdone by Bane himself.

After such a sinister start, her third act redemption becomes all the more impressive. Opting to stay in Gotham and help Batman after an initial escape plan, she guns down Bane and aids the Caped Crusader in putting a stop to Talia Al Ghul’s nuclear ambitions.

It all ends very happily for the newly minted hero as she retires peacefully to live with Bruce. Away from the grim and gritty Gotham they just saved from annihilation, a redeemed Selina Kyle could finally be free of her old life.

One of Batman’s most popular characters, Christopher Nolan managed to cram in the villainous, anti-heroic and finally heroic aspects of the character in one go.