10 Movie Villains Who Won AFTER They Died

5. Roy Batty - Blade Runner

Batman Begins Ra S Al Ghul Liam Neeson
Universal Pictures

Sir Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (1982) remains one of his most hotly debated films.

Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) and several other Nexus-6 replicants have murdered to get to Earth and extend their lifespans; "blade runner", Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is tasked with tracking down and "retiring" them. When Batty meets his creator, Dr. Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel), he learns that his own systems prevent his life from being extended. Kissing Tyrell, Batty then kills him in retribution.

Later chasing Deckard through a building onto the roof, Batty realises that his systems are starting to shut down. Deckard tries to escape onto another rooftop, but ends up grasping onto a beam for dear life. Holding a dove, Batty leaps after Deckard, taunting him over what it feels like to be afraid. However, Batty rescues Deckard as the blade runner slips toward the street below.

In the film's finest moment, Batty laments the prospect of his own death: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like...tears in rain. Time to die".

Batty shuts down, releasing the dove into the air, leaving Deckard visibly startled. When Rachael (Sean Young) - a replicant whom Deckard has fallen in love with - is threatened, Deckard goes into hiding with her, proving that, whilst Batty might have failed in his ultimate goal, he has successfully changed Deckard's nature.

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I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.