20 Secret Movie Villains EVERYONE Saw Coming

Now to be totally fair to Netflix's generally terrific animated film Nimona, it at least doesn't save its big villain reveal for the very end of the movie, instead confirming that The Director of the Institute (Frances Conroy) is the real antagonist just 40 minutes in.

At this point we're shown video footage confirming that Queen Valerin's (Lorraine Toussaint) death was caused by the Director secretly swapping out Ballister's (Riz Ahmed) sword, but let's be honest, she had "Bad Guy" stamped on her forehead from her very first scene.

In her first interaction with Ballister, she straight-up says, "Today, the kingdom will see you for who you really are," which feels like nothing if not a wholly loaded, entirely pointed sliver of dialogue.

Then there's her dismissive demeanour towards Ballister once he's imprisoned, and the several reaction shots which linger just a little too long on her face to not mean something.

But again, at least Nimona had the good sense to get this reveal out of the way early so viewers didn't spend the rest of the movie waiting for it.