Women's Day 2026: Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Cynthia Eviro as Elphaba - female villains who went roguefor good reasons

Women's Day 2026: Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Cynthia Eviro as Elphaba - female villains who went rogue for good reasons

When we think of female antagonists, we think of women with gothic makeup wearing deep-hued dresses sporting elaborate hairstyles driven with the sole intention to rule and exploit. But no, over the years, storytelling has evolved, and female antagonists are no longer dictators devoid of compassion. Today, they are complex characters whose reputation of being ‘the black sheep’ is a byproduct of social injustice. Their actions, which are deemed ‘bad’ in the conventional sense, are undertaken for a greater purpose, for the welfare of humankind. And that is possibly why some ‘antagonists’ have appealed to the audience more than the lead.

From Elphaba in Wicked fighting the ‘Wizard of Oz’ for animal rights to Cassie in ‘Promising Young Woman’ taking the role of vigilante, here are a few antagonists who were bad for good reasons.

While in the traditional version of the ‘Wizard of Oz’, the witch of the West is portrayed as evil, in ‘Wicked’, it is shown otherwise. Directed by Jon.M Chu, the movie shows Elphaba, the green-skinned witch, as a rebel with a cause. She is largely misunderstood throughout the movie, but she does not make any active attempts to clear her name. Elphaba’s character campaigns hard for animal rights and denies all privileges of the Wizard of Oz, as it does not align with her true self. For the sake of being true to herself, she even sabotages her friendship with her only friend, Glinda. Elphaba, who has been forced to live an isolated life, plans, plots, and schemes to ensure justice is delivered. Towards the end of the movie, she willingly disappears without telling her story, which shows that Elphaba never wanted to be ‘hailed as the hero’.

With Angelina Jolie playing the role, Maleficent is shown as a fairy whose sole ambition is to protect the magical land of Moors. She is betrayed by her lover, Stefan, who wishes to impress King Henry, who is ambitious about conquering the Moors. Maleficent unwillingly takes up the role of a tough dictator as she only aims to protect her people. Though in a fit of rage, she curses Stefan’s daughter to prick her finger on a spindle and die, she finds it difficult to remain cold towards the girl's sweet disposition. Her guilt when she is unable to reverse the spell is very clearly evident in the movie. Though Maleficent is evil, ironically, it is her kiss that awakens Aurora from her slumber and not that of her lover, the prince.

Red is the leader of "The Tethered Group," the main antagonist in the 2019 horror film ‘Us’. She is morally ambiguous rather than being purely evil. Her actions are a by-product of injustice rather than malice. Her revolt is a result of unfair treatment over a period of time. She represents the marginalized and ostracized section of society. It is through her eyes that the makers view inequality and the consequences of privilege. Though her actions are a result of injustice, she refuses to be the victim. Red’s character is a classic example of how filmmakers use complex characters to make a point on social commentary.

Cassie Thomas, in the black comedy thriller, is a traumatized former medical student who drops out to seek vengeance against those responsible for her best friend Nina's rape. Her actions of trapping men are not driven by personal vengeance, but because she wishes to get hold of all the predatory men. Cassie turns vigilante because she wishes to stir the gaze of patriarchy. She takes matters into her own hands only when she sees that society has chosen to remain silent on women’s safety. But beneath her vigilante actions, Cassie is not all cold. She forgives when necessary and even allows herself to self-heal in the process.

Katniss’s actions in the movie are largely dominated by survival and responsibility towards her family. Growing up impoverished, Katniss learns to be resilient and self-reliant. Throughout the series, she struggles with the burden of violence and pressure. While all of her decisions are driven by the need for survival, she is also compassionate when situations demand her to be. But despite sporting a tough exterior on the outside, she is vulnerable as well. She is forced to challenge an oppressive system to which she is unwillingly a part.