Engaging character development is often one of the hallmarks of good storytelling – there are few things more rewarding than watching a character change and growing in interesting, believable ways over the course of a story. And one of the most beloved forms of character development is the redemption arc.
Everyone loves a good villain, but some of the best bad guys are the ones who get good in the end. When done right, redemption arcs can be some of the most gripping, emotionally impactful aspects of any given story. Here are just a handful of classic big screen redemption arcs that resonated with audiences everywhere.
It’s almost a cliché to start with Darth Vader when talking about iconic movie redemption arcs. However, sometimes the most obvious example is obvious for good reason. Darth Vader was introduced in 1977 as the worst villain of them all – a fearsome and tyrannical Dark Lord who is said to be the murderer of our hero Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker. In the original Star Wars and most of the sequel, Vader isn’t portrayed much more nuanced. He is not sympathetic or versatile, just pure evil. And then, the end of The Empire Strikes Back turn the whole story on its head.
In what is arguably the most famous plot twist in movie history, Vader reveals to Luke that he didn’t kill Anakin Skywaker – he is Anakin, transformed into a monster by the Emperor’s manipulations. Although Luke is initially shocked by this revelation, Return of the Jedi sees him trying to bring his father back to the Light Side. And while Vader initially remains loyal to the Emperor, he eventually chooses his family over his master, saving Luke from Palpatine at the cost of his own life.
What follows is a heartbreaking farewell between father and son, when Anakin Skywalker finally sheds Darth Vader’s mask for a moment before becoming one with the Force. Not only is it the perfect conclusion to Anakin’s storyline, it also closes Luke’s development, proving that he was right to have faith in his father. It’s a textbook example of a much-loved redemption arc, and it only hits you harder after witnessing the beginning of Anakin’s story in the Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars.
Between his starring status and his likeable personality, Jules Winnfield – Samuel L. Jackson’s infinitely relatable character from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction – is not usually considered a villain. But despite his penchant for quoting the Bible, he is no saint either. Jules is an assassin employed by crime boss Marsellus Wallace, who initially shows no remorse for killing his targets. But after a near-death experience, Jules becomes convinced that his survival was an act of divine intervention, a sign from God that he is destined for something better. Although we never see the results of Jules’ decision to end his criminal life, the food scene in which he reveals his change of heart is still one of the most famous scenes in the film.
The titular character of the 2010 DreamWorks movie Megamind is not a typical villain either. Despite his exaggerated devotion to the archetypal aesthetic of super villains, Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell) is more of a mischievous troublemaker than a truly evil force. But even if he’s not necessarily dangerous, he still starts the story as a purely selfish character, concerned only with proving his superiority over his nemesis Metroman. But once his own mistakes become an even greater threat, Megamind is forced to face his own selfishness and take on the role of hero. Megamind is a clever, comedic and charming tale of a villain who learns to change for the better – if you haven’t seen this animated classic, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Speaking of superhero movies, the MCU has no shortage of villains who see the fault of their ways. There are plenty of other characters that could have easily ended up on this list, from Yondu to Wenwu to just about every villain from Spider-Man: No Way Home. But the most prominent redemption arc in the MCU is without a doubt that of Loki, Asgardian impostor and brother of Thor. Loki is introduced as a cunning, power-hungry villain, willing to destroy entire worlds if it means proving himself a worthy heir to Odin.
However, after his defeat in The AvengersLoki goes from Thor’s nemesis to his uneasy ally, teaming up with him in The dark world and Ragnarok before finally sacrificing himself to save his brother from Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. But while that was the end of Earth-616’s Loki, a little time travel accident in Endgame led to a multiple variant of the impostor who went on his own journey of salvation in the Loki TV series. And while Loki’s story is still ongoing, it’s safe to say that this Asgardian’s rogue days are long gone.
It might be cheating to list three characters at once, but the action masterpiece of 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road is a story of redemption. The central theme of the post-apocalyptic film is the struggle to find hope in a hopeless world, and nowhere is this more evident than in the three main characters. Max, Furiosa and Nux are all on their own journey to make up for their past mistakes.
Once “a warrior on the road seeking a just cause,” Max has since slumped into a ruthless opportunist haunted by the memory of those he failed to save. Furiosa was forced to become a warrior for the despotic Immortan Joe, and now tries to atone for her crimes by freeing Joe’s wives from captivity. Meanwhile, Nux begins the film as a loyal soldier of Joe, indoctrinated by a lifetime of propaganda and obsessed with a noble death in battle. All three heroes start the film as broken, troubled people with dark pasts, but they ultimately have a positive influence on each other.
Towards the end of the story, Max opens up to his new companions and once again becomes a selfless protector of the innocent. Furiosa goes from Joe’s servant to his killer and manages to free the people from his rule. Even Nux breaks free from the cruel ideology he was forced to follow, and finds a meaningful death, not for glory, but to save his newfound friends. Despite the bleak and violent environment, Fury Road is ultimately a story about how compassion and togetherness can make people better, no matter how irreparable they seem.
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