Icons like James Dean And Marlon Brando paved the way for “bad boy” characters to find their place in the movies. Over the decades, there have been both successful and unsuccessful attempts to cultivate the bad boy character genre. The difference between a bad guy and a villain is whether the audience wants them to win, which is a key factor that some films misunderstand. And, as is the case with almost every favorite bad boy, viewers root for these outcasts to find happiness and see the world through a different lens.
Typically, the bad boy in a good movie is an outcast in his society with a backstory he would rather forget, but the right will eventually break out of him. A cold stare combined with a casual attitude towards expectations and a judgmental snide expression usually signals a bad guy who is only loyal to those he trusts.
eleven ‘Grease’ (1978)
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Giving viewers not one but a whole gang, T-Birds from the classic musical Lubricant as iconic as it gets when it comes to bad guys. Leader of T-Birds Danny Zuko (John Travolta) is one of the founders of the Hollywood bad boy genre. From education disgust and teenage spirit to slicked-back hair and cigarettes, Danny and his crew have taken the torch passed down by legends before them and taken it to the next level.
These high schoolers fit the bill with their love of cars, class walks, chasing girls, and their romance with the color black. Danny, however, falls into a genre trope and is swooned by good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) despite what his fellow bad guys say.
9 “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
A character we don’t hate, not one bit, not at all, Patrick Verona is a romantic comedy favorite bad boy. Star performance thanks Heath LedgerPatrick is not exactly the antagonist in 10 things I don’t like about youbut rather a means to an end. Date Quest with Kat (Julia Stiles), an obnoxious, seemingly know-it-all, Patrick is the best option with his gritty charm to counter Kat’s sarcasm and bitingness.
Like any reasonable bad guy, there are several rumors floating around Patrick, none of which are true. From being misunderstood (like Cat) to his eventual relationship evolution, Patrick is a bad boy whose character only gets better with age and rom-com indulgence.
8 “Step Up” (2006)
Step forward was a staple for many millennials upon its release in the early 2000s. The audience was in awe Channing Tatum and hoped to find themselves a bad guy who could dance as well as he did. Tatum plays Tyler Gage, a delinquent doing his community service at a performing arts school that he vandalized. There Tyler meets Nora (Jenna Dewan) and becomes her dance partner for an upcoming showcase and scholarship opportunity, and an undeniable romance quickly forms.
The popularity of the film brought him subsequent sequels, in which the bad boy turned into a bad girl. Step Up 2: Streets. The dance franchise has taken up the idea of films that have come before it, where a bad boy who can dance can be exactly what a good ballerina girl needs.
7 “The Breakfast Club” (1985)
Where would the bad boy be without his sense of cynicism? Club Breakfast locked the brain, the athlete, the basket, the princess and the criminal in Saturday’s detention. This criminal and iconic bad boy is John Bender (Judd Nelson). Fitting the skeleton of a bad boy, Bender has unkempt hair, earrings, an alternate clothing style, and attitude. Bender is full of sarcasm, ready to turn his judgment on people who judge him.
As they are detained, each character reveals more and more about their history, including Bender. Viewers learn that the house isn’t all that great, and that it’s pretty much on its own as a teenager, hence the bad boy character. Towards the end of the film, Bender uses his persona to his advantage and Claire (Molly Ringwald). “Remember how you said your parents were using you to get back at each other?” he is asking. “Wouldn’t I be OUTSTANDING in that capacity?”
6 “Lady and the Tramp” (1955)
The literal definition of being on the wrong side of the tracks, Tramp (voiced by Larry Roberts) walks a fine line between a good dog and a bad boy in Lady and the Tramp. After a tumultuous turn of events for Lady’s pet dog (voiced by Barbara Laddy), street dog Tramp opens the world of adventures to Lady. Viewers know from the beginning that Tramp has a weakness despite his scruffy exterior, and genuinely cares for Lady even as he pushes her out of her comfort zone.
Like his human genre comrades, the Tramp has a reputation for being a gambler, as well as a history of getting in and out of trouble. Just when Lady thinks she can’t trust and fires him, he still comes back to prove he’ll do anything for her, even taking the blame for an act he didn’t do.
5 “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Viewers see themselves as the bad guy with nothing more than Patrick Swayze in iconic Dirty Dancing. Johnny (Swayze) is a dance instructor at a summer resort who captures the attention and heart of vacationer Frances “Baby” (Jennifer Gray), despite objection from her family. With a tough bad boy look, Johnny has become a modernized version of Danny Zuko, minus the singing and immaturity.
The film became legendary for its dedication to the bad boy meets good girl genre (and that famous upsurge). The 1980s and the romance genre were saturated with bad boy characters, but Dirty Dancing devoted to the tropes, and the chemistry between Gray and Swayze is undeniable.
4 ‘Thor’ (2011)
If being the god of mischief isn’t a crying bad boy, then what is? Loki (Tom Hiddleston) black sheep Thor (Chris Hemsworth) the golden child. Misunderstood, but always calculating, Loki always has a plan, typical of bad guys. His charm, wit and performance flair have made him one of Marvel’s best bad guys.
Despite his villainous designs in various MCU films, Loki has shown his redeeming qualities, especially his love for Thor, in recent films. Now viewers will see a different side of Loki in his Disney+ spin-off, hoping he finds a happy ending and finally a purpose.
3 Star Wars (1977)
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Bad boy from a galaxy far, far away, Han SoloHarrison Ford) has established himself as a foundational character in the development of the Bad Boy franchise. Captain of the Millennium Falcon, Solo became one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance throughout the original. star Wars films, sequels, and original story films. To put it mildly, this smuggler is the perfect bad boy and he knows it, a trait he ended up passing on to his son Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
The franchise uses Khan’s self-awareness to create comedic relief and create a brick wall mentality to counteract more collaborative and resourceful characters. Like many other bad boy characters, when Khan needs it the most, he won’t let down his loved ones, even if it means risking his ship or his life.
2 ‘Tangled’ (2010)
A wanted criminal almost always solidifies the character’s place in the bad boy universe. Disney once again created a bad boy character that could fit canon but remain a family character with Flynn Ryder (voiced by Zachary Levy) V confused. Encounter with Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) as she begins her new adventure outside of her tower, Flynn helps her as she discovers the world for the first time.
confusedprovided Rapunzel with Prince Charming, who was not really a prince, but a bad boy on the run. Like any standard bad boy, Flynn has adopted the ability to extricate himself from almost any difficult situation while hiding who he really is. Despite his stern appearance, Flynn has a heart of gold and is willing to do anything for Rapunzel.
1 “Save the Last Dance” (2001)
As is the case with many cult favorite millennial movies, being a good dancer is a prerequisite for being a bad guy. IN Save the last danceDerek (Sean Patrick Thomas) may not fit the full definition of a bad boy, but his opposite world and life experience from Sarah (Julia Stiles) earns him this cinematic honor. Along with his fluid movements, Derek’s charm is paired with a real intelligence and wit that makes him desirable even when frustrated.
After her mother’s death, Sarah moves from her suburban life to downtown Chicago with her estranged father. At her new high school, she meets Derek, the two start out as enemies but slowly develop into a passionate relationship. Derek tries to turn his life around after a traumatic past, while the couple grapples with the stereotypes and prejudices surrounding their romance.
Source: Collider
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