Woman’s Day 2026: Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Cynthia Evero as Elphaba – villains who went rogue for good reasons

Woman’s Day 2026: Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Cynthia Evero as Elphaba – villains who went rogue for good reasons

When we think of female antagonists, we think of women with gothic makeup, deep-colored dresses, and elaborate hairstyles whose sole purpose is to control and exploit. But no, over the years, the storytelling has evolved, and the female antagonists are no longer ruthless dictators. Today, they are complex figures, and their reputation as “black sheep” is a byproduct of social injustice. Their actions, which are considered “bad” in the traditional sense, are done for a greater purpose, the well-being of humanity. Perhaps this is why some “antagonists” attract the audience more than the hero.

From Elphaba in Wicked fighting the “Wizard of Oz” for animal rights to Cassie in Promising Young Woman playing a vigilante, here are some 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 “The Wickedness”, she appears otherwise. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, shows Elphaba, the green-skinned witch, as a rebel with a cause. She is largely misunderstood throughout the film, but makes no active attempts to clear her name. The character Elphaba campaigns vigorously for animal rights and denies all the privileges of the Wizard of Oz, as they do not match her true personality. In order to be honest with herself, she sabotaged her friendship with her only friend, Glinda. Elphaba, forced to live a solitary life, has plans, plots, and schemes to ensure justice is served. At the end of the film, she willingly disappears without telling her story, making it clear that Elphaba never wanted to be hailed as a hero.

With Angelina Jolie playing the role, Maleficent appears as a fairy whose only ambition is to protect the magical land of the Moors. She is betrayed by her lover Stephen, who wishes to impress King Henry, who is ambitious to conquer the Moors. Maleficent unwittingly takes on the role of cruel dictator because she only aims to protect her people. Although in a fit of rage, she curses Stefan’s daughter for pricking her finger on a spindle and dying, she finds it difficult to remain cool towards the girl’s kind actions. Her guilt when she is unable to reverse the spell is very clear in the film. Although Maleficent is evil, ironically, it is her kiss that awakens Aurora from her slumber and not the kiss of her beloved prince.

Red is a leader “tied group,” The main antagonist in the 2019 horror film “Us”. She’s morally ambiguous and not exactly evil. Her actions are a byproduct of injustice, not malice. Her outburst is the result of unfair treatment over a period of time. It represents the marginalized and outcast group of society. It is through her eyes that the filmmakers see inequality and the consequences of privilege. Although her actions are the result of injustice, she refuses to be the victim. Reid’s character is a classic example of how filmmakers use complex characters to make a point about social commentary.

Cassie Thomas, in this dark comedy thriller, is a traumatized former medical student who drops out to seek revenge on those responsible for the rape of her best friend, Nina. Her actions in trapping men are not motivated by personal revenge, but because she desires to capture all predatory men. Cassie becomes a vigilante because she wants to impress the patriarchy. She only takes matters into her own hands when she sees that society has chosen to remain silent about women’s safety. But for all her vigilante behavior, Cassie isn’t exactly cold. She forgives when necessary and allows herself to self-heal in the process.

Katniss’s actions in the film are largely dominated by survival and responsibility to her family. Katniss grew up poor, learning resilience and self-reliance. Throughout the series, she suffers from violence and pressure. While all of her decisions are driven by the need to survive, she is also compassionate when situations call for it. But despite her tough exterior, she is also vulnerable. She is forced to challenge the oppressive system of which she is unwittingly a part.