Hollywood has conditioned its audiences to anticipate the fairy-tale finale, which more often than not involves the ‘hero’ defeating the ‘villain’, hence the phrase “Hollywood ending,” a term of sentimental simplicity for the achievement of a narrative goal. While this simple black and white portrayal of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ can make for great screenplays that appease audiences’ expectations, in reality, the concept of isn’t so black and white, and there are a lot of gray areas. There is also lots of potential for people to learn, grow, and move on from behaviors and mindsets that would be considered ‘bad’.
For those seeking a healthy dose of realism in their movies, there are plenty that have increasingly been exploring these opportunities for behavioral progression of its characters in redemption arcs, in which characters who initially come across as utterly unlikable and, in some cases, even ‘evil’ gradually learn from their mistakes and by the end of the movie have proven themselves to be worthy of the ‘hero’ moniker. Although audiences love a movie villain/antagonist to point the finger at and hate, it can be extremely satisfying to witness said character's redemption and development as a person, offering viewers hope that such behavior can and will be replicated in the real world. Here are six of the most satisfying redemption arcs in movies, ranked.
6 Fletcher Reede — Liar Liar
Jim Carrey plays Fletcher Reede, a lawyer, pathological and all-round unpleasant fella in 1997’s smash hit comedy from director Tom Shadyac, Liar Liar. While Reede’s incessant lying and weasel-like tendencies have helped build a successful career as a highly sought-after lawyer, they have pushed away his family and friends, including his former wife and young son, who have been let down too many times. When his son makes a birthday wish that his father is no longer able to lie, Reede’s world as he knows it comes crumbling around him as he discovers that he is cursed and physically unable to speak anything but the absolute truth for a whole day. This certainly makes for some hilarious situations, including one in which Reede has to admit to being the culprit responsible for passing wind in a crowded elevator or revealing what he really thinks of certain colleagues.
While the laughs come aplenty, ultimately, Reede’s curse or ‘gift’, as it could later be perceived, allows him to understand the pain his lies were causing those around him. Not being able to lie his way out of situations put things into perspective and his priorities shift onto his son Max. Starting off as somewhat of a despicable character, lying to help underserved clients and paying little attention to his family, Reede transforms throughout the movie into a character that recognizes the error of his ways and has the whole audience rooting for him.
5 Wikus van de Merwe — District 9
District 9 is about a population of sick and malnourished insectoid aliens that found themselves on Earth and are segregated from the rest of society by the government. The movie explores themes of social segregation and xenophobia, among others, with the analogy feeling even more poignant given the political history of the movie’s setting, South Africa. Wilkus’ redemption arc is drawn out and rather surprising. Initially, he’s an unlikable pen-pushing coward who is working on relocating the aliens to a new camp. He is bigoted and shows little redeeming qualities. He later becomes infected, and this is when the arc begins — but again, while his actions begin to appear slightly braver and moral, it’s still apparent that these actions are only based on selfishness and not for the greater good of the aliens as a whole. It is not until towards the very end that his arc truly comes to a satisfying conclusion, having spent a considerable time amongst the aliens as he begins to act selflessly. Questionable from the beginning whether he could ever truly be a ‘good guy’, the eventual moral transformation makes it all the more satisfying.
4 Darth Vader — Star Wars
Potentially a divisive entry to the list, Darth Vader is one of the world’s most well-known and renowned villains of all time. While many like to remember him as the ultimate example of evil, there’s no denying that, with a character arc that spans and is explored over multiple Star Wars movies, when Darth Vader makes the ultimate sacrifice and saves his son Luke Skywalker, it provided audiences with one of Hollywood’s most iconic redemption arcs, playing to so many of Star Wars' core themes including family, love, power, and sacrifice.
3 Jason Dixon — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, at the heart of it, is a highly dramatic and emotionally laden dark crime thriller about a woman who rents three roadside billboards to call attention to her daughter's unsolved rape and murder. Despite the dark subject matter, director Martin McDonagh still manages to sneak in a few glimmers of hope and laces it with an underlying darkly comedic tone. The entire movie is a masterclass in acting, with Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell sweeping up at the awards ceremonies. Rockwell’s portrayal of backwards small town police officer Jason Dixon is of particular note, for the incredible verisimilitude and nuance Rockwell brings to the character and his intriguing arc. Throughout the story, Dixon is easily disliked; he is unintelligent, shows signs of obvious bigotry, and is unable to keep his temper under control. However, as the movie draws to an end, audiences are invited to look a little deeper, and despite his obvious flaws, there’s clearly more to the character than one might have suspected, as small behaviors suggest a desire to do good and help those in the only ways he knows how.
2 Gru — Despicable Me
Despicable Me, the smash hit animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation, provides audiences with one of the most extremely satisfying redemption arcs in any character of all time. Gru literally goes from one of the (if not the) most evil super villains of all time to one of the most adorable and doting father figures there is. While it’s obvious that this nurturing, loving side of Gru was always there, it’s also obvious that his conniving, nefarious side isn’t able to disappear too easily either. All Gru ever really wanted to do was to fit in, and unfortunately that led him down the path of supervillainy. In order to become the world’s greatest supervillain, he concocts a plan to steal the moon using a shrink ray gun. Unfortunately, he has competition from budding supervillain Vector, who wants to get to the moon first. Gru originally adopts the young orphan girls to use as spies, but ultimately ends up developing feelings for them. Gru gradually grows from a selfish villain to a strong caring and doting single father who’d do anything to protect his young girls.
1 Derek Vinyard — American History X
American History X is a fantastically made, masterfully acted, emotional rollercoaster that, because of its troubling subject matter and brutal violence, can make for difficult viewing at times. Edward Norton plays a neo-Nazi racist skinhead. He is full of misplaced aggression and anger, and, after committing a particularly brutal attack on a Black kid he caught breaking into his truck, ends up spending time in prison. It is here the redemption arc truly begins. The extreme situation he finds himself in forces him to question everything he once believed so vehemently. He befriends a Black fellow inmate and experiences hate from unexpected places. The movie is not afraid to deal with gray areas, showing the good and bad in people from all walks of life. Derek abandons his racist beliefs, but finds himself in extremely testing situations right up until the shocking and jaw-dropping finale. The challenges that Derek undergoes from all sides makes his redemption all the more satisfying, as he learns that hate is not the answer and that no one should be judged by the color of their skin.