The villain is an integral part of a narrative. There sometimes needs to be a great villain for the hero to be interesting, and the stakes are high in creating an overall better story. However, there are instances where the villain is the protagonist, as in the case of American Psycho. And there are even stories where the protagonist, who isn't the villain, for various reasons becomes one.

These types of narratives can be truly entertaining and often tragic to watch; it's simply not the natural progression the viewer is accustomed to. With the rise of antiheroes' popularity, it has become more common for the protagonist to be more on the gray spectrum of good and evil. While the rise in these types of stories is happening, there are still some that make it more clear who is the clear protagonist and who or what is clearly the antagonist — even if the characters don't intentionally choose to be so, or become one or the other along the way.

Here are some movies where the protagonist becomes the villain, or the story is structured so that they were the hidden true villain all along.

Spoiler Alert: This article contains vague spoilers for each film listed.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993
Buena Vista Pictures

Tim Burton's movie The Nightmare Before Christmas is perfect for Halloween and Christmastime alike, and is arguably a shining part of the Disney Renaissance. The story has an amazing main character with a complex development arc. Jack Skellington never meant any harm when taking over Christmas – he had an identity crisis and wanted more from life than just being the king of Halloween.

However, he creates chaos and heartache for many children on Christmas night. He does recover from his status as the villain when he frees Santa Claus, and they are able to get the cheery holiday they deserve. Nevertheless, it is a sad moment (accompanied by an impressive Danny Elfman soundtrack) when he realizes what he has done and who he has become in the process of finding himself.

Nocturnal Animals

Amy Adams in Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Focus Features

Nocturnal Animals is an underrated film many people missed, and was directed by the great fashion designer Tom Ford. In this movie, the protagonist, Susan (Amy Adams), finds out that who is the bad guy depends on someone's point of view. While reading the book her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) sent to her, she finally realizes: she was the villain of his story.

It is an interesting journey for her and the audience once they understand what she represented for the other character. Her actions were completely justified for her, even if she knew she would hurt him. But reading his book and understanding what her actions meant to him was truly powerful and made the viewer wonder if they ever were the source of suffering for someone else.

Gone Girl

Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl
20th Century Fox

Gone Girl is an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel directed by David Fincher. In this movie, the journey from protagonist to villain is tricky but nevertheless intriguing. At first, who the villain is in this psychological thriller is confusing, and then the audience gets to see what truly happened regarding Amy's (Rosamund Pike) disappearance.

Her journey to becoming the villain is deeply explored and is able to subvert the genre and surprise the viewer. The whole process she went through to destroy her husband's life, and the surprising ending of this movie, all enhance and further complicate her character.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
20th Century Fox

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith demonstrates something various fans were wondering: how Darth Vader became who they saw in the first Star Wars trilogy. So, this is a unique example of the protagonist who became the villain, because his transformation wasn't a surprise but what everyone was waiting for.

Related: Best Movie Villains of All Time, According to the American Film Institute

The fans came to see the journey and not the final outcome. Nevertheless, watching Anakin (Hayden Christensen) fight Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), his friend and mentor, while Padme (Natalie Portman) is giving birth to his children, is a powerful and deeply sad moment.

The Shining

The Shining
Warner Bros.

Kubrick's iconic adaptation of one of the most famous Stephen King novels, The Shining, is a tale about substance addiction, loneliness, and depression. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) descends into madness and violence once being influenced by the ghosts and obscure forces of the Overlook Hotel.

However, while he was influenced by and even became a part of the hotel, in the end, it was Jack who terrorized and almost killed his family (and didn't succeed, but not for his lack of trying). Starting as a father that wanted to provide and be creative again to running the hotel halls with an ax, calling for his kid and wife, is an intense transformation from the troubled protagonist to the villain.

Fight Club

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in Fight Club
20th Century Fox

Fight Club, the adaptation of the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, has become a cult classic. The protagonist's journey in this particular story is tricky: as a lot is revealed by the end that truly shocks the audience and the character alike.

The Narrator (as the protagonist is called), played by Edward Norton, does what he needs to get rid of his alter ego Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and ultimately is successful. Nevertheless, the person causing harm to himself and others continued to be The Narrator, innovating this journey from protagonist to villain that has a lot to do with the idea of identity.

Joker

The Joker - Joker (2019)
Warner Bros.

The Joker is a character that was played by various actors, all of who gave him different characteristics and personalities. However, the 2019 Joker movie, where he is played by Joaquin Phoenix, is a dark origin story of this comic book character reinvented. There is raw violence and despair that Phoenix is able to portray, which gives this villain another layer.

Related: Best Villain Origin Stories in Movies, Ranked

It was interesting to watch when the environment and people around Arthur broke him, and he became the villain of this story – even if not in his eyes. While, like in the Star Wars prequels, it wasn't a surprise that the protagonist would eventually be the villain, but the journey is unique – which is exactly what the viewer wanted to see.

The Godfather

Al Pacino in The Godfather
Paramount Pictures

The Godfather is a story about the Italian mafia. However, the underlying element that makes it so powerful is that this is a narrative about legacy and if you can truly run away from it. This subject is deeply explored by Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), especially in the first movie.

At first, he doesn't like his family's bloody business and doesn't want to be a part of it. And his father, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), prefers that his son is not a part of it. However, he becomes involved due to external circumstances. This develops until the point that he becomes the new godfather and starts to command the organization he once despised.