32 Great Movies Where You Root For A Criminal

Movies often present the lifestyle of an outlaw in an appealing manner. The trick lies in breaking conventional norms by casting the “villain” as the main character or eliminating innocent characters from the storyline entirely. These timeless films challenge your ethical perspectives.

The Godfather (1972)

Beyond being an exceptional film depicting the “family business,” Francis Ford Coppola’s Best Picture Oscar-winning version of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather is deeply rooted in family themes, even though it’s a story filled with violence. The narrative revolves around Michael Corleone, portrayed by Al Pacino, who takes action due to an attempt on his father’s life, mob boss Don Vito (Marlon Brando). This sets Michael on a course that eventually transforms him into one of the most formidable figures in the criminal underworld.

Psycho (1960)

In Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic horror film, Psycho, it’s indisputable that Norman Bates, portrayed by Anthony Perkins, serves as the central antagonist. However, what ultimately prompts Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) to make a fatal stop at the Bates Motel is her choice to abscond with ill-gotten funds.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

As a cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but sing praise for the captivating lead character in “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” Anthony Minghella’s masterful adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel. Matt Damon’s portrayal of Tom Ripley is so convincing, it’s almost impossible to resist his allure – much like the enchanting souls he weaves his web around in this gripping tale.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

In essence, “Pulp Fiction” and many of Quentin Tarantino’s films don’t portray traditional ‘good guys’. Yet, among the intriguing characters in this captivating crime drama, there are some who evoke more warmth from viewers than others, notably Vincent Vega (played by John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson). These two seem to be the most ordinary hitmen in the annals of pop culture.

Batman Begins (2005)

In a unique twist, I must acknowledge that no character has ever captivated my admiration as deeply as the Dark Knight of DC Comics. However, it’s crucial to recognize Bruce Wayne for what he truly represents: a vigilante, whose quest for justice in Gotham City operates within the confines of illegality. One notable live-action Batman film that delves into this moral ambiguity is Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. In this storyline, only the character of James Gordon (portrayed by Gary Oldman) openly supports the Caped Crusader (performed by Christian Bale), yet even he harbors reservations.

Goodfellas (1990)

At the start of Martin Scorsese’s movie Goodfellas, the scenes showing Henry Hill’s youth evoke the idea that being part of the mafia was a dream come true for him during his childhood. Consequently, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride as Ray Liotta’s character climbs up in the criminal world and dismay when justice intervenes and brings him back down.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Sidney Lumet’s movie “Dog Day Afternoon” is a gripping crime drama inspired by an astonishing true event, with Al Pacino portraying a bungling robber whose initial bank heist escalates into a tense hostage scenario. In the same vein as the real John Wojtowicz, who served as the basis for the film’s protagonist, Sonny Wortzik, the motivation behind his criminal act is to fund his lover’s gender reassignment surgery, a struggle I can certainly understand.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Steven Spielberg’s well-known movie from the 2000s, titled “Catch Me If You Can“, is inspired by the claimed true events surrounding Frank Abagnale Jr., a young man who successfully posed as an expert in various fields while cashing fake checks. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of the clever con artist evokes our empathy, placing Tom Hanks in an unusual role as Carl Hanratty, an FBI agent persistently pursuing Frank.

Heat (1995)

In my opinion, Michael Mann’s gripping masterpiece, “Heat,” is marked by its intricate moral complexity. It weaves the tale of a skilled crew of bank robbers, relentlessly pursued by the LAPD from both the law-abiding and criminal perspectives. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly challenging not to empathize with Neil McCauley, the brilliant yet troubled thief portrayed by Robert De Niro, when he finds himself trapped by Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, played by Al Pacino.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

In a fresh take on the remake of “Ocean’s Eleven,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney as character Daniel Ocean gathers a team of 10 skilled individuals to simultaneously pull off a heist in three Las Vegas casinos. The charismatic and amusing nature of these thieves, coupled with the unappealing portrayal of their target, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), encourages viewers to root for them rather than the unsavory casino owner.

Inception (2010)

In the realm of its intriguing premise (set in a world where dreams can be summoned with innovative technology), it’s sometimes simple to overlook that Christopher Nolan’s Inception fundamentally revolves around a heist plot. Characterized by Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, the central crew specializes in extracting valuable secrets or implanting ideas within their victims’ minds, all while they sleep (or while kidnapping them and invading their subconscious). This concept is undeniably chilling.

Escape From New York (1981)

In the opening scene of John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York”, we encounter war veteran Snake Plissken (portrayed by Kurt Russell), who is serving time in a former Manhattan penal colony due to bank robbery. Impressed by his past exploits, the U.S. Police Force believes he’s the ideal candidate for a risky mission: penetrating the urban dystopia to retrieve the president (Donald Pleasence) as a gesture of freedom.

Nightcrawler (2014)

In a past interview, Jake Gyllenhaal (alongside Nightcrawler’s writer and director, Dan Gilroy) characterized the film as a success story. Although Louis Bloom, the ambitious news videographer portrayed by Gyllenhaal, has no qualms about compromising his morals or even committing illegal acts to capture sensational and gruesome footage, it is hard not to concur with this assessment.

John Wick (2014)

It appears that the world has a soft spot for fictional professional assassins, and few are more endearing than the title character portrayed by Keanu Reeves in the popular revenge film, John Wick, along with its subsequent installments. After all, who wouldn’t resonate with a man who had recently lost his spouse, only to find his cherished dog slain heartlessly by a group of rowdy youths who also stole his car?

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Among the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s delightful surprises is the tale of a band of seemingly unfit heroes, eventually recognized as the Guardians of the Galaxy. I, for one, was drawn into this humorous, heartfelt, and thrilling odyssey starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper as a team of roguish space miscreants who escape prison together and eventually win redemption by bravely battling an oppressive despot (portrayed by Lee Pace).

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

Viewing Martin Scorsese’s film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” as depicted by Jordan Belfort’s memoir, serves primarily as a warning. Yet, Leonardo DiCaprio’s appealing, Academy Award-nominated portrayal of the stockbroker-turned-motivational speaker subtly makes one root for his success, despite his reprehensible behavior and questionable ambitions.

Kill Bill (2003-2004)

In Quentin Tarantino’s two-part film series titled “Kill Bill“, Uma Thurman’s character, The Bride, aimed to leave her infamous status as the world’s deadliest woman in the past when she chose to start a family. However, her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), along with members from the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, left her in a coma and, it appeared, took the life of her unborn child. Given these tragic events, The Bride’s quest for vengeance against those responsible seems entirely justified.

Looper (2012)

Rian Johnson’s innovative sci-fi adaptation of film noir, titled Looper, unfolds in a future timeline, just on the cusp of time travel becoming a reality. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a man hired to assassinate and dispose of individuals sent from the future by the underworld, but his profession takes an unexpected turn when his next victim is none other than his older self (portrayed by Bruce Willis).

Joker (2019)

While Todd Phillips’ movie, Joker, might not force you to support its criminal protagonist, Arthur Fleck, it’s challenging not to empathize with him due to Joaquin Phoenix’s compelling, award-winning portrayal and the hardships he endures in life, including mental health issues. However, we must remember that his actions are harmful, and Gotham City will likely suffer because of him in the future.

Don’t Breathe (2016)

In Fede Alvarez’s nail-biting thriller “Don’t Breathe”, I found myself torn between sympathies at the start, as our main characters, portrayed by Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto, are depicted breaking into a home owned by a war veteran (Stephen Lang) with the intention of robbing him. However, my fears quickly shifted from these intruders to them, as the homeowner began to retaliate in a chilling manner, revealing even more harrowing secrets about his past.

Road To Perdition (2002)

In the film “Road to Perdition,” directed by Sam Mendes, Tom Hanks portrays a ruthless mob enforcer who has to shield his adolescent son (Tyler Hoechlin) from danger after he inadvertently witnesses a brutal homicide in 1930s Illinois.

Ant-Man (2015)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s adaptation of the Ant-Man comic, it was Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a formerly incarcerated felon, who took over from Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). After serving time, Lang struggled to find work, even losing his job at Baskin-Robbins. Desperate for income, he resorted to crime and inadvertently stole a unique suit that could shrink him in size. This suit eventually led him to be recruited by Dr. Pym for the most significant heist of Lang’s life.

Sin City (2005)

In my opinion, Detective John Hartigan (played by Bruce Willis) is the central character in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s film Sin City. However, Mickey Rourke delivers an outstanding performance in the episode titled “The Hard Goodbye.” This narrative revolves around Marv, a former convict who once again resorts to brutality to pursue justice as a vigilante and avenge the death of a woman who had spent the night with him. She died mysteriously after their encounter.

Dead Presidents (1995)

A compelling ’90s film titled “Dead Presidents” revolves around the life of a character named Anthony Curtis, portrayed by Larenz Tate, who happens to be a veteran from the Vietnam War. Due to financial struggles, he is compelled to resort to illegal activities to ensure his family’s well-being.

Public Enemies (2010)

Choosing Johnny Depp, a highly successful and adored actor in Hollywood during the late 2000s, to play John Dillinger in Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” was a brilliant move, as it instantly made the audience sympathize with the infamous bank robber.

Hard Candy (2005)

In the movie “Hard Candy,” Elliot Page portrays a character named Hayley, who appears to be falling into the clutches of a pedophile named Jeff (played by Patrick Wilson). However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Jeff has actually become Hayley’s target when he is subjected to a series of brutal actions orchestrated by the teenager.

Dom Hemingway (2013)

In the lead role of “Dom Hemingway,” Jude Law takes center stage in this film written and directed by Richard Shepard. The story follows a character who served a lengthy prison term, only to emerge in London seeking repayment for what he feels is rightfully his after his release.

Cruella (2021)

It might surprise some people that Disney could evoke empathy for a character who attempts puppy murder, but they manage it effectively with the film “Cruella.” This is done by selecting Academy Award winner Emma Stone to play the lead role, where she portrays Cruella as a complex and tragic character. Due to her mother’s unexpected death as a child, she was forced into a life of pickpocketing.

Take The Money And Run (1969)

In the mockumentary “Take the Money and Run“, Woody Allen takes on both the role of co-writer and director, starring as Virgil Starkwell – a bumbling yet charming character who leaves you rooting for his success as an inept bank robber.

Trap (2024)

In the film directed by M. Night Shyamalan titled “Trap“, Josh Hartnett portrays Cooper, a father who accompanies his teenage daughter to a concert. However, he uncovers that this event is a complex plot meant to capture a notorious serial killer. This revelation becomes a significant worry for Cooper because the murderer, dubbed “The Butcher”, happens to be none other than himself.

Burglar (1987)

In the movie “Burglar,” Whoopi Goldberg plays Bernice, a gentle burglar who finds herself unwittingly under investigation for murder after the man she had targeted – a former husband of a dentist, whose valuable jewels were her objective – mysteriously ends up deceased.

Now You See Me (2013)

In the movie Now You See Me, the leading characters – portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco – are a group of skilled illusionists who employ their magical abilities to execute heists. Rather than keeping the stolen goods for themselves, they distribute them to those in need, much like Robin Hood, but with a few more deceptive techniques at their disposal.

2025-07-29 02:13