10 Disney Villains Who Were Right (You Won’t Like It, But #1 Had A Point)

Disney classics often present a simple view of good versus evil, with clear heroes and villains. But if you look closer, you’ll find that many of the most famous villains aren’t motivated by pure wickedness. While their actions are awful – driven by things like jealousy, greed, or excessive pride – there’s often a surprising logic to why they do what they do. These villains make us question what’s right and wrong, suggesting there’s a reason, however flawed, behind their behavior. It’s hard to excuse their cruelty, but you might find yourself, even briefly, understanding where they’re coming from.

Their actions were wrong, but their reasons? They might just make you nod along.

10) Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)

Everyone knows the Queen is cruel and loves ordering executions, but her anger actually comes from the complete disorder of Wonderland. She’s supposed to be in charge, but it’s a place ruled by silliness and illogical behavior. Her subjects constantly disobey even the simplest instructions, like painting the roses red, which adds to her frustration.

The Queen, ruling over a chaotic land, attempts to impose order, even if through harsh methods, to ensure people respect her power. While her infamous command to execute those who displease her seems like something from a Disney movie, her need for control makes sense when you consider how frustratingly unpredictable and disobedient her subjects are.

9) Te Fiti (Moana)

Te Fiti, a kind island goddess, was actually the fierce lava demon, Te Kā, at first. This happened after someone stole her heart. Her anger and destruction weren’t just random; they were a natural, desperate response to having something essential taken from her. Losing her life-giving heart threw the entire natural world out of balance.

Becoming a destructive being happened because she lost her true self, and this loss caused widespread damage to the oceans. As Te Kā, she wasn’t simply a villain, but rather the world’s way of fighting back—a strong and understandable reaction to those who had taken without regard and disrupted the natural order.

8) Prince Hans (Frozen)

Prince Hans was secretly aiming to become king of Arendelle, but his true intentions weren’t discovered until the very end of the story. Though he seemed like someone simply motivated by greed, the kingdom was actually in a difficult position under the newly crowned Queen Elsa. Because she was reclusive and her powers were unpredictable, her coronation almost resulted in disaster, and when she fled, Arendelle was plunged into an eternal winter.

When disaster struck and the Queen and Princess were suddenly unavailable, I saw Hans step up in a really impressive way. He immediately got everything organized – supplies, people, the whole kingdom – and basically took control. Honestly, it made sense; the nation was terrified and on the verge of falling apart. While it definitely looked like he was trying to prove himself – being the youngest of twelve brothers, he had a lot to prove – his quick actions were exactly what everyone needed to prevent total chaos. It was a power move, sure, but it stabilized things when we really needed it.

7) Mother Gothel (Tangled)

Gothel wasn’t simply evil; her actions came from a deep-seated fear of getting old and dying. This fear led her to obsessively guard the magical flower that could keep her young forever. She saw Rapunzel, who possessed the flower’s power, as a way to continue living eternally.

While Rapunzel’s actions – kidnapping, deception, and imprisonment – were undeniably selfish and cruel, her underlying desire to avoid death is a natural human instinct. She wasn’t striving for power or control; she simply wanted to live forever, a theme found in many stories and myths. She believed she was protecting what belonged to her and the source of her long life, but she didn’t recognize that this ‘possession’ was a living person.

6) Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)

Dr. Facilier, also known as the Shadow Man, was poor and powerless in New Orleans. He desperately wanted to become rich and gain the respect enjoyed by the city’s upper class. Instead of working his way up, he tried to quickly achieve his goals by using magic and making deals with spirits, hoping to manipulate wealthy people and improve his own standing.

His ambition to escape poverty and achieve success, even if it meant using questionable methods like manipulation and deceit, is something many people can understand. He believed magic was his only path to overcome the strict social hierarchy of 1920s New Orleans, and he felt rightly frustrated by a system that held him back.

5) Syndrome (The Incredibles)

Buddy Pine, also known as Syndrome, started out as a huge fan of Mr. Incredible, eager to be his sidekick. But when Mr. Incredible harshly rejected and belittled him, Buddy was devastated. This dismissal of his abilities and kindness fueled his eventual quest for revenge and a desire to prove himself.

Syndrome’s scheme to give everyone superpowers wasn’t about creating heroes, but about dismantling the very idea of them. He believed that if everyone had powers, no one would be special, effectively eliminating the system that made him feel inadequate. His well-known quote, “When everyone’s super, no one will be,” highlights his frustration with exclusivity and the idea that some people are naturally better than others.

4) Hades (Hercules)

Hades, the god of the Underworld, was stuck with a job he disliked – governing the realm of the dead – while his brother Zeus enjoyed ruling the magnificent Mount Olympus. This unfair situation, determined by their birth order, fueled Hades’s bitterness and his wish to take power from his older brother and improve his own fate.

You know, I’ve always felt a little sorry for Kronos. It wasn’t like he was just evil for the sake of it. I mean, the guy was literally thrown into the deepest, darkest hole and left there! It’s easy to see why he’d be ticked off. Honestly, when you look at it that way, his whole rebellion feels less like a power grab and more like a really dramatic employee trying to get a promotion and some respect from the family business. A cosmic labor dispute, if you will!

3) Scar (The Lion King)

Scar always lived in the shadow of his older brother, Mufasa, who was strong and destined to rule. Scar was constantly reminded he wasn’t as capable and would never be king, which fueled a growing resentment. The pride’s rules for choosing a leader always placed him second best, and this deeply affected him.

Mufasa was a well-respected king and father, but Scar’s bitterness stemmed from feeling overlooked and undervalued. He resented that the kingdom favored Mufasa and his son, ignoring Scar’s own intelligence and desire to lead. Scar felt he deserved a chance to rule, believing he was more capable than his brother, and was frustrated by being denied any real power or influence.

2) Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty & Maleficent)

Maleficent’s vengeful curse on the infant Aurora stemmed from a deep offense: she wasn’t invited to the baby’s christening. Although the curse was a harsh response, the lack of an invitation was a significant social blunder and publicly embarrassed a very powerful fairy.

Maleficent’s seemingly cruel actions are rooted in a sense of self-respect. When the King and Queen deliberately excluded her from their celebration, they disregarded her power and importance. Her curse, while terrible, was a justified response to this disrespect – a way to defend her dignity and assert her influence.

1) Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)

Gaston was the town hero – strong, handsome, and every woman’s dream. He wanted to marry Belle simply because he thought they were the most attractive and impressive people around, and he believed they’d make a perfect, though somewhat superficial, couple.

When Gaston discovers Belle has fallen in love with the Beast, he incites the townspeople into a furious mob, determined to kill him. He sees the Beast as a dangerous monster who would harm women. Because people were more easily swayed by old beliefs at the time, and considering the Beast’s cursed appearance and Belle’s captivity, Gaston framed killing him as a necessary, though deeply biased, act to protect the community.

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2025-11-09 04:11