10 TV And Movie Villains Who Got What They Deserved

Some villains make you cheer when they finally face justice. Their actions—whether cruel, selfish, or downright evil—build up so much tension that their comeuppance feels like a reward for sticking with the story.

This list highlights 10 movie and TV villains whose fates hit the sweet spot of poetic justice. From scheming tyrants to heartless betrayers, these antagonists got exactly what was coming to them, and it’s hard not to feel a little smug about it.

10. Prince Humperdinck – ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Prince Humperdinck, played by Chris Sarandon, is a smug noble who plots to kill his fiancée Buttercup to spark a war. His cowardice and arrogance make him a perfect target for karma.

Westley outsmarts him, leaving Humperdinck humiliated and tied up, his grand plans in tatters. It’s a fitting end for a man whose ego outpaced his cunning, letting him live to stew in his failure.

9. Dennis Nedry – ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

Nedry, portrayed by Wayne Knight, is a greedy programmer who shuts down the park’s security to steal dinosaur embryos, unleashing chaos. His betrayal puts everyone in danger.

A Dilophosaurus catches him in a storm, spitting venom and ending his scheme in a gruesome, ironic twist. Mocking a dinosaur was his last mistake, and it’s hard to feel bad for him.

8. Percy Wetmore – ‘The Green Mile’ (1999)

Percy, played by Doug Hutchison, is a sadistic prison guard who torments inmates, kills a prisoner’s pet mouse, and sabotages an execution to maximize pain. His cruelty knows no bounds.

John Coffey, a gifted prisoner, uses his powers to trap Percy in a mental prison, locking him in an asylum. It’s a chilling fate for a man who thrived on others’ suffering.

7. Hans Landa – ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa, the “Jew Hunter,” is a cunning Nazi officer who tracks down innocents and switches sides for personal gain. His charm hides a ruthless core.

Aldo Raine carves a swastika into Landa’s forehead, ensuring his crimes mark him forever. It’s a brutal, satisfying end that denies him the clean escape he planned.

6. Biff Tannen – ‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Biff, played by Thomas F. Wilson, is the ultimate bully, terrorizing the McFly family with his crude, aggressive antics. He’s a sleaze who thrives on power.

Marty’s time-traveling ensures Biff’s schemes fail, leaving him a humbled car-washer by the end. Seeing him knocked down to size feels like justice for every underdog he crushed.

5. Joffrey Baratheon – ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)

Joffrey, portrayed by Jack Gleeson, is a spoiled, sadistic king who abuses his power, from beheading Ned Stark to tormenting Sansa. His cruelty makes him universally loathed.

Poisoned at his wedding, Joffrey’s agonizing death is a long-awaited relief. The drawn-out scene lets you savor the end of a tyrant who made everyone’s life miserable.

4. Ramsay Bolton – ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)

Ramsay, played by Iwan Rheon, is a psychopath who flays victims, tortures captives, and betrays his own family. His reign of terror in Winterfell is pure evil.

Sansa Stark feeds him to his own starving dogs after Jon Snow’s victory, a gruesome end that mirrors his brutality. It’s a cathartic moment for a truly vile villain.

3. Commodus – ‘Gladiator’ (2000)

Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus is a petulant Roman emperor who murders his father, kills Maximus’ family, and rigs a duel to save himself. His selfishness is infuriating.

Maximus defeats him in the Colosseum, leaving his body dishonored while earning glory in death. Commodus’ pathetic end fits a ruler who cared only for himself.

2. Hans Gruber – ‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber is a slick terrorist mastermind who takes hostages to pull off a heist. His charisma almost makes you forget his cold-blooded greed.

John McClane outwits him, sending Gruber plummeting from a skyscraper. The fall is a perfect punishment for a man who thought he was untouchable, and Rickman’s flair makes it iconic.

1. Scar – ‘The Lion King’ (1994)

Scar, voiced by Jeremy Irons, kills his brother Mufasa and exiles Simba to seize the throne, letting the Pride Lands decay. His betrayal is as heartless as it gets.

Simba returns, and Scar’s own hyena allies turn on him, tearing him apart. It’s poetic justice for a schemer who built his power on lies and murder.

Which villain’s fate felt the most satisfying to you, or is there another who got what they deserved? Share your take in the comments!