10 Times DC Villains Became Heroes On-Screen

Summary

• DC has a long history of creating complex and multidimensional characters, and some of these villains have even found redemption and fought alongside the heroes.
• Captain Cold in the Arrowverse starts as a villain but eventually redeems himself and becomes a member of the Legends of Tomorrow team.
• The Suicide Squad are villains recruited to a mission for the goverment who end up choosing to do the right thing and save the world.

The DC Universe has introduced many iconic villains to the worlds of its heroes, and many of these have even helped fight greater threats. With some DC villains more effective in shows than movies and vice versa, there is an enormous library of exceptional characters performing horrible deeds. Villains like Joker have grown to become arguably as famous as many of the heroes, with Joker: Folie à Deux‘s impending release set to make that movie one of the biggest of the year. While Joker is that movie’s protagonist, however, he is hard to justify as a hero.

Other DC villains have been able to find redemption, having been created with more defined moral compasses in mind. This has allowed them to function as more than obstacles in the way of moral good, but even to be assistive in restoring good to the world. This has occurred in several ways, but it will never grow old to see DC’s worst turning their faces to assist the greater good. This creates more complex characters in DC movies, and they, in turn, are able to elevate the material that they appear in.

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10 Captain Cold Fights Alongside The Legends Of Tomorrow

Legends Of Tomorrow Season 1

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When Leonard Snart first appeared in The Flash, he was one of the best villains that the hero faced. Armed with a freeze gun, Snart was a destructive thief who set out to destroy Barry Allen due to his obstructive heroism. In time, the villain appeared increasingly in the series and, featuring a charismatic performance by Wentworth Miller, was slowly redeemed. The villain even assisted Flash on multiple occasions.

Where Captain Cold shined most, though, was as a member of the Legends of Tomorrow. Recruited by Rip Hunter to the team, Snart slowly came around to the side of heroism and believed in the causes that the team fought for. In the end, he heroically sacrificed himself to save the team.

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DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is one of many CW superhero shows that takes place within the Arrowverse. The series follows a rag-tag group of heroes and villains traveling through space and time to prevent apocalyptic events that would destroy the Earth and time itself. Legends of Tomorrow ran between 2016 and 2022 for seven seasons. New heroes and villains filtered in and out of the series, but Arrow star Caity Lotz starred in all 110 episodes as Sara Lance, aka White Canary.

Cast Caity Lotz , Brandon Routh , Victor Garber , Wentworth Miller , Ciara Renne , Franz Drameh , Dominic Purcell , Arthur Darvill Release Date January 21, 2016

9 Livewire & Heat Wave Save Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen

My Adventures With Superman Season 2, Episode 7

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My Adventures with Superman has efficiently built a populated world of iconic heroes and villains. In a recent episode, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane worked together to rescue Superman, which involved putting together a team of accomplices. In doing so, they are nearly taken down by Amanda Waller and Task Force X.

Fortunately for them, Livewire and Heat Wave, two of the show’s villainous characters, are there to protect them. Unexpectedly, the two villains find themselves on the side of good for once and help to protect the heroes from Task Force X. This is not a permanent turn to the heroic for the villains, but it is refreshing to see the two fighting for the right side, even temporarily.

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My Adventures with Superman is an animated action-adventure superhero series that follows the Man of Steel in an all-new origin story. Focusing on the light-hearted side of DC’s hero, the series follows Clark Kent’s journey of self-discovery of what it means to be a hero while trying to blend in with society. With his best friend and his crush, Lois Lane, the trio will strike out to cover the most significant stories – all while trying to keep the city of Metropolis safe from giant robots and super-powered villains.

Cast Jack Quaid , Alice Lee , Ishmel Sahid , Kari Wahlgren Release Date July 6, 2023

8 Aquaman Must Enlist Orm’s Help To Defeat Black Manta

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

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The Ocean Master was a truly villainous foe in the first Aquaman. Played impeccably by Patrick Wilson, who by no coincidence resembled the classic appearance of the Arthur Curry character, Orm led an assault intended to eradicate the surface world. Seeing Atlanteans as a superior species, Orm had to be taken down by Aquaman to restore order.

Locked up at the beginning of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a truce is forced between the two brothers. Orm is broken out of prison by Arthur, and the two set out to stop Black Manta from destroying Atlantis with the Black Trident. Forced to work together for a common cause, Orm is redeemed throughout the film by fighting alongside his brother.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the sequel to the 2018 film that sees Jason Momoa reprise his role as Arthur Curry (AKA Aquaman.) In the film, Aquaman is forced to forge a strained alliance with a new ally to protect his kingdom of Atlantis and the world from total destruction. 

Director James Wan Release Date December 22, 2023 Cast Jason Momoa , Amber Heard , Patrick Wilson , Dolph Lundgren , Yahya Abdul-Mateen II , Temuera Morrison

7 Slade Wilson Helps Oliver Queen Defeat Adrian Chase

Arrow Season 5, Episode 23

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The relationship between Slade Wilson and Oliver Queen in Arrow is long and complex. The two work together throughout many episodes, despite being on opposing sides overall. Looking for redemption, and trying to find his lost son, Slade joins Oliver in the fight against Adrian Chase in Arrow season 5.

Deathstroke is a complex character and one of the most interesting in the entire show. Seeing him fighting alongside Oliver in this episode is a strong point in the series, leading to some of Arrow‘s most rewatchable moments. Following the character’s descent in season 2, it is compelling to see Slade redeem himself in the fight against Chase.

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After five years of being presumed dead, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. Upon returning to his hometown, Starling City, Oliver beings to make amends for the selfish man that he once was. With a renewed sense of life, Oliver plays the role of a self-indulgent socialite during the day while secretly taking on those who corrupt the city at night. After running for eight seasons on The CW, Arrow ended in 2020.

Cast colin donnell , Paul Blackthorne , Willa Holland , Susanna Thompson , Katie Cassidy , David Ramsey , Stephen Amell Release Date January 10, 2013

6 Lex Luthor Joins Batman And Superman To Fight Darkseid

Justice League Unlimited Season 3, Episode 13

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Across the DC animated universe that spawned from Batman: The Animated Series, team-ups with villains were somewhat rare. That changed, however, during this episode of Justice League Unlimited, which saw Batman and Superman teaming up with Lex Luthor and his Legion of Doom to fight against Darkseid. Facing an invasion of their planet, the opponents were forced to put aside their differences and fight for something they both believed in: Earth.

As the final episode of the series, the episode is a strong example of using a well examined character in a new way. Different iterations of Lex Luthor have been used effectively in DC media, but this version was one of the longest-running and most compelling. Seeing a moment of heroism from the villain before he inevitably turned back to villainy made for fresh and compelling animated television.

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Justice League Unlimited is the culmination of the DC Animated Universe, reuniting characters introduced in previous shows such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman and introducing new JLA members like Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Booster Gold. The series’ three seasons aired from 2004 to 2006.

Cast Susan Eisenberg , Kevin Conroy , George Newbern Release Date July 31, 2004

5 Harley Quinn Became A Bona Fide Bat-Family Hero Member In Her Animated Show

Harley Quinn Season 3, Episode 10

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Following a series of run-ins with the heroes, Harley Quinn completes a total liberation and transformation of her character when she joins the Bat-Family in Harley Quinn season 3. Following a villainous path through one of the best DC shows for adults, and occasional dabbling in crime, Harley is selected by Batman to lead the Bat-Family in his absence when he is locked in prison.

Much of this doesn’t go well as the series enters its fourth season, but for a while, Harley Quinn is a genuine hero in Gotham. She fights alongside Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl for good rather than evil. This is a significant moment for the character and an excellent reflection on her growth throughout the series.

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Developed by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey, Harley Quinn is a Max original series focusing on Harley Quinn, the former therapist led astray by the Joker. The show sees Harley learn that the Joker truly doesn’t love her and decides to find her place in the world without him – and cause a little mayhem along the way.

Cast Kaley Cuoco , Lake Bell , Alan Tudyk , Ron Funches , Tony Hale , Jason Alexander Release Date November 29, 2019

4 Selina Kyle Takes On Carmine Falcone In The Batman

The Batman (2022)

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The relationship between Batman and Catwoman has always been a complicated one. The extent to which Selina Kyle is a villain also varies from film to film, with The Batman arguably being the most complex iteration of the character. Selina Kyle here is driven to crime by her circumstances. When those circumstances align with Batman’s investigation in Gotham, the two are able to work together.

Falcone is one of the main villains in The Batman, and his spurned daughter Selina Kyle wishes to take him down, just as Batman does. Still, her anger pushes her a little too far, and she nearly kills him. These moments of alignment still give her moments of heroism that shake her foundations. This leads to interesting developments for the character that will hopefully be explored further in the upcoming Matt Reeves sequel.

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The Batman is a part of the DC Elseworlds series of films and centers around a younger Bruce Wayne, who has taken up the mantle of Batman only two years prior. Batman finds himself stuck in a game concocted by a dangerous new foe known as the Riddler, a serial killer who targets elite members of Gotham’s society. Working together with Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman will attempt to uncover the mystery surrounding the Riddler’s killing spree.

Director Matt Reeves Release Date March 4, 2022 Cast Colin Farrell , Jeffrey Wright , Paul Dano , Andy Serkis , Robert Pattinson , Zoe Kravitz

3 The Suicide Squad’s Villain Team Solidified Their Hero Status By The Movie’s Ending

The Suicide Squad (2021)

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The Suicide Squad and its predecessor, Suicide Squad, spend a lot of time turning villains into antiheroes. With a cast of characters that includes Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Ratcatcher 2, the team face a truly horrifying threat in the enormous kaiju starfish, Starro. As the extraterrestrial monster is loosed upon the city, the team choose to work together to stop it.

Though the team is greatly diminished by the time of the final fight, those left alive make the decision to do the right thing and fight Starro. In doing so successfully, the Suicide Squad saves the city and become heroes. Whatever past crimes led the team to be imprisoned, there is no denying that by the end of The Suicide Squad most of the surviving team members have proven themselves to be heroes.

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James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad acts as a soft reboot for David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is again recruiting a group of superheroes for a dangerous mission, this time pairing Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Savant (Michael Rooker), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), and Javelin (Flula Borg).

Director James Gunn Release Date August 5, 2021 Cast Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Idris Elba , John Cena , Joel Kinnaman , Michael Rooker

2 Black Adam Worked With The JSA To Save Kahndaq

Black Adam (2022)

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Traditionally a villain and the main antagonist to Shazam, Black Adam’s story in the 2022 film does everything it can to redeem the superpowered character, primarily due to his being played by the charismatic Dwayne Johnson. While the character is a great enough threat for Amanda Waller to send the Justice Society out to stop him, the two eventually have to work together to take down an even more significant threat.

While at odds, Black Adam saw all the plot machinations possible to ensure he was constantly at his least villainous, while still trying to stay true to his comic book roots. Seeing him move from his need to rule Kahndaq into a place where he looks instead to protect it is an effective setup. Unfortunately, due to the DCEU’s upcoming reboot, this iteration of the character is unlikely to be explored further.

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Dwayne Johnson stars as DC’s anti-hero in Black Adam, a villain, sometimes hero, with a brutal brand of justice. After emerging from 5,000-year imprisonment in Egypt, Black Adam awakes to the new world and decides to punish the wicked with a far less merciful justice. Unfortunately, his temper makes a big enough impact to summon the Justice League of America, sending the likes of Hawkman and Doctor Fate to contend with Black Adam and try to persuade him to ease up and take a more diplomatic path. Regardless of Black Adam’s grievances with the JLA, he soon realizes he’ll need to team up with them when an even more significant threat emerges to stop them.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra Release Date October 21, 2022 Cast Noah Centineo , Pierce Brosnan , Mo Amer , Marwan Kenzari , Aldis Hodge , Bodhi Sabongui , Uli Latukefu , James Cusati-Moyer , Dwayne Johnson , Sarah Shahi , Quintessa Swindell

1 Joker And Deathstroke Must Cooperate With Batman In Zack Snyder’s Knightmare

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

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A promise of things that were never quite fulfilled, the final scene in Zack Snyder’s updated cut of Justice League promised a dark future and an evil Superman. This had been hinted at previously in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but was never fully realized. With one last chance, Snyder filmed an extra scene for the end of his film that showed Batman teaming up with Jared Leto’s Joker and Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.

Figuring how Jared Leto’s Joker fits in is a difficult task, as the scene was largely retrofitted to give Affleck and Leto time onscreen together as their iconic characters. Snyder later revealed that they were searching for Kryptonite, and that Joker was the only one who knew where it was, forcing a reluctant truce between the parties. However the scene came about, seeing Batman and Joker on the same side is a truly rare and unusual sight in the DC Universe.

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Director Zack Snyder’s initial vision for Justice League follows Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), the Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as they battle to prevent the forces of New God Steppenwolf from conquering Earth. The Snyder cut of the film differs significantly from the theatrically released original, including numerous additional story elements and sequences that were later cut from the film. 

Director Zack Snyder Release Date March 18, 2021 Cast Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Gal Gadot , Ray Fisher , Jason Momoa , Ezra Miller , Jesse Eisenberg , Jeremy Irons , J.K. Simmons , Willem Dafoe

Upcoming DC Movies	Release Date
Joker: Folie à Deux	October 4, 2024
Superman	July 11, 2025
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow	June 26, 2026
The Batman – Part II	October 2, 2026

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