Top 10 Moments When The Hero and the Villain Finally Meet
Script written by Noah Levy
Top 10 Moments When The Hero and the Villain Finally Meet
It’s the climactic moment we all wait for: the big face-off between good and evil. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Moments When The Hero and Villain Finally Meet.
For this list, we’re looking at the best, most powerful and most meaningful scenes when the hero and villain of a movie confront each other for the first time. This can include scenes where a villain who was previously in disguise reveals himself or herself. Also, since we’ll be discussing major plot points, a spoiler alert is in order.
#10: Curtis Everett and Minister Wilford
“Snowpiercer” (2013)
It’s the little rebellion that could. In this South Korean sci-fi flick, the last remnants of humanity live in class systems on the titular train. Tired of this way of life, a revolutionary named Curtis Everett decides to lead people to the creator of the train, Wilford, who is all the way up in the engine room. After a brutal journey to the front of the train, Everett finally meets the old guy who’s been keeping his passengers in check -and he’s just that: an old guy. Sometimes the best surprises are the simplest.
#9: Kirk and Khan
“Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013)
You ever notice how in “Star Trek II,” Kirk and Khan are never in the same place together? Well, this alternate continuity sequel fixes that pretty early on. When Khan was still known as terrorist John Harrison, the crew of the Enterprise tracks him down to the Klingon home world of Kronos. Since Kronos is a hostile planet, Kirk, Spock, and Uhura are attacked by Klingon forces and seem outgunned. When all hope seems lost, the guy they’re sent to kill comes to their rescue. Rather than ending them there, Khan allows himself to be captured, kicking off the beginning of a much bigger plan.
#8: Harry Potter and Voldemort
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005)
While the Boy Who Lived and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named technically crossed paths before, like that time in front of the Mirror of Erised, their official meeting had been building up for four movies. No longer content with existing through other hosts, the Dark Lord Voldemort finally returns to a body of his own with a little help from Peter Pettigrew’s hand and the blood of his sworn enemy, Harry Potter. This leads to the first of several epic showdowns between the two adversaries, with this one sticking out the most because of the prolonged buildup and face-to-face confrontation between the Wizarding World’s greatest foes.
#7: Bond and Silva
“Skyfall” (2012)
The twenty-third James Bond movie makes us wait until halfway through to finally showcase its villain, choosing to hide him behind screens and other henchmen. But when 007 is taken to an abandoned island to meet the man who’s been terrorizing MI6, he finally encounters thec harismatic Raoul Silva, who is introduced via an awesome long take. When we find out that he and Bond are very similar, particularly with their relationship to M, it only increases the depth and tension. It’s a fascinating meet up for one of the best modern Bond villains.
#6: The T-800 and the T-1000
“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
Assuming the marketing department didn’t screw it up for you, this first meet up between the T-800 and the T-1000 completely turns the dynamic of James Cameron’s sublime sequel upside down. Prior to this, the audience is led to believe that this will be a redo of the first film, with the T-800 tracking down and terminating John Connor, and the sleeker, police-uniformed figure coming to save him. But when John runs away from what he thinks is a cop only to be caught in between it and the T-800, something amazing happens. With that one shotgun blast, one of the greatest wild goose chases in all of sci-fi begins.
#5: John McClane and Hans Gruber
“Die Hard” (1988)
John McClane may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he was definitely the right guy to take on terrorist Hans Gruber. For most of the movie, their relationship is filled with tension and suspense due to them only communicating through radios. That all changes when Hans goes to check the explosives on the roof. He gets caught by McClane, but a battle of wits ensues when Hans passes himself off as an escaped hostage. They talk for a few minutes until Hans unsuccessfully tries to shoot McClane, proving that this cop has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
#4: Lt. Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley
“Heat” (1995)
It’s the only scene in the movie that they share, but good God do these guys ever make the best of their limited time. The main appeal of this scene stems from finally getting to see two of the greatest thespians of all time verbally facing off. Like any good hero-villain confrontation, it also works in the context of the film. Pacino’s Lieutenant Hanna has been hunting down DeNiro’s crime boss McCauley, but instead of arresting him when he finds him, they just sit down for coffee. They casually talk about their personal lives, but also realize their rivalry won’t end well for either of them.
#3: Batman and Bane
“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)
In the previous films of The Dark Knight trilogy, the Caped Crusader mostly faced foes that were mental threats if not physical ones. That all changed in the final chapter of the Christopher Nolan helmed series, as Batman had to take on the physical as well as psychological menace of the mercenary known as Bane. Shortly after Batman reappears in Gotham, Catwoman lures him into an underground lair, where the Batman has to face his overpowered, drugged up foe one on one. Spoilers: It doesn’t end well for Bruce Wayne, as Bane earns the title of the man who broke the Bat, and is free to conquer Gotham unopposed. At least for now.
#2: Mills and Somerset and John Doe
“Seven” (1995)
Pro tip: If someone walks into a police station drenched in blood, chances are you should probably restrain them immediately. Throughout all of David Fincher’s psychological thriller, Detectives Mills and Somerset have unsuccessfully tried to capture the serial killer who’s MO is based on the Seven Deadly Sins. Right after he seemed to have gotten away again, the killer John Doe walks into the police station with a pleasant red blood stain on his white shirt and arms – and there’s no way he’d get away this time. Doe himself makes sure of that.
Before we reveal our top pick, here are a couple honorable mentions:
Jason Bourne and Ward Abbott
“The Bourne Supremacy” (2004)
Captain America and Red Skull
“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)
Tony and “The Mandarin”
“Iron Man 3” (2013)
Leonidas and Xerxes
“300” (2007)
#1: Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader
“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
The young Jedi who blew up the Death Star. The deadliest Imperial in the galaxy. This was already going to be a legendary confrontation even before we knew the baggage that came with it. Darth Vader is waiting for Luke Skywalker in the carbon-freezing chamber in Cloud City, where only moments ago, he had just frozen Han Solo. In this smoky, dimly lit facility, Luke uses what little Jedi training he has to fight the Dark Lord who also killed his mentor, Obi-Wan. Emotions run high and strengths are shown in this lightsaber duel, ending with dismemberment and the greatest cinematic revelation of all time. Perfect.
Do you agree with our list? What do you think are the best hero-villain meetups? For more entertaining top tens posted everyday, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.