A Glean movie guide
Rooting for the Bad Guy
When the hero is the villain.
Compelling stories told from the perspective of the antagonist.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Joker
A haunting psychological study of a failed comedian’s descent into nihilistic chaos.
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
- 02
American Psycho
A razor-sharp satire following a wealthy executive with a bloodthirsty secret identity.
A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.
- 03
Nightcrawler
A chilling look at a sociopathic videographer who will do anything for the perfect crime scene footage.
When Lou Bloom, desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran.
- 04
A Clockwork Orange
A provocative exploration of violence and free will through the eyes of a sadistic gang leader.
In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?
- 05
Scarface
The definitive rise-and-fall epic of a ruthless immigrant turned cocaine kingpin.
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
- 06
The Godfather
A masterful crime drama tracking a war hero's transformation into a cold-blooded mafia boss.
Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
- 07
There Will Be Blood
A sprawling epic about a misanthropic oil tycoon whose greed destroys everything in his path.
Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.
- 08
I Care a Lot
A cynical thriller about a predatory legal guardian who meets her match in a dangerous gangster.
A court-appointed legal guardian defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. But her latest mark comes with some unexpected baggage.
- 09
Gone Girl
A twisty mystery that shifts focus to a masterfully manipulative and vengeful protagonist.
With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
- 10
The House That Jack Built
A disturbing, philosophical journey into the mind of a prolific serial killer.
Failed architect, engineer and vicious murderer Jack narrates the details of some of his most elaborately orchestrated crimes, each of them a towering piece of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer for twelve years.