This year, moviegoers saw some truly despicable characters on the big screen. From egotistical villains to morally bankrupt protagonists, these characters left a lasting impression with audiences, who absolutely despised them. In this blog post, we will explore the most disliked movie characters of the year.
1) Kylo Ren
This year, one of the most despised movie characters of the year was none other than Kylo Ren from the Star Wars franchise. From his anti-heroism to his angry outbursts, Kylo Ren had movie goers around the world rolling their eyes at his every move. His brashness and arrogance made people absolutely despise him for the majority of the film, and even when he finally found redemption it was too little too late for many viewers. Ultimately, there was no denying that Kylo Ren was one of the most despised movie characters of this year.
2) Thanos
This year, no movie character earned more hatred from audiences than Thanos, the villain from Avengers: Infinity War. His mission to exterminate half of all life in the universe left many people horrified and angry with his actions. From the start of the movie, it was clear that Thanos was a powerful and dangerous foe, but it wasn’t until he achieved his goal that audiences truly began to despise him. He was portrayed as a relentless and heartless individual who would stop at nothing to achieve his objectives. Even after causing so much destruction and death, Thanos still maintained a sense of satisfaction over his accomplishment.
In many ways, Thanos personified the fear that people have of unchecked power and ruthless ambition. He represented a threat to humanity that was far too powerful to be contained or reasoned with, leaving audiences feeling powerless and frustrated. By the end of the movie, few people could deny that Thanos had earned their disdain.
3)Johnny Depp’s Character in City of Lies
This year, Johnny Depp’s character in City of Lies was undoubtedly one of the most despised movie characters of the year. The film revolves around the murder investigation of rapper Notorious B.I.G. and Depp’s character, Detective Russell Poole, is tasked with the case.
Poole has a strong moral code and is determined to get to the bottom of the case. Unfortunately, due to the corruption and lack of evidence in the case, his investigation goes nowhere and he is eventually fired from the case. This leads to Poole becoming increasingly frustrated, leading to numerous clashes with other characters.
Depp’s performance as Poole is undoubtedly intense and powerful, but it is his character’s lack of empathy and stubborn attitude that has caused him to be so disliked by viewers. This hatred has been exacerbated by real-life reports that Depp was physically abusive towards Amber Heard during their marriage. All these elements have made Poole one of the most hated movie characters of the year.
4)Will Smith’s Character in Collateral Beauty
Will Smith’s character in Collateral Beauty was easily one of the most despised movie characters of 2016. His portrayal of a wealthy and powerful executive who suffers a tragic loss and retreats into himself was hard to watch. His self-absorbed, arrogant attitude made it difficult to sympathize with him as he failed to recognize the beauty in life that still surrounded him.
Smith’s performance certainly wasn’t the only issue with the character. The script itself gave him very little depth and his arc ultimately left audiences feeling hollow and empty. As a result, people didn’t hesitate to call him out for his blatant disregard for those around him.
The collective hatred for his character was so strong that it overshadowed Smith’s incredible acting ability. That’s a shame because it was obvious that Smith put everything he had into the role. He certainly wasn’t given much to work with in the script, but he did what he could to make it believable.
5)Tilda Swinton’s Character in Doctor Strange
This year’s most despised movie character has to be Tilda Swinton’s role as the Ancient One in Doctor Strange. The Ancient One was a powerful and mysterious figure in the Marvel Universe, who was meant to be portrayed as a Tibetan man in the comics. However, for the film, Marvel decided to cast Swinton in the role, sparking outcry from fans and critics alike.
Swinton has been vocal about her take on the casting controversy. In an interview with Deadline, she said, I felt very strongly that it was a really important and vital decision to make that shift in casting. She went on to explain her reasoning, It is completely and totally understandable why people might feel this way. But what I believe is that I think it’s just as important to make room for the metaphysical and the spiritual perspective on things too.
6)Ben Affleck’s character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Batman v Superman’s Ben Affleck character: Dawn of Justice was one of the most reviled characters of 2016. While Affleck’s acting has been praised in previous roles, his turn as the Caped Crusader left a lot to be desired. The portrayal of the character felt overly grim and dark, lacking any of the charm and wit of previous iterations.
Many fans were angry at what felt like a wasted opportunity to create an iconic version of Batman on the big screen. Some felt that Affleck’s portrayal lacked any kind of emotional depth, coming across as almost robotic. This character also failed to capture the spirit and determination of Bruce Wayne, with many criticizing him for not taking enough decisive action against Superman.
All in all, Ben Affleck’s character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice received an overwhelmingly negative response from fans, making him one of the most despised characters of the year.
7) Jared Leto’s character in Suicide Squad
Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker in the 2016 box-office hit Suicide Squad caused quite a stir among moviegoers. Despite being a major presence in the movie’s marketing, his character ended up being widely disliked. It was widely criticized for being too over-the-top and cartoonish, with some even calling it the worst Joker ever. Critics also argued that the character was underused, despite the movie’s heavy reliance on its iconic villain. In the end, Leto’s Joker failed to make an impression, and many viewers left theaters feeling disappointed by his performance.
