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Affably Evil/Film: Difference between revisions
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* The Nome King from ''[[Return to Oz]]'' displays a disturbing mix of affability and subtle condescension towards Dorothy and her friends (his counterpart in [[Land of Oz|the books]], though, was more of a cackling [[Card-Carrying Villain]]). The film ''Return to Oz'' plays the same "[[All Just a Dream|all a dream]]" card that the film of ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' played, and the Nome King, in this case, is supposed to be a direct analogue to the psychiatrist running the asylum where Dorothy is being treated at the beginning of the film. He himself is quite Affably Evil in his own right, warmheartedly declaring that electroshock therapy is "just the thing to cheer Dorothy up", words that the Nome King [[Meaningful Echo|repeats later in the film]].
* [[Robert De Niro]] as Al Capone in ''[[The Untouchables]]'': a [[Magnificent Bastard]] who goes from pontificating on the joys of baseball one second to savagely murdering an associate with a bat the next. Every word that passes his lips is met by sycophantic laughter.
* Subverted in ''[[Shutter Island]]'', where we are led to believe that {{spoiler|Dr. Cawley is like this. As it turns out, this is his genuine personality, and, in fact, he has been running a very elaborate simulation in order to snap Teddy Daniels (real name: Andrew Laeddis) out of his self-induced fantasy that he is a Federal Marshall, in order to make him come to terms with his wife's death.}}
* The Operative of ''[[Serenity]]'' is a man who is convinced of the righteousness of his actions, and holds no particular ill will for his enemies. Indeed, he goes so far as to compliment his foes' tenacity, bravery, or the good work they've done, even when he's ''impaled them on his sword and watching them die.'' Even more so is how he kills certain people with the sword. He paralyzes them, then lets them fall on it because he believes it's an honorable way to die. He's even self-aware that, despite his own politeness, [[No Place for Me There|he is a monster with no place]] in [[Utopia Justifies the Means|the paradise he is trying to create]].
{{quote|'''The Operative:''' There is no shame in this. This is a good death, for a man who has done fine works.}}
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* Xander Drax from ''[[The Phantom (film)|The Phantom]]''. [[This Is Unforgivable!|Except if you lie to him.]] [[Disproportionate Retribution|Don't]] ''[[Disproportionate Retribution|ever]]'' [[Disproportionate Retribution|lie to him.]]
* Big Chris of ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]'' is a hitman, but is overall a nice guy, and a good dad to his son, Little Chris. But so much as lay a finger on Little Chris, and the affable part goes out the window.
* To some extent, Lyle From Dallas from ''Red Rock West''. Protagonist Michael Williams first meets Lyle after nearly being run over by him - Lyle is very apologetic about it, makes sure he's okay, gives him a ride back to town, bonds with him over their shared past with the Marine Corps, and buys him a drink. Since this is the first we see him, his turning out to be the bad guy would almost be a twist, were it not for him [[Berserk Button|getting very angry]] about Michael initially refusing his offer to buy him a drink, as well as the fact that he's [[Typecasting|played by Dennis Hopper]].
* The villain in ''Babysitter Wanted'' chats merrily with the final girl as he's carving up the body of another girl. His accomplice later gets mad at him for being so friendly.
* The Three Ministers of Pollution from Gaiark in Go-onger.
* Colonel Hepburn from the [[Hammer Horror]] film, ''Cash On Demand'', is a friendly and amiable man. When he visits a bank, he is more friendly to the employees, and knows more about them personally, than the [[Bad Boss|bank manager does]]. The reason he's visiting the bank is to rob it...
* [[Lex Luthor]] is played like this in the [[Superman (film)|Superman]] films, especially by Gene Hackman, with a warm smile and a nice disposition. Yet he's willing to sink California to the bottom of the sea for profit.
* All the villains in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''Saboteur''. In between planning and executing acts of sabotage against military installations, we see a kindly grand-father playing with his grand-child, a rich socialite who hosts a charity-dinner, a father who ponders whether he should let his son have long hair, a man who gives their hostage a milkshake, and a man who frets that the confrontation with the hero will make him unable to go to the philharmonica with his niece later that evening.
* As in the novel on which the film is based, Don Vito Corleone from ''[[The Godfather]]''. Warmhearted, reasonable, prefers to think of his partners as "friends", and happy to perform the odd favour for his less-than-fortunate neighbours. True, he does inform them that they might have to do a little something for him in return, but contrary to Amerigo Bonasera's worries, all he usually asks for is a free service from their business. He even [[Pet the Dog|adopted Tom Hagen]] and eventually allowed him to become his personal advisor - [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|even though he knew that none of the other Mafia bosses would approve]]. Vito's still in charge of one of the most powerful Mafia families in America, and he's not above the occasional murder or extortion to back up the usual income from gambling and union racketeering. However, [[Even Evil Has Standards]], which Vito demonstrates in his refusal to deal in drugs and prostitution (the most contemptuous line in the film is when he says, "Tattaglia's a pimp"). And, to his credit, he does his best to keep his children and his civilian friends as far away from crime as possible.
** Having learned from his father, it's unsurprising that Don Michael also fits this trope; however, though well-mannered and gracious, he lacks Vito's degree of warmth - which, combined with his ruthlessness, eventually begins to distance him from his friends and family.
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{{quote|Taggart: PISS ON YOU! I'M WORKING FOR MEL BROOKS!}}
* Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) in ''[[Miller's Crossing]]''.
* Loki in ''[[Thor (film)|Thor]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (film)|The Avengers]]'' is [[Soft
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