10 Movie Villains Who Fooled Everyone By Being Sweet At First

Professor Quirrell - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

The stuttering, nervous Quirrell appears to be the most harmless man at Hogwarts—cowardly, frail, and terrified of his own shadow (and especially Snape). But he’s far more dangerous than he seems. The final reveal that he’s not just working for Voldemort but physically carrying him on the back of his head is one of the franchise’s most shocking moments. The gentle stutter? Just a disguise for murder.

Prince Hans - Frozen

Hans begins as a sweet, charming prince who seems perfect for Anna. He’s handsome, endearingly awkward, and meets her with a song. Throughout the film, he acts like the ideal hero—protecting the kingdom and giving Anna the affection she’s always longed for. But when Anna is freezing and begs for a kiss, he drops the act. His plan to con her and kill Elsa to seize the throne is a cold, calculated twist that brilliantly subverts Disney’s own “love at first sight” trope.

Verbal Kint - The Usual Suspects

He’s not just “sweet”; he’s pathetic. A small-time con man with cerebral palsy, Verbal appears to be the weakest and most harmless member of the group. He’s so non-threatening that both the police and the audience dismiss him entirely. But in the final moments, everyone realizes the truth: he was the mastermind all along. His meek persona was the ultimate con. He was Keyser Söze—the mythical, devil-like criminal and with one smooth walk, he’s gone.

Rose Armitage - Get Out

Rose seems like the perfect, loving, socially conscious girlfriend. She’s the audience’s anchor, appearing just as horrified as Chris by her family’s microaggressive behavior. She defends him and seems like his only ally. The moment she refuses to hand over the keys, her facade drops, revealing a cold, calculating sociopath. She’s the lure—a role she has played many times before. “You know I can’t give you the keys, right, babe?”

Dawn Bellwether - Zootopia

Dawn starts as a tiny, meek, woolly assistant mayor who is constantly bullied by her lion superior. She seems like the ultimate “prey” animal—sweet, overlooked, harmless. But she’s actually the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Bellwether masterminds the entire conspiracy, using a bioweapon to turn predators “savage” so she can seize political power. Her twist is a smart subversion of the “cute and innocent” trope.

Stinky Pete - Toy Story 2

The Prospector appears to be a wise, gentle, mint-in-box toy—almost a grandfatherly figure to the Roundup Gang. He just wants the group to stay together and finally be appreciated in a museum. But when Woody decides to return home, Pete’s charm vanishes. He reveals himself as a bitter, manipulative, selfish captor who would rather see his friends locked away forever than be unwanted. His chilling threat—“You’ll be in a landfill!”—says it all.

Palpatine - The Star Wars Prequels

Palpatine presents himself as a kind, calm, grandfatherly politician guiding young Anakin Skywalker. He plays the role of a humble public servant trying to stabilize a crumbling republic. Over three films, this sweet mentor persona unravels, revealing one of the most masterful long cons in cinema. He is Darth Sidious: the Sith Lord who orchestrated the entire war, corrupted Anakin, and destroyed the Jedi to seize absolute power.

Miranda Tate - Dark Knight Rises

Miranda first appears as a compassionate philanthropist determined to use her wealth for Gotham’s clean energy future. She becomes Bruce Wayne’s lover and a symbol of hope. But in the film’s most brutal twist, she literally stabs Batman in the back. She reveals herself as Talia al Ghul, daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, and her “clean energy” project is exposed as a Trojan horse to finish her father’s work destroying Gotham.

Lotso - Toy Story 3

Lotso arrives as a big, soft, strawberry-scented teddy bear with a warm voice and welcoming hug. He promises the toys paradise at Sunnyside Daycare. But beneath that cuddly exterior lies deep bitterness from being abandoned by his owner. He ensures no toy receives the love he lost, ruling the daycare like a tyrant. His sweet facade shatters to reveal a cruel, nihilistic prison warden.

Evelyn Deavor - Incredibles 2

Evelyn presents herself as a loving sister, who is awkward, brilliant, and supportive of her brother’s superhero initiative. But she’s eventually revealed to be the Screenslaver, driven by a personal hatred for superheroes. She isn’t the shy partner working behind the scenes; she’s the mastermind, using her own brother as a pawn in her plan to undermine heroism entirely.