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Movie villains become unforgettable in our minds with their larger-than-life personalities, eccentric wardrobes, and, of course, their grandiose and often diabolical plans for world domination. While some villains devise brilliant strategies that would have been nearly impossible to thwart without the timely intervention of our heroic protagonists, these are not the plans we’re concerned with in this list.
This list will focus on villains whose plots may seem viable on the surface but are, upon closer examination, downright laughable. Warning: spoilers ahead!
10. Emperor Palpatine’s Plan in *Rise of Skywalker* is Ridiculously Flawed
At the end of *Rise of Skywalker*, we discover that Emperor Palpatine has returned (with no explanation) and has built a fleet of a thousand Star Destroyers, each equipped with planet-destroying super-lasers similar to the Death Stars. But there are numerous issues with Palpatine’s plan, starting with the fact that he reveals himself before his ships have even left the dry dock, completely blowing the element of surprise. Even more problematic is the fact that his plan is full of gaping holes. The original Death Stars were famously difficult to destroy, with the first one having a single weak spot and the second one nearly indestructible from the outside, had they ever completed its construction.
Star Destroyers are far from invincible, and smaller, rogue fleets, as demonstrated at the end of the movie, could easily overpower them before they even got close enough to destroy a planet. Given the vastness of the Star Wars galaxy, the ragtag group Lando hastily assembled is nothing compared to the might of the entire galactic fleet. Even if they had escaped, the Emperor’s fleet of Star Destroyers would quickly be scattered and overwhelmed by small fleets of freighters and daring fighter pilots.
In The Lion King, Scar manages to deceive Mufasa into his death, while making Simba feel guilty and exiled. But Scar made a huge mistake. Once Mufasa was gone, the next logical step would have been to eliminate Simba, the vulnerable cub, and any other cubs left behind. This would have left him free to claim the leadership, with no one questioning his reign.
Scar's blunder in The Lion King was severe. After he killed Mufasa, he could have easily killed Simba, who posed no significant threat as a cub, and finished off the remaining young lions that weren’t his own. With his rivals eliminated, Scar could have assumed control without resistance, but his failure to do so ultimately led to his downfall.
In the wild, when a new male lion takes over a pride, it’s common for him to kill the previous leader's cubs and then replace them with his own. Although The Lion King presents a more family-friendly narrative, this dark aspect of lion behavior is how it works in reality. Had Simba fallen into Scar's plans, the story would have been much shorter, and the cub wouldn't have had the chance to grow up.
The machines in The Matrix are designed to sustain human life, yet they waste enormous amounts of energy just to keep their human captives alive. This constant drain on resources raises the question of why such a system would be maintained when there could be more efficient ways to achieve the same goal.
In the original film, Morpheus explains that the machines keep humans alive solely to use them as enormous batteries to power their systems. This premise, however, stands as one of the most glaring plot holes in cinema, as it defies the laws of thermodynamics and basic science. Even if we entertained the possibility of such a system, it would be far more efficient to burn the same resources used to sustain the humans rather than maintaining them in stasis for energy.
The only plausible explanation, beyond simply chalking it up to a plot hole or the writers' lack of scientific understanding, is that the machines, which possess some form of sentience, are amused by humans. They may even feel some form of affection, wanting to preserve us rather than destroy us entirely. The battery concept might be a façade they’ve created to keep us in the dark about the fact that we are essentially the stars of a reality show for their entertainment.
The Villains in Jurassic World Are So Ridiculous, Saying They're Cartoonish Doesn’t Even Begin to Do Them Justice
Jurassic World is riddled with ludicrous decisions. From leaving the gate open while inspecting the pen of a supposedly escaped dinosaur (that we know is capable of camouflaging) to having a team of men on foot attempt to subdue the creature with tranquilizer darts, not to mention the park's CEO, an inexperienced helicopter pilot, who attempts to take down the rogue dinosaur with a machine gun attachment, only to crash into a massive pterodactyl enclosure.
The movie is full of some of the most nonsensical choices imaginable, with every character already acting in an almost cartoonishly foolish way. Yet the villains take stupidity to another level. InGen is once again up to no good, this time aiming to train raptors for military use, much like attack dogs. Somehow, they believe this will revolutionize warfare.
To test their theory, they conduct a live-fire exercise in which they release a group of raptors and attempt to fight alongside them to take down another dinosaur. However, in an ironic twist, the raptors, in their desire for revenge against their human captors, decide to ally with the very dinosaur they were sent to capture. They helpfully take out the park's mercenaries instead of doing their intended job.
Erik Killmonger's Plan Might Succeed If Wakanda Weren't a Hidden Superpower in the Marvel Universe
In Black Panther, we discover that the seemingly impoverished nation of Wakanda is actually a hidden treasure trove of wealth and cutting-edge technology, all thanks to a rare metal called vibranium that is native to the region. This technology has allowed Wakanda to remain hidden from colonial powers, but some, including the late uncle of the current Black Panther, believed they should have fought back against imperialism. His betrayal of Wakanda led to his downfall, leaving behind a son in the U.S.
That son, who adopts the name Killmonger, creates a plan to infiltrate Wakanda, challenge T’Challa for the throne, and seize control of the nation. His ultimate goal is to distribute vibranium weapons to rebel groups worldwide and spark a global revolution, ultimately taking over the world from Wakanda, righting the wrongs of slavery and colonialism, and establishing global peace and justice. The flaw in his plan, however, is that the Avengers and other superpowered beings exist within the same universe—some of whom already wield vibranium technology.
Professor Moriarty Isn't Really a Genius—He's Just a Crafty Opportunist with a Network of Shell Companies
At the start of Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows, it becomes clear that the world is on the brink of war, and Holmes has a suspicion that Moriarty is pulling the strings behind the chaos. After a series of perilous investigations that nearly cost Holmes, John Watson, and Watson's wife their lives, Holmes uncovers the extent of Moriarty's manipulations. The criminal mastermind, who seems to be a peace-loving friend of the prime minister, is actually behind the scenes, fueling the tensions to start a world war. His goal is simple yet sinister: to profit from both the weapons and medical supplies by controlling shell companies, a plan Holmes foils by stealing and decrypting Moriarty’s secret notebook.
The absurdity of Moriarty’s plan lies in the fact that there was no need for such a complex and risky operation, especially considering how it nearly led to his capture—being pulled over a waterfall. The reality is, war isn’t necessary for governments to purchase bullets and medical supplies. They’re already bought in peacetime and are often stockpiled when tensions rise. Moriarty would likely make more money simply by maintaining a climate of uncertainty, without ever triggering a war, ensuring that countries kept strong economies while still feeling the need to accumulate resources.
4. Ozymandias' Strategy in Watchmen Wouldn't Foster Unity but Ignite a World War Instead
In the film Watchmen, President Nixon has secured a third term after his victory in the Vietnam War, with the aid of superheroes, and has now outlawed them. One vigilante, Rorschach, becomes suspicious that former heroes are being targeted, but soon uncovers a far larger scheme. As events unfold, Doctor Manhattan, a powerful and radioactive superhero, becomes blamed for causing cancer in people and leaves Earth, filled with regret and sorrow.
Soon after, we learn of Ozymandias, another hero known as the smartest and fastest man alive. In a dramatic final confrontation, he launches a series of devastating superweapons that obliterate major cities across the world, particularly in nuclear-armed nations. He frames Doctor Manhattan for the attacks, and the world unites against him as a common enemy. Ozymandias believes this false narrative will bring lasting peace by ending the Cold War once and for all. In a final act, he leaves Earth willingly, allowing the world to continue the illusion he has created.
None of this holds up under scrutiny. The reality is that Doctor Manhattan is still regarded as an American hero, and even if he did destroy U.S. cities, this would most likely lead to countries turning on each other, rather than just targeting Doctor Manhattan. Moreover, nations would be particularly furious with the United States for unleashing such a powerful being in the first place.
3. Thanos’s Entire Scheme Is Ridiculous from the Get-Go
We are all familiar with Thanos’s plan to use the Infinity Stones to erase half of all life in the universe, believing this would solve what he perceives as a critical resource shortage. However, his plan is riddled with significant flaws. For one, he intends to wipe out not just half of the population, but also half of all plant and animal life, which does nothing to address the resource issue. Sure, removing half of the population might temporarily free up resources, but it also removes essential individuals who may hold crucial positions or contribute in significant ways. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Thanos somehow ensures the snap doesn’t harm people flying planes or driving cars, so as to avoid extra casualties, and that there’s a balanced distribution of people with the necessary expertise across regions, without affecting plant and animal life, the problems are still far from solved.
Even then, there are major flaws. Most resource problems are tied to infrastructure, and even if they weren’t, wiping out half of the population doesn’t solve the issue long-term. People would simply reproduce again, and in time, the population would grow back. Thanos destroys the Infinity Stones to prevent anyone from reversing his actions, but this means he won’t be able to repeat his plan once the population inevitably increases, especially with all the newfound resources. Ultimately, Thanos’s goal seems to be nothing more than committing genocide, with no lasting benefits. At least in the comics, the character was more straightforward, simply wanting to do it to impress the female embodiment of death.
2. The Aliens in Signs Are So Utterly Inept It Feels Like a Child’s Wild Imagination
In M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, the family starts to observe bizarre crop circles, followed by odd sounds from the radio. The situation intensifies when they see a strange video on TV showing a figure resembling a gray alien walking by. Soon, they're hiding in their basement, preparing for what seems to be an imminent alien attack. As the movie unfolds, we learn that these aliens, who traveled across galaxies, somehow struggle with basic tasks like opening doors, a challenge even a housecat could overcome, and they are vulnerable to water.
By the end of the movie, it's assumed that the aliens came to Earth to 'harvest' us, but this idea highlights their absurdity. Despite having advanced technology capable of reaching Earth, they fail to protect themselves from water—the very thing that makes up most of our planet. Their plan to harvest humans seems laughable, especially since we're mostly made of water with some bones thrown in. Even after preparing for their arrival and setting up landing zones, they couldn't figure out basic protections against water or even a baseball bat—and they struggled with simple wooden doors.
1. Despite J.K. Rowling's defenses, Voldemort's strategy for hiding his Horcruxes remains undeniably foolish.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort’s method of anchoring his soul by killing people and storing pieces in valuable objects is revealed. Harry, overwhelmed by the task ahead, listens as Dumbledore explains that these magical objects must be destroyed to sever Voldemort's link to the mortal world. Dumbledore suggests that Voldemort chose items with sentimental value, making them easier to locate. However, aside from vanity, there’s little reason to pick such significant objects, as it simply gives his enemies an easier way to find and destroy them. To make matters worse, choosing objects he could easily access only gives his enemies an advantage.
Even if Voldemort could reassemble his soul, there's no indication he intended to. He believed that dividing his soul into seven pieces—the 'most magically powerful number'—was significant. If he'd hidden them in random objects, casting magic to make them inaccessible, his enemies would have had to keep destroying his physical form, and he would return like Ganondorf, over and over.
