--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bad guys are not typical; they are…" description: "\"The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they are interesting. They might be good or bad.\" — Jan de Bont" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/jan-de-bont-25158_bad-guy_the-bad-guys-are-not-typical-they-are-no_2127427.png" --- # The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they… ![“The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they are interesting. They might be good or bad.” quote by Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/jan-de-bont-25158_bad-guy_the-bad-guys-are-not-typical-they-are-no_2127427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/jan-de-bont-25158_bad-guy_the-bad-guys-are-not-typical-they-are-no_2127427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/jan-de-bont-25158_bad-guy_the-bad-guys-are-not-typical-they-are-no_2127427.png) > “The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they are interesting. They might be good or bad.” [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that antagonists are compelling because they possess complexity and moral ambiguity, not just evil. **In simple terms:** Complex villains are more interesting than simple bad guys. Key Takeaway Explore the nuance in characters. Themes character development morality complexity storytelling Mood intrigued analytical Type literary cinematic When to use this quote - novels - TV series - video games - political analysis Key Concepts Psychology narrative theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a villain compelling? - When does complexity become justification? A Different Perspective It may excuse harmful behavior by over‑emphasizing intrigue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) ## Related quotes > [Guys now are so typical and the same...Try standing out or being yourself...Every loves a leader not a follower!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-now-are-so-typical-and-the-same-try-standing-out-or-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been playing the bad guy in the last seven or eight projects I've done. I like it. It's a lot more interesting! Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-evigan/i-ve-been-playing-the-bad-guy-in-the-last-seven-or-eight-projects-i/) [Greg Evigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-evigan/) > [The trend today is vampires, zombies, angels, all the stuff that puts me right to sleep. It's too bad because it's so much less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/the-trend-today-is-vampires-zombies-angels-all-the-stuff-that-puts-me/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [Architecture has curled up in a ball and it's about itself. It has found itself either as a freakshow, where you're not sure if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chipperfield/architecture-has-curled-up-in-a-ball-and-it-s-about-itself-it-has/) [David Chipperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chipperfield/) > [I'm not good enough to be a saint and not bad enough to be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-devlin/i-m-not-good-enough-to-be-a-saint-and-not-bad-enough-to-be-interesting/) [Bernadette Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-devlin/) > [I did an episode on the TV show 'Awake,' and I thought, 'Wow, that's really hard.' To do that so fast and to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-zurer/i-did-an-episode-on-the-tv-show-awake-and-i-thought-wow-that-s-really/) [Ayelet Zurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-zurer/) > [When you're a connoiseur you look for interesting rather than good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-cohen/when-you-re-a-connoiseur-you-look-for-interesting-rather-than-good/) [Bram Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-cohen/) > […misfortune was much more interesting to her than good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/misfortune-was-much-more-interesting-to-her-than-good-luck/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [It has to be said that the bad guys are often more interesting than the good guys because you get to indulge part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/it-has-to-be-said-that-the-bad-guys-are-often-more-interesting-than/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [I just cannot do a boring film. It has to be interesting with a good character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-just-cannot-do-a-boring-film-it-has-to-be-interesting-with-a-good/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [Bad people doing bad things is not interesting. What I find interesting is good people doing bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/bad-people-doing-bad-things-is-not-interesting-what-i-find/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I have a fundamental faith in folk, that people are interesting and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/i-have-a-fundamental-faith-in-folk-that-people-are-interesting-and/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [“Well, it's interesting, so it's all good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kouga-yun/well-it-s-interesting-so-it-s-all-good/) KOUGA YUN > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) ## More by Jan de Bont > [We're all complex human beings, and if some of that complexity shows through, I think it's advantageous for the movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/we-re-all-complex-human-beings-and-if-some-of-that-complexity-shows/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [The quality of CGI, audiences are now so used to it. They don't know what is CGI and what is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/the-quality-of-cgi-audiences-are-now-so-used-to-it-they-don-t-know/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [I really believe action will always be there and will never disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/i-really-believe-action-will-always-be-there-and-will-never-disappear/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [Technology is a major tool in exploring and challenging your creativity, but it can also overtake your creativity... My mind goes very fast, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/technology-is-a-major-tool-in-exploring-and-challenging-your/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [As a director, you try to find what is creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/as-a-director-you-try-to-find-what-is-creative/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [It's always an enormous pressure when you do a sequel. The demands are so high, and it's expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/it-s-always-an-enormous-pressure-when-you-do-a-sequel-the-demands-are/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [Lara Croft is such a strong individual, she's very driven, she doesn't need a man, she's speaks her own mind, and that she's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/lara-croft-is-such-a-strong-individual-she-s-very-driven-she-doesn-t/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [I think the audience would like to see movies that are stunning to watch. I really think they'd like to see spectacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/i-think-the-audience-would-like-to-see-movies-that-are-stunning-to/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [I had a very strong-willed mother, who I totally adored. She was always in control of her life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/i-had-a-very-strong-willed-mother-who-i-totally-adored-she-was-always/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [We are creating a fabulous franchise with an incredible female action hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/we-are-creating-a-fabulous-franchise-with-an-incredible-female-action/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [We're surrounded by violence, and we see so much of it on TV, especially the news programs. We almost become numb. And that forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/we-re-surrounded-by-violence-and-we-see-so-much-of-it-on-tv/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [Being in an area of the planet where scientists believe mankind started is quite amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/being-in-an-area-of-the-planet-where-scientists-believe-mankind/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [I think there are a lot more relationship scenes in my movies that people tend to overlook. A lot of scenes really feel real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/i-think-there-are-a-lot-more-relationship-scenes-in-my-movies-that/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [In regards to The Haunting, people compared it to the old movie, which is unfair. We didn't have the rights to the movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/in-regards-to-the-haunting-people-compared-it-to-the-old-movie-which/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) > [Summer movies are spectacles; that's what you pay 10 dollars to see. You want to get teased by effects sometimes. I think that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-de-bont/summer-movies-are-spectacles-that-s-what-you-pay-10-dollars-to-see/) [Jan de Bont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) [Explore all 23 Jan de Bont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-de-bont/) ## More Bad guy quotes > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [“Here you can shoot the bad guys,' a mercenary says in Baghdad. 'In America we give them corporate bonuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/here-you-can-shoot-the-bad-guys-a-mercenary-says-in-baghdad-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [In order to have your best good guy, you have to be that bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/in-order-to-have-your-best-good-guy-you-have-to-be-that-bad-guy/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [After I did 'Brooklyn,' I did about five or six violent films in one way or another, and not always with me being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-cohen/after-i-did-brooklyn-i-did-about-five-or-six-violent-films-in-one-way/) [Emory Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-cohen/) > [The first act is the easiest to plot. The second act is always the hardest to plot. Generally a good, you know, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/the-first-act-is-the-easiest-to-plot-the-second-act-is-always-the/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [“We fall into the fallacy of believing we can litigate the complicated story before us into a black-and-white binary of good guys and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-lowery/we-fall-into-the-fallacy-of-believing-we-can-litigate-the-complicated/) [Wesley Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-lowery/) > [“If there was a bad guy we could appeal to the people because, like it or not, we, the huddled masses, want our public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-carter/if-there-was-a-bad-guy-we-could-appeal-to-the-people-because-like-it/) [Bill Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-carter/) > [But the thing about bad guys is that they have the biggest bosomed blond, they have great clothes and cars, and get great death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-roberts/but-the-thing-about-bad-guys-is-that-they-have-the-biggest-bosomed/) [Eric Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-roberts/) > [I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [In my career, I've been lucky to do the bad guys that are more interesting, where the audience wants to spend more time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/in-my-career-i-ve-been-lucky-to-do-the-bad-guys-that-are-more/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [Playing a bad guy is always more fun than playing the good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-more-fun-than-playing-the-good-guy/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) [Browse all 1,228 Bad guy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they are interesting. 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