The main characters in a movie can serve individuals in many different ways, but the usual way is to appear good. In whatever form, stories of individuals are a useful part of popular culture when they offer models of how individuals might save themselves or be saved. However, there are other ways. Villains, monsters, and enemies can be at the center of a popular movie and fulfill cultural demands. In this article, the author explains why people are fascinated, attracted, and delighted by villains. Rooting for the Bad Folks is not merely a guilty pleasure. The author contends that it is also a way of learning to conduct people in hitherto reprehensible ways. Villains can be closet heroes; they can also be harbingers of changing cultural styles.