Examples:
- Hans Gruber — Die Hard
- Verbal Kint — The Usual Suspects
- Auric Goldfinger — Goldfinger
- Lex Luthor — Superman
- Dr. Evil — Austin Powers Trilogy
The Mastermind is a favorite in the spy thriller genre especially, namely in almost every James Bond film, although we often see them appear in action movies as well. This is the brilliant and ruthless character that oversees the whole diabolical plan that is in opposition to the protagonist’s, however, all too often, they are not the characters directly opposing the protagonist — in a physical sense at least. That’s what they have The Henchman for. Everything may lead to a final confrontation of sorts, but most of the time The Mastermind is just that — the mind — while The Henchman works as the muscle.
