History Main / BadGuysPlayPool

** Additionally, there’s a villain named Cueball who’s entire gimmick is pool. He has one power for each of the 15 pool balls and while that is ridiculous it’s also really awesome and Cueball is a really awesome villain if you ignore the pool theme.

** In episode "Almost Got'im" the BadGuyBar that has the villains Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, Ivy and Killer Croc playing pocker has a bunch of gangster-looking clients playing pool.
** In "Beware of the Creepr" the three main mooks of the Joker; [[Film/TheThreeStooges Curly, Larry and Moe]] play pool when Harley gives them the night off.

* Splits the difference in the ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' episode "Rafefleas." Spook is at a billiard hall about sink a ball into a pocket when T.C. issues a call to meeting. Spook sinks all the balls before at once before departing.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'''s Midnight Crew intermission features The Felt, a [[GangOfHats pool-themed gang]] of villainous {{Time Master}}s who have made a game based on their hats called [[CallARabbitASmeerp "Table Stickball".]] For what it's worth, [[DiabolicalMastermind Diamonds Droog,]] the Midnight Crew's second-in-command, uses a pool cue as his [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]].

** Taken further as time goes on, where the Devil of paradox space is Doc Scratch, a dapper, hyperintelligent mastermind whose head resembles a giant cue ball, and he is only the forerunner of the story's ultimate villain and the leader of the Felt, Lord English, where "English" is a term for putting a powerful spin on a ball. Our first clear look at him is a close-up of his eyes, which are rapidly-flashing pool balls. That's without getting into increasingly clear evidence that overall, ranging from the overt to the subtle, villainous and otherwise, Creator/AndrewHussie ''really'' likes his cosmic pool metaphors.

Unless, of course, you're in the movies, where if you see someone playing pool, there's a 90% chance they're planning some dastardly deed at the same time ([[VillainsOutShopping otherwise they are just having fun]]). Whether it's due to negative connotations regarding the term "pool shark" (not to be confused with a SharkPool), or possibly due to the fact that pool is associated with illegal betting rings (which also serves as a convenient motive for a cash-starved antagonist to do any feats of nastiness the story requires), the image of a group of {{Big Bad}}s and thuggish {{Mooks}} shooting eight-ball seems to be engraved in the minds of filmmakers, though in these scenes, theses villains tend to be ManOfWealthAndTaste varieties, due to the game's association with TheMafia or any other criminal organizations. The heroes, especially an AntiHero, may also play pool, to emphasize how cool, dangerous, and outside the norm they are, or just taking a challenge on it.

* ''Series/FamilyMatters'' featured an episode where eldest son Eddie Winslow and his friend Rodney get victimized by a pool shark. The enlist [[StereotypicalNerd Steve Urkel]] to get their money back, and he's surprisingly good at the game, given his expertise in mathematics, forcing the bad guys to cheat to win. Fortunately for the boys, [[PapaWolf Carl Winslow]] persuaded the owner of the pool hall this was not in her best interest and [[MamaBear Mother]] [[CoolOldLady Winslow]] proved every bit as good at pool as the shark.

* Taking a cue from ''Pinocchio'', below, the headquarters for the Foot Clan in ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' has a huge game room filled with typical '80s/'90s delinquent kid activities to keep their underage {{Ninja}} {{Mooks}} pacified, including a series of pool tables.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': a bunch of [[GreyAndGrayMorality antagonist-ish]] characters play pool right after [[spoiler:nuking Tokyo]]. Something of a subversion as all of them were rather put off by the guy who actually did it (who incidentally wasn't playing). This, however, wasn't so much because of the act being carried out, but rather his sudden change in behavior, when he volunteered to assassinate TheEmperor.

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion1'': Slim Bankshot, one of the escaped ghosts, is a billiards prodigy. Subverted, as he is an optional ghost and does not attack Luigi unless Luigi attacks first.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SchoolHouseRock'' and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsMPO3chgAo Naughty Number Niiiiiine]]

* ''Series/FamilyMatters'' featured an episode where eldest son Eddie Winslow and his friend Rodney get victimized by a pool shark. The enlist [[ExtravertedNerd Steve Urkel]] to get their money back, and he's surprisingly good at the game, given his expertise in mathematics, forcing the bad guys to cheat to win. Fortunately for the boys, [[PapaWolf Carl Winslow]] persuaded the owner of the pool hall this was not in her best interest and [[MamaBear Mother]] [[CoolOldLady Winslow]] proved every bit as good at pool as the shark.

* In ''Anime/WeissKreuz,'' when Omi has a nightmare about being a murderer just like his older brothers, he imagines the three of them playing pool.

* Comicbook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} can be seen playing pool from time to time. Since he has nearly superhuman aim, he's quite good. Also inverted as heroes who also possess superhuman aim (Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}}, Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}, etc) are also frequently seen playing pool in their spare time.
* ''ComicBook/Robin1993'': Gotham's Willow Street Card Room, a Mafia operated hangout, contains several pool tables.
* The villainous 8-Ball, the first supervillain battled by ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'', took this trope to its logical conclusion when he not only proved to be a master pool player, but went so far as to base his whole criminal schtick on the game.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In the ''ComicBook/{{Huntress}}'' sidestory in issue 301 Huntress goes to a shady pool hall when looking for a suspect, and finds him and his mob pals playing pool.

[[folder:Films — Animated]]
* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', pool isn't just something the delinquents of Pleasure Island play, Jiminy finds ''the game itself'' to be one of their vices.

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'': Slim Bankshot, one of the escaped ghosts, is a billiards prodigy. Subverted, as he is an optional ghost and does not attack Luigi unless Luigi attacks first.

Overlaps with HustlingTheMark, if we see either the hustler or his particular marks as "bad guys". Expect scenes in such places to be opened with a CueTheBilliardShot.

* In ''Film/Bedazzled1967'', the devil himself plays pool. This borders on {{subver|tedTrope}}sion, however, seeing as [[SatanIsGood this devil isn't so bad]].

Billiards. At face value, not the most intimidating game. Despite accusations that the cueball is "possessed," "cursed," or "hates me personally," pool typically isn't what comes to mind when you say "things a bad guy would enjoy." In fact, its image has softened by now to be considered a respectable game of skill for any age, and even used in kid's {{Edutainment Show}}s like ''Series/BeakmansWorld'' to illustrate rebound trajectories.

Overlaps with HustlingTheMark, if we see either the hustler or his particular marks as "bad guys." Expect scenes in such places to be opened with a CueTheBilliardShot.

-->'''Jiminy Cricket:''' [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Drinking! Smoking! Playing pool!".]]

-->We real cool. We
-->Left school. We

-->Lurk late. We
-->Strike straight. We

-->Sing sin. We
-->Thin gin. We

-->Jazz June. We
-->Die soon.

* ''Series/ServantOfThePeople'': In the montage of [[spoiler:the fake Goloborodko]] being friendly with oligarch Nemchuk, they play pool together.

* * ''Series/Scoundrels2010'':

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'''s Midnight Crew intermission features The Felt, a [[GangOfHats pool-themed gang]] of villainous {{Time Master}}s who have made a game based on their hats called [[CallARabbitASmeerp "Table Stickball".]] For what it's worth, [[DiabolicalMastermind Diamonds Droog,]] the Midnight Crew's second-in-command, uses a pool cue as his WeaponOfChoice.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}''. ''The Last Drop'' already had a pool table when Vander ran it, but after Silco takes it over the pool playing gets more emphasis. When Vi gets into a BrutalBrawl there in "The Monster You Created", she uses her [[PowerFist powered gauntlet]] to hurl an entire pool table at one of Silco's goons.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}''. ''The Last Drop'' already had a pool table when Vander ran it, but after Silco takes it over the pool playing gets more emphasis. When Vi gets into a BrutalBrawl there in "The Monster You Created", she uses her [[PowerFist powered gauntlet]] to thrown an entire pool table at one of Silco's goons.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film — Animated]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]

-->'''Aion:''' What did you come here for? To ruin my game?
-->'''Viede:''' You can't play pool without a cue stick, Aion.

* In ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'', Frankie "The Enforcer" is a noted pool champion at Chubbies. Subverted in that so is Eric.

* On ''Series/{{Intelligence 2006}}'', the Disciples [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels biker gang]] operates out of a poolhall.

* Of course, ''Film/TheHustler'' (and the sequel, ''Film/TheColorOfMoney'') was about "Fast Eddie" Felson, a ConArtist whose gig was [[{{Hustler}} hustling pool]].