History Main / TheVillainMustBePunished

** ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'': When Jacobs is trapped in a wrecked helicopter, he's no longer a threat and if he had been saved, he would most likely be smart enough to leave the apes alone after they overpowered him. Caesar decides not to save him and, as expected of [[BloodKnight Koba]], the latter kills him.

* ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'', ''Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes'': Even after Caesar is able to free the apes from the Alpha-Omega slave camp and knowing the Colonel is being pursued by the Army, Caesar stays behind to execute the Colonel himself in revenge for his family's deaths; subverted when he discovers the Colonel has been infected with simian flu and is mentally degrading. Caesar instead allows him to commit suicide.

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': Discussed in the conclusion of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOFAzkaban''. Sirius becomes furious that Harry would let Pettigrew go instead of letting Sirius kill him, reminding Harry that the entire reason Harry is an orphan in the first place is Pettigrew selling out Harry's parents to Voldemort. Harry agrees but says killing him isn't what his father would have wanted and letting him go is more of CruelMercy. Dumbledore also says Harry did the right thing even though it resulted in Pettigrew's escape, as this has created a magical bond between Harry and Pettigrew that backfires on Voldemort later.

* ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'': After Batman rescues Commissioner Gordon, thwarting The Joker's attempt to drive him mad and prove that anyone could go insane after just "one bad day", a sympathetic Batman offers to stay behind with Gordon until the police arrive to take him into safety. But Gordon refuses and demands that Batman go after the Joker, who needs to brought in "{{By the Book|Cop}}" to prove that people can be better than that.

* In the ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' spin-offs ''ComicBook/{{Thessaliad}}'' and ''ComicBook/ThessalyWitchForHire'', Thessaly takes any threats to her person ''very'' seriously, and as such, doles out harsh punishments to those who threaten. In The first miniseries, four death gods attempt to kill her in the hopes of claiming her soul, and for their troubles, she kills one of them and gives the other three a FateWorseThanDeath. In ''Witch for Hire'', an ancient degenerate sics a powerful, seemingly-unkillable monster on her. After dispatching the monster, she tracks down her would-be enemy and puts a curse on him that causes him to immediately be consumed from the inside out by beetles.

Of course, [[NoAdequatePunishment "fitting" is relative here]]; some characters may just be satisfied with [[KarmicButtMonkey humiliation]] or getting [[ArmorPiercingSlap a solid blow to the face]]. Some may see jail or prison as [[{{Unishment}} too easy]], especially if it's [[LuxuryPrisonSuite accommodating]], [[CardboardPrison easy to leave]], or [[TrojanPrisoner possibly what the villain wanted all along]], in which case they MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll. Some may not even be satisfied with the villain's ''death'', unless [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou they do it themselves]] or [[CruelAndUnusualDeath it's suitably painful or cruel]], and may even want to inflict a FateWorseThanDeath. Which of these is worst varies from work to work -- some characters [[MurderIsTheBestSolution won't settle for anything less than death]], while others may see living with humiliation or imprisonment as a CruelMercy.

Stopping the villain's EvilPlan, saving the DamselInDistress, or even ''[[SaveTheWorld saving the world]]'' just isn't enough anymore. For this to count as a victory, this villain ''must'' be humiliated, punished and/or killed. [[ExitVillainStageLeft An escape]] or evasion of [[KarmaHoudini consequences]] would make the heroes feel just as [[TheBadGuyWins hollow or defeated]] as if the EvilPlan were never stopped in the first place. Either because the villain themself is so dangerous that their mere existence leaves everyone in danger, or because the heroes' personal sense of justice or belief in right-and-wrong cannot handle someone this evil not being given a fitting punishment. ThePunishmentIsTheCrime? [[WellThisIsNotThatTrope Not in]] ''this'' story [[DefiedTrope it isn't!]]

Of course, [[NoAdequatePunishment "fitting" is relative here]]; some characters may just be satisfied with [[KarmicButtMonkey humiliation]] or getting [[ArmorPiercingSlap a solid blow to the face]]. Some may see jail or prison as [[{{Unishment}} too easy]], especially if it's [[LuxuryPrisonSuite accommodating]], [[CardboardPrison easy to leave]] or [[TrojanPrisoner possibly what the villain wanted all along]], in which case they MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll. Some may not even be satisfied with the villain's ''death'', unless [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou they do it themselves]] or [[CruelAndUnusualDeath it's suitably painful or cruel]], and may even want to inflict a FateWorseThanDeath. Which of these is worst varies from work to work -- some characters [[MurderIsTheBestSolution won't settle for anything less than death]], while others may see living with humiliation or imprisonment as a CruelMercy.

How this trope can play out delves into several extremes. It sometimes results in a massive InUniverseCatharsis, where the heroes (and the audience) are pleased to see justice done and [[RevengeIsSweet those seeking righteous revenge satisfied]]. It can also be a PyrrhicVictory, whereas the heroes have gotten their {{Revenge}} or at least didn't let the bad guy get away...but the harm they did can never be undone. And finally, it can result in a complete DownerEnding, whereas no one feels any satisfaction at all, whether because VengeanceFeelsEmpty or because the villain did indeed escape judgment.

See also ItsPersonal, for one reason why the heroes may come to feel this way. Crossing the MoralEventHorizon is an effective way to make people feel this way about a villain. Videogame examples that come ''after'' the plot has been resolved may be a PostFinalBoss.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': After foiling Frieza's attempts at taking the Dragon Balls and wishing for immortality, a very, ''very'' enraged Super Saiyan Goku tells his friends to leave him on the dying planet Namek with Frieza so that the two can finish their cataclysmic fight. Goku makes it clear that merely thwarting Frieza isn't enough for him anymore, nor is merely winning the fight. He ''must'' fight the [[FantasticRacism racist]], [[SmugSnake smug]], completely heartless dictator while at the peak of their powers to prove to Frieza just how inferior he really was, despite all his friends' pleas that Goku just leave the exploding planet and Frieza to his fate. Frieza himself feels the same way; when Goku is convinced that Frieza has run out of steam and now poses no threat to him whatsoever, Frieza makes several attempts to kill Goku, as his pride cannot allow the Saiyan to live anymore. Not only do his attempts fail, but [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Frieza cuts himself in half with his own attacks]] and [[VillainsWantMercy has to beg for his life]]...and even ''then'' makes one last attempt to kill Goku, forcing Goku to blast him with enough energy to ''almost'' kill Frieza before trying to find a way off of Namek before it explodes.
** Deconstructed HARD during the Cell Saga. After Cell pushes Gohan into an UnstoppableRage for the sake of unleashing his hidden power and getting a WorthyOpponent, he gets his wish; Gohan ascends to Super Saiyan 2 and beats Cell to a pulp, but when Gohan has the chance to end it, he refuses despite Goku screaming at him to [[KillHimAlready finish it]] before Cell gets desperate purely because he felt Cell hadn't suffered enough for his crimes. This bites him in the ass big time when Cell is driven to a VillainousBreakdown and tries to blow up the Earth, forcing Goku to sacrifice himself to save the world. On top of it all, Cell is able to regenerate FromASingleCell and return stronger than ever thanks to his Saiyan genes, and Gohan knows he has only himself to blame for it all.

** Team Rocket are rather easily blasted off after their latest scheme is foiled. On occasions this isn't done by mere effect of defeat or when they try to escape, the protagonists will often be incensed enough by their antics to sic their Pokemon's nastiest attacks onto them until they finally are sent flying. This often got defied in ''Best Wishes'' where Team Rocket were often savvy enough to use jetpacks to avoid punishment, or ''Sun and Moon'' where Bewear would often bail them out just in time.

* ''Film/DjangoUnchained'': Calvin Candie is apparently willing to sell Brunhilde to Schulz and Django... except that he insists that Schulz, who is utterly disgusted by his brutality and racism, shake his hand on the deal. Schulz refuses to let Candie get away with his monstrous actions and shoots him dead, leading to Django and Brunhilde nearly getting killed and the eventual mass murder by Django of all Candie's surviving relatives and employees, plus Steven. According to WordOfGod, Calvin genuinely wasn't planning any further treachery and would have allowed Django, Schulz and Brunhilde to leave peacefully.

** ''Videogame/Persona4'': In the game's bad ending, the Investigation Team manage to rescue Nanako from the TV World, but in critical and worsening condition. The culprit who tossed her into the world, Taro Namatame has also been captured and is recovering himself. The Team is ''so angry'' about what said culprit has seemingly done, not just to Nanako, but to all of the other victims (including most people on the Team themselves) that they decide to invoke brutal, fatal justice themselves because even though the case is "solved", they refuse to let him live. And Nanako herself unfortunately dies as well. Averted if the player rejects the idea and then makes correct dialogue options, whereupon Nanako turns out okay, and the Team realizes that there must be another culprit since the facts don't add up.

* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'': Despite Sonic (seemingly) defeating Eggman's latest scheme using Chaos and the Egg Carrier a few points early in his campaign, he still pursues Eggman all the way to his Final Egg base for one last showdown. Some unused dialogue before the Egg Viper boss makes clear Sonic is out to make sure Eggman goes down and ''stays'' down this time, a sentiment quite mutual with Eggman, who is still fuming from all of Sonic's previous interferences (an exchange that was paraphrased in the ''Sonic X'' adaptation).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'': A key reason the Urpneys constantly tried to back out of Zordrak and Urpgor's schemes is that they knew the heroes had a GoodIsNotSoft disposition towards stealing the stone, often beating them up, pranking them or sending Albert onto them no matter if they are defeated, retreating or surrendering. Perhaps because the Urpneys [[HarmlessVillain often proved more eager about quitting than doing any actual villainy]], later episodes tended to subvert this treatment, along with at least one instance it backfired on the heroes and let the Urpneys get some payback on them.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In the episode "Twilight", the League has barely escaped a trap set by [[BigBadDuumvirate Darkseid and Brainiac]], with Brainiac set to detonate and take everything in the vicinity with him. Darkseid tries to make his escape but is cut off by Superman, who tells him that he intends for Darkseid to die in the explosion. The two fight until Batman arrives and tries to convince Superman to flee, but Superman knocks Batman away and makes it clear he intends to [[TakingYouWithMe stay and ensure Darkseid dies]]. Batman then uses a Mother Box to pull himself, Superman and Orion to safety, as Superman shouts [[BigNo "NO!"]]; back on Earth, Batman tries to assure an angry Superman that Darkseid [[NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat couldn't have survived that blast]], but Superman bitterly tells Batman that he's "not always right".[[note]]This is also in reference to the fact that Batman and the rest of the League decided to help Darkseid against Brainiac earlier against Superman's protests, only to find out that the two villains were leading them all into a trap.[[/note]]

How this trope can play out delves into several extremes. It sometimes results in a massive InUniverseCatharsis, where the heroes (and the audience) are pleased to see justice done. It can also be a PyrrhicVictory, whereas the heroes have gotten their {{Revenge}} or at least didn't let the bad guy get away...but the harm they did can never be undone. And finally, it can result in a complete DownerEnding, whereas no one feels any satisfaction at all, whether because VengeanceFeelsEmpty or because the villain did indeed escape judgment.

How this trope can play out delves into several extremes. It sometimes results in a massive CatharsisFactor, where the heroes (and the audience) are pleased to see justice done. It can also be a PyrrhicVictory, whereas the heroes have gotten their {{Revenge}} or at least didn't let the bad guy get away...but the harm they did can never be undone. And finally, it can result in a complete DownerEnding, whereas no one feels any satisfaction at all, whether because VengeanceFeelsEmpty or because the villain did indeed escape judgment.

This trope is the [[OppositeTropes opposite]] of RevengeIsNotJustice, where characters feel that one does not have the right to do cruel things to cruel people. If an audience feels this has gone too far, see KarmicOverkill.

This trope is the opposite of RevengeIsNotJustice, where characters feel that one does not have the right to do cruel things to cruel people. If an audience feels this has gone too far, see KarmicOverkill.

** Deconstructed HARD during the Cell Saga. After Cell pushes Gohan into an UnstoppableRage for the sake of unleashing his hidden power and getting a WorthyOpponent, he gets his wish; Gohan ascends to Super Saiyan 2 and beats Cell to a pulp, but when Gohan has the chance to end it, he refuses despite Goku screaming at him to finish it before Cell gets desperate purely because he felt Cell hadn't suffered enough for his crimes. This bites him in the ass big time when Cell is driven to a VillainousBreakdown and tries to blow up the Earth, forcing Goku to sacrifice himself to save the world. On top of it all, Cell is able to regenerate FromASingleCell and return stronger than ever thanks to his Saiyan genes, and Gohan knows he has only himself to blame for it all.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': After foiling Frieza's attempts at taking the Dragon Balls and wishing for immortality, a very, ''very'' enraged Super Saiyan Goku tells his friends to leave him on the dying planet Namek with Frieza so that the two can finish their cataclysmic fight. Goku makes it clear that merely thwarting Frieza isn't enough for him anymore, nor is merely winning the fight. He ''must'' fight the [[FantasticRacism racist]], [[SmugSnake smug]], completely heartless dictator while at the peak of their powers to prove to Frieza just how inferior he really was. Frieza himself feels the same way; when Goku is convinced that Frieza has run out of steam and now poses no threat to him whatsoever, Frieza makes several attempts to kill Goku, as his pride cannot allow the Saiyan to live anymore. Not only do his attempts fail, but [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Frieza cuts himself in half with his own attacks]] and [[VillainsWantMercy has to beg for his life]]...and even ''then'' makes one last attempt to kill Goku, forcing Goku to blast him with enough energy to ''almost'' kill Frieza before trying to find a way off of Namek before it explodes.

** Videogame/Persona4'': In the game's bad ending, the Investigation Team manage to rescue Nanako from the TV World, but in critical and worsening condition. The culprit who tossed her into the world, Taro Namatame has also been captured and is recovering himself. The Team is ''so angry'' about what said culprit has seemingly done, not just to Nanako, but to all of the other victims (including most people on the Team themselves) that they decide to invoke brutal, fatal justice themselves because even though the case is "solved", they refuse to let him live. And Nanako herself unfortunately dies as well. Averted if the player rejects the idea and then makes correct dialogue options, whereupon Nanako turns out okay, and the Team realizes that there must be another culprit since the facts don't add up.

** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Thor's overriding goal is exacting [[ItsPersonal personal revenge]] on Thanos for massacring his people and brutally killing Loki in front of him. This leads to the film's DownerEnding as Thor puts this goal over the need to end the threat quickly, opting to seriously wound Thanos instead of killing him outright, so that Thanos will know that it was Thor who beat him. As a result, Thanos still has enough strength to wipe out half the universe and teleport to safety.

** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Thor's overriding goal is exacting personal revenge on Thanos for massacring his people and brutally killing Loki in front of him. This leads to the film's DownerEnding as Thor puts this goal over the need to end the threat quickly, opting to seriously wound Thanos instead of killing him outright, so that Thanos will know that it was Thor who beat him. As a result, Thanos still has enough strength to wipe out half the universe and teleport to safety.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': During the final battle against the mechanical Ultron, both Tony and Vision repeatedly remind their teammates that they have to destroy ''every'' Ultron body, not even letting a single one escape. Because even a single Ultron is too dangerous to leave alive (for example, he could still find a way to launch Earth's nuclear missiles and eradicate the human race). Fortunately for the heroes, when one last Ultron robot does manage to sneak away, the robotic Vision knows about it and tracks it down... destroying it and ending the threat once and for all.

Of course, [[NoAdequatePunishment "fitting" is relative here]]; some characters may just be satisfied with [[KarmicButtMonkey humiliation]] or getting [[ArmorPiercingSlap a solid blow to the face]]. Some may see jail or prison as [[{{Unishment}} too easy]], especially if it's [[LuxuryPrisonSuite accommodating]], [[CardboardPrison easy to leave]] or [[TrojanPrisoner possibly what the villain wanted all along]]. Some may not even be satisfied with the villain's ''death'', unless [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou they do it themselves]] or [[CruelAndUnusualDeath it's suitably painful or cruel]], and may even want to inflict a FateWorseThanDeath. Which of these is worst varies from work to work -- some characters [[MurderIsTheBestSolution won't settle for anything less than death]], while others may see living with humiliation or imprisonment as a CruelMercy.

* In most episodes of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', Team Rocket are rather easily blasted off after their latest scheme is foiled. On occasions this isn't done by mere effect of defeat or when they try to escape, the protagonists will often be incensed enough by their antics to sic their Pokemon's nastiest attacks onto them until they finally are sent flying. This often got defied in ''Best Wishes'' where Team Rocket were often savvy enough to use jetpacks to avoid punishment, or ''Sun and Moon'' where Bewear would often bail them out just in time.

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Joker and Ryuji are hesitant to act against Kameshida because they're worried about the effects that stealing his Treasure will have on him. But once a female student that Kameshida abused ([[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil and possibly raped]], though the game doesn't explicitly confirm it) [[DrivenToSuicide tries to kill herself]] in front of the whole school, they decide that Kameshida needs to be punished for what he's done, not just stopped. Ann even goes so far as to consider deliberately killing him, though she stops [[CruelMercy because she decides that being forced to live with the knowledge and guilt of his crimes would be worse]].

'''Batman:''' Listen, the police are following right ''behind'' me... Ill stay here with you until they arrive. \\

--> ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke''

'''Gordon:''' No! No, I'm okay! ''You'' have go after ''him!'' I want him brought in...and I want him brought in ''by the the book!'' ''[...]'' We have to show him that our way ''works!''

'''Gordon:''' No! No, I'm okay! ''You'' have go after ''him''!

->'''Gordon:''' "He tried to drive me ''mad.'' \\
'''Batman:''' "Listen, the police are following right ''behind'' me... Ill stay here with you until they arrive." \\
'''Gordon:''' "No! No, I'm okay! ''You'' have go after ''him''!"

'''Gordon:''' "He tried to drive me ''mad.''
'''Batman:''' "Listen, the police are following right ''behind'' me... Ill stay here with you until they arrive."

--> ''ComicBook/BatmanTheKillingJoke''

* ''ComicBook/BatmanTheKillingJoke'': After Batman rescues Commissioner Gordon, thwarting The Joker's attempt to drive him mad and prove that anyone could go insane after just "one bad day", a sympathetic Batman offers to stay behind with Gordon until the police arrive to take him into safety. But Gordon refuses and demands that Batman go after the Joker, who needs to brought in "{{By the Book|Cop}}" to prove that people can be better than that.