dark hero

A dark hero is a protagonist who employs morally ambiguous or brutal methods to achieve their goals.

Unlike traditional heroes, dark heroes may kill, deceive, or operate outside the law, yet audiences root for them because their ultimate aims seem justified or their enemies worse.

The type dominates modern antiheroes in film and television: Batman is the classic dark hero—a vigilante who terrorizes criminals.

The term overlaps with antihero but emphasizes the character's willingness to embrace violence or moral compromise.