I've been watching a lot of survival and workplace thrillers lately, and I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: the "arrogant boss" or "unfaithful partner" almost always meets a brutal end within the first 30 minutes of a crisis.

While it's satisfying to see an ego-driven character get humbled when civilization collapses, does anyone else feel like it’s becoming a bit of a cliché? I feel like the tension would be much higher if the "villain" actually survived longer and the story forced the hero to cooperate with someone they despise. Does a movie lose its edge for you if the bad guy is too cartoonishly evil, or do you prefer that clear-cut satisfaction? What are some films that actually handle complex power dynamics well without relying on easy tropes?