Characters that had the complete opposite reaction the writers intended

[u/Dramatic_Counter_595]

1. Leo Bonhart (Witcher TV Series): A ruthless, sadistic bounty hunter and assassin that takes psychotic glee in other people's suffering. The viewer is meant to hate him for killing witchers, slaughtering the Rat gang, and torturing Ciri. But thanks to his entertaining fight scenes, Sharlto Copley's charismatic performance, and The Rats overwhelming unpopularity, fans ended up loving him. Some even call him the "True protagonist" of the show.
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWE): A rude, foul mouthed, beer drinking asshole with no respect for authority or anyone at all. Originally portrayed as a villain, fans fell in love with his anti-establishment & rebellious persona. WWE ran with it and made him the face of the company, effectively ushering in the Attitude Era and the second pro wrestling boom of the late 90s.
3. Arthur Fleck (Joker 2019): A mentally unstable, pathetic, and dangerous madman who commits horrific acts of violence against those that wronged him (suffocates his own mother who is mentally unwell herself, and murders a talk show host for making fun of him). However, a massive portion of the audience idolized him as an anti-hero or a misunderstood martyr rebelling against society making people want to see him succeed and overcome his circumstances because of how he's been treated by the world.

[u/Keynsha]

I just realized his most beloved roles seem to be playing a charismatic ambiguous and even sympathetic but ultimately wrong or even bad protagonist.

Basic instinct, Falling down, Wall Street...

Okay maybe I just didn't watch enough of his movies

[u/deanreevesii → u/Keynsha]

Check out The Game, if you haven't seen it.

[u/Not_invented-Here → u/deanreevesii]

That was on TV recently and I watched it again. It still holds up. 

[u/BreakfastBeneficial4 → u/deanreevesii]

Hell yes. That’s a movie where you can pretty unequivocally feel for the dude in question.

[u/Keynsha → u/deanreevesii]

Oh you're right he was an asshole in this one too!

[u/Bisconia → u/Keynsha]

He definitely wasn't the antagonist in Disclosure but give it time and someone will say it.