Corporate Bad Guys

[Vendikarr]

One thing to remember is the international box office has become more important than it had been in previous decades. Where they could make the Soviets or Chinese or any other nationality a villain and no one complained, they now need those markets and cannot afford to take the chance of alienating a potential market.

Actually I'm pretty sure that Soviets aren't the villains in most films these days because with the collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent end of the Cold War.

I was referencing the use of the Soviets in previous decades, sorry it wasn't clear.

 

[Awesome Possum]

What about Iron Man? Tony's a rich businessman who was literally profiting from death and war, yet he is considered a heroic character.

Or is it just because of really good writing and acting he can be appreciated by audiences?

He had a change of heart.

First of all:

Secondly, is it wholly because of his actions or was it also to do with his condition of needing the electromagnet?

Going from the movies, where the majority of his popularity comes from, Stark seemed to be largely unaware of what his company was doing. He believed they were making weapons that protected soldiers from the enemy. It was only when he was captured that he realized what was going on. He then changes his company from making weapons to whatever they make now, the movies aren't really clear. He at least seems to be trying to use the Arc reactor technology as a power source that would benefit the world more than continuing to use oil.

It also helps that RDJ has done an amazing job making Tony Stark absolutely charming and likable.

Bruce Wayne also gets a pass because he helps people and his company focuses a lot on improving Gotham. The Nolan movies show that his father ran the company the same way, they only changed after his death and before Bruce took over again.

 

[TerraNovan]

Its not rocket science evil people have to have power, power mostly goes to corporations.