10 Movies Where the Main Character Does Everything Right but Still Doesn't Win (MovieWeb)

"More often than not, the protagonist of a film is typically the 'winner' of that story. Most movies see the main character achieving some sort of victory by the end. Whether the protagonist goes through trials & tribulations to achieve their goal or if it just works out in their favor, they usually succeed or come out on top by the time the credits roll. Audiences rarely see the main character lose. Even in instances where the protagonist is the villain or becomes morally corrupt, we see them win more often than lose, even if 'winning' involves them failing at a goal, but learning something or becoming a better person along the way. Even more rare than seeing the main character lose is when the main character loses even though they have done everything right. A protagonist might approach their circumstances the best way they can & do nothing wrong, leaving audiences devastated when it doesn't work out for them. But it's also realistic — sometimes life is like that, too."- movieweb.co