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Movie Mentors Who Wound Up Fighting Their Protégés

Feb 24, 2026
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"Student vs. Master" is a trope as old as storytelling, and for good reason. It's a reliably compelling arc, watching a former protégé rise up and take on their old mentor, who, for whatever reason, has found themself on the opposing side of the protagonist. The old master — sometimes a literal father, sometimes a father figure, sometimes something else entirely — has to face off with his former student, who has most likely learned enough to take on his old teacher and win the day. It's a trusty formula, used consistently to great effect throughout cinematic history. Here's a roundup of a few memorable movie mentors who wound up fighting their protégés.