i mean, it can totally work. having a parent killed/ etc. but these action movies just throw it around so cheaply...
it can work better if your character has an actual development from said tragedy other than "i'm gonna murder everyone lol". And way better if it's a negative to positive development.
depressed > wants revenge > realises he's no different from the one who killed his wife > maybe he's caused more harm to others (who care about him) during his dark times> redeems himself.
but hey, that requires a well written storyline and we all know action movies don't like that. instead, give him pure evil antagonists and cronies he can kill during shootouts.
who cares, he can headshot the guy driving the car from miles away with a revolver. so badass.
Actually, good examples would be batman and spider-man. The murder of those dear to them shaped who they became.
I guess, personally speaking, I just really dislike tragic backstories for people who resort to killing. Villain or anti-hero. Stain from BNHA worked so well because he had a reasonable goal without that bs backstory. He wasn't killing heroes because his wife got murdered lol. Antagonists are more interesting when they're sick and mysterious. No amount of backstory is going to justify what your evil, evil villains have done.
again, this is just a personal opinion.