Movies would be nothing without the characters that inhabit them. But while some roles feel merely functional, the best movie characters can transform a film – offering complex moral dilemmas, standing up against the odds, fighting for what's right as heroes, or causing mayhem as villains.

From James Bond's unflappable cool to Tyler Durden's anarchic energy, Ellen Ripley facing down xenomorphs to The Dude just trying to get his rug back, great characters are ones who stick with you long after the credits roll. They're the ones you quote at parties, the ones who define entire genres, the ones so three-dimensional that they feel like they could walk right off the screen. Han Solo's swagger, the Joker's chaos, Batman's brooding intensity, Edna Mode's no-nonsense genius – these are the characters that remind you why you love movies in the first place.

WhenEmpire asked you to vote for the greatest movie characters of all time, you came through in your thousands – championing pure-hearted heroes, iconic villains, and everything in between. From Marty McFly to Michael Corleone, Amélie Poulain to Anton Chigurh, Ferris Bueller to Forrest Gump, here's the definitive rundown of cinema's most memorable characters – the beautiful, the powerful, the heroic, the despicable, the hilarious and the downright unhinged.

How We Chose The 100 Best Movie Characters of All Time

Putting together a list of cinema's greatest characters isn't no small task. We askedEmpire readers worldwide to vote for the movie characters who've stuck with them, and thousands of you responded – making passionate cases for everyone from teenage time-travellers to Gotham's finest, space rogues to Middle-earth legends, and all those in between.

We combined your votes with the collective wisdom of theEmpire team, balancing fan favourites with characters who've genuinely shaped cinema. The result covers every genre and era – heroes and villains, the iconic and the unexpected, the larger-than-life and the quietly brilliant. Your favourite might be at number one or hanging out somewhere in the middle of the pack, but everyone here has more than earned their place. Read the list below!

Jump to...

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

READ MORE: Are you in America? Read theUS edition of our Best Movies of All Time list and stream them here.

The Best Movie Characters of All Time

100. Edna Mode

Appearances:The Incredibles (2004),Incredibles 2 (2018)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creator: Brad Bird

Performer: Brad Bird

Defining moment: “No capes!” — Mode’s more than eccentric personality hides a distinctly practical approach to superhero fashion.

Fascinating fact: Edna appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan to present the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in February 2005. She’s aLord Of The Rings fan.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofThe Incredibles andIncredibles 2. See if Edna made our list of thebest animated characters.

99. Randle McMurphy

Appearance:One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Director/Creator: Ken Kesey, Bo Goldman

Performer: Jack Nicholson

Defining moment: When Nurse Ratched (one of the verybest movie villains) bans the World Series, McMurphy improvises a commentary.

Fascinating fact: Kirk Douglas played McMurphy on stage but was considered too old for the part by the time his son Michael, as producer, put the film together.

ReadEmpire's review ofOne Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. See where it came in our list of the100 greatest movies of all time.

98. Optimus Prime

Appearances: TheTransformers series (2007-)

Streaming on: Paramount+

Director/Creators: Denny O’Neil, Jim Shooter, Bob Budiansky

Performer: Peter Cullen (voice)

Defining moment: Riding high on a mecha dinosaur inAge Of Extinction.

Fascinating fact: He has his own Mr. Potatohead, called Optimash Prime (“More than meets the fry”).

ReadEmpire's reviews ofTransformers,Revenge Of The Fallen,Dark Of The Moon,Age Of Extinction,The Last Knight andRise Of The Beasts.

97. Norman Bates

Appearances: ThePsycho films (1960-1990),Psycho remake (1998)

Streaming on: Sky / NOW Cinema

Director/Creator: Robert Bloch

Performers: Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas, Vince Vaughn

Defining moment: With a superimposed skull, he says, “I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Fascinating fact: Hitchcock always addressed Anthony Perkins on set as ‘Master Bates’. Ho ho ho.

Read Empire's review ofPsycho. See where it came on our list of thebest horror movies.

96. The Minions

Appearances:Despicable Me andMinions movies (2010-2022)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Director/Creator: Sergio Pablos

Performer: Pierre Coffin

Defining moment: Singing “banana” to the tune of Barbara Ann during the Despicable Me 2 trailer.

Fascinating fact: In Minion,Bu ta na ma ka means ‘To infinity and beyond!’

ReadEmpire's review of the originalDespicable Me.

95. Maximus Decimus Meridius

Appearance:Gladiator (2000)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creators: Ridley Scott, David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson

Performer: Russell Crowe

Defining moment: Rousing the troops with his immortal line, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity!”

Fascinating fact: Original choice Mel Gibson pronounced himself too old, opening the way for Russell Crowe and establishing his and Ridley Scott’s legendary collaboration.

ReadEmpire's review ofGladiator. See where it came in our list of thebest action movies.

94. Legolas

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings andThe Hobbit trilogies (2001-2014)

Streaming on: Sky | NOW Cinema

Director/Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson

Performer: Orlando Bloom

Defining moment: With the rest of the Fellowship bogged down in a snowdrift, Legolas walks across, not leaving a mark.

Fascinating fact: Among his myriad talents, Legolas can talk to stones. A passage inFellowship Of The Ring sees the nimble elf listening to the lament of grieving rocks. A useful skill if ever there were one.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofLord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring,The Two Towers andReturn Of The King, andThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,The Desolation Of Smaug andThe Battle Of The Five Armies.

93. Wednesday Addams

Appearances:The Addams Family films (1991-1993),Wednesday TV show (2022-)

Streaming on: Netflix

Creator: Charles Addams

Performers: Christina Ricci, Jenna Ortega

Defining moment: At a costume party as herself — “I am a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else.”

Fascinating fact: The character takes her name from a line in a Mother Goose nursery rhyme: "Wednesday's child is full of woe."

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Addams Family, orWednesday: Season 2.

92. Inspector Clouseau

Appearances:The Pink Panther films (1963-2009)

Streaming on: Apple TV | MGM+

Creators: Blake Edwards, Maurice Richlin

Performers: Peter Sellers, Alan Arkin, Steve Martin

Defining moment: “I suspect everyone and I suspect no-one!”

Fascinating fact: Sellers and Edwards announced that they could never work with each other again afterA Shot In The Dark, opening the way for Alan Arkin to play the role.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Pink Panther.

91. Inigo Montoya

Appearance:The Princess Bride (1987)

Streaming on: Lionsgate+ | Apple TV

Creator: William Goldman

Performer: Mandy Patinkin

Defining moment: “I want my father back, you son of a bitch!” Inigo’s moment of revenge is perfection.

Fascinating fact: Patinkin bruised a rib trying not to laugh at Billy Crystal’s Miracle Max.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Princess Bride. See where it came on our list of thebest romantic movies.

90. HAL

Appearance:2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Creator: Arthur C. Clarke

Performer: Douglas Rain (voice)

Defining moment: Conceding the battle for supremacy between humans and technology, HAL departs with a plaintive rendition of Daisy Bell.

Fascinating fact: Originally envisioned by Clarke as a humanoid robot called Socrates.

ReadEmpire's review of2001: A Space Odyssey. See where it came on our list of thebest sci-fi movies of all time.

89. Groot

Appearances: TheGuardians Of The Galaxy trilogy,Thor: Love And Thunder,Avengers: Infinity War andEndgame (2014-2022)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creator/Directors: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, James Gunn

Performer: Vin Diesel/ Krystian Godlewski

Defining moment: Joining together the parts of Stormbreaker inAvengers: Infinity War, reviving Thor ahead of the battle of Wakanda.

Fascinating fact: A Flora colossus from Planet X, Groot made his debut 1960’s Tales to Astonish #13. Far from heroic, proto Groot attempted to abduct humans for scientific experimentation.

ReadEmpire's review ofGuardians Of The Galaxy,Vol. 2 andVol. 3.

88. Gromit

Appearances:Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005),Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)

Streaming on: Sky / NOW | Netflix

Creator: Nick Park

Performer: Team Aardman Animations

Defining moment: How about reviving the comatose Wallace with a wedge of Stinking Bishop?

Fascinating fact: In 2005, NASA named a prototype Mars rover Gromit.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofWallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit andWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

87. Ethan Hunt

Appearance: TheMission: Impossible series (1996 – 2025)

Streaming on: Paramount+

Creator: David Koepp, Steven Zaillian, Robert Towne

Performer: Tom Cruise

Defining moment: Hunt’s penchant for defying gravity, physics and fear reached its apotheosis in the fourth film, with his daring climb up the side of the Burj Khalifa – aka the world’s tallest building – in Dubai.

Fascinating fact: Rumour has it that Hunt was going to die inGhost Protocol, but the character survived due to production rewrites.

86. Red

Appearance:The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Streaming on: Sky | NOW

Creator: Stephen King

Performer: Morgan Freeman

Defining moment: His final parole board. “To tell you the truth, I don’t give a shit.”

Fascinating fact: In the novella,Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption, Red is a white Irishman. He gets his name from his mop of crimson hair.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Shawshank Redemption.

85. Walker

Appearance:Point Blank (1967)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creator: Donald E. Westlake (writing as Richard Stark)

Performer: Lee Marvin

Defining moment: Cutting between Walker’s wife and betrayer (Sharon Acker) getting dressed and Walker striding down a long corridor. The click of his relentless heels sounds over both images — he will not be stopped.

Fascinating fact: Richard Widmark, Robert Duvall, Mel Gibson, and Jason Statham have played versions of Walker.

ReadEmpire's review ofPoint Blank.

84. Corporal Hicks

Appearance:Aliens (1986)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creator: James Cameron

Performer: Michael Biehn

Defining moment: “I like to keep this handy... for close encounters…” The fact that Hicks carried a lo-fi shotgun (“Eat this!”) proves he’s old school, a cowboy, and a reliable hero.

Fascinating fact: James Remar was originally cast as Hicks, but was canned after a drugs charge and replaced by Biehn weeks after they had started shooting.

ReadEmpire's review ofAliens, and see where it came in ourAlien movie ranking.

83. Bane

Appearances:The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video | ITVX

Creators: Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Graham Nolan

Performers: Jeep Swenson (Batman & Robin), Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises)

Defining moment: After a major fist fight, Bane breaks Batman’s back and symbolically throws away the broken mask inThe Dark Knight Rises.

Fascinating fact: Hardy based Bane’s strange voice on Romany Irish boxer Bartley Gorman.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Dark Knight Rises. See where it came in ourBatman movie ranking.

82. Woody

Appearances: TheToy Story series (1995–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creator: John Lasseter

Performer: Tom Hanks (voice)

Defining moment: “YOU ARE A TOY! You aren’t the real Buzz Lightyear! You’re... you’re an action figure! You are a child’s plaything!” Woody doles out some tough love to his new friend who's suffering delusions of grandeur.

Fascinating fact:Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich revealed on Twitter that Woody’s last name is Pride.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofToy Story,Toy Story 2,Toy Story 3 andToy Story 4. See if any of them made it into our list of thebest kids movies.

81. Withnail

Appearance:Withnail & I (1987)

Streaming on: Channel 4+

Creator: Bruce Robinson

Performer: Richard E. Grant

Defining moment: Withnail’s preposterous tea shop demands: “We want the finest wines known to humanity. We want them here and we want them now!”

Fascinating fact: Grant’s first reading of the line, “Fork it!” was exactly how Robinson had imagined it, thus securing the actor the part.

ReadEmpire's review ofWithnail & I.

80. V

Appearance:V For Vendetta (2005)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Creator: Alan Moore, David Lloyd

Performer: Hugo Weaving (though James Purefoy began filming before the role was recast, and some of his scenes still appear with Weaving’s voice-over).

Defining moment: The massed ranks of like-masked protesters appearing at the Houses Of Parliament, as V blows the place up and brings down the dystopian government.

Fascinating fact: Weaving based V’s voice on ex-Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

ReadEmpire's review ofV For Vendetta.

79. Roy Batty

Appearance:Blade Runner (1982)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Prime Video

Creators: Philip K. Dick, Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples

Performer: Rutger Hauer

Defining moment: The incredible sense of loss that comes with the “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe” dying speech… “All those moments will be lost in time like tears in the rain. Time to die.”

Fascinating fact: Roy’s birthday – or rather, his inception – was celebrated on January 8, 2016. He’s three years and ten months old when he dies.

ReadEmpire's review ofBlade Runner.

78. Martin Blank

Appearance:Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Creators: Tom Jankiewicz, D. V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack

Performer: John Cusack

Defining moment: Killing a would-be assassin with the promotional pen his glad-handing real-estate agent friend has given him at a school reunion.

Fascinating fact: Though the character is renamed Brand Hauser, Blank essentially returns in the little-seenWar, Inc. (2008), which Cusack co-wrote and produced; Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd also reprise their roles.

ReadEmpire's review ofGrosse Pointe Blank.

77. Samwise Gamgee

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Streaming on: Sky / NOW

Director/Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson

Performer: Sean Astin

Defining moment: Lugging Master Frodo onto his back and trudging up Mount Doom’s ashy slope: “I can’t carry it for you... but I can carry you!”

Fascinating fact: Astin uses a frying pan as a weapon in two films,The Fellowship Of The Ring andToy Soldiers.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofLord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring,The Two Towers andReturn Of The King.

76. Private William Hudson

Appearance:Aliens (1986)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creator: James Cameron

Performer: Bill Paxton

Defining moment: The character’s a certifiable quote-machine, especially when he goes into panicky gobshite mode. After Ripley reasonably points out how long little girl Newt survived, he brilliantly ripostes, “Why don’t you puther in charge?”

Fascinating fact: Hudson’s most repeated line in the movie — “Game over, man, game over!” — was improvised by Paxton on set.

ReadEmpire's review ofAliens.

75. Lisbeth Salander

Appearances:The Girl With The Dragon Tattootrilogy (2009),The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake (2011),The Girl In The Spider's Web (2018)

Streaming on: Prime Video

Creator: Stieg Larsson

Performers: Noomi Rapace, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy

Defining moment: Her savage revenge on her sexually abusive probation worker, which includes tattooing "I am a rapist pig" on his chest.

Fascinating fact: Larsson claimed that Salander was what he imagined Swedish children's book character Pippi Longstocking would be like as an adult.

ReadEmpire's review of David Fincher'sThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

74. Frank Drebin

Appearance:The Naked Gun series (1988-1994)

Streaming on: Netflix | Paramount+

Creator: David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker

Performer: Leslie Nielsen

Defining moment: Peeing, mid-press conference, with his mic on. Impressive stream, mind.

Fascinating fact: Nielsen appeared on Noel's House Party as Drebin in 1994. He didn't accidentally shoot Mr. Blobby.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Naked Gun, or itsmost iconic moments, as told by the filmmakers.

73. Donnie Darko

Appearance:Donnie Darko (2001)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Arrow

Creator: Richard Kelly

Performer: Jake Gyllenhaal

Defining moment: Telling motivational speaker Jim (Patrick Swayze), "I think you're the fucking Antichrist!"

Fascinating fact: Donnie watchesThe Evil Dead on a double bill withThe Last Temptation Of Christ because Kelly couldn't track down the rights-holders of his first-choice film,C.H.U.D.

ReadEmpire's review ofDonnie Darko. See where it came on our list of thebest movies of the 21st century.

72. Captain Kirk

Appearance: TheStar Trek series (1966–)

Streaming on: Paramount+

Creator: Gene Roddenberry

Performers: William Shatner, Chris Pine

Defining moment: Marooned alive at the centre of a dead planet, Kirk makes his feeling towards his nemesis ring through the quadrant: "KHAAAAAAAN!!!"

Fascinating fact: J. J. Abrams originally asked Mark Wahlberg to play Kirk's dad in his reboot – Chris Hemsworth ended up in the role.

ReadEmpire'sStar Trek movie ranking.

71. Star-Lord

Appearance: TheGuardians Of The Galaxy trilogy,Thor: Love And Thunder,Avengers: Infinity War andEndgame (2014-2022)

Creators: Steve Englehart, Steve Gan

Perfomers: Chris Pratt, Wyatt Oleff

Defining moment: "I have part of a plan." For this fast-improvising maverick, 12 per cent of a plan is quite sufficient.

Fascinating fact: The prop department's single toughest challenge was finding, intact, original Sony headphones for Quill's Walkman.

ReadEmpire's review ofGuardians Of The Galaxy,Vol. 2 andVol. 3.

70. Tony Montana

Appearance:Scarface (1983)

Streaming on: Channel 4+ | Apple TV

Creator: Oliver Stone (based on 1932's Howard Hawks/Richard Rosson movie)

Performer:Al Pacino

Defining moment: "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."

Fascinating fact: Rapper Cuban Link was set to play Tony's son in a 2001 sequel.

ReadEmpire's review ofScarface.

69. Marge Gunderson

Appearance:Fargo (1996)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creators: Joel and Ethan Coen

Performer: Frances McDormand

Defining moment: Contemplating the body in the wood chipper and asking the killer, "And for what? For a little bit of money. There's more to life than a little money, you know. Dontcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well, I just don't understand it."

Fascinating fact: McDormand learned her Minnesota accent from actress Larissa Kokernot, who plays the small role of Hooker #1.

ReadEmpire's review ofFargo.

68. Neo

Appearances:The Matrix quadrilogy (1999-2021)

Streaming on: Netflix

Creators: The Wachowskis

Performer:Keanu Reeves

Defining moment: A hail of bullets stopped with a simple gesture, an Agent batted aside with casual ease, then annihilated from the inside out. As Morpheus so succinctly put it, "He is The One."

Fascinating fact: Reeves nearly wasn't. Before Keanu landed the role, both Will Smith and Nic Cage passed on Neo's leather trousers.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofThe Matrix,The Matrix Reloaded,The Matrix Revolutions andThe Matrix Resurrections, or whythe sequels remain underrated.

67. Harry Potter

Appearance: TheHarry Potter series (2001-2011)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Netflix

Creator: J. K. Rowling

Performer: Daniel Radcliffe

Defining moment:"Expecto patronum!" Harry comes of age by discovering the wherewithal to conjure up his Patronus spirit avatar and repel the Dementors.

Fascinating fact: Radcliffe was going to wear green contact lenses, to match Harry's description in the books, but they made his eyes itch.

ReadEmpire'sHarry Potter movie ranking.

66. Gollum / Sméagol

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-2003) andThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW

Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien

Performer: Andy Serkis

Defining moment: Sméagol debating the merits of treachery with his other half inThe Two Towers - a scene cunningly orchestrated between the 'innocent' and 'conniving' sides of his inner schism.

Fascinating fact: Gollum's underpants are made of goblin skin. Elasticated, breathable, fresh stench of rot...

ReadEmpire's reviews ofLord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring,The Two Towers andReturn Of The King.

65. Hans Landa

Appearance:Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creator: Quentin Tarantino

Performer: Christoph Waltz

Defining moment: Landa's cold-blooded cabin monologue to a farmer he suspects of sheltering Jews is a sinister mix of slippery charm, high intellect and outright villainy. As is he.

Fascinating fact: Landa's trademark Calabash Meerschaum pipe offers a subtle link to another famous, but somewhat less malignant, sleuth – Sherlock Holmes.

ReadEmpire's review ofInglourious Basterds.

64. George Bailey

Appearance:It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Prime Video

Creator: Philip Van Doren Stern

Performers: James Stewart, Bobby Anderson

Defining moment: His pure delight at the discovery of "Zuzu's petals!" in his pocket when he returns to the real Bedford Falls after his nightmarish vision, and he realises the world has gone back to how it was.

Fascinating fact: In the original novel, George's full name was George Pratt. It was changed to Bailey for the movie.

ReadEmpire's review ofIt's A Wonderful Life. See where it came in our list of thebest Christmas movies.

63. Wolverine

Appearances: TheX-Men series (2000–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Len Wein, John Romita Sr.

Performers: Hugh Jackman, Troye Sivan

Defining moment: His ferocious response when the Xavier School For Gifted Youngsters is attacked inX2. The claws come out... Wolverine really doesn't like you threatening his friends.

Fascinating fact: Jackman took daily ice-cold showers while playing Wolverine in order to achieve the requisite grumpiness.

ReadEmpire'sX-Men movie ranking.

62. E.T.

Appearance:E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Streaming on: Netflix | Prime Video

Creator: Melissa Mathison

Performer: Pat Welsh (voice)

Defining moment: When Elliott cuts his finger, E. T. uses his glowing digit to reveal his power to heal. It is not simply a demonstration of alien powers, but an expression of E. T.'s empathy and growing bond with Elliott.

Fascinating fact: The squashy sound of E.T.'s walk was created by foley artist John Roesch stuffing a T-shirt full of jelly and squishing it.

ReadEmpire's review ofE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

61. Bilbo Baggins

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings andThe Hobbit trilogies (2001-2014)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW

Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien

Performers: Ian Holm, Martin Freeman

Defining moment: As he's about to quit the quest inAn Unexpected Journey, Freeman's Bilbo realises the dwarves want their home back as much as he needs to get home. Somehow this drives him further on for adventures.

Fascinating fact: John Le Mesurier – best known for playing Sgt. Wilson inDad's Army — played Bilbo in the BBC's 1981 radio serial.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofLord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring,The Two Towers andReturn Of The King, andThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,The Desolation Of Smaug andThe Battle Of The Five Armies.

60. Dr. King Schultz

Appearances:Django Unchained (2012)

Streaming on: Netflix | Apple TV

Creator: Quentin Tarantino

Performer: Christoph Waltz

Defining moment: For showcasing his joy in the part and his dexterity with Tarantino's dialogue, Waltz recounting the origins of the name of Broomhilda - Django's wife. "It's a German legend, there's always going to be a mountain in there somewhere."

Fascinating fact: Tarantino created the part for Waltz, who stayed with him while he wrote and read the pages literally warm from the printer.

ReadEmpire's review ofDjango Unchained.

59. Ace Ventura

Appearances:Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994),When Nature Calls (1995)

Streaming on: Netflix | Sky/NOW Cinema

Creator Jack Bernstein, Tom Shadyac, Jim Carrey

Performer: Jim Carrey

Defining moment: Plenty of improv and rubber-faced japery, but for pure physical comedy the slo-mo acting out of a football play in the mental institution – and then rewinding – can't be topped.

Fascinating fact: Ace Ventura made a brief (animated) appearance in the cartoon series ofThe Mask, when Stanley Ipkiss loses his dog.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofAce Ventura: Pet Detective andWhen Nature Calls.

58. Sarah Connor

Appearances:The Terminator series (1984–)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Disney+ | Apple TV

Director/Creator:James Cameron

Performer: Linda Hamilton, Emilia Clarke

Defining moment: InT2, doing chin-ups in the hospital. Once a timid nobody, now a fearsome warrior with the fate of mankind in her hands.

Fascinating fact: The T-1000's doppelgänger of Connor in T2 was played by her identical twin sister, vLeslie.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofThe Terminator,T2: Judgment Day,Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines,Terminator: Salvation,Terminator: Genisys andTerminator: Dark Fate.

57. Katniss Everdeen

Appearances:The Hunger Games series (2012-2015)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Apple TV

Creator/Directors: Suzanne Collins, Gary Ross, Francis Lawrence

Performer: Jennifer Lawrence

Defining moment: Volunteering for the nightmarish Hunger Games when her younger sister's name is read out, in order to save the kind-hearted Prim from the same awful fate.

Fascinating fact: ‘Katniss' is a plant also known as an ‘arrowhead'. Symbolism!

ReadEmpire's reviews ofThe Hunger Games,Catching Fire,Mockingjay Part One andMockingjay Part Two.

56. Jack Burton

Appearance:Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Creators: John Carpenter, W. D. Richter

Performer: Kurt Russell

Defining moment: Ol' Jack Burton bursts into a room, shoots his gun in the air... and gets knocked out by falling masonry. Thus proving that he's a perfect piss-take of the 'shoot first, ask questions later' American hero.

Fascinating fact: The movie initially began life as a Western, set in the 1880s. Russell's John Wayne drawl would have been even more appropriate.

ReadEmpire's review ofBig Trouble In Little China.

55. Axel Foley

Appearances:The Beverly Hills Cop franchise (1984-2024)

Streaming on: NOW | Paramount+ | Netflix

Creator: Daniel Petrie Jr.

Performer: Eddie Murphy

Defining moment: His incredulous but knowing squeal of"Getthefuckouttahere!" to snippy gallery flunky Serge when he's told the price of the works of art.

Fascinating fact: The role was originally written for Sylvester Stallone, who rewrote much of the script, had it rejected, and later recycled some of the ideas for 1986'sCobra.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Beverly Hills Cop.

54. Amélie Poulain

Appearance:Amélie (2001)

Streaming on: Apple TV | Amazon Video

Creator: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Performer: Flora Guiet, Audrey Tautou

Defining moment: Upon Amélie finding the photo album of lost postcards, the narrator gives the perfect summation of Amélieness: “Any normal girl would call the number, meet him, return the album and see if her dream is viable. It’s called a reality check. The last thing Amélie wants.”

Fascinating fact: There is a species of South American frog —Cochranella amelie — named after the impish Parisian.

ReadEmpire's review ofAmélie.

53. Vito Corleone

Appearances:The Godfather (1972),The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Netflix

Creator: Mario Puzo

Performer: Marlon Brando,Robert De Niro

Defining moment: Forging his destiny with the murder of neighbourhood padrone Don Fanucci.

Fascinating fact: Orson Welles claimed he would have “sold his soul” to play Vito, but was never even considered – still, an interesting thought.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Godfather andThe Godfather: Part II, or our list of thebest moments from the trilogy.

52. Shaun Riley

Appearance:Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creator: Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg

Performer: Simon Pegg

Defining moment: Shaun finally ditches the kitchen appliances and picks up a cricket bat. The sporting way to lay waste to the undead.

Fascinating fact: While filming the climactic pub mêlée, Pegg’s arm actually caught on fire.

ReadEmpire's review ofShaun Of The Dead. See where it came on our list of thebest zombie movies.

51. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Appearances: TheStar Wars series (1977-2005)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creator: George Lucas

Performer: Alec Guinness, Ewan McGregor

Defining moment: "These aren't the droids you're looking for." Ben Kenobi shows off a neat party trick that leads to a generation trying to get past nightclub bouncers by waving their hands at them.

Fascinating fact: Fifteen people have played Kenobi across various platforms but Guinness and McGregor remain the only two actors to have played him on screen. So far.

See where Obi-Wan came onEmpire's list of thebestStar Wars characters.

50. Luke Skywalker

Appearances: TheStar Wars series (1977-2017)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creator: George Lucas

Performer: Mark Hamill

Defining moment: “But I was going into Tosche station to pick up some power converters.” Luke Skywalker: cinema’s greatest whiner.

Fascinating fact: In the scene where Luke introduces himself to Leia on the Death Star, Hamill referred to himself as Luke Starkiller, the character’s original name. It was nixed by execs and reshot with the more aspirational Skywalker.

ReadEmpire's review ofStar Wars: A New Hope.

49. Harry Callahan

Appearances: TheDirty Harry series (1971-1988)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Apple TV

Directors/Creators: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner

Performer: Clint Eastwood

Defining moment: Best summed up by District Attorney Rothko to Harry: “Where the hell does it say that you’ve got a right to kick down doors, torture suspects, deny medical attention and legal counsel… that man had rights.”

Fascinating fact: Dirty Harry was used as a training film by the Filipino police.

ReadEmpire's review ofDirty Harry.

48. Lester Burnham

Appearance:American Beauty (1999)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Apple TV

Creator: Alan Ball

Performer: Kevin Spacey

Defining moment: Visually, the rose petals peeling off Mena Suvari was the image of the film, but it is Lester’s touching voice-over that really lingers: “I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.”

Fascinating fact: The original script was bookended with Lester’s daughter and her boyfriend being arrested for his murder.

ReadEmpire's review ofAmerican Beauty.

47. Rick Deckard

Appearances:Blade Runner (1982),Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Netflix

Creators: Philip K. Dick, Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples

Performer:Harrison Ford

Defining moment: Deckard’s place as futuristic gumshoe/assassin is defined by his brutal shooting of replicant snake dancer Zhora and the bitter look that goes with it.

Fascinating fact: When Ridley Scott first met with Ford, he was shootingRaiders and arrived in Indy’s hat. Scott ditched the idea of Deckard wearing a fedora immediately and gave him the buzz cut.

ReadEmpire's review ofBlade Runner andBlade Runner 2049.

46. Captain America

Appearances:Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Joe Simon, Jack Kirby

Performer: Chris Evans

Defining moment: InAge Of Ultron, Tony Stark asks Steve Rogers how he plans to beat an alien invasion. “Together,” says the super-soldier. “We’ll lose,” says Stark. “Then we’ll do that together, too.” Classic Cap.

Fascinating fact: The last big-screen Cap came in Albert Pyun’s 1990 version, played by Matt Salinger – son of JD.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofCaptain America: The First Avenger,The Winter Soldier andCivil War.

45. Tommy DeVito

Appearance:Goodfellas (1990)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Director/Creators: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese

Performer: Joe Pesci

Defining moment: The shinebox to-do is pretty iconic, but the knife-edge tension of DeVito’s improvised drinking confrontation with Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) remains unmatchable. “Funny how? What’s funny about it?”

Fascinating fact: The above exchange was based on something that actually happened to Pesci.

ReadEmpire's review ofGoodfellas.

44. Anton Chigurh

Appearance:No Country For Old Men (2007)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Prime Video

Creators: Cormac McCarthy, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Performer: Javier Bardem

Defining moment: The life-or-death coin toss. “Call it, friend-o,” insists Chigurh, impassive as a man counting old Tiger Tokens. You could say he is a fatalist.

Fascinating fact: According to co-starJosh Brolin, Chigurh’s bowl cut had Bardem complaining that he wouldn’t “get laid for three months”.

ReadEmpire's review ofNo Country For Old Men. See where it came in ourCoen brothers ranking.

43. Amy Dunne

Appearance:Gone Girl (2014)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Prime Video

Director/Creator: David Fincher, Gillian Flynn

Performer: Rosamund Pike

Defining moment: The most telling glimpse inside Amy’s mind comes via her meticulously filled wall planner – here is her master plan, her final revenge, her psychopathology. She has even set a date to kill herself.

Fascinating fact: To deal with how “uneasy” she felt playing Amy, Pike would regularly dissolve into giggles. She realised it was a coping mechanism.

ReadEmpire's review ofGone Girl.

42. Lou Bloom

Appearance:Nightcrawler (2014)

Streaming on: Netflix | BFI Player

Creator: Dan Gilroy

Performer: Jake Gyllenhaal

Defining moment: Bloom tying his employer Rene Russo up in knots over one creepy dinner ‘date’. She’s a smart, savvy, experienced operator, and absolutely no match for him.

Fascinating fact: Gyllenhaal needed 44 stitches after slicing a thumb during the mirror smash scene.

ReadEmpire's review ofNightcrawler.

41. Keyser Söze

Appearance:The Usual Suspects

Streaming on: MGM+ | Apple TV

Creator: Christopher McQuarrie

Performer: Kevin Spacey

Defining moment: A criminal so terrifying the mere mention of his name makes hard nuts wither in their shell, Söze is largely a bogeyman-style spectre throughout Bryan Singer’s movie. But we see him at the start, coolly putting out a fire by pissing on it. Now that may be the greatest trick the devil ever pulled.

Fascinating fact: The long-haired Söze we see in a flashback is played by Scott B. Morgan, who was working behind the scenes on the movie.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Usual Suspects.

40. Ferris Bueller

Appearance:Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Apple TV

Creator: John Hughes

Performer: Matthew Broderick

Defining moment: Parading through Chicago lip-syncing Danke Schoen while the crowd goes wild. Ever noticed that Ferris is a faker?

Fascinating fact: The ill-starred TV adaptation featuredDiagnosis: Murder star Charlie Schlatter taking a chainsaw to a cardboard cutout of Matthew Broderick. It was cancelled after 13 episodes.

ReadEmpire's review ofFerris Bueller’s Day Off.

39. Driver

Appearance:Drive (2011)

Streaming on: Prime Video | MUBI | Apple TV

Creators: Hossein Amini, James Sallis

Performer: Ryan Gosling

Defining moment: Confined to an orange-hued lift descending to death, Driver kisses Carey Mulligan knowing what he’s about to do will destroy their love but save her life – smashing in the skull of a threatening thug.

Fascinating fact: Nicolas Winding Refn directedDrive, but he can’t actually drive.

ReadEmpire's review ofDrive.

38. Yoda

Appearances: TheStar Wars series (1980-2005)

Streaming on: Disney+

Director/Creators: George Lucas, Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan

Performer: Frank Oz

Defining moment: Lifting a sunken X-Wing out of a swamp. “I don’t believe it,” says Luke. “This is why you fail,” replies the crestfallen Jedi master, never quick to encourage.

Fascinating fact: In early drafts the so-called Minch Yoda kept his house spotlessly clean.

37. Walter Sobchak

Appearance:The Big Lebowski (1998)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creators: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Performer: John Goodman

Defining moment: Responding to a perceived bowling foul with thermo-nuclear intensity. “Mark it zero!” Walter is a stickler for rules.

Fascinating fact: The airline version changed, “You see what happens, Larry, when you fuck a stranger in the ass?” to, “You see what happens, Larry, when you find a stranger in the Alps?”

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Big Lebowski.

36. Rocky Balboa

Appearances: TheRocky series (1976-2015)

Streaming on: Apple TV

Creator: Sylvester Stallone

Performer: Sylvester Stallone

Defining moment: “Down! Stay down!” Battered to the canvas by Apollo Creed, the easy thing for Rocky would be to do just that. But up the Italian Stallion climbs. Creed’s look of disbelief, mingled with respect, is glorious.

Fascinating fact: Stallone wouldn’t sell his script unless producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff let him star.

ReadEmpire's review ofRocky.

35. Atticus Finch

Appearance:To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creator: Harper Lee

Performer: Gregory Peck

Defining moment: “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial...” Finch’s quietly devastating closing argument destroys the prosecution case and has inspired decades’ worth of prospective lawyers.

Fascinating fact: Brock Peters, who played defendant Tom Robinson, gave a eulogy for Peck and addressed him as “my friend Atticus Finch”.

ReadEmpire's review ofTo Kill A Mockingbird.

34. Captain Mal Reynolds

Appearance:Serenity (2005)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creator: Joss Whedon (from his 2002Firefly television series)

Performer: Nathan Fillion

Defining moment: Reynold’s St Crispin’s Day speech. Impassioned oratory with a suitably Whedon-esque summation. “No more runnin’. I aim to misbehave.”

Fascinating fact: Whedon originally wrote the part for Nicholas Brendon (Buffy’s Xander). Shooting schedules made it impossible, so Fillion stepped in.

ReadEmpire's review ofSerenity.

33. The Man With No Name

Appearances:A Fistful Of Dollars (1964),For A Few Dollars More (1965),The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creator: Sergio Leone

Performer: Clint Eastwood

Defining moment: At the finale ofThe Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Eastwood’s amoral treasure hunter chooses to let the treacherous Tuco (Eli Wallach) live. He’s not so amoral after all.

Fascinating fact: The laconic anti-hero appeared in five novels, which continued the series past Leone’s third Dollars film.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofA Fistful Of Dollars,For A Few Dollars More andThe Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

32. Jules Winnfield

Appearance:Pulp Fiction (1994)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Paramount+

Director/Creator: Quentin Tarantino

Performer: Samuel L. Jackson

Defining moment: A brutal choice, with Tim Roth reaching for his wallet a very close second place (“It’s the one that says Bad Motherfucker.”), but the winner has to be quoting Ezekiel 25:17 before blowing away Brett (Frank Whaley). Righteous fury.

Fascinating fact: The quote isn’t actually, largely, from the Bible, but from the 1976 Sonny Chiba action pic The Bodyguard.

ReadEmpire's review ofPulp Fiction. See where it came in ourTarantino ranking.

31. Peter Venkman

Appearances:Ghostbusters (1984),Ghostbusters II (1989),Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Streaming on: Netflix | Apple TV

Creators: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

Performer: Bill Murray

Defining moment: Giving two students an ESP test, happily electric-shocking the obnoxious sophomore guy while flirting with the girl. Poor science, but liquid Venkman.

Fascinating fact: According to theGhostbusters novelisation, he was born in a circus tent at King City Attractions in Sedalia, Missouri.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofGhostbusters andGhostbusters II.

30. Gandalf

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings andThe Hobbit trilogies (2001-2014)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | MGM+

Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien

Performer: Ian McKellen

Defining moment: In a small but perfect grace note from the Council Of Elrond, as the first to hear Frodo’s offer to take the One Ring all the way to Mount Doom, a ripple of sadness crosses Gandalf’s face. It is the heartbreaking recognition of what his meddling will cost.

Fascinating fact: McKellen openly professed that he preferred playing Gandalf The Grey to Gandalf The White.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofFellowship Of The Ring andThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

29. Snake Plissken

Appearances:Escape From New York (1981),Escape From L.A. (1996)

Streaming on: MUBI | Paramount+

Creator: John Carpenter

Performer: Kurt Russell

Defining moment: On being asked if he’s going to kill Lee Van Cleef’s character: “I’m too tired, maybe later.”

Fascinating fact: Production company Avco Embassy Pictures preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones for the role rather than Russell, who was better known for his recent Disney comedies.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofEscape From New York andEscape From L.A.

28. The Terminator (T-800)

Appearances: TheTerminator series (1984–)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Disney+ | Apple TV

Creator: James Cameron

Performer:Arnold Schwarzenegger

Defining moment: The joy of the “I’ll be back” sequence lies not only in its legacy, but its witty machine-like accuracy: he will indeed be back, smashing his car through the police station, the desk, and the desk clerk.

Fascinating fact: Cameron had devised a version of the plot where there would be two Arnie T-800s, one good, one evil, but ditched it because one would have to look battered throughout, which meant putting Schwarzenegger in make-up every day – he couldn’t face the griping.

ReadEmpire's review ofTheTerminator.

27. Forrest Gump

Appearance:Forrest Gump (1994)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Paramount+ | Netflix

Creator: Winston Groom

Performer: Tom Hanks

Defining moment: When he asks Jenny if their son is “normal”; it’s a moment that shows a tragic awareness of his own limitations.

Fascinating fact: In the book, Forrest is more of a savant, and gets top marks in advanced physics at college.

ReadEmpire's review ofForrest Gump.

26. Patrick Bateman

Appearance:American Psycho (2000)

Streaming on: Netflix | Lionsgate+ | Apple TV

Director/Creator: Mary Harron, Bret Easton Ellis

Performer: Christian Bale

Defining moment: Patrick Bateman’s soliloquy on the genius of Huey Lewis, followed by his iconic 'Hip To Be Square' flat-ricide.

Fascinating fact: In retrospect, Bret Easton Ellis felt that making Bateman a rabid Huey Lewis fan was unfair. The musician didn’t much mind, even doing his ownFunny Or Die spoof.

ReadEmpire's review ofAmerican Psycho.

25. Ash

Appearances: TheEvil Dead trilogy (1981-1992)

Streaming on: Studiocanal Presents | Apple TV

Director/Creator: Sam Raimi

Performer: Bruce Campbell

Defining moment: The tooling-up sequence inEvil Dead II marks the moment where Ash transitions from hapless and hysterical buffoon to the Dirty Harry of Deadites. Campbell’s delivery of the line “Groovy” launched a thousand sound bites.

Fascinating fact: Ash’s full name is Ashley Williams. (Not to be confused with the Everton and Wales defender.)

ReadEmpire's review ofEvil Dead.

24. Daniel Plainview

Appearance:There Will Be Blood (2007)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Apple TV

Creators: Paul Thomas Anderson, Upton Sinclair

Performer: Daniel Day-Lewis

Defining moment: “We offer you the bond of family that very few oilmen can understand…” claims Plainview, luring dumbfounded landowners to his cause with Molotov sincerity. A monologue doubly astounding given that Day-Lewis improvised most of it.

Fascinating fact: Plainview’s mansion in the film is, in fact, Greystone Mansion in LA, the home of Edward Doheny Jr., son of the real oil baron upon whom Plainview was partly based.

ReadEmpire's review ofThere Will Be Blood.

23. The Bride

Appearances:Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003),Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Streaming on: Netflix | Apple TV

Creator: Quentin Tarantino

Performer: Uma Thurman

Defining moment: Beatrix Kiddo’s drastic rationalising of the Crazy 88 during the slay-full House Of Blue Leaves showdown.

Fascinating fact: Uma Thurman ran over a chicken during the movie’s shoot.

ReadEmpire's review ofKill Bill: Vol. 1 andKill Bill: Vol. 2.

22. Travis Bickle

Appearance:Taxi Driver (1976)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | Apple TV

Creator: Paul Schrader

Performer: Robert De Niro

Defining moment: Bickle kindly gives his date a Kris Kristofferson album she already owns, then takes her out to a porn film.

Fascinating fact: One of Schrader’s inspirations for Bickle was Harry Chapin’s song 'Taxi'.

ReadEmpire's review ofTaxi Driver.

21. Hannibal Lecter

Appearances: The Hannibal Lecter films (1986-2007)

Streaming on: Netflix | Apple TV

Creator: Thomas Harris

Performers: Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Aaran Thomas, Gaspard Ulliel

Defining moment: The moment that cements Lecter’s extraordinary effect comes during his conspicuous absence. Orchestrated with devilish cunning, his courthouse escape inThe Silence Of The Lambs leaves you thunderstruck by temporarily having no idea where he is.

Fascinating fact: John Lithgow, Mandy Patinkin, William Friedkin, Brian Dennehy, Sean Connery, Derek Jacobi and Daniel Day-Lewis have all been considered to play Lecter.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Silence Of The Lambs.

20. Doc Brown

Appearances: TheBack To The Future trilogy (1985-1990),A Million Ways To Die In The West (2014)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Creators: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

Performer: Christopher Lloyd

Defining moment: His apology for the “crudeness” of his ridiculously detailed scale model of Hill Valley.

Fascinating fact: In theBack To The Future animated TV series (1991), Doc was voiced by Dan Castellaneta, aka Homer Simpson.

ReadEmpire's review ofBack To The Future.

19. Loki

Appearances: The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber

Performer: Tom Hiddleston

Defining moment: As fun as the tyrannical posturing is inAvengers, the firstThor reveals the troubled core which makes the character so compelling – and sympathetic. After discovering his frost-giant lineage, Loki stutters at his foster-father Odin, “I am the monster parents tell their children about at night?”

Fascinating fact: Among those who auditioned for the role of Loki was Charlie Cox… who four years later would enter the MCU as Daredevil.

ReadEmpire's review ofThor.

18. Rick Blaine

Appearance:Casablanca (1942)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creators: Murray Burnett and Joan Alison (the play,Everybody Comes To Rick’s); Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch

Performer: Humphrey Bogart

Defining moment: His curt nod to the bandleader to strike up La Marseillaise and drown out the Nazis. A tiny but pivotal gesture – Rick has joined The Cause.

Fascinating fact:Brazzaville, a mercifully unrealisedCasablanca sequel, revealed that Rick was an undercover US agent all along.

ReadEmpire's review ofCasablanca.

17. M. Gustave

Appearance:The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Creators: Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness

Performer: Ralph Fiennes

Defining moment: A philandering, worldly one-man TripAdvisor, concierge M. Gustave ends up taking a fascist bullet for his young friend, Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori). Beneath that suave carapace lies an inner nobility, after all.

Fascinating fact: Fiennes used his time as a young porter at London’s Brown’s Hotel to help construct the character.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Grand Budapest Hotel. See where it came in ourWes Anderson movie ranking.

16. Ron Burgundy

Appearances:Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004),Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Netflix

Creators: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay

Performer: Will Ferrell

Defining moment: Having failed to convince Veronica (Christina Applegate) that San Diego means “whale’s vagina”, Ron says, “Agree to disagree” – displaying his particular mix of arrogance and idiocy.

Fascinating fact: Ferrell could have been a newsman himself – he even did an internship at a local TV station.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofAnchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy andAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues. See whereAnchorman came in our list of thebest comedy movies.

15. Aragorn

Appearances:The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Streaming on: Sky/NOW | MGM+

Creator: J. R. R. Tolkien

Performer: Viggo Mortensen

Defining moment: Going to meet the Uruk-hai atop Parth Galen to allow Frodo time to escape. It’s the first time Aragorn embraces his destiny as a leader.

Fascinating fact: Mortensen patched up his own costume while filming and, when he lost a tooth in an orc-based squabble, he simply had it glued back in.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofFellowship Of The Ring.

14. Captain Jack Sparrow

Appearances:The Pirates Of The Caribbean series (2003–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

Performer: Johnny Depp

Defining moment: His panicked cry of, “But why is the rum gone?” on learning that fellow castaway Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) has created a rum-fuelled beacon to attract rescue.

Fascinating fact: Elliott and Rossio designed Cap’n Jack in the spirit of characters in classic literature and opera like Figaro; the comic, puckish counterpoint to the film’s heroes.

ReadEmpire's review ofPirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl.

13. Iron Man

Appearances: The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008–)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Stan Lee, Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber

Performer: Robert Downey Jr.

Defining moment: At a press conference to deny that he is Iron Man, Tony Stark leans into the mic and announces: “I am Iron Man.” It’s the move of a billionaire genius playboy philanthropist, and narcissist, and dispensed with all that secret identity baloney right off the bat.

Fascinating fact:Iron Man had been years in development, with Nicolas Cage and Tom Cruise linked to the role.

ReadEmpire's review ofIron Man.

12. Marty McFly

Appearances:Back To The Future trilogy (1985-1990)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Creators: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

Performer: Michael J. Fox

Defining moment: After belting out Johnny B. Goode: “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it.”

Fascinating fact: As Calvin Klein was relatively unknown in Europe at the time, Marty is mistaken for Levi Strauss and Pierre Cardin in some Euro versions.

ReadEmpire's review ofBack To The Future.

11. Michael Corleone

Appearances:The Godfather trilogy (1972-1990)

Streaming on: Paramount+ | Netflix

Creator: Mario Puzo

Performer: Al Pacino

Defining moment: Watch him steeling himself to kill Sollozzo and Capt. McCluskey in the restaurant – a journey to the dark side begins.

Fascinating fact: Michael Corleone is a bit-part player in Puzo’s novelThe Sicilian.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Godfather,The Godfather: Part II andThe Godfather: Part III, or our list of thebest moments from the trilogy.

10. The Dude

Appearance:The Big Lebowski (1998)

Streaming on: Prime Video | Apple TV

Creators: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Performer: Jeff Bridges

Defining moment: Throughout, The Dude is striving to return to his habitual state of rest but fails. Driving his beat-up Torino home in a rare moment of contentment, supping a beer, taking a toke and singing along to Creedence on the eight-track, he spots he’s being trailed. This latest assault on his embattled karma causes him in quick succession to flick his joint into his lap, squeal like a girl, pour beer on his trousers, and slam the Torino into a row of dustbins. Rattled but unhurt, his drugstore Ray-Bans — an excellent bellwether for The Dude’s equilibrium — are left comically askew.

Fascinating fact: With the exception of his dream, you never actually see The Dude bowl.

ReadEmpire's review ofThe Big Lebowski.

9. Darth Vader

Appearances:Star Wars: Episodes III-VI (1977-2005)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creator: George Lucas

Performers: David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice), Sebastian Shaw,Hayden Christensen

Defining moment: In the first two films (i.e. Episodes IV and V), Lord Vader is nothing more — or less — than the ultimate, über-cool villain. Remorseless, fearless, able to force-strangle his underlings via video link... But it’s inReturn Of The Jedi that we realise, somehow, that we care about Vader — just as Luke does. In this sense, he’s defined by a small exchange with his offspring. Having been urged to let go of his hate, he says, almost sadly, “It is too late for me, son...”

Fascinating fact: Vader was also technically played by famed Hollywood sword-master Bob Anderson, who donned the suit forEpisode V andVI’s lightsaber duels.

8. Tyler Durden

Appearance:Fight Club (1999)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Director/Creator: David Fincher, Chuck Palahniuk

Performer:Brad Pitt

Defining moment: Tyler delivering the rules is the most quoted moment, but the scene that captures his dark humour is when he invites a beating from bar-owner Lou, spraying blood over him with an evilly gleeful, “You don’t know where I’ve been!”

Fascinating fact: Pitt originally wanted to play The Narrator, but David Fincher convinced him to be Tyler instead.

ReadEmpire's review ofFight Club.

7. John McClane

Appearances: TheDie Hard films (1988-2013),National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV

Creators: Roderick Thorp, Steven E. de Souza, Jeb Stuart

Performer:Bruce Willis

Defining moment: Sending a dead terrorist back to his cohorts with a zinger daubed on him in blood. Tough, cocky, darkly funny.

Fascinating fact: Fox had to offer the role to Frank Sinatra first, as technicallyDie Hard is a sequel to 1968’sThe Detective.

ReadEmpire's review ofDie Hard.

6. The Joker

Appearances:Batman The Movie (1966),Batman (1989),The Dark Knight (2008),Suicide Squad (2016)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creators: Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger, Bob Kane

Performers: Cesar Romero, Mark Hamill (voice), Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto

Defining moment: Most votes specified Ledger’s Oscar-winning take, so we’ll go with his pencil-disappearing “magic trick”. Nasty and deeply unpredictable.

Fascinating fact: Ledger’s Joker never looks at his victims while killing them.

ReadEmpire's reviews ofBatman,The Dark Knight andSuicide Squad.

5. Ellen Ripley

Appearances: TheAlien series (1979-1997)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: Walter Hill, David Giler, Ron Cobb, Dan O’Bannon

Performer: Sigourney Weaver

Defining moment: With a survival instinct to match her xenomorphic nemesis, Ripley is one of nature’s rationalists. Indeed, had they followed her hard-nosed attempt to uphold quarantine rules and prevent the stricken Kane being brought back on board — “If we let it in, the ship could be infected” — the Nostromo crew, if not Kane, would remain a whole lot healthier.

Fascinating fact: In the process of considering Meryl Streep for the role of Ripley, Ridley Scott was stopped in his tracks by the sight of Weaver in thigh-high boots, bursting into his office, half an hour late for her audition.

ReadEmpire's review ofAlien. See where it came in ourAlien movie ranking.

4. Batman

Appearances:Batman The Movie (1966),Batman (1989),Batman Returns (1992),Batman Forever (1995),Batman & Robin (1997),Batman Begins (2005),The Dark Knight (2008),The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Streaming on: Amazon Video | Apple TV

Creators: Bob Kane, Bill Finger

Performers: Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale

Defining moment: It really should be from Christian Bale’s Dark Knight, when he is going fist to face with the Joker as Gordon (Gary Oldman) looks on fretting, “Who’s in control?” Good question.

Fascinating fact: Fans sent 50,000 protest letters to Warner Bros. after Tim Burton announced the casting of Michael Keaton as Batman.

ReadEmpire'sBatman movie ranking.

3. Han Solo

Appearances: TheStar Wars series (1977–2015)

Streaming on: Disney+

Creator: George Lucas

Performer:Harrison Ford

Defining moment: Granted, Vader had the better wardrobe (black cape, motorcycle leathers), but Solo’s scruffy-looking smuggler still takes the gundark’s share of Star Wars cool. Shooting first (sorry George) and cracking wise, he’s every inch the space cowboy. The Quintessential Solo is heartfelt as well as cocksure, though, and never more so than in Ford’s famously ad-libbed response to Leia’s, “I love you,” inEpisode V: “I know.”

Fascinating fact: In Lucas’ early drafts of The Star Wars, Solo’s character was Ureallian: a noseless, green-skinned, slime-covered alien with large gills, who trapped Wookiees. Not quite so romantic now, is it?

2. James Bond

Appearances: TheJames Bond series (1962–)

Streaming on: Prime Video

Creator: Ian Fleming

Performers: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig

Defining moment: Probably varies by Bond — Moore unzipping Solitaire’s dress with a magnet would sum him up, for example, while Brosnan adjusting his tie after driving a tank through a wall nails him. But it was probably 007’s first film that laid out the marker for the next 50 years, when he shoots Professor Dent (“That’s a Smith & Wesson, and you’ve had your six”) with the insouciance of a man who’s just had a bid accepted on eBay.

Fascinating fact: The Ian Fleming series of novels and shorts have been almost entirely mined for titles, but these remain available:Risico,The Hildebrand Rarity,The Property Of A Lady, and007 In New York. They might remain unmined.

ReadEmpire's review ofNo Time To Die.

1. Indiana Jones

Appearances: TheIndiana Jones series (1981-2023) -Raiders Of The Lost Ark,Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom,Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade,Indiana Jones And The Crystal Skull andIndiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny.

Streaming on: Disney+

Creators: George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan

Performer: Harrison Ford

Defining moment: The flicker of recognition that crosses Indy’s face when Belloq (Paul Freeman) suggests they are alike... Tied with the pained, “Do I really have to do this?” look he gives just before he shoots the Arab swordsman.

Fascinating fact: It is common knowledge that Indiana Jones was originally called Indiana Smith, but changed to Jones at Spielberg’s behest. Yet the reason Spielberg wanted the seemingly negligible name change was to distanceRaiders from Nevada Smith, a 1966 Steve McQueen Western.

ReadEmpire's review ofRaiders Of The Lost Ark.