History CharacterGush / LiveActionFilms

** '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy ROCKET]]''' '''''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 GODDAMN]]''''' '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 RACCOON.]]''' The voice acting of Creator/BradleyCooper, the onscreen performance of Creator/SeanGunn, and the writing of Creator/JamesGunn took a character whom could have easily been mere comic relief and turned him into one of the most tragic, well-written characters in the entire MCU - whom also manages to be hilarious and an utter badass.

** '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy ROCKET]] '''''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 GODDAMN]]''''' '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 RACCOON.]]''' The voice acting of Creator/BradleyCooper, the onscreen performance of Creator/SeanGunn, and the writing of Creator/JamesGunn took a character whom could have easily been mere comic relief and turned him into one of the most tragic, well-written characters in the entire MCU - whom also manages to be hilarious and an utter badass.

* ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'': Newt Scamander. A magizoologist who is writing a [[Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem book]] about magical creatures -- not an extermination guide, but a guide to help fellow witches and wizards understand them and why they should be protected. He's a shy, {{Adorkable}} wizard who is NotGoodWithPeople, but at the same time he is [[NiceGuy so genuinely kind and pleasant]], and he cares for his creatures as though they are family. He is just the true epitome of what Hufflepuff stands for. The fact that he is ''insanely'' good-looking too doesn't hurt. And he has a BadassLongcoat and [[BagOfHolding the coolest suitcase EVER]], and is played by Creator/EddieRedmayne!

* The ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' movie's Edward Cullen, for the sole fact that Creator/RobertPattinson seemed to play him as one of the most intentionally [[SoBadItsGood unintentionally hilarious]] characters ever.

** [[AxCrazy Gogo]] [[GirlWithPsychoWeapon Yubari]]: A badass in a [[SchoolUniformsAreTheNewBlack schoolgirl uniform]], she is ''hot''. But she ''will'' [[BerserkButton gut you alive for thinking that]]. She wields the [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon most awesome]] [[EpicFlail weapon]] ever, and wields it ''good'' despite the fact that a very heavy steel ball on a long chain seems extremely AwesomeButImpractical. She dominated the Bride over the whole duration of the battle, and honestly deserved to win that one.

* Stalker's wife in the 1979 Creator/AndreiTarkovsky film ''Film/{{Stalker}}'', played by Alisa Freindlich. While Stalker, Writer, and Professor all desire things like power, money, and respect, and do not get it in the end, Stalker's wife has only one wish: to be with the man she loves. At the end, when Stalker returns to her and their daughter, she becomes the only person in the film to be truly happy.

* ''Film/TheMatrix'': In a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters cast full]] [[TheStoic of stoics]], Mouse and Link sometimes seem like the only truly human characters in the movie.

*** Also, her ''hilarious'' friend/intern Darcy Lewis, played by Creator/KatDennings, deserves a mention.

** And Tony Stark from ''Film/IronMan1''. Just ''look'' at [[Awesome/IronMan that movie's CMoA page]].

** And Tony Stark from ''Film/IronMan''. Just ''look'' at [[Awesome/IronMan that movie's CMoA page]].

* ''Film/WestSideStory'': Anita and Bernardo. They pretty much stole the entire film away.

** Obi-Wan-Kenobi. DeadpanSnarker, BadassBeard, managed to take on the friggin' Chosen One and curp-stomp him, sexy enough to have a pre-pubescent saying "THAT'S Obi-Wan? Day-um, he was ''cute'' when he was young."

** Pot, kettle? [[TroperTales/PerverseSexualLust And of course...]]

* Film/{{Django|Unchained}}. D-J-A-N-G-O. That one n---- in 10,000. Know this; his wife ain't gon' be no comfort woman. Not while he's alive. Not while he's got his gun. And by the way, the D is silent, hillbilly. (BLAM!)

* ''Film/DieHard'': Detective John [=McClane=]. "Yippie-kay-yay, mutherfucker!!" "Now I have a machine gun... ho ho ho."
** Keep in mind, he's cracking those one-liners ''while severely outnumbered, completely cut off from all backup''. He managed, while on Christmas vacation to his estranged wife, to think quickly in order to save dozens of lives and stop the robbery of the century - all while cementing his place as ''the'' quintessential [[TheEveryman Everyman]].
** Hans Gruber. Classy, sophisticated, ruthless, calculating, impecabbly dressed and with a great voice. One of cinema's greatest bad guys.
* '''John Film/{{Shaft}}'''!!! Can ya dig it?!?! When he's played by Samuel L. Mother (Shut yo' mouth!) Jackson?? We can dig it!
** What about Creator/RichardRoundtree?
* Shadow, from ''Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney''. He's simply an [[CoolOldGuy aging]] [[OldDog Goldie]], but he traverses the mountains, swims rivers, and climbs out of a steep-walled pit with a busted leg. Why does he put himself through this? Because someone he loves might be in trouble. And since we all know where a [[{{WesternAnimation/Hercules}} hero's strength]] [[ThePowerOfFriendship comes from]]...Just cue the applause and the waterworks. "Something is keeping Peter from coming to me, so I'm going to go to him...I don't care about ''gates''. I'm going ''home''."
* In Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, we've got [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Steve Rogers]], played by Creator/ChrisEvans. Not only when he becomes Captain America, but even when he's a scrawny kid from Brooklyn, you just can't help but root for him.
** AGREED. A badass OneManArmy with a [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe seriously awesome shield]], a {{Determinator}} with NervesOfSteel who will stop at NOTHING to do what is right – who happens to be [[{{Adorkable}} kind of dorky]] and [[NiceGuy an]] [[GentleGiant absolute]] [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold sweetheart]]. Oh, and he’s ''[[MrFanservice freaking]] [[{{Hunk}} gorgeous]]'' - not surprising when you consider his actor.
** And Tony Stark from ''Film/IronMan''. Just ''look'' at [[Awesome/IronMan that movie's CMoA page]].
** I'd confidently decided by the end of the first ''Iron Man'' film that the [=MCU's=] version of Pepper Potts is the '''''greatest''''' super hero love interest of all time, and the character only got better as the sequels went on. [[WebVideo/BumReviews Chester A. Bum]] is right -- give this woman her own movie!
** Why don't we say '''[[WorldOfBadass EVERYONE]]''' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and leave it at that?
** Loki in particular. Seriously, when the villain has more fans than the hero, so much so that a school of 127 people has a Loki Is Awesome Fanclub (yes, that's seriously what we call it) that contains 12 people (which doesn't sound like much until you realize that's 10% of the students, and many of the others have never seen Thor or the Avengers), you know that's a seriously cool villain.
** [[Film/{{Thor}} Dr. Jane]] ''[[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld fucking]]'' [[Creator/NataliePortman Foster.]] A scientific genius who is brave as hell, will stop at nothing to discover the extraordinary...who can also be reduced to a [[{{Adorkable}} giggling schoolgirl]] after receiving a kiss on the hand from Thor? I just love her. I was devastated when she was written out of the movies -- but then cried TearsOfJoy after learning that Portman is not only [[TheBusCameBack reprising her role]] in ''Thor: Love and Thunder'' in 2021, '''''[[ComicBook/Thor2014 but will also be wielding Mjölnir.]]'''''
*** Also, her ''hilarious'' friend/intern Darcy Lewis, played by Creator/KatDennings, deserves a mention.
** Thanos, the Mad Titan. The Russo brothers managed to make an OmnicidalManiac-MagnificentBastard combo of a character, ''make him a TragicVillain, '''and made it not only work, but SUCCEED.''''' The terrifying leader behind numerous alien factions, he lives up to ''all'' of the dreadful hype that came with him starting with ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' - he is a deluded, determined, brutal, bloodhungry beast of a tyrant that is so dangerous, ''[[Film/AvengersInfinityWar he actually claimed ultimate victory]]'' in that he snapped half of life out of existence with the Infinity Gauntlet. [[Film/AvengersEndgame He loses this later on of course]], but no other villain in the history of the whole film franchise ''ever'' got that big a win, even Zemo! Creator/JoshBrolin ''breathes'' life into his character, he is SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome personified, and is just brilliant of an reimagined villain.
* [[Film/BeverlyHillsCop Detective Axel Foley.]] [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Jack Sparrow]] learned everything he knows from this Detroit cop. And if that wasn't enough, his ThemeSong is one of the most recognizeable tracks of TheEighties.
* [[Film/TheDarkKnight The Joker]] - Creator/HeathLedger's portrayal.
** Seconded. I know some people experienced HypeBacklash, but honestly, I have never [[VillainsOutShopping liked a supervillain]] so much. He gave me [[NightmareFuel two nonconsecutive nightmares]] and still manages to be hilarious. Maybe that says something about me, since I was the only one in the theater who laughed at his jokes (but there were only about 15 people in the rather infrequently attended theater and that was a lot for that place).
** You have to give props to Creator/JackNicholson's Joker, too. More cartoonish than Ledger, but it ''works.''
** I like Jack's Joker better than Heath's, as Jack's Joker was the comics version brought to life.
*** "What kind of a world do we live in where a man dressed up as a ''bat'' is stealing all my press?"
*** '''HE STOLE MY BALLOONS!!!''' Why didn't anyone ''tell'' me he had one of those... things?
** Creator/DannyDeVito as the Penguin. Solid gold win!!! "Burn, baby, Burn!!!!!!!!"
*** Creator/MichellePfeiffer as Catwoman.
** The ScaryBlackMan ([[SubvertedTrope not!]]) who [[spoiler:throws the innocents' detonator out the boat]]. What now, Joker? Still think HumansAreBastards? (To think I'd be listing a character who appears for ''less than five minutes''...)
* I'm fed up with all this villain love. What about the Caped Crusader himself????? Creator/MichaelKeaton '''OWNED''' his role as Batman. Nobody has done it better. But....Creator/ChristianBale has done a very commendable job in the new movies.
* [[Franchise/EvilDead Alright, you primitive screwheads, listen up! See this? This... is my boomstick! It's a twelve-gauge, double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt-blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right... shop smart. Shop S-Mart... You got that?!!]]
* Dumb and Dumber is already amazing, but Harry owns my heart! He's so funny and cute and AAH!

* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** R2 freakin' D2.
** Princess Leia.
*** ''Seconded''. Princess Leia is the type of female character that little girls can look up to. She's strong-willed, clever, and just plain badass.
** Darth Vader.
*** ''Seconded''. Darth Vader has to be the best example of a sympathetic villain out there.
** Darth Sidious. Apart from his being the most Magnificent of all Bastards in that series, look at his (few) combat scenes and see how he wields his Force Lightning ''and'' his lightsaber, and then tell me he's not awesome.
** He does have some fearsome competition however in Yoda. The single most awesome puppet ever (Frank Oz is a genius), and once switched to CGI proves that being 900 years old doesn't stop him from possessing combat skills rivalled only by Sidious.
** Asajj Ventress FTW!! She's not even a Sith apprentice and can take on Master Jedi!
** Han Solo. That is all. Oh, and Admiral Piett, by virtue of surviving not one, but ''two'' of Darth Vader's [[YouHaveFailedMe temper tantrums]]. [[PuttingOnTheReich Nice suit, too...]]
** Good ''Lord'', Wedge Antilles. A truly BadassNormal who just gets more badass in the ''X-Wing'' novel series.
** Darth Maul. His fighting skills alone redeemed ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''.
*** He's so awesome he managed to [[spoiler:survive being '''''CUT IN HALF''''']]!!!!
** '''[[Creator/SamuelLJackson MACE. MOTHER. FUCKIN'. WINDU.]]''' ''I do not have to explain why.''
** Qui-Gon Jinn. In his review of ''Film/{{Taken}}'', Creator/RogerEbert said, "This movie proves that Creator/LiamNeeson can bring undeserved credibility to most roles just by playing them." (Ebert is apparently ten years behind the curve) In a movie of colossal stupidity, with horrible dialogue and non-existent direction, Neeson managed to make Jinn wise, enthralling, and endearing.
*** He also discovered Force Ghosting. How much more badass can you get?
** [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars Captain Fordo]]. A relatively minor character, especially compared to everyone else here, but he brings in ass-kicking and awesomeness in any scene he's in. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYI9FDbfk5U Just look at him!]]
** Without doubt the greatest hero of the ''Star Wars'' Universe is Luke Skywalker. At 18 he nearly singlehandedly saves the rebellion and blows up the death star. By the end of Empire he is able to deal with the horrific revelations within and bounce back. At 22 he has become a fully fledged Jedi and is able to take down Vader in a duel. He then has the courage to go up against the Emperor himself. And from that point on (bouts of unwanted pacifism and self doubt aside) he sucessfully recreates a better Jedi order, goes from strength to strength and fully earns his place as the greatest example of what the Light side is about. The only reason he cannot have been mentioned yet is that nobody felt worthy of doing so.
*** ''Seconded''. I only first watched the ''Star Wars'' movies about...two months ago now? And I found myself drawn to Luke from the very start. Sweet, earnest, badass, can see the goodness in the darkest of places, and he does what is right simply because ''it's the right thing to do'', not for any reward. A worryingly high amount of people just dismiss him as "whiny" while completely ignoring the CharacterDevelopment and the [[TookALevelInBadass levels of badass he takes]], and it's starting to piss me off. ''I just don't understand why people think that about him.''
*** ''Thirded''. Luke has to be one of the most good-natured and idealistic characters in the franchise. He helped Princess Leia escape Darth Vader immediately after finding out her location. He never gave up on Darth Vader after finding out that he's his father, despite the whole thing seeming hopeless. He really stuck it to the emperor in Episode Six and was able to reject the Dark Side unlike Anakin.
** Obi-Wan-Kenobi. DeadpanSnarker, BadassBeard, managed to take on the friggin' Chosen One and curp-stomp him, sexy enough to have a pre-pubescent saying "THAT'S Obi-Wan? Day-um, he was ''cute'' when he was young."
*** Seconding the Obi-Wan love. He was definitely the ultimate Jedi of the old Jedi Order- modest, kind, badass... He had a truly horrible life- losing his master, spending the Clone Wars getting regularly beaten to a pulp and even tortured, losing his entire surrogate family in one go due to the actions of his best friend, having to fight said best friend, spending almost twenty years alone in a desert and then dying at the hands of the former friend he couldn't bring himself to kill all those years ago. And yet he still managed to stay firmly in the Light, a hero to the end. It's hard to convey just how much love and respect I have for Obi-Wan. He's my hero.
*** To me, the greatest Jedi is and always will be Obi-Wan. No matter the hardships he faced, even with his entire world collapsing around him, his loved ones all killed or disappeared, he remained true to his order, always holding on, never ever giving up. And in the end, he was right. He managed to trudge through the night and bring a new hope to the world.
** C-3PO, anyone? Not only is he in every episode of the Saga (and says the first and last lines to boot) but he's an endearing worrywart who acts as a perfect foil to R2-D2's antics.
** Anakin Skywalker -- TheChosenOne and among the most complex characters of the saga. His struggle to find balance between the Light and Dark sides of the Force is heart-breaking and his choices affect every being in the galaxy. More than any other character, his greatest strengths are also his greatest weaknesses.
** Padmé Amidala. Queen, wife, Senator, warrior, diplomat, and mother (though for too short a time, unfortunately). She's stubborn, idealistic, self-righteous, naïve, gentle, self-sacrificing, devoted, and kind...but sad.
** Rey and Finn combined embody the saying, "courage is being scared to death and doing it anyway." Despite each of them being drawn by circumstance far, far out of the worlds they were raised into, they rise to the challenge and discover that they are each more than they believed they could be.
** Poe Dameron. That IS one hell of a pilot, and his [[HoYay smoldering glances]] every time his eyes lock with Finn's are amazing. What makes him even better is that he's open-hearted; just look at the way he accepts Finn and gushes over BB-8.
** What, no love for Yoda? BadassAdorable (well, YMMV on the adorable), funny, mischievous, kind-hearted...and arguably the most dangerous Jedi so far ''in the history of the galaxy.'' He switches between "mighty warrior," "wise teacher," and "mischievous kid" in moments, and prefers the latter two.
-->"Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing. How embarrassing."
* [[Film/TrainingDay Detective Alonzo Harris.]] 'Why?' you ask? Because a lot of corrupt (and some not so corrupt) cops think they're a MagnificentBastard. This motherfucker '''IS''' one. Because "the shit's chess! It ain't checkers!" Because, his ''office'' is a Lincoln cruiser with hydraulics. Because "it takes a wolf to catch a wolf". And because he's played by Creator/DenzelWashington.
* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'':
** Ripley because she's a MamaBear. "Get away from her you BITCH!"
** Bishop. Quiet, stoic - he had hidden depths that were never plumbed.
** Sergeant Apone---The '''original''' badass black cigar-chomping one-liner-spewing bug-stompin' SergeantRock. Shame he died so soon...
** Corporal Dwayne Hicks. A straightforward badass who keeps a shotgun handy for close encounters.
** The titular aliens. The xenomorphs are some of the best creatures ever made for the screen. They're just human enough to squick you out, but then you get to the head... and the second jaw... and the tail... and the back-tube-things... And that's without their breeding cycle. And the fact that they're essentially space cockroaches. They will NEVER DIE OUT. EVER.
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
** Captain. Jack. Sparrow. Any doubts about his awesome can be easily dispelled by listening to his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRSd8faHNhE&feature=related theme music]].
** What can I say about wonderful Jack Sparrow? Well, there's this conglomerate of remarks gleamed from the Pirates fandom:
*** A classic ByronicHero; an outcast with no respect for rank or privilege. A trickster, cunning and adaptive. Mysterious, magnetic and seductive, of dubious integrity, distrustful of social institutions & norms. And nobody seems to know where he came from.
*** A pretty thing; proud and flashing bright. He burns fire-bright, eyes open or closed. Something dark, daft and utterly fey dances flame-hot in his eyes. Even locked in a dim Port Royal cell, his light shines undimmed. It could be said that no man in fiction has ever seemed more alive.
*** Fair of face and form, laughter and fortitude, with zeal for life that would lure a saint to sinning. Sometimes cold, fierce and dangerous, like some magnificent bird of prey. Mentally and physically agile- that taut bowstring tension to him, that sense of coiled potential violence, that unexpected strength.
*** A Dionysian disciple, singularly possessed of the ability to summon forth Chaos from Order. A rascal and scamp, yet so worthy of acceptance. When he polishes the tarnish off, the silver shines. Old wounds and new ones, scars and brand and braided hair. The golden smile and that silver tongue no metal can match. A sparrow, but not a nondescript bird.
*** A Caribbean cocktail-blend in human form; a nervy, theatrical rogue; a manic scoundrel subject to bouts of conscience. Brilliant, and constantly on the edge of disaster. Jack Sparrow stands merrily defiant, ready to take on the world... or at least pick its pocket and sneak out the back door. A guy you can trust not a wit, and with your life. A pirate, and a good man.
** What do you mean we've forgotten about Barbossa?! The man has some of the best dialogue ever written for the silver screen!
---> I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means no.
** Barbossa is indeed one of the most entertaining movie villains in recent years, and Geoffery Rush owns the role so very, very well.
** James Lysander Norrington, because he's a stone-cold badass that doesn't need half the ham the other characters in the trilogy do to be awesome. He was a truly admirable guy who got worse than he deserved in every movie. (Re James' middle name; see the entry under ''WMG/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'''s {{WMG}} tab.)
** ''Gibbs!'' What a quartermaster, the best quartermaster ever! Also, Beckett, the most badass little power-tripping butthole of all time! Gibbs is easily one of the (if not ''the'') most underrated characters in the film. Anyone who can put up with Jack Sparrow the way he does is nothing short of a saint.
** Elizabeth? From [[PrincessClassic Lady Classic]] to [[spoiler: Pirate King]]. AdrenalineMakeover much? And she wasn't any kind of DamselScrappy even at the beginning.
** Davy Jones. The man's badass despite the fact he's got more Narm than can fill the sea and an ''octopus'' for a face! In fact, that makes him even ''more'' awesome! And as for his pet . . .
** Murtogg and Mullroy. And Pintel and Ragetti. Both of the duos have a great dynamic.
** Well, I do admit everyone above is a nice person. Nonetheless... haven't you still mentioned Lord Cutler Beckett? TheChessmaster, GentlemanSnarker, the master of NonAnswer, the ace af Gambits... and most important, always [[StiffUpperLip keeping calm]] and never panicking. [[spoiler: Even on discovering that he was OutGambitted, which makes his death really quite sad.]]
* Master Chief [[Film/MenOfHonor Carl Brashear]]. You walk 12 steps in a suit that weighs over 300 lbs. and do it with only ONE good leg, and we'll add you to this list as well.
* Kyle Reese from ''Film/TheTerminator'': [[Tropers/RowsdowerSavesUs I]] remember staying up years ago to watch the original for the first time when I was twelve. I had never seen an R-rated movie without [[MoralGuardians my parents]] in the room before, and the [[ClusterFBomb language]] was pretty shocking for someone who had never heard the word "fuck" before, but anyway. Then Reese comes on screen, all wild-eyed and intense, blasts the Terminator through a window, and says "[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome come with me if you want to live.]]" And my little 12-year-old brain went "This guy is FUCKIN' AWESOME!!! I have found my role model!" This from a 12-year-old GIRL, by the way, but [[Tropers/RowsdowerSavesUs I turned out all right]]. Hey, I think the guy's a better role model than most people on TV nowadays. Sure, people tell me I'm too [[ActionGirl wild-eyed, determined, and intense]], but there are worse things a person can be.
** While ''Film/TerminatorSalvation'' may have its issues, Marcus Wright is an absolutely ''fascinating'' character, and Sam Worthington deserves a place in the Trope Pantheon as the God of [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously Taking the Bad]] [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously Seriously]].
** [[Tropers/RowsdowerSavesUs OP]]: Absolutely. With all the [[HollywoodHypeMachine hype]] surrounding [[LargeHam Christian Bale]] as John Connor, Sam Worthington's portrayal of Marcus was overlooked. The guy rocked it. The character of Blair Williams was also great. Unfortunately, the movie itself [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks wasn't too good]]. You could tell that [[TheOtherDarrin Anton Yelchin]] was trying very hard, but the guy's never gonna be as good as Michael Biehn. And Creator/ChristianBale's [[ChewingTheScenery hilarious rant]] took all seriousness out of the film.
%%* ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'': John Keating. (Someone explain why he is awesome)
* Ah, [[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Dr. Frank N Furter]]. Everyone's favourite [[CreepyCrossdresser cross-dressing]], MadScientist, alien.
-->'''Frank''': So, come up to the lab and... see what's on the slab. I see you shiver with antici...............pation.
** Frankie's just adorable. Also, Riff Raff rocks too!
*** Columbia. Her voice is a little irritating, but she's so cute that she more than makes up for it.
* [[Film/{{Labyrinth}} Jareth.]] Amazing lines, heartbreaking stares, jealousy...

* Mercedes from ''Film/PansLabyrinth''. Will of iron, one of the most satisfying firings of ChekhovsGun in all fiction, and those unexplained niggling bits where she discusses fairies with Ofelia and ''recognizes the door''. Beautiful, beautiful character.
** Captain Vidal also deserves a mention, as he manages to be loathsome without the writers resorting to making him cowardly or otherwise pathetic. He's brave, tough, and faithful to the fascist cause, and he's still a huge monster by being so utterly cruel. That's a great sign of a well-written character.
* '''[[Film/BladeRunner Roy Batty.]]'''
-->Roy: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain. [[spoiler:Time to die.]]

* [[Film/JamesBond Bond. James Bond.]] ''*cue SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic provided by Music/JohnBarry* ''
** [[Film/FromRussiaWithLove Donald "Red" Grant]]. One of the most chillingly realistic villains Bond ever faced - a stone cold psychopath who runs rings around him the whole film. And he'd have won too, if he weren't so ignorant about wines.
** Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Bond's number one ArchEnemy. The DiabolicalMastermind archetype. Nefarious leader of [[NGOSuperpower SPECTRE]]. Kills mooks [[BlofeldPloy for failing him]]. Been portrayed by many actors to explain his different appearances.
** Film/{{Goldfinger}}. He's like the perfect over-the-top bad guy.
** [[Film/DiamondsAreForever Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd]]. They're an AmbiguouslyGay DoubleAct who just happen to be hitmen. And they're {{Leitmotif}} is wonderfully jazzy.
** [[Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun Francisco Scaramanga]]. Naturally, Creator/ChristopherLee is one of the best Bond villains. A charismatic hitman who sees himself as a dark equal of 007. He's the best kind of villain - the one that part of you wants to win.
** [[Film/TomorrowNeverDies Elliot. Freaking. Carver.]] Creator/JonathanPryce is just an over-the-top joy to watch.
* The ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' movie's Edward Cullen, for the sole fact that Creator/RobertPattinson seemed to play him as one of the most intentionally [[SoBadItsGood unintentionally hilarious]] characters ever.
** Jane is played by ''Creator/DakotaFanning''.
* ''Happy-Go-Lucky'''s Poppy has the confident, energetic, ridiculously upbeat personality of a BlitheSpirit, without the actual BlitheSpirit part, taking away the annoying and leaving us with just one lovable as hell character. Also, never seen ''anyone'' play this kind of character nearly so well as this. Sorry, [[{{Series/Firefly}} Jewel]], but it's true.
* Ethan Edwards of ''Film/TheSearchers'' is the greatest AntiHero ever depicted in a Western. Period.
* ''Film/WithnailAndI'': Withnail. In the hands of a lesser actor, he could have been just a Jerkass Loser but with Creator/RichardEGrant playing him? My, my, I've never seen such a classy, endearingly sad, side-splittingly funny bastard in all my life.
* ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'':
** Doc Brown. "It'll shoot the fleas off a dog's back at five hundred yards, Tannen, and it's pointed straight at your head!" Doc is a great example of Cool Old Guy. Plus he's not bad-looking... Doc has more guts in his little finger than the Tannens have in their entire bodies. He is as smart as a city full of surgeons, and he's an awesome friend.
** And speaking of friends, can we get some love for Marty [=McFly=]? At first glance, the kid appears to be an average 80s teenager. Then we note that he's befriended the town outcast and it goes (mostly) uphill from there. (He did learn - which is more awesome right there.) What else can you say about a teenager who, when his beat friend held hostage, goes out and faces the hostage taker without batting an eyelash - and then [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] him?
*** Agreed. The guy is just ''cool.'' Skateboarding away from Biff and his goons, then ''climbing over their car and landing back on his skateboard, making them crash into a manure truck?'' Badass. The way he just fearlessly jumped off a (at least) fifty-storey building...''[[SuicidalGotcha and rose up on top of the flying DeLorean]]?'' BADASS. And he can '''''SHRED''''' on a guitar, and he's a good singer along with it (yes, I ''know'' it wasn't Creator/MichaelJFox singing, but I don't care!). The fact that he's so charming and ''cute'' doesn't hurt, either.
* [[Franchise/StarTrek James T. Kirk]] was awesome as a thirty-something year-old captain. But then, he got old, got a gut, and his hair thinned. And he became ''even more'' awesome. That man is made of so much win, it took a ''second'' actor to play him. And he was badass too!

* Anita and Bernardo in ''Film/WestSideStory''. They pretty much stole the entire film away.
* Eric Liddel from ''Film/ChariotsOfFire''. He was unpretentious yet appealing and he could actually make you think that GoodFeelsGood. He was kind to everyone and the only time he became angry was when someone tried to force him to bend his own principles. He actually gave sermons that were pleasant to hear as well. Sometimes when an attempt is made to make a saintly character the result is either a wimpy one or a sanctimonious one. Eric was neither; he liked people and made them like him and no one ever considered him wimpy. And the race in which he was knocked off the course and got up to run after everyone and win the race was one CMOA.
* Jack Ryan in ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober''. He was quiet, unassuming, knew tons of naval minutiae, could jump out of a helicopter onto a surfaced submarine. And he could solve a world crises while still remembering to bring home a teddy bear for his daughter's Christmas present.
* Riddick. Nothing like a bad guy trying to be a good guy (kinda sorta not really) in a bad situation. Plus, I guess I like sadism. And you know he'd leave you behind on that hellish planet if you don't get your ass on that ship in the time it takes to close the door -- even if he just helped save you.
* I KneelBeforeZod in his awesomeness.
** * Scoff* You kneel before Zod. I, on the other hand, fully understand the Lex Luthor is "the greatest criminal mind of our time."
* ''Film/{{Amelie}}'':
** Amelie Poulain]] is a dream girl.
** Does the suicidal goldfish count as character? Because that guy was awesome!

* Harmonica from ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest''. Total badass, and gets an awesome theme song.
* Evie Carnahan in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy. Okay, so she is the [[DontTouchItYouIdiot idiot who wakes the mummy up in the first place]] but there's still something to be said for a librarian turned ActionGirl. And not everyone can have a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome or several relying on their knowledge of ancient Egyptian.
** Also her brother Jonathan. For all his many, ''many'' flaws and failings, he has a variety of surprisingly useful (if not always legal) skills, he's far smarter and more resourceful than he acts, he's brave when he has to be, he comes through for his family despite everything, and he clearly loves his baby sister more than life itself. Also he's hilarious and gets most of the best lines in the trilogy.
* Henry, the titular character of ''Film/HenryPortraitOfASerialKiller'' is probably one of the creepiest psychos in movie history, and he does it all by being so realistic. He never once seems to be a goofy over-the-top movie villain like the Joker or Hannibal Lecter, and comes across as far more frightening than either one, in my opinion. Add in an excellent performance by Creator/MichaelRooker, and you've got one of the most awesomely freaky maniacs in movie history.
** Speaking of Hannibal Lecter, how could this list go so far without mentioning him? He's a manipulative murderous cannibalistic bastard yeah but he's so charming and calm so often that makes it frightening when he starts to give one of his well known Hannibal Lectures, and jarring when he gets angry. He's an absolute delight to watch and is probably one of if not my favorite movie villain ever. And before one asks it only applies to Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayal. Because he's the one who portrayed him the most giving him more time to flesh the character out. That and like most I try to pretend that Hannibal Rising never happened.
* Most of the characters from ''Film/AlmostFamous'' are some form of awesome. Even if it's a kind of mean awesome. But a lot of them aren't. William? Could he possibly be any more adorable? And Lester Bangs... well, she doesn't know much about the real Lester, but the Creator/PhilipSeymourHoffman Lester is GOD.
* Should this list include Creator/RaulJulia as the [[LargeHam fabulously]] [[HamAndCheese awesome]] [[Film/StreetFighter General Bison]]? '''[[MemeticMutation OF COURSE!]]'''
* [[Film/ToKillAMockingbird Atticus Finch.]] While from a book, he deserves a mention here. Creator/GregoryPeck was so great as him that it broke Harper Lee to [[TearJerker tears]] and gave him her real father's watch. He was so great that she said he did not simply portray Atticus, but that he ''was'' Atticus. He was named the best hero by AFI and deserved it.
* ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors'': Seymour and Audrey. They make the cutest couple ever! Oh, and that crazy dentist was pretty funny, too. And who can forget the plant, Audrey II? Twooey stole the show, and being voice by Levi Stubbs helped.
** You mean you didn't love Creator/BillMurray like I did and his scene stealing at the dentist's office? CANDYBAR!
* '''Anyone''' of Creator/QuentinTarantino's characters. Well, it's okay [[Film/PulpFiction Jules, Vincent, Marsellus, Butch, Winston, Koontz, Mia]], [[Film/KillBill Beatrix, Bill, Budd, O-Ren, Pai Mei]], [[Film/InglouriousBasterds Landa, Aldo, Donny, Shosanna, Stiglitz and Rachtmen]]; I think you guys are ''totally kick ass''!!
** [[AxCrazy Gogo]] [[GirlWithPsychoWeapon Yubari]]: A badass in a [[SchoolUniformsAreTheNewBlack schoolgirl uniform]], she is ''hot''. But she ''will'' [[BerserkButton gut you alive for thinking that]]. She wields the [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon most awesome]] [[EpicFlail weapon]] ever, and wields it ''good'' despite the fact that a very heavy steel ball on a long chain seems extremely AwesomeButImpractical. She dominated the Bride over the whole duration of the battle, and honestly deserved to win that one.
** Maybe not as badass as the above, but deserving their own special mention are [[Film/ReservoirDogs Mssrs. White, Orange, Pink and Blond]]. Although Blond is a sick, sick psycho, but whatever.
** YES. I was just about to mention the characters from ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'', all of whom are pure '''awesome'''. Everyone from Shosanna and Col. Landa to the titular Basterds to Lt. Hicox to that German sergeant [[spoiler:who gets his head bashed in by the Bear Jew]]...'''''everybody'''''. Yes, they do horrible things, but I ''love them '''all'''''. They deserve their own mention, not just to be lumped in with other Tarantino characters.
** Well, [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler almost everybody]].
** "That's a bingo!"
* Dr. Ellie Arroway from ''Film/{{Contact}}''.
* [[Film/EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind Clementine Kruczynski.]] She's so much more than just a fucked-up girl looking for her own peace of mind.
* [[Film/{{Tombstone}} Doc Holliday.]] He's got two guns, one for each of ya.

* [[Film/GangsOfNewYork Bill the Butcher.]] Another case of the villain stealing the show, and Creator/DanielDayLewis' enforced method acting helps too.
** His accent is somehow more American than American. The way he chomps at his words, he's one step away from literally chewing the scenery. It could so easily be a hammy mess, but it ''works'', and it's ''glorious''.
* [[Film/MoulinRouge Christian]], the penniless poet. Handsome and romantic and devoted. ''Swoon.''
* Grace from ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' makes me want to get into science. And she's played by Creator/SigourneyWeaver!
** No mention of ''Avatar'' can be made without including Colonel Miles Quaritch, putting the badass in ColonelBadass!
* [[Film/TwelveAngryMen Juror #8]]. In an hour and a half, went from 11 jurors convinced of the defendant's guilt to a unanimous vote for acquittal, and remained perfectly calm throughout (except for [[NotSoStoic one moment near the beginning]], and quickly recovered). A valid point of divergence for any AlternateHistory story: "Juror #8 was in <insert place>, and <insert war> never happened."
* Robert Fischer Jr. from ''Film/{{Inception}}''. A prime example of TheWoobie, he starts out seeming like this arrogant rich kid, but then you get to see his confidence issues out in the open, not to mention his clear fear once Cobb starts the Mr. Charles gambit. Once he starts to feel accepted by the team, you can see his shyness and happiness about finally being accepted by someone, and the [[TearJerker scene with his father]] is just ... to top it off, he's played by ''Creator/CillianMurphy''.
** ARTHUR.
** Eames -- [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome "You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."]]
* Stalker's wife in the 1979 Creator/AndreiTarkovsky film ''Film/{{Stalker}}'', played by Alisa Freindlich. While Stalker, Writer, and Professor all desire things like power, money, and respect, and do not get it in the end, Stalker's wife has only one wish: to be with the man she loves. At the end, when Stalker returns to her and their daughter, she becomes the only person in the film to be truly happy.
* The Metatron from ''Film/{{Dogma}}''. TallDarkAndHandsome DeadpanSnarker whose lines are made up of nothing but either a SugarWiki/{{Funny|Moments}} or SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}. Not to mention he's played by Creator/AlanRickman... voice of God, very fitting indeed.
* Everybody wept for E.T.'s plight, and not without reason...but who shall cry for ''Film/TheManWhoFellToEarth'', Thomas Jerome Newton? So beautiful [[note]]yes, in ''and'' out of his disguise[[/note]], so fragile, so innocent yet not without moments of wisdom...and yet he gets one of the cruelest examples of the DownerEnding...(waaaaa)
* I watched ''Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels'' recently and I thought Rory was a real cool character. MisterBig is a common enough trait for criminal leaders, but what makes Rory unique is that he's a PintSizedPowerhouse who doesn't hide behind his hulking men, but instead leads from the front with a comically small gun. He's very respected by his men and is probably the most reasonable crime boss in the movie (admittedly not difficult). There's also the fact that he has a snazzy lair and likes UmbrellaDrink(s), neither really typical of one of TheYardies. Basically, he consciously seems to avert a lot of gangster stereotypes.
* Cher Horowitz from ''Film/{{Clueless}}''. Yes, she's a little bit ditzy and sometimes meddlesome, but she's a loyal friend, looks out for her dad, and is liked because she's nice to pretty much everyone. And her ''wardrobe''! Fifteen years after the movie's release, and I still long for that pinstriped suit/beret combo.
* [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger John Matrix]] from ''Film/{{Commando}}''. After his daughter is kidnapped, he knows exactly what to do: Find the kidnappers, and kill them. And he doesn't let things like evil dictators, their military, former elite soldiers and angst get in way. In the end, [[spoiler:he succeeds]] and manages to kill, like, a whole [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] army on the way! Despite his badassary, he refuses to take missions both before and after the movie because taking care of his daughter is more important.
* [[Film/TrueGrit Mattie Ross.]] She doesn't have strength, size, or even the respect of the people around her. She ''does'' have cleverness, a cool head in a fight, and [[{{Determinator}} unending determination]] to see justice done. Perhaps even more importantly, she's not incapable of fear--she's clearly terrified when the bullets start flying and things go south, but she's got enough, well, ''[[TitleDrop grit]]'' to keep her wits about her.
* Kirk Lazarus and Kevin Sandusky in ''Film/TropicThunder''. Kirk is badass as a black guy and sexy as a white guy. But you can't help to feel sorry for him. Kevin is the one sane guy who managed to help keep this group together even with the three main stars breaking down from all sorts of issues.
* In a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters cast full]] [[TheStoic of stoics]], [[Film/TheMatrix Mouse and Link]] sometimes seem like the only truly human characters in the movie.
* This might be just me, but the Drayton "Cook" Sawyer from ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre1974'' & ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre2'' is my favorite character of the entire slasher genre (even if neither of those movies are technically slashers, and he himself never kills anyone). He's the only one I know of that feels any actual guilt for killing, and he actually makes an attempt (though a not very good one) to comfort his victims before they die. He just seems the most human to me. Of course, your mileage may very
* Mulder and Scully are just as awesome in [[Film/TheXFilesFightTheFuture the film]] as they are in [[Series/TheXFiles the series]]. The idealists who know they are the only chance that people have to survive the upcoming alien colonization. They are badass enough to fight the evil conspiracy and they try to inform people and save the mankind. So they fight the future. And while they do so, they manage to be funny, snarky and so, so attractive.
* [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan Gwen Stacy.]] She manages to pull off ActionGirl while still staying as a believable, real character. On two seperate occasions she stays behind in a building during an evacuation in order to help Spider-Man, and both times actively attacks the Lizard. The only thing that keeps her from doing it a third time is [[BadassFamily her father, Captain Stacy]] of the NYPD, who thoroughly averts PoliceAreUseless (in a superhero film, no less) by first catching and unmasking Spider-Man himself, then [[spoiler:pulling a BigDamnHeroes during the final battle with the Lizard and saving Peter's life]]. Honestly, I could happily watch a spin-off about the Stacys... [[spoiler: if they weren't both DoomedByCanon, at least. Here's hoping Gwen avoids it.]]
* Music/RingoStarr [[Film/AHardDaysNight in]] [[Film/{{Help}} every]] [[Film/MagicalMysteryTour single]] [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] [[WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine movie]].
* Will Kane from ''Film/HighNoon''. He completely ignores public pressure in order to kick some Miller ass, saving the townspeople even though they never did anything for him Talk about a selfless, thankless act.
* Henry Gondorff in ''Film/TheSting.'' He looked ''very'' good in a tux.
* ''Film/WarmBodies'': R was awesome! He was just so great! His personality. Being a woobie and so ''vulnerable'' made him all the better. His actor was great, and played off the character perfectly, and R was just... Ahhg! He's awesome, that's all! It's just so amazing to see such a great character. He's too cute a character not to like.
* The Franchise/UniversalHorror films had some great examples.

* Pretty much everyone in "Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera" with very few exceptions. But special mentions need to go to Grave Robber, for well, everything, looks, attitude, songs, and just general extreme epicness, and Nathan/The Repo Man for the excellent personality split, complete with a different voice for each. "Night Surgeon" showcases both very well.
* I got six words for you: [[Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez]]. As well as morally ambiguous, he's funny, personable, sympathetic and totally off the wall, you gotta love him.
** youfeelingluckypunk27: He was also a tremendous inspiration to me in my clothes and my art. So I'm infinitely grateful to him for that.
** TheManWithNoName. Arguably ''the'' quintissential western AntiHero, be he [[Film/AFistfulOfDollars Joe]], [[Film/ForAFewDollarsMore Monco]] or [[Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly Blondie]].
* For a similar reason, [[Film/SevenSamurai Kikuchiyo]]. Profuse and daring, he defies social class and was ultimately [[spoiler: TooCoolToLive]].
* [[Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem Newt Scamander.]] A magizoologist who is writing a [[Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem book]] about magical creatures -- not an extermination guide, but a guide to help fellow witches and wizards understand them and why they should be protected. He's a shy, {{Adorkable}} wizard who is NotGoodWithPeople, but at the same time he is [[NiceGuy so genuinely kind and pleasant]], and he cares for his creatures as though they are family. He is just the true epitome of what Hufflepuff stands for. The fact that he is ''insanely'' good-looking too doesn't hurt. And he has a BadassLongcoat and [[BagOfHolding the coolest suitcase EVER]], and is played by Creator/EddieRedmayne!
* Captain Quint from ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. An eccentric, boozy shark hunter who managed to survive the sinking of the ''USS Indianapolis''.
* ''Captain'' Virgil Hilts from ''Film/TheGreatEscape'' is one of the coolest characters on film. Cocky, yet noble, defiant and self-sacrificing. Even if that motorbike chase is pure fiction, it's awesome.
* [[Film/TheFly1986 Seth Brundle]], the "insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it". If he were just the {{Adorkable}}, brilliant, insecure, eloquent, passionate GibberingGenius in a delightfully LimitedWardrobe he starts out as, he'd be worthy of this page. Then he wins someone's heart and falls in love for the first time in his life, which inadvertently leads him to a TragicMistake involving his teleporter and [[SlowTransformation literally, slowly transforms]] him into so much '''more''': sensuous, powerful, terrifying, terrified, and tragic. He may end up a walking BodyHorror who does some terrible things, but he's also one of the most sympathetic, ''wonderful'' creatures ever realized in fiction -- perhaps nothing less than Love itself in all its beauty and ugliness.
* Westley, of ''Film/ThePrincessBride'', will go BeyondTheImpossible every time to rescue his beloved, and snark all the way through.
** And, of course: "HELLO! MY NAME IS INIGO MONTOYA! YOU KILLED MY FATHER! PREPARE TO DIE!"
** Fezzik, the epitome of GentleGiant. He's such a sweetie, he's basically [[Franchise/{{Frozen}} Olaf the Snowman]] in human form, except with rhymes instead of hugging.
* [[Franchise/{{Rambo}} John Rambo]], who is quite possibly one of the most badass OneManArmy characters in general. A Vietnam War veteran suffering from PTSD and armed with guns, knives, arrows, and his bare hands, he uses his skills to battle [[DirtyCop corrupt cops]], enemy soldiers, and drug cartels. Even in his 70s in his final movie, he's still capable of kicking ass!

** Pretty much everyone in "Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera" with very few exceptions. But special mentions need to go to Grave Robber, for well, everything, looks, attitude, songs, and just general extreme epicness, and Nathan/The Repo Man for the excellent personality split, complete with a different voice for each. "Night Surgeon" showcases both very well.

** Captain Quint from ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. An eccentric, boozy shark hunter who managed to survive the sinking of the ''USS Indianapolis''.