Top 20 Most Iconic Characters of All Time
#20: John Wick
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“John Wick” franchise (2014-) Keanu Reeves is no stranger to iconic movie roles. From “Point Break” to “Speed,” he’s solidified himself as an action icon over the years. While “The Matrix” is the franchise that put him on the map, lately “John Wick” has become his bread and butter. The premise is simple. An ex-assassin goes on a killing spree after Russian mobsters murder the puppy that his late wife left him to remember her by. A staircase of films later, John Wick is still trying to avenge the death of that sweet dog. And we’re still cheering him on. The franchise has incredible action scenes, and Reeves has only upped his ante as one of the best.
#19: Elle Woods
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“Legally Blonde” franchise (2001-) Being an iconic movie character? What, like it’s hard? It’s definitely not for this spunky blonde law student. Before “Legally Blonde,” Reese Witherspoon had done well for herself throughout the 1990s. But her 2001 turn as Elle Woods turned the actress into an A-lister. The beautiful, blonde, and wealthy Elle Woods might not be so relatable on paper, but Witherspoon gives her an endearing energy we can’t get enough of. As she works hard to prove that she deserves to be at Harvard Law as much as anyone else, it’s impossible not to root for her.
#18: Holly Golightly
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) When you have a career as storied as Audrey Hepburn’s, you’re bound to run into quite a few iconic roles over time. But no character and no clothes of Hepburn’s have endured quite like Holly Golightly. Audiences were introduced to Holly with 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” From the very first scene, which shows Holly all dolled up in a black dress, standing outside Tiffany’s, pastry in hand, we knew we were in for something special. Holly is a bit of a mystery throughout the film, but Hepburn’s eccentric and magnetic performance puts us on her side no matter what.
#17: Willy Wonka
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“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971) It’s time to step into a world of pure imagination. Over the course of his writing career, Roald Dahl came up with some pretty legendary characters. But none have entertained quite like the enigmatic chocolate maker Willy Wonka. The character has been played by many actors over the years, including Timothée Chalamet in a prequel. But no actor has worn the candymaker’s shoes and hat as well as Gene Wilder. Wilder’s performance in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” is like an Everlasting Gobstopper. No matter how many times we rewatch the film, we never get tired of him.
#16: Mary Poppins
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“Mary Poppins” (1964) We’ve had such a long run with Julie Andrews, it’s hard to imagine a time when she wasn’t gracing our screens at the movies. But when Andrews made her film debut in 1964, general audiences didn’t have a relationship with her. That all changed, however, when that debut feature turned out to be none other than “Mary Poppins.” Andrews would take on the role of the beloved nanny, based on the character created by P. L. Travers. Her performance instantly put her on the map and made the character an icon. Andrews even won Best Actress at the Oscars for her supercalifragilisticexpialidocious efforts.
#15: Rocky Balboa
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“Rocky” franchise (1976-) Everyone loves a good underdog, and this underdog captured America’s hearts more than most. Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the first “Rocky” movie in 1976, starting a long line of films that would make him a star. Inspired by real-life boxer Chuck Wepner, “Rocky” follows a low-level Philly fighter who starts out as a loan shark before working his way up. Stallone’s strange, yet mesmerizing chemistry dazzled audiences everywhere. Almost single-handedly, he helped turn Rocky Balboa into the quintessential underdog, the boxer it was impossible not to cheer on.
#14: Beatrix “The Bride” Kiddo
“Kill Bill” franchise (2003-04) Who doesn’t love a revenge narrative? Well, we know one thing for sure. Quentin Tarantino certainly does. Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies, released in 2003 and 2004, star Uma Thurman as a character initially only known as The Bride. The motive of The Bride isn’t complex. Track down the people who killed her loved ones, almost taking her life in the process. It’s a one-track narrative, but Thurman’s performance sets it over the top. She handles the martial arts style of fighting with aplomb, and brings a real pathos to the character that might not have appeared in the hands of a lesser actor.
#13: Dr. Hannibal Lecter
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“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) More actors have had the opportunity to play the iconic Hannibal Lecter than you might think. Even though some of those performances are good and even great, no one has totally frightened up quite like Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins appears as the famed literary cannibal in Jonathan Demme’s “Silence of the Lambs.” He barely has any screen time, but he makes amazing use of what he gets. Hopkins' titillating, yet terrifying performance made Lecter one of the most popular villains in movie history. It’s hard to look at the man and not think about him having an old friend for dinner.
#12: Captain Jack Sparrow
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“Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-) It’s hard to believe that such an iconic character derived from a theme park ride. Well, Disney knows how to make money, we guess. Over the years, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise has had its ups and downs. But, particularly in the franchise’s first film, Captain Jack Sparrow is a character we fell in love with. The greatest thing about Jack is his ability to operate on the fly. He never really seems to have a plan, and yet, things always seem to go according to his plan. That flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants quality makes us love him even more.
#11: Spider-Man
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“Spider-Man” franchise (1977-) Who’s your favorite Spider-Man? It’s one of the most difficult questions to answer. As one of Hollywood’s most consistent franchises, Spider-Man is a character who is almost impossible not to love. Peter Parker has one of the best origin stories of any Marvel superhero. Who doesn’t love the thought of being a normal teenager who suddenly is entrusted with remarkable powers? Peter is often portrayed as just a high school student trying to get by. The combination of everyday high school problems with his role as “your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” makes him one of the most likable superheroes around.
#10: The Tramp
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Various Charlie Chaplin Films (1914-36) Who had one of the first recognizable characters in all of cinema history? Why, Charlie Chaplin of course. Arguably the most famous silent film star of his era, Chaplin debuted the character of The Tramp in 1914, and gave him his own film with 1915’s “The Tramp.” With his bowler hat and mustache, the Tramp was recognizable to audiences everywhere as a loveable vagabond. He was a man who wanted to fit in with high society, but his penchant for getting into trouble just wouldn’t let him. Chaplin made 25 appearances as the Tramp over his long career.
#9: Ellen Ripley
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“Alien” franchise (1979-) There are plenty of famous male action heroes throughout the 1970s and 80s. Ripley, the protagonist of the “Alien” franchise, could have been just another musclehead. But early on in production of the first “Alien” film, director Ridley Scott decided to switch things up a bit. Ripley became a woman, and when Sigourney Weaver was cast in the role, history was made. Ripley is smart, strong, and capable, but she also feels like a real person. Her humanity is what makes her one of the most endearing sci-fi characters of all time.
#8: Harry Potter
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“Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11) Say it with us: “Yer a wizard, Harry.” With those famous words uttered by none other than Rubeus Hagrid in 2001, Harry Potter would become one of the most popular film characters of all time. Adapted from novels of the same name, the “Harry Potter” franchise became some of the most successful movies ever made. As Harry himself, Daniel Radcliffe brought a beloved book character to life on the big screen. It was easy for us to see ourselves in Harry as he grew up. No matter what or who he had to face, he always felt like a friend, making those battles all the more harrowing.
#7: Freddy Krueger
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“A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise (1984-) There’s Michael Myers. There’s Jason Voorhees. And then you have Freddy Krueger. While Michael and Jason are scary on their own, Freddy just has a little of that extra pizazz to him. Through the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” horror franchise, the most enduring thing about Freddy is that he always seems to be having so much dang fun! Freddy might be a cold-blooded killer, but he operates with humor in a way that felt fresh to audiences back in the 1980s. That persona still makes him a horror icon today.
#6: Vito Corleone
“The Godfather” (1972) Marlon Brando is one of the greatest actors in cinema history. His heyday was in the 1950s, appearing in everything from “A Streetcar Named Desire” to “On the Waterfront.” One of his most enduring characters wouldn’t appear until the 1970s, well after his career had entered a bit of a nadir. The 1960s were a tough time for Brando, but he came back with a vengeance as Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Brando’s performance as the leader of a crime family is equal parts soulful and terrifying. His acting chops are part of what helped make the character indelible. Like Brando, Robert De Niro won an Oscar for playing a young Vito. Yet, it’s the elderly Don Corleone who’s become a mob movie symbol.
#5: Dorothy Gale
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) What can you say about Judy Garland that hasn’t been said already? She had a tough life at the hands of the film studios she worked for, and she had an incredible voice. Her career was filled with amazing characters, but today, none are remembered quite as well as Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz.” Garland wasn’t the first choice for the role of the young girl who inadvertently finds her way into the colorful Land of Oz. Yet, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Just a teenager at the time, Garland delivers an open and vulnerable performance. And that voice would help make Dorothy an enduring character.
#4: Indiana Jones
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“Indiana Jones” franchise (1981-2023) Harrison Ford has played quite a few major movie characters over his long career. From Han Solo to Rick Deckard, he has the icon thing down pat. But our favorite of his characters, and perhaps his favorite as well, has to be Indiana Jones. An archaeology professor with a bit of an adventurous streak, Indy is simply put, one of the coolest, smartest guys in movie history. He’s smart and resourceful, and his adventures are the stuff of dreams, taking him around the world. He also has quite the penchant for killing Nazis. Who doesn’t love that?
#3: Batman
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“Batman” franchise (1943-) Some might say that a certain Batman villain deserved a spot on this list. Trust us, we thought long and hard about including The Joker. But in the end, you have to give it up for the longevity of the Dark Knight himself. The first “Batman” film came out in 1943, and starred Lewis Wilson in the titular role. Now, more than half a century later, Batman has been played by numerous formidable actors, and there appear to be no signs of stopping. The fun thing about playing Batman is you get to play Bruce Wayne too. Often, those two characters almost feel separate from each other in a way that makes the role all the more interesting.
#2: James Bond
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“James Bond” franchise (1962-) Before we get on with this entry, we have to give it up for a certain international man of mystery (here’s to you, Austin Powers). But no matter how good the parody may be, the real thing usually can’t be beat. James Bond is one of the most long-lasting characters in cinema history, a franchise that allows different actors to come in for movies at a time and offer their spin. That’s part of what makes the British spy so legendary. We all might have our favorite portrayals, but the point of James Bond is that he’s never too tied to a specific actor. In that way, the character supersedes the actor.
#1: Darth Vader
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“Star Wars” franchise (1977-) When it comes to villains, they don’t make them like this anymore. When Darth Vader was first introduced in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, he was evil incarnate. By the end of “Return of the Jedi,” however, he garnered a bit of sympathy from the audience, even as he stuck to his evil whims. With the inclusion of his backstory throughout the rest of the “Star Wars” franchise, Darth Vader has become one of the most interesting big bads in cinema. Plus, James Earl Jones sure gave us something to hold onto with that amazing voice.
