Top 10 Movie Hipsters
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Script Written by David MacIntyre.
They've got the attitude, the looks and the offbeat tastes to match – even if some of them came before the word existed. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Hipsters in Movies.
For this list, we’re taking a look at characters who represent what some would call a “hipster” based on their interest in things that aren’t necessarily part of the cultural mainstream, their belief in independent thought and their lifestyle.
#10: Oliver Tate
At 15-years-old, this character might seem a little too young to be a hipster, but his sophisticated tastes suggest otherwise. This film centers on the young Welsh schoolboy trying to save his parents’ marriage while attempting to woo his classmate, Jordana. He does so while looking like a pretty cool young lad – even if he’s not the coolest in school. The precocious youngster goes through his relationship with a pretty rad mixtape his dad gives him, for the highs and lows.
#9: Annie Hall
Sure, this movie came out way before anyone really knew what a “hipster” was, and Diane Keaton’s character in “Manhattan” was also considered for this list, but Annie Hall arguably helped define it for movie characters – you could even say she was the first real “hipster” in a movie, or in anything. Whether it’s her tie and vest, her transformation into an independent woman or her “nervous romance” with Woody Allen, it all makes for a character that appeals to hipsters and movie aficionados alike.
#8: Calvin Weir-Fields
Ruby herself was also considered for this list, but no character in this quirky romantic comedy is more of a hipster than Calvin. Paul Dano plays this novelist who creates his perfect woman; a character he writes that eventually starts actually existing in the real world, outside of Calvin’s imagination. Like many movie hipsters, Calvin thinks that shared interests are enough fodder for a successful relationship. In terms of his style, though, Calvin’s got the glasses, the hair, the attitude and a manual typewriter to boot, making him a hipster writer extraordinaire.
#7: Frances Halladay
As this movie’s titular character shifts from apartment to apartment in both New York City and other parts of the world like Paris, she also tries to find a stable job and boyfriend. Frances Halladay aspires to become a dancer and have a successful enough career to pay her bills, all while she has to deal with her best friend/roommate moving to Tribeca while she resides in Brooklyn – arguably the hipster capital of the world. Frances Halladay’s story goes to show that sometimes being a hipster isn’t as colorful as it seems – but it is as unconventional as you think.
#6: Llewyn Davis
Through this Coen Brothers film, we’re introduced to a beardy, broke folk musician who regularly sleeps on friends’ couches and can’t make a sustainable living off his musical pursuits living in NYC’s Greenwich Village. But, Llewyn does what he can to rise above his reputation as a failure. His perseverance makes him seem like a hero, despite his cynical, sarcastic attitude and terrible luck. He may live in a time of hippies, not hipsters; but Llewyn Davis will never hesitate to accuse those who want to, y’know, earn money and live comfortable lives of “selling out” - a classic hipster line if ever we’ve heard one.
#5: Jamie Massey
Portrayed by Adam Driver of HBO’s “Girls,” this character arguably fits the hipster stereotype in terms of looks, interests, and general outlook on life – even if the film is centered on him and onscreen girlfriend Amanda Seyfried’s relationship with an older couple. With vinyl records and VHS tapes everywhere at their house – not to mention Jamie’s tendency to use a vintage typewriter – you could say this aspiring documentary filmmaker/member of the band Cookie O’Puss fits the hipster stereotype fairly well.
#4: Nick O’Leary
Between making mixtapes in an attempt to win back his cheating ex-girlfriend and being the straight bassist in a queercore band, this native of Hoboken, NJ played by Michael Cera instead bonds with a girl who asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes – and is essentially his musical soulmate. Nick isn’t the only hipster character Cera has played in his career – look at movies like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” for reference – but it’s probably his most explicitly hipster role to date.
#3: Tom Hansen
Although his eventual ex-girlfriend, Summer, was also in contention for this list, it’s our Smiths-loving protagonist who gets the nod instead. Thanks, in part, to his love of indie music and his misinterpretation of the movie “The Graduate,” this character portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a very unrealistic view on love, which carries over into his relationship with Summer. You see, he wants his love affairs to feel like the lyrics to that Morrissey song he’s blasting out of his hipster headphones. But, as he’d learn painfully, liking the same things isn’t enough of a foundation for a lasting relationship.
#2: William Miller
He was a hipster before hipsters were a thing – the mark of a true hipster. Based on the film’s director, Cameron Crowe, this aspiring rock journalist gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he offered the chance to follow up-and-coming band Stillwater on the road. Not only that, he’s getting paid by Rolling Stone to write about it. After his sister assures him that one day he’ll be cool, he makes all the right moves to get there as he grows up, opening his mind to new things and experiences and giving honest and thoughtful opinions about music – especially early Lou Reed versus “the new stuff.”
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Juno MacGuff
“Juno” (2007)
- Troy Dyer
“Reality Bites” (1994)
- Enid Coleslaw
“Ghost World” (2001)
- ‘The Count’
“Pirate Radio” (2009)
- Sam
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
- John
“Lost in Translation” (2003)
#1: Rob Gordon
He may not have a very good understanding of the opposite sex, but if we’re talking about his taste in music and culture, he’s undeniably hip. Rob Gordon obsessively makes top five lists of just about everything from music to breakups, not to mention he makes mixtapes and judges people based on their taste. His attitude might seem snobby, but he can back it up: he knows what’s in and isn’t afraid to share his opinions. Plus, only a true hipster would wear sweaters like that. Now, if only Rob’s expertise in music carried over into the dating world…
Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite hipster movie character of all time? With new top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Top 10 Movie Hipsters
They've got the attitude, the looks and the offbeat tastes to match – even if some of them came before the word existed. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Hipsters in Movies.
For this list, we’re taking a look at characters who represent what some would call a “hipster” based on their interest in things that aren’t necessarily part of the cultural mainstream, their belief in independent thought and their lifestyle.
#10: Oliver Tate
“Submarine” (2010)
At 15-years-old, this character might seem a little too young to be a hipster, but his sophisticated tastes suggest otherwise. This film centers on the young Welsh schoolboy trying to save his parents’ marriage while attempting to woo his classmate, Jordana. He does so while looking like a pretty cool young lad – even if he’s not the coolest in school. The precocious youngster goes through his relationship with a pretty rad mixtape his dad gives him, for the highs and lows.#9: Annie Hall
“Annie Hall” (1977)
Sure, this movie came out way before anyone really knew what a “hipster” was, and Diane Keaton’s character in “Manhattan” was also considered for this list, but Annie Hall arguably helped define it for movie characters – you could even say she was the first real “hipster” in a movie, or in anything. Whether it’s her tie and vest, her transformation into an independent woman or her “nervous romance” with Woody Allen, it all makes for a character that appeals to hipsters and movie aficionados alike.#8: Calvin Weir-Fields
“Ruby Sparks” (2012)
Ruby herself was also considered for this list, but no character in this quirky romantic comedy is more of a hipster than Calvin. Paul Dano plays this novelist who creates his perfect woman; a character he writes that eventually starts actually existing in the real world, outside of Calvin’s imagination. Like many movie hipsters, Calvin thinks that shared interests are enough fodder for a successful relationship. In terms of his style, though, Calvin’s got the glasses, the hair, the attitude and a manual typewriter to boot, making him a hipster writer extraordinaire.#7: Frances Halladay
“Frances Ha” (2013)
As this movie’s titular character shifts from apartment to apartment in both New York City and other parts of the world like Paris, she also tries to find a stable job and boyfriend. Frances Halladay aspires to become a dancer and have a successful enough career to pay her bills, all while she has to deal with her best friend/roommate moving to Tribeca while she resides in Brooklyn – arguably the hipster capital of the world. Frances Halladay’s story goes to show that sometimes being a hipster isn’t as colorful as it seems – but it is as unconventional as you think.#6: Llewyn Davis
“Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013)
Through this Coen Brothers film, we’re introduced to a beardy, broke folk musician who regularly sleeps on friends’ couches and can’t make a sustainable living off his musical pursuits living in NYC’s Greenwich Village. But, Llewyn does what he can to rise above his reputation as a failure. His perseverance makes him seem like a hero, despite his cynical, sarcastic attitude and terrible luck. He may live in a time of hippies, not hipsters; but Llewyn Davis will never hesitate to accuse those who want to, y’know, earn money and live comfortable lives of “selling out” - a classic hipster line if ever we’ve heard one.#5: Jamie Massey
“While We’re Young” (2014)
Portrayed by Adam Driver of HBO’s “Girls,” this character arguably fits the hipster stereotype in terms of looks, interests, and general outlook on life – even if the film is centered on him and onscreen girlfriend Amanda Seyfried’s relationship with an older couple. With vinyl records and VHS tapes everywhere at their house – not to mention Jamie’s tendency to use a vintage typewriter – you could say this aspiring documentary filmmaker/member of the band Cookie O’Puss fits the hipster stereotype fairly well.#4: Nick O’Leary
“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (2008)
Between making mixtapes in an attempt to win back his cheating ex-girlfriend and being the straight bassist in a queercore band, this native of Hoboken, NJ played by Michael Cera instead bonds with a girl who asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes – and is essentially his musical soulmate. Nick isn’t the only hipster character Cera has played in his career – look at movies like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” for reference – but it’s probably his most explicitly hipster role to date.#3: Tom Hansen
“(500) Days of Summer)” (2009)
Although his eventual ex-girlfriend, Summer, was also in contention for this list, it’s our Smiths-loving protagonist who gets the nod instead. Thanks, in part, to his love of indie music and his misinterpretation of the movie “The Graduate,” this character portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a very unrealistic view on love, which carries over into his relationship with Summer. You see, he wants his love affairs to feel like the lyrics to that Morrissey song he’s blasting out of his hipster headphones. But, as he’d learn painfully, liking the same things isn’t enough of a foundation for a lasting relationship.#2: William Miller
“Almost Famous” (2000)
He was a hipster before hipsters were a thing – the mark of a true hipster. Based on the film’s director, Cameron Crowe, this aspiring rock journalist gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he offered the chance to follow up-and-coming band Stillwater on the road. Not only that, he’s getting paid by Rolling Stone to write about it. After his sister assures him that one day he’ll be cool, he makes all the right moves to get there as he grows up, opening his mind to new things and experiences and giving honest and thoughtful opinions about music – especially early Lou Reed versus “the new stuff.”Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Juno MacGuff
“Juno” (2007)
- Troy Dyer
“Reality Bites” (1994)
- Enid Coleslaw
“Ghost World” (2001)
- ‘The Count’
“Pirate Radio” (2009)
- Sam
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
- John
“Lost in Translation” (2003)
#1: Rob Gordon
“High Fidelity” (2000)
He may not have a very good understanding of the opposite sex, but if we’re talking about his taste in music and culture, he’s undeniably hip. Rob Gordon obsessively makes top five lists of just about everything from music to breakups, not to mention he makes mixtapes and judges people based on their taste. His attitude might seem snobby, but he can back it up: he knows what’s in and isn’t afraid to share his opinions. Plus, only a true hipster would wear sweaters like that. Now, if only Rob’s expertise in music carried over into the dating world…Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite hipster movie character of all time? With new top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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