Top 10 Greatest Chosen One Characters

What young boy doesn’t dream of finding adventure somewhere off among the stars? For teenager Alex Rogan, it seemed as if video games were as close as he’d ever get. But his prowess at one particular game, “Starfighter”, catches the attention of the intergalactic powers that be. “Starfighter” is no simple video game, but rather an elaborate test used to find the very best pilot. Alex may have come from humble beginnings, but he proves that dedication (yes, even to video games) can make a “chosen one” out of anyone. He risks it all, including having his robot replacement totally mess things up with his girlfriend, all for an alien race he’s never even met. Now that’s a hero.

From a baby in a basket, adoptive son of the Egyptian rulers, to the savior of the Hebrews - Moses’ path in life was as long and winding as the river he first floated down. He may have been content in his royal life, but hearing the lullaby of his infancy unlocks something in him, leading him to flee Egypt and start a new life. But God, in the form of a burning bush, has other plans for the young man, and charges him with leading the Hebrews to freedom. Armed with his shepherding staff and the power of God, Moses returns, with the 10 plagues of Egypt in tow. He’s literally a chosen one of biblical proportions.

Nothing says “I am the chosen one” like having a chainsaw for a hand. Like many individuals destined to save the world, Ash experienced his fair share of hardships. He’s forced to watch his friends and girlfriends become possessed and ultimately killed. Then... he essentially has to undergo the same thing with a bunch of strangers. Until the end of “Evil Dead II”, Ash doesn’t necessarily come across as any sort of chosen one… he just seems to have a knack for killing “Deadites”. But when our boomstick-wielding hero gets transported to 1300 AD, he fulfils a prophecy by “falling from the sky” and finally discovers his true purpose… saving this ancient world from an entire army of Deadites. “Groovy”.

When it comes to “chosen ones”, you’re not going to find a bigger underdog than this guy. In a world where “everything is awesome”, Emmet might just be the only person who doesn’t fit in. Emmet may not know it, but he isn’t just different, he’s special. In fact, he’s “the special”, a person prophesized to save the Lego Universe as we know it. The only problem? In a world where the ability to build things is literally the most important skill, Emmet is a particularly unskilled and uninspired builder. But he gets there eventually, growing into his role as “the special” (and a master builder) just in the nick of time.

The story of King Arthur and his knights is literally the stuff of legends. His tale has been retold countless times over the years, but few interpretations are as memorable as the 1963 animated version. King Arthur’s adult life certainly got complicated - but before all that took place, he was just a young orphan boy, commonly referred to as “Wart” by his foster family. Through a series of fortunate coincidences, and a more than peculiar apprenticeship under Merlin, Arthur winds up right where he needs to be to fulfil his destiny. He pulls the sword from the stone, reveals himself to be the chosen future king of England and… well, the rest is history.

This hairy-footed hero is a bit of an oddity on our list, and not just because of his unusually short stature. “Chosen ones” are usually destined to take on the role, but Frodo Baggins is picked from a number of volunteers based on one key factor - he is uncommonly good. Sure, the ring technically belongs to him, but who would entrust such a small unassuming being with the fate of the world? Gandalf recognizes that Frodo is the best candidate due to his truly selfless nature and lack of desire for power. Frodo isn’t necessarily the only one for the job, but he certainly turns out to be a very wise choice.

Shocking spoiler: Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. But as Qui-Gon Jinn insists, and Obi-Wan desperately tries to remind Anakin in their second to last duel, he is the chosen one. Anakin shows incredible promise, unparalleled natural force ability and (to put it in “prequel terms”) a midi-chlorian count that is off the charts. With his turn to the dark side though, his destiny of restoring balance to the force and bringing an end to the Sith seemingly lands on the shoulders of his son Luke. Nonetheless, George Lucas maintains that Anakin Skywalker was in fact the chosen one. He was simply chosen to go down a different path, one with a lot more murdering of younglings.

There are two tricky things about the “Terminator” franchise: 1) keeping track of the timeline and 2) keeping John Connor safe. First, the machines send a Terminator back to try to kill John’s mother, Sarah Connor, before she even conceives him. But she survives and John grows into a rebellious, smart-mouthed teen. Then the machines send another terminator to get him. After “T2: Judgment Day,” the series may take a dip in quality, but John Connor’s life sure doesn’t get any easier. As the future and/or current leader of the resistance, he is predetermined to save humankind from a reality where machines rule. The machines, however, will stop at nothing to change history.

For many children around the world, Harry Potter truly is the chosen one. As the “Boy Who Lived”, he’s certainly famous in the wizarding world. But according to prophecy, he is also the only one capable of destroying the Dark Lord Voldemort for good. It’s a lot of pressure for an adolescent, but Harry bravely rises to the challenge, as each new year at Hogwarts brings about more threats and calamity. Apparently the sorting hat made the right choice placing him in Gryffindor after all, as we’re not quite sure someone from Slytherin would willingly sacrifice themselves for the good of his or her friends.



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

- Chandler Jarrell

“The Golden Child” (1986)



- Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin

“Ender’s Game” (2013)



- Po Ping

“Kung Fu Panda” franchise (2008-)

Agent Smith may prefer to think of him as “Mr. Anderson”. But when the average person who lived through the early 2000s thinks of the “chosen one”, Neo is the first guy that comes to mind. Heck, “Neo” is an anagram for “One”! Any predestined character is in for a tough life, but few have to deal with the crippling knowledge that they are just one in a line of many chosen ones, programmed to make the same compromise over and over again to ensure the survival of their species. But Neo breaks free of this cyclical path, and in doing so, brings about real change in the world of the Matrix for the first time. Plus, he knows Kung Fu.



Do you agree with our list? In your opinion, who’s the greatest Chosen One ever depicted on the big screen? For more one-of-a-kind top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.