Top 10 Movies with Nameless Characters

Oooh, that movie was amazing, but what was the guy’s name again? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 movies with nameless main characters.

For this list, we’ve picked movies famous for never mentioning the real name of their protagonist, not even in the sequels. However, characters who have come to be known by nicknames or who have unofficial names do count. You don’t need your ID for this one! So let’s begin our countdown.

Nicky Santoro, Tony Montana, Vito Corleone; this British gangster, or as he calls himself, businessman, could be in a Hall of Badass Fame with these guys, but we wouldn’t know what to write on his plaque. Referred to in the credits as XXXX, Daniel Craig’s character is a meticulous cocaine peddler in London, and his last gig before retirement turns out to be more difficult than he originally planned. Grittier, faster and more emotive than most movies of its kind, this thriller with the nameless anti-hero definitely takes the, umm, cake.

The second British cult classic on our list, this comedy follows the misadventures of two unemployed, and quite unemployable, actors as they leave their boring town in search of excitement. Instead, they find that life without a job, or skills, or sobriety, can be quite hard to maintain. The narrator of the film, who is named Marwood in the screenplay but never given a name in the film, needs absolutely no introduction; he does that himself as he stumbles into one hilariously awkward moment after another.

If you have things to hide and have a long way to go on the road to redemption, you don’t want people knowing your name. As a cop trying to investigate a rape case while battling addiction and wrapped in corruption, the Bad Lieutenant doesn’t know where to begin atoning for all he has done. So in this neo-noir crime drama, he takes us on a raw exploration of human emotion and character that is haunting and yet immensely satisfying.

A ‘tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme.’ In this beloved tale of appearances, love and companionship, while seeking adventure and a different life, independent bookworm Belle finds a Beast along the way, with whom she falls in love. While fans, and the Internet, claim the name of the Beast is Adam, this is not canon, and it has been denied in official Disney addresses. But what’s in a name anyway?

Who needs a name when you have places to be and people to kill? Known simply as El Mariachi, this musician was not looking for trouble, but trouble, heartbreak, and loss found him, so he seeks to avenge those who have wronged him, while hiding from the law and criminals alike. Action-packed, exciting and extremely sensual, this three-part tale of sex, drugs, and guitar cases full of weapons never gets old.

This guy likes to keep things mysterious. Like other similarly criminally-inclined drivers before him, Ryan Gosling’s character spends most of his life in cars: fixing them at the shop, doing Hollywood stunts in them, driving criminals in and out of jobs. As the film engulfs the audience in a violent, brilliant portrait of a troubled man who is trying his best, we’re captivated as The Driver’s life gets a little messier and more and more out of control.

When an ultra-vigilant government is onto you, having no name and a cool mask on are very useful things. Referred to just as V in both the film and the original comics, this anti-hero fights for anarchy, freedom and justice. As the mask, and the man behind it, become an idea in this revolutionary political tale, it is fitting that the wearer is anonymous.

Committing a crime with strangers you don’t even know the names of is probably not easy. In Quentin Tarantino’s fantastic directorial debut, six thieves who have never met are hired to pull a diamond robbery together, but things don’t go as planned. Although we don’t know their true identities, it’s clear that Mr. Orange, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blonde, Mr. White, Mr. Blue and Mr. Brown have made an entertaining, violent and witty impression on us all.

We’ve learned by now from our list that no name is needed when you have a badass story. The nameless narrator of this cult classic is flawlessly played by Edward Norton, who finds remedy for his insomnia in attending support groups as well as in gathering a secret fight club with his friend Tyler Durden. The narrator is memorable in more than one way, so much so that the movie never needs to name him to ensure he’d go down in pop culture history.

Before naming, or not naming, rather, our number #1 pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “The Road” (2009)
- “Zombieland” (2009)
- “Hero” (2002)
- “12 Angry Men” (1957)
- “Antichrist” (2009)

Here is a man you definitely don’t want to mess with. Clint Eastwood plays the fearless renegade cowboy, and both the “Dollars Trilogy” and his performance in it would become the gold standard within the genre of spaghetti westerns. Although he has a different preferred nickname in each film, the trilogy and his character would become most well-known as The Man With No Name, which, you have to admit, inspires more respect than any name they could have given him. And it also sounds really, really cool.

Do you agree with our list? What are your favorite movies with nameless main characters? For more classic Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.