Top 10 Most Complex Fictional Characters

There are perhaps no other characters more complex than The Joker. For years, fans never even knew what the character's true identity was or how The Joker came to be. His actions and motives are never easy to understand either. One thing is for sure, though: he is obsessed with Batman.

Hardly any other character can compete with The Joker. The guy is unpredictable and insane.

Darth Vader is considered by many to be the greatest character in science fiction. This character had the chance to develop through movies, TV shows, and comic books. The movies gave him a mysterious and menacing aura, while the comics go more in-depth with his backstory and his inner conflicts.

When thinking of complex characters, more specifically TV characters, Walter White often comes to mind for many people, and for good reason. This character has layers upon layers of character development.

He changes so much that from season to season in Breaking Bad, he is never really the same man.

Hannibal Lecter is a cannibalistic serial killer and the quintessential villain turned anti-hero turned monster. He is highly intelligent and cultured, with refined tastes and impeccable manners. He is deeply offended by rudeness and often kills people who exhibit bad manners.

Spider Man, real name Peter Parker, is easily one of the most recognizable comic heroes of all time, a layered and complex character with a rich history from both movies and comic books. Peter displays a great deal of internal conflict.

He is always torn between his duties as Spider Man and his wants and needs as Peter Parker, who is just a normal, feeling individual.

Michael Corleone is cold-blooded, ruthless, smart, and determined. His ability to think clearly under fire, to be decisive, and to command respect makes him an excellent Godfather. He wasn't always this way, however, and that's what makes him a complex character with great character development.

He was an optimistic and loving man, but once the love of his life and their child died, he became a completely different person.

I thought I'd include a fictional character for anime fans out there, as there are definitely complex characters in anime, one of which is Itachi Uchiha from Naruto. At first, he appears as a regular villain who is after power, but as the story progresses, his backstory and his goals are revealed to be more complex.

He goes from being a badass and edgy-looking criminal to being considered a hero who sacrificed everything, even his own clan, for his village.

John Marston has so far been able to develop as a character in both games of the Red Dead series made by Rockstar. In the first game, he is a character with purpose and strong will, determined to do everything for the well-being of his family.

But in RDR2, which takes place before the first game, he wasn't very bright, wasn't sure he wanted the responsibilities of being a father, and seemed very lost.

In the video game world, definitely one of the best and most complex characters.

Ragnar was a complicated character. He was a natural leader, clever, courageous, and family-oriented. Although he is a bloodthirsty warrior, Ragnar is also completely dedicated to his family members, even to those who might not deserve it, like his brother Rollo.

Ragnar is also loyal to his friends and values his warriors greatly. As the show progressed, the higher status he enjoyed and the more success he reaped, the deeper he sank into depression and despair.

Tony Soprano is one of the most well-developed characters in television, although his character admittedly doesn't change much during the series. He doesn't grow as a person at all. If anything, he just becomes worse.

Where his character shines is when something big happens in his life, like his family trying to have him whacked, discovering his best friend was snitching on him, his family issues, or his uncle shooting him.