Top 10 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time

Ranking the top 10 greatest movie characters of all time. These are the heroes, villains, and comedians that made our favorite movies into the masterpieces they are. Which film character do you think should top the list?
The Top Ten
1 The Joker (The Dark Knight)

The joker is probably my second favorite villain after darth vader. Even with all his high tec suits and gadgets, batman constantly gets outsmarted by this criminal mastermind! One thing I love about the joker is that he never seems to be worried. And has a very dark sense of humor. He always deserves high on the list.

I was voting on the best quote just before this, where I wrote that NO ONE could have played this role better! Such a shame that we've lost Heath Ledger! They should never attempt a Batman with the Joker again - impossible comparison!

The Joker is a fictional character who appears in Christopher Nolan's 2008 superhero film The Dark Knight, based upon the DC Comics character and supervillain of the same name. He was portrayed by Australian actor Heath Ledger.

There have been many great Joker perfomances over the years Jack Nicholson, Mark Hammel but Heath Ledger portrayal of the Dark Knight is one that will forever stand the test of time no one else can ever play this role again.

2 Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump) Forrest Gump is a fictional character who first appears in the 1986 novel by Winston Groom. Forrest Gump also appeared on screen in the 1994 film of the same name directed by Robert Zemeckis.

What? You gotta be kidding me right? How is Forrest Gump over iconic movie characters such as The Joker, Darth Vader, James Bond, Vito Corleone etc. who are a part of the Cinematic culture while Forrest Gump is hardly remembered by anyone! This list is A JOKE.

Are you Kidding' me!? This is your #1 Spot right here!
Forrest Gump (1994) is an Epic Phenomenon! The Greatest movie Character of All-time tied with Judah Ben Hur of the Legendary Ben Hur (1959).

One of the most 'Fantastic Movies' ever made, and like how 'Forrest' lives such a 'Amazing Life' despite his 'Mental Health Issues' which do not interfere in what he wants to do...

Yep. At least my favourite. A simple lovable man intertwined with some of the biggest moments in the 20th century.

3 Darth Vader (Star Wars) Darth Vader is a Star Wars character and the main antagonist of the first three original Star Wars films and the main protagonist of the Star Wars prequel trilogy under his original name Anakin Skywalker. He had been trained as a Jedi but defected to the Sith lord and Galactic Chancellor Palpatine. He adopted the name Darth Vader, and was placed in a suit after his legs were cut off and his body was burned after a fight with his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet of Mustafar. He returned to the light side upon feeling conflict when finding his son Luke and turned stopped the now emperor Palpatine from killing him. In the original trilogy, Vader was physically portrayed by David Prowse ...read more.

Probably the coolest character on this list, the obviously best villain on this list. Even without his totally awesome outfit, he's a total badass, who easily strolls through, while getting fired at. Like that totally kick-ass scene in rogue one. He should definitely be first. So iconic, pretty much everyone knows him, not like half the characters on this list. He also is responsible for the greatest twist of all time.

Darth Vader is arguably the most iconic movie villain of all time. Everyone in the Empire is afraid of him except for the Emperor and Grand Moff Tarkin. James Earl Jones successfully provides the unforgettable voice of Darth Vader. Not to forget the major plot twist "No, I am your father..."

Discovered as a slave on Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker had the potential to become one of the most powerful Jedi ever, and was believed by some to be the prophesied Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force.

Darth Vader is probably the most iconic movie character ever! He represents evil and he's just kickass in the first three movies, besides, he says one the most famous lines in movie history (No, I am your father).

4 James Bond (James Bond) Royal Navy Commander James Bond is a fictional character created by British journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. He is the protagonist of the James Bond series of novels, films, comics and video games.

This character started most of the action that's in films today.
These characters ahead of 007, don't deserve to be here, he could kick there ass any day.

007 is one of the best characters ever, he should be in the top ten ahead of Heath Ledgers joker.

Why isn't connery, moore, or brosnan here! Craig is the stalest bond ever!

Definitely the greatest in all its incarnations.

5 Vito Corleone (The Godfather) Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and in Francis Ford Coppola's film series based on the novel, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and, as a young man, by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II.

I think Vito Corleone is one of the greatest and most iconic characters of all time. One thing that impresses me the most is that there are a number of versions of Vito, especially in Godfather Part 1 when he is played by Marlon Brando, but I have never actually watched any of the Godfather films. My final reason for why I believe that Vito Corleone should be higher is because of the amount of times that his phrases have been copied and used in other films. For example, Robert De Niro, nicknamed the GodFocker in Meet the Fockers, and of course, the most famous and iconic line in film history, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." Again, how many films have used that line over the years? Even though The Godfather is one of the greatest and most well-written stories of all time, I cannot help but say that I only wish Marlon Brando had a bigger part to play in the rest of the Godfather movies. Such a fantastic role, but so little of Marlon Brando. Still, Vito Corleone ...more

Marlon Brando was a fantastic actor and was perfect in this role. He should be higher, this role was some of the greatest acting in any movie. Actually number should be every characer played by Marlon Brando.

Marlon Brando is such a great actor, especially in gangster/mobster movies. He's a classic.

The picture of him alone is all you need to recognize him and the film.

6 Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. He is a pirate in the film series. The characterization of Sparrow is based on a combination of The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards and Looney Tunes cartoon character Pepé Le Pew. He first appears in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He later appears in the sequels Dead Man's Chest (2006), At World's End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).

He's one of a kind. NO ONE could replace this outstandingly hilarious character. I heard Disney's making a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie and I'm upset that they're removing Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp from the film completely. That's like taking Harry Potter out of Harry Potter. Probably going to be a horrible movie

Captain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The character was created by screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and is portrayed by Johnny Depp.

Did you know the 'I have a jar of dirt' moment was completely improvised by Johnny Depp at that moment and the director just went with it, so their reactions are like, 100% legit. Like 'dafaq is he doing? '

Come on now, it's Captain Jack Sparrow, I don't see any characters here outwitting jack or getting the better of him in a conversation.

7 Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs) Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a character in a series of suspense novels by Thomas Harris. Lecter was introduced in the 1981 thriller novel Red Dragon as a forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer.

Nobody plays this guy better than Sir Anthony Hopkins. He's extremely intelligent for a killer and knows how to toy with your mind. In fact, if it wasn't for Dr. Lecter Clarice probably would have never caught Buffalo Bill. He also has that eerie tone of voice which makes him twice as scary.

Are you serious?!?! Why is Hannibal Lecter #24?! Hopkins and Ledger should be rivaling or the top spot. Come on now. Hannibal wasn't even the main antagonist of Silence of the Lambs, yet he stole the spotlight and will forever be the face of that movie.

Dr Hannibal Lecter sports the fact that he is the most cannibal ever. He's complex in the way his character is written and he is so interesting that providing he didn't eat me, I would like to talk with him face to face.

Come on! He's the most famous cannibal of all time! This thriller made him truly a superstar. He's intelligent and also very dangerous. I believe that he, after the joker in the batman series, is the best villain ever.

8 Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones) Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., often shortened to "Indy", is the titular character of the Indiana Jones franchise. Created by George Lucas, Indiana Jones is an archeologist adventurer. His signature fedora and whip have become fixtures in popular culture. Indiana Jones is portrayed by Harrison Ford.

Indiana jones is badass, mega-smart, and just about able to survive anything. Though he's not the best at combat, he proves capable. He's by far the best harrison ford character.

Indiana Jones is the classic movie hero! OBVIOUSLY he should be number one! The only people that I think could compete with Indiana Jones himself are Vito Corleone and Darth Vader.

Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr. is the title character and protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials.

This guy should totally be number one with vader right behind him! A real movie icon who will go down in history as a movie character classic!

9 Han Solo (Star Wars) Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. In the original film trilogy, Han and his co-pilot, Chewbacca, become involved in the Rebel Alliance which opposes the Galactic Empire. He is primarily portrayed by Harrison Ford. Han Solo served as the focus of the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story, where he is portrayed by Alden Ehrenreich.

One of the best star wars chara-actually, scratch that, he's one of the BEST characters in movie history. He's cool, smooth, has a sense of humor, greatest pilot in the galaxy, just darn lovable. Second best harrison ford character.

Smuggler. Scoundrel. Hero. Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, was one of the great leaders of the Rebel Alliance. He and his co-pilot Chewbacca came to believe in the cause of galactic freedom, joining Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa in the fight against the Empire.

Han Solo is the coolest character in Star Wars. He is also the second most impactful Star Wars Character beaten only by Darth Vader. Harrison Ford does a spectacular performance for Han Solo

WE all love Han solo.
Smart, Funny, Sarcastic, Cunning, Brave the coolest character from star wars except Leia

10 Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) Travis Bickle, a 26-year-old honorably discharged U.S. Marine, is a lonely, depressed young man living on his own in New York City. He becomes a taxi driver to cope with his chronic insomnia, driving passengers every night around the city's boroughs. He also spends time in porn theaters and keeps a diary. Travis becomes infatuated with Betsy, a campaign volunteer for Senator and presidential candidate Charles Palantine. After watching her interact with fellow worker Tom through her window, Travis enters to volunteer, as a pretext to talk to her, and takes her out for coffee. On a later date, he takes her to see a pornographic film, which offends her, and she goes home alone. His attempts at ...read more.

This is the best character study movie ever created with such a interesting main character. Absolutely amazing and realistically potraied character, he deserves no. 1 more than anyone else here.

Most iconic character ever.

Missing this one is a joke.

The Newcomers

? Rachel Chu (Crazy Rich Asians)
? Goh Peik Lin (Crazy Rich Asians)
The Contenders
11 Hal 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey) HAL 9000 is a fictional character in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey series. First appearing in 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL is a sentient computer that controls the systems of the Discovery One spacecraft and interacts with the ship's astronaut crew.
12 Tony Stark (Iron Man)

He's need higher rank! He's the Nick Fury in real life! Without him, you'll never see any of good actor such as mark rufalo or other Marvel's reamining actor. Robert Downet Jr. asTony Stark is a great performance. Really fresh and natural! He even did act as Serlock Holmes and He's performance as Serlock is as great either! Honestly he's the best Superhero Actor of all time!

I'm sorry but 59! Tony Stark is the most charismatic, funniest, and best super hero character of ALL time. This guy is just amazing and to see cartoon characters ahead of him is just insulting. Epic character!

I love Tony with all my heart! He is my favorite Marvel (as well as Black Panther) and one of the best movie characters. He's super smart, super funny, and just an amazing character.

Love you, the king of machines
. The genius behind iron man, my and everyone's favorite is anthony Howard stark and will always be a legend through the generations

13 Batman (The Dark Knight)

We sure got Batman with an English accent now!

14 Tony Montana (Scarface) Antonio Raimundo "Tony" Montana is a fictional character and the villain protagonist of the 1983 film Scarface.

How is The Joker (as amazing and captivating Heath's performance was) above the absolute GREATEST movie criminals ever.

Nothing more awesome than a Cuban Al Pacinobhigh on cocaine mowing baddies down with a machine gun and grenade launcher.

Six words will forever keep his place in cinematic history.

Most badass guy ever

15 T-1000 (The Terminator)

He nailed 2 awesome one-liners, and he deserves higher on the list. He's an unstoppable, bulletproof assassin(or bodyguard) that got performed by the greatest action actor of all time. Why isn't he higher? He's one of the absolute greatest action heroes of all time!

What? Why is Sarah Connor higher than the Terminator, Sarah's a good character, but come on, it's the Terminator, I think he should be at least in the Top 10

The most 'Frightening Cyborg' ever. It wouldn't cease, until it reached its Target.

T-1000 is metal oil water robot programe dead to John Connor. T-1000 is gread power, his opponent to T-800. T-1000 is not limited power.

16 Michael Corleone (The Godfather) Michael Corleone is the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three films based upon it, all directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Michael Corleone should ranked far higher than 18. He is one of the greatest characters in cinematic history. He was the don.

17 Harry Potter (Harry Potter) Harry James Potter is the title character of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter, who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard.

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry Potter's personality is one of the best things about the movie. He is brave, nice, smart and cute. He risked his life more than just once. I remember him saving ron and another girl in the goblet of fire.

What's the difference between the Harry in the book and the movies? There's another Top Tens, and in that one (for the books I guess? ) Harry was #2... But still, he's really sweet and a HERO!

Harry potter is supermegafoxyawesomehot... If ya know what I mean, and he is also the greatest most beautiful wizard, most sexy wizard in the wizarding world... (And yes I am a starkid fan)

18 Andy Dufresne (The Shawshank Redemption)

How can people forget Andy the central character of most rated movie..he taught us the value of hop and patience...20 years in prison and the legendary prison break oh that's so cool..a man who has patience and positive attitude can do anything..thanks to Tim Robbins he made this character great..I miss Marty mcfly in the list.

Best character in the best movie!

How number 17 he is one of the most iconic characters of all time in the best film ever

19 Norman Bates (Psycho) Norman Bates is a character created by writer Robert Bloch as the main character in his novel Psycho, and portrayed by Anthony Perkins as the primary antagonist of the 1960 film of the same name directed by Alfred Hitchcock and its sequels.

Norman bates was based off a real life serial killer named Ed Gein, who was also the inspiration for leatherface in the Texas chainsaw massacre, and buffalo bill in the silence of the lambs. although, ed gein never wore a body suit out of people's skin, he did wear a mask out of leather which was the inspiration for leatherface.

Norman made you hate, emphasize, and fear all the nerds guys.

The character is sick, but the actor is such a hottie!

One of the scariest characters in cinema history.

20 Tuco Ramírez (The Dollars Trilogy)

This scruffy, plucky loser scoundrel, who can go from deadly to adorable in the blink of an eye, makes me laugh harder than any character in a straight-up comedy ever could. Despite all the crimes he's committed, we also sympathise with his plight and are so fascinated by how much he can endure that he end up kind of wanting him to win in the end. He's very easy to empathise with.
If you're likewise feisty and a bit awkward, then he's probably the character in a Spaghetti Western you'll end up relating to the most.
Furthermore, he redefined the Mexican Bandito character for a new generation as a sympathetic figure rather than merely a Malicious one.
Hot-headed, temperamental, manipulative, cunning, desperate, animalistic, yet tenacious, goofy, charming, absurdly energetic, absolutely hilarious, and with sort of a warm and welcoming aura about him, this is one of the most interesting movie characters you'll ever see.

He may not look like much at first. Scruffy, dumpy and kind of pathetic looking. He's also kind of a dirty scoundrel. But the eyes have it. He has expressive eyes which make you want to see him survive the gunfight and everything else afterward.
He also has a sympathetic backstory- a brother who left him for the monastery at a young age, and a childhood spent in poverty.
He also appears to have unrequited feelings for Blondie and just won't stay away from him, won't stop thinking about how to get sweet, petty revenge on the bounty hunter who done him wrong.
But most of all, he has a ton of energy and is such a hyperactive, wacky goofball that he will have you laughing hard.
And he's pretty badass. He can shoot with exceptional speed and accuracy and he's surprisingly quick thinking.
Copied a couple of times in the forms of Cacopoulos and Max Lozoya, but never bettered.

Furthermore, all the greatest movie characters are tough and they're winners. I think that the likeable, relatable losers deserve their place on the top instead.

Redefined the Mexican Bandito character for a whole new generation. Furthermore, without him, the film would not be the masterpiece that it is.

21 Kikuchiyo (Seven Samurai)

The original man with no name, brought to life by Toshiro Mifune's hyperactive and electrifying performance.

Unrelenting emotion and vigor in rags.

22 Homer Simpson (The Simpsons Movie) Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons as the patriarch of the eponymous family.

Just because he's animated doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a spot on this list…actually he deserves a much higher spot on this list. He's probably the funniest character of all time, with some of the funniest lines of all time! Seriously? Put him this low on the list?

Homer Simpson will forever be the King of Cartoons. He is absolutely hilarious, and he can manage that without being super inappropriate or sex jokes. (We're looking at you, Family Guy. ) The Joker wasn't that great. He did an above average job on the character, besides The Joker isn't supposed to creep you out and give you nightmares, he's supposed to have a cartoony feel.

He's animated, for crying out loud! At least the five ahead of him are real roles that required acting and not just a voice over. Hannibal Lecter not in the top five is just wrong. Watch Silence of the Lambs and then just try to forget him!

He is the funniest guy going around. Long live the Simpsons movie and may there be a sequel.

23 Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

15 that is way too high for her I found this series and the character overrated There are characters way better than her: Hermione Granger, Finnick Odair,Clove, Cato, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Legolas, Gandalf, and much more. Let me guess I am getting hate for offending your precious character and book just go read Battle Royal which The Hunger Games just ripped off

To the person under me,
First off, hunger games is not a rip off of battle royale, there are many differences.
Second of all, snape was an arse.
third, cato and clove didn't do anything
forth, katniss is wonderful
And fifth, hunger games is also wonderful.

You really feel what she's going through, yet you can't help but cheer when she makes it. What a spirit! What an incredible character!

She should be higher than this she is an inspirational character and always tries to do the right thing.

24 Tyler Durden (Fight Club) Tyler Durden is a character from the movie Fight Club. He doesn't actually exist as he is The Narrator's split personality. He was created by the perfect storm of the Narrator's insomnia-induced insanity and his frustration with a hollow life of wage-slavery and consumerism. He is the manifestation of the completely free person the Narrator wishes he could be.

He's basically a philosopher. Everything he say takes some time to process, but once it sinks in, it really changes you. Also, he's not just a character but a figment of "Jack's" imagination.

I'm a huge joker fan, but surely this character must be in top5... Brad Pitt at his best

This guy deserves to be in the top 5. Brad pitt at his best.

Sometimes to do good you gotta be the bad guy.

25 Princess Yuki (The Hidden Fortress)

Noble and strong-willed, a good example of Kurosawa's feminism.

A noble and strong-willed princess who sort of acts like a female Toshiro Mifune.

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