50 Greatest Male Movie Characters
Filmsite.org’s Tim Dirks asks, What do Norman Bates, Travis Bickle, and Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi have in common? They’re all greatcharacters, the kind who shock you, awe you, seduce you, and make you laugh. Love them or hate them, you’ll never forget them. Want to learn how Tim made his picks? Click here.
ranktitleyour vote
1Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
Born with a crooked spine, Tom Hanks's Gump prevails, downplaying his limitations in favor of his strengths (kindness, loyalty, and courage).14593091
Born with a crooked spine, Tom Hanks's Gump prevails, downplaying his limitations in favor of his strengths (kindness, loyalty, and courage).14593091
2Joker (The Dark Knight)
Heath Ledger's performance as Batman's archenemy erased the memory of camp Jokers and replaced it with a scarred sociopath.3542284
Heath Ledger's performance as Batman's archenemy erased the memory of camp Jokers and replaced it with a scarred sociopath.3542284
3Don Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
Marlon Brando's Vito is the archetypal striver who gambles everything on a fresh start in America, becoming the head of a crime family.3151859
Marlon Brando's Vito is the archetypal striver who gambles everything on a fresh start in America, becoming the head of a crime family.3151859
4Darth Vader (Star Wars Series)
James Earl Jones voices the heavy-breathing black-clad embodiment of the dark side of the Force.2681674
James Earl Jones voices the heavy-breathing black-clad embodiment of the dark side of the Force.2681674
5James Bond (James Bond Series)
Superspy Bond -- played by Sean Connery and others -- has adapted to political trends while staying true to his womanizing core.2631787
Superspy Bond -- played by Sean Connery and others -- has adapted to political trends while staying true to his womanizing core.2631787
6Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Harrison Ford's whip-cracking fedora-wearing archaeologist convinced moviegoers that a tweedy academic could also be an adventurer.2411667
Harrison Ford's whip-cracking fedora-wearing archaeologist convinced moviegoers that a tweedy academic could also be an adventurer.2411667
7Dr. Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)
Anthony Hopkins turned a serial killer into an icon with a gift for exploiting the childhood of FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster).2021484
Anthony Hopkins turned a serial killer into an icon with a gift for exploiting the childhood of FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster).2021484
8Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean Series)
Part dandy and part metrosexual, Johnny Depp's Sparrow reinvented the pirate as a renegade, basing his performance on Keith Richards.2001746
Part dandy and part metrosexual, Johnny Depp's Sparrow reinvented the pirate as a renegade, basing his performance on Keith Richards.2001746
9Han Solo (Star Wars Series)
Harrison Ford's smuggler Solo pilots the Millennium Falcon to help the Alliance, led by Princess Leia, defeat the Empire.1821412
Harrison Ford's smuggler Solo pilots the Millennium Falcon to help the Alliance, led by Princess Leia, defeat the Empire.1821412
10Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
As a salesman, founder of the Fight Club, and the instigator of Project Mayhem, Brad Pitt's Durden preaches through beat downs.1701312
As a salesman, founder of the Fight Club, and the instigator of Project Mayhem, Brad Pitt's Durden preaches through beat downs.1701312
11Norman Bates (Psycho)
Anthony Perkins infused unnerving madness into the character of Bates, the polite, quiet boy who manages the Bates Motel.1571127
Anthony Perkins infused unnerving madness into the character of Bates, the polite, quiet boy who manages the Bates Motel.1571127
12Michael (The Godfather: Part II)
Al Pacino's Michael is the Corleone clan's best hope for mainstream assimilation, but loyalty shackles him to old-world violence.1531369
Al Pacino's Michael is the Corleone clan's best hope for mainstream assimilation, but loyalty shackles him to old-world violence.1531369
13Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars Series)
Father figure, statesman, and exiled Jedi Obi-Wan was given nuance by Alec Guinness, whose lead Ewan McGregor followed.1481230
Father figure, statesman, and exiled Jedi Obi-Wan was given nuance by Alec Guinness, whose lead Ewan McGregor followed.1481230
14Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
The patron saint of lawyers, Gregory Peck's Finch defends an accused Black man of rape, knowing that justice and the law aren't in sync.1471235
The patron saint of lawyers, Gregory Peck's Finch defends an accused Black man of rape, knowing that justice and the law aren't in sync.1471235
15George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life)
James Stewart is a good-intentioned husband practicing random acts of kindness to better the lives of the citizens of Bedford Falls.1401268
James Stewart is a good-intentioned husband practicing random acts of kindness to better the lives of the citizens of Bedford Falls.1401268
16Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
Robert De Niro is a natural-born misfit adrift in degenerate seventies New York who becomes a violent vigilante.128984
Robert De Niro is a natural-born misfit adrift in degenerate seventies New York who becomes a violent vigilante.128984
17Rhett Butler (Gone With the Wind)
The handsome war profiteer, played by Clark Gable, is pragmatic enough to know when to give up on Scarlett (Vivien Leigh).1201712
The handsome war profiteer, played by Clark Gable, is pragmatic enough to know when to give up on Scarlett (Vivien Leigh).1201712
18Tony Montana (Scarface)
Al Pacino's Cuban refugee achieves the American Dream in Miami through drug dealing, then loses it all during an assault on his mansion.1151131
Al Pacino's Cuban refugee achieves the American Dream in Miami through drug dealing, then loses it all during an assault on his mansion.1151131
19Police Inspector Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry Series)
Clint Eastwood is a principled San Francisco cop who bends the rules to get psychopathic killers off the streets.891085
Clint Eastwood is a principled San Francisco cop who bends the rules to get psychopathic killers off the streets.891085
20Rocky Balboa (Rocky Series)
Sylvester Stallone's Rocky proves himself in a million-to-one matchup, and his victory makes underdogs cheer.871277
Sylvester Stallone's Rocky proves himself in a million-to-one matchup, and his victory makes underdogs cheer.871277
21Jeffrey Lebowski (The Big Lebowski)
Jeff Bridges's Dude remains the idol of slackers: he spends his hours bowling, smoking marijuana, and dealing with German nihilists.84998
Jeff Bridges's Dude remains the idol of slackers: he spends his hours bowling, smoking marijuana, and dealing with German nihilists.84998
22Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List)
Liam Neeson's German industrialist exploited his Jewish employees but avoided sending them to Holocaust death camps.591047
Liam Neeson's German industrialist exploited his Jewish employees but avoided sending them to Holocaust death camps.591047
23Terminator (The Terminator)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man-machine from 2029 donning a biker's jacket and sunglasses on a mission to kill Sarah Connor in Los Angeles.521200
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man-machine from 2029 donning a biker's jacket and sunglasses on a mission to kill Sarah Connor in Los Angeles.521200
24Count Dracula (Dracula)
Charismatic, courtly, and cold as the grave, Bela Lugosi is an exotic Transylvanian nobleman turned vampire.51813
Charismatic, courtly, and cold as the grave, Bela Lugosi is an exotic Transylvanian nobleman turned vampire.51813
25Rick Blaine (Casablanca)
Humphrey Bogart's expat club owner talks tough yet sacrifices everything for love and honor -- women still swoon.371109
Humphrey Bogart's expat club owner talks tough yet sacrifices everything for love and honor -- women still swoon.371109
26Jack Torrance (The Shining)
Jack Nicholson's writer Torrance (with sardonic humor) suffers from alcoholism, cabin fever, and the pressures of providing for his family.36926
Jack Nicholson's writer Torrance (with sardonic humor) suffers from alcoholism, cabin fever, and the pressures of providing for his family.36926
27Superman / Clark Kent (Superman)
Christopher Reeve played Metropolis reporter Clark Kent and the Man of Steel, fighting for justice with a spit curl.26944
Christopher Reeve played Metropolis reporter Clark Kent and the Man of Steel, fighting for justice with a spit curl.26944
28Harry Potter (Harry Potter Series)
Daniel Radcliffe's Potter embodies every child's fantasy: discovering classmate friendships at Hogwarts and confronting Lord Voldemort.221274
Daniel Radcliffe's Potter embodies every child's fantasy: discovering classmate friendships at Hogwarts and confronting Lord Voldemort.221274
29Judah Ben-Hur (Ben-Hur)
Charlton Heston is a wealthy and virile merchant-prince who finds peace in Jesus' crucifixion.20896
Charlton Heston is a wealthy and virile merchant-prince who finds peace in Jesus' crucifixion.20896
30Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Pink Panther Series)
Played by four actors but trademarked by Peter Sellers, the hopelessly incompetent Clouseau causes a wake of chaos as he solves cases.14874
Played by four actors but trademarked by Peter Sellers, the hopelessly incompetent Clouseau causes a wake of chaos as he solves cases.14874
31Kane (Citizen Kane)
Inspired by William Randolph Hearst and played by Orson Welles, the tycoon Kane has an overwhelming ego that precipitates his collapse.13919
Inspired by William Randolph Hearst and played by Orson Welles, the tycoon Kane has an overwhelming ego that precipitates his collapse.13919
32Rambo (Rambo Series)
As a Vietnam veteran, Sylvester Stallone is treated as an outcast and reinvents himself as a champion of the oppressed.7971
As a Vietnam veteran, Sylvester Stallone is treated as an outcast and reinvents himself as a champion of the oppressed.7971
33Mad Max Rockatansky (Mad Max Series)
The last good man in postapocalyptic Australia, Mel Gibson's former cop wanders the outback standing up for opprosed people against gangs.-2820
The last good man in postapocalyptic Australia, Mel Gibson's former cop wanders the outback standing up for opprosed people against gangs.-2820
34Alex (A Clockwork Orange)
Malcolm McDowell's Alex was spawned by post-WWII anxieties about delinquents: he idolizes Beethoven and embraces violence.-9829
Malcolm McDowell's Alex was spawned by post-WWII anxieties about delinquents: he idolizes Beethoven and embraces violence.-9829
35Group Captain Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)
Strangelove (one of Peter Sellers's three characters) is a physicist with a mechanical arm struggling to achieve a Nazi salute.-12806
Strangelove (one of Peter Sellers's three characters) is a physicist with a mechanical arm struggling to achieve a Nazi salute.-12806
36The Monster (Frankenstein)
Boris Karloff's towering creature is the grandfather of all movie monsters -- a sensitive soul doomed to be hounded by mobs.-18648
Boris Karloff's towering creature is the grandfather of all movie monsters -- a sensitive soul doomed to be hounded by mobs.-18648
37Jimmy Doyle (The French Connection)
Gene Hackman's Doyle is based on real-life N.Y. cop Eddie Egan, portrayed as a bigoted, overzealous hard-drinking cop.-28680
Gene Hackman's Doyle is based on real-life N.Y. cop Eddie Egan, portrayed as a bigoted, overzealous hard-drinking cop.-28680
38Austin Powers / Dr. Evil (Austin Powers Series)
Mike Myers's Powers spoofs the spies of sixties British espionage movies while advocating free love and combating his nemesis, Dr. Evil.-39821
Mike Myers's Powers spoofs the spies of sixties British espionage movies while advocating free love and combating his nemesis, Dr. Evil.-39821
39Ethan Edwards (The Searchers)
John Wayne pins his hopes for redemption on rescuing his niece, abducted by Comanches, but comes face-to-face with his own racism.-42704
John Wayne pins his hopes for redemption on rescuing his niece, abducted by Comanches, but comes face-to-face with his own racism.-42704
40HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
The supercomputer (voiced by Douglas Rain) is doomed by a programmer who introduced a thread of frailty into the machine.-48714
The supercomputer (voiced by Douglas Rain) is doomed by a programmer who introduced a thread of frailty into the machine.-48714
41T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
A WWI-era British officer comfortable among Bedouin, Lawrence is a hero imbued with a sexually ambiguous glamour by Peter O'Toole.-59693
A WWI-era British officer comfortable among Bedouin, Lawrence is a hero imbued with a sexually ambiguous glamour by Peter O'Toole.-59693
42Terry Malloy (On the Waterfront)
Marlon Brando's portrayal of longshoreman Malloy, who "coulda been a contender," is the embodiment of wounded masculinity.-77607
Marlon Brando's portrayal of longshoreman Malloy, who "coulda been a contender," is the embodiment of wounded masculinity.-77607
43Marshal Will Kane (High Noon)
About to leave Hadleyville, New Mexico, Gary Cooper's Kane must protect the town from killers, though folks decline to stand by him.-92562
About to leave Hadleyville, New Mexico, Gary Cooper's Kane must protect the town from killers, though folks decline to stand by him.-92562
44Tarzan (Tarzan, the Ape Man)
Johnny Weissmuller was the sixth actor to play Edgar Rice Burrough's jungle character and the first to personify the ape-man's appeal.-98598
Johnny Weissmuller was the sixth actor to play Edgar Rice Burrough's jungle character and the first to personify the ape-man's appeal.-98598
45John Shaft (Shaft)
Private detective Shaft, Richard Roundtree's blaxploitation hero, battles pimps, gangsters, and drug dealers.-123577
Private detective Shaft, Richard Roundtree's blaxploitation hero, battles pimps, gangsters, and drug dealers.-123577
46Virgil Tibbs (In the Heat of the Night)
In the civil rights-era, Sidney Poitier's Tibbs -- a Black Philadelphia detective who demands respect -- comes face-to-face with bigotry.-123555
In the civil rights-era, Sidney Poitier's Tibbs -- a Black Philadelphia detective who demands respect -- comes face-to-face with bigotry.-123555
47Gordon Gekko (Wall Street)
Personifying unrestrained corporate greed, Michael Douglas extols excess, arguing that "greed, for lack of a better word, is good."-132626
Personifying unrestrained corporate greed, Michael Douglas extols excess, arguing that "greed, for lack of a better word, is good."-132626
48Harry Powell (The Night of the Hunter)
Robert Mitchum's preacher hides behind a mask of piety, but the "LOVE" and "HATE" tattoos on his knuckles tell a darker story.-143589
Robert Mitchum's preacher hides behind a mask of piety, but the "LOVE" and "HATE" tattoos on his knuckles tell a darker story.-143589
49A Tramp (City Lights)
Charles Chaplin's most memorable tramp character arms himself with optimism, good-heartedness, and grace.-154666
Charles Chaplin's most memorable tramp character arms himself with optimism, good-heartedness, and grace.-154666
50Ratso (Midnight Cowboy)
Dustin Hoffman's hustler gets by on bravado, but a respiratory ailment dooms him within sight of his fantasy locale, Miami.
Dustin Hoffman's hustler gets by on bravado, but a respiratory ailment dooms him within sight of his fantasy locale, Miami.
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