100 Greatest Movie Characters (Empire)

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/

Wouldn't say i agreed with much of the lists order but the number 1 really surprised me.

 

[Ziggyman]

Mr. Rider...Aren't there already two threads of this list already?

 

[Watson]

There should be an asterix on this list that states *as chosen by comic and sci fi geeks

There are some glaring holes in the top 5 I would think, but clearly this list is more about current trends and who the most "bad ass" characters are. I suppose Atticus Finch fighting for civil rights doesn't make him cool enough to warrant top 5 .

 

[Matt]

Like Watson says, you can never take any Empire list too seriously because it is pretty much whoever gives fanboys the biggest geek-gasm.

Still, major kudos for including Martin Q. Blank.

 

[Chewy]

Here's the List:

Spoiler

100 - Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon)
99 - HAL-9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
98 - Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane)
97 - Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
96 - Ethan Edwards (The Searchers)
95 - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street)
94 - Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
93 - Martin Q. Blank (Grosse Pointe Blank)
92 - Randal Graves (Clerks)
91 - Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind)
90 - Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz)
89 - Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)
88 - Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
87 - Dracula (Dracula)
86 - Roy Batty (Blade Runner)
85 - Vincenzo Coccotti (True Romance)
84 - Agent Smith (Matrix)
83 - Mr Blonde (Reservoir Dogs)
82 - Marv (Sin City)
81 - Wolverine (X-Men)
80 - Norman Bates (Psycho)
79 - Boba Fett (Star Wars)
78 - Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)
77 - Ed (Shaun of the Dead)
76 - Dr Emmett Brown (Back to the Future)
75 - Marge Gunderson (Fargo)
74 - E.T. (E.T.)
73 - Jack Torrance (The Shining)
72 - V (V for Vendetta)
71 - Snake Plissken (Escape from New York/Escape from L.A.)
70 - Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
69 - Keyser Soze (Usual Suspects)
68 - Napolean Dynamite (Napolean Dynamite)
67 - Frank Booth (Blue Velvet)
66 - The Bride (Kill Bill)
65 - White Goodman (Dodgeball)
64 - Withnail (Withnail & I)
63 - WALL-E (WALL-E)
62 - Mathilda (Leon)
61 - R.P. McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
60 - Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura)
59 - Tommy Devito (Goodfellas)
58 - Rick Blaine (Casablanca)
57 - Brick Tamland (Anchorman)
56 - Juno MacGuff (Juno)
55 - Lt. Frank Drebin (The Naked Gun)
54 - Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
53 - Luke (Cool Hand Luke)
52 - George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)
51 - Mal Reynolds (Serenity)
50 - Quint (Jaws)
49 - Walter Sobchak (Big Lebowski)
48 - Tony Stark (Iron Man)
47 - Blade (Blade)
46 - Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)
45 - Amelie Poulain (Amelie)
44 - Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters)
43 - The Man With No Name (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
42 - Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
41 - Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)
40 - Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
39 - Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
38 - Donnie Darko (Donnie Darko)
37 - Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)
36 - Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
35 - Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator)
34 - Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
33 - Tequila (Hard Boiled)
32 - Jason Bourne (Bourne)
31 - Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
30 - Jigsaw (Saw)
29 - Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)
28 - Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
27 - Tony Montana (Scarface)
26 - Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
25 - Yoda (Star Wars)
24 - Ash (Evil Dead)
23 - Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)
22 - Ellis 'Red' Redding (Shawshank Redemption)
21 - Michael Corleone (Godfather)
20 - Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
19 - Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction)
18 - Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
17 - Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
16 - Neo (Matrix)
15 - Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
14 - The Terminator (Terminator)
13 - Gollum (Lord of the Rings)
12 - John McClane (Die Hard)
11 - James Bond (James Bond)
10 - Vito Corleone (Godfather)
9 - Ellen Ripley (Alien)
8 - Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
7 - The Dude (Big Lebowski)
6 - Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
5 - Dr. Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs)
4 - Han Solo (Star Wars)
3 - The Joker (The Dark Knight)
2 - Darth Vader (Star Wars)
1 - Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

The fact that none of Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man are on the list but the captain from Serenity and two characters from Anchorman are is a real head-scratcher.

 

[Ziggyman]

^How convenient...Thanks man!

 

[Ziggyman]

Like Watson says, you can never take any Empire list too seriously because it is pretty much whoever gives fanboys the biggest geek-gasm.

Still, major kudos for including Martin Q. Blank.

War, Inc. should of been a sequel!

 

[Watson]

Amelie made the list? Really? Cool I guess, but I didn't know French romantic dramedy's were big amongst the geek set.

 

[Matt]

Here's the List:

Spoiler

100 - Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon)
99 - HAL-9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
98 - Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane)
97 - Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
96 - Ethan Edwards (The Searchers)
95 - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street)
94 - Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
93 - Martin Q. Blank (Grosse Pointe Blank)
92 - Randal Graves (Clerks)
91 - Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind)
90 - Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz)
89 - Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)
88 - Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
87 - Dracula (Dracula)
86 - Roy Batty (Blade Runner)
85 - Vincenzo Coccotti (True Romance)
84 - Agent Smith (Matrix)
83 - Mr Blonde (Reservoir Dogs)
82 - Marv (Sin City)
81 - Wolverine (X-Men)
80 - Norman Bates (Psycho)
79 - Boba Fett (Star Wars)
78 - Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)
77 - Ed (Shaun of the Dead)
76 - Dr Emmett Brown (Back to the Future)
75 - Marge Gunderson (Fargo)
74 - E.T. (E.T.)
73 - Jack Torrance (The Shining)
72 - V (V for Vendetta)
71 - Snake Plissken (Escape from New York/Escape from L.A.)
70 - Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
69 - Keyser Soze (Usual Suspects)
68 - Napolean Dynamite (Napolean Dynamite)
67 - Frank Booth (Blue Velvet)
66 - The Bride (Kill Bill)
65 - White Goodman (Dodgeball)
64 - Withnail (Withnail & I)
63 - WALL-E (WALL-E)
62 - Mathilda (Leon)
61 - R.P. McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
60 - Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura)
59 - Tommy Devito (Goodfellas)
58 - Rick Blaine (Casablanca)
57 - Brick Tamland (Anchorman)
56 - Juno MacGuff (Juno)
55 - Lt. Frank Drebin (The Naked Gun)
54 - Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
53 - Luke (Cool Hand Luke)
52 - George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)
51 - Mal Reynolds (Serenity)
50 - Quint (Jaws)
49 - Walter Sobchak (Big Lebowski)
48 - Tony Stark (Iron Man)
47 - Blade (Blade)
46 - Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)
45 - Amelie Poulain (Amelie)
44 - Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters)
43 - The Man With No Man (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
42 - Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
41 - Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)
40 - Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
39 - Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
38 - Donnie Darko (Donnie Darko)
37 - Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)
36 - Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
35 - Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator)
34 - Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
33 - Tequila (Hard Boiled)
32 - Jason Bourne (Bourne)
31 - Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
30 - Jigsaw (Saw)
29 - Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)
28 - Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
27 - Tony Montana (Scarface)
26 - Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
25 - Yoda (Star Wars)
24 - Ash (Evil Dead)
23 - Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)
22 - Ellis 'Red' Redding (Shawshank Redemption)
21 - Michael Corleone (Godfather)
20 - Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
19 - Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction)
18 - Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
17 - Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
16 - Neo (Matrix)
15 - Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
14 - The Terminator (Terminator)
13 - Gollum (Lord of the Rings)
12 - John McClane (Die Hard)
11 - James Bond (James Bond)
10 - Vito Corleone (Godfather)
9 - Ellen Ripley (Alien)
8 - Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
7 - The Dude (Big Lebowski)
6 - Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
5 - Dr. Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs)
4 - Han Solo (Star Wars)
3 - The Joker (The Dark Knight)
2 - Darth Vader (Star Wars)
1 - Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

The fact that none of Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man are on the list but the captain from Serenity and two characters from Anchorman are is a real head-scratcher.

Jigsaw outranked Norman Bates. The Dude and Jack Sparrow outranked Vito and Michael Corleone. V outranked C.F. Kane. The Joker is number 3, and Frankenstein's monster from the 1931 classic, and Colonel Kurtz of Apocalypse, Now are left off the list. Its an Empire List. Don't try to put logic behind it. These are the same morons who voted Serenity the greatest movie ever.

 

[Matt]

Amelie made the list? Really? Cool I guess, but I didn't know French romantic dramedy's were big amongst the geek set.

Empire is based out of England. I believe Euro-films are more popular there than they are here.

 

[Chewy]

Jigsaw outranked Norman Bates. The Dude and Jack Sparrow outranked Vito and Michael Corleone. V outranked C.F. Kane. The Joker is number 3, and Frankenstein's monster from the 1931 classic, and Colonel Kurtz of Apocalypse, Now are left off the list. Its an Empire List. Don't try to put logic behind it. These are the same morons who voted Serenity the greatest movie ever.

I'm not trying to put logic behind it, but one would think Superman, Batman or Spidey would be on it since it seems to be mostly a fanboy list.

 

[Watson]

Empire is based out of England. I believe Euro-films are more popular there than they are here.

I guess that makes more sense. I suppose it is good they picked someone not typical. Amelie is not really a hero or bad ass in any way, but she is still a great character IMO.

However since the list makes some other super bizzare choices, as you point out, we can't really take anything too seriously.

Jigsaw outranked Norman Bates. The Dude and Jack Sparrow outranked Vito and Michael Corleone. V outranked C.F. Kane. The Joker is number 3, and Frankenstein's monster from the 1931 classic, and Colonel Kurtz of Apocalypse, Now are left off the list. Its an Empire List. Don't try to put logic behind it. These are the same morons who voted Serenity the greatest movie ever.

At least they made Joss Whedon happy.

 

[Matt]

I can see how the argument can be made to even name Serenity one of the top 100 movies. I don't agree with it, but I can see the argument. It is a very good movie after all. But the greatest movie of all time? I'd like to try what they're smoking.

 

[Sawyer]

Here's the List:

Spoiler

100 - Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon)
99 - HAL-9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
98 - Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane)
97 - Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
96 - Ethan Edwards (The Searchers)
95 - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street)
94 - Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
93 - Martin Q. Blank (Grosse Pointe Blank)
92 - Randal Graves (Clerks)
91 - Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind)
90 - Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz)
89 - Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)
88 - Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
87 - Dracula (Dracula)
86 - Roy Batty (Blade Runner)
85 - Vincenzo Coccotti (True Romance)
84 - Agent Smith (Matrix)
83 - Mr Blonde (Reservoir Dogs)
82 - Marv (Sin City)
81 - Wolverine (X-Men)
80 - Norman Bates (Psycho)
79 - Boba Fett (Star Wars)
78 - Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)
77 - Ed (Shaun of the Dead)
76 - Dr Emmett Brown (Back to the Future)
75 - Marge Gunderson (Fargo)
74 - E.T. (E.T.)
73 - Jack Torrance (The Shining)
72 - V (V for Vendetta)
71 - Snake Plissken (Escape from New York/Escape from L.A.)
70 - Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
69 - Keyser Soze (Usual Suspects)
68 - Napolean Dynamite (Napolean Dynamite)
67 - Frank Booth (Blue Velvet)
66 - The Bride (Kill Bill)
65 - White Goodman (Dodgeball)
64 - Withnail (Withnail & I)
63 - WALL-E (WALL-E)
62 - Mathilda (Leon)
61 - R.P. McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
60 - Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura)
59 - Tommy Devito (Goodfellas)
58 - Rick Blaine (Casablanca)
57 - Brick Tamland (Anchorman)
56 - Juno MacGuff (Juno)
55 - Lt. Frank Drebin (The Naked Gun)
54 - Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
53 - Luke (Cool Hand Luke)
52 - George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)
51 - Mal Reynolds (Serenity)
50 - Quint (Jaws)
49 - Walter Sobchak (Big Lebowski)
48 - Tony Stark (Iron Man)
47 - Blade (Blade)
46 - Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)
45 - Amelie Poulain (Amelie)
44 - Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters)
43 - The Man With No Name (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
42 - Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
41 - Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)
40 - Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
39 - Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
38 - Donnie Darko (Donnie Darko)
37 - Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)
36 - Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
35 - Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator)
34 - Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
33 - Tequila (Hard Boiled)
32 - Jason Bourne (Bourne)
31 - Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
30 - Jigsaw (Saw)
29 - Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)
28 - Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
27 - Tony Montana (Scarface)
26 - Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
25 - Yoda (Star Wars)
24 - Ash (Evil Dead)
23 - Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)
22 - Ellis 'Red' Redding (Shawshank Redemption)
21 - Michael Corleone (Godfather)
20 - Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
19 - Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction)
18 - Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
17 - Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
16 - Neo (Matrix)
15 - Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
14 - The Terminator (Terminator)
13 - Gollum (Lord of the Rings)
12 - John McClane (Die Hard)
11 - James Bond (James Bond)
10 - Vito Corleone (Godfather)
9 - Ellen Ripley (Alien)
8 - Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
7 - The Dude (Big Lebowski)
6 - Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
5 - Dr. Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs)
4 - Han Solo (Star Wars)
3 - The Joker (The Dark Knight)
2 - Darth Vader (Star Wars)
1 - Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

The fact that none of Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man are on the list but the captain from Serenity and two characters from Anchorman are is a real head-scratcher.

Malcolm Reynolds earned a spot on that list. However, he was a TV character first.
Napolean Dynamite should have been about a billion spots behind #68. **** that *****ebag...
And 2 Star Wars characters in the top 5? Really?
And yes, it is complete bull that Bats, Supes and Spidey arent there. Especially when Napoleon Dynamite is (that ***hole )

 

[Apollo]

Most of the characters on there are great!... but there were a few that made me go.. wtf.

there are also many characters i would have liked to see.

 

[Knives122]

Han Solo is in the top 10 so that's at least right. I don't really agree with Tyler Durden being number one. I honestly don't foam at the mouth when hearing that characters name or watching the movie.

 

[Apollo]

tyler Durden Number one?.. i'll just assume the list isn't in order...

 

[Sawyer]

Napoleon Dynamite ****ing sucks. I just need to make that clear. If I could pick one fictional character to kill with my own two hands, it would most definately be Napoleon Dynamite. I'd strangle him with his goddam "Vote for Pedro" shirt, the annoying little ****...

 

[Ziggyman]

Bobba Fett..Really?

 

[citizenpain]

don't agree with the list for the most part, but i certainly do agree with their #1.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

How did Jigsaw get so far He even beat out McFly

 

[citizenpain]

How did Jigsaw get so far He even beat out McFly

i didn't even notice he was #30. i don't think he even deserves to be on the list. i really don't like that the joker is so high up. ash, travis bickle, snake, and tony montana should all have been rated higher.

also, how are they gonna have mathilda from the professional on the list but not leon himself? wtf? the more i look at this list, the dumber it gets.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Ash should of been in the top 10.

 

[PyroChamber]

Those brits have interesting taste when it comes to picking these things.

 

[Dark Knight 66]

I thought there were quite a lot of good choices but there were several excellent characters they missed out which I was disappointed by.