Just as I’m a sucker for darker areas of cinema (like zombie movies, apocalyptic movies, and post apocalyptic movies), I’m a sucker for a good anti-hero. If I have a choice between an anti-hero and a regular hero, I’ll take the anti-hero any day of the week because I think they are inherently more interesting characters than their truly noble counterparts.
The definition of an anti-hero as a character who performs acts that are generally deemed or thought to be heroic, but he/she will do so with methods, actions, manners, and intentions that are not so. I also tend to add that there is a touch of darkness surrounding anti-heroes, a sense of danger that doesn’t go away. With that definition, who are the ten best to ever grace the cinema screen?
10. Erik Draven (the Crow) The Crow (1994)
This is a modern classic. Some people would argue that the crow is more of a hero, but there’s tons of darkness around this character, more than a hint of insanity, and he will kill anyone who gets in between him and his revenge. That’s where the difference is. If he just killed the murderers, fine, but he kills the whole gang, works his way up the chain, and kills anyone in collusion. Just? Sure, but still an anti-hero.
9. “Mad” Max Rockatansky Mad Max & Sequels (1979)
Mad Max is a great example of an anti-hero. He walks away from being a cop to wage a war of vengeance, and as the world falls apart, he re-appears, always thinking about himself first, and willing to help survivors only if they had something to offer him. By the third movie he’s just a shell, who refuses to go with people who would care for him, love him, because he goes alone. He only helps others when he has something to lose by not doing so, making Mad Max one of the most beloved anti-heroes of all time.
8. Snake Plissken Escape from New York (1981)
Snake Plissken is the epitome of a bad boy “hero.” He is a convict, he hates the government, wants to drink and smoke, and doesn’t give a crud about authority. He is a bad guy, but mostly because his need to be self-serving contradicts with the government and authorities. Put in situations to do good, he does, even if coerced, and he often seems to have more morals than the “good guys” that he’s working for. That being said, he doesn’t do good for anyone unless he gets something out of it. Snake has darkness all around him, and his “me first” attitude and ability to fight off (or fit in with) the worst scum make him a futuristic anti-hero.
7. Harry Callahan Dirty Harry (1971)
“Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” This is now one of the most famous lines in all of cinema. Harry Callahan, nicknamed “Dirty Harry,” is known as a renegade cop who doesn’t care about breaking the law (specifically the rights of the criminal) to get the job done. Dirty Harry has a very clear sense of right, but he is a “the ends justify the means” type of guy, which keeps him in the doghouse and puts him on this list.
6. Tyler Durden Fight Club (1999)
Tyler Durden is the modern anti-hero! Anti-capitalism, anti-credit card, he’s against being made into a zombie and he hates big brother. This film delves into a modern society, always broken, always needing a fix. He is the strong, independent, “alive” man that most men want to be, fighting against obvious wrongs we feel powerless against, but for no good moral reason, but because he can. He does what he does because he wants to, and if some of us want to join a fight club and see him as heroic, that’s just part of the ride.
5. The Man With No Name / ”Blondie” The Dollars Trilogy (1964, 65, 66)
Clint Eastwood makes this list twice, but it’s hard to beat his “man with no name” from the Westerns. A man with a dark past, no future, and he knows how to kill and how to move on after killing. He’s not kind, but he is righteous. He’s a killer and he knows it, but he will only kill other killers. He has no name because he has no future, but he has a true code of honor. Not good, not bad, but honorable: the perfect anti-hero.
4. The MacManus Brothers (Connor & Murphy) The Boondock Saints (1999)
Troy Duffy’s cult classic follows two Irish brothers who are deeply devoted to their faith, yet fully accepting of the idea of being “the vengeful hand of God.” These two brothers cuss like Quentin Tarantino, drink like a bad Irish joke, and shoot without remorse…but they will ONLY shoot bad guys. They won’t even go after the FBI agent trying to nail them.
This story starts as self defense against a couple Russian thugs from the Russian mafia, and evolves following the brothers as they decide that doing nothing with evil all around is far worse a sin than killing evil men. This study in vigilantism creates the brothers as great anti-heroes, even as they murder bad guy after bad guy, and the last scene, where a bad guy is executed in front of his family (mom, wife, and all) makes it clear that they may be likable, but as Agent Smecker says in the film “They are not superheroes triumphing over evil.” But they are amazing anti-heroes.
3. D-Fens Falling Down (1993)
This is a true cult classic. Many people love this movie, or they hate it. Michael Douglas plays the part of “D-Fens,” a normal man who has a terrible day during an unusually hot Los Angeles summer day. He tries to get home to his daughter’s birthday party, but is accosted time after time by a society that isn’t fair—and like many of us has thought about, he fights back, becoming a vigilante and getting increasingly violent as his sanity is obviously going out the window.
From an Asian grocer overcharging badly, to crap fast food that doesn’t look like the picture, to two gang members trying to rob him, to a Neo-Nazi who breaks his snow globe…he faces the daily things that piss every person off, and even though he certainly is not “good.” How he tries to fix what’s broken is poetic, but by the end he’s cracked and a killer, but one who is easy to sympathize with because he just got pushed too far.
2. Leon Leon: The Professional (1994)
There have been few movies so beautifully woven, few characters like Leon, played by Jean Reno. Leon is a professional assassin who lives in a shady part of New York City. He lives next door to a 13 year old Matilda, who is part of a dysfunctional family. When the family is killed by a corrupt DEA agent, Leon reluctantly agrees to take care of the young girl.
She asks questions that are unnerving, asking Leon to be her first lover (thankfully he refuses) and asking personal questions along that nature. In the extended version there is a suggestion that there is more than a father daughter relationship, and while he “protects” her, he teaches her how to be a killer. Leon never appears as a warm figure. Even in a “heroic suicide,” he is still a murderer and without remorse, but it was in defense of another.
1. Travis Bickle Taxi Driver (1976)
No matter what list you look at of top anti-heroes in movies, Robert De Niro’s portrayal of a cab driver gone vigilante is right at the top of everyone’s list. This is especially amazing considering how many good anti-heroes are out there in movies, and there is wide disagreement on top ten lists, but Travis Bickle is a great example of how the darkness can seep in.
First off, we as the audience tend to sympathize with him, but his motives remain unknown throughout the film which makes it hard to stay with his actions, especially as it becomes clear that he’s not completely all there, and then the assassination attempt of a political candidate seems straight out evil until he saves a child prostitute, but his head is so messed up you don’t know why he’s doing anything any more, making even heroic actions seem, well, really creepy.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
What about the main guy fro oceans 11? cause your really rooting for him despite his nature,
Good list!
I actually have seen almost every one of these movies.
The only one that I might add would be Paul Kersey played by Charles Bronson in Death Wish.
Remember those movies I think there were 3 of them?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071402/
slickwilly and satori: i was just trying to encourage posters and responders to think/dig a little deeper.
I’ll never understand why they call him Blondie. They may as well call him skinhead. And JFrater, I SWEAR I will pay you, in any currency, ANYTHING, if you webmasters can find a way to delete all these *****s that post first, it is so boring.
What about the Punisher? He was a vigilante killer, even if it was provoked.
JFrat please see teh forumz.
Great list man!!
The Punisher? He was a soldier, and he uses his weapons to fight bad guys. He’s not an anti-hero, he’s a hero. He doesn’t mindlessly kill innocent people AND bad guys.
What about Micheal Corleone from “The Godfather”. If you have read the Graffic Novels, V from V for Vendetta was definetly an Anti-hero. They made him too nice in the movie, and besides the movie overall didnt have a whole lot to do with the books themselves. so V i could understand being on this list (though he is not). Great list overall though
How about Marv from Sin City?
Maxx – I think your missing the point about D-Fens and especially Travis Bickle. In Travis’ case it’s not insanity, it’s his belief that his surroundings have turned to crap and no one seemingly cares about it except him. In my view he sees the political candidate and the ***** in the same way and his only solution is to stop the lies with the business end of about 100 guns he hid on his person.
D-Fens is just a goofy bastard to begin with. The point of Falling Down wasn’t to show his decent in to crazyhood, it was to show how stupid and b***** everyday living can be. And it sometimes takes a bat***** crazy dude to point out the obvious. If we’re all honest, we all get *****ed at traffic jams, road construction that seem to take years and all kinds of ***** like that. The point is, we would probably mumble something to ourselves and move on, D-Fens gets out of the car and does something about it.
I don’t see the point in mentioning Henry HIll in the way you’ve described him. He isn’t any more of a good person because he takes care of his family. He’s a mindless thug who’d bury your ass if he could make a buck off of it. And sleeping with your coked out ***** girlfriend(s) while your wife is at home taking care of the kids isn’t going to go in my ‘good guy’ column anytime soon.
How about Han Solo from Star Wars. Would he classify as anti-hero?
The Anti-List:
Ben Wade (Russell Crowe): 3:10 To Yuma
Bobby Dupea (Jack Nicholson): Five Easy Pieces
Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart): Casablanca
Sefton (William Holden): Stalag 17
Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro): Taxi Driver
Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart): The Maltese Falcon
Ethan Edwards (John Wayne): The Searchers
Rhett Butler (Clark Gable): Gone With The Wind
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino): The Godfather
Painless Peter Potter (Bob Hope): The Paleface
I thought “Falling Down” was poop, seemed too much of a rip-off of Taxi Driver. If Taxi Driver wasn’t first I would have crapped my pants.
I would consider Hannibal Lector of Silence of the Lambs a sort of anti-hero. I would also have liked to see Antonio Bandaras’ character from Desperado, Shaft, Nikita from La Femme Nikita (though I have only seen the tv show, not the movie) and if this list included TV I would say Dexter, but this is movies
Great list, I just offer suggestions because I haven’t seen all the movies on the list. Glad to see the Boondock boys, Tyler, Harry and Leon on here.
Copperdragon: I know you were, and it’s all good. Thought provoking comments are always welcome.
I should have double checked the list, of course Travis Bickle is on it. I’ll replace him with The Dude from The Big Lebowski.
Tyler Durden and the MacManus brothers – good choices
Nelia: I love Lector – he would be a great inclusion!
I’m with Social Butterfly… what about MARV???
Thanks Big Ty, I love getting back up.
Guess what Jamie… I finally started using forums!
Pound it!
*Holds fist in air*
Hmmm…I’m still waiting for my verification e-mail. What’s the deal Jamie?
I totally agree with mom424 Dexter Morgan needs to be on this list. He is awesome, he only kills serial killers and rapists… ETC.
how about john from saw….only punishes bad people…or john doe from seven…….
Jigsaw911: Neither of those men are anti-heroes….they are just villains. Being qualified as an anti-hero has as much to do with the character’s context in the story as it does with his/her acts and disposition. An anti-hero is still a hero because they are portrayed as a protagonist…..both of those men you listed are portrayed as antagonists. Even though what they do can be twisted in some sick, perverse way into something that could be considered honorable on some level, they are not anti-heros – they are villians.
2, 4, and 6. Oh yes.
-Andrea Carlena Beauman.
D-Fins shoul be #1, he kicks ass.
Andrea : is it really necessary to write your name twice?
Marv from Sin City and Mr. White from Res. Dogs – Otherwise, great list.
The best part in Falling Down is D-Fens on the golf course- Classic!!
you forgot the punisher and i think eric draven should be number one
I think “Sonny” from Dog Day Afternoon kinda fits the anti-hero. He is robbing a bank, but only because he’s REALLY confused about what to do in life. Good guy who snaps under the weight of the world.
Good list. Glad to see D-Fens made the list – i freakin love that movie.
Copperdragon; we had this conversation before, do the damn math. You give me more than one or 2 quality anti-heroes of colour and I’m sure the list writer will tell you why they picked the ones they did, and not yours…rather forcefully maybe…lol
Agree on the punisher needing to be here, and the macmanus brothers are incredible.
What about Denzel Washington’s character in Man on Fire?
His motive is one of love, yet his methodology for finding the kidnapped Dakota Fanning are far from saint-like.
um…. good list(?)
hell yeah finally the boondock saints get some recognition, i am like the only person out of all my friends who has seen that movie and appreciates it.
and its too bad about that crow guy, i really liked him in that movie but a stupid accident had to ***** it all up. so sad =[
I liked Falling Down alot, sounds like I should see Taxi Driver since Ive never actually sat down to watch the whole thing.
copperdragon: who cares if the list is all white males, just deal with it. im sure that the creator wasnt thinking of how discriminatory and *****ist they could be while they were making this top ten.
your suggestions are more than welcome here just dont go around pointing fingers about racism or *****ism when, to tell you the truth, nobody wants to hear about it
Yay 100, This is a good list, I think i’ve seen most of the movies on here. I don’t think I didn’t know any one growing up who wasn’t obsessed with the crow! and Boondock Saints, is AWESOME
Great list Shane! I especially appreciate D-Fens on the list. It was on the Top 10 Psycho list that I commented about how he should have been on that list!
a truly great list. to quantify such characters is a feat! plus these are all great movies
its like a mirror sliver isnt it?
where between the man of brooding swagger and direct approach wavers a thin glimmer to the cult/folk hero.
ho!wait!
I havent read the comments, but, am I the first to say:
WHAT ABOUT “SCARFACE”!?!?
laugh out loud
sly wink face icon
I would have loved to see William Munny, from Unforgiven on the list, and Sonny from Dog Day Afternoon would be my definition of an anti-hero.
hey, off topic completely, but what about a list of Best gay Movies?
yay!
I agree with the others – Michael Corleone.
Need to see the movie about the MacManus Brothers and for some reason have yet to see the Crow, with Brandon Lee. Looking forward to seeing Ledger play the Joker this summer.
Can’t really argue with this list. D-Fens – I cheered him on about fast foods, bums, psychos – I think he outdid Kersey in Death Wish 3! Favorite D-fens line get some shooting lessons *****
Leon the Professional is a great movie that I suggest people who haven’t seen it, to see it.
One of my favorite movies to see once in a while because it doesn’t sport that “watch me all the time” atmospheres…
Travis Bickle is just a lunatic. By the way, Im bored half way through the movie, so never seen the actual assassination.
How come no one mentioned John Rambo? Now there’s an anti-hero.
What about the guys from Resivior Dogs?
Or Sands from Once Upon a Time In Mexico?
Or El in El Mariachi, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
really happy to see travis bickle as number one.
my opinion of him changes every damn time i see that film.
also, billy (#90) suggested sonny from dog day afternoon, and i must say i totally agree.
Hey all, thanks for the wide range of comments on my article. To answer some questions and concerns, I didn’t make this intending to exclude minorities or women-anyone who’s seen a family photo of mine knows that’s not likely, but here’s some thoughts to some movies mentioned:
“Brave One” I simply haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t say if it belongs on the list
“Shaft” same time as “Dirty Harry” and unfortunately since Dirty Harry is more widely known/quoted/etc, and they were two similar characters, I wanted diversity so the better known movie wins
Bride from Kill Bill – I thought she was set up to be a hero, though she would fit the definition of anti hero
El Mariachi – you got me on this one, I just didn’t think of it at the time
Pulp Fiction – Jules is a bad guy redeemed, not an anti-hero
Punisher – hero
Resevoir Dogs – I don’t think they’re heroes, they’re criminals not really doing anything heroic
Dog Day Afternoon – haven’t seen it yet
And for what it’s worth, Sarah Connor from T2 was #11. As a former film student, it’s easy to make a list of 30-40 anti-heroes without breaking a sweat. I was going for diversity – just of types of movies and anti-heroes, and I don’t think of someone’s skin color or gender being any different than someone having blue eyes or freckles, so if I omitted a really good one, my bad. No offense was intended.
Sarah Connor was #11, Samuel L. Jackson’s character from 187 was #12, so take that for whatever it’s worth.
Thanks again for all the comments-I love seeing an active discussion like this
what…no tony montana …okay ..okayyyy say hello ..to my lil fren”…..
I do not think that you are using the term “Anti-Hero” properly. Travis Bickle is not an anti-hero. An “Anti-Hero” is a character who does not possess the traditional qualities of a hero, but who usually performs heroically or at least selflessly for the benefit of others.
My first thought for a good example is Humphrey Bogart in “The African Queen.” Or even Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Both of those characters are actual anti-hero (based on their behavior and actions), while Travis Bickle is basically what I would call a tragic protagonist who becomes an antagonist. He becomes alienated, rageful, insane, and then goes on a murderous rampage. This behavior is not the domain of the anti-hero.
Here are more of my examples of good anti-heroes: Steve McQueen in “Papillion.” Newman and Redford in “Butch Cassidy”, or Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in “Midnight Cowboy” or Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca.” Or Gene Hackman in “The French Connection.”
Or what about Han Solo in “Star Wars?”
Ummm Bruce Campbell in ‘The Evil Dead’ series. Classic Anti-hero on which all other anti-heroes are compared to.
thank god the crow is here!!
Porter from “Payback”
o come on, wheres batman? he’s hella anti-heroish! an V from V for Vendetta? and i agree that spawn needs to be here
A lot of the characters you guys are listing are not even heroes; like Jules and Vince from pulp fiction or the guys in resevoir dogs. You have to do heroic things to be an anti hero, not just be consdidered cool by stoners working at a video store. Also, Spawn belongs in the overdone cliche list, along with X-Men’s garbage character Gambit.
As far as heroes not listed; Butch from Pulp Fiction. In fact many of Bruce Willis’ characters are anti heroes; namely McClane from Die Hard(well, not so much), and Hatigan from Sin City.
Also the three main characters in Sin City are all Anti-Heroes and Marv should be on the list.
Sonny Chiba get a vote as the Street Fighter , he kicks ass.
Porter from Payback, Bruce Campbell from Evil Dead, and V from V for Vendetta are good recommendations, all great films.
As far as V from/for Vendetta, he was a thief, allowed others to be killed, like the guy in the TV studio, and used homicide, subterfuge, ‘terrorism’, and torture to achieve his means.