Every now and then, certain movie characters (and the actors that played them) come along and capture the heart and imagination of millions of viewers worldwide. Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker; Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa; Mel Gibson as William Wallace, along with many others, have changed everything we think about movie characters. These characters have been emotionally imprinted upon the Hollywood landscape, inspiring thousands of writers, directors, and actors to contribute to the entertainment industry with excitement, passion, and vigor. This list, however, has nothing to do with such impactful characters.
This list is about the characters that we all hate. Characters that bring nothing more than noise and distraction to the movie screen. Characters that try their best to drown out the performances of the other actors on screen, selfishly upstaging the film with their annoying banter and garrulous eccentricities. Characters that, when they appear on the screen, make you want to stuff Sour Patch Kids into your eyes and ears.
Just a side note: These are mostly sidekicks from action/adventure movies, with a couple of exceptions. I could easily make a list of 100 annoying characters from comedies or dramas, but comedy is usually something of a subjective market. So I decided to pick annoying sidekicks from seemingly serious and epic movies, because they just drain the life right out of the scene when they appear. Enjoy.
I included Bubba on this list for only a couple of reasons. I recognize that Bubba from Forrest Gump is a pretty popular character from a very popular movie. But I feel that his speech impediment, his uninspiring speeches, and his lead in the endless “shrimp” scene, warranted his inclusion in a list of annoying movie characters. Most of the scenes involving Bubba are usually dominated by Tom Hanks’ Forrest Gump character anyway, leaving the viewer wondering why we really needed another slow, confused, southerner with a speech impediment.
Another very popular character and a wonderful sidekick to Han Solo, but I decided to include him on the list simply because of the noise. Noise, noise, noise. Every scene involving Chewbacca is like trying to watch a movie that has been put through a wood chipper. Most of the Star Wars series is shot with great sound quality, due to Lucas’ genius work starting up the THX franchise. But even in quiet scenes aboard the Millennium Falcon while the cast is deep in hyperspace, Chewie’s “Nyraghgg nyaghhh nanyyyyyy” slices into the audio with reckless abandon, clogging up an otherwise peaceful scene.
No matter what you think about the Lord of the Rings franchise, you can’t argue that most scenes involving Gollum require a certain amount of intestinal fortitude. He is ugly. He is repulsive. He repeats the same phrases over and over again. He eats raw fish. Most scenes that involve Gollum make you wish you were back in the Shire.
Of all the characters on this list, Jeff Goldblum’s portrayal of pseudo-sidekick David Levinson in Independence Day is the least obvious. In a way, Levinson is sort of a sneaky annoyance. While Will Smith is busy fighting aliens and saving the world from annihilation, Levinson is trying to figure out how to get back together with his wife. While Bill Pulman is busy organizing the countries of the world, uniting them in liberty and leadership, Levinson is worrying about science and trying to deal with his grumpy ole dad. Then by the end somehow he finds himself on a secret mission to blow up the mothership, and as they are flying through space, I swear you can see a look on his face that says “Did I leave the oven on?” Plus, his “drunk” scene is absolutely not believable. He downs a liter of Vodka in a fit of depression one minute, then in the next minute he is discussing physics with the U.S. Department of Defense. Please, just get off the screen and let Will Smith kick some ass.
The only thing more annoying than Stifler himself is an impersonation of Stifler, which is something that occurred in frat houses nationwide soon after American Pie was released. I am not trying to say that American Pie is a good movie (trust me, it isn’t), but did we really need a cocky mama’s boy to fluff up the scenes and make them even funnier? I actually enjoyed most scenes that involve Eugene Levy, but then inevitably Stifler would appear and force me to remember that I was watching a terrible teenage comedy about sex. Not really a sidekick, but annoying nonetheless.
This duo takes a position in this list because they simply bring nothing to the table and serve as a good reminder that big movie studios think you (the audience) are stupid. What’s not to like about two goofy pirates, especially when one of them keeps losing an eyeball? Everything. They are not funny and they always interrupt any scene involving Johnny Depp, who brings enough comedy to this adventure movie.
Any movie tends to lose a little bit of watch-ability when there is one single character who does nothing but scream the entire movie. Yes, the entire movie. She is screaming, complaining, whining, crying, and yelling for the whole flippin’ movie, and the whole time she thinks that she is a beautiful singer and the object of Indiana’s affection. Most scenes involving Willie Scott and Indiana Jones are somewhat uncomfortable, because you are just waiting for her to start screaming again. She is a horrible sidekick too, because she simply has no interest in participating in the adventure. I have seen this movie several times and I have yet to figure out why she is even there.
If you’ve seen this movie, you know exactly why he (or she?) is on this list. This androgynous brand of annoyance brings new meaning to the term; loud voice, whiny tone, horrible costume, persistent commentary, and amazing ability to make everyone in the audience wish they had stayed at home. A complete distraction in what is at least a decent movie. The only other person capable of truly bringing this character to life would have been Gilbert Gottfried, but I think Chris Tucker did a pretty good job.
Any character that can actually make me wish to see MORE of Nicholas Cage deserves to be included in a list of annoying movie sidekicks. Enter Riley Poole, fledgling sidekick to Nicholas Cage’s character Ben Gates. The worst part about Mr. Poole? The lines. Yes, yes, I know, it’s a Disney movie. But these one-liners are horrible. I remember actually wanting Nicholas Cage to start talking, just so I could get a break from Poole’s incessant humor. I think the idea behind Riley Poole is to make the audience constantly think, “Oh that Riley, he just can’t do ANYTHING right, can he?” which is O.K. if we are watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. But for a full-length, 90 minute action/adventure movie? It is downright criminal.
I mean, is there really any other option? In the most anticipated prequel of the 90’s (and arguably, of all time) the character of Jar Jar Binks took center stage in the Star Wars universe and proceeded to halt all the momentum George Lucas had created in the late 1970s. With his computer generated baby mumbling, awkward human-alien interactions, and helpless efforts to help the Jedi, Jar Jar made audiences worldwide stare aghast at the screen at probably the most disastrous “comic relief” sidekick in film history. In defense of Jar Jar, George Lucas has said “…there is a small group of fans that do not like comic sidekicks. They want the films to be tough like The Terminator, and they get very upset and opinionated about anything that has anything to do with being childlike,” clearly showing his intention of making the Jar Jar Binks character purely kid friendly and nonsensical. Honestly, George, I would have rather seen Elmo or Big Bird tagging along with the Jedi. Jar Jar Binks was a walking catastrophe.
Contributor: alextenn
Never seen Forrest Gump, I must confess… but otherwise, I’ve seen them all, and I have never disagreed with a list more than this one. Chewbacca over C3PO? Gollum… ok, annoying, but what is the story without him? I really liked David from Independence Day. Stifler I enjoy, though I can understand how some might not. Our goofy pirates from Pirates were hilarious, especially in the first one. Willie is, fair enough, totally annoying. But then, that whole movie was bad. Ruby Rhod is, amazingly, a great character. Considering the voice and the shrieking? Still very funny and a great foil for Willis. I loved his womanizing, despite what his outfits might imply. Riley was the only redeeming part of National Treasure.
But congrats on number 1, Jar Jar is beyond the most annoying and pointless character in any movie ever. So… 2 out of 10.
I think you kind of have to be female to understand the charm of Riley Poole. He’s cute. Nic Cage…not so much.
haha, that could very well be true nerdlette.
dude. ruby was great!!!!!! wtf?!!? it was a great character: fun, original, and portrayed in an awesome way by tucker. i disagree on this one so much, although i can understand fully at the same time why you put him there. but dude, it was a great movie and a great performance in my opinion.
List Contributor: alextenn
alextenn has spoken in his/her own defense once already…and hopefully will come back again to combat the naysayers. i’d recommend not bashing J, the site or this list but come up w/ what you would consider as better alternatives. bashing the list contributor personally or J or the site is not helpful for anyone.
as for comments directed to the site…if this list is not your cuppa tea, there is an archive full of 100′s more to check out. also…you can submit your own list for consideration. which i would strongly recommend that you try. only then will you know how difficult it is to not only submit a list but to endure the sometimes grossly overstated criticisms.
its just a list folks. ease up!
and as always…show some respect for the other folks visiting the site. play nice. keep in mind how you present yourself too.
I have to admit, when I saw the title, I immediately expected to see that little twerp Leo Getz on here somewhere, preferrably at No. 1!!!. I thought he was a given. But Chewwie? Sacrilege!!
Actually, I don’t agree with quite a few of the choices, but that’s my opinion. It was a well presented, entertaining, and as it turns out, controversial list. And don’t we love those here at LV.
Jamie: Top 10 Reasons why Star Wars Sucks? I’d love to see the fallout from that one.
Instead of citing one Chris Tucker character, you should have written “Chris Tucker.” Every movie of the four that I know of with Chris Tucker in it (Rush Hour 1-3; The 5th Element) sucked donkey balls with a facial, and it was always his fault. Eddie Murphy in I Spy also is deserving of this piteous list.
HAHA i knew it , the moment i saw the list i knew Jar Jar would be number1, i really dont see why everyone hates him so much
Rocketiza:
I had a feeling the term “sidekick” would require some explaining, and that is exactly why I didn’t explain it. Its pretty subjective. I actually thought about simply calling it “characters from movies” instead of “sidekicks”, but I decided that since I was taking characters from mostly action/adventure movies, I went with “sidekicks” because that seemed to fit the action/adventure theme. Since when did “sidekick” require “a connection and deep relationship with a main character as someone who is constantly helping them out”? Thats an interesting explanation. By my calculations, this list contains at least 7 that fit your definition exactly, and the other 3 of which fulfill at least some of the definition.
As I said above, I would love to hear any alternate choices for this list. I scoured movies (read that again… MOVIES, not TV) for hours thinking of all the possibilities.
Lizzie: Leo Getz would have been a great addition to this list.
cyn:
Sometimes I wonder if 90% of the people actually read what the contributor writes, or if they just scan the list quickly, make a quick judgment, and then post a comment. Which is fine if they do, its just makes it harder to spot the ones who actually contribute knowledgeable responses
Some of these are ok, but I think Bubba is waaay off.First of all, you said these guys were just distractions, but i think Bubba was a real genuine inclusion in forrest gump. I mean up till then all forrest had was his mom and jenny, bubba was completely new and it was a big thing in the story. Plus it made for one of the first times forrest actually had to deal with adversity. Sure, he got made fun of before, but he always had someone to tell him he was the best until bubba died. Sorry for the long rant on just one thing
You have offended me by putting bubba on this list.
alextenn -
think ya hit the nail on the head.
still i am glad of those few who are really into LV. read the lists. make note of the contributor. address their comments/complaints and yes, praise to that specific person.
LV really is a ‘slice’ of cyber ‘life’. 90% of stuff online is crap. but when you find that 10% that is real gold…like LV!…you know you’ve found something worth returning to and doing whatever you can to support it.
i appreciate you contributing this list and hope these comments have not put you off submitting more lists.
I found Gollum more creepy than irritating..and ultimately he turns out to be a tragic character..not sure if it is right to include him in this list……
Well this list has been a very enjoyable one to read – and many of the comments are good – so that is a consolation when reading the ones which are not. I do agree with almost everyone on the list but I don’t mind if people want to *****
Never have I seen such hate on this site before!
funny how we all hate Jar Jar though.
Let’s see…
Gollum, No. He’s one of the most important characters in LOTR. The scenes with the split personality are the most interesting in the movies.
Willey Scott = Love interest, not sidekick.
Jar Jar, Pintel & Ragetti, and Ruby = comic Relief…
The only 2 who actually qualify as “sidekick” are Chewy, whom i don’t agree with, and Riley Poole.
For those who suggested C3PO, he slot into comic relief, the same as Pintel and Ragetti.
alextenn, don’t second guess yourself, this is a great list, and a really original idea. you won’t find a single list on this site that has everyone agreeing with every choice. just because a character is annoying doesn’t mean they aren’t funny, by the end of The Fifth Element, if Chris Tucker had said another word, I was going to destroy the movie screen, but as comic relief, he was hilarious, and Chewy is a big, lovable.. alien thing… but whenever his mouth opens, you want that warp drive not to work, just so we can have some quiet for a little while…
great list mate, don’t ever be put off by criticism
This is one of the best lists I’ve seen on this site. (And I’ve read them all)
And the folks posting so upset about you pointing out how awful these characters (especially Chewy and that awful LOTR thing) are the icing on the pretend list cake.
I also don’t understand how the importance of a character has anything to do with how annoying they are.
hmmm I agree with most, like stifler and ja ja but i totaly disagree with Gollum i find his chacter extremly interesting and liked him alot… althought in real life i wouldnt just at the chance to be his best friend… lol
Jump***
The list is preety good except for Bubba.People liked him:)
The most annoying sidekick bar none – Stu Kominsky, the little fat friend in ‘Good Luck Chuck’ – the worst thing in a truly horrible movie. Thank God I didn’t have to pay for to see it.
‘pay for to see it’ … way to sound special
alextenn:
Interesting list – great idea. Thank you.
Perhaps Jamie should replace the tag line “Lists with a twist” with “In my humble opinion” – (a) he gets a bit of flack on the tag line and (b) perhaps it will slow down some of the list bashing comments… nahh, that’ll never happen.
I thought Short Round was more annoying than Willie in Temple of Doom.
I’ve got to say, this list fails on many levels.
How can you call David Levinson a side-kick?! He was a chief character in that film (saving the world not important enough for you?!) and NOT some annoying Robin to Will Smith’s batman…. annoying secondary characters maybe, but side-kick? I don’t think so.
And Ruby Rhod? Anyone who tried to take that character seriously should probably readjust their humour settings.
Its a shame this list doesn’t really do what it says on the tin – Gollum, not a side-kick and a vital part of the story (try reading the book). Pintell and Ragetti – they’re personal dynamic was the only thing that made an otherwise boring and over-hollywoodified trilogy vaguely watchable.
Some of the characters on this list are underdeveloped yes, sometimes even a little pointless, but to call half of them side-kicks is blatently wrong. At least the list was funny though.
Apart from Jar Jar Binks. Even I wanted to kill him.
alextenn:
It appears the consensus is that you could have had Jar Jar Binks as item 10 though 1, listing the top ten ways that he is annoying…. of course you’d have to limit it to 10 items – difficult
I can honestly say this is the DUMBEST list i’ve EVER read on this site! Apart from #1 and #8 they were all pretty good sidekicks! Do you honestly think movies should only have 1 character? Wow…just wow…
It’s ok Listverse, every website has a bad day.
Horrible list.
Great movie sidekicks…
Marcus Brody-Indiana Jones Last Crusade
Chunk-Goonies
Barf- Spaceballs
Ray Stantz-Ghostbusters
Dignan-Bottle Rocket
Donkey in Shrek.
Well, call me strange (wouldn’t be the first time) but I like Chris Tucker and I enjoyed the Ruby Rhod character’s energy and wit. (He did scream a little too much) Bruce Willis was very subdued in The Fifth Element and Chris/Ruby was there for contrast.
I just love the Fifth Element. It was everything the later Star Wars films should have been.
Gollum’s story is my favorite part of the books. In movies… its good.
Clantargh (97) – I know an elephant that cut its own ears off in protest after seeing Jar Jar Binks…
Iain (144) – LOL! That’s okay… I am for to doing that myself sometimes.
Jeff Goldblum’s character is drinking “Old Bushmill’s” Irish whiskey, NOT vodka. Bushmill’s also appears prominently in “The Sting” and “On the Waterfront.” (Great stuff by the way.)
Agree with Kate Capshaw, I think we all know how she got that role. Hayden Christiansen made Jar Jar look like Laurence Olivier, awful acting. (Jar Jar was painful to watch.)
although i agree with 8 and 6, i must object.
stifler is one of the characters who bring out the most laughters. and AP has been crap ever since they changed the roster. boo them.
no gollum, no lord of the rings. period. he is a much needed annoyance, and though i hate him; lotr simply wouldnt even be without him.
this list only becomes legitimate from five down. c’mon man. bubba was the only character forrest could identify with. race was a non-issue to them in a time if extreme prejudice. and gollum. are you serious? if anything, he was a scene STEALER. his eyes and movements left me incredulous. but yeah. from 5 to 1 I completely agree with. those guys sucked.
Thanks for noting Riley Poole! He is single-handedly preventing both of those awesome movies from being my kids’ Indiana Jones. Not that Jon Voight is very helpful…
I could never put my finger on why I hate the Temple of Doom, but I think you nailed it. A few weeks ago when the trilogy was on USA I was very excited, but ended up distracted during that one, now I know why. Short Round was awesome, if you want to point the finger at a poorly-designed stereotype, redirect to Sallah.
I’d also like to submit the following to the follow-up list:
Schraeder from Accepted
Randall from Clerks and Clerks 2
Richard Belzer and Richard Lewis in The Wrong Guys (what, movies nobody has ever seen don’t count?)
Chet Ripley (Dan Akroyd) in The Great Outdoors (he was supposed to be, just like Chris Rock in the Third Element, but still!
LOVE that you included Willie Scott. Gawd, she was annoying. Plus she was a huge letdown after the awesomeness that was Marion.
I agree with Th Jack. This was the worst list I have ever seen on this site. I couldn’t agree with a single one except Jar Jar. I have never posted until now but this terrible list inspired me.
to be fair, Sam was more of a sidekick than Gollum. both annoying. VERY annoying.
This was an extremely well written list, and it’s obvious that alextenn put a lot of effort & thought into this list. Because of that it’s unfortunate that I totally disagree with most of it! Some of these characters I wouldn’t consider “sidekicks,” and the ones who are sidekicks, are sidekicks I love!
The only one I agree with 100% is Jar Jar of course! And I suppose, while I thought Ruby Rhod was a great character (though I wouldn’t say side kick, more of a secondary character) and really makes the movie, he was pretty annoying! Leo Getz would have been good for the list for the same reason I suppose, he’s annoying, but I couldn’t help but love him for it.
I agree also with one of the previous comments, though I’m too lazy to go find it again, who stated you may have to be a girl to “get” Riley Poole, he was my favorite part of the National Treasure movies, I had a huge crush on him:)
Kudos to Alextenn for being ballsy enough to put together a list like this, even though I disagree with it. You had to know it would be controversial:)
DK-
now see it is possible to take issue w/ a list w/out dissing the contributor or the site. nicely done DK!
as for controversial…that is what LV is all about, eh?
Alextenn: I wrote you off when I read your comment about American Pie. Then you came right back with your Pirates of the Carribean bit, and then TOTALLY REDEEMED YOURSELF WITH PUTTING THE BLONDE CHICK FROM INDIANI JONES ON THERE! WORST. FEMALE. COUNTERPART. EVER.
Bubba was a great character. The innocence of the bond between him and Forrest was endearing. You really missed the mark on this one. -1
Why thank you Cyn:) Of course that’s what it’s all about, and I’m impressed at the ability to create such controversy without mentioning politics, religion, or The Beatles!
Ruby Rhod is one of the funniest personalities I’ve seen in ANY movie!!! Chris Tucker played “it” magnificently!
Ruby Rhod friggen rules. He and Chewbacca deserve to be OFF this list. As does Willie Scott from The Temple of Doom. She’s not a sidekick. Short “Shorty” Round was Indiana Jones’s sidekick in that particular movie. Willie was the annoying love interest. Get it right.
Chewbacca? You’re crazy. He’s both helpful and adorable.
I am conflicted.
Your list includes Willie Scott, which was the precise first name that came to mind when I read the title of this list. An honorable mention could go to Short Round, though it’s not even close to a measurable fraction of how bad Willie Scott is.
And yet….and yet you include Chewbacca? Chewie?? The big hairball??? How? I can count the number of times throughout the series how many times he’s annoyed me, and that number is a resounding zero. Chewie and Han…they go so well together. I just…ugh……….
And Gollum??? I loved that guy! How can you say he was annoying with a straight face? How??
Of course, I will agree with Jar jar Binks. Anyone who has two brain cells to rub together (and a matching set of ears) will agree 1,000% with that choice.
Still, a so-so list, I’m sorry to say
This list = fail.
Jar Jar is annoying, agreed. Didn’t see National Treasure (looked stupid). Everyone else on the list was either perfectly tolerable or perfectly awesome.
Worst. List. Ever.
What you say about that annoying Clara that Doc meets in Back to the Future III?
All she is there for is ruining all the plans the main characters make through the entire movie, saying she’s in love and showing she couldn’t really do much more because of her flat brain. OMG, I hate that character.
Jar Jar Binks is THE NO. 1 ANNOYING CHARACTER — SIDEKICK OR OTHERWISE — IN MOVIE HISTORY. There, thank you, I got that off my chest. I’ve been waiting years to unload. Look, sidekicks all can’t be Gabby Hayes, but good grief, what in the hell was George Lucas thinking?
I disagree totally with Gollum…..he was a very important character to the role and there was a lot of work that went in to creating his character. He was actually one of my favorite characters in the movie…at moments I wanted him to die and other moments my heart wept for him…..I will admit the excessive drooling was a bit much for me but all in all I think he does not deserve to be on this list!!!
Wow you all are way harsh. I am starting to be really happy my list never made it on listverse. I know that movie lists of any sort seem to be controversial, but to flat out say “worst list, that character was important so he shouldn’t be on this list”,is just downright rude. So what if the character was important, it doesn’t mean the character wasn’t annoying too. And this is one person’s opinion. Post your own top 10 of who you thought were annoying sidekicks. I know you won’t because you all are too afraid someone else will rip you a new one like you are doing to Alextenn. Now you all need to behave or else I am going to have to pull this car over and…
Can someone please explain how being annoying has anything to do with how important someone is in a movie?
“gollum is important, so he isn’t annoying” What sense does that make??
It is creepy the way you are defending a cartoon.
i knew a girl that looked like chewbacca
i absolutely HATED willie scott in The Temple of Doom. She is the only reason that I like that particular movie less than the other two. Insufferable.
But chewie?! I loved chewbacca! I’ve always wanted a wookie