Top 10 Greatest Movie Anti-Heroes
Published on February 14, 2008 - 124 Comments
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
Related ListsTop 10 Propaganda Videos30 TV Memories of the 80s 10 Great Opera Performances 10 Astonishing American Classical Pieces |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post
1. hello - February 14th, 2008 at 6:22 am
first!
2. fidsy - February 14th, 2008 at 6:25 am
taxi driver — travis (wow what a choice)
3. Phillies - February 14th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Good list, I haven’t seen most of these. I will never argue with The Man with No Name being on this or any similar lists. Clint Eastwood rocks!
4. Mystern - February 14th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Cool list. I wasn’t expecting Tyler Durden, The MacManus Brothers, D-Fens, and Leon but they all belong here. But what about Al Simmons, aka Spawn?
5. Chris - February 14th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I just saw Falling Down a couple days ago, and that movie was excellent. I fully recommend it.
6. dangorironhide - February 14th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I’m afraid to say I’ve never seen any of these films… I need to get around to seeing ‘The Crow’, even if just because RATM wrote a song for the soundtrack.
Isn’t the ‘Dirty Harry’ quote “Well you gotta ask yourself one question. ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
7. Me - February 14th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I love thr Crow and snake pisken good choices wht about the punisher he is kinda an ani hero
8. jfrater - February 14th, 2008 at 6:57 am
dangorironhide: you are correct - it has been corrected
9. Me - February 14th, 2008 at 6:58 am
*The
*Plissken
*what
dam keyboard
10. bucslim - February 14th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Mickey from Snatch - Yalike daags?
As a matter of fact you could pick just about anybody from those first two Ritchie movies.
Jules and Vince from Pulp Fiction
11. Mom424 - February 14th, 2008 at 7:15 am
The crow was great if you like dark fantasy/revenge. This is a wonderful list, all are deserving.
Mystern; the spawn guy is definitely an honorable mention
and the original batman from the comics
and my absolute favorite,,,DEXTER MORGAN, from yup Dexter…
by the way
Happy Valentines Day!
12. Lewis - February 14th, 2008 at 7:20 am
can’t fault it,
13. colin - February 14th, 2008 at 7:27 am
very cool list, great site. Spike in Buffy was a cool anti-hero
14. slipstick - February 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I would’ve left off the Boondock Saints and had Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher on the list. At least as a notable omission if not a bonus. How you could leave him off the list of anti-heroes is beyond me.
A couple more notables would include the character of Sanjuro from both Yojimbo and Sanjuro, Frank Leone from Lock Up, and Master Sergeant Thomas Beckett from Sniper.
15. Mom424 - February 14th, 2008 at 7:33 am
colin; yer right, I forgot about spike. Very cool, he channeled Billy Idol better ‘n’ billy..
16. Celeste - February 14th, 2008 at 7:37 am
FREAKING YAY for Boondock Saints being on this list. I LOVE Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus as Connor and Murphy. (Rocco is really great, too). This is my favorite movie of all time. You gotta love that the old guy from the Muppets (with the dog) plays the Tourette’s affected bar keeper. Whenever I watch this movie, I suddenly get even more Irish. Much love to the Boondock fans.
17. Celeste - February 14th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Also, I love anything with Jean Reno in it so I’m glad Leon is up here.
18. DanOhh - February 14th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Here’s a Honorable Mention: Richard B. Riddick (Pitch Black). He probably would of made the list if they hadn’t mad the crappy sequal.
19. SocialButterfly - February 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
slipstick… You can’t leave off Boondock Saints!! The MacManus Brothers are brilliant… who else can go after someone and actually make use of “Charlie Bronson’s rope”??
I love Boondock Saints… I have to watch it every few months. “He was serial crushed by some huge fricken guy..”
20. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am
slipstick: I have to disagree. The Punisher would be kind of a hokey choice, and if the MacManus Bros. were left off, we would have 100+ posts from Boondock Saint nerds bitching about it. (Plus…come on….a list about anti-heros and you leave of those two wisecracking, hard-drinking, murderin’ sons-a-bitches?) Also….I agree with you about Sanjuro, however the The Man with No Name is essentially the American counterpart. A lot of people don’t realize that A Fistfull of Dollars is, almost shot for shot, the same movie as Yojimbo. Even some of the lines are the same.
21. MzFly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Very happy to see Leon on the list, D-Fens as well. Two of my must have films.
Mom424 I’m with ya about Dexter. I love that show!!
22. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:15 am
edit: by “American” I actually meant “Western”….seeing as how the trilogy was filmed in Italy.
23. copperdragon - February 14th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Another great “white male” list…
How about the Bride from Kill Bill?
Jodie Foster in The Brave One?
If you’re including Dirty Harry, why not Shaft?
24. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Jfrater: Oh yeah! *Great* pull on D-fens….God, it’s been so long since I saw that movie, but you just brought it all flooding back. That movie was great! Some uptight business man going postal for the whole movie….Mike Douglas is the quintessential geeky badass.
25. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:22 am
copperdragon: These “all white males” lists are not misogynistic or racist on the part of the people who put the lists together…these lists are essentially symptomatic of what’s wrong with popular media in this country. It’s not Jamie’s fault that most of the greatest movie anti-heros are white males….it’s just that, historically in popular film, there have vastly more white male anti-heros than female or black ones…..or any other race or ethnic group for that matter. If you really feel that these lists are racist or misogynistic, feel free to pen your own that satisfies your desire for diversity. Just be sure to pick a topic where you don’t have to make a stretch in the name of diversity. Otherwise it will be a poor quality list.
26. copperdragon - February 14th, 2008 at 8:26 am
anti-hero(ine) =
a good guy (girl) gone bad out of frustration or vengeance;
a traditional role model (cop, fireman) with mixed morals;
a bad guy (girl) gone good out of pity, love or sense of duty.
27. Ritesh - February 14th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hi
You must include Gabbar Singh of Bollywood film Sholay.
28. chershey - February 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I was really expecting to see El Mariachi on there but I didn’t…gasp.
29. copperdragon - February 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
SlickWilly: I understand that point on the part of the poster, as these “top 10″ usually equate to “my favorite”. That person may not have a wide range of experience to call upon.
But…
It seems as though the responders have the same problem. And if these “white male” lists all came from the same person, I could understand it, but they’re not.
So far, virtually ALL posters of “people” lists suffer from the same “media disease” - that only white males could be in the top 10.
30. chershey - February 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I might also add Shuya, Noriko and Kawada from Battle Royale. I wasn’t expecting them though.
31. pjdigger - February 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Great idea for a list. Good list except the Boondock Saints? And they are #4? C’mon.
32. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 8:53 am
copperdragon: Well, it’s like I said….historically speaking, particularly in our racist and phallocentric society, the majority of popular lead characters have been white men. When you have a media-based list (particularly when the list is really just a popular-choice list) it is inevitable that most if not all will be white males. This is especially true when most of the posters are themselves white males….it’s not that they intentionally leave out the women and non-white ethnic groups…its just the white male leads are the first that come to mind. Diversity should never be precluded but, IMHO, it should never precede the point of the list either.
I saw a similar post you made not too long ago about how all the “top 10″ character lists were white males, and then expressing disappointment that minorities are instead regulated to “top 10 black (blank)” or “top 10 female (blank).” I agree with you on this point. However, I just feel that, given the state of the media in this country, it is understandable (if not justifiable) that most of these lists will naturally feature white males over non-whites or females. Not saying it should be that way, but unfortunately it is.
33. Raz - February 14th, 2008 at 8:58 am
A few characters from Pulp Fiction should have been considered, as well as (somebody mentioned before) Spawn….
I think Wolverine from X-Men is another good example.
34. Spocker - February 14th, 2008 at 9:01 am
How about Thelma & Louise? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? The cast of “Reservoir Dogs”?
35. eimbrog - February 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Great List…I know that we are talking about movies, but as far as anti-hero’s go, i dont know if you can overlook Vic Mackey from The Shield. He spends his days putting the bad guys behind bars, but everything he does, he does for his own good.
36. VonGoetz - February 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am
How about these for honorable mention:
Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction – “Shit negro, that’s all you had to say…”
Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind – “I’m very drunk and I intend on getting still drunker before this evening’s over.” I bet Jfrater is having flashbacks…
And maybe a bit of a reach but:
Darth Vader from Star Wars – Although he blew up entire planets, there was good still left in him in the end!
37. heavybison - February 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Goin’ back to the fifties, another notable mention would be John Wayne’s portrayal of Ethan Edwards(The Searchers) as a racist and psychotic Civil War veteran caught in a fury of righteous and ugly revenge.
38. antlyon - February 14th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Cameron Poe says put the bunny back in the box.
39. Aaron - February 14th, 2008 at 9:08 am
How about V in V for Vendetta, sure he’s fighting a corrupt and evil government but he doesn’t hesitate to kill, even the woman who was truly sorry about what she did to him he killed anyway. His motives are as much about his own vendetta as anything else.
40. Lizim - February 14th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I LOVE the Boondock Saints. That should also be on the “Box Office bombs You should see” list! I just watched it last night! Sean Patrick Flannery + Irish accent = My husband having a good time courtesy of my imagination
41. toolnut - February 14th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Soooo glad to see the Saints on here
mmmmmm, Brad Pitt
and I have to agree with mom424: Dexter is my absolute fave, haven’t missed an episode yet and I had to download the second season even though its not out yet. Love the Dex
42. Magnolia - February 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Yeah MacManus Brothers! I love that movie! Awesome list anyways.
43. cparker - February 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
very surprised about V and Boondock Saints being omitted
44. cparker - February 14th, 2008 at 9:30 am
oops didnt read enough to see boondock, glad its here
45. giggserella - February 14th, 2008 at 9:34 am
desperado
46. ? - February 14th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Kowalski from Vanishing Point definately deserves at least an HM. He practically defines anti-hero.
And on a much cheesier note, what about Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit? At the very least his ’stache should make the cut.
I also agree that V should be in here somewhere.
The other one that I’m very surprised you missed was Popeye Doyle. Where’s the love?
47. satori - February 14th, 2008 at 9:51 am
What about “V” from V for Vendetta? Also, as much as I hate the movies, John McLane from the Die Hard movies…I think I would put them right up there over some of the other ones (if for no other reason but that they are more popular movies and better known)-all in all, really great list! Gave me some ideas for movies that I should see!
48. Shabab - February 14th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Agree about V from v for vendetta.
49. Lyrebyrd - February 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Leon - one of the best films and best characters. I would also add Nikita from La Femme Nikita. Besson has such a great way of creating the sympathetic anti-hero.
50. jfrater - February 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Shabab: I have done as you suggested - I have also removed your mention of it from your comment which would have had the same effect as a spoiler
51. Matt - February 14th, 2008 at 9:57 am
These movies are bad.
52. satori - February 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
POST 42-SLICKWILLY-
Also, the amount of roles that are out there for women and black persons are far less than the roles for white men. There just aren’t any parts for these two minorities in these types of roles. It’s hard to list something that unfortunately, doesn’t exist. There is a definite lack of roles for these women/black persons in Hollywood. That’s also a big reason (beyond the “white men coming to mind first”)-they come to mind first because there are an abundance more roles cast for these parts for white men than any other segement of the population. I think that one of Jet Li’s characters could have been included on here-or the girl in “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”.
53. satori - February 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Sorry that was post 32
54. jfrater - February 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Matt: May I ask where you are posting from? We seem to have a very large number of comments from your IP but your recent complaints are the first three under the nickname Matt. Also, as you don’t like this list either, what types of list would you like to see here? I am happy to accommodate - but people need to say more than “this list sucks” and similar
55. JJ - February 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
V or Kill Bill’s “the Bride” would’ve been good, but maybe they dont have as much an impact like the others on this list. It’s super awesome Tyler Durden made it, I love that film! Renton from Trainspotting is a pretty good anti-hero too, but maybe for another list.
I was really wanting to see Michael Corleone on this though.. what happened??
ps. I love this site.
56. Raskolnikov - February 14th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’m really glad to see Leon in the list.
Some of my recommendations:
Kaneda, and/or the Colonel from AKIRA
Donnie Darko (?)
Shinji Ikari from Evangelion
Matt Damon’s character from The Departed
George & Dim from A Clockwork Orange (bad guys hired as police recruits to crack down on crime)
57. Scullygirl - February 14th, 2008 at 10:23 am
What wasn’t mentioned about Leon that makes him a great anti-hero is his own code of ethics. Yes he’s an assassin, but he teaches Mathilda the golden rule: “No women, no children.” I think that adds much to his anti-hero persona.
58. Maxx_the_Slash - February 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I think characters like Travis Bickle and “D-Fens” are awful. Any character that turns bad only because something doesn’t go their way is an instant sucky character. You’re not an anti-hero if you snap because you’re a whiny bitch about how life treats you. There are people out there who put up with it, they don’t shoot people up or beat people down , they just deal with it, and because Travis Bickle and D-Fens refused to take it anymore and start firing guns because of it, they lose any respect I may have had for them before. When you turn crazy, you immediately lose your good qualities. Bickle and D-Fens are bad guys, not anti-heroes.
I wouldn’t include V from V for Vendetta as an anti-hero. He was all good. He never hurt the innocent and his intentions were always good (overthrowing a corrupt government that simultaneously restricts the rights of the innocent AND caused V’s disfigurement).
If I could include a character in the list, I’d choose Henry Hill from Goodfellas. I know he’s based on a real life guy of the same name, but the movie version is notable in my opinion. He’s a true anti-hero. He’s likable and charming, providing and caring for his wife and kids, but, he does so while working for a mafia crime syndicate, dealing weapons, selling stolen goods, and mixing and selling drugs like cocaine. However, because of his likable personality, you want to root for him, while you hate him for his crimes. Henry Hill is the perfect anti-hero.
59. JJ - February 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
hmm.. Good point about V, Maxx. There’s a fine line between hero and anti-hero in defiance of authority. I guess Tyler Durden made the list because he was much more pointlessly destructive and his objective less than virtuous.
What about… Rochester from the Libertine? Although, he is more of a “tragic hero”. Oh oh, jfrater, can you do a list of greatest tragic heroes?? That’s be super!!
60. Lewis - February 14th, 2008 at 10:33 am
What about the main guy fro oceans 11? cause your really rooting for him despite his nature,
61. Blogball - February 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
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/
62. copperdragon - February 14th, 2008 at 10:38 am
slickwilly and satori: i was just trying to encourage posters and responders to think/dig a little deeper.
63. R Brown - February 14th, 2008 at 10:53 am
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 assholes that post first, it is so boring.
64. karina - February 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am
What about the Punisher? He was a vigilante killer, even if it was provoked.
65. InfiniteJorge - February 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
JFrat please see teh forumz.
66. delioglan - February 14th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Great list man!!
67. Maxx_the_Slash - February 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
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.
68. Schiesl - February 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
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
69. SocialButterfly - February 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
How about Marv from Sin City?
70. bucslim - February 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am
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 pimp 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 banal everyday living can be. And it sometimes takes a batshit crazy dude to point out the obvious. If we’re all honest, we all get pissed at traffic jams, road construction that seem to take years and all kinds of shit 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 whore 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.
71. longball - February 14th, 2008 at 11:56 am
How about Han Solo from Star Wars. Would he classify as anti-hero?
72. Yogi Barrister - February 14th, 2008 at 11:59 am
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
73. TMo - February 14th, 2008 at 11:59 am
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.
74. Nelia - February 14th, 2008 at 11:59 am
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.
75. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Copperdragon: I know you were, and it’s all good. Thought provoking comments are always welcome.
76. Yogi Barrister - February 14th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
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.
77. Joss - February 14th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Tyler Durden and the MacManus brothers - good choices
78. jfrater - February 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Nelia: I love Lector - he would be a great inclusion!
79. Big Ty - February 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I’m with Social Butterfly… what about MARV???
80. SocialButterfly - February 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Thanks Big Ty, I love getting back up.
Guess what Jamie… I finally started using forums!
Pound it!
*Holds fist in air*
81. Borg - February 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Hmmm…I’m still waiting for my verification e-mail. What’s the deal Jamie?
82. Henry - February 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I totally agree with mom424 Dexter Morgan needs to be on this list. He is awesome, he only kills serial killers and rapists… ETC.
83. Jigsaw911 - February 14th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
how about john from saw….only punishes bad people…or john doe from seven…….
84. SlickWilly - February 14th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
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.
85. Andrea Carlena Beauman - February 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
2, 4, and 6. Oh yes.
-Andrea Carlena Beauman.
86. Csimmons - February 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
D-Fins shoul be #1, he kicks ass.
87. Shabab - February 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Andrea : is it really necessary to write your name twice?
88. crimsonchrissi - February 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
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!!
89. JAKE - February 14th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
you forgot the punisher and i think eric draven should be number one
90. billy - February 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
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.
91. GRUMPYNZ - February 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Good list. Glad to see D-Fens made the list - i freakin love that movie.
92. Mom424 - February 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
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
93. devilishgrin66 - February 14th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Agree on the punisher needing to be here, and the macmanus brothers are incredible.
94. Julie - February 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
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.
95. goof_ball - February 14th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
um…. good list(?)
96. NSEW - February 14th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
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 fuck it all up. so sad =[
97. jardojo - February 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I liked Falling Down alot, sounds like I should see Taxi Driver since Ive never actually sat down to watch the whole thing.
98. NSEW - February 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
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 sexist 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 sexism when, to tell you the truth, nobody wants to hear about it
99. StarDust - February 14th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
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
100. BrotherMan - February 14th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
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!
101. walter - February 14th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
a truly great list. to quantify such characters is a feat! plus these are all great movies
102. Diogenes - February 14th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
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.
103. Diogenes - February 14th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
ho!wait!
I havent read the comments, but, am I the first to say:
WHAT ABOUT “SCARFACE”!?!?
laugh out loud
sly wink face icon
104. Dave - February 15th, 2008 at 12:04 am
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.
105. colin - February 15th, 2008 at 12:14 am
hey, off topic completely, but what about a list of Best gay Movies?
yay!
106. jbjr - February 15th, 2008 at 1:08 am
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 asshole
107. Tats - February 15th, 2008 at 1:08 am
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…
108. Ozhan - February 15th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Travis Bickle is just a lunatic. By the way, Im bored half way through the movie, so never seen the actual assassination.
109. CC - February 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
How come no one mentioned John Rambo? Now there’s an anti-hero.
110. Lady_Luzhin - February 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
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?
111. loseitbonkers - February 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
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.
112. Shane - February 15th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
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
113. kamil - February 16th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
what…no tony montana …okay ..okayyyy say hello ..to my lil fren”…..
114. Shawn - February 17th, 2008 at 3:54 am
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?”
115. dgffgd - February 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Ummm Bruce Campbell in ‘The Evil Dead’ series. Classic Anti-hero on which all other anti-heroes are compared to.
116. xblinkx182xxx - February 19th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
thank god the crow is here!!
117. Drew - February 24th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Porter from “Payback”
118. lucas - March 11th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
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
119. ZomZom - April 16th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
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.
120. Nevar - May 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 am
there are many more great anti-heroes, even if some aren’t that well known:
-batman, used to leave blood baths in his wake
-spawn, another “crow”
-The Punisher, just like the “Dark Knight” (though mybe more violent)
there are freaking sh*te-loads of anti-heroes from pretty much every single comic publisher that have at least twenty different titles.
even awsome manga/anime series’ have anti-heroes like ‘Scar’ from “Full Metal Alchemist” (he slaughters thousands of people to create a philosophers stone which he doesn’t keep for himself, he gives it , free of charge, to the main characters).
121. Ezekiel 25:17 - May 30th, 2008 at 4:57 am
How the f’uck can u not have Alex De Large (A clockwork orange) on this list? :O
122. Bamboorain - June 1st, 2008 at 4:11 am
Gee, I found this site while browsing for something completely different. Since several days I come back to this here place to go through some more lists. This is exeptionally great work! My compliments!
Now to this list: I really miss two anti-heroes of Japanese cinema! At first the late great Toshiro Mifune in Yojimbo, Sanjuro and The Seven Samurai (and the rolemodel for Clint Eastwood as Man With No Name) and Takeshi Kitano! Check out his works Sonatine, Hana-bi, or Brother and you will Know what I mean!
Greetings!