Watching incredible feats of heroism as timeless figures saved the day led to some of themost iconic moments in film historyand solidified their place among the greatestmovie heroesof all time. From out-of-this-world superheroes to more grounded protagonists across action, horror, and sci-fi, the appeal of iconic heroes comes down to many things, including captivating courage, spectacular showcases of brute strength, or even more subtle qualities that signal the virtue of a selfless hero. These stars all became icons in their own right, yet each has different qualities that make them stand out in film history.
While many of theworld’s biggest franchiseswere led by astounding cinematic heroes, this esteemed honor also extends to more grounded characters whose status as a movie legend comes from their realistic portrayal and real-world perseverance. Whether it’sheroes literally putting their lives on the line to protect the ones they loveor a cunning anti-hero living by their own rules and moral framework, these are the characters who audiences love to root for. Although the options are endless across all of cinema, these few names stand as the bestmovie heroesof all time.
15Ash Williams
As the protagonist oftheEvil Deadfranchise,Ash Williams has faced off against sinister Deaditesacross film, TV, video games, and comics. Bolstered by Bruce Campbell’s impeccable comedic sensibilities, the darkest aspects of this horror series were lightened by the slapstick stylings of Ash’s incredible battles with demonic creatures as he utilized his infamous chainsaw and boomstick to fight back against the evil forces let loose after he recited the Necronomicon incantations. As one of the most engaging and iconic horror heroes of all time, Ash Williams was truly one of a kind in his relentless quest for survival.
Evil Dead
Created by Sam Raimi, Evil Dead is a horror-comedy franchise that began with the release of the original film, The Evil Dead, in 1981. The series follows protagonist Ashley “Ash” Williams as he and his friends venture into a cabin for a vacation only to discover it harbors a demonic book that can summon terrifying creatures known as Deadites, hell-bent on torturing and slaying them all. As the series progresses, Ash becomes more of a masculine B-movie action hero until the soft reboot helmed by Eli Roth occurs, which shifts the franchise deeper into its horror roots.
14Sarah Connor
Terminator (1984 - Present)
As one of the most badass women in action and sci-fi movie history,Sarah Connor’s role as the mother of humanity’s future savior, John Connor, made her an essential figure in theTerminatorfranchise. While Linda Hamilton may have appeared like a typical damsel in distress at the beginning of the originalThe Terminator, as the franchise continued with classics likeTerminator 2: Judgment Day, she proved herself a capable hero of serious fortitude. By training and preparing her son for the inevitability of Skynet’s attempted world takeover, Sarah Connor became a noble and selfless symbol of the resistance herself.
Terminator
The Terminator franchise, launched by James Cameron in 1984, explores a dystopian future where intelligent machines wage war against humanity. The relentless pursuit of key human figures by time-traveling cyborg assassins known as Terminators is central to the narrative. John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance, is the core target of the malicious machines.
13Harry Potter
Harry Potter (2001 - 2011)
As the boy who lived in J.K. Rowling’s World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it’s impossible not to feel for the difficult childhood of Harry Potter, who was forced to live in a cupboard by his cruel, unfeeling aunt and uncle. Yet, throughout the series, it was thrilling to watch Harry grow and mature into a true hero capable of taking on the evil wizard Lord Voldemort himself. As a true modern fantasy classic,there’s no denying Harry’s place among the greatest movie heroes of all time.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
12John McClane
Die Hard (1988 - 2013)
When the world was first introduced to Bruce Willis’ portrayal of John McClane inDie Hardback in 1988, action movie heroes had devolved into over-the-top caricatures of brooding musclemen played by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. However, McClane’s everyman portrayal of a no-nonsense cop taking on a gang of terrorists in an enclosed space helped revolutionize the action movie landscape and led to a litany of copycat movies.McClane redefined the notion of an action-movie heroand made Willis a worldwide star in the process.
Die Hard
The Die Hard franchise, which began as a series of books in the 1960s, is an action-adventure series that chronicles the harrowing exploits of NYPD Detective John McClane. Renowned for its action-packed sequences and intricate plots, the series showcases McClane’s battles against various adversaries, especially the infamous Hans Gruber, during high-stakes crises.
11Frodo Baggins
The Lord of the Rings (2001 - 2003)
The affable hobbit of the Shire, Frodo Baggins, was the unlikely hero ofThe Lord of the Rings, the beloved fantasy film series based on the iconic novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Having inherited the One Ring from his cousin Bilbo Baggins,Frodo’s heroism was not in brute strength or clever calculations but in knowing the difference between right and wrongand embarking on the quest to Mordor to destroy the ring. The noble way Frodo willingly gave up untold powers showed incredible resilience and was the true mark of a genuine hero.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
10The Man with No Name
Dollars Trilogy (1964 - 1966)
Clint Eastwood’s characterization of The Man with No Name across Sergio Leone’sDollar Trilogymade him an all-time film icon and was perhaps the definitive representation of a lone, stoic Wild West outlaw who plays by his own rules. AcrossA Fistful of Dollars,For a Few Dollars More, andThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly,Eastwood’s performance was the epitome of onscreen charisma. While The Man with No Name was not a traditional hero, his anti-hero persona and personal moral code made him an icon of Western cinema.
A Fistful of Dollars
Cast
A Fistful of Dollars is a spaghetti Western film from director Sergio Leone starring Clint Eastwood. A Fistful of Dollars is notable for being Clint Eastwood’s big break in Hollywood and also for being the beginning of the “Dollars Trilogy.” The film was followed by For a Few Dollars More in 1965 and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly in 1966.
9Spider-Man/Peter Parker
Spider-Man (1962 - Present)
While comic fans were first introduced to the teenage web-slinger Peter Parker in 1962,Spider-Man’sfilm history includes the beloved Sam Raimi trilogy, a reboot series with Andrew Garfield, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe installments with Tom Holland. All these taken together made Spider-Man a true movie hero icon, as powerfully represented by the major excitement when all three major Peter Parker actors appeared together in the multiverse storySpider-Man: No Way Home. As a hero who knows better than anyone that “with great power comes great responsibility,”Spider-Man is one of the all-time great heroes.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the first film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Released in 2002, the film introduced superhero fans to a live-action Norman Osborn, played by Willem Dafoe, who is transformed into his villainous alter ego, Green Goblin, after being forced out of Oscorp Industries. At the same time, Peter Parker is grappling with his newfound abilities as the iconic wall-crawler.
8Rocky Balboa
Rocky (1976 - Present)
With the originalRockymovie in 1976, writer and star Sylvester Stallone gave the world its defining sports underdog story and a heroic character whose popularity has continued to this day.Rocky Balboa’s willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goalsand his fearless showdowns against his rival and later friend Apollo Creed or sinister villains like Ivan Drago represented some of the most iconic moments in film history. With aRockystatue genuinely being placed near the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the iconic imagery of this franchise has even bled into real life.
Rocky
The Rocky franchise follows boxer Rocky Balboa’s rise from underdog to champion, and later, Adonis Creed’s journey to honor his father, Apollo Creed. The films chronicle Rocky’s several rises and falls, and both it and the Creed series deal with their titular character’s internal and external struggles both in the ring and out.
7Superman/Clark Kent
Superman (1938 - Present)
There’s no denying Superman’s place as one of the most iconic figures in all of pop culture, and his incredible strength and extraordinary abilities make him the quintessential superhero. From serialized films in the 1940s,Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in the 1970s, and Henry Cavill’s more recent take on the character, Superman is an enduring hero that audiences will still be talking about and eager to see 100 years from now. With unmatched power and an undeniable impact that laid the groundwork for every superhero that came after him, it’s essential to recognize the importance of Superman.
Superman
Superman, directed by Richard Donner, stars Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, an alien from the planet Krypton living on Earth who adopts the persona of Superman to protect humanity. Released in 1978, the film features Gene Hackman as the villain Lex Luthor, who creates a plan that threatens millions of lives. Margot Kidder co-stars as Lois Lane, a journalist at the Daily Planet and Clark Kent’s colleague.
6Luke Skywalker
Star Wars (1977 - Present)
The hero’s journey undergone by Luke Skywalker in the originalStar Warstrilogy turned a whole generation of viewers onto sci-fi and led to the development of one of the biggest franchises the world has ever seen. From his isolated, orphaned upbringing on the planet Tatooine to learning the ways of the Jedi, Luke’s story was made all the more impactful through the revelation that his enemy, Darth Vader, was his own father, who he believed to have died.Luke’s story is a timeless tale of reaching one’s potential and overcoming adversity, which makes him an all-time great hero.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
