Cinema is both an art and a craft. Creating movies requires an aesthetic vision that can only materialize with hundreds of people working in synchrony. Although directors, editors, writers, cinematographers, make-up artists, and other crew members play essential roles in filmmaking, the bulk of the artistic credit often goes to the onscreen talent.
However, actors still deserve their fair share of the spotlight. Movie characters are prominently displayed on posters, ads, and trailers, making them the source of public admiration. As such, a few significant characters have risen above their respective films' pop-cultural scope. In simple terms, some faces are more iconic than their stories.
10 The Man With No Name Doesn't Need One To Be Recognized
Dollars Trilogy
Western cinema drew massive audiences during the '50s and early '60s, with celebrated actors like John Wayne and Gary Cooper at the helm. Sergio Leone's attempt at Europeanizing the genre didn't go down well with contemporary critics, who lambasted his Dollars trilogy as a diluted mimicry.
Retrospective reviewers praised both the Spaghetti Western genre and Clint Eastwood's unflappable antihero. He's called Blondie, Manco, and Joe, among other epithets, but he's more famously known as the Man With No Name. This character soon became a seminal movie icon, cementing Clint Eastwood as one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history.
9 J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Is A Worldwide Name At This Point
Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter achieved a level of fame beyond any children's fantasy ever written. Although based heavily on preceding works like Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle, Harry Potter introduced multiple generations of readers and moviegoers to the wonderfully crafted Wizarding World.
Unlike the movies, the books relate the story solely through Harry's perspective, centralizing his personal goals, motivations, and triumphs. Daniel Radcliffe's protagonist is equally important in the film series, even if he doesn't bear the classic green eyes. Given Harry Potter's monumental success, it's hard to find anyone who hasn't seen this character at some point.
8 Jules Winnfield Is One Of The Most Recognizable Quentin Tarantino Characters
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction revitalized the indie film industry. It contains a host of memorable characters, from John Travolta's Vincent Vega to Uma Thurman's Mia Wallace. However, everyone else might as well vanish into the background whenever Jules Winnfield appears on the screen.
This character, written specifically with Samuel L. Jackson in mind, effectively dominates the narrative limelight. Winnfield is known for his deliriously Biblical rants, many of which have since become iconic memes. That said, his most infamous quote will always be, "Say 'what' again! I dare you! I double-dare you, motherf*****, say 'what' one more goddamn time!"
7 Hannibal Lecter Has Appeared In Several Popular Movies & TV Shows
The Silence Of The Lambs
The words "Good evening, Clarice" still send shivers down the fandom's collective spine. There's something about Anthony Hopkins' vocal timbre that makes him sound simultaneously welcoming and threatening. That said, this scene in The Silence of the Lambs pales in comparison to several others, like when Hannibal Lecter casually describes eating a man's "liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
Lecter's character arc is unprecedented in the world of cinema. He subsequently acquired a dedicated TV show with Mads Mikkelsen in the lead role. However, Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning performance remains the gold standard for this morbidly fascinating character.
6 Darth Vader Has Influenced All Three Movie Trilogies (& Rogue One)
Star Wars
People who haven't even heard of Star Wars probably know about Darth Vader. This villain-turned-hero is a metaphorical phoenix — despite his physical death in Return of the Jedi, he continues to haunt the Galaxy like the Force ghost he is. Kylo Ren taps into his grandfather's legacy while constructing his own, highlighting Vader's incomparable influence over all three Star Wars trilogies.
Anakin Skywalker is a meaningless character, devoid of any interesting features until his macabre transformation. Star Wars has seen innumerable villains come and go, from the malevolent Sheev Palpatine to the cybernetic General Grievous, but none of them can match Darth Vader's eternal relevance.
5 Forrest Gump Is Arguably More Famous Than The Legendary Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks is a legendary actor, garnering both critical acclaim and prestigious accolades for his performances in Philadelphia, Apollo 13, A League of Their Own, and the Toy Story franchise. Hanks fever swept the cinematic world throughout the '90s, establishing him as a globally renowned celebrity.
And yet, it can be argued that the titular character from Forrest Gump is possibly more famous than the actor who played him. Forrest takes on nigh-mythical proportions during his fictional lifetime, accruing accomplishments on par with characters like Homer Simpson from The Simpsons, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, and Batman. If life is indeed a box of chocolates, then Forrest Gump is the best of the bunch.
4 Tyler Durden's Universal Popularity Cannot Be Understated
Fight Club
Fight Club's climax took practically everyone by surprise. The audience couldn't believe that Tyler Durden was not an actual person but a sublimation of the Narrator's toxic masculinity. Although many fans refused to acknowledge Durden as the movie's ultimate antagonist, there's no doubt he's one of the vilest movie villains in recent memory.
On the other hand, viewers can't be blamed for their mistaken assumptions because Durden's dazzling charisma and male-centric philosophy clearly extend beyond the fictitious world of Fight Club. Brad Pitt's phenomenal portrayal has made this character a cinematic icon whose universal popularity cannot be understated.
3 T-800 Is The Glue That Holds Everything & Everyone Together
The Terminator Franchise
The Terminator franchise began with Arnold Schwarzenegger in a villain's role, but T-800 eventually became humanity's underappreciated savior. While not entirely unexpected, this role reversal showcased Arnold's ability to play heroic and villainous characters with equal elegance.
Even Robert Patrick's ominously overpowered T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day failed to invoke the same level of admiration and appreciation as Schwarzenegger's iconic performance. T-800 is unquestionably the glue that holds Terminator together — only fans know his iconic one-liners, but everyone else can instantly recognize his face.
2 Jack Sparrow Is Ostensibly Responsible For The Franchise's Financial Success
Pirates Of The Caribbean
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise lost its unique charm three movies ago, but its whimsical protagonist is still as iconic as ever. While Johnny Depp's wacky pirate protagonist isn't the only important character, he's certainly the most memorable. Captain Jack Sparrow doesn't behave like a stereotypical pirate; on the contrary, he relies more on cunning and trickery than pointless bloodshed.
This character is ostensibly responsible for the franchise's box-office prosperity long after Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley exited the story. As a testament to his enduring popularity, Entertainment Weekly referred to Sparrow as "one of the most dazzling characters of the decade."
1 Margo Channing Is The Brightest Jewel In Bette Davis' Glittering Crown
All About Eve
21st-century audiences may not have heard of Margo Channing, but older viewers likely remember Bette Davis' fiery protagonist in All About Eve. Margo isn't a person as much as a living tornado. Her biting sarcasm contains enough venom to incapacitate everyone in the room, while her fashion sense can only be described as iconic.
All About Eve is a misnomer — the movie should have been called All About Margo, or better still, All About Bette Davis, because that's exactly what it is. Despite her universally acclaimed performance, Davis didn't win the Best Actress Oscar. The Academy has made numerous blunders in the past, but this one is arguably the worst.