6 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time That Shaped Cinema History

When you think of the most influential superheroes, you might think of Iron Man, Thor, or even Superman. But when it comes to the greatest movie characters of all time, Batman deserves a place on the list. Both Marvel and DC have a handful of iconic superheroes in their roster, but Batman is by far more influential than the rest.

Not only does Batman have a long list of amazing actors behind the mask, from Michael Keaton to Christian Bale, but the super-genius is a complex hero. He’s unarguably flawed, which makes you wonder if he’s really the hero he thinks he is. And with absolutely iconic villains like the Joker, it’s impossible not to see Batman and confirm that he’s one of the greatest movie characters of all time.

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But what about characters with incredible power? Let’s look at the next on the list of greatest movie characters of all time: Gandalf. The Lord of the Rings films are one of the best trilogies ever, and that’s because of the amazing plot, incredible cast of characters, and its impact on cinema. And Gandalf is easily one of the shining characters in the movies.

The man seems to have infinite wisdom that helps the characters in the movie progress but also teaches viewers life lessons that make them feel seen and heard. That, and he’s incredibly powerful. Gandalf can fend off a gargantuan, god-like monster in the Balrog, and signle-handedly takes out Orcs with his staff and sword.

We should also mention that he is proven to be a strong and loyal companion with his self-sacrifice for the rest of the group to escape Moria. When you think about strong and wise wizards, then Gandalf is the first character that comes to mind.

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Going with the theme of wise, Yoda is another character that is considered at the top. Star Wars, along with LOTR, is one of the best, most influential movies of all time. The science fiction series, to this day, still produces video games, movies, TV shows, books, and other forms of media.

The movies were incredible at the time, with its vast world-building, its incredible and complex characters, and its extensive plot that focused on multiple characters. And Yoda is renowned as a member of the Jedi Council who helps Luke Skywalker on his quest.

He’s wise with his timeless sayings, is a Master of the Force, has made a huge impact on pop culture, and essentially acts as the moral compass in the universe. In a world where great destruction can happen at any moment, he’s considered a symbol of hope and goodness. For those amazing reasons, Yoda is considered one of the greatest movie characters of all time.

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Want a symbol character that continues to be one of the greatest movie characters of all time? Then you need to look at Rocky Balboa for perseverance, strength, and overcoming the impossible. What makes Rocky Balboa is that he’s an underdog character in his own story, and he acts to inspire so many.

The man comes from the Rocky movies, which is one of the best sports movie series of all time. What makes the movie so great is that it was actually believable, since Rocky didn’t win every single match when the movie was first released. Rocky, who was just another random guy who was looking for a big win, didn’t just get into the ring and beat everyone he was matched with. He lost.

But it’s the fact that even with a loss, he still got back up and trained harder. He worked for what he wanted. It was inspirational for everyone and showed perseverance and that anyone can make it. Rocky has such a huge impact on media today. Can you even listen to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor without thinking of Rocky?

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Most of the greatest movie characters of all time are men, unfortunately. Women were pushed into corners and often given damsel-in-distress roles, except for the exceptional Ellen Ripley. Starring in the Alien movies, Ellen Ripley is by far one of the greatest movie characters of all time because of her powerful, independent, and strong role in the science fiction horror movie.

While she wasn’t the first female action hero character, she was the most successful, and set the way for women. Ellen Ripley changed the game when she broke genre and genre stereotypes, creating a space for women in future films.

The movie itself pushed science fiction boundaries with its ominous atmosphere, incredible world-building, and cosmic horror style. But when Ripley, which was originally written for a man, was given to Sigourney Weaver, Alien became one of the most influential and greatest science fiction movies of all time.

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Of course, the number one spot for the greatest movie characters of all time is James Bond. With over twenty movies in the franchise, James Bond is by far the most iconic and influential movie character ever. Similar to Batman, there have been many actors that have played Bond.

Bond started as Sean Connery, then moved to Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and then Daniel Craig. And out of all these actors, there has never been a flop. Each one was ideal in their way. Plus, with each change of actor, there’s a refreshing new side of James Bond, so you’re never tired of watching the movies.

That, and the movies often have a great balance of the new with nostalgia. While the movies started with Bond acting sexist and a womanizer, the movies have evolved greatly over the years to show a more emotional side of him.