Top 10 Movie Heroes of All Time | A CineFix Movie List
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- In this thrilling edition of CineFix Movie Lists, our intrepid cinephiles attempt to create the ultimate movie hero! Not content to just rattle off 10 different kinds of heroes, this list looks to layer one trait on top of the others to slowly assemble a character that represents everything we could ask for from a cinematic champion. So here are our picks for 10 heroic characters with traits that add up to the… you know what, let’s just stick with the headline, the 10Best Movie Heroes of All Time!
Heroes of course mean different things to different people, which is what makes this exercise so much fun. If you need a dash of morality in your hero, why not try Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird or Jon Snow from Game of Thrones? Don’t forget to add some underdog hutzpah with Rocky or Lagaan or even Shoshanna from Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino has you covered if you need some anti-hero tossed in there as well, with Django Unchained or Pulp Fiction or The Bride from Kill Bill. James Bond might fit in there as well, but 007 is more the “superman” archetype than anything else. The point is, everybody’s hero ought to be different, and digging in to the individual traits that make up your personal favorite movie hero is an illuminating exercise!
Our Picks:
10 - The Moral Superhero - Amélie Poulain from Amélie (2001) Audrey Tautou, dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
9 - The Underdog - Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs (1991) Jodie Foster, dir. Jonathan Demme
8 - The Accidental Hero - Detective Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun (1988) Leslie Nielsen, dir. David Zucker
7 - The Everyman - Chihiro Ogino from Spirited Away (2001) Rumi Hiiragi (Japanese), Daveigh Chase (English), dir. Hayao Miyazaki
6 - The Impervious Everyman - Indiana Jones (1981 - Present!!!) Harrison Ford, dir. Steven Spielberg
5 - The Superman - Diabolik from Danger: Diabolik (1968) John Phillip Law, dir. Mario Bava
4 - The Anti-Hero - Sanjuro from Yojimbo (1961) Toshiro Mifune, dir. Akira Kurosawa
3 - Somebody Else’s Hero - Miss Honey from Matilda (1996) Embeth Davidtz, dir. Danny DeVito
2 - The Joseph Campbell Model - Chief Brody from Jaws (1975) Roy Scheider, dir. Steven Spielberg
1 - Self Sacrifice - The Iron Giant (1999) Vin Diesel, dir. Brad Bird
This video was written and edited by Clint Gage.
For more Movie Lists subscribe to CineFix | IGN Movies and TV where you’ll find more tangentially related content like this!
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I know it's an obvious choice but...your top 10 qualities for the greatest cinema villain would be an amazing list.
They already did a top 10 movie villains of all time list
@@nikk796 Maybe so, but not quite in this style.
Yes please!
Seconded
They redo a lot of their older lists. And if heroes qualify, the so do the villains (they were actually were the list before the original heroes list. And I'm looking forward to it, snce CineFix lists right now are the best that they've ever been.
Three words: Sam Wise Gamgee. He begins the journey not knowing what it will cost him, but even when he comes to realize the true cost he completes his task because of loyalty and love. Not only this, but he never lets go of hope and gives that to Frodo even when he has no reason to. A true hero in every sense.
That’s two words; Samwise Gamgee… I’m sure you’ve done this for comedic effect but in further comedic effect, he is not exactly wise. A simple wisdom of decency but not full headed wisdom.
A great suggestion right here. SamWise is a humble hobbit with the heart of a lion. Brilliantly portrayed by Sean Astin(?)
I know this is a movie list, but in the book, his simple heroism from the spider attack through the rescue of Frodo is remarkable. He is terrified. He is convinced that he has no chance of success. Before he finds Frodo, he sinks to the depths of despair. But he presses on, and on, and on. When he, in hopelessness, sits in the tower and sings a song of The Shire, I am moved to tears. Movies too frequently discount courage, depicting decisions to press on in the face of complete terror lightly, often with a wisecrack. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is persevering in the face of fear.
The whole fellowship is it honestly
Doesn't matter how tough you are, the ending of _The Iron Giant_ should have you in tears, or at least choked up just a little.
Doesn’t matter how many times I have seen it, I STILL get choked up.
First animated feature that ever did, not even Dumbo could pull that off.
@@DonovanAenslaed dumbo is an absolutely awful movie, of course it didnt make you cry
Theo from Children of Men ticks almost all of these boxes and also adds clear character development and heroic development.
Good call and such a great movie!!
I like John Keating as well
I'll throw my hat in the ring with Ma (Joy/Brie Larsen) from Room. I was blown away at the notion of this mother turning one of the worst situations imaginable into one of wonder and mystery and adventure to protect her child from the awfulness of his reality. And even afterward, when things catch up with her, you can still see the impact of what she did and how it not only saved Jack but herself as well. So good.
I think an argument could be made for Uncle Iroh from Last Airbender. He was a villain who, through loss, changed his ways, is a part of an underground society to keep balance in the world, and who has made it his personal mission to prevent his nephew from going down the same path he did and to treat everyone with love and kindness wherever he goes. But when push comes to shove, and that balance or his loved ones are threatened, he is still 100% the Dragon of the West
Yeah but he's a TV character, they never made a movie with him in it.
I will say, he does tick every box they listed.
@@imperator9343 I just want to restate that, yes, they never made a movie with him in it…
He's the best mentor of all time for sure.
Clint Gage is my hero
Ditto!
HA! GAAAAYYYYYYYYY!
Just too many characters to mention, but a big shout out to Theo from Children of Men. A weary and disinterested hero who makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Great movie and great pick!!
What I love about that movie is the premise itself is so powerful it can make a hero out of anyone who crosses paths with the baby. No matter what you've done in that grim dystopian world you can be redeemed instantly by helping that baby live.
Probably the best thing about iron giant is the fact it was made on one question "what if guns didn't want to kill"
Exactly, guns don't kill people, people kill people
They really f'ed that up didn't they. Guns don't kill. People who wield weapons kill.
Guns *don't* want to kill people. They're inanimate objects.
This is why I'm excited for the Blue Beetle movie, his suit is literally a world conquering weapon that he only wants to use to help people.
And that's why his inclusion in Ready Player One was beyond stupid.
A nice bonus category would be "friend," not "sidekick," but that pillar, the rock that allows the hero to be heroic, who lifts the hero up when they have nothing left to give.
So, Samwise Gamgee?
@@GMontag Sam would be my top hero of all time.
As well as Samwise, I'd have to include Alfred Pennyworth.
I like to nominate J.C. from Night of the creeps (1986)
@@claytongoode5715I think that Haddock from The Adventures of Tintin also fits this role
I gotta give a shout out to The Captain from Wall-E. He has most of these traits. He was paralyzed with fear and overcame it to stand up to the literal machinery running his world. He inspired his entire crew and gave them hope for a better future.
I don't know why CZcams doesn't notify me when a new Cinefix video comes out. Easily the best film channel I've seen alongside Every Frame a Painting.
Yeah, this is the second Cinefix list in a month that didn’t show up in my recommended feed for a few days at least.
@@erakfishfishfish ive been missing their notifications for nearly a year
RIP Every Frame a Painting...
You got me tearing up with #1 hahaha
Totally unexpected, but definitely deserved.
The 1 movie i absolutely must show kids if i have any.
I don't know any kid who hasn't bawled their eyes out after seeing this film.
Lol I thought it was gonna be Batman at first
Literally tear up anytime i see the Giant sacrificing himself "superman"
@@TereusFTW Same! Kinda tearing up just thinking about it :P
Miss Honey is an incredibly inspired and deserving choice for the list. Bravo.
started making me cry how deep this pick hit
You mean the teacher working at a school full of abuse, who never gets enough courage to stop it?
@@szlonkobusjbusj3819 shots fired?
Agree wholeheartedly
@@szlonkobusjbusj3819 to be fair this was a kids movie and most of us watched it as kids so I dont think noticed that nuance, but it doesn't;t mean its not sentimental to us.
I'm throwing in an honorable mention for Angel Clarence(Henry Travers) in "It's a Wonderful Life"(1946). As the guardian angel of George Bailey(James Stewart) on the eve George is considering committing suicide, Clarence makes such a profound and life-affirming effort to show him just how important he is to the world and those around him, he must be considered for the "Somebody else's hero" category.
Yeah, great shout.
See Peggy. She's caps hero
This list is inspired. From the construction to the picks.
I kept hoping to see samwise gamgee in there, but the rest were covered either in the picks or the nominees
The whole time I was 100% sure Samwise was gonna be #1 xD
Arguably samwise is the sidekick not the hero
@@thefirm4606
Excuse me? For one thing, that statement is spitting in the face of the spirit of this list in general.
More importantly, Tolkien (you know, the guy who wrote the story) would, and did, disagree with you.
I was surprised it took over 17 minutes even just to *show* anyone from Lord of the Rings!
They showed Aragorn briefly, but they didn't even mention him. Never mind both Frodo and Sam.
@@thefirm4606 Samwise is the true hero of LOTR. Uncorruptable, even while holding the One ring. Undetterable, even when Frodo dismisses him. With tears in his eyes, he faces down the greatest odds and the most unimaginable horrors. He is innately aware of the right thing to do and will always do it.
I absolutely love that you included Ms. Honey (Played by an outstanding Embeth Davidtz who played another amazing hero Helen Hirsch in Schindler’s List).
And thank you for including Jodie Foster’s version of Clarice Starling. The other Hannibal movies proved how vital her performance was to the success of Silence of the Lambs and it wasn’t all Hopkins (who was stellar but you know what I mean).
I didn’t recognize her! I chiefly associate Embeth Davidtz with Army of Darkness.
Also didn't help that Red Dragon was the only other film that had good writing; though the show did it better.
Honourable mention for Mrs Brisby? A frightened field mouse who shows incredible courage and determination to save her family against overwhelming odds
nice one.
Very good choice!
I cannot believe there wasn't even a mention of Batman while almost everyone from the Marvel universe appeared
That's because Batman doesn't look for the accolades like those cheap SOBs from the MCU always do. That's one of things that makes HIM the best super-hero of all. Well... that and the car.
The moment he said, self-sacrifice, my first thought immediately was the Iron Giant. I was not disappointed by this at all.
I consider Studio Ghibli to be a treasure trove when it comes to this topic. Pick pretty much any movie and you will likely find at least a couple characters whom check all of the hero boxes: Nausicaa, Potsu and Sheeta (Castle in the Sky), Prince Ashitakka (Princess Mononoke), etc.
Roberto Benigni’s character in Life Is Beautiful trumps them all. Protecting his son’s perception of a horrific situation so that life, along with his innocence, isn’t destroyed, and ultimately giving up his life for this, all while making the audience laugh, transcends movie heroism.
And, just like the original first choice from the video, he makes me cry like a little girl every time I watch the movie 🤣
Good choice
The second part is up for debatr
Absolutely agree. Guido is top of my list
Amelie is one of those rare heroes who didn’t need superpowers. Just her good natured personality.
I'd like to add a mention for one of my favourite movie heroes of all time, Guido Orefice from Life is Beautiful. He is kind and brave and kept his son safe against the odds in the most horrendous situation of all. That movie never fails to bring a tear to my eye
I was looking for this ^
Yes!!! Guido gave his son through imagination a sense of escapism from the hellish place they were in. The ending broke my heart into a million pieces, truly masterpiece of a movie.
Wonderful movie, although I don't want to watch it ever again...
Excellent choice!!
Losing battle
Paddington should have taken the number 10 slot easily, with his unwavering morals and kindness.
18:59 Dances With Wolver... the not-so-famous sequel to Dances With Wolves. Tagline: "This time... it's more Wolver than Wolves." 🐺
Just added "Dances with Wolver" to my list, an obscure gem I'm sure.
Yep. I caught that too. A rare editing boo-boo on this channel.
Wolver, of course, is the full-fledged, more rounded, robust version of Wolverine.
"do the same, find your favorite hero" THAT is the line. This isn't definitive, it's opinion. They're all right and none of the are right. Brilliantly done!
I love that Amelie was on the list. Just a legendary character and movie. I watch it whenever I'm stuck in a rut or really down. Makes me want to live and do good again.
Just getting introduced to her on this list, I now really want to see that flick!
@@skyden24195 Do ittttt
I do love how these older lists are getting another look and a revamp
Great video, as usual. I did miss Theo from Children of Men.
Scotty Smalls - The Sandlot
Ofelia - Laverinto del Fauno
Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery
Cooper - Interstellar
Captain Miller - Saving Private Ryan
Alan Perrish - Jumanji
Billy Tepper - Toy Soldiers
Ellen Ripley - Alien
Chief Carl Brashear - Men of Honor
Neo - The Matrix
I'd have thrown in Lupin III as the antihero personally. He's a lovable idiot at times, all while remaining, and consistently proving, that he's the world's greatest thief. He's clearly got a heart to the point where he occasionally lets Zenigata catch him just so he feels like he's doing his job (only to inevitably escape in one way or another), and always does the right thing when it comes down to it. I do recognize, though, that he may stray too close to Chihiro considering most of those traits were imbued into the character by Miyazaki in Castle of Cagliostro, but the counterpoint to my counterpoint is that that was decades before Spirited Away and you could make an argument that he was, at least in part, the mould in which Chihiro was formed. Also, the fact that the majority of his character-building comes in shows, not movies, may disqualify him. Regardless, he's a fantastic character (as are the whole gang) and I'd love to see him at least mentioned in one of these wonderfully thought-out lists.
Oh my lord you had my heart at Frank Drebin, thank you very much for your lists they are always amazing.
Shoshanna Dreyfus deserves a nod for sure
My number one favourite is and always will be superman. Its superman from the 1978 richard donner film. He fights injustice, he is deeply human, will always do what's right even if it seems impossible, honorable and noble and always finds a way without killing or majorly injuring anyone.
Atticus Finch,in my view,is the greatest hero of all time. A single father who puts himself on the line to enact justice and change, even if it's in his own little corner of the world, is the most heroic act of all time. Unfortunately, with To Kill a Mockingbird being banned in so many schools, this hero is not getting the attention he deserves. We can all be Atticus Finch because we can all choose to fight the status quo and the injustices of our time. Atticus Finch will always be the greatest literary and cinema her of all time.
AFI thought so
Forgot about Miss. Honey until I saw this list, she really was a good fictional movie character hero.
Thank you CineFix for reminded me about that film.
As a teacher, I wept openly at your choice of Ms. Honey. She is the embodiment of hero in my world and the way you described her was perfect.
You need a raise.
Atticus Finch may be my no 1 and Miss Sloane my no 2. Great list as always.
Samwise the Brave will always be my go to pick
Ellen Ripley from Aliens and Sam from The Lord of the Rings I think are the two greatest heroes in all of film. Both are outmatched and terrified but they have the COURAGE to be heroes. When I think of real-life heroes storming the beaches of Normandy or running into burning buildings, COURAGE, acting even though they are full of fear, sets them apart as true heroes to me.
The Accidental Hero category needed at least a mention of The Man Who Knew Too Little. It's such a great little underrated gem from Bill Murray.
Good one!
Also, The Big Lebowski. It's not always that we have a character who inspires an actual (albeit not serious) religion dictated by his morals and behavior.
It's my personal favorite of all the "Leslie Nielsen / Pink Panther / Mr Bean" genre of films. That script is TIGHT!
Came here to post this.
Seriously.
In all the movie lists I've seen from these guys, this is probably the most glaring oversight that I knew right off the bat.
The Man Who Knew Too Little is way way underappreciated.
Yes, but also: Peter Goddamn Sellers as Chauncey Gardner
Id personally go for Frodo and Sam for the underdog or "unlikely" hero (not quite accidental) but still, great and fun list as always.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington deserved a mention at least. Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart's interpretation of the "everyman hero" would definitely make my list. And I would include Frodo on my list somewhere. Thank you for bringing Danger: Diabolik to my attention. I'm not sure how that movie has fallen beneath my radar. I need to see that!
I just found it here on CZcams.
I'm a fan. The video essays remind me of ew print magazine, back when Owen and Lisa were at the helm. Also, when Premiere magazine was thoughtful film analysis. Your lists have opened new movie genres for me. Iron giant rules!
Whenever I see that a new Cinefix list is out, it makes my day!
My favourite heroes are the ones “past their prime” but go into the situation knowing that that would kill them in the end (Logan as an example).
I got into movies young by watching Gladiator with my father in 99'. It was the first movie I ever cried to that I can remember, and I didn't know movies could make people feel that way. I was 9. I also remember him taking to me to the library and me picking out the Spirited Away. It was the first anime movie I can remember watching. When Spirted Away came on the screen on your list I shed a little tear. Not only is your list amazing, I have watched about 90% of all of these mentioned, but the way you talked about Spirted Away reminded of why I started my independent production house. I want people to feel strong emotions while resonating with my stories and my characters and immortalize my work within cinema. I hope one day one of my movies will be graced on your lists. Cheers!
Officer KD6-3.7 from Blade Runner 2049 is my favorite self-sacrifice hero.
yessss, he came to mind before I even started the video
My favourite hero is Monsieur Hulot, who somehow accidentally manages to bring life and joy everywhere he goes in a world that seems to have forgotten the meaning of those words.
I would argue for Tati's Mon Oncle for the simple fact he returns a childhood to a kid almost robbed of it.
Ay I was just binging some of your top 10s! I was just thinking about you guys potentially doing a best movie of each year (starting with the 2010s) and what they would be
Didn't expect to start the day crying, but: "You are NOT a gun!" "...Superman" Oh man, EVERY time I think about it.
Man same. It does not matter how many times I've seen that movie i choke up.
Can always be certain of a quality time from this channel. Great stuff!
And it's truly messed up how they did Brody in Jaws 4 where they basically said he died of a fear induced heart attack because of the sharks🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️ even though he destroyed two of them so if anything the shark should be afraid of him.
I think you should have included the inspirational aspect of heroism and this is largely represented in the epic heroes William Wallace El Cid Ben-Hur and especially Spartacus
I mean I think the hero needing to inspire others covered that.
@@osirisatot19 kindergarten teacher, Spartacus? Not the same thing, but you make a valid point
I always appreciate how fair you are in making these lists without the usual biases towards certain genres and putting Frank Drebin on your list of heroes exemplifies this heroic trait of yours perfectly!
Makes a mess of everything but gets the job done
What a cool format! Clarice is one of my all-time favorite movie characters and I LOVE that you included her. A very worthy number-one pick, too :' )
For me Judah Ben-Hur ticks many of these boxes. A true hero in my book.
So good! I loved it, and some of your choices were so perfect!
I don't know if you realize how beautiful your scripts are. I hope you do and feel proud of yourself, everytime you take a sip of coffee and have that brief moment, of thinking about your life.
cinefix makes the best lists on youtube!!!
Wow. This was a phenomenal video, with an extremely surprising, but absolutely delightful top pick. This was so entertaining, and really got me thinking about all of my favorite movie heroes, and even some I wouldn't have thought to include. I absolutely love this kind of conversation around film. Brilliant.
Another awesome video. Thank you for making these lists. I really enjoy them. Brilliant.
I was rewatching your list on Top 10 leaders and y'all drop this!!!
Love your videos always learning from it ... thank you !!!
You had me at Clarice. Excellent list, as usual
Such a great channel, hits all the feels
love to see Amelie again.
There are way too many, surprised I didn't see Guido from "Life is Beautiful" here though.
This is the first CineFix list - as far as I know - that changes the pronoun from "we" to "I" - making it an individual's essay rather than an entire website's. No judgment from me - it's just interesting after all these years!
This is sort of embarrassing because I should know it by now, but who exactly is the narrator here? This man has an exceptionally gifted voice for these kinds of videos and as you said, it’s the first time the “I” is used, directly telling us there’s an actual person behind there. And what great and discerning taste he has. But who is he, really? (please don’t ridicule me)
I love your lists so much I could make a Top Ten List of reasons they are great. While I’m only half way through this list, I know this will be #1 on my list of My Favorites of Your Lists.
I love your choices here, and especially that you give a number of honorable mentions in each category.
Holy cow... Frank Drebin!! For the first time ever you are not picking the most obscure option in the history of film. Awesome. I have pretty much stopped watching this channel because you always throw some movies we love in the honorable mentions, but then always choose something that no one ever cared about to make yourself look smarter than everyone else. Thanks for this one win for the average movie fan.
Three cheers for predictable!
Among those worthy of honorable mention , I'd like to submit the following : Leon / The Professional , Steve McQueen / Capt. Hicks ,"Cooler King" / The Great Escape , Tom Laughlin /Billy Jack , Bruce Fuckin' Lee in anything , and Mighty Joe Young .
great video. great list of heroes.
Just lets me point out that Donald Duck's Italian Super Hero alter-ego started as a spoof of Diabolik, and that's why he's called Papenirik (Paperino, his italian name + Diabolik). Now he's more of a Batman spoof though
In Norwegian he's called Fantonald, and seemed to me like and obvious parody of The Phantom. Maybe that was only the later editions.
In Germany he is Phantomias, a parody of Fantomas, or maybe The Phantom.
Yes yes yes!! I kept waiting for Iron Giant to show up! Perfect! Thank you
Very good list! Yep, I'll also go with the Iron Giant. I felt that.
So glad that Chief Brody is on this list, that is my favorite movie of all time and his character's odyssey is the reason.
I love this channel, thank you.
Awesome finish. Well done.
NICELY DONE!!
Oh how i enjoy your videos!!!!!! I really appreciated the number of female characters mentioned in a video called Movie Heroes of all time !!!! it's such a feel good video!
This was an amazing video. So glad I found this side channel for IGN!
Great list!
Jaws is my favorite movie of all time and I consider it virtually flawless! I'm glad Chief Brody is on this list, let alone high on the list!!
Yes!! I was looking for this comment. 100% agree. I picture his face as he stares at the boat before he goes out on the boat, when I need courage. I feel his dread, but he still does it. Wonderful, actor.
Great video!
Thank you. A very entertaining Top 10 😊👍
My #1 vote would be for Donnie Darko. Self sacrifice on the part of the hero to mend a flaw in the universe is a classic.
he wouldn't have done anything without FRANK! Frank manipulated him in order to save his own life, save the girl's life, and as a bonus to catch the pedophile guy lol...except that actually gets undone with the portal, hmmm...and then again, Donnie wouldn't be alive in the first place for any of that stuff to happen unless Frank intervened to make him leave the house...it's a strange loop.
Please upload 2 such lists every week.... I literally die for your every new video
Perfect, and I mean perfect number 1 spot. You guys are amazing
Brilliantly written. Thoroughly enjoyed the list.
I didn't agree that much with some of the other lists, however, I think that you hit a homer here. Great job!
Loved the list. My #1 was Russell Casse from Independence Day.
I'm not crying at the Iron Giant clip, you are, YOU!!!
great list, but your number 10, 8, 6, and 1 were perfect!
Bond fixing his cufflink is EVERYTHING!
Dancing with Wolver....oops.
Great video Clint...keep 'em coming!
Amazed by the #1 !!!
terrific list! was expecting The Big Lebowski for the casual hero spot though 😊