🦸Best Movie Heroes of All Time

Luke Skywalker▲ Rising

Luke Skywalker rises from a moisture-farm dreamer to the Jedi who redeems his father and topples the Empire. His decisive act of hurling away his lightsaber in Return of the Jedi rejects darkness and chooses family. That choice cements him as the archetype of hopeful heroism.

Debut Year: 1977Films: 9IMDb Score: 8.6/10Box Office: 10 B$Legacy Score: 9.5/10

added by IJRin 4 rankingsLuke Skywalker

Spider-Man▲ Rising

Peter Parker gains spider-powers and learns that great responsibility follows. The train rescue in Spider-Man 2 shows him pushing past exhaustion to save strangers. That personal cost and humor keep him the most relatable hero.

Debut Year: 2002Films: 8IMDb Score: 7.4/10Box Office: 9.5 B$Legacy Score: 8.8/10

added by IJRin 9 rankingsSpider-Man

Harry Potter▲ Rising

Harry Potter discovers he is a wizard and accepts the burden of defeating Voldemort. The final stand in the Forbidden Forest proves his willingness to die for others. That sacrificial courage turns a children's story into an epic about love and choice.

Debut Year: 2001Films: 8IMDb Score: 7.6/10Box Office: 7.7 B$Legacy Score: 8.7/10

added by IJRin 8 rankingsHarry Potter

Frodo Baggins▲ Rising

Frodo Baggins volunteers to carry the One Ring into Mordor despite knowing it will destroy him. His collapse on Mount Doom and Sam's intervention highlight quiet endurance over glory. That humility makes him the most selfless hero in fantasy.

Debut Year: 2001Films: 3IMDb Score: 8.9/10Box Office: 2.9 B$Legacy Score: 8.9/10

added by IJRin 2 rankingsFrodo Baggins

Indiana Jones▲ Rising

Indiana Jones trades classroom chalk for bullwhips and lost arks, racing Nazis across continents. The boulder chase in Raiders of the Lost Ark instantly establishes his resourceful, fallible heroism. His blend of brains, bravery, and one-liners keeps adventure alive.

Debut Year: 1981Films: 5IMDb Score: 8.4/10Box Office: 2.5 B$Legacy Score: 9.2/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsIndiana Jones

Superman▲ Rising

Superman lands on Earth as an alien orphan and chooses to protect humanity with godlike power. His first flight over Metropolis in the 1978 film delivers pure cinematic awe. That choice to remain a symbol of hope rather than conquer defines the superhero ideal.

Debut Year: 1978Films: 8IMDb Score: 7.4/10Box Office: 3.2 B$Legacy Score: 9/10

added by IJRin 7 rankingsSuperman

Rocky Balboa▲ Rising

Rocky Balboa fights Apollo Creed for pride and a shot at dignity despite long odds. The training montage and final bell in the original Rocky show heart over talent. That underdog spirit turned boxing into universal inspiration.

Debut Year: 1976Films: 6IMDb Score: 8.1/10Box Office: 1.5 B$Legacy Score: 8.5/10

added by IJRRocky Balboa

Captain America▲ Rising

Captain America wakes from the ice and refuses to compromise his values even against his own government. The elevator fight in The Winter Soldier proves leadership through principle. That steadfast integrity anchors the MCU's moral center.

Debut Year: 2011Films: 9IMDb Score: 7/10Box Office: 4.5 B$Legacy Score: 8.2/10

added by IJRin 4 rankingsCaptain America

Katniss Everdeen

Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the Hunger Games to save her sister and sparks a revolution. Her defiant salute to District 12 after Rue's death becomes the spark of rebellion. That reluctant leadership turns survival into systemic change.

Debut Year: 2012Films: 4IMDb Score: 7.2/10Box Office: 2.9 B$Legacy Score: 8/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsKatniss Everdeen

Buzz Lightyear

Buzz Lightyear believes he is a real space ranger and learns the value of teamwork and loyalty. His fall from the window and ultimate acceptance of being a toy show growth from ego to friend. That arc made him Toy Story's breakout hero.

Debut Year: 1995Films: 4IMDb Score: 8.3/10Box Office: 3 B$Legacy Score: 8/10

added by IJRBuzz Lightyear

Wonder Woman▲ Rising

Wonder Woman leaves Themyscira to end the war to end all wars and learns humanity's true nature. Her charge across no-man's-land in the 2017 film delivers pure visual triumph. That arrival redefined the female superhero on screen.

Debut Year: 2017Films: 3IMDb Score: 7.4/10Box Office: 1.7 B$Legacy Score: 8.3/10

added by IJRin 8 rankingsWonder Woman

Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley survives the xenomorph outbreak on the Nostromo and returns to protect a colony's children. Her flamethrower stand against the Queen in Aliens transforms her from survivor to fierce defender. That evolution created the gold standard for final-girl heroism.

Debut Year: 1979Films: 4IMDb Score: 8.5/10Box Office: 1.4 B$Legacy Score: 9.1/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsEllen Ripley

Neo

Neo learns the Matrix is a lie and chooses to fight for human freedom. The bullet-dodging hallway fight and final choice to believe in himself redefine action heroism. That awakening moment made philosophical sci-fi mainstream.

Debut Year: 1999Films: 4IMDb Score: 8.7/10Box Office: 1.8 B$Legacy Score: 8.6/10

added by IJRNeo

Batman▲ Rising

Batman vows to protect Gotham after his parents' murder and confronts crime with intellect and will. The hallway brawl in Batman Begins and the Joker interrogation scene show tactical heroism at its peak. That relentless drive made the dark knight an enduring icon.

Debut Year: 1989Films: 11IMDb Score: 7.6/10Box Office: 6.8 B$Legacy Score: 8.4/10

added by IJRin 10 rankingsBatman

Aragorn

Aragorn accepts his lineage and leads the free peoples against Sauron. His coronation and refusal to claim the throne early demonstrate earned leadership. That quiet nobility completes the Lord of the Rings heroic journey.

Debut Year: 2001Films: 3IMDb Score: 8.9/10Box Office: 2.9 B$Legacy Score: 8.8/10

added by IJRin 2 rankingsAragorn

Maximus Decimus Meridius

Maximus loses everything and fights his way through the Colosseum for revenge and honor. The opening battle and final duel against Commodus prove a general's unbreakable will. That fall-and-rise story revived the swords-and-sandals epic.

Debut Year: 2000Films: 1IMDb Score: 8.5/10Box Office: 0.46 B$Legacy Score: 8.1/10

added by IJR

Mulan

Mulan disguises herself as a man to save her father and ultimately saves China. The mountain song and the climactic battle with Shan Yu prove courage over tradition. That gender-defying heroism expanded Disney's idea of a hero.

Debut Year: 1998Films: 2IMDb Score: 7.7/10Box Office: 0.3 B$Legacy Score: 7.8/10

added by IJRin 2 rankingsMulan

Aladdin▼ Falling

Aladdin uses three wishes to win the princess and save Agrabah from Jafar. The magic carpet chase and final wish freeing the Genie show cleverness over raw power. That street-rat-to-hero story remains Disney's most charming rags-to-riches tale.

Debut Year: 1992Films: 3IMDb Score: 8/10Box Office: 0.5 B$Legacy Score: 7.6/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsAladdin

Sarah Connor▼ Falling

Sarah Connor transforms from waitress to warrior mother destined to lead the resistance. Her armory assault and T-800 reprogramming in Terminator 2 show total commitment to her son's future. That evolution created one of the strongest action-hero mothers ever.

Debut Year: 1984Films: 3IMDb Score: 8.1/10Box Office: 0.8 B$Legacy Score: 8.2/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsSarah Connor

Marty McFly▼ Falling

Marty McFly travels back in time to ensure his parents fall in love and returns a changed young man. The clock-tower lightning finale and skateboard chase through 1955 prove quick thinking under pressure. That time-travel heroism made the DeLorean an icon.

Debut Year: 1985Films: 3IMDb Score: 8.6/10Box Office: 0.38 B$Legacy Score: 8.3/10

added by IJRMarty McFly

Simba

Simba flees after his father's death and returns to reclaim his kingdom and identity. The stampede scene and final roar on Pride Rock close a perfect circle of responsibility. That journey from cub to king defined animated heroism for a generation.

Debut Year: 1994Films: 3IMDb Score: 8.5/10Box Office: 1.7 B$Legacy Score: 8.4/10

added by IJRSimba

Oskar Schindler▼ Falling

Oskar Schindler spends his fortune saving Jewish workers from the Holocaust and ends up broken by the scale of loss. The list scene and the ring gift from those he saved turn profiteer into redeemer. That transformation remains one of cinema's most powerful redemptions.

Debut Year: 1993Films: 1IMDb Score: 9/10Box Office: 0.32 B$Legacy Score: 8.6/10

added by IJROskar Schindler

Moana▼ Falling

Moana sails beyond the reef to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people. The ocean's call and her confrontation with Te Kā show courage rooted in heritage. That voyage made her a fresh Disney hero of exploration and identity.

Debut Year: 2016Films: 2IMDb Score: 7.6/10Box Office: 0.64 B$Legacy Score: 7.7/10

added by IJRin 5 rankingsMoana

Atticus Finch▼ Falling

Atticus Finch defends an innocent Black man in the segregated South and teaches his children justice. His closing argument in the courthouse stands as cinema's clearest moral lesson. That quiet courage made him the gold standard for principled heroism.

Debut Year: 1962Films: 1IMDb Score: 8.3/10Box Office: 0.02 B$Legacy Score: 8.7/10

added by IJRin 3 rankingsAtticus Finch

William Wallace▼ Falling

William Wallace rallies Scotland against English occupation and chooses death over submission. The battlefield speech at Stirling and the final cry of freedom seal his martyr status. That call to liberty made Braveheart an anthem for independence.

Debut Year: 1995Films: 1IMDb Score: 8.4/10Box Office: 0.21 B$Legacy Score: 7.9/10

added by IJRWilliam Wallace