"Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit."
-- Augustus
-- Augustus
Being a badass is comprised primarily of seven parts: physical prowess, exasperating enemies, wit / nonchalance, complete determination, heroic sacrifice, shrugging off injuries, and decisiveness. This list is for characters who have at least 3/7 (you may be surprised, but I don't think Hollywood has ever bested 5/7). One thing though: this list is for characters only! Actors get no extra credit for playing more than one badass. If the character appears in more than one movie, his baddest-ass example is used.
10. Riddick (The Chronicles of Riddick)
The one-liners alone would put him on the list. Say what you will about his movies (obviously, I'm a fan), but the character is undeniably badass. Embodying brute force more than any other entry on the list, Riddick never has complex motives and will just use strength, luck, and his own confidence to get out of pretty much any jam.
The one-liners alone would put him on the list. Say what you will about his movies (obviously, I'm a fan), but the character is undeniably badass. Embodying brute force more than any other entry on the list, Riddick never has complex motives and will just use strength, luck, and his own confidence to get out of pretty much any jam.
9. William Wallace (Braveheart)
One of the last movies Mel Gibson was involved in before you felt uncomfortable watching him. You could argue that Braveheart is just a revenge movie set in the 13th century, and revenge movies always give us the best badasses. Wallace led the charge of ancient badasses coming back to the screen (more entries to come), but focused a little too much on a shoehorned French princess love story to rank higher.
One of the last movies Mel Gibson was involved in before you felt uncomfortable watching him. You could argue that Braveheart is just a revenge movie set in the 13th century, and revenge movies always give us the best badasses. Wallace led the charge of ancient badasses coming back to the screen (more entries to come), but focused a little too much on a shoehorned French princess love story to rank higher.
8. Achilles (Troy)
The most popular on the list amongst the ladies, Achilles still delivers the badass goods. With a fighting style that can best be described as "fluid" but accurately described as "nothing you've ever seen before", Achilles mows down waves of enemies and views his survival in war as something of a formality. In a war involving hundreds of thousands, he's seen as the only man who could sway the tide either way, and that includes the kings. When asked why he chose to be so badass (paraphrasing), he replies, "I chose nothing. I was born, and this is what I am."
The most popular on the list amongst the ladies, Achilles still delivers the badass goods. With a fighting style that can best be described as "fluid" but accurately described as "nothing you've ever seen before", Achilles mows down waves of enemies and views his survival in war as something of a formality. In a war involving hundreds of thousands, he's seen as the only man who could sway the tide either way, and that includes the kings. When asked why he chose to be so badass (paraphrasing), he replies, "I chose nothing. I was born, and this is what I am."
7. Mace (Sunshine)
The internet apparently has everything except a shot of Mace standing up. Strange niche to avoid, but whatever. You might think a man who's apparently always sitting would have a tough time making the list, but trust me, watch the movie. He stands up and everything! But as for his badass credentials, Mace just does what's necessary. That may not sound that impressive, but in his circumstances, that's a pretty badass stance to take.
The internet apparently has everything except a shot of Mace standing up. Strange niche to avoid, but whatever. You might think a man who's apparently always sitting would have a tough time making the list, but trust me, watch the movie. He stands up and everything! But as for his badass credentials, Mace just does what's necessary. That may not sound that impressive, but in his circumstances, that's a pretty badass stance to take.
6. Maximus (Gladiator)
When I meet people who haven't seen Gladiator, I look at them like rotary phones: they still make you? (credit Chris Rock for the original joke). Maximus has pretty much the defining badass monologue, plus the man kills a Roman emperor. It doesn't get much more badass than that. His last role before Russell Crowe descended into "varying degrees of fat" for each of his parts, Maximus was one heck of a swan song.
When I meet people who haven't seen Gladiator, I look at them like rotary phones: they still make you? (credit Chris Rock for the original joke). Maximus has pretty much the defining badass monologue, plus the man kills a Roman emperor. It doesn't get much more badass than that. His last role before Russell Crowe descended into "varying degrees of fat" for each of his parts, Maximus was one heck of a swan song.
5. Jason Bourne (The Bourne Ultimatum)
If you ever need to get motivated to walk quickly and purposefully, throw in a Bourne movie; it'll put you in the mood. Bourne can threaten the entire CIA and sound credible doing it. He never looks for a fight, but he wins every one he gets in, plus his fight with Desh has to be one of the best hand-to-hand fight scenes ever filmed. Need more proof? He made Matt Damon look like a viable action hero.
If you ever need to get motivated to walk quickly and purposefully, throw in a Bourne movie; it'll put you in the mood. Bourne can threaten the entire CIA and sound credible doing it. He never looks for a fight, but he wins every one he gets in, plus his fight with Desh has to be one of the best hand-to-hand fight scenes ever filmed. Need more proof? He made Matt Damon look like a viable action hero.
4. John Creasy (Man on Fire)
I'm glad this Denzel made a comeback in Safe House, because I missed Angry Denzel. Achilles might have the best in-movie descriptor of anyone on the list with "That man was born to end lives," but "Creasy's art is death, and he's about to paint his masterpiece" has to be a close second. There hasn't been a character killing this many people with this blank a look on his face outside of a Terminator movie in a long time. Plus, butt bombs!
I'm glad this Denzel made a comeback in Safe House, because I missed Angry Denzel. Achilles might have the best in-movie descriptor of anyone on the list with "That man was born to end lives," but "Creasy's art is death, and he's about to paint his masterpiece" has to be a close second. There hasn't been a character killing this many people with this blank a look on his face outside of a Terminator movie in a long time. Plus, butt bombs!
3. Doc Holliday (Tombstone)
"I'm your Huckleberry" simultaneously makes no sense, and is absolutely badass. Val Kilmer peaked right here, but there's no shame in that. Starring in the best western of all time and being by far the most memorable part of it is one heck of a career apex. His tuberculosis lets him see the ridiculousness of life and the irony that he's outliving many of his contemporaries, and Kilmer plays him with amazing abandon. If you think Russell Crowe letting himself go was tragic, don't Google pictures of Val Kilmer these days...
"I'm your Huckleberry" simultaneously makes no sense, and is absolutely badass. Val Kilmer peaked right here, but there's no shame in that. Starring in the best western of all time and being by far the most memorable part of it is one heck of a career apex. His tuberculosis lets him see the ridiculousness of life and the irony that he's outliving many of his contemporaries, and Kilmer plays him with amazing abandon. If you think Russell Crowe letting himself go was tragic, don't Google pictures of Val Kilmer these days...
2. James Bond (Skyfall)
I shouldn't have to tell you why he's on the list. The only point that's up for discussion is which movie is the best example of his badassery. Call it recency bias, but the man militarizes an old Scottish manor, and still has the presence of mind to pause and look furious when they blow up his car. While I have my complaints with Skyfall for spelling out Bond's backstory more than I think any movie should, I still can't argue with how it handled his badassery with "he adjusts his cufflinks after falling into a train car he ripped open" surely intriguing anyone who hasn't already seen it.
I shouldn't have to tell you why he's on the list. The only point that's up for discussion is which movie is the best example of his badassery. Call it recency bias, but the man militarizes an old Scottish manor, and still has the presence of mind to pause and look furious when they blow up his car. While I have my complaints with Skyfall for spelling out Bond's backstory more than I think any movie should, I still can't argue with how it handled his badassery with "he adjusts his cufflinks after falling into a train car he ripped open" surely intriguing anyone who hasn't already seen it.
1. John McClane (Live Free or Die Hard)
The character is a pretty unanimous choice, but I understand the movie selection will be a bit contentious. I know: the original Die Hard is the superior movie and it isn't even close, but in the fourth movie, he takes down a fighter jet and a helicopter. And when badasses are sitting around having drinks, the one that says he took down two different forms of flight wins over the guy who killed a few terrorists.
The character is a pretty unanimous choice, but I understand the movie selection will be a bit contentious. I know: the original Die Hard is the superior movie and it isn't even close, but in the fourth movie, he takes down a fighter jet and a helicopter. And when badasses are sitting around having drinks, the one that says he took down two different forms of flight wins over the guy who killed a few terrorists.
Honorable Mention
Batman (The Dark Knight)
You know me. You knew he was making the list at some point. Just be thankful my bias didn't push him into the actual Top Ten. I don't need to tell you about him because you're on the internet, and the number of people who haven't seen The Dark Knight and are on the internet totals zero.
You know me. You knew he was making the list at some point. Just be thankful my bias didn't push him into the actual Top Ten. I don't need to tell you about him because you're on the internet, and the number of people who haven't seen The Dark Knight and are on the internet totals zero.
V (V for Vendetta)
Forget that his legion of adoring impersonators completely misinterpret Guy Fawkes and his motives. Forget that the movie deviated wildly from the source material (no complaints here). Just behold the majesty of the final product. A man with no past, nothing to lose, and seemingly unstoppable; he is "exasperating enemies" personified.
Forget that his legion of adoring impersonators completely misinterpret Guy Fawkes and his motives. Forget that the movie deviated wildly from the source material (no complaints here). Just behold the majesty of the final product. A man with no past, nothing to lose, and seemingly unstoppable; he is "exasperating enemies" personified.