100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time
by Premiere Magazine



Premiere Magazine (in its April 2004 issue), in an article written by numerous authors, published a list of the 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All-Time. The defining moments were excerpted and abbreviated from the article. See also Movieline Magazine's selections of the 100 Best Female Character Roles, and Premiere Magazine's selections of the 100 Greatest Movie Performances of All-Time.

Note: The films that are marked with a yellow star are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has selected as the 100 Greatest Films

100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time
by Premiere Magazine
(part 3, by reverse ranking)


#
Character Name Played By Film Title Defining Moment
50
Blondie Clint Eastwood The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) Blondie's writing-the-name-on-the-rock gambit before the climactic, operatic shootout.
49
Chance the Gardener Peter Sellers Being There (1979) Chance's bland but insistent mantra, "I like to watch" that is misinterpreted by a love-deprived society wife Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine).
48
John "Bluto" Blutarsky John Belushi National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) Bluto's food fight scene in which he makes his face a zit - by filling his cheeks with mashed potatoes and spraying the contents onto a sorority girl.
47
Mrs. Robinson Anne Bancroft The Graduate (1967) Mrs. Robinson's toss of Benjamin Braddock's (Dustin Hoffman) car keys into his fish tank, to make sure he drives her home.
46
John McClane Bruce Willis Die Hard (1988) and two later films McClane's reply to evil Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman): "Yippee-kay-yay, motherf--ker!"
45
Mary Poppins Julie Andrews Mary Poppins (1964) Mary Poppins' singing of "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!" to show her charges that tidying up the nursery can be fun.
44
Jules Winnfield Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction (1994) The foot massage sequence, the Ezekiel speech, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese dialogue, and the 'what' sequence.
43
Forrest Gump Tom Hanks Forrest Gump (1994) Forrest's conversation with a bus-stop bench woman, including: "My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."
42
"Dirty" Harry Callahan Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry (1971) and four later films Harry's reaction that the killer he just apprehended and tortured will be released because of the violation of his rights: "Well, the law's crazy!"
41
Jane Craig Holly Hunter Broadcast News (1987) Jane's response, "No, it's awful," when her boss snaps: "It must be nice to always believe you know better - to always think you're the smartest person in the room."
40
The Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger The Terminator (1984) and two later films The Terminator's quote: "I'll be back" at the police station slaughter, and his surgery upon his own skin and eyeball (his eyesocket glows red) in a motel room.
39
Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels Dustin Hoffman Tootsie (1982) Dorothy's improvised on-air confession: "But...as a woman!"
38
Willy Wonka Gene Wilder Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Willy's whimsical entrance - first teetering with a cane, and ending with the execution of a perfect somersault.
37
Jake Gittes Jack Nicholson Chinatown (1974) and one later film Jake's crafty rip of a city ledger page (under the sound of a fake cough), and use of an ethnic slur to fool a nursing home's corrupt director.
36
Alex Forrest Glenn Close Fatal Attraction (1987) Alex's conversation with Dan (Michael Douglas) the morning that he leaves: "You thought you'd have a good time. You didn't stop for a second to think about me."
35
Dr. Evil Mike Myers Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and two later films Dr. Evil's revelation about dominating the planet to his staff: "We shall hold the world ransom for...one million dollars!!"
34
Bonnie Parker Faye Dunaway Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Bonnie's decision to kiss captured and humiliated Texas Ranger Frank Hamer (Denver Pyle) while a photograph is taken.
33
Ratso Rizzo Dustin Hoffman Midnight Cowboy (1969) Ratso's shrill and improvised line to a cab driver, as he slaps on the car's hood: "I'm walkin' here!" in a cross-walk
32
Holly Golightly Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) Holly's kiss of Paul (George Peppard) in the pouring rain, while sheltering Cat under her coat.
31
Norma Desmond Gloria Swanson Sunset Boulevard (1950) Norma's final appearance: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
30
King Kong -- King Kong (1933) The Beast atop the Empire State Building, risking everything for his Beauty Ann Darrow (Fay Wray).
29
Daphne/Jerry Jack Lemmon Some Like It Hot (1959) Daphne's repetition of a litany after a stern warning by Joe (Tony Curtis), in an all-female sleeping car of a train: "I'm a girl...I'm a girl...I wish I were dead...I'm a girl."
28
Captain Quint Robert Shaw Jaws (1975) Quint's slippery slide into the jaws of the awaiting shark, and his speech about surviving the disaster at sea on the U.S.S. Indianapolis: "When he comes after you, he doesn't seem to be living until he bites you."
27
Marge Gunderson Frances McDormand Fargo (1996) Pregnant Marge's near loss of her breakfast at a crime scene, but not due to the gore.
26
E.T. -- E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) The moment that Elliott's bike (with E.T. in the basket) is propelled into the night sky by E.T.'s powers.


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