When we watch movies, everyone likes to escape real life for an hour or two and put themselves into the shoes of the main character. However, there are certain characters that are just more appealing than others, ones that we wish we could trade places with, if only for a day. Here are 10 movie characters that every guy wishes he could be.
Photo by Greg Williams/Eon Productions via Getty Images
James Bond (James Bond series)
You had to know that James Bond would be on this list. He’s the man that every guy he wishes he could be: ruggedly handsome, irresistible to women, and just an all around stud. Bond movies have been around since 1962 and there are no signs of stopping them anytime soon, and that’s because their main character is the ultimate male.
Han Solo (Star Wars series)
Even though the original Star Wars trilogy centered on Luke Skywalker and the redemption of his father, Anakin, aka Darth Vader, it was Han Solo that kept audiences coming back for more. Solo, perfectly portrayed by Harrison Ford, personifies the “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality of a true cowboy, and he has a confidence and swagger that every guy envies. Plus, he pilots the fastest ship in the galaxy (even if it is a little beaten up) and is best friends with the world’s coolest Wookie. What more could you want?
Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones series)
There should be no surprise that there are two Harrison Ford characters on this list, because as great of a character as Han Solo is, Indiana Jones is just as awesome. Simply look at what he does for a living: teaches college during the day and then goes out on long, dangerous, potentially fatal trips across the world to look for history’s most talked about artifacts, while meeting beautiful women and getting into sword and gun fights along the way. If that job doesn’t sound exciting and fun to you, well, then I suggest you re-watch the Indiana Jones films (except the fourth one, never the fourth one) and reevaluate your priorities.
Ron Weasley (Harry Potter series)
Technically Ron was a book character before he was a film character, and he’s probably a better written character overall in the Harry Potter books versus the films. However, there’s no denying the appeal of being Ron Weasley. You grow up in a loving family, get to be best friends with the most famous wizard of all time, who you’re always there to go on crazy adventures with, and then, you get to end up marrying the beautiful Emma Watson…I mean, Hermione Granger. Sounds pretty magical to me.
Lloyd Dobler (Say Anything…)
Say Anything… is one of my favorite movies of all time, and a lot of that has to do with the character of Lloyd Dobler. Frankly, I think if more guys strived to be like Lloyd, the world would be a much better place. He doesn’t possess any sweet spy skills and he’s not a smooth talker, but that doesn’t matter. Lloyd’s honest, kind, and he has so much love in his heart. He might not know what he wants to do with his future career-wise, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that he loves Diane, and he treats her right, something that every dude wants to do for the girl who matters most to him. Not to mention, that boom box scene is still one of the best film scenes ever, and Say Anything… is 25 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFI0DGGE2M
John McClane (Die Hard)
Why is John McClane on this list? I could give the easy answer and just say, “Yippee ki-ya mother–” but instead I’ll ask this: what other character on this list has the ability to singlehandedly stop a group of terrorists from killing numerous innocents (including his own wife), wearing a wife beater and only carrying one pistol, and still make it home for Christmas dinner? Put simply: John McClane is the epitome of an action hero, and that’s something every guy, on some level or another, wants to be.
Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Drunkenly sailing across the sea, getting into crazy sword fights over buried treasure, and bedding gorgeous women whenever you had the chance–sounds like a pretty fun life, right? The only thing that makes it better is having the charisma, confidence, and audacity that Johnny Depp embeds into every little bit of Jack Sparrow, a character so iconic that you can’t meet a person alive who can’t quote his various lines with you. “But why is the rum gone?”
Tony Stark (Iron Man)
Billions of dollars to spend on whatever you need/want? Check. Sweet iron suits complete with computer intelligence, machine guns, and rocket launchers that help you save the day? Check. Strong, feisty, and independent girlfriend who also just happens to be a stunning redhead? Check. Yeah, it’s pretty easy to see why Tony Stark is such an appealing character. Robert Downey Jr.’s pitch-perfect performance only adds to that appeal.
Matthew Kidman (The Girl Next Door)
Sometimes it’s nice to watch the nerdy, nice guy get the girl, and in no film is that more gratifying than The Girl Next Door. Matthew Kidman, played by a then 17-year-old Emile Hirsch, has all the brains, drive, and ability to succeed in the world–all he needs is a little confidence. Enter the gorgeous, Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert), who finally helps him become the guy he always knew he could be. What makes Matthew so appealing is that he’s a truly solid dude who deserves everything that he ends up getting by the film’s end. Having Danielle on his arm doesn’t hurt either, though.
Benny Rodriguez (The Sandlot)
Anytime I re-watch The Sandlot, I feel like I’m ten years old again, like I’m able to just go out to my backyard with my friends from the neighborhood and play a pickup game of baseball. It’s this youthful spirit that the film awakens inside of me every time I put it on, and no character in The Sandlot embodies that youthful spirit more than Benny Rodriguez. It’s more than the fact that he’s the “cool kid,” or that he’s the best player on the team. No, what makes people want to be like Benny is his dedication to not just the game but his friends. He’s the one who made sure Smalls was included, who insisted that they plan under the firework lights on the Fourth of July, and who was always the first one on the field in the morning and the last one to leave at night.
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