Fat guys in movies are worth their weight in gold and humor. More often than not, they help improve the characters in movies. Since the creation of movies, fat guys have been at both ends of the good guy-bad guy spectrum.
Whether flapping their arms around in a small coat or displaying their drinking skills by downing a bottle of alcohol, overweight character will always have a place in movies. Hollywood has invested a lot in fat suits to benefit from their presence on screen. Looking at some of the best movies produced in the past decades, here are 15 of the best fat guys in movies.
15. Tommy Callahan III – Tommy Boy (1995)
Comedian and actor Chris Farley give life to the character of Tommy Callahan. The character is the movie’s protagonist as he sets out to save his father’s business. Farley stars in the film alongside his former Saturday Night Live cast member, David Spade.
14. Thurman Merman (The Kid) – Bad Santa (2003)
Brett Kelly played the character of Thurman Merman in the movie. Thurman is the gullible, dimwitted young boy mostly referred to as The Kid. Thurman and Willie T. Soke’s paths cross at the Mall, where Willie is playing Santa. Together, they help each other find redemption and salvation.
13. House (Thomas Conklin) – Police Academy 4 & 5
Tab Thacker played the overweight character of House in the Police Academy movies. House joined the academy in Part 4 but became a full-time cop in Part 5. A notable House scene is the plane scene in Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach. In the scene, the plane tilts as a result of House’s weight when he goes over to show Hightower an article in a magazine.
12. Bluto (John Blutarsky) – National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
Bluto was played by 29-year-old John Belushi, about four years before his death. Besides Tommy Boy, Belushi’s character in this movie will also go down as one of the best in history. A crowning scene moment for the character was drinking an entire bottle of Jack – “Thanks, I needed that!”
11. Fat Bastard – Austin Powers Movies
If the F-word were a person, it most likely would be Fat Bastard. Fat Bastard is one of the characters played by Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies. At the end of Goldmember (2002), Fat Bastard lost weight but was left with saggy skin.
10. Walter Sobchak – The Big Lebowski (1998)
A 46-year-old John Goodman played the iconic character of Walter Sobchak. Walter decides to keep the $1 million ransom money rather than secure the release of the friend’s namesake millionaire’s daughter. The movie also starred Jeff Bridges as The Dude.
9. Professor Sherman Klump – The Nutty Professor (1996)
The character is one of the most popular Fat Guy movies in the past five decades. Eddie Murphy, known for his versatility in playing multiple characters and roles, plays Professor Sherman Klump. In an attempt to create a weight-loss potion to lose weight and impress a girl, the Professor creates an alter ego, Buddy Love.
8. Dynamo – The Running Man (1987)
Erland Van Lidth plays Dynamo in this 1987 dystopian action movie. Known for his amazing voice, Lidth performs an exceptional opera in the movie. The movie also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, who plays Captain Benjamin Richards.
7. Buck Russell – Uncle Buck (1989)
The late John Candy plays Buck Russell, an uncle who babysits his brother’s kids. Of all his characters in film, Buck Russell stands out, especially with the movie’s success. The John Hughes comedy grossed $79.2 million on a $15 million budget.
6. Edna Turnblad – Hairspray (2007)
John Travolta played the overweight Edna Turnblad in Adam Shankman’s musical romantic comedy. Edna is the mother of Tracy Turnblad, the overweight teenage girl who loves to dance. With the movie’s star-studded cast and screenplay, it’s no surprise it was a box office success.
5. Happy Hogan – Iron Man (2008)
Jon Favreau is an actor and filmmaker. One of his most iconic roles in film is as Happy Hogan. Hogan is Tony Stark’s bodyguard and close friend. He debuted in 2008 Iron Man and continued in every movie with an Iron Man link.
4. Lemuel Gulliver – Gulliver’s Travels (2010)
When it comes to fat comic guys, only a few do it as naturally as it comes for Jack Black. Black plays the title role of modern Lemuel Gulliver. The movie chronicles his travels into the Bermuda Triangle.
3. Donnie Azoff – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Unarguably one of the biggest movies of the early 2010s, The Wolf of Wall Street is a biographical black comedy on the life of Jordan Belfort. Actor and comedian Jonah Hill portrayed Donnie Azoff in the movie. Hill brought his A-game and delivered an amazing performance.
2. Charlie – The Whale (2022)
Brendan Fraser made a comeback to the big screen with the psychological drama, The Whale. Fraser’s Charlie is the morbidly obese, reclusive English teacher. The role won Fraser his first Academy Award for Best Actor.
1. Killa Harkan – John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Harkan heads the German Table in John Wick: Chapter 4. Scott Adkins plays the character in a fat suit. Harkan isn’t one to shy away from a fight, irrespective of his weight. Adkins’ Harkan is one of the fat guys in movies no one should mess with.
