All these great gypsy characters can be found on DVD and Blu-ray discs offered by Amazon. Pick up a few, and we’ll even get a small commission for sending you there.

The cursing gypsy is the secondary character that appears mysteriously in the beginning of a film. Wronged by the protagonist in some way, he or she leaves a mark on the main characters’ lives so that they must spend the rest of the movie trying to lift the terrible gypsy curse. Here are some prime examples of those gypsy movie characters:

Bela in The Wolf Man (Bela Lugosi) is both a gypsy and a werewolf. Double whammy. When American Larry Talbot (Lon Cheney) returns to his native Wales to care for an ailing family, he is bitten by Bela and becomes a howling creature of the night. Classic performances by both Lugosi and Cheney have spawned numerous knock-offs and remakes, including the upcoming Benicio del Toro vehicle.

Tadzu Lempke in Thinner (Michael Constantine) is a decrepit old man, who kind of looks like an old woman. Based on the novel by Stephen King, Thinner tells the story of obese lawyer Billy Halleck (Robert John Burke) who kills the gypsy’s daughter in a hit-and-run accident (while getting a hummer from his wife). Tadzu’s curse that Billy grown thinner seems a blessing a first, but, contrary to what Vogue magazine tells you, there is such a thing as being too thin.

Mrs. Ganush in Drag Me To Hell (Lorna Raver) is an old gypsy woman with a glass eye, false teeth, and a debt problem. In Sam Raimi’s 2009 pulpy horror flick, Mrs. Ganush curses loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) for not giving her an extension on her mortgage. Christine, who seemed to have everything going for her, suddenly has an unbreakable appointment with hell.

Madam Zeroni in Holes (Eartha Kitt) is the answer to Elya Yelnats’ prayers. He wants to marry a local girl but has nothing to offer her father as an enticement. Madame Zeroni helps him to fatten a young pig to win the girl’s hand, but when he forgets his promise to repay the gypsy woman, she curses his entire lineage for “always and eternity.” The sins of the father are visited on his great-great grandson Stanley (Shia Lebouf), who like all the men in his family before him, has the worst luck. His involves being wrongfully convicted of theft and forced to dig holes in the desert.

The butt-kicking gypsy does more than mumble cryptic curses. In fact, they’re a lot like the mob – every time one tries to get out, they keep pulling them back in. These gypsy movie characters represent Hollywood’s fascination with the counterculture lifestyles the nomads presumably lead:

Dave in King of the Gypsies (Eric Roberts) has abandoned the gypsy lifestyle for what he hopes will be a successful singing career. But Dave is pulled back in when his grandfather Zharko appoints him the new “gypsy king” of a New York-based Romani clan, passing over his own womanizing, compulsive gambler son Groffo (Judd Hirsch) for the title. The showdown between the unwilling hero and his dad is explosive, earning Roberts (a personal favorite) a Golden Globe nomination in his debut film.

Mickey O’Neil in Snatch (Brad Pitt) is a hustler “pikey” (slang for Irish Traveler). When he sells a faulty trailer to illegal boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham), he is revealed to be a bare-knuckle boxer of considerable skill. He knocks out their champ with just one punch. This ten-year-old Guy Ritchie film about conmen, grifters, and thieves with thick, barely intelligible brogues is a fast-paced low-comedy homage to the gypsy’s vengeful ways.

Angelo in Angelo, My Love (Angelo Evans) is not strictly an action hero. He is a wise-beyond-his-years eight-year-old boy playing a fictionalized version of himself in a docu-fiction written and directed by Robert Duvall in 1983. Angelo talks tough, though, and pursues a fellow gypsy from New York City to Canada to retrieve a stolen family heirloom.

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Alicia Nash (Jennifer Connelly) A Beautiful Mind: Longsuffering Alicia supports her genius mathematician husband through a lifetime of schizophrenic highs and lows.

Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) The Incredibles: Retired, middle-aged superhero Helen Parr (a.k.a. Elastigirl) fights alongside her hubby when he decides to squeeze back into his tights.

Tracy Mills (Gwyneth Paltrow) Se7en: Her husband’s obsession with a serial killer who murders sinners causes Tracy Mills to lose her head, literally.

Adrian Balboa (Talia Shire) Rocky II: When her husband’s boxing dreams don’t turn out the way he planned, she has no choice but to watch him take on Apollo Creed again.

Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) Pulp Fiction: She can mash potato. She can do the twist. She can snort an obscene amount of heroine and go into shock, almost getting her chaperone Vincent into big trouble with her mob-boss husband.

Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) The Shining: Wendy makes our list of 20 memorable movie wives for one very good reason: every wife should know when to take a Louisville slugger to her deranged husband’s skull.

Albert Goldman (Nathan Lane) The Birdcage: All right, he’s not technically a wife. But Nathan Lane’s ad hoc drag performance as “Mrs. Col(d)man” over dinner with the homophobic would-be in-laws is hilarious.

Bernie Harris (Angela Bassett) Waiting to Exhale: When Bernie’s cheating husband leaves her for his younger secretary, she don’t need no water, she lets the motherf***er’s clothes burn.

Connie Summer (Diane Lane) Unfaithful: Connie is the picture-perfect, happy suburban wife until a chance meeting with a gorgeous French bookseller ends up in a torrid affair.

Carolyn Burnham (Annette Benning) American Beauty: Lester Burnham’s mid-life crisis would have been incomplete without his shrill, nagging, cheating wife, Carolyn.

Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) 300: Queen Gorgo offers the best advice the wife of a warrior can give: “Come back with your shield or on it.”

Helen Tasker (Jamie Lee Curtis) True Lies: Helen’s impromptu dress alterations and sexy hotel-room dance for a mysterious stranger (actually her husband) are reason enough for her to make our list of 20 memorable movie wives.

Celie Johnson & Sofia Johnson (Whoopi Goldberg & Oprah Winfrey) The Color Purple: Opposite ends of the spectrum, Celie is a shy, abused woman, while Sofia takes crap from no one.

Joanne Slayton/Annie Proffitt (Goldie Hawn) Overboard: Spoiled, rich bitch Joanne learns a new way of life the humorous way when she’s deceived into believing that she’s really the wife of a poor carpenter and mother of his four boys.

Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) Casino: Sharon Stone not only earns her sole Oscar nomination as the hustler wife of an ultraviolent Mafioso, she proves why “bros before hos” is a rule to live by.

Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) The Women: When her husband returns after an affair with a hot, young shop girl, she takes him back with open arms, saying she has “no pride at all.”

Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) The Stepford Wives: Joanna is a suspicious career woman in the sea of perfectly groomed, subservient wives with a secret.

Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Angelina Jolie is at her mercenary sexiest as one-half of the titular married couple of competing spies.

Brenda, Elise and Annie (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton) The First Wives Club: These discarded first wives don’t get mad. They get even.

If you want to check out these 20 memorable movie wives in action, head on over and buy some DVDs from Amazon. We’ll get a small commission for sending you there, plus you can add a number of quality films to your collection. For additional reading, you can also take a look at the following posts:

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Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) from Citizen Kane – A powerful man whose unbridled greed and ambition leaves him a hollow shell, there’s never been a more complex, nuanced movie character than Charles Foster Kane. Whether he’s ruining his relationship with various women or pushing away old friends, Kane pursues his destiny with blinders on, ignorant to the lonely fate that awaits him. Loosely based on the real-life William Randolph Hearst.

T. E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) from Lawrence of Arabia – A humble British soldier takes on the task of uniting the desert tribes against the Turks during World War I. The transformation of Lawrence is stunning, and it’s the main reason this epic film is considered one of the finest films ever made. From optimism to a sense of resigned defeat, Peter O’Toole’s character runs a gamut of emotions during the film’s equally epic run time.

The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) from The Wizard of Oz – A cackling villain right out of a storybook, the Wicked Witch torments poor Dorothy and her dog Toto with the help of her terrifying flying monkeys. If you’ve got children, make sure they have an opportunity to see this delightful character in action.

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) from The Bridge on the River Kwai – A testament to British military discipline, Nicholson and his fellow POWs set about building a bridge for their Japanese captors. With nothing else to take pride in, Colonel Nicholson becomes blinded to the potential dangers his precious bridge poses to the Allied war effort. A great portrait of obsession.

Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) from Raging Bull – This biographical film takes an unflinching look at the brutal life (in and out of the ring) of champion prizefighter Jake LaMotta. Prideful to a fault and quick to resort to violence, LaMotta navigates through life with the volume turned all the way up. This proves especially hard on his loyal brother and young bride.

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) from Rocky – A lifetime loser, Rocky is inspired to pursue his dreams with the help of the shy Adrian and his crusty trainer Mickey. While overcoming his shady past and own insecurities, Balboa manages to rise above and become a sports legend.

Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) from Pulp Fiction – A scripture-quoting badass, Jules Winnfield undergoes a spiritual awakening in the course of his duties as a mob enforcer. Armed with dialogue supplied by director Quentin Tarantino, Jules is memorable as a bad man trying to be better. He’s also pretty damn funny at times.

The Monster (Boris Karloff) from Frankenstein – Pieced together from the body parts of criminals, the Monster of Dr. Frankenstein never asked to be brought into the world. Filled with fear and rage, he operates on the most primal level. The scene where the creature throws flowers into the water with a small girl will break your heart, and it remains one of the greatest moments in film history.

Harry Lime (Orson Welles) from The Third Man – This is the second entry on the list from Orson Welles, and it’s as well-deserved as the first. While he appears to be dead at the beginning of the film, Harry Lime manages to make a return and entangle an old friend (Joseph Cotton) in a web of intrigue and murder. Bloated by his own greed, Lime is great as an irredeemable villain willing to prey on sick children to get what he wants.

Paul Bäumer (Lew Ayres) from All Quiet on the Western Front – A thoughtful young man fighting for Germany during the first World War, Paul is introduced to the horrors of trench warfare, mustard gas and snipers. He’ll never be the same…assuming he makes it hope alive.

Fredo Corleone (John Cazale) from The Godfather Part II – The link weak of the Corleone family, Fredo’s sycophantic smile masks his jealousy over being passed up for leadership of the family. This causes him to take several inadvisable actions, all of which culminates in a fateful fishing trip. A sad and very realistic portrayal by the late John Cazale.

Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) from The Grapes of Wrath – Fresh out of prison, Tom Joad returns home to Oklahoma only to be thrust into the hellish existence of the Dust Bowl. He and his family head towards California, where misery and death awaits them. Through it all, however, the righteous Tom Joad remains a champion of the oppressed.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these 12 top movie characters, and rest assured that we’ll be bringing you more in the future. In the meantime, you can check out the articles below or head on over to Amazon and pick up movies like The Third Man and Pulp Fiction.

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Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) from Tootsie – An actor finds himself out of work and must dress up in drag to pay the bills. The scheme is far more popular than he imagined, and he soon finds himself trying to live two lives and fight off several unwanted romantic advances. Hoffman shows both dramatic range and comedic timing, and this character (and film) would go on to inspire a large number of cross-dressing comedies.

Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little) from Blazing Saddles – The subversively funny lawman from Mel Brooks’ comedy classic. Bart starts as a slave working on the railroad, but he gets a promotion to sheriff as part of a scheme by the greedy Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) to antagonize the residents of Rock Ridge. Cleavon Little pokes fun at Hollywood’s racial stereotypes while also exploring the role of the minority in the Old West. But most of all, he’ll make you laugh until you cry with lines like “Excuse me while I whip this out.”

General Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott) from Dr. Strangelove – A real man’s man, General Turgidson is just the kind of military leader we don’t need. More than happy to engage in brinksmanship, he warns the President of the United States about a possible “doomsday gap” with the Russians. Patriotic to a fault, he goes so far as to start a fight in the war room with the Soviet ambassador. This leads to the classic line “There’s no fighting in the war room.”

Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman) from Nine to Five – Overtly sexist in every way possible, corporate boss Franklin Hart Jr. takes great pleasure in sexually harassing his female employees and taking credit for their ideas. But when the girls (including Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lilly Tomlin) have finally had enough, Hart finds himself in a rather uncomfortable (and hilarious) situation involving a ball-gag and a garage door opener.

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) from Caddyshack – The deranged assistant greenskeeper at the fictional Bushwood Country Club, Spackler is put in charge of catching a pesky gopher. As man and animal begin a battle of wits, Spackler becomes frustrated to the point of an absolute breakdown. When not chasing gophers, he passes the time with comical golf fantasies including the famous “Cinderella story” monologue. With the adept delivery of Bill Murray, it’s no surprise that the rambling speech has become legendary.

Phil Connors (Bill Murray) from Groundhog Day – Even though the film was released years ago, viewers still delight in watching jerkwad weatherman Phil Connors transform from a selfish cad into a big-hearted romantic. Whether he’s making an ice sculpture or romancing Andie MacDowell, this is one comedy character that’s a real delight.

Peter Warne (Clark Gable) from It Happened One Night – A cynical journalist on the trail of a big story, Warne must choose between love and fame when he crosses paths with a runaway heiress. Gable’s charms are on display for all to see, and his character remains compelling over 70 years later.

Herbert I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) from Raising Arizona – A good-natured career con, “Hi” manages to sweet talk a police officer (Holly Hunter) into marrying him, and they settle down for an idyllic life in a rural Arizona trailer house. But when the couple learns that they can’t conceive, Hi and his missus concoct a comical plan involving one of the newborn babies of the state’s furniture king. With his wild hair and perpetually bewildered expression, it’s hard not to root for Hi to get what he wants.

Dame Marjorie “Maude” Chardin (Ruth Gordon) from Harold and Maude – In her seventies with hair wrapped around her head like a crown, Maude is a vibrant eccentric who lives every moment like her last. When she meets a morose young man at a funeral, the duo embark on a bizarre and touching friendship that blossoms into love. Few comedy movie characters will make you appreciate life as much as Maude does.

Curly Washburn (Jack Palance) from City Slickers – A veteran cowboy, Curly takes a group of city slickers (including Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern) under his wing during a cattle drive. With his weather-beaten face and steely gaze, Palance manages to make Curly both laughable and menacing. He’s the perfect deadpan foil to the smartass Billy Crystal.

There are plenty of other great comedy movie characters to explore, and I’m certain future lists will take a closer look. Personally, I can’t get enough of those zany Knights of the Round Table from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but that’s a subject for another time.

By the way, clicking on the hyperlinks in this post will take you to Amazon. Once there, you can load up on comedy films till your heart’s content. We’ll also get a small commission fee, so everyone comes out with a smile on their face.

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Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) from Training Day – A brutal cop who knows his way around the dangerous streets of Los Angeles, Alonzo Harris will do anything to stay alive, including theft, murder, and even setting up a bright-eyed rookie (Ethan Hawke). It’s great fun watching Denzel shed his nice guy image and attack a villainous role with such gusto.

Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) from The French Connection – A tenacious cop who has a problem with authority and drinks too much, Doyle is just the man to break up a drug smuggling ring between France and the United States. Highly flawed, he’s also a bigot who employs heavy-handed methods to get suspects to give him information. Hackman won a well-deserved Oscar for the role.

Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) from Mommie Dearest – An alcoholic actress with a fading career, Crawford puts her adopted daughter through hell. While it’s terrible to think this may have happened in real life, it sure is entertaining. Absolutely essential to any list of the best movie characters.

Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) from Serpico – After being threatened and intimidated by some of his corrupt fellow officers, idealistic cop Frank Serpico goes undercover to expose the problems in the department. With his beard and long hair, he’s a walking, talking counterculture hero.

J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) from Sweet Smell of Success – Convinced his sister is involved with a man unworthy of her affections, this powerful newspaper man uses his connections to ruin the relationship. One of the most underappreciated villains in the history of film.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) from Star Wars – A wise Jedi master hiding from the clutches of the Empire, Obi-Wan sets off with young Luke Skywalker on a mission of redemption. Along the way, he teaches Luke the ways of the force and thus brings the saga of Anakin Skywalker full circle.

Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) from Spartacus – Douglas is compelling as an escaped gladiator who defies the Roman empire. Based on a real person, the struggle for freedom remains a poignant theme.

Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) from Taxi Driver – Walking a fine line between hero and villain, Bickle obsesses over two very different women, takes on a den of thieves and killers, and somehow becomes celebrated in the process. A stark look at justice and the lack thereof.

Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) from True Grit – As crusty old movie characters go, it’s hard to beat this hard-drinking, one-eyed U.S. Marshal. As he helps a young girl track down her father’s killer, it becomes obvious why John Wayne remains such a cinematic icon.

Noah Cross (John Huston) from Chinatown – A towering monument to greed and unbridled lust, Noah Cross engages in an incestuous relationship with his daughter, has men murdered, and commits any other dirty deed he can conceive of.

Shane (Alan Ladd) from Shane – A mysterious gunfighter drifts into a valley and gets involved in a struggle between a cattle baron and a homesteader. You’ll love the showdown between the noble Shane and the hired killer Jack Wilson (Jack Palance).

Batman (Michael Keaton) from Batman – The Batman franchise got its start with Michael Keaton in the costume. Many didn’t think the comedic actor could pull it off. They were wrong. Years later, his performance holds up much better than Jack Nicholson’s Joker.

Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) from On the Waterfront – A walking portrait of regret and despair, Terry Malloy was on track to be a successful boxer until he was forced to throw a fight. His talk with brother Charley is one of the most famous scenes in movie history, including the line, “I coulda been a contender.”

Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) from The Silence of the Lambs – While she begins the film as a naïve FBI cadet, Starling quickly grows as she forms a relationship with charming psychopath Hannibal Lecter. One of her most harrowing scenes comes when she’s trapped underground in the dark as serial killer Buffalo Bill watches her through night vision goggles.

Amon Goth (Ralph Fiennes) from Schindler’s List – Filled with nothing but contempt for the Jews under his command, Goth is a chilling cinematic villain who routinely stands on his balcony and picks off workers with a rifle. Even more frightening is the fact that this man actually existed. While Liam Neeson is the heart and soul of the film, his deeds in Schindler’s List wouldn’t seem nearly as impressive without the overshadowing evil of Amon Goth.

You’ll notice that a couple of the above films have a hyperlink attached to them. Clicking on those links will take you to the wonderful Amazon website, where you can then purchase the movies in question. It’s a smart way to grow your film library and enjoy these 15 best movie characters without draining your bank account. And we get a little bit of money, as well.

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Sanjay “Sanju” Singhania (Aamir Khan) from Ghajini – This Hindi movie character comes from the Bollywood remake of Memento, a disturbing film about a man suffering from tragic short-term memory loss and on the trail of his wife’s killer. Saju is covered with tattoos as a way to remind himself of important events he might not remember. With his muscled body and severe haircut, Aamir Khan gives a powerhouse performance in this three-hour epic tale of revenge and regret.

Vikram (Neil Nitin Mukesh) from Johnny Gaddar – Dwell too long in the seedy underbelly of any city, and you’re likely to run into someone just like Vikram. Representing a generation gone wrong, his flirtation with the criminal world is motivated by love. In the end, however, love isn’t enough to keep his dangerous lifestyle from caving in on his head.

Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan) from Omkara – This film is a remake of Othello, and Saif Ali Khan creates one of the great Hindi movie characters with his interpretation of the villainous Iago. Langda seeks to betray his best friend and steal power for himself. To do so, he begins a masterful campaign of manipulation, using a beautiful young woman as the centerpiece of his scheme. Khan received the Best Villain Award at the Bollywood Movie Awards.

Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) from Lagaan – A simple farm boy and talented cricket player, Bhuvan leads his village to victory in a cricket match against the British. Along the way, he must try to win the heart of a beautiful village girl (Gracy Singh) while avoiding the advances of a British sexpot (Rachel Shelley). A spectacular look at rural life, and Khan brings a real sincerity to his role.

Dev (Abhay Deol) from Dev D – Born into wealth, the complicated Dev spends the entire movie either pushing away his sweet Paro (Mahi Gill) or desperately trying to win her back. A simmering mixture of love, jealousy and alcoholism, Dev drinks more vodka than any human being has any business doing. Filled with self-destructive behavior, he also gets involved with Chandra, a scandalous student turned prostitute.

Auro (Amitabh Bachchan) in Paa – Stricken with a genetic condition known as Progeria, Auro is 12 years old but looks to be 60 (or older). Bachchan, once known for his portrayal of angry young men, hits one out of the park with his sensitive role as a diseased boy hoping to meet his father for the first time. This performance is almost guaranteed to move you to tears, and it deserves a spot on any list of the 10 top Hindi movie characters.

Murli Prasad “Munna Bhai” Sharma (Sanjay Dutt) from Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. – Inspired by Patch Adams, this film tells the story of a crime lord who must attend medical school in order to fulfill the wishes of his parents. Once his medical education starts, Munna Bhai is all kinds of hilarious, especially when interacting with helpers such as Circuit. It’s also great fun to watch him try to win the affections of a female doctor and deliver his “magical hug” to all those in need.

Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) from Gandhi – Although he’s played by a British actor, it’s hard to overlook this compelling film character, himself based on the amazing real-life leader of India. Whether he’s gaining equal rights for Indians in South Africa, or organizing protests to destroy British control of his homeland, Gandhi approaches every problem with non-violent intentions. A compelling portrayal of one of the great figures of the 20th century, and Kingsley’s Best Actor Oscar was well-deserved.

Krrish (Hrithik Roshan) from Krrish – Setting a new trend in Bollywood cinema, Krrish is a second-generation superhero who follows his true love to Singapore and gets involved in a rivalry with the diabolical Dr. Siddhant. A certifiable blockbuster, much of the success of the film is due to Roshan’s ability to portray Krrish as powerful yet vulnerable.

Mumtaz (Tabu) from Chandni Bar – Every day, women try to get by the best they can in the slums of Mumbai. Chandni Bar is the story of one such woman. Tabu wrings every ounce of emotion from her role as a noble woman surrounded by sleaze and misery. Somehow she rises above, and in the process creates a memorable character of Indian cinema.

These 10 top Hindi movie characters are only a handful of the great roles available to viewers looking for something other than the standard Hollywood fare. You can check them out on Netflix, or you can follow a few of the links we’ve provided and order them on Amazon. You’ll have yourself a great film, and we’ll also get a small commission that’ll allow us to keep bringing you articles about great movie characters. It’s a win-win situation.

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Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) from Dirty Dancing – “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” That’s the famous line from this 1987 film about a teenage girl coming of age while on vacation in the Catskill Mountains in 1963. Baby falls in love, tries to help those less fortunate than her, and even masters the art of “dirty dancing.”

Coco Hernandez (Irene Cara) from Fame - A young woman who enrolls at the New York High School of Performing Arts to study drama, music and dance. An energetic role, Coco clashes his a fellow student over a boy, expresses her views on reincarnation and tries to avoid sleazy guys claiming to be successful directors.

Alexandra Owens (Jennifer Beals) from Flashdance - A dancer by night and a welder by day, young Alexandra “Alex” Owens dreams of one day being accepted to an influential dance school. Encouraged by her aging mentor, a former ballet dancer, Alex decides to give it a try. At the same time, she’s developing feelings for Nick Hurley, a man who happens to be her boss at the steel mill.

Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) from Footloose – Raised in Chicago, Ren McCormack moves to a small town and learns they’ve placed a ban on dancing and rock music. That doesn’t sit well with Ren and his new friends, as they want to have a traditional senior prom. Kevin Bacon became a star with this feel-good role.

Sarah Johnson (Julia Stiles) from Save the Last Dance – A talented dancer, Sarah was close to being accepted into Juillard until her mother was involved in a fatal car wreck. After moving to live with her father in a predominantly black neighborhood, she slowly becomes interested in dance again with the help of Derek, a future medical school student. As Sarah tries to fit in and get back into dancing shape, her feelings for Derek begin to blossom.

Thomas Berger (Christian Bale) from Swing Kids – Thomas and his best friend Peter Muller are inseparable. When Peter gets caught by the Nazis for stealing a radio, he’s forced to enroll in the Hitler Youth program. Thomas also enrolls to support his friend, but the dangerous doctrine of the Nazi party begins to have an influence on him. Bale does a fine job of transforming Thomas from a carefree young man into something far more dangerous.

Maria (Natalie Wood) from West Side Story – One of the great dance movie characters of all time, Maria is the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the street gang known as the Sharks. Feeling stifled by her overprotective brother, she gets into a dangerous relationship with Tony, a former member of a rival gang known as the Jets. A modern-day Juliet.

Tony Manero (John Travolta) from Saturday Night Fever – While his daily life is filled with an unrewarding job, fights with his parents, and a gang of loser pals, Tony Manero becomes something more when he hits the disco dance floor. Determined to win an upcoming dance competition, he recruits Stephanie Mangano to be his partner. As their relationship begins to develop, Tony must maintain his focus for the competition while helping out a troubled friend.

Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) from Strictly Ballroom – A talented Australian ballroom dancer, Scott starts meeting resistance when he wants to incorporate his own steps into performances. Since these steps aren’t considered “strictly ballroom,” Scott loses his partner and comes to meet the working-class Fran. As the two partner up and improve, Fran becomes more confident and Scott finds himself attracted to her. But this doesn’t sit well with Scott’s snobbish mother.

DJ Williams (Columbus Short) from Stomp the Yard – After his brother is killed, an inner-city youth goes to live with his aunt and uncle and attend a historically black university. He quickly falls for a girl he sees on campus, and this leads him to form a rivalry with the stepping crew of a local fraternity. DJ resolves to win the girl’s heart and teach the rival dance crew a few new moves.

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Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) from Psycho – When it comes to old movie characters from horror film, there’s nobody more famous than Norman Bates, a lonely young man tormented by the memories of his sadistic mother. Filled with repressed sexuality, Norman vents his frustrations by killing pretty visitors to The Bates Motel. Despite his many acting roles, this is the role that Anthony Perkins will always be remembered for.

Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) from Casablanca – The owner of Rick’s Cafe Americain, Rick Blaine is a bitter cynic who gets drawn in a dangerous plot when his former lover, Ilsa Lund, walks back into his life. Bogart plays Rick as a man torn between love and doing the right thing.

Jeff Jeffries (James Stewart) from Rear Window – A bored photographer passing the time by watching his neighbors across the courtyard, Jeff becomes convinced that one of his neighbors has murdered his bedridden wife. A simple yet effective performance from Stewart.

Blondie (Clint Eastwood) from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – A mysterious gunfighter who wanders the landscape of the American Civil War in search of $200,000 in stolen Confederate gold. Eastwood oozes rugged charisma in the role, and he would go on to play “The Man with No Name” in two more films.

Darth Vader (David Prowse) from Star Wars – An imposing figure in black armor, Darth Vader’s deadly lightsabre and distinctive raspy breathing have made him the most recognized movie villain ever. While the second trilogy explores his beginnings, the first series is what made him a legend.

Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) from The Godfather – The youngest son of mob boss Don Vito Corleone, Michael is a college-educated veteran of World War II who has no interest in his father’s business. But when assassins start trying to murder his father, Michael begins a slow transformation from bystander to ruthless killer.

Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) from Dr. Strangelove – One of several roles played by Sellers in this classic black comedy from director Stanley Kubrick, Lionel Mandrake is part of an exchange program between the British and American forces. When the mad General Jack D. Ripper decides to start a nuclear war with Russia, it falls to Mandrake to hilariously try to talk him down. This leads to a classic speech from Ripper about our “precious bodily fluids.”

Juror #8 (Henry Fonda) from 12 Angry Men – A portrait of courage in the face of overwhelming peer pressure, Juror #8 is the lone dissenter among a group of 12 jurors who want to render a guilty decision. Can he convince them all to change their minds, or will a young man go to the death chamber?

George Bailey (James Stewart) from It’s a Wonderful Life – When life begins to grind him down, altruistic George Bailey contemplates suicide. That’s when a guardian angel named Clarence appears and shows George what life would’ve been like if he’d never been born. Of all the top old movie characters on this list, George has to be the most uplifting.

Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) from Sunset Blvd. – A long-forgotten star of silent films, Norma Desmond dreams of making a big comeback despite her age. When she meets a struggling screenwriter, the two enter into a dangerous relationship which eventually leads to murder. Obsessed with once again working for Cecil B. DeMille, Desmond evokes both pity and disgust.

Charlie Oakley (Joseph Cotten) from Shadow of a Doubt – Appearing at first as a kindly uncle in town for a visit, Charlie Oakley’s behavior leads his niece to suspect him of being a serial killer. Cotton is charming in this role, able to shift from kindly to menacing at a moment’s notice.

Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) from Singin’ in the Rain – A silent film star with tons of charisma, Don Lockwood must make the transition to talkies while romancing an up-and-coming young actress. It’s hard to resist his charm, as Lockwood’s singing and dancing are still among the finest ever captured on film.

Will Kane (Gary Cooper) from High Noon – A noble marshal prepares to face down a brutal gang of killers, even though he’s been abandoned by the townsfolk. Stubborn and courageous beyond belief, Marshal Kane remains an enduring cinematic portrait of the determined Old West lawman.

If this list of 12 top old movie characters has sparked your interest, I would also recommend the following:

• Summer Blockbusters 1985
• Old Movies List

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Note: I’ve also provided the names of the films, just in case you want to watch them. If no film title is provided, that means the character’s name is the title of the movie.

WALL-E – An adorable little robot tasked with cleaning up Earth, which has become a literal trash heap over the centuries. When he meets a female robot named EVE, it leads WALL-E to undertake a thrilling adventure that will change the course of human history. Both kids and adults will love this good-natured animated film.

Princess Ariel from The Little Mermaid – With her distinctive red hair and green mermaid tail, Princess Ariel is one of the most memorable Disney characters. Accompanied by her pals Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel has an intense curiosity about the surface world. When she falls in love with a handsome prince, she wants to become human. This gets her entangled in a plot by the villainous sea witch Ursula.

Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz – An innocent girl who finds herself and her dog, Toto, transported to the magical land of Oz via a tornado. Once there, she befriends a comical trio consisting of a Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion. To get back home, she’ll have to thwart the plots of The Wicked Witch of the West and her army of flying monkeys.

Shrek – A grouchy ogre who lives in the swamp, Shrek spends his time in peaceful solitude. But when his privacy is interrupted by a host of displaced fairytale characters, Shrek journeys to see Lord Farquaad, the man responsible for the migration of these peaceful beings. Before long, he’s involved in a quest to save the beautiful Princess Fiona.

Willy Wonka from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – Played by Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka is the highly eccentric owner of a legendary candy factory. As he takes a select group of children on a tour of his facility, he tests their character and shows them many wondrous sights.

Pinocchio – A wooden puppet who yearns to be a real boy, his wish will be granted by the Blue Fairy if he can prove himself “brave, truthful and unselfish.” So Pinocchio sets off on a journey of self-discovery accompanied by Jiminy Cricket. This leads him to rub elbows with many people of questionable morality.

Lawrence “Chunk” Cohen from The Goonies – A chubby screw-up, Chunk is often regarded by his friends as a nuisance. But when it comes time to find the hidden treasure of One-Eyed Willy, Chunk proves to be resourceful, loyal and more than a little valuable.

Mary Poppins – A magical nanny who comes down from the clouds to help out a family in need. With her bottomless carpetbag and endless good cheer, Mary charms all those around her with songs such as “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Stay Awake.” Who says all the top kids movie characters have to be animated?

Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story- A child’s toy, Buzz Lightyear initially believes himself to be a real Space Ranger. His constant bickering with Woody remains a highlight of the series. While he can come off as arrogant at times, Buzz is a true hero and a great kids movie character.

Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles – A former superhero, Mr. Incredible retired to the quiet life after getting married and having kids. But when a new danger rears its head, he must once again don his costume and fight for the side of good.

Pee-wee Herman from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure – An eccentric man-child who values his red bicycle more than anything on Earth. When it gets stolen, Pee-wee takes off on a cross-country search filled with danger, romance and lots of laughs.

E.T. from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – E.T.‘s a cute little alien who gets stranded on Earth by accident. He’s befriended by a good-natured child named Elliot, fed Reece’s Pieces, and hidden in a closet. I dare you to not find E.T. all kinds of adorable.

Harry Potter – A bespectacled young wizard whose parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort. He attends Hogwart’s Academy to learn magic, but his past repeatedly comes back to haunt him. Luckily, he has a number of loyal friends to help him through his problems. Over the years, we’ve watched Harry and pals grow up in front of our eyes.

Remy from Ratatouille – Dreaming of one day becoming a chef, Remy forms an alliance with the dishwasher at a French restaurant. An inspirational movie character, Remy teaches kids (and adult) that they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.

Kermit the Frog from The Muppet Movie – Discovered by a Hollywood agent while playing his banjo in the swamp, Kermit sets off on a journey to L.A. to become a star. Along the way, he encounters a bizarre assortment of characters. And all the while, he’s being pursued by the owner of a fast food franchise that specializes in French-fried frog legs.

Still want to read more about the top kids movie characters? Check back with us often, as we’re bound to address the topic again in the future. Meanwhile, take a look at these related articles:

• Good Kid Movies
• Good Movies to Rent
• 20 Memorable Movie Wives

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1. Archer Maggot (Telly Savalas) from The Dirty Dozen – A psychopath who’s sentenced to hang for the rape and murder of a woman, Maggot is a bible-quoting racist madman and member of the special outfit dubbed “The Dirty Dozen.” Savalas plays him with real menace, especially when his facade of sanity begins to slip.
2. The Sergeant (Lee Marvin) from The Big Red One – Tough as nails, The Sergeant is a World War One veteran leading the men of the 1st Infantry Division through North Africa, Sicily and then into Europe.   Along the way, they’ll encounter all the usual horrors of war and even a few new ones. 
3. Liam Devlin (Donald Sutherland) from The Eagle Has Landed – A member of the IRA who’s recruited by the Nazis to help assassinate Churchill. Oddly sympathetic for a villain, he carries on a touching romance with a small-town British woman.
4. Tripp (Denzel Washington) from Glory – Tripp begins this Civil War movie as a man filled with hatred for everyone around him. As the film progresses, he grows both mentally and spiritually, eventually transforming into a fine soldier.
5. Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) from Downfall – As Hitler and his inner circle await the inevitable in his bunker, Ganz is able to show the German dictator as a nuanced individual and not simply a stereotypical villain.
6. Captain Virgil Hilts (Steve McQueen) from The Great Escape – Also known as “The Cooler King,” Hilts is famous for his ability to escape from prison camps. Whenever he’s thrown in the cooler, he passes the time by bouncing a baseball off the walls.
7. Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) from Henry V – A complex individual who values loyalty and friendship, Henry V gives his famous Saint Crispin’s Day speech prior to the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War. Branagh was lauded for his portrayal.
8. Pete Sandidge (Spencer Tracy) from A Guy Named Joe – A pilot killed in the line of duty, Pete is sent back to Earth to pass on his experience to a young aviator. But things get complicated when that young pilot begins to fall for Pete’s former fiancee.
9. Standartenfuhrer Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) from Inglourious Basterds – Landa is an ingenious German officer known as “The Jew Hunter” for his ability to sniff out Jews hiding in Nazi-occupied France. Charming-yet-sinister, Landa smokes a giant pipe and possesses impressive powers of deduction. He’s also a big fan of strudel.
10. 1st Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) from Inglourious Basterds – A no-nonsense American soldier and the leader of The Basterds. He shows absolutely no mercy on the Germans and delights in torturing and maiming them. Speaks with a thick Southern accent.
11. Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) from The Patriot – The widower father of seven children, Martin must choose whether or not to act when the American Revolution gets started. Once he’s pressed into taking up arms, he proves a formidable opponent for the British.
12. Joshua Rose/Guy from Savior – After the death of his wife and child, Guy becomes a cold-blooded mercenary soldier. While serving with the Bosnian Serb Army, he gains a chance for redemption after rescuing a young woman and her newborn child.
13. Oddball (Donald Sutherland) from Kelly’s Heroes – The leader of a group of tanks during World War II, Oddball gets mixed up in a plan to steal millions of dollars worth of gold from the Nazis. Even though the film is set in the 1940s, he acts like he’s straight out of the ’60s. Check out his dog impersonation.
14. Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) from Apocalypse Now – A deranged American officer who goes rogue and sets himself up as a god deep within the jungle. Brutally poetic and utterly mad.
15. General George S. Patton (George C. Scott) from Patton – A no-nonsense military leader, Patton believes himself the reincarnation of an ancient warrior. He proves highly proficient at fighting a war, but his social skills leave something to be desired.
16. Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) from The Killing Fields – A Cambodian journalist and interpreter for a writer from The New York Times, Pran is forced to endure the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge.
17. Sefton (William Holden) from Stalag 17 – A scheming and cynical prisoner-of-war, Sefton holds mice races and various other events to build his stockpile of luxury items. When the prisoners begin to suspect a spy in their midst, the freewheeling Sefton is their prime target.
18. Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) from Saving Private Ryan – The steadfast leader of a squad of soldiers who must travel across Europe to rescue a single man. His origins remain a mystery until later in the film. The bloodshed has taken a toll on Miller, and all he wants is to help win the war and return home to his wife.
19. Sergeant Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe) from Platoon – Elias represents the moral side of soldiers in Vietnam, and he’s constantly at odds with Sergeant Barnes. He serves as a responsible mentor to new recruit Chris (Charlie Sheen).
20. Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger) from Platoon – The flipside of the coin, Barnes represents the pure paranoia and hatred of all those who served in Vietnam. He’ll kill anyone who crosses him, even if they’re on his side.

These 20 great war movie characters should keep you marching to the video store (or mailbox if you use Netflix) for quite some time. If you finish seeing all the films on the above list, be sure and read the following posts for more good military films:

• Modern War Movies
• War Movies List

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