Occasionally, there comes a character who truly leaves their mark on both the public consciousness and the film industry as a whole, and there have been several of these characters developing in the last decade. These characters often surpᴀss the films they appear in, becoming a greater part of pop culture as characters recognized even by those who have never seen the movies they come from. Some of the best movies of all time have characters just like this, marked by their excellent writing and well-developed storylines.

Characters are an important part of building any movie or television show, with some of the best coming from unexpected places. Some of the best animated Star Wars characters that were recently introduced are the best in the entire franchise, with many of them even coming to live-action. The best female anime characters of all time are also impressive, showing the great stories that are being told across mediums. Still, when we consider “best,” we tend to think of older movies and past eras. The movies of the past decade, however, have proven that even newer characters can be destined to be icons.

10

Benoit Blanc

Knives Out (2019) & Glᴀss Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

One of the best detectives in modern film history, Benoit Blanc has appeared in two different films so far. First appearing in the incredible mystery film Knives Out, Benoit is known for his charisma and his specific attention to detail. He is famed as a detective who can solve any case, even in the world of the films he appears in, and this is something that has translated to real life as well.

The movies Knives Out and Glᴀss Onion: A Knives Out Mystery are both known for their star-studded casts and wacky characters, and yet Benoit still manages to stand out. His intelligence is only a small part of the character’s greater whole, only made better by Daniel Craig’s pᴀssionate performance. Now that Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man: A Knives Out Mystery is set to release in 2025, fans are sure to see Benoit Blanc again sometime soon.

9

Christian Grey

The 50 Shades Of Grey Franchise

Originally based on E. L. James’ novel of the same name, 50 Shades of Grey is an erotic adventure that first captured hearts and minds all the way back in 2015. Revolving around the iconic Christian Grey, the film follows a relatively simple plot. Essentially, a college student named Anastasia Steele develops an extreme relationship with Christian, one that unfolds over the course of the film and its subsequent sequels.

The 50 Shades of Grey book series actually began as a series of Twilight fan fiction known as “Master of the Universe.”

Christian himself is not exactly known for his kind tendencies and has instead risen to fame in part because of the erotic nature of these films. In a similar vein, 50 Shades of Grey became a legendary part of literary and cinematic history due to its overwhelming popularity. Even if the films do not have the greatest writing in the world, many people know who Christian Grey is, for better or worse.

8

Elisabeth Sparkle & Sue

The Substance (2024)

Although The Substance has only just recently been released, it has already found its place in film history as a whole. It tells the story of an older actress named Elisabeth Sparkle who is approached with an offer to try a mysterious drug known as The Substance, which will split her into a younger version of herself. She accepts, creating an alter ego named Sue, who only manages to throttle her self-worth even further.

Equal parts horror and social commentary, The Substance takes a hard look at how women are treated in the film industry. This criticism is shown in bloody detail throughout the entire film, one that purposely goes out of its way to bring out negative emotions in the viewer. Elisabeth and Sue as two different parts of one person really sell the movie’s premise, with Demi Moore’s performance specifically being both heartwrenching and memorable.

7

Rick Dalton & Cliff Booth

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

Both written and directed by legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a love letter to the entire film industry. Filled to the brim with references and callbacks, this film holds a unique place as a celebration of film history in all of its forms. This is only made even greater as it makes its own mark on the film world, introducing two characters that are equally important in the form of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth.

Playing the roles of an actor and his stunt double, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt really dive into their roles, presenting a realistic look into the lives of the people who make these movies possible. They are dramatic and over the top, standing out almost as fun caricatures of these sorts of actors. This is only made more ridiculous as the movie comes to a close, where these characters go from ordinary actors to action stars in their real lives.

6

Evelyn Quan Wang

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a unique action film that takes the struggles of one family and extrapolates them out to impossible, multiversal proportions. Following Evelyn Quan Wang and her family’s financial issues with keeping their laundromat business, Everything Everywhere All at Once quickly thrusts Evelyn into a dangerous world that has her jumping between multiverses. Essentially, a different version of her husband urges her to help him take down a being known as Jobu Tupaki.

Evelyn cares deeply about her family, but despite this, she still faces challenges, including whether to divorce her husband or simply give up on everything altogether.

Evelyn herself is an extremely strong main character, complete with her own reservations and convictions. Evelyn cares deeply about her family, but despite this, she still faces challenges, including whether to divorce her husband or simply give up on everything altogether. Her character is written with a deep empathy, allowing so many different people to identify with her issues despite the absurdist nature of the film.

5

Moana

Moana (2016) & Moana 2 (2024)

Every Disney Princess at some point makes her way into the annals of film history, and Moana is no different. First appearing in 2016’s Moana, the тιтular character quickly rose to popularity due to an exciting story and incredible music by Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame. She, too, is an iconic Disney Princess who has appeared in several movies now, but compared to many of these other princesses, Moana is known for her strength of character and ability to rely on herself to solve any problems.

Moana is just as strong in the sequel to the original Moana film, aptly тιтled Moana 2. She continues on with a legacy of caring for others and risking her life to ensure the safety and future of her people, reuniting them in a way that only Moana can. This film was only recently released and can currently be found on Disney+, continuing the story of a princess beloved by fans of all ages.

4

Barbie & Ken

Barbie (2023)

For decades, the Mattel dolls known as Barbie and Ken have been well-known pop culture icons, even appearing in several animated films. They have become integrated into American media, but never reached the heights of popularity possible for their individual characters. However, all of this changed when these characters exploded in popularity because of the development of a live-action film, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken.

In this film, Barbie herself goes on a powerful adventure of self-discovery that sees her going from her idyllic home to the real world, complete with all the issues that exist in reality. Meanwhile, Ken realizes that the world he has been living in with Barbie isn’t as great as the real world, for him, making him almost villainous in a surprising turn. Their character arcs are well done, giving real depth to such beloved characters.

3

Furiosa

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) & Furiosa (2024)

The Mad Max franchise is one that has spanned decades, but one of its best characters is a relatively new addition to this world of post-apocalyptic desert survival. Furiosa first appeared in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, where she was initially portrayed as a villain and then a reluctant ally to Tom Hardy’s Max Rockatansky. What follows in each film is an action-adventure with liberation at the center of it all, showing the hardships that these characters face while living in the wasteland.

Furiosa has been portrayed by multiple actresses, beginning with Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road and then Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

As a character, Furiosa is driven by a desire to protect the women who those at the top of the food chain plan to use for a variety of different nefarious reasons. Even in the early moments of her introduction, when she opposes Max, Furiosa is incredibly dynamic, leaving the viewer wondering not only what her motivations are, but what she is going to do next. She is both physically and emotionally strong, and, above all, she is just a great action character.

2

Kylo Ren

The Star Wars Series

Being the son of legendary Star Wars characters Leia Organa and Han Solo, Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, has quickly become an integral part of the greater Star Wars canon. Acting as the main villain for the first part of the sequel trilogy, Kylo Ren is essentially the stand-in for Darth Vader for a new generation of viewers. This only makes the emotional payoff of his light side turn that comes in later films that much more powerful, leaving fans rooting for his redemption.

Despite the divisive nature of this trilogy, Kylo Ren himself has been a part of several iconic scenes that manage to stand out despite criticisms of these films. The scene where he kills his own father in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is especially important, leaving viewers scrambling over the death of a character as big as Han Solo while wondering how Kylo could possibly come back from this. Kylo Ren is an interesting character because of this, one with many different ups and downs that keep people talking.

1

Paul Atreides

The Dune Series

Although Paul Atreides is not a character that is new to cinema, first appearing on-screen all the way back in the original 1984 Dune film, the character has received a new lease on life with Denis Villaneuve’s series reboot. The film begins where the original 1965 novel begins, rewriting the narrative put in place by the original film and stretching the series out into several films. Since then, Paul has appeared in Dune and later Dune: Part Two, with the next exciting installment of Dune: Part Three on the way.

Paul’s journey throughout the first two Dune films is iconic, going from an unknowing nobleman who loses everything to something different to everyone. He is equally a member of the Fremen, a savior, and even a political world-conquering figure to be afraid of. There are many different developments that occur throughout these films, shaping Paul from nothing into one of the most dangerous and driven men in the entire galaxy.