Either they can easily defeat any assailant, or they have an indomitable spirit and never give up; some characters are just so tough. From The Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia to the unbreakable Wolverine, here are 19 of the toughest movie characters ever created:
Hulk – The Hulk franchise (since 1962)
Imagine a big, green, mean machine with no upper limit to his strength. The angrier he gets, the stronger he becomes, and anger is his default emotion. The Hulk, from Marvel’s cinematic universe, is an iconic symbol of raw power, strength, and durability. He’s as tough as it gets.
Robert McCall – The Equalizer franchise (since 2014)
Robert McCall is a weathered hitman with absolutely nothing to lose. In The Equalizer 3, he finds peace. When the mafia tries to disrupt this, he single-handedly takes them all out in one night. He even goes as far as killing the boss by making him overdose on the very drugs he had been in the business of dealing. Just wow.
John Wick – The John Wick franchise (since 2014)
John Wick’s stature might not cause a shiver to go down your spine. But his craftiness and quick thinking, his endurance and focus, and his ability to use his intelligence to give himself the upper hand in any fight will leave the burliest, most weapon-loaded man dead and gone in no time.
Geralt of Rivia – The Witcher (2019)
To qualify as a witcher, he was put through a process so painful that toughness is inevitable. Geralt has it all: intelligence, durability, superhuman strength, and reflexes. All witchers are somewhat superhuman, but Geralt has gone through particularly harrowing experiences, and the fact that he has survived them all is a testament to his toughness.
Terminator – The Terminator franchise (since 1984)
We couldn’t get to the end of this list without mentioning this iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger character. The Terminator has a relentless and virtually indestructible nature. It is a machine designed for one purpose: to terminate its targets. Its cold, unfeeling demeanor and unwavering commitment to its mission make it a formidable and feared antagonist.
Bane – The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Bane is certainly one of the more terrifying Batman villains. He is also the first of them to actually beat Batman to a stupor in hand-to-hand combat. In addition to his unbelievable physical strength and size, his voice alone would make you shudder. He’s also really cunning.
Wolverine – Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (appeared first in 1974)
Wolverine is a trained killer with accelerated healing and claws protruding from his knuckles that can cut through almost anything. He also has a skeleton coated with ‘adamantium,’ a virtually indestructible steel alloy. He’s basically a living weapon, and all his attributes make him extremely hard to kill.
Maximus – Gladiator (2000)
Maximus went from one of the most formidable generals of his time to one of the most legendary gladiators of his time. Try as they may, they just couldn’t put this guy’s flame out. He exhibited immense strength and resilience, both physically and in character.
Walter White – Breaking Bad (2008)
An old, extremely intelligent man working two jobs and still not getting enough pay or respect finds out he has a terminal illness. Walter White—or should I say Heisenberg—wasn’t your typical tough guy. Feeling like he had nothing to lose (except perhaps his family’s trust), he didn’t just grow tough, he went crazy.
Frank Martin – The Transporter (2002)
Frank Martin was a team lead of a search and destroy unit in the military. He retires to become a driver. As expected, he is no ordinary driver. Overpowering an entire gang of armed thugs without taking any hits is barely a feat for him: he shows resourcefulness with his incredible skills behind the wheel.
Michael Scofield – Prison Break (2005)
Michael has an incredibly high pain tolerance. He’s able to keep calm in extreme situations, rarely ever losing his temper. His ability to focus on and process everything in a room is attributed to some really messed up childhood trauma. Notwithstanding, it tempers his mental fortitude to an extent that’s worthy of mention.
Deadpool – Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool’s ability to heal from virtually any injury, no matter how severe, sets him apart as a superhuman force to be reckoned with. His fearlessness is evident in every battle, as he takes on adversaries with determination. Yet, what truly defies Deadpool’s toughness is his irreverent wit, which he maintains even in the direst of situations.
Frank Lucas – American Gangster (2007)
Frank Lucas’s toughness is evident in his remarkable rise to power from a mere driver for a Harlem gangster to a dominant and influential crime figure, eliminating rivals and traitors without hesitation. Subsequently, he’s consistently able to evade law enforcement, outsmarting authorities through cunning strategies and staying ahead of the game.
Aibileen Clark – The Help (2011)
By helping expose the harsh realities of racial discrimination, Aibileen defied the societal norms of her time, all the while grappling with the emotional turmoil of caring for Mae Mobley and her own personal grief over the loss of her son. Viola Davis really is the iconic actress for tough black female characters.
Tyler Durden – Fight Club (1999)
Tyler Durden created an underground club where he engaged in brutal, bare-knuckle brawls. Now that’s pretty tough. He had the ability to manipulate and inspire the film’s protagonist and went on to establish a whole rebellion against consumerism—Project Mayhem. He was tough with his fists, tough with his mind, and tough with his ideals.
Katniss Everdeen – The Hunger Games (2012)
Katniss’s volunteering for The Hunger Games to protect her sister Prim was unbelievably ballsy. In training, her survival skills and mastery of archery set her apart from the rest. Katniss soon became a beacon of hope and rebellion by her defiance against the Capitol. All this with her emotional resilience amidst loss, manipulation, and trauma.
Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary – Hidden Figures (2016)
Although they were exceptional pioneers in NASA’s space missions, these women braved intense racial discrimination at work every day. Nonetheless, they were able to excel in this environment rife with bias and adversity. Their remarkable toughness not only reshaped the field of space exploration but also set a powerful example for future generations.
Anton Chigurh – No Country for Old Men (2007)
Chigurh operates outside the traditional boundaries of morality, making him an unpredictable and formidable force. His persistent pursuit of his targets, marked by a calm and methodical demeanor, leaves audiences on edge. Additionally, his enigmatic character and existential musings add a touch of complexity to his toughness.
Gregor Clegane (The Mountain) – Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)
Gregor’s character is defined by his immense size, incredible strength, and brutal disposition. He’s known for his extreme acts of merciless violence, such as the brutal duel with Oberyn Martell, which was one of the most memorable and shocking moments in the series.
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