Top 10 Antihero movies of all time

Some of the well known antihero movies include Unforgiven, Taxi Driver and Joker.

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Antihero movies can be a perfect match for people who prefer characters with complex and flawed features opposite to traditional heroic features.

Antiheroes often lack morality, courage, and many other heroic attributes; they are usually more concerned with their own will and motives than with anything else, but these characters are loved by millions of people.

Some of Hollywood’s best examples of antiheroes are Walter White from Breaking Bad, Driver from Drive, and Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.

Although these antiheroes acquire some evil and negative traits, they can be seen as people who are willing to do anything for their loved ones.

Moreover, antihero movies make people rethink the definitions of good and evil and make them feel more sympathetic to the antiheroes.

Here is the list of the top 10 Antihero movies with mind-blowing portrayals of antiheroes.

10. There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood is an epic period drama movie written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

It is based on the 1927 novel by Uptoon Sinclair named Oil.

The movie follows Daniel Planview, who discovers Oil in California in 1902 and adopts the orphan son of a worker who passes in an accident.

Furthemore, the movie depicts the greedy nature of Daniel Planview, who is willing to do anything possible to become rich and powerful, including homicide and several other immoral activities.

Daniel’s character, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, has been regarded as one of the most renowned antiheroes ever.

His immoral attributes for gaining power by eradicating his competitors while loving his adopted son perfectly match his antihero qualities.

The movie received worldwide acclaim from critics, and Daniel Day’s performance won him the Oscars for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

There Will Be Blood

IMDb Drama

Daniel, who discovers oil and adopts a young orphan boy, is willing to do anything possible, including eradicating his enemies to gain power and build his business.

DirectorPaul Thomas Anderson
Release DateDecember 26, 2007
StudioGhoulardi Film Company
Scott Rudin Productions
CastDaniel Day-Lewis, Barry Del Sherman, Paul F. Tompkins, Dillon Freasier, Paul Dano
WritersPaul Thomas Anderson, Upton Sinclair
Runtime2h 38m
RatingR

9. Fight Club

Fight Club is a drama movie directed by David Fincher. It is based on Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel of the same name.

The movie follows a narrator who suffers from chronic insomnia and struggles with dissatisfaction with his job and lifestyle.

Furthermore, to deal with his struggles and pain, he joins different support groups, but as his situation worsens, his life takes a surprising turn when he meets a mysterious man, Tyler Durden.

They both later form an underground Fight Club where men gather to engage in a brutal fight; soon, a series of unusual events and mysteries unfold.

Though the movies portrayed violence and immoral activities, Tyler Durdan’s intention to help men involved in the fight club release their frustration and anger can be a perfect fit for an antihero category.

The movie has won several awards, including the Online Film Critics Society Awards, Empire Awards, and Jupiter Award.

Fight Club

IMDb Drama

A man with chronic insomnia who struggles with his job and lifestyle encounters a mysterious man, Tyler, and forms a fight club, which turns his life around.

DirectorDavid Fincher
Release DateOctober 15, 1999
StudioFox 2000 Pictures
Regency Enterprises
Linson Films
CastEdward Norton, Brad Pitt, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier, Helena Bonham Carter
WritersChuck Palahniuk, Jim Uhls
Runtime2h 19m
RatingR

8. Leon: The Professional

Leon: The Professional is an action crime drama movie directed by Luc Besson.

The movie follows Leon, an Italian-American hitman working for a mafia boss, Old Tony, in New York City. Leon encounters a young girl, Mathilda Lando, who lives with a troubled family.

Furthermore, after the demise of Mathilda’s family, Leon takes her and teaches her his hitman skills at her request to take revenge on the person who destroyed her family.

The movie also depicts a series of miserable events, including the demise of Leon and, eventually, the demise of the person who eradicated Mathilda’s family.

Although Leon is a professional hitman in the movie and is involved in several sinful activities, his love and care for Mathilda make him one of the renowned antiheroes in Hollywood.

The movie has won the Czech Lions and Award Circuit Community Awards.

Leon: The Professional

IMDb CrimeDramaAction

A 12-year-old Mathilda, living in a dysfunctional family, is taken by Leon, a professional hitman; after the demise of her family members, she later becomes Leon’s protege and learns the hitman skills.

DirectorLuc Besson
Release Date14 September 1994
StudioGaumont
Les Films du Dauphin
CastJean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel
WriterLuc Besson
Runtime1h 50m
RatingR

7. Scarface

Scarface is a crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone.

It is a remake of the 1932 movie of the same name, based on Armitage Trail’s novel of the same name.

The movie follows Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee and an ex-convict who comes to Miami and is sent to a refugee camp with his best friend, Manny Ribera, and their companions, Angel and Chi-Chi.

After getting a green card in exchange for eradicating a former senior henchman from Miami’s powerful mafia, Frank Lopez, they get involved in the crime business.

The movie further depicts Tony’s journey of rising from poverty to a wealthy and powerful hooligan through any means, including several homicides and unlawful activities.

Scarface is regarded as one of the renowned antihero movies because of Tony’s complex and flawed nature, which involves several immoral activities opposite to Hollywood’s traditional heroes.

The movie was nominated for Golden Globes and Satellite Awards.

Scarface

IMDb CrimeDrama

A Cuban immigrant, Tony Montana, along with his companions, arrives in Maimi as a refugee but gets involved in the world of crime because of his greed for power and money.

DirectorBrian De Palma
Release DateDecember 9, 1983
StudioMartin Bregman Productions
CastAl Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Ángel Salazar
WritersOliver Stone, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht, Armitage Trail
Runtime2h 50m
RatingR

6. Unforgiven

Unforgiven is a Western drama movie produced and directed by Clint Eastwood.

The movie follows Will Munny, who is offered the task of eradicating two cowboys who previously attacked a girl named Delilah Fitzgerald in return for a huge sum of money.

Will, a former assassin but now a widower raising 2 children, agrees to complete the task as his last task as a hitman so that his children’s future might be secured.

Moreover, the movie illustrates Will’s involvement in several unlawful activities, including a series of assassinations.

Unforgiven is regarded as a classic antihero movie as Will is initially a good father to his children and a good person, but to fulfill his desires, he gets involved in several evil activities.

The movie has won four Oscars and several other renowned awards, including BAFTA, Golden Globes, and Hochi Film Awards.

Clint Eastwood’s performance as William Munny was praised by people worldwide, and he is known as one of the most renowned antiheroes.

Unforgiven

IMDb WesternDrama

William Munny, a former hitman, takes on one last job to help his old partner Ned Logan to eradicate two cowboys which results in series of tragic events.

DirectorClint Eastwood
Release DateAugust 7, 1992
StudioMalpaso Productions
CastClint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Jaimz Woolvett, Saul Rubinek
WriterDavid Webb Peoples
Runtime2h 10m
RatingR

5. Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction is an independent crime drama movie written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

The movie follows intertwined stories of two hitmen, Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega, a fighter Butch Coolidge, and his girlfriend, Fabienne, and a gangster, Marsellus Wallace, and his wife, Mia.

It includes seven sequences in chronological order, starting from a scene of a robbery in a diner and ending with Butch freeing Marsellus from Maynard and leaving the city with his girlfriend, Fabienne.

Pulp Fiction is known as one of the best antihero movies. It illustrates the different complex and flawed characters in the movie, which, though involved in illegal activities, also had some genuine and kind characters who are motivated to get things done for their own satisfaction.

The movie received several renowned awards, including the Oscars for Best Writing and Screenplay and others like Saturn, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Award.

Pulp Fiction

IMDb CrimeDrama

It follows the intertwined stories of two hitmen, a fighter, a mafia boss, and his wife in the world of crime.

DirectorQuentin Tarantino
Release DateOctober 14, 1994 
StudioA Band Apart
Jersey Films
CastJohn Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Eric Stoltz, Uma Thurman
WritersQuentin Tarantino
Runtime2h 34m
RatingR

4. Joker

Joker is a psychological crime drama thriller movie directed and co-produced by Todd Phillips.

It is loosely based on the DC Comics character The Joker.

The movie follows a struggling clown and an aspiring stand-up comedian suffering from depression, anxiety, and a neurological disorder who lives with his mother, Penny, in Gotham City.

Arthur becomes the victim of manipulation and attack and is treated badly in society, which provokes him to become an assassin for his self-defense and decides to start a revolution against the wealthy people by eradicating them.

The movie is considered an antihero movie because Arthur, who is initially a victim of social injustice, becomes a dark and violent individual who gets involved in several unlawful activities to remove injustice and bad people from decaying society.

Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Arthur won him an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Joker

IMDb CrimeDramaThriller

Arthur Fleck, a professional clown and a failed stand-up comedian living with his mother who becomes the victim of social injustice and bullying, starts a revolution against wealthy and evil people.

DirectorTodd Phillips
Release DateOctober 4, 2019
StudioWarner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
Bron Creative
Joint Effort
DC Films
CastJoaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Leigh Gill
WritersTodd Phillips, Scott Silver, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson
Runtime2h 2m
RatingR

3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a psychological drama movie directed by Milos Forman.

It is based on the novel by Ken Kesey, which is of the same name.

The movie follows 38-year-old Randle McMurphy, who is involved in several unlawful activities and pretends to be insane to get himself moved into a mental institution to avoid hard labor behind bars.

Furthemore, the movie depicts McMurphy’s journey in the mental institution headed by Nurse Ratvched, a cold, aggressive person who, to gain power, is making the patients’ lives hell.

Rebellious McMurphy disobeys the nurse, starts several fights, and manipulates scared patients against the bossy nurse.

Jack Nicholson’s role as Randle McMurphy is a perfect example of an antihero because he displays the opposite traits of the traditional heroic characters.

For his role, Jack Nicholson won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role and several other prestigious awards, including the BAFTA Awards, National Board of Review, and Sant Jordi Awards.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

IMDb Drama

A Korean War veteran, Randle McMurphy, who is on the verge of getting charged for criminal activities, fakes to be an insane person to get admitted to a mental institution to avoid going behind bars and fight against the bossy nurse.

DirectorMilos Forman
Release DateNovember 19, 1975
StudioFantasy Films
CastJack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Will Sampson, Vincent Schiavelli
WritersDale Wasserman, Ken Kesey, Bo Goldman, Lawrence Hauben
Runtime2h 13m
RatingR

2. The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II is an epic crime drama movie produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

It is based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name. It is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather.

The movie follows Vito Corleone’s early life and career and illustrates Michael Corleone’s journey as the new Don of the Corleone family after his father’s demise.

Furthermore, it depicts how Michael is willing to do anything possible to protect his family business, including involving himself in several immoral activities, eradicating his enemies, and getting involved in corruption.

Al Pacino’s portrayal of Michael Corleone is known as one of the best antiheroes in Hollywood. His struggle to protect his family business by hook or by crook can be a perfect example of an antihero.

The movie won six Oscars and several other awards, including Saturn, BAFTA, Satellite, and Golden Schmoes Awards.

The Godfather Part II

IMDb CrimeDrama

Mark Corleone is willing to do anything possible to protect his family business built by his father, Vito Corleone

DirectorFrancis Ford Coppola
Release DateDecember 20, 1974
StudioParamount Pictures
The Coppola Company 
CastAl Pacino, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, John Cazale,
Talia Shire
, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo
WritersMario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola
Runtime3 hours 22 minutes
RatingR

1. Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver is a neo-noir psychological crime movie directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader.

The movie follows Travis Bickle, who works as a taxi driver at night to cope with his chronic insomnia and loneliness.

Furthermore, the movie depicts how disgusted Travis is with a society full of evil and filthy people whom he dreams of removing. It also illustrates Travis’ addiction to adult movies, which ruins his date with Betsy.

Experiencing an existential crisis and seeing various nasty activities in society, Travis builds himself as a strong person and gets involved in several assassinations, eventually harming himself.

Robert Di Niro’s portrayal of Travis is regarded as one of the most loved antiheroes ever.

Although his idea of removing dirt from society was unlawful and immoral, his attempt to save a young girl from filthy activities can be considered an antiheroic trait.

The movie was nominated for 4 Oscars and is known as one of the greatest movies ever made.

Taxi Driver

IMDb DramaCrime

A mentally disturbed man, Travis works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where he is disgusted by the unethical activities in the City and dreams of removing the dirt and dirty people of the city.

DirectorMartin Scorsese
Release DateFebruary 8, 1976
StudioBill/Phillips Productions
Italo-Judeo Productions
CastRobert De Niro, Garth Avery, Jodie Foster, Leonard Harris, Harvey Keitel, Bob Maroff
WriterPaul Schrader
Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
RatingR
Suruchi Lohani
Suruchi Lohani
Suruchi is a student of Business Management, who is also a movie enthusiast. She loves writing articles and blogs related to movies. Besides that, she enjoys reading novels and is passionate about learning new things.

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