Colonel Braddock
(Chuck Norris)
John McClane
(Bruce Willis)
Rocky Balboa
(Sylvester Stallone)
Maggie Fitzgerald
(Hilary Swank)
Paul Kersey
(Charles Bronson)
Harry Callahan
(Clint Eastwood)
Superman
(Christopher Reeve)
The Terminator
(Arnold Schwarzenegger)
Erin Brockovich
(Julia Roberts)
Norma Rae Webster
(Sally Field)
Ellen Ripley
(Sigourney Weaver)
Tess
(Melanie Griffith)
Rooster Cogburn
(John Wayne)
Indiana Jones
(Harrison Ford)
Oskar Schindler
(Liam Neeson)
William Wallace (Mel Gibson)
MISSING IN ACTION (1984)
Not many people could turn America's controversial war into a kick-ass action movie about rescuing lost POWs in Vietnam, but then, most people aren't Chuck Norris.
DIE HARD (1988)
Who else but John McClane could save a building full of hostages single-handedly, barefoot, covered in broken glass, with no weapons, on Christmas? Yippy-Kay-Yay!
ROCKY (1976)
Every underdog, from now until the end of time, will hear "Eye of the Tiger" playing softly in the background. The ability to inspire? That's a true hero.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004)
A 31-year-old female amateur boxer is an unlikely candidate to be a hero, and that's just the mentality that Maggie Fitzgerald is fighting against.
DEATH WISH (1974)
In the classic vigilante movie, Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey takes care of the law when the cops can't. He's doing his best to stand up for the rest of us, when nobody else will listen.
DIRTY HARRY (1971)
The squinty eyes. The growly voice. The only good cop on a corrupt police force, Dirty Harry is as clean as they come. Now, I have to ask you? Do you feel lucky, punk? Do ya?
SUPERMAN (1978)
Last survivor of the dying planet of Krypton. Raised to believe in truth, justice, and close a fault line while soaking in magma, with his bare hands. Disguised as Clark Kent, Superman is also a symbol of everything that is good and bumbling in the hearts of people.
TERMINATOR 2 (1991)
You'd think being a big old killing robot would be enough to clinch Ahnuld the prize, but finding time to take care of a kid, learn cool catch-phrases, and sacrificing himself for the good of the world doesn't hurt, either.
ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)
Erin Brockovich, in real life, almost single-handedly took down an entire corporation with no knowledge of the law, and no one else on her side. In the movie version, she does the same thing, but also, she's played by Julia Roberts. So +1 for the movie.
NORMA RAE (1979)
Despite all the odds, Sally Field's Norma Rae Webster manages to unionize her factory, defying bug business, her family, and all other naysayers.
ALIENS (1986)
Not many women can look great in an exosuit cargo loader and fight off an entire army of acid-dripping aliens - all while protecting a mute little girl. And no-one calls an alien queen "bitch" quite like Ripley.
WORKING GIRL (1988)
People of Hometown, USA - this is your hero. Despite the odds- a thick accent, no job experience, and a misogynist society looking to put her down - Tess McGill works her way to the top of the corporate ladder and nabs Harrison Ford, fair and square. You go, girl.
TRUE GRIT (1969)
Rooster is played by John Wayne, the hero that all other movie heroes are based on. An irascible drunk, he nevertheless triumphs over evil. By the way, John Wayne only had one lung while they were filming, yet still did all of his own stunts. Enough said.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
If it was Indy vs. Snakes, we know who would win, but since it's not - Indiana Jones gets the lady, fights the Nazis, and rescues several truly priceless relics from the wrong hands.
SCHINDLER'S LIST (1994)
A businessman, Oskar Shindler had no reason to save any life other than his own. Yet, during the Holocaust, he saved more than one thousand Jews, and was crushed that he couldn't saved more.
BRAVEHEART (1995)
After being hung, drawn out on the rack, and disemboweled, would you still have the strength to spur your people on to a successful revolution? William Wallace did, so what are you waiting for?
