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40 Fictional Villains, Heroes and Sidekicks That Merit a Closer Inspection

Tell me more about this ‘Mr. Burns’ fellow

40 Fictional Villains, Heroes and Sidekicks That Merit a Closer Inspection

June 23, 2024 Add Cracked to Google

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40

Speed

Underappreciated Sidekicks Speed Annie Porter Annie steps up to take the wheel when needed, and drives like a boss. Annie is so cool she manages to stop the bus from blowing up, and her driving is so awesome she even gets the bus goddamn airborne. CRACKED.COM — Source

39

Underappreciated Sidekicks Chasing Amy Hooper X For a movie that has aged in some yikes-y ways, Hooper is a great gay character who isn't a stereotype and doesn't die. Instead, he gets hilarious rants about Star Wars and Archie, and gives the protagonist some mature words of advice. CRACKED.COM — Source

38

Underappreciated Sidekicks Castaway Wilson Projecting a whole personality onto a volleyball allows Tom Hanks', er, John Castaway to keep his sanity in isolation, and even face Wilson's death in the ocean with the life-affirming drive he needs the most. Wilson! CRACKED.COM — Source

37

Underappreciated Sidekicks Star Wars Wedge Antilles Yes, Wedge survived the final Rise of Skywalker battle, but that movie was disrespectful to everyone involved. Не should be better known to casual fans, as he was in pretty much every successful space battle in the original trilogy. CRACKED.COM — Source

36

Underappreciated Sidekicks Paris, Texas Walt Henderson When Wim Wenders' 1984 classic starts, Walt has spent four years on the lookout for his missing brother Travis, and flies from L.A to Texas just to pick him up once he's found. A brilliant movie ensues. CRACKED.COM — Source

35

Underappreciated Sidekicks Ghost World Seymour Poor Seymour ends up in a truly bad place. But before falling for the first cute girl who paid him any attention (it happens to the best of us), he was a great sidekick for Enid, even granting her her wish to enter a sex shop and getting her that quirky cat-ear mask. CRACKED.COM — Source

34

RoboCop

Underappreciated Sidekicks RoboCop Anne Lewis Paul Verhoeven wanted to make Lewis masculine so as to not be sexualized, and Nancy Allen totally pulled it off. She's not a love interest, but a loyal and tough friend who helps Murphy regain his humanity through the sheer power of being a great bud. CRACKED.COM — Source

33

Underappreciated Sidekicks Rear Window Lisa Fremont Grace Kelly makes this thriller even better. Lisa is caring, possesses detective-like sharpness, and is so adventurous that she almost gets herself killed. She still finds incriminating evidence, though. Is she cool or is she cool? CRACKED.COM — Source

32

Underappreciated Sidekicks Wayne's World Garth Wayne is fun and all, but it's Garth's adorable, quick- witted, and awkward silliness that makes the sparks fly. Dana Carvey deserves more love (like, in general), and Garth is a hilarious character just as quotable as Mike Myers' Wayne. CRACKED.COM — Source

31

Underappreciated Sidekicks The Shawshank Redemption 3020 Ellis Boyd Red Redding The movie would be very different without Red being a constant, supportive friend always giving great life advice, in the Morgan Freeman giving great life advice tradition. Not to mention that his smuggling skills help Andy to survive poop-pipe hell. CRACKED.COM — Source

30

Underappreciated Sidekicks Batman Robin Batman is a fascinating character, but as a self- pitying, brooding loner, he can get just whiny and lame. Robin (any Robin) forces Batman to open up to positive attitudes like actually caring for other people, like a true badass. CRACKED.COM — Source

29

Underappreciated Sidekicks Billy Madison Frank Frank is a constant source of emotional support and growth for childish Billy Madison - and at the same time, he's a slacker just chilling all day in Billy's mansion, and encouraging his worst habits. We salute you, Frank, you absolutely legendary sidekick. CRACKED.COM — Source

28

Casablanca

Underappreciated Sidekicks Casablanca Sam Sam anchors Humphrey Bogart's Rick to the old life with Ilsa he wants to forget, and offers emotional support to a bottled-up, old-timey dude like Rick. He's also great representation for the time. CRACKED.COM — Source

27

Underappreciated Sidekicks The Nice Guys Holly March In a movie where Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe' play unethical losers, the daughter of Gosling's character is not an annoying sidekick, but the moral center. She's clever, resourceful, and completely able to handle the two bumbling drunkards. CRACKED.COM — Source

26

Underappreciated Sidekicks Indiana Jones Sallah Remember when Sallah's cat-like reflexes saved Indy from eating a poisoned date in Raiders? We remember, old friend. By The Last Crusade, Sallah had become a bumbling buffoon, and John Rhys- Davies refused to do a lame cameo in Crystal Skull. CRACKED.COM — Source

25

Underappreciated Sidekicks Napoleon Dynamite Pedro A quiet character in a movie full of quirky, flashy ones, Pedro deserves more love as a friend and ally to social outcast Napoleon. In fact, Napoleon's iconic Jamiroquai dance would not exist if he hadn't had to save the day for Pedro's political campaign. CRACKED.COM — Source

24

Underappreciated Sidekicks Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Owen Kid Contact Bouchard Even after becoming a douchebag, Kid Contact remains by Conner's side, and eventually parent- traps him into making amends with former Style Boy Lawrence. What happens next may or may not be the greatest thing in the history of music. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

Good Will Hunting

Underappreciated Sidekicks Good Will Hunting Chuckie Sullivan Chuckie gives Will the exact final push he needs to finally take his responsibility for his life, by telling him that his favorite part of the day is picking him up and imagining he won't be there, that he went on to better things. What a friend. CRACKED.COM — Source

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22

Underappreciated Sidekicks Ferris Bueller's Day Off Cameron Frye Ferris' psychopathic shenanigans would be much harder to pull off without the complicity of walking depressive episode Cameron. Did he finally confront his dad? We hope so! We wish you the best, buddy! CRACKED.COM — Source

21

Underappreciated Sidekicks Grease Frenchy Frenchy gets Sandy into the Pink Ladies clique, offers lots of emotional support during the movie, and even has her own arc and musical number (with Frankie friggin' Avalon telling her to go back to high school). CRACKED.COM — Source

20

Tiny Toon Adventures

Rich Jerks Tiny Toon Adventures Montana Max Не was voiced by Budnick DE from Salute Your Shorts. Before he played a red-headed rich brat on Tiny DO S Toons, Danny Cooksey played a red-headed camp S في bully on the Nickelodeon show. Extra fact: DI Не also played Stoop Kid on Hey Arnold! CRACKED.COM — Source

19

Rich Jerks DC Comics Bruce Wayne Не got his name from two historical figures. Batman creators took the name Bruce Wayne from Scottish King Bruce I and American revolutionary general Mad Anthony Wayne, both known as heroes fighting for independence. CRACKED.COM — Source

18

Biff Tannen

Rich Jerks Back to the Future Part II Dystopian 1985 Biff Tannen Biff is Donald Trump. According to screenwriter Bob Gale, Biff mirrors the then-future 45th U.S. President. Given his attitude, casinos, and real estate with his name written everywhere, it's pretty on the manure-soaked nose. CRACKED.COM — Source

17

Jessica Walters

Rich Jerks Arrested Development Lucille Bluth Jessica Walters professionally acted for nearly 60 years. Known as the rich socialite Lucille Bluth, Walters got her first TV role on Love of Life in 1962, and her final role before her passing was as the equally rich and jerky Mallory Archer on Archer in 2021. CRACKED.COM — Source

16

Goldfinger

Rich Jerks Goldfinger Auric Goldfinger The actor couldn't speak English. German actor Gert Fröbe was a brilliant OZ KY GER performer, but his English wasn't very good. 69 Не was dubbed by fellow actor Michael Collins. CRACKED.COM — Source

15

Rich Jerks DuckTales Flintheart Glomgold Не originally got rich through South African blood diamonds. Carl Barks created the character as a dark reflection of Scrooge McDuck. Не was of South African descent and made his riches by exploiting diamond mines. CRACKED.COM — Source

14

Tony Stark

Rich Jerks Marvel Cinematic Universe Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr. owns the role- but wasn't the only casting choice. Other people considered for the arrogant genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist included Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, and Sam Rockwell. CRACKED COM — Source

13

Ebenezer Scrooge

Rich Jerks A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge Scrooge was created after Charles Dickens misread a tombstone. At a Scottish cemetery, Dickens read one Ebenezer Scroggie's tombstone as mean man, when it was meal man (Scroggie was a grain merchant). Dickens wrote the name and mean man in his notebook to create the iconic miser. CRACKED.COM — Source

12

Sir Topham Hatt

Rich Jerks Thomas the Thank Engine Sir Topham Hatt His name was changed for American audiences. While the character's name was always Sir Topham Hatt, when the show was released in the U.S. they changed all references to him to this name because OF the Fat Controller seemed unnecessarily hurtful. CRACKED.COM — Source

11

Rich Jerks The Hobbit Smaug Benedict Cumberbatch studied lizards at the London Zoo for the role. Cumberbatch wore a тосар suit to portray the rich gold-hoarding dragon and incorporated his zoo research into his movements and body language. CRACKED.COM — Source

10

Rich Jerks Star Wars Jabba the Hutt Не first appeared in Star Wars comics (and looked very different). Before his on-screen debut in 1983's Return of the Jedi, Jabba showed up in issue #2 of the Star Wars comic book in 1977, looking like a pale, green, bipedal walrus-face creature rather than the gigantic monster slug we all know and loathe. CRACKED.COM — Source

9

Rich Jerks DC Comics Lex Luthor No one can agree on how Luthor got bald. Depending on which era of comic books you read or show/movie you watch, Luthor's bald head is due to a chemical accident caused by Superman, his hair being permanently burned in a kryptonite explosion, basic male pattern baldness, or other reasons. CRACKED.COM — Source

8

Rich Jerks EY HOUSE Fifty Shades of Grey Christian Grey Не has a specific pair of Dom jeans. Per the book Grey, Christian likes to wear his DJs whenever he's about to have a BDSM session. (Note: Never use these books for actual BDSM research. Jeans might be a fetish, but aren't a Dom thing.) CRACKED.COM — Source

7

Rich Jerks Game of Thrones Tywin Lannister Charles Dance almost played James Bond. While we know him as the rich, manipulative Lannister patriarch, Dance was given the chance to screen test as 007 but turned it down. Не did, however, play Bond creator lan Fleming in Goldeneye (the 1989 Fleming biopic, not the Pierce Brosnan film). CRACKED.COM — Source

6

Futurama

Rich Jerks momcorp Futurama Mom She dated Mr. Burns. If the Futurama comic book is canon, the two elderly, evil billionaires met during a crossover and fell in love. When Mom went back to the 31st century, she set out to DVD S UN make a clone of Burns out of $ a lock of his thinned hair. S CRACKED.COM

5

Rich Jerks Family Guy Carter Pewterschmidt Не has the same voice as Dr. Hartman. Seth McFarlane plays both characters using the same voice. This was joked about in the episode Believe Or Not, Joe's Walking on Air. CRACKED.COM — Source

4

Rich Jerks Watchmen Adrian Veidt Не was based on Thunderbolt. Alan Moore based all the Watchmen costumed vigilantes on characters from Charlton Comics. - Veidt/Ozymandias was styled after Thunderbolt, who used the full 100% of his brain and had complete physical and mental control. CRACKED.COM — Source

3

Rich Jerks G GE WWF The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase Не was raised by professional wrestlers. CEL Before he grew up to become The Million Dollar Man, little Ted was the son of pro wrestler Helen Hild and stepson of Iron Mike DiBiase. CRACKED.COM — Source

2

Rich Jerks на Doug Roger Klotz His voice actor changed from Nickelodeon to Disney. Roger was originally voiced by Futurama's Billy West when he was just a punk bully. When the show moved to Disney, Roger not only became rich, but also got a new voice of to actor, Chris Phillips. VS CRACKED.COM you Fite — Source

1

Mr. Burns

Rich Jerks The Simpsons C. Montgomery Burns Burns is based on two businessmen and a praying mantis. Matt Groening based the character of Burns on John D. Rockefeller, while animator David Silverman based his design on former head of Fox Broadcasting Barry Diller (and a bug). CRACKED.COM — Source

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