Movies have this incredible power to spark inspiration and courage in all of us, and for a lot of films, that’s the whole point.
The characters, their emotions, and the drama that unfolds all help build up to these important moments—moments where the character has to stand up for what they believe in, even if it means putting themselves in great danger.
When I think of these kinds of themes, there are seven fairly recent characters in particular that come to mind. They laid it all out on the line, and for that, they are heroes.
Severus Snape, Harry Potter Series
We all remember this moment—for seven films, professor Snape teetered between being a total douche, a straight-up villain, and a stern-but-nice guy (and back again). But finally, in the last movie, we see his true character. For years, he closely watched over Harry Potter and made it his mission to protect him by not only murdering someone he loved and respected, but also by joining those who meant to cause Harry harm. And why did he do this? He did it for Lily Potter, Harry’s mother. Snape fell in love with her at a young age, and after her death, he made it his mission to protect her child, out of pure love. He knew the risks and consequences involved, but he went through with it anyways. That’s powerful.
Woody, Toy Story Series
He was kind, loyal, but also especially brave. Time and time again throughout the three films, Woody was faced with danger, but was able to lead his fellow plastic pals out of harm’s way. He protected the ones he cared about, even though it was scary. Hey—someone had to do it. And Woody did it better than any toy in the game.
Marlin, Finding Nemo
Man, Pixar just knows how to pump out great characters. I couldn’t make this list without throwing a couple of them in this list. Right from the beginning, Marlin was scared. He was scared to have a son, and he was scared to raise this child on his own without the woman he loved. But he did it, and he did it well. And then, when his son went missing, he traveled across an entire ocean instead of hoping he would come back. He actively put his life on the line on a consistent basis for Nemo.
Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump
Let’s be honest—life wasn’t terribly kind to Forrest Gump. Instead of complaining, though, he learned to see the best in every situation, be kind to people, and live his life in the happiest way that he possibly could. If others were put in his situation, most would crumble and find someone or something to blame. But that’s what made Forrest one of the greatest characters in cinema history.
Captain Phillips, Captain Phillips
Tom Hanks is on this list twice, but hey, I can’t help it. He’s responsible for some the best films ever. In this movie, Captain Phillips is at risk of losing his ship, his men, and his life to pirates. But instead of running, he regularly faces his fears head on, in an effort to protect what’s his and keep his friends alive.
Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor
This movie is about one intense firefight some soldiers experience in the Iraq War. Their commitment to the mission, as well as their bravery and loyalty to one another was truly inspiring and courageous. Mark Wahlberg’s character in particular was one who showed ultimate skill and heart, even when the going got tough.
Billy Beane, Moneyball
Brad Pitt’s character in Moneyball had a unique way of looking at the game of baseball. In fact, it was so unique that, despite him being the general manager of the Oakland A’s, every person within the organization thought he was insane. Beane’s wacky plan of investing in historically average ball players to save money and go to the playoffs was something that the sport had never seen before. In the past, it was all about signing the big guns, drafting quality players and taking care of the farm system. Beane changed the game and tried something completely different, even though it wasn’t the popular decision. He put his career and reputation on the line.