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Real talk: the 2020s have been a total fever dream so far, but at least the movies are delivering. We’ve moved past the era of boring, perfect heroes. Nowadays? We want mess. We want trauma. We want Kenergy. I’ve spent way too much time on Letterboxd and Reddit debating this, so I’m finally ranking the characters that actually defined the decade. If your favorite isn’t here, don’t @ me — or actually do, I love the drama.
10. Pearl in ‘Pearl’ (2022) — The ultimate ‘I’m a staaaaar’ energy
Look, I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect to be terrified of a girl in a red dress, but Mia Goth really did that. Pearl is the relatable queen of having zero chill. We’ve all had those days where we just want to scream at the top of our lungs because things aren’t going our way. Her 8-minute monologue? Pure art. She’s the blueprint for the ‘female rage’ genre that has basically taken over my TikTok feed. Honestly iconic behavior.
9. Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023) — Donnie Yen ate and left no crumbs
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Here’s the thing about this show that nobody talks about: Caine is actually cooler than John Wick. There, I said it! Donnie Yen playing a blind assassin who just wants to eat his noodles and go home is such a mood. He brought so much swagger to a franchise that was already peak action. That 94% Rotten Tomatoes score doesn’t lie — he made us care about a ‘villain’ more than we probably should have. We love a reluctant legend.
8. Anxiety in ‘Inside Out 2’ (2024) — She is literally me
When I saw Anxiety show up with her six suitcases, I felt personally attacked. Maya Hawke voiced the literal embodiment of my 3 a.m. thoughts. This movie broke records (hello, $1.6 billion box office!) because we all felt that orange ball of stress in our souls. She wasn’t even a villain; she was just trying too hard. If that isn’t the most 2020s thing ever, I don’t know what is. No cap, I cried in the theater.
7. Bheem in ‘RRR’ (2022) — The entry scene of our dreams
Arrey, the entry scene alone? Jumping out of a truck with a literal tiger? Sach mein, it’s the most hype moment in cinema history. Bheem is pure heart and muscle. His friendship with Raju is the only bromance that matters. Whether he was swinging motorcycles or doing the ‘Naatu Naatu’ dance, Jr NTR made us all want to join a revolution. This character put Tollywood on the global map in a way that was long overdue. Absolute legend.
6. Waymond Wang in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022) — Kindness is the new cool
In a world of gritty anti-heroes, Waymond was the breath of fresh air we didn’t know we needed. His ‘be kind’ speech? I’m still sobbing. Ke Huy Quan’s comeback was the best thing to happen to Hollywood this decade. He proved that being soft is actually a superpower. We’re living for the fanny pack action scenes, but we stayed for the emotional damage. He’s the heart of the multiverse, period.
5. The Wolf in ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022) — Actually terrifying for a cat movie
I did NOT expect a Dreamworks movie to give me nightmares, but here we are. The Wolf (aka Death) is easily the best villain of the 2020s. That whistle? Literal chills. He wasn’t just some guy; he was an inevitability. It’s rare to see a kids’ movie tackle the fear of dying with such style. He’s sleek, he’s scary, and he made Puss — and all of us — actually value life. Total vibe shift for animation.
4. Miles Morales in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023) — The GOAT Spider-Man
Miles is the main character and everyone else is just living in his world. Watching him struggle with his ‘canon event’ while wearing the coolest suit in the multiverse? Peak cinema. The animation style for his world is a literal fever dream in the best way possible. He’s relatable, he’s stylish, and he’s proving that anyone can wear the mask. We are all just waiting for ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ to finally drop so we can see him win.
3. Paul Atreides in ‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024) — Lisan al-Gaib! Lisan al-Gaib!
Timothée Chalamet went from ‘soft boy’ to ‘terrifying desert messiah’ and I am here for it. Watching Paul manipulate an entire planet while riding a giant worm was the highlight of 2024. The voice? The stare? The sand? It’s all too much. He’s not your typical hero — he’s actually kind of a red flag, but that’s why we love him. Dune Part Two proved that sci-fi can be epic and heartbreaking at the same time. Lead us to paradise, king.
2. J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’ (2023) — The man, the hat, the boom
Cillian Murphy’s cheekbones deserved their own Oscar, honestly. Playing the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ could have been boring, but he made it a psychological thriller. The way he stared into the camera while the world changed forever? Shook. It’s wild that a three-hour movie about a guy in a hat made $1 billion, but that’s the power of a great character. He’s haunted, he’s brilliant, and he’s definitely the most ‘main character’ of 2023.
1. Ken in ‘Barbie’ (2023) — He’s literally just Ken (and he’s #1)
Let’s be real: we are all living in the Ken-aissance. Ryan Gosling took a character who was literally just ‘beach’ and turned him into a cultural phenomenon. ‘I’m Just Ken’ is the anthem of the decade. He gave us the fur coat, the Mojo Dojo Casa House, and the realization that our ‘Kenergy’ is enough. He managed to be hilarious and weirdly deep at the same time. He’s not just a doll — he’s an icon, a legend, and the moment. Beach off, everyone else.
FAQs
Who is the most popular movie character of the 2020s?
It’s definitely a toss-up between Ken from ‘Barbie’ and Miles Morales. Ken dominated the cultural conversation and memes, while Miles remains the most beloved superhero of the new generation.
What movie character defined 2024?
Anxiety from ‘Inside Out 2’ and Paul Atreides from ‘Dune: Part Two’ are the big winners. One represents our internal struggles, and the other represents the massive scale of modern blockbuster filmmaking.
Which 2020s character has the best memes?
Pearl is the queen of memes with her ‘I’m a star’ line, but Ken’s ‘Kenergy’ and ‘Mojo Dojo Casa House’ basically took over the internet for an entire year.
So, there you have it! The 2020s have already given us some of the most unhinged, relatable, and flat-out cool characters in history. Whether you’re feeling the ‘Kenergy’ or just trying to survive your own ‘canon event,’ these characters are the ones we’ll be talking about for decades. Did I miss your favorite? Tell me in the comments who you think belongs in the Hall of Fame! Stay iconic.
