As any filmmaker knows, ugly characters are memorable. Because some viewers just can’t stand a protagonist that can’t be redeemed. Conversely, quite a few of us find ourselves enchanted by the complex, self-serving, or utterly monstrous anti-heroes. This article highlights some of those films that feature compelling characters. Along with its original research, it brings attention to where you can find these works across various streaming platforms.
Hard Truths will make you come back for more, as these charismatic and annoying characters worm their way into your hearts. PARAMOUNT+ (United States), NETFLIX (United Kingdom), Digital Rental (Australia) You can watch it. This film is part of a larger movement away from traditional notions of heroism pervading the cinematic landscape.
Don’t miss the award-winning epic, There Will Be Blood, praised for its powerful story and fascinating characters. It’s airing exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and U.K., and you can watch it on Stan in Australia. Quentin Tarantino once remarked on the film’s dynamic, stating, “There Will Be Blood doesn’t work because of Paul Dano – nuts, of course, because the film isn’t intended as a two-hander.” In the case of There Will Be Blood, Daniel Plainview, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, looms large over the action like a real-life leviathan. His relentless drive often eradicates all evidence of approachability.
The other big recent entry into this genre is Greenberg, starring Ben Stiller. This smart indie film that’s now available for rent digitally features a self-absorbed and relatable protagonist, and it’s a great complement to the films above. The character’s misadventures leave audiences both laughing and fuming, creating perhaps the best example yet of the unlikable protagonist.
American Psycho sets out to dehumanize its protagonist Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) in an effort to provoke…Other ways to watch This film is available to Amazon Prime and Criterion Channel subscribers in the U.S. In the U.K., it’s streaming on Netflix, and in Australia on Stan and Netflix. Its exploration of consumerism and identity through the eyes of an utterly amoral character resonates with audiences despite his disturbing tendencies.
Smithereens, another film featuring deeply flawed characters, is available on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel in the U.S., Amazon Prime in the U.K., and Plex in Australia. This film is unique in that it’s filled with characters whose short-sighted, devil-may-care attitudes create tension and excitement throughout the story, exemplifying truly unlikeable protagonists.
The Coen brothers have, for many years, perfected the art of making movies about awful people. Blood Simple is their first feature. It’s a great way to be introduced to Frances McDormand’s self-absorbed Abby, John Getz’s clueless Ray, and M Emmet Walsh’s delightfully smug private eye, Loren Visser. These characters represent a new nuance of moral ambiguity that truly hooks the audiences in, while still wrestling with their shortcomings.
Barton Fink, another Coen brothers classic, is regularly mentioned as having their worst lead character. The titular character, played by John Turturro, is an out-of-work writer so self-involved and pretentious he pushes every person away from him. This portrayal challenges viewers to consider their own ideas about what it means to be an artist and what’s authentic.
Mavis Gary, as portrayed by Charlize Theron in Jason Reitman’s Young Adult, is a profoundly pathetic character. She suffers from a remarkable deficit of compassion. Her odyssey across a small New England town turns into an exercise in self-absorption that viewers feel both horrified by and sympathetic towards.
Pansy from The Royal Tenenbaums is brash in her ornery. The character’s bleak outlook serves to highlight the film’s exploration of familial dysfunction and personal failure. These representations are especially impactful to people looking for rich, multilayered representation.
Rosamund Pike stars in I Care A Lot, a film that features an unlikable protagonist whose ruthless ambition drives her actions. This protagonist’s morally dubious choices bring about equal parts hatred and fascination that audiences can’t get enough of.
Ingrid from Ingrid Goes West provides another great example of the unlikable lead. Available on Kanopy in the U.S., YouTube in the U.K., and for digital rental in Australia, Ingrid’s disturbing obsession with social media and celebrity culture raises questions about modern societal values.
This vast palette of largely unsympathetic characters in popular films serves as a testament to the cinematic medium’s commitment to honest, sobering explorations of humanity’s darker side. Audiences might be surprised to learn that they are attracted to these stories not in spite of their leads’ missteps but rather because of them.
“I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.” – Melvin Udall
These films challenge viewers to confront their own biases and question what makes a character worthy of empathy or disdain. And each story lends itself to deeper introspection on the complexity of human behavior.