Women Name The Best And Worst Fictional Men
All right gals, enough of comparing all the women in Hollywood. It’s time the men got judged and we said what we really think about them. From the best of the buds to the worst of the scum, some of Hollywood’s dreamiest and most disgusting leading men have played a lot of fantastic roles. Some have also stunk up a theatre making us wonder how they got the job in the first place. Love ’em or hate ’em, sometimes watching a guy be a guy can be a great way to turn off your brain and laugh. Some of course are better than others, and the same can be said for the worst and those below them.
No matter your tastes, you’re going to want to see what these women have to say about the world’s most beloved fictional characters.
WORST: Christian Grey, 50 Shades Of Grey
We’re going to say this first so everyone pays attention: Christian Grey is not a good person. A healthy BDSM relationship is one thing, but the way he treats people, especially Anastasia, is ridiculous. Consent, boundaries, and a healthy mental state, all go out the window with this guy. This is not someone you’d want to be left alone with.
What’s worse is he convinces Anastasia everything he’s doing is okay. As long as he explains it, then it’s totally not abusive. Fun fact: it still is. The only thing we should be lusting over Christian for is when he shows up in handcuffs at the end and goes to jail.
BEST: Ben Wyatt, Parks and Recreation
Even if he started out as a little jerk, Ben Wyatt from Parks and Rec is a cutie by the end of it. Ben and Leslie’s relationship from foes to friends to fiances to married is super heartwarming. He’s also a sweet guy, once you get past the fact he was trying to figure out if anyone in the parks & rec department were actually competent.
You can’t blame a guy for doing their job though. He also experiences a lot of growth and becomes a well-rounded member by the end of the show. Who wouldn’t like the loveable dork? Ten stars all around for everyone’s favorite train-loving, Batman fantasizing, Congressman.
WORST: Edward Cullen, Twilight
Simply because you’re a vampire doesn’t mean you’re dead on the inside. Well, it definitely shouldn’t when it comes to your emotions. Vamps used to be known as sultry and passionate. Then one who can survive in the sun comes around and suddenly smiling is dumb and scowling is cool. Edward Cullen’s only redeemable quality was how he sparkled in the daylight.
He lacked any sort of emotional range or depth. If you’re into dating blank slates who drink blood then have at him. We didn’t get what was so great about the most boring vampire who was only interested in one thing… Bella Swan.
BEST: Danny Ocean, Ocean’s Eleven
We’re going to let you in on a little secret: Danny Ocean could charm anyone. Why? Because George Clooney absolutely has this superpower. We were already madly in love with him from his ER days. Remember when he came out as a wisecracking casino robber? Oh, we were obsessed all over again. Danny is very sophisticated for someone who shouldn’t be anywhere near casinos.
He also shouldn’t be around teams of semi-capable people who can rob them. No matter the trouble he’s in, all he has to do is smirk a little, give a wink, and he’s able to waltz his way to safety. He doesn’t even break a sweat. Clooney probably wasn’t even acting during this entire film.
WORST: Don Draper, Mad Men
It’s weird to think anyone in Mad Men could be considered a “good person”. The whole series is about the advertising industry. How many decent executives were in it back in the 50s and 60s? Despite the madness, Don Draper tried to stand up against the insanity at the firm. While his strong moral conviction and support for small businesses were endearing, as well as insufferable.
Draper is sexy for his personality and morals. Everything else makes him out to be a boring normal guy with a crappy job. His boss is terrible. He frequently lets people down. He wakes up every day with a heavy sigh. We guess he also sounds a lot like us. Perhaps Draper’s onto something…
BEST: Dr. Niles Crane, Frasier
Okay, not only was the Cheers spin-off “Frasier” a great show, but it introduced us to Dr. Niles Crane. Frasier’s neurotic and often-stressed brother is one of the sweetest people in the sitcom universe. It was so interesting to watch him navigate through life while trying to understand his feelings for Daphne simultaneously.
Could you imagine having Niles in your life? It may be a bit frustrating, but it must be so sweet. He’s a brilliant, gentle, and caring person. He probably also gets confused trying to ride the subway or a bus, but it’s no big deal. The struggle would be worth it for this guy.
WORST: President “Fitz” Grant III, Scandal
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you’re sick of this quote then how about this: not everyone gets to have everything. President Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant had his life set up for him. He had the best education, a fantastic resume, and was even the President of the United States. You’d think accomplishing all this would make you happy, right? Not for Fitz.
Instead, he threw tantrums, separated from his family while in office, and then brought Olivia into multiple problems and lots of danger. This dude is selfish to the core. Everyone thinks he’s so great, but he’s barely watchable and is easily one of the worst characters on the show.
BEST: Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock
What do you get when you combine Benedict Cumberbatch who is a beloved literary hero and a big budget? You get the sexiest and most fascinating version of Sherlock Holmes to date. Cumberbatch injected humor and wit into the world’s best detective. He literally brought this Victorian-era detective to life.
He did it without losing any of the original characters, how impressive! The slight off-kilter mentality humanizes him a bit more which we can appreciate. All-in-all, if you’re not going for the original, Cumberbatch’s Sherlock is the best detective to have on the case.
WORST: Andy Dwyer, Parks and Recreation
The loveable slacker isn’t needed in every single show. Andy Dwyer’s legacy was Chris Pratt’s launchpad to becoming a star and one of the “Sexiest Men Ever”. This was true except for when you look at the character himself. He was bland, obnoxious, and didn’t add much to the group. We still don’t get his purpose for being in the show.
He even made the first season one of the worst openings for a show. Not only does he lack charisma, but it may also be Pratt. He almost always plays the exact same person, himself, in everything he’s in. It may have worked for him in the past but it definitely isn’t now. This is a personality we could’ve done without.
BEST: Cameron Frye, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
If you’ve watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off then you definitely have a soft spot for Cameron, how could you not? However, this kid was always on the edge of a massive breakdown. If anyone needed the day off, it was him, not Ferris. He was a level-headed perfectionist who only needed to relax. Unfortunately, Ferris was just pushing him too far.
He simply needed a little peace, so it definitely didn’t help when he destroyed his dad’s car. Well, actually, this may have been the best part. The quiet and anxious boy would definitely grow up and be a stylish and confident man.
WORST: Superman (Henry Cavill), Superman
Henry Cavill is a handsome man. We’re saying it here and now. Is he “end of the world and all-powerful superhuman” handsome? This is up for debate. He seems to rely on his classically handsome looks a bit too much. You’re SUPERMAN! Give us some emotions or feelings.
Be super! Instead of getting the full Man of Steel experience, audiences merely get the “good-looking average guy with a cape and nice abs” experience. It’s fine if that’s what you want. Except, we’re paying to be amazed. Sadly Cavill and his performances miss the mark.
BEST: Rhett Butler, Gone with the Wind
If you haven’t seen Gone With The Wind, please go, sit back, and click play. It’s a fantastic story with tons of twists, turns, tragedies, and Rhett Butler. This smooth-talking man drifted into Scarlett O’Hara’s life and completely swept her away. Though it’s not what the title was referencing, it’s still pretty accurate.
He was polite to everyone, treated people with respect, had money, and was also a bit cheeky. Rhett was a pretty sweet catch during Civil War times. Both the book and film versions of Butler are fantastic and capture different sides of his multi-faceted personality and intrigue.
WORST: Tom Hansen, 500 Days of Summer
Working at a greeting card company and falling in love with a girl named Summer sounds like the premise of a Hallmark movie. Instead, it’s the plot of the wildly successful 500 Days of Summer. This critically acclaimed film blew people away when it premiered. It also has one of the creepiest protagonists ever. Tom seriously doesn’t take being dumped well.
Even though the relationship lasted over a year, his inability to remember or think about the issues he and Summer had is pretty dumb. It makes him seem more possessive than in love with her. It also doesn’t sit right with us how he then jumps into a new relationship with someone named Autumn. What are Winter and Spring going to be like? Does he eventually go back to Summer?
BEST: Dexter Morgan, Dexter
Everyone has their thing. Some people collect exotic Scrabble boards, other people are serial killers who only kill other criminals. This one specifically likes to kill people in brutal ways and keep small trophies in their air duct. If you can get past this, Dexter himself is pretty great. He’s polite, loyal, dedicated to his job, and seems to care about the environment.
Putting his desire to murder aside, he doesn’t seem like the bad guy. Who would’ve thought so many people would sympathize with him? Dexter is one of those odd antiheroes who leans toward the good side. He’s an anomaly who also gives him an air of mystery and we’re into it.
WORST: Mr. Big, Sex and the City
Carrie isn’t the best person in Sex in the City, they all have their low points. However, Mr. Big may be one of the worst. This mysteriously wealthy guy seemed to stalk Carrie and flirt with her whenever he could. He then forces her into his car. Red flags are flying whenever he graced our screen. Not to mention he was wildly unfaithful to his wife.
Being weird and selfish is one thing, but seeing Carrie attracted to it was almost grosser. Mr. Big’s biggest contribution to the show is helping Carrie make more grown-up decisions. Too bad they often turned out to be the more difficult ones, or she had trouble learning and kept running back to Big.
BEST: Adam, Untamed Heart
Christian Slater is in a dramatic and passionate role which always makes for a great time at the movies. He’s so dreamy and always has been. Plus, he has the acting chops to go along with his timeless looks, he’s incredible. One of his best roles is playing Adam in Untamed Heart.
Don’t watch it without tissues, it’s a heartbreaker. Slater’s gentle and sensitive performance of Adam was an experience everyone should go through if they love a good movie. He’s a superstar doing what he does best!
WORST: Chuck Bass, Gossip Girl
Why are some fan-favorite series so problematic? We get why people love the bad guy, but people fawning over Chuck from Gossip Girl makes no sense. This egotistical waste of space should be in jail for sexual assault. Just because he moved on and is great doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be held accountable for what he did.
He revels in being the center of attention and showing off his wealth to anyone who will give him the time of day. Simply because he’s clever shouldn’t be enough for him to be constantly gawked over. This abuser is an annoying semi-villain at best.
BEST: Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter
Do you want to talk about one of the best men ever? Are you ready to hear what the ideal father figure is? Brace yourselves, because we’re talking about Arthur Weasley. He embodies fatherly love, pure curiosity, and a passion for all people that everyone should strive to achieve. Fans could go on and on about how amazing he is.
No matter how much or little he had regarding money for his family, he was always smiling. He also always had a question for Harry about the Muggle world. Even though he worked all the time, he was there for every one of his kids and Molly! Those two are perfect for each other and he is one of the greatest guys in the HP universe.
WORST: Any Owen Wilson Character
Sometimes an actor can’t do anything but act like themselves. Owen Wilson plays the same person in all of his films, and the character is an immature man-child every time. Who would want to date someone completely detached from reality? Whenever he finds someone (in the movies) he likes, he puts on a big fake act to win them over.
Wilson always seemed to be like this outside of movies, too. Smooth and slow-talking, he appears to think he’s George Clooney but comes off as fake. He also seems to be a bit full of himself. Either go full Clooney or get your own personality and do it well.
BEST: Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal
Sometimes the monsters are the most intriguing and heartbreaking parts of a good horror film. Have you ever fallen in love with something that was the embodiment of evil? Would you if they turned out to be a classy gentleman with perfect manners and insane cooking skills? He knows his way around exotic meats to say the least. Dr. Hannibal Lecter probably never intended to be loved by an audience.
Once Sir Anthony Hopkins brought him to life outside of the books, everything changed. Then Mads Mikkelsen, with the coolest name ever, made us fall head over heels for him. The mannerisms, the wit, and the polite aggressiveness of their performances feel both refined and primal. We’d probably risk sitting at Dr. Lecter’s table for at least one meal.
WORST: Noah Calhoun, The Notebook
Noah from The Notebook is a creep, a stalker, and a manipulator. There’s no great love story here. He emotionally and psychologically wore down Allie to get her to date him. He wouldn’t let up whenever she said no! Dude, no means no. What’s the problem here? It doesn’t matter if it looked like they cared about each other.
He needs to learn to respect boundaries. Maybe Allie wasn’t ready to date and did it out of guilt or something, then felt trapped. The movie and this character are far from okay. People should go rewatch it to see how ridiculous Noah acts to get his way.
BEST: Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games
Peeta Mellark is one of the most selfless and loyal people in all of Panem. Even when he was forced to fight to the death, he tried to remain as peaceful as possible. Not just once but twice! He also defended Katniss when she needed an ally the most! Plus, trying his best to overcome and trust everyone after being brainwashed? He’s totally husband material.
He’s gone through so much and almost lost what made him great. However, like always, he pulls through with a sense of grace and maturity. It’s a shame he lost his childhood and had to grow up so quickly. Hopefully, he found peace, because he earned it.
WORST: Jonathan Byers, Stranger Things
Stranger Things certainly is strange. It’s a fantastic show that delivers fun throwbacks and unique plots. Seeing the crew grow up a bit more every season is fascinating as well. One of the characters specifically is a little creepy, and gets a lot of love, but still isn’t talked about enough. Jonathan Byers has been through an entire dimension’s worth of problems.
This would affect anyone. However, before things start tweaking out in season one, he’s kind of a creep. We see him taking pictures of girls instead of walking up and talking to them. He’s obviously grown since then, but this is still not a great way to introduce someone to an audience.
BEST: Jim Halpert, The Office
It may be a cliche, and it may be played out, but Jim Halpert is kind of sweet. Yeah, he makes Dwight’s life a living hell, but who wouldn’t? Dwight is an out-of-control hurricane of terrible to work with. Putting aside Jim’s desire to mentally break his office bestie, he’s a really nice person. His love for Pam and their family is also inspiring.
He would do almost anything for Michael despite what he says. He even went to the world’s worst dinner party to see Michael’s. Even though he adds to the craziness in the office, he’s also a pretty decent voice of reason for the others to listen to. This is someone you know you could look to for comfort.
WORST: Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars
Sometimes fulfilling your destiny can be a dark and terrible thing. It could also be karmic retribution for being a brooding little pain in the butt. Anakin Skywalker may be a terrible galactic tyrant, but he was also a child murderer. Plus, he spent two whole movies out of his trilogy acting like a toddler who only wants attention from the girl he loves.
Well, guess what Anakin? You knew the way of the Jedi and still chose it because you felt powerful. Then, you lost control and went off the deep end. This one’s all on you, kiddo. If he had been able to think clearly and reign it in, he could’ve had it all and been happy.
BEST: Jon Snow,Game of Thrones
Even if he wasn’t always good at his objectives, Jon Snow is still one of the warmest souls in all of The North. He tackles the quest for the Iron Throne with honor and common sense… for the most part. While he sometimes gets led down the wrong path, Snow tries his best to always keep a clear view of what he wanted. You have to admire a guy for trying.
He was also wildly loyal to his friends and knew how to defend them if need be. His sexiest weapon though? It has to be his empathy. A kind ear, an understanding hug, along with his five o’clock shadow should’ve been enough to end the war.
WORST: Nate, The Devil Wears Prada
Miranda was not the villain in The Devil Wears Prada. She was an executive doing her job. Andrea needed to get her crap together and learn about the industry she decided to work in. What could have made things easier for her would be for Nate to not be a colossal butthead? Except when it comes to this guy it seems this may have been asking too much.
We get how it could be annoying if your partner is always busy, it’s okay it happens. However not supporting her for working so hard at a brand new job is unforgivable. Seriously dude, grow up. He practically broke up with her the minute he wasn’t the center of her universe.
BEST: Dr. Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones
Indy will always be one of the greatest action and adventure stars. Harrison Ford was perfect for the role then and he’s still perfect for it now. He is Dr. Jones and Dr. Jones is him. Despite being super action-oriented, Indy’s adventures wouldn’t have been half as successful without his brains and bravery. He’s a good guy who stops Nazis from destroying the world in his spare time.
He also loves ancient history and can contact extraterrestrials. Dr. Jones could have his own museum for his accomplishments. Instead, he’s fine doing what he can for history and what’s right for us all. He’s also as handsome now as he was in the very first movie!
WORST: Danny Zuko, Grease
Simply because he could sing and dance doesn’t mean Danny deserved Sandy. He basically corrupted a sweet person and turned her into a “bad girl”. Whatever magical spell he cast on her with his looks and catchy lyrics worked. Sandy completely abandoned her entire sense of self and changed solely for Danny. Then he takes her away and they drive off into the sun, right after high school.
This guy was a sociopath. Who kidnaps their love and throws themselves into the dark embrace of outer space? Nothing about Grease is as slick as Danny trying to slide into Sandy’s DMs and then destroying identity. No one nowadays would fall for this ‘charm’.
BEST: Marshall Eriksen, How I Met Your Mother
Even though he has his own demons he’s fighting, Marshall Eriksen is one of the most innocent people on How I Met Your Mother. While dealing with Lily’s ridiculous antics, or Ted’s horrific dating life, he always tried to smile and make people happy. Marshall may be a people pleaser, but he genuinely cared about everyone. He’s easily one of the nicest people ever.
He also looks like he gives the best hugs. Lily didn’t deserve him, especially with how horrible she was to him on multiple occasions. Sometimes, we wonder what would happen if Marshall had distanced himself from everyone for his own sanity. He didn’t deserve all the chaos that surrounded him.