The Anti-Hero In Film Explained. Meaning, Definition, and Examples

What is an Antihero in Film definition examples featured image

Published: September 11, 2020 | Last Updated: December 16, 2024

Antihero Definition & Meaning

An antihero or anti-heroine is a main character who lacks traditional heroic traits like morality or idealism but still connects with us. Their flaws and complex actions push against the usual idea of heroism and make them relatable and compelling.

That’s the short overall definition of the anti-hero. But when you start to look more closely, you’ll find that there are, in fact, several different types of anti-heroes, all with their particular meaning and definition.

Hero vs. Anti-Hero

First, here’s a comparison between a hero and an anti-hero. The prefix “Anti-” means “some “opposed to” or “against something/someone,” so it follows that an anti-hero has all the opposite traits of the hero:

OUPFlQd2XF5mDuFXHJk0oFaPEnkCsn 4SkO9ohqLM8CCcW0MaZmShTRMXDkAL9fM

Different types of anti-heroes

As hinted at in the introduction, anti-heroes are much more nuanced than simply being the hero’s opposite.

Anti-heroes in Westerns and Gangster movies

The antihero in Westerns and gangster movies must overcome obstacles while being anything but courteous, kind, and respectful. And they must break a few rules and question a few morals.

For example, Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Parts I and II, has no choice but to take over the family business of crime, which makes every courageous decision he makes based on the immoral lifestyle of the gangster.

10%20(1088)
Michael Corleone might seem courageous, and we cheer for him, but every decision he makes is based on the immoral lifestyle of the gangster. The screenshot of Michael above is from The Godfather Part II (1974), where he has fully taken over the family business.
Paramount Pictures.

Read more on what makes gangster movies so popular.

Sometimes, the antihero is motivated by fame, power, and wealth, which occasionally leads to their downfall. Young Guns (1988), starring Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid, is an excellent example of a Western where we root for the anti-hero who seeks fame.

The Villain Protagonist

Sometimes, a villain protagonist can be an anti-hero. As we know, anti-heroes are morally gray characters that we’re encouraged to root for. Villain protagonists, however, are when the main character in a story is morally reprehensible throughout. Or, to put it bluntly, a villain protagonist is just an a**hole!

48%20(68)
American Psycho (2000). Image source: film-grab.com

American Psycho (2000) follows Patrick Bateman, a handsome investment banker by day and sadistic serial killer by night. He’s a villain protagonist because he’s telling the story, but unredeemable evil drives his motivations and intentions. Compare that to another psychopath serial killer, Dexter, from the TV series of the same name. He’s an anti-hero as well as a villain protagonist, because he kills from a point of screwed-up justice.

You might even think Billy the Kid is a villain protagonist. After all, he is, in many ways, a psycho who shoots first with seemingly no regret while he laughs at his victims. But he is not a villain protagonist. He’s an anti-hero! That’s because we can’t help but root for him and his gang – because the “law” of the West behaves just as badly. Billy the Kid becomes the anti-hero because the society he rebels against is at least as morally corrupt – and he’s the product!

In short, a villain protagonist is not always an antihero. The key difference lies in how much sympathy they evoke and whether they retain any moral ambiguity or redeeming qualities.

The Coward

The typical film hero (and many antiheroes, like Logan and Billy the Kid) possesses confidence, bravery, or the ability to fight. The coward is fearful, anxious, and lacks any fighting ability. So, the anti-hero’s quest becomes overcoming these weaknesses to complete their journey. The coward doesn’t necessarily have questionable morality; they’re just the opposite of the audience’s preconceived idea of heroism.

A good example is Robert Zemeckis’ Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Here, we get, not one, but two cowardly anti-heroes. 

rogerrabbit021
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Image source: film-grab.com

The first, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), is haunted by his brother’s death, which makes him refuse to get involved in helping the toons. The second is the toon needing help, Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer), who is too afraid to prove his innocence because nobody takes him seriously.

The Reluctant Knight

The reluctant knight is probably the most common in film and television. This hero is one of the good guys. They have a sound understanding of right and wrong but want to “stay out of it” if it doesn’t necessarily serve their main goals drives them.

The reluctant knight is generally resistant to joining the fight against the villain – it’s the classic refusal of the quest from Campbell’s Monomyth. However, the knight in sour armor eventually joins in, but only once, and will personally lose if the outcome doesn’t end up in the hero’s favor. Like Han Solo from the Star Wars franchise:

Han Solo from Star Wars (1977) is a great example of a reluctant knight. Of course, the shady smuggler joins the adventure for money and saves the day multiple times. Harrison Ford is one of Hollywood’s most popular reluctant knight actors with characters such as Indiana Jones, Rick Deckard from Blade Runner, and Han Solo.

Another excellent example is Logan (2017), where the titular character/Wolverine is a seasoned anti-hero, worn out from years of reluctantly saving the day to be forced into another rescue mission he worked so hard to avoid.

logan059
Logan is mean, violent, and wants to be anything but the hero, making him the perfect reluctant knight. Logan (2017). 20th Century Fox

The Realist

The Realist is a pragmatic anti-hero, who is willing to challenge their morality to achieve the goal. While other types are hesitant to step up to the plate, the realist is eager to save the day. The big difference is how they go about winning, which might not always be the most admirable method.

Spoiler Alert. In this scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the film’s central villain chooses the hard-nosed anti-hero Nick Fury to join him using Fury’s pragmatic view of justice and Earth’s protection against him.

The Immoral One

The immoral anti-hero is typically cynical, haunted by past trauma with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. This anti-hero has good intentions and motives, but there’s some gray area regarding their morality. They will save the day, but the big bad boss and everyone else who stands in this anti-hero’s way had it coming.

19 1222 1920 800
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DeCaprio) in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is both charming and entertaining. But his relentless greed and willingness to deceive others categorize him as an immoral antihero. Paramount Pictures.

Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is a strong example of an immoral anti-hero. He is driven by greed and deceit, and he prioritizes personal gain above all else. His charm and confidence draw us in, even as he exploits people around him. He thrives in a system built for manipulation. Belfort also constantly uses lies to build his empire and avoids serious consequences for most of the film.

The So-Called Hero

This hero “in name only” claims to fight on the right side, but their motives and intentions are far from good.  Whether or not they lack morals or are just pure evil is only saved by the idea that “at least they’re not as bad as that other guy.”

One of the only things saving them from being the story’s central villain is that it’s told from their perspective.

Léon from Leon: The Professional (1994) is a great example of an anti-hero. He is a hitman who kills for a living but lives by his own moral code. Despite his violent profession, he shows a softer, protective side in his relationship with Mathilda, a young girl he takes under his wing.

24%20(613)
Leon’s contradictions—being both a ruthless killer and a compassionate protector—make him complex. He operates outside the law, yet his choices and sacrifices show a sense of honor and love that resonates. His flaws and strengths together define what it means to be an anti-hero. Léon: The Professional (1994). Gaumont Buena Vista International.

Léon’s loyalty to her and his willingness to risk everything for her safety reveal his humanity. But this gesture doesn’t erase the fact that he’s a vicious killer with no other redeemable heroic qualities.

Blurring the lines

Some anti-heroes fit between several categories – or they change throughout the story. John Wick is a great example of a character who blurs the line between the realist antihero and an immoral one. You can say his character arc takes his from the realist and drives him towards an immoral one.

John Wick Chapter 2 046
John Wick, in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), is a realist antihero because he acts out of personal loss and vengeance, not idealism. He moves through a morally gray world, showing loyalty and love for his wife’s memory, which makes him sympathetic. Lionsgate.

In John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick shifts closer to an immoral antihero as the franchise progresses. While his actions remain tied to a personal code of honor, his increasing body count and willingness to eliminate anyone in his way blur the lines between justice and pure survival. His morality becomes more questionable, but he’s not entirely devoid of sympathy or principles. If it weren’t for the fact he’s justifiably killing other criminals and assassins, John Wick would be a villain protagonist.

Into martial arts and fight scenes in movies? Check out some of the best movie brawls here.

Summing Up

Anti-heroes are popular archetypes in film, television, comic books, and video games. Next time you watch your favorite movie, see if you can tell if they’re your average hero or anti-hero. Now that you have a good idea of the different types of anti-heroes in film, who is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

Up Next: What is a femme fatale?

By Myke Thompson

Myke Thompson is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and humorist based out of Los Angeles. When he’s not working on his own projects, he supports other artists as a creative manager in music, art, film, and television.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.