What is a Character Trope? Definition & Examples from Film

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Published: May 5, 2024 | Last Updated: December 6, 2024

Character trope Definition & Meaning

Character tropes are recurring elements or clichés that convey information about a character through a familiar representation or theme. Unlike archetypes or stock characters, tropes can evolve and may vary in how they are executed depending on the creative context. A well-known trope is the “reluctant hero,” seen in characters like Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings (2001), who initially resists the call to adventure but eventually embraces his role.

In this article, you can see examples of common character tropes in film and read more on the difference between character tropes, stock characters, and character archetypes.

Common Character Tropes in Movies

Here is a list of 30 common character tropes from film. I’ve also included an example of each trope from mainstream cinema.

The Chosen One – Often seen as destined for greatness, this character is central to a prophecy or expectation. Think Harry Potter from Harry Potter series or Neo from The Matrix.

The Mentor – Typically older, wiser characters who guide the protagonist. Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars and Mr. Miyagi from “Karate Kid” embody this trope.

The Anti-Hero – Flawed heroes who lack conventional hero qualities. Tyler Durden in Fight Club and Wolverine from X-Men fit this mold.

The Femme Fatale – Mysterious and seductive women whose charms ensnare the hero. Famous examples include Catherine Tramell from Basic Instinct and Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

See more examples of famous Femme Fatales.

The Sidekick – These characters provide support, comic relief, or a contrast to the hero. Think Ron Weasley in Harry Potter or Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings.

The Outcast – Characters marginalized from society but with important narratives. Edward Scissorhands from the movie of the same name is a perfect example.

The Tragic Hero – Characters destined for downfall through a personal flaw or fate. Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars illustrates this trope well.

The Jock – Athletic characters often portrayed with a lack of intellect. Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls is a great example of this stereotype.

The Nerd – Intelligent but socially awkward characters. Before becoming a hero, Peter Parker from Spider-Man is a classic nerd.

The Damsel in Distress – Female characters who need rescuing. This trope is classic but critiqued heavily, as seen in characters like Princess Peach in various Mario games and films.

The Villain – The antagonist with evil goals. Darth Vader from Star Wars is one of the most iconic villains.

The Anti-villain – a character who, despite having villainous goals or actions, possesses qualities or motivations that evoke sympathy or understanding.

The Lovable Rogue – Characters who bend the rules but charm us anyway. Han Solo from Star Wars fits this trope perfectly.

The Mad Scientist – Obsessive and eccentric characters focused on their work. Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future is a memorable example.

The Mary Sue – generally considered a trope, though more accurately described as a characterization critique or label. It refers to a character—often a young, idealized protagonist—perceived as overly perfect, lacking flaws, or disproportionately skilled and admired, often to the point of being unrealistic and detracting from the story’s engagement. Fx, Bella Swan in Twilight.

The Orphan – Characters whose development is shaped by the absence of parents. Bruce Wayne in Batman uses his orphan status as a motivation.

The Underdog – Characters who are at a disadvantage but root for them. Rocky Balboa from Rocky exemplifies this trope.

The Double Agent – Characters with uncertain loyalties. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series keeps everyone guessing till the end.

The Gentle Giant – Physically imposing but kind-hearted characters. Hagrid from Harry Potter is loved for this trait.

The Wise Fool – Characters who offer wisdom through simplicity or foolishness. Forrest Gump from the movie of the same name embodies this trope.

The Puppet Master – Characters who control events behind the scenes. Keyser Söze from The Usual Suspects is a prime example.

The Rebel – Characters who resist authority or societal norms. John Bender from The Breakfast Club champions this trope.

The Supernatural Being – Characters who are gods, monsters, or otherworldly. Thor from Thor is a literal god among humans.

The Explorer – Characters obsessed with adventure and discovery. Indiana Jones from the Indiana Jones series is the quintessential explorer.

The Innocent – Naive and pure characters that represent goodness. Elle Woods from Legally Blonde starts as an innocent archetype.

The Seducer – Characters who use their appeal to manipulate others. James Bond often uses his charm to get closer to his objectives.

The Survivor – Characters who overcome extreme odds. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games is a fighter and a survivor.

The Clown – Characters providing humor, sometimes at their own expense. Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean often plays the clown.

The Tyrant – Ruthless leaders who rule with an iron fist. Commodus from Gladiator is a classic tyrant.

The Lost Soul – Characters tormented by past trauma and searching for redemption. Rick Blaine from Casablanca starts as a lost soul.

The Machine/Robot – AI characters facing human dilemmas. Ava from Ex Machina explores the intersection of technology and humanity.

The Guardian – Protector characters who stand against threats. Gandalf from Lord of the Rings serves as a powerful guardian.

The difference between character tropes, stock characters, and character archetypes

Stock characters, character archetypes, and character tropes differ in their definitions and uses within literature and media, although they often overlap in certain aspects.

Here’s a brief definition of each for comparison’s sake:

  • Stock Characters are typical characters in specific genres, like the ‘wise old mentor’ in fantasy, known for their predictable traits and roles that help advance the plot.
  • Character Archetypes, introduced by Carl Jung, are universal symbols deep-rooted in the collective unconscious, such as the Hero or the Caregiver. These appear across various cultures and evoke profound emotions. Read more about the Jungian Archetypes.
  • Character Tropes are familiar conventions or clichés in storytelling that are used to establish character traits or plot elements quickly, like ‘love at first sight’ in romance narratives.

Each of these serves a different function in storytelling.

While stock characters and tropes are often specific to certain genres and are used to fulfill expected roles within a narrative, archetypes deal with broader, more universal themes rooted in psychological elements shared among people.

So, while they may appear similar or even interchangeable in casual discussion, they have distinct roles and implications in literature and media analysis.

Up Next: What is a movie trope?

By Jan Sørup

Jan Sørup is a indie filmmaker, videographer and photographer from Denmark. He owns filmdaft.com and the Danish company Apertura, which produces video content for big companies in Denmark and Scandinavia. Jan has a background in music, has drawn webcomics, and is a former lecturer at the University of Copenhagen.

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