Warner Bros.is a heavyweight in Hollywood. It’s one of the town’s biggest and most well-known production studios. And if you happened to watch the 2023 Oscars, then you’d know that it just celebrated an impressive 100 years of business. From the 1920s to present day, countless films have started off with that classic, blue and gold WB logo (now it’s just blue).
Warner Bros. has given audiences some of the most famous movie characters over the last 100 years. Some of them are adaptations from famous novels and comic strips. Others were created uniquely for the screen. Here’s a look at the ten most iconic film characters from Warner Bros.
Gandalf isone of the most famous wizardsand characters in cinematic history. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic, the character appeared in the critically acclaimedThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise and the not-so critically acclaimedThe Hobbitfranchise.Played to perfection by Sir Ian McKellen, Gandalf is the quintessential wizard with his pointy hat, wooden staff, and flowing beard, hair, and robe. The character has also stated some of the most iconic film quotes, like “You shall not pass!”, “All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us”, and “Fly, you fools.”
Related:Every Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movie, Ranked
9Thomas “Neo” Anderson
Thomas Anderson, better known by the alias Neo, is the protagonist of the ground-breaking sci-fi franchise,The Matrix.These movies have given us plenty of memorable characters, such as Morpheus and the villainous and monotone Mr. Smith. But you’re able to’t have those characters, or evenThe Matrixitself,without Keanu Reeves’s iconic Mr. Anderson. Neo is basically every person in the audience: a seemingly average Joe, who wonders if there’s more to life than what he experiences every day. With his black trench coat and shades, the character is immediately recognizable. Neo is also tied to some of the most famous scenes in cinema, like the blue pill vs. red pill moment or the back-bending shot where he dodges bullets.
8Jack Torrance
Jack Torrance is the main character and antagonist from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic,The Shining. It’s considered to beone of the greatest horror films ever made, and that’s largely in part to Jack Nicholson’s iconic portrayal of the deranged Jack Torrance. Throughout the movie, Jack – both the character and the actor – slips deeper and deeper into insanity, until he transforms into an ax-wielding psychopath at the end. The image of Jack peering madly through a splintered door (pictured above), bellowing out, “HERE’S JOHNNY!” is one of the most haunting moments in horror. Fun fact: Nicholson improvised that line, and it’s now one of the most famous quotes in movie history.
Related:Best Stanley Kubrick Films, Ranked
7Harry Potter
Warner Bros. really has a thing for wizards. The studio helped to create theHarry Potterfilm franchise, bringing J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy books to life on the big screen. Althoughthe ranking of the films are often debated, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: Harry Potter is iconic. Even when he’s not wielding a wand or flying on a broomstick, most people can identify Daniel Radcliffe’s character. The franchise has some of the highest grossing films of all time and has made billions of dollars for Warner Bros. Harry Potter is known and adored across the world. And if the rumors are true, then he may be making his on-screen comeback in a film adaptation of the hit Broadway play,Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
6Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is the wise-cracking, carrot-munching star of the animated sensation,Looney Tunes. Since its inception in 1930, the cartoon has been produced and owned by Warner Bros. Bugs has appeared in more films than any animated character. His biggest movie roles are in theSpace Jamfranchise. While these films weren’t exactly Oscar winners, they’re beloved by 90s kids for their nostalgia and humor. Bugs is regarded asone of the greatest cartoon characters ever madeand still appears in various forms of media. His catchphrase, “Eh, what’s up, Doc?” is one of the most recognizable lines not only in cartoons but in all of television. Bugs Bunny even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Related:Best Movies That Mix Animation with Live Action, Ranked
Of course, you can’t have this list without a couple of superheroes. Next to Marvel, DC Comics is the juggernaut of the comic book industry. The company is owned by Warner Bros., who has produced and distributed all of DC’s movies. Together, Warner Bros. and DC have brought the most iconic superheroes to the big screen. And few are as iconic asSuperman. From his creation in the 30s to his motion picture debut in the 70s, Superman was the most famous superhero in comic books. His blue and red costume and signature hairstyle are recognizable across the world.The character has appeared in multiple movies and franchisesand has been played by several actors, from the iconic Christopher Reeves to the more recent Henry Cavill. When it comes to box office numbers, Superman isn’t as popular as he used to be, but he still deserves a spot on Warner Bros.’s mantle of icons.
4King Kong
Everybody knowsKing Kong. He’s America’s version of Godzilla and is one of the most powerful monsters in fiction. The character made its debut in the 1933 classicKing Kongand has been wreaking havoc in movies ever since.The image of a giant ape standing on top of the Empire State Building, holding a damsel in distress, while planes try shooting him down is one of the most legendary scenes in Hollywood. The original film franchise was produced by RKO Radio Pictures. Since then, ownership of the character has changed hands and has now settled with Warner Bros. The studio rebooted King Kong with its MonsterVerse franchise and has produced two films so far. One of them pinned Kong against his age-old enemy, Godzilla.
Related:King Kong: All Movies in Order
3Rick Blaine
Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine isn’t just one of the most iconic characters from Warner Bros. He’s one of the most iconic characters in cinema. Rick is the protagonist of the 1942 classicCasablanca,which is regarded asone of the greatest films ever made. Bogart’s portrayal as the smooth-talking bar owner was perfect and has since become the face of classic Hollywood.Casablancafeatures some of the most quotable lines in movies, and many of them belong to Rick, such as “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine”, “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”, and “We’ll always have Paris.” The list goes on and on. But it’s this quote from Rick Blaine that sits near the top of the greatest quotes in movies: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
Batman isthe most popular and bankable superhero in DC, even more so than Superman. The character was famous for his campy TV show in the 1960s. Tim Burton’s 1989 classicBatmangave us a portrayal of the hero that we both needed and deserved: a dark, gritty, and serious take on the character. The film not only redefined Batman but changed what a comic book movie could be. Every superhero film that’s followed since owes its gratitude to the 1989 movie.Batmanhas appeared in tons of films and reboots over the years, including 2008’s Oscar winning and universally reveredThe Dark Knight.His next appearance will be in 2023’sThe Flash,which will see both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck reprise their roles as Batman. The film will likely gross hundreds of millions of dollars – and it’ll probably be because Batman’s in it.
Related:Best Batman Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score
1Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale from the 1939 classicThe Wizard of Ozis one of the most iconic characters in Hollywood. Although originally own by MGM,The Wizard of Ozhas since been bought by Warner Bros, making Dorothy one of their centerpieces. Every movie fan knows the girl with the brown pigtails and the little dog named Toto. Audiences have been in love with Dorothy (Judy Garland) ever since she sangSomewhere Over the Rainbow,a song that’s been covered a hundred different ways by a hundred different artists. To this day though, Dorothy’s version remains the definitive one. Her journey to the world of Oz, and into a bright world of color, has dazzled viewers for generations. The pair of ruby red shoes that Dorothy wears throughout the movie is legendary Hollywood wardrobe. And the character’s famous line, “There’s no place like home” ranks as one of the most known and historic quotes in cinematic history.
