Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Over the years we have been treated to some fabulous movies and great performances - but only a handful ever go on to be truly iconic.
There are some characters that just transcend the movie or the franchise and go on to stand the test of time.
We take a look at some of the most iconic male film characters of all time and the actors that helped bring them to life.
- Indiana Jones
It was back in 1981 when we were introduced to Indiana Jones for the very first time as Raiders of the Lost Ark hit the big screen.
Directed by Steven Spielberg the movie saw Harrison Ford take on the central character of Jones - an archaeology professor with an adventurous side.
We see Ford wear the famous leather jacket and fedora for the first time while Spielberg delivered a movie that was the perfect balance between action and humour.
Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade followed cementing Indiana Jones as one of the greatest action heroes of all time as well as one of the most loved characters.
In 2008 Ford returned to the character of Indiana Jones for the first time in nearly twenty years as this franchise was introduced to a completely new generation.
- James Bond
There is no film character that is more iconic than James Bond as he is a character that has been gracing the big screen for fifty years.
During those fifty years we have seen a range of actors play 007 but it was Sean Connery that kicked it all off with Dr No back in 1962.
Terence Young directed the first movie while Connery depicted Bond as a suave, sophisticated and charming killer with an eye of the ladies but was quick with a gun.
Over the years Bond has evolved with the time with George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan all taking on the central role.
Daniel Craig is the current actor in the role and he has established this character more as a cold hearted killer and we have seen a much darker side to this character.
With every incarnation we see a different side to this truly fascinating character and long may the franchise continue.
Sean Connery as James Bond
- Han Solo
An actor is very lucky is he has one truly iconic role during his career but to have two is a very rare achievement.
But that is exactly what Harrison Ford has done as he shot to fame playing Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise.
We were introduced to Han Solo in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and while, at first, he is a man who is just interested in making money he becomes a key character in the Rebel Alliance.
Han Solo is one of the most iconic movie characters of all time and The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi helped cement him as a true cinematic hero.
The role turned Harrison Ford into a superstar and Han Solo was a huge part in what may Star Wars so successful.
Harrison Ford as Han Solo- Hannibal Lecter
But it is now always the good guys that achieve iconic status as Hannibal Lecter is one of the most famous film villains of all time.
The reason that this character has endured is because of the terrific and chilling central performance from Anthony Hopkins.
Hopkins played the character for the first time back in 1991 when Thomas Harris' novel The Silence of the Lambs was adapted for the big screen.
What is so astonishing about Hopkins' performance is he only has around sixteen minutes of screen time and yet he makes such a huge impact.
Hopkins went on to win the Best Actor for his superb performance and The Silence of the Lambs is widely regarded as one of the best horror movies of all time.
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter- Darth Vader
Seeing as we are on the subject of baddies there is no greater villain that Darth Vader.
Man actors have played this role throughout the many different Star Wars projects over the years but the original trilogy saw David Prouse take on the role while Bob Anderson played him during the lightsaber fight scenes.
Darth Vader is a character that casts a dark shadow over the entire Star Wars trilogy - even when he is not on screen - and we were introduced to him for the first time in A New Hope back in 1977.
Darth Vader is involved in one of the great plot twists of all time when it is revealed that he is the father of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
This character remains the greatest movie villain of all time and he is a character that has endured since the first Star Wars movie hit the big screen.
Darth Vader- Vito Corleone
Marlon Brando is one of cinema's great actors but he will forever be remembered for his stunning performance as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
The movie was a big screen adaptation of the Mario Puzo novel of the same name and it was released back in 1972.
Vito Corleone is the patriarch of the Corleone family and he is a charismatic and ruthless character.
It was a tour de force performance from Brando and Corleone is perhaps one of the most fascinating characters of all time.
The Godfather is widely regarded as the greatest gangster movie of all time - not to mention one of the most influential.
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone- Rick Blaine
You have got to love a bit of Humphrey Bogart and the role of Rick Blaine remains his most famous role.
It was back in 1942 when Casablanca hit the big screen with Michael Curtiz in the director's chair.
This was Bogart's first romantic role and it really saw him move away from the gangster typecast that had followed him around.
Bogart is one of those actors who can hold you attention without doing very much and his portrayal of Blaine is mesmerising.
Blaine is a man who is torn between the woman that his loves and the duty he feels towards fighting the Nazis.
Rick Blaine is one of the greatest romantic heroes of all time that really showed off the very best of Humphrey Bogart.
