Top 10 Favorite Narcissistic Characters
10. Zaphod BeeblebroxMovie: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Played By: Sam Rockwell
About: I haven't seen this movie in ages (despite owning it), which is why it's at number 10. And while Zaphod (and Sam Rockwell) is great, the character didn't stick with me strong enough to put him any higher. But he's still fun for the role he has.
9. Miranda PriestlyMovie: The Devil Wears Prada
Played By: Meryl Streep
About: I've only seen the movie once--again, why it's so low on the list. But this is a character that sticks with you.
8. Patrick BatemanMovie: American Psycho
Played By: Christian Bale
About: Bale plays the role with what appears to be ease. However, I've got to be in a certain mood to catch this flick, so the role isn't too often seen by these eyes. That being said, he's a completely memorable character with some very iconic scenes.
7. Kieran VollardMovie: Dinner for Schmucks
Played By: Jemaine Clements
About: I'll probably get some hell for this one, particularly with its placement. But this is a favorites list, after all. But whether or not you liked the movie, most have agreed that Jamaine Clements was the best part. And there's another, very similar character a little higher on the list...
6. Steve StiflerMovie: The American Pie Trilogy
Played By: Seann William Scott
About: Stifler thinks he's hot stuff, almost obnoxiously so. But he's not without his insecurities underneath it all. He's probably not a true narcissist as the rest of this list--it's much more of a front, at least partially. But there's no doubting he thinks highly of himself, and he's funny while he thinks so.
5. Derek ZoolanderMovie: Zoolander
Played By: Ben Stiller
About: "I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on finding out what that is."
4. Aldous SnowMovie: Forgetting Sarah Marshall/Get Him To The Greek
Played By: Russell Brand
About: I've yet to see Get Him To The Greek, though I've heard it's good. I wasn't crazy about Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but I thought he was hilarious in it--clearly the best part of the whole thing.
3. VizziniMovie: The Princess Bride
Played By: Wallace Shawn
About: Vizzini: "I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains." Westley: "You're that smart?" Vizzini: "Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato? Aristotle? Socrates?" Westley: "Yes." Vizzini: "Morons." And you best not disagree with him! That'd be inconceivable!
2. Ron BurgundyMovie: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Played By: Will Ferrell
About: It's my second-favorite Will Ferrell movie (after Stranger than Fiction). And the narcissism is right there in the title of the film! He's a fun character, wrapped up in his own little world.
1. Gilderoy LockhartMovie: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Played By: Kenneth Branagh
About: This is definition narcissism. I think Lockhart is hilarious. One of my favorite comical moments from the series is when Lockhart is talking to Harry during his detention and says "Fame is a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that." *turn and smile* Seriously, he goes to such lengths as to fake his fame and risk the deaths of many-a-student to keep his ego fed. Though I was sad to see him not make an appearance in Order of the Phoenix, as he does in the book, his portrayal in Chamber of Secrets was excellent.
A VERY good list. I would also throw out Bill Murray's character from Scrooged!
ReplyDeleteDamn! I was trying so hard to think of a good Bill Murray character (I kept wanting to say Venkman, but I wasn't too sure he was narcissistic enough for this list). That would have been a good one.
ReplyDeleteYou're so vain, you probably think this post is about you.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Nick, at least what I've seen.
You're just about th worst film blogger online.
ReplyDeleteNegative attention is still attention. Glad you feel that way, Anon.
ReplyDeleteHa this is a really cool idea for a list! Love your number one, I definitely agree. My favorite part of the Harry Potter museum exhibition was the life-size painting that shows Lockhart painting a portrait of himself. It's so dramatic it's hilarious, and I had never noticed it in the film.
ReplyDeleteKing Henry the VIII....
ReplyDeletenarcissism... great idea for a list! and some great choices! Aldous Snow looks great!
ReplyDeleteSimon
www.screeninsight.com
The only one (from films I've seen) that I really think doesn't belong here is Miranda Priestly. She's something....but I don't know if narcissistic is the right way I'd describe her. Still, that's a minor quibble.
ReplyDeleteAnd despite my overall lack of love for Schmucks, I actually won't give you any guff at all for Kieran. Jemaine was fantastic - best part of the movie for sure.
Your 1-4 are fantastic.
A great list really. In a weird way I consider the bob hope characters in the road pictures to be comic narcissists. They act narcissistic but only as a cover to their insecurities.
ReplyDeleteLazarus Lupin
http://strangespanner.blogspot.com/
art and review
okkkkkk not what i was looking for......
ReplyDeleteSo, browsing the internet for lists like these and I see American Psycho come up quite a bit which feels a bit off to me, as the character is, well, he's a psychopath. Psychopaths can be very narcissistic. Can someone explain the difference between the narcissist and the sociopath? Having said this my vote for best NPD in a film would be Gollum from Lord of the Rings. "my precious..." :)
ReplyDeleteAnswering my own question here (previous post). Looks like in psychopaths and sociopaths there is a distinct LACK of emotional empathy for anyone (including the self). With NPD emotional empathy is directed at the self (only). As such American Psycho is not a good example of NPD.
ReplyDeleteThank you for responding, even though this list is quite old! (I don't even write for this blog anymore!)
DeleteI will have to disagree that Patrick Bateman is not a narcissist. He is very clearly one. The man is obsessed with his own image and how everyone perceives him. The entire opening of the film is dedicated to every little thing he does to make himself look good on a daily basis. The whole film is about "me me me." I mean, he even gets upset when somebody else's business card looks better than his.
The difference between a psychopath and a sociopath, as far as I'm aware, is that a psychopath is just crazy. A sociopath is like the TV show Dexter--no emotional connection with yourself or others (though in that particular example, it's of course been showing otherwise. But I digress). Regardless, that's arguing semantics entirely. The man is insanely narcissistic (no pun intended).
I'd like to see Tony Stark (Iron Man) somwhere in the list..a classic example of a playboy narcissist. Nevertheless, a great list...Lockhart certainly a good choice for the top spot.Good :D
ReplyDelete