10 Most Annoying Movie Characters Of All-Time
By Rick Gonzales | Published
10 Most Annoying Movie Characters of All-Time
To make a film truly work, its characters need to be engaging and fun, allowing for a certain gravitas that will pull in the viewer. When this happens, cinema is at its best. Unfortunately, when characters don’t mesh with the audience, even a well-written story can be knocked off its tracks. A bad performance is one thing, but when it is because of an annoying movie character, it can turn the two hours you invest in the film into an excruciating experience.
There are plenty of instances throughout the history of film where an annoying character has taken the steam out of a decent movie. Somehow, we have whittled that number down to 10 of the most annoying ever.
10. Percy Wetmore – The Green Mile
Talk about an annoying character who almost derailed an otherwise great film. Played by Doug Hutchison, who is actually a fine actor, Percy Wetmore is a cruel and sadistic guard in the 1999 film, The Green Mile. As the central antagonist in the film, Percy comes across as an annoying little brother who will do anything for attention. It’s the delivery that is such an annoying turn-off.
9. Nicky – Little Nicky
Depending on which Adam Sandler movie you are watching, you either love him or you hate him. The “hate” typically comes when Sandler decides to do one of “those” characters. You know, the annoying kind with the annoying voice. In Little Nicky, he ups his annoying game by not only giving Little Nicky a horribly annoying voice, but also a creepy-looking, and just as annoying, facial expression each and every time he talks.
8. Christian Grey – Fifty Shades of Grey
In a series that pretty much has no redeeming qualities, Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey leads the way as one of the more annoying characters on film. Grey is a sexual deviant who draws the unsuspecting Anastasia Steele into his twisted games. While his character is intended to come off as sexy and thrilling, his need to control every aspect of Anastasia’s life is more annoying and tiring than anything.
7. Gilderoy Lockhart – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In just about any other film and any other part, actor Kenneth Branagh shines. From the underrated 1991 film Dead Again to his performance as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Branagh proves to be one of the finest actors working. Misfires, unfortunately, sometimes happen and as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it took a misfire of annoying proportions.
6. Lex Luthor – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Not only was this version of Lex Luthor horribly miscast but it was also done so with the most annoying of results. Jesse Eisenberg (right?) was hired by Zack Snyder to take on the iconic role of Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and what a shitshow that turned out to be. Annoying is an understatement when sitting through Eisenberg’s performance. He is much better off fighting off zombies.
5. Pitka – The Love Guru
Here is another popular actor that either works for you or doesn’t. As Austin Powers, Mike Myers hit it out of the park. But as Pitka in The Love Guru, his schtick came off as ungodly annoying, pulling in a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. So bad was the film with such an annoying character, Myers pretty much was forced into a long vacation from acting in Hollywood.
4. Bella Swan – Twilight series
Not going to lie here, we could have chosen any number of annoying characters from this series. The reason why Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan leads the way is because she is top-billed. For those of you who continue to swear by the series, which includes five loooonnnng films, we give you credit. Stewart’s performance as Bella Swan definitely ranks up there as one of the most annoying.
3. Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars prequel trilogy
So, we could have easily chosen the young Jake Lloyd as the most annoying to come from the series, but seeing as that he was a child actor, it doesn’t feel right to pick on the kid. Instead, Hayden Christensen, who doesn’t appear until the second and third films, is the winner as most annoying when it comes to live-action Star Wars characters. Thankfully he was able to redeem himself a bit in the Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
2. Mary Corleone – The Godfather III
You have to see The Godfather III to actually appreciate the level of annoyance presented by Sofia Coppola as Michael Corleone’s daughter, Mary. From a flat delivery with very little emotion behind it, Coppola was well out of her league around such heavyweights as Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and Andy Garcia. Trust us, Coppola’s decision to finally follow in her father’s (Francis Ford Coppola) footsteps as a director was a wise choice.
1. Jar-Jar Binks – Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
This one is a no-brainer. Literally, the most annoying movie character of all time, Jar Jar Binks was introduced in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. The intent, we think, was to provide some levity into Star Wars but instead, the result was derision and disgust. When you look up “annoying” in the dictionary, Jar-Jar Binks’s picture will be right next to the definition.