ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE | MOVIES
Article Published on: 05TH MAR 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com
Traditional film protagonists are often heroic, noble, and morally upright, but some of the most memorable characters subvert these archetypes, offering audiences complex, flawed, and even morally ambiguous figures. These unconventional protagonists redefine storytelling by challenging audience expectations.
Travis Bickle – Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver features one of cinema’s most unsettling protagonists, Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro). A loner and Vietnam War veteran struggling with isolation and paranoia, Bickle embodies the anti-hero. His descent into violence, while intended as vigilante justice, raises moral questions about righteousness and mental instability.
The Joker – Joker (2019)
Todd Phillips’ Joker reimagines the classic comic book villain as a tragic protagonist. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a mentally ill, marginalized comedian whose suffering and societal rejection push him toward becoming the infamous Joker. The film forces audiences to sympathize with a character who ultimately becomes a violent symbol of chaos.
Llewyn Davis – Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
In the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, the protagonist (Oscar Isaac) is a struggling folk musician who is talented but self-destructive. Unlike traditional heroes who overcome challenges, Llewyn’s journey is cyclical, with little personal growth. His failures and stubbornness make him both relatable and frustrating.
Amy Dunne – Gone Girl (2014)
Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl presents Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) as a protagonist who defies expectations. At first appearing as a missing victim, she is later revealed as a cunning manipulator who orchestrates her own disappearance. Amy’s intelligence and ruthlessness challenge conventional portrayals of female leads.
Jordan Belfort – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street presents a protagonist who embodies excess, greed, and moral corruption. Unlike traditional heroes who learn from their mistakes, Belfort revels in his unethical behavior, making him both fascinating and reprehensible.
These films prove that protagonists don’t always need to be heroic to be compelling. Instead, their flaws, contradictions, and moral ambiguity create richer, more thought-provoking narratives.