A Lot Of Movie Characters Are Annoying, But I’d Love To Be Real-Life Friends With These 8

Movie characters wouldn’t always make for great real-life friends, but a few standout as invaluable friends that anyone would be lucky to have. Even the greatest movie friendships have some degree of annoyance to them that make them fun to watch, but in all likelihood miserable to be a part of in real life. With specific characters written specifically to be amazing friends, however, this isn’t the case, making it hard not to wish that they wouldn’t leap out of the screen and into reality.

From steadfast protagonists to the greatest movie villains, most characters in film are written to be either likable or watchable. It’s rare that a fine balance of both is struck, resulting in a character that would be fun to be around without wearing out their welcome into the real world before too long. Certain movie characters are so easy to see as an old close friend one has known for a long time that it’s easy to forget they aren’t real in the first place.

8

Samwise Gamgee

The Lord of the Rings series

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Of all the races of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the Hobbits are easily the most relatable for many. Compared to the tyrannical ambitions of other sapient creatures, the pint-sized hill dwellers are content to feast, party, and live small merry lives that make the most of each quiet moment. No member of their race captures this easygoing whimsy quite like Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins’ gardner who ends up way in over his head on the quest to Mount Doom.

Samwise Gamgee is an invaluable ally.

Samwise is a rare spot of bright humor amid the dour Fellowship of the Ring, always having a chipper attitude and a penchant for second breakfast that would be amazing to be around in the real world. It helps that Sam is incredibly courageous and reliable when it counts, willing to literally carry his friends on his back amid jagged cliffs as shown in the brilliant “But I can carry you!” moment in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. He might not be the brightest tool in the shed, but Samwise Gamgee is an invaluable ally.

7

Paddington

The Paddington series

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Few movie characters come from a series all about just how great of a friend they are, but Paddington is one of the rare few to fit the bill. A rare species of previously-undiscovered intelligent bear from Peru, Paddington first encountered human society after stowing away in a ship headed to England. It was there that he picked up an adorable British accent and a ferocious love for marmalade, not to mention his newfound human family.

Paddington is so adorable that simply being around him would be sure to get the dopamine flowing, even after a stressful day in the real world. In addition, getting to sample his prized marmalade would be a dream come true, and considering Paddington is able to make friends with even the meanest of convicts, there’s no one whose heart would be safe from melting around him. His disastrous clashes with human technology aside, Paddinton is a delight of a character that anyone would be lucky to call a friend.

6

Luna Lovegood

The Harry Potter series

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As fun as they are all to watch and grow up alongside, in truth, the main trio of the Harry Potter series wouldn’t exactly make for the best of friends in real life. Between the hormonal teenage bickering, Ron’s cowardice, Hermoine’s arrogance and Harry’s self-centeredness, going to actual school with the troublesome magicians wouldn’t be all that fun in practice. The same can’t be said for Luna Lovegood, easily one of the most pleasant students to ever attend Hogwarts.

Despite being bullied in her own world, Luna’s dreamy personality and ethereal innocence would be an absolute delight to have around in real life. Not only that, but her spellcasting skills and affinity for magical creatures would make for some awesome friendship perks, as well. She may be a tad airheaded and struggle to understand social cues at times, but if one had to pick a single wizard or witch from Harry Potter to be friends with, Luna Lovegood is an easy choice.

5

Gizmo

The Gremlins series

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At first glance, the whole point of the Gremlins movies might seem to be that the Mogwai don’t make for terribly good companions. While it’s true that his nasty spawn are horrific, dangerous creatures that no one would want to encounter in real life, Gizmo himself has nothing to do with them outside his biology. In fact, if his relatively simple rules can be abided by, Gizmo is one of the best movie characters to have as a friend around.

He’s even willing to step in and fight for his human buddies should his nastier cousins be unleashed, making him a reliable friend even in dangerous circumstances.

Just like Paddington, Gizmo is an adorable fuzzy critter that would put anyone at ease just by being around. He has a beautiful singing voice, and his appreciation for pop culture (as evidenced by his Rambo rampage in the second film) would make him a fun companion to just hang out and read some 3-D comic books with. He’s even willing to step in and fight for his human buddies should his nastier cousins be unleashed, making him a reliable friend even in dangerous circumstances.

4

Yoda

The Star Wars series

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Sometimes, everyone needs to turn to a friend for a bit of sagely advice, and no movie character would be better at this than Master Yoda from the Star Wars series. Specifically, Yoda as he appears in The Empire Strikes Back, long after he’s wrought with worry over the inevitable collapse of the Jedi Order and the droid attack on the Wookies. Part of an alien species that lives for untold centuries, Yoda has had many years of experience to pull ancient wisdom from.

Beyond lending a pointy, green ear to offer his prescient advice to any problems one might have, the older Yoda is quite the fun, rambunctious little guy. It would be endlessly fun to watch him tangle with modern human technology, and he might even be able to teach one how to use the force. Either way, Yoda is a cheerful little swamp goblin whose perspective, sense of humor, and secret knowledge of the universe would make him an absolute treat to hang out with.

3

The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant

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Brad Bird’s The Iron Giant is another film all about friendship whose titular buddy is still the envy of the real world. The movie revolves around a mysterious mechanical giant that crash lands on Earth in a stylized version of the 50s. The colossal companion ends up befriending an outcast young boy before being hunted by the government, considered dangerous due to his status as a living weapon.

Undoubtedly, having a giant-sized pal would come with some huge perks, including safety and the ability to skip a boring commute in favor of a rocket-boosted joyride. Personality-wise, the Iron Giant is like a lovable, loyal pal who, even if he gets confused, always does his best to understand the world around him. In the end, he was even willing to sacrifice his own life for his newfound family, showing off some proven loyalty that would be priceless in the real world.

2

Genie

Aladdin

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Plenty of movie characters would make for great friends, but none of them have an entire song dedicated to just how great of a friend they are quite like the Genie from Aladdin. Played by the late great Robin Williams, this iconic wishmaster is cosmically indebted to anyone who frees him from his lamp to grant three wishes, barring a few notable exceptions. The prospect of getting three wishes alone instantly makes Genie one of the most sought-after movie characters anyone would want to have in their corner.

Even if the wishes were off the table, Genie’s great romantic advice and hilarious sense of humor would make him a boon to have around. Genie’s real-world references and parodies would be even funnier in the actual real world, and getting to hear him crack jokes about whatever situation he could get dragged into would be worth any effort. His ability to break the fourth wall makes him well-suited to coming into the real world anyway.

1

Dr. King Schultz

Django Unchained

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A far cry from the child-friendly films up to this point, one might be surprised to see a character from the bloody works of Quentin Tarantino rated as one of the best movie characters to be friends with in real life. After playing one of the most despicable movie villains ever in Inglourious Basterds, Christoph Waltz requested that Tarantino’s next role for him be an unambiguous good guy. Dr. King Schultz from Django Unchained is just that, not to mention a wonderful friend to have who is weirdly progressive for his time period.

Dr. Schultz and his bowing horse, Fritz, are both polite gentlemen who consistently find ways to rise above the bleak circumstances of their time period. Schultz’s history as a dentist might offer a friends-only discount for some dental care, and his unshakable moral convictions are a quality anyone would want in their ride-or-die. Despite hailing from a particularly violent film, Dr. King Schultz would be one of the best movie friends anyone could ask for.