The Movies' Most Unlikely Heroes

By Rick Marshall

In the new Disney movie Wreck-It Ralph, an arcade-game villain decides to turn over a new leaf and become a hero, but he discovers that the path to becoming one of the good guys isn't an easy one to walk. He's not alone in surprising the world with his heroism, though. Here are 15 more unlikely heroes who prove that the good guys (and girls and robots) come in all shapes, sizes and species.

Wall-E (Wall-E)

This junk-collecting robot set off on a cosmic adventure to win the digital heart of his lady love, but he also managed to give our entire species hope for the future and a new home on our old planet. Not too shabby, Wall-E!

Buffy (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

A ditzy California teenager entrusted to protect the world from the forces of the evil and undead? Sure, it might have seemed like humanity was doomed, but Buffy lived up to the task... and spawned a hit television series.

Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors)

Be nice to that quiet guy at the Little (flower) Shop of Horrors, because he might be the only thing standing between you and a gruesome death in the maw of a giant, alien plant with a taste for blood. “Suddenly Seymour,” indeed!

Johnny 5 (Short Circuit)

He may have been programmed for war, but this snarky robot in Short Circuit was a pacifist right down to his battery terminals – and he proved it when he protected his friends from harm and turned the tables on a shady government agency. Johnny 5 is alive, and don't you forget it.

Jen (The Dark Crystal)

This Gelfling might not look like much, but he showed the courage of a hundred bigger creatures during his epic journey to return a shard of a magical crystal to its rightful place and reunite the races of his strange world in The Dark Crystal.

T-800 (Terminator 2)

He was the shiny, cold face of evil when we first met him, but the T-800 returned in a big way as the protector of humanity's best hope against the robots. It's quite a turnaround for an android assassin, and turned one of Hollywood's most iconic villains into one of cinema's greatest heroes.

Milton (Office Space)

Everyone has their breaking point, but when you take a man's favorite stapler, you deserve what's coming to you. Eternally pushed to the side and dismissed, Milton saved the day in more ways than he'll ever realize when he finally reached his limit and put a fiery end to the office space he despised so much.

Shaun (Shaun of the Dead)

Sure, it took him a while to even realize the zombie apocalypse was happening, but once he did, it was all business for Shaun. Armed with a cricket bat and a knack for putting the undead down for the count, this retail clerk found his true calling as a zombie-killer when the chips were down.

Bill & Ted (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure)

Travel through time collecting the greatest historical figures known to man and then convince all of them to help you with your high-school history report? It wasn't a problem for slackers Bill and Ted, and they managed to cram in some band practice while they were at it. Wyld Stallyns Rule!

The Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters)

They came, they saw, they saved the world from a shape-shifting Sumerian god of destruction and his demonic disciples with the power of science and some witty banter. New York City has its share of troubles, but when the going gets weird – and that's really weird – everyone knows who to call: The Ghostbusters!

Hit Girl (Kick-Ass)

This pint-size bundle of butt-kicking may have a foul mouth, but she can back up her talk. Whether she's single-handedly taking out an entire crew of trained thugs or spouting one-liners that would make a sailor cringe, Hit Girl is like Bruce Lee trapped in the body of your little sister, and she's kick-ass.

Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

From plump, freckle-faced nerd to the savior of all we Muggles hold dear, the evolution of Neville Longbottom is arguably the second-most impressive story to be found in the Harry Potter films. After seeing him grow into himself over the course of the films, you're not alone if you cheered when Neville took sword in hand to fight the dreaded Nagini in that final, climactic battle for Hogwarts.

Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Neither a brutal shipmaster nor a brilliant captain of the open seas, Jack Sparrow somehow manages to bungle, flirt and lie his way through one adventure after another, and somehow save the world in the process. We're not sure he even knows how he does it, but why question a good thing?

Walter (The Muppets)

The number-one fan of Kermit and his crew found himself in an unbelievable position when he was recruited to save The Muppets and their theater from a wrecking ball. But dreams can quickly turn into nightmares if you're not willing to see them through, and Walter more than lives up to the task. He is truly a manly, manly Muppet, people.