Top 10 Movie Characters That Make Us Nostalgic
#10: Cher Horowitz “Clueless” (1995)
Not including this teen film icon on our list? As if! Cher was the cool and naive yet kind girl that we all wanted to be in high school. Her fashion and lingo were legendary, and her confidence and resilience was something to be admired. Her character in “Clueless” takes us back to our days as teenagers, where it seemed like the most important things in life were dating, friends, fashion, and learning to drive. The 1990s setting also reminds us of when teen movies were at their prime. While high school might look different today, the theme of navigating adolescence never goes out of style.
#9: E.T. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
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This movie terrified us, excited us, and warmed our hearts. If your first viewing took place as a child, then you probably relate with Drew Barrymore’s character when she first laid eyes on the alien. But in retrospect, this film had a lot to show us about acceptance and friendship. When E.T. crash lands on Earth and finds solace with Elliott, the two embark on a roller coaster of events that eventually leads to E.T. returning home. E.T. and Elliott’s relationship helped a generation of audiences learn that when you love something, sometimes you need to let it go. Connections can stay strong even when you are millions of lightyears away.
#8: Harry Potter “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
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Throughout the ten-year run of the original “Harry Potter” film series, we were provided with countless memorable characters that left us longing for the early aughts. At the center of it all is the chosen one himself. We got to see Harry grow from a neglected child living in a cupboard under the stairs to a powerful wizard. This is a film series that fans still love to rewatch in its entirety. We can’t help but wish we were a part of his enchanting world, studying at Hogwarts and battling evil alongside Harry and his friends. If only we could watch these films for the first time to feel the magic all over again.
#7: Kevin McCallister “Home Alone” (1990) & “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992)
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One of the times of the year where we’re feeling the most sentimental, reflective, and nostalgic is during the holiday season. So it’s no surprise that one of the characters that has us feeling wistful hails from an iconic Christmas movie series. Kevin McCallister learned to be careful about what he wished for when he made his family disappear in the first film, and when he accidentally boarded a flight to New York in the second. His humor, charm, and wit helped him to overcome the wet bandits, and he left us wondering if we could have pulled that off when we were kids. We’re pretty sure the answer is no — but we like to relive Kevin’s adventures anyway.
#6: Willy Wonka “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
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Some of the things that lend us to feelings of nostalgia include whimsical songs, bright colors and settings, and of course, feel-good stories. The tale of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory encompassed all of those — albeit with a few unnerving moments that definitely stuck with us after the credits rolled. When Mr. Wonka invites the golden ticket winners to tour his factory, they, along with the audience, get to experience a candy workshop beyond their wildest dreams. The cherry on top of this film is how Willy Wonka reminds Charlie to be creative and to dream big, which is a reminder we can all use from time to time.
#5: Indiana Jones “Indiana Jones” franchise (1981-)
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Even though this film series spans over four decades, the main character still reminds us of the spirit of youth and adventure. Although the first installment came out in the ‘80s, it’s truly timeless. It paid homage to the pulp genre and to adventure flicks that came before it, which makes it as rewatchable as ever. Meanwhile, audience members can relate to universal themes like good prevailing over evil. Harrison Ford plays the character of Indiana Jones flawlessly. Generations of viewers will always associate him with the archaeology professor and adventurer and feel at home seeing his iconic whip and hat on their screens.
#4: Marty McFly “Back to the Future” franchise (1985-90)
Marty McFly’s time-jumping adventures provide a lot of opportunity for nostalgia. Journeying from the 80s to the 50s, then to the 21st century and way back to the 1880s, Marty saw it all while exploring his town and family’s history. We all wish we could go back in time to see earlier versions of our loved ones, or fast forward to see how everything turns out for us, but Marty and Doc taught us that we are all in control of our own destiny. Full of cultural references and teen angst, viewers can find themselves feeling homesick for the eras we see throughout the films, even if they never lived through them.
#3: Woody “Toy Story” franchise (1995-)
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If toys were a huge part of your childhood, this one’s for you. The adventures shared by Woody and Buzz Lightyear make us wish our toys came to life. While Buzz is an iconic character, Woody is the one that really makes us wish we could be a kid again. His undying loyalty to Andy, his commitment to his friends, and his relentless optimism even as Andy grows older and the toys move on is endearing. For decades, he has reminded us that sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zones with an open mind, and we know we’ve always got a friend in him.
#2: Ferris Bueller “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
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The cool, confident student who was in with every crowd and could get away with anything? Yeah, that’s pretty much who we wish we could’ve been as a teen. Not only do Ferris’s adventures make us wish we were still in high school and could play hooky, his realization about the importance of soaking in precious moments stuck with us. Ferris is one of the most iconic characters of the ‘80s, with a rebellious spirit and desire for freedom that only a teenager could possess. He reminded us that we should live every day to the fullest, and feel free to take a day off every once in a while. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Simba, “The Lion King” (1994) Our Favorite Lion Cub-Turned-King Taught Us about the Circle of Life Elle Woods, “Legally Blonde” franchise (2001-) The Rules of Hair Care Are Simple & Finite, Just like Elle’s Status as an Iconic Character Jack Sparrow, “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-) From His Running to His Facial Expressions, This Pirate Never Fails to Brings Us Back Inigo Montoya, “The Princess Bride” (1987) This Modern Fairytale Character Was a True Hero for All Ages Rocky Balboa, “Rocky” franchise (1976-) Everyone Loves This Beloved Underdog Who Taught Us to Keep On Punching
#1: Dorothy Gale “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
The girl that took us over the rainbow has been making audiences realize there’s no place like home for almost a century. When Dorothy gets taken on a wild adventure into Technicolor, she makes us long for the feeling of magic, wonder, and curiosity we felt the first time we saw this film. Generations of viewers still feel a tingle in their hearts when they see a blue gingham dress paired with sparkling red slippers. Although Dorothy was longing for home, she made us feel like we were already there. The teen had us wishing we could live in a hopeful world full of colorful characters, and then made us realize we already do.
