A Guide To Six Action Hero Types

Since the moment a movie villain tied the girl to the tracks, there have been action heroes ready to grab a six-shooter and risk their lives for some good ole fashion butt-kicking and do-gooding. But as the action hero has evolved, many different types of permutations have entered the fray. And as movie studios look to hit homeruns with the next Bourne Identity or Taken, writers and filmmakers must tread carefully as they create the next great action hero.

Throughout the broad range of action heroes, from James Bond and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to Clarice Sterling and Jerry Shaw (Eagle Eye), some action heroes seem a lot like others. In fact, it seems all action heroes fall into one of six major categories. And audiences respond best when a hero isn’t just authentic, but rings true to his type. The best action heroes don't just As you create your next action hero, make sure you focus in on the right character.

The Fighter

He’s your classic action hero. He

didn’t want a fight, but god damn it, he’ll give it to you. It’s Taken, The Running Man, Die Hard, and Rambo. From the tough cowboys of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne to the macho

Van Dammes and Schwarzeneggers, these guys are willing to throw as many punches as it takes to win the fight. Usually they fight for someone else’s sake and rarely pick the fight themselves. In the first act, they usually don’t want this fight, but

once they are in it, they’re in it. It’s win or die at whatever means necessary. They are courageous and they take no prisoners. They are unstoppable. The only question for these heroes is how will they use their power? Will they seek total revenge or walk away in the end? When is the violence enough? Does might make right?

The Zero To

Hero

This poor zero doesn’t know what he’s in for, but what he lacks in training or strength, he makes up for in heart. Usually these characters are dreamers, longing for something more than their mundane lives. And boy do they get pulled into it. It’s Wesley Gibson (McAvoy) in Wanted, Neo in the Matrix, or Sam Witwicky in Transformers. These anxious, often nerdy zeroes usually get paired up with kickass heroines, wise old mentors, and larger than life villains. It’s the classic mythic story, but it translates out of adventure and into action when the extra-ordinary world comes to our hero. From there, these heroes often use their inspiring attitude to brings others to the fight, but in the end, they must face the final confrontation and have faith in themselves to see it through. Are they really meant for greatness? Can they really answer this call and win the larger epic

struggle at hand?

The Thriller Seeker

Then there’s our adrenaline-junkie. Why wouldn’t they want to jump from a plane, as long as they can get to the bar in time to take the sexy chick home? It’s our Connery James Bond, our playful Tony Stark (aka Iron-Man), or Indiana Jones. They don’t think too much about the conflict at hand. They make it up as they go along. Like Xander Cage in XXX, they get involved because it sounds fun, but when it turns serious, they usually still have fun taking the fight to the bad guys. These heroes smile when taking a punch or diffusing bombs, like in Hurt Locker. But the last thing they want is to be obligated to be the hero or have the responsibility of other people’s lives. In the end, they need to learn to put aside the games, forget about the limelight, and realize there are some real stakes involved. Their maturity and sobriety will be required to take down the big bad guy. That’s right, playboy, you may have to take the fate of the world seriously just this once.

The Boy Scout

Sometimes it’s just the right thing to do. These heroes rush into the fire at risk of their only personal jeopardy. They never leave a man behind. They fight for a higher cause. This is Spiderman or Superman. This is Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) in Spy Games or Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) in Training Day. Even Dirty Harry falls into this category, ultimately driven by the right thing to do. They got involved to make the world right with unflappable ideals. That’s why if the fight isn’t personal, they’ll make it personal, because an affront to anyone is an affront to them. Instead, these heroes make personal sacrifice. Their loved ones suffer, often finding pain or emotional danger. This makes it hard because sacrifice for the greater good doesn’t fit in their moral wheelhouse. What do they do when their cause competes with personal needs and the safety of loved ones? And even if they overcome that, in the end, they must ask if the ends justify the means? Just because they can see morality, does that give them the right to impart justice?

The Detective

There’s something going on here. And these heroes have to get to the bottom of it. It’s the classic thriller. Plenty of action heroes enter this area by picking up a gun and busting some heads on their investigations. Whether these heroes are law enforcement officials, or simply an average joe, they start the story as cogs in the wheel, unaware of what’s really going on. But as they get pulled in, they learn about a mystery or a conspiracy. It’s Jerry Shaw (Shia Lebouf) in Eagle Eye, Jason Bourne, or Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible). These detectives learn not to trust anyone. At every turn, allies become enemies, and enemies turn out to be red herrings. With all this uncertainty, it’s hard to even trust oneself and one’s instincts. Internal struggles are common, like the redemptive story is Frank Horrigan (Eastwood) in the flick In the Line of Fire, or Gittes (Nicholson) in Chinatown. In the end, they must have faith in their premonitions, but uncovering the secrets are usually enough to eliminate the villain’s power.

The Professional

The best of the best. These assassins, mercenaries, and experts know their trade and they have rules to keep themselves safe. They are calm, objective, thinking men who can outthink their rivals and threats. This is Leon the Professional, Daniel Craig’s James Bond, or George Clooney in the newly released The American. In Spy Games, Robert Redford as Nathan Muir knows that sacrifices have to be made to stay safe, and he never sticks his neck out for someone if it goes against his rules. They leave men behind. But ultimately these heroes get pulled into a job or situation that tests their morality. Their emotions get the best of them. How far will they bend their rules to finish what they started. This was the fantastic change to James Bond’s character in Casino Royale: before he was a playboy with no emotions, he was tested by his emotional involvement. These professionals are extremely dangerous, and when they finally enter the fray, they are near impossible to defeat, as long as they can keep a level head over their flaring feelings.

So when you launch into your next great action story, think carefully about which type of action hero your protagonist is. You'll want a plot that corresponds appropriately to his style and you'll want to test him appropriately based on his type. Regardless of type, the heroes that truly champion the box office are the ones that ring true to the pantheon set before them.

And please, if you have comments on my types, or questions about where an action hero fits, don't hesitate to write!