10 Toughest Movie Heroes Ever

If there's one thing to take away from this list, it's the evolution of a character is just as engaging as the strength they display on screen. A character who was always hard as nails isn't always as compelling because there is not hero's journey for audiences to go along with. It's because of this statement, an argument could be made that Ellen Ripley from the Alien series is (and might always be) one of the best action heroes ever conceived.

While we could go on to discuss the psychology and tenacity of her character, we're not here for that. So let's talk about how bloody tough Ripley is, and why she's definitely someone you'd want on your side in a scrap.

The evolution of Ripley is one of overcoming and adapting to the ever-expanding threat of the Xenomorphs. While she is recovering from the trauma of losing her entire crew on the Nostromo back in the first Alien film, Ripley is also aware of the bigger picture and that the Weyland-Yutani curiosity of the aliens will only bring about a greater threat.

Besides being one of the most aware and capable protagonists in the Alien franchise, Ripley isn't one to shy away when she is confronted by the threats either. The infamous "Get away from her, you b***h!" sequence comes at a time when she could have saved herself and left little Newt to be taken by the Xenomorph queen.

Her tenacity as a fighter is driven by her fearlessness as a hero, an aspect that wins audiences' praise and applause as a worthy badass