Bill Paxton: 5 Awesome Performances (And Five That Sucked)

3. Hudson - Aliens (1986)

After a small role in 1984's The Terminator, Paxton quickly re-teamed with director James Cameron for sci-fi epic Aliens, starring as the "ultimate badass" Private Hudson.

While Hudson will, like the two Paxton roles we just discussed, be fondly remembered for his funnier moments and lines, the level of realism and depth the actor brought to the fledgling marine cannot be understated.

Initially cocky and arrogant, Hudson transforms into a nervous wreck when the situation takes a turn for the worse and everyone's lives are in danger. He reacts exactly how we'd all react in his shoes, and when compared to his relentlessly calm, unshakable teammates, he feels like the most human character in the movie.

And then, yes, there are all the amusing moments - "game over, man, game over!" and "Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?" among them - and when you combine these with the character's relatability, it's easy to understand why Hudson will go down as one of Paxton's most enduring roles.