15 Annoying Movie Characters We're Supposed to Like

Every film is a delicate balance of plot, setting, and character - and it's intriguing to see how easily this balance can be toppled by a single, unappealing character.

It's not like they are not likeable; it's just that they are kind of irritating sometimes. Or most of the time.

Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones)

Oh Anakin. The once-cute kid from Tatooine turned into an angsty teen with a penchant for sand-related dialogue. Hayden Christensen didn't entirely deserve the flak he received, as the script certainly didn't do him any favors, but unfortunately, he became the poster boy for the less beloved parts of George Lucas' prequels.

Bella Swan (Twilight series)

Even though Kristen Stewart 's Bella was supposed to be the relatable girl-next-door, her continuous indecisiveness between Edward and Jacob, combined with her ever-pervasive morose demeanor, was more irritating than endearing. Perhaps we were too harsh on her; after all, choosing between a centuries-old vampire and a wolf with anger issues is no easy task.

John Connor (Terminator Salvation)

The future savior of humankind was expected to be a complex character, but his portrayal by Christian Bale was notably flat. Yes, Bale is an acclaimed actor with a hefty body of work behind him, but his version of John Connor was a symphony of scowls and grimaces rather than an engaging hero.

Jar Jar Binks (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace)

It would be a disservice not to mention this notorious Gungan. Jar Jar was meant to provide comic relief in the Star Wars prequels, but he ended up eliciting more groans than giggles. His unique style of speech, combined with his clumsy antics, is firmly imprinted on our collective memory—for all the wrong reasons.

Iris (The Holiday)

Winsome and full of charm, Kate Winslet is hard to dislike, yet her character Iris in 'The Holiday' managed to test our affections. Her perpetual moping and inability to move on from an unrequited love felt more tedious than romantic. Yes, love can be complicated, but Iris seemed to enjoy wallowing in self-pity more than seeking a resolution.

Andie (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

Played by the lovely Kate Hudson, magazine writer Andie takes on the challenge to make a man break up with her in 10 days for an article. While her ridiculous antics are meant to be humorous, they veer into annoyingly manipulative territory. Even though she's the heroine, Andie leaves the audience questioning her morals.

Will Turner (Pirates of the Caribbean series)

Orlando Bloom's character, while meant to be the moral compass in the whirlwind of Jack Sparrow's chaotic charm, ended up being rather tiresome. His incessant righteousness felt overly rehearsed, leaving audiences longing for more of Johnny Depp 's entertaining unpredictability.

Lex Murphy (Jurassic Park)

The high-pitched screams and constant state of panic are somewhat understandable given the T-Rex-sized situation, but Ariana Richards' Lex still managed to test our patience. Her refusal to remain quiet despite the life-threatening stakes turned the would-be sympathetic character into a grating presence.

Sam Witwicky (Transformers series)

Shia LaBeouf's character is meant to be the relatable everyman amongst a battalion of transforming robots. But his constant yelling, flailing, and generally manic behaviour makes it hard to connect with him. Sam serves more as a distraction from the awe-inspiring Autobots and Decepticons, rather than enhancing our investment in their world.

Pepper Potts (Iron Man series)

Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper is a smart, capable woman, but her tendency to serve as the nagging counterpart to Tony Stark's reckless genius can get rather frustrating. While it's understandable she's concerned for Tony, the character occasionally feels less like a three-dimensional person and more like a plot device to instill some sense into Stark.

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series)

It's hard to criticize Jennifer Lawrence 's portrayal of Katniss – she certainly did the best she could with the script. However, the character's brooding nature and constant flip-flopping between Gale and Peeta, rather than saving her own skin in a death-match, rubbed many fans the wrong way. It's a post-apocalyptic world, Katniss, maybe it's time to focus on survival?

Arthur (Inception )

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character is supremely competent at what he does, but his role often reduces to that of the straight man in a team of fascinating characters. He is more a component of exposition and conflict resolution than a character with whom the audience can connect. We were supposed to admire Arthur, but we were left more curious about his eccentric teammates.

Skyler White (Breaking Bad )

While not a movie character, Skyler from the iconic TV series "Breaking Bad" earns a spot on this list. Meant to be the moral foil to Walter White's descent into criminality, she often came off as whiny and obstructive, despite having legitimate concerns. The role played by Anna Gunn became a lightning rod for viewer frustration.

Rachel (The Dark Knight)

Played by Maggie Gyllenhaal in the second film of Christopher Nolan 's Batman trilogy, Rachel is intended as the heart of the story. But her character often falls flat, serving more as a source of conflict between Batman and Harvey Dent than as a standalone character. Her forced love triangle makes her a frustrating presence in an otherwise captivating narrative.

Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World)

Intended as a quirky hero for the indie crowd, Michael Cera's Scott ends up being a selfish, indecisive character who doesn't treat his romantic interests well. While we're supposed to cheer for him, it's hard to root for a character who mistreats the people who care about him.