7. James Caan
Thief, 1981

Frank may be a safecracker (and, worse, a used-car salesman) with a dream of the simple life in the ’burbs that leads him to work with the Mob, but you still pull for him. It’s easy to like a character mentored by Willie Nelson.

Tough talk: "If I wanna meet people, I’ll go to a fuckin’ country club." 

6. Jean Reno
The Professional, 1994

Reno’s Léon oozes such quiet cool as a hitman raising an orphaned 12-year-old that we had to rethink our attitudes on the French (now we don’t say all Frenchmen are pussies; we say most Frenchmen are).

Tough talk: "The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client."

5. Charles Bronson
The Magnificent Seven, 1960

All seven gunslingers are good—magnificent, really—but if you have to pick one, take Bernardo O’Reilly, a killer who loves the kiddies.

Tough talk: "You think I am brave because I carry a gun; well, your fathers are much braver because they carry responsibility!"

4-2. Jamison Newlander, Corey Haim, and Corey Feldman
The Lost Boys, 1987

It’s tough being new in Santa Carla. For one, the cool kids are vampires who turn you into the undead. Luckily, the Frog brothers are ready to help out (with an assist from Haim, the lesser Corey).

Tough talk: "Totally annihilated his night-stalking ass!" 

1. Lee Marvin
Point Blank, 1967

To portray the ultimate movie badass, it requires a real-life one. Enter World War II marine Lee Marvin. Walker is a man of principle. When the Organization owes him $93,000, the man is going to receive his $93,000—no less, no more—even if he has to take down everyone in the entire frickin’ Organization while he’s collecting. Pimps everywhere, discover how it’s done right.

Tough talk: "I want my money."