Sidekicks don’t always get as much love as they deserve. A good sidekick is there for the protagonist when they need them the most. A good movie writes a sidekick so that they are integral to the plot and have you rooting for them just as much as the main character. A great example of this outside of the action genre is Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

A great script is incredibly important to the love of a supporting character, but you also need a great actor. The character can be interesting, but without the charisma of a great actor bringing the character to life, the part falls short. Again, Sean Astin does this perfectly with his role as Sam. He brings depth and compassion to a character who ends up being just as important as Frodo. Here are the best sidekicks in action movies, ranked.

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7 Kevin Sandusky - Tropic Thunder (2008)

     DreamWorks Pictures Releasing

Tropic Thunder is a great comedy movie with a more-than-healthy supply of action material. The movie was released in 2008 and is directed by Ben Stiller. Starring in the film is Stiller himself, accompanied by Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. performing in two other prominent roles. The story follows a group of actors who are dropped off on location to film a Vietnam War movie, and unbeknownst to them, are suddenly in the middle of a real modern-day conflict. The real hidden gem of this film is the character of Kevin Sandusky, a meek and relatively inexperienced actor who helps ground the ego-inflated actors he has been abandoned with. Kevin is played by the hilarious Jay Baruchel, and his co-star Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for an Oscar for his performance alongside him.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

6 Happy Hogan - Iron Man (2008)

The MCU is filled with big-name actors and powerful characters. The 2008 film Iron Man introduced us to one of the best sidekicks of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Happy Hogan. Harold Joseph “Happy” Hogan is the head of security at stark industries. His role in the first Iron Man movie was small, but since his initial appearance, he has been more heavily integrated into the MCU with his relationship with Peter Parker. We look forward to seeing the character, who is played by Jon Favreau, expand his presence in the MCU and are hopeful for what is to come.

5 Hit-Girl - Kick-Ass (2010)

     Lionsgate

Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass is almost everything you want from a sidekick. She’s determined and skilled, and her character motivation is outlined and easy to follow. Directed by Matthew Vaughn and released in 2010, Kick-Ass tells the story of a high school vigilante superhero who targets crime in his city. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and Chloë Grace Moretz who plays the character Hit-Girl. The film received positive reviews and is a unique take on a superhero movie.

4 John Connor - Terminator 2 (1991)

     Tri-Star Pictures

Directed and written by James Cameron, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the legendary sequel to the 1984 original film. Cameron takes the film in a much different direction, making it one of the best sequel films of all time. In this film, the original terminator is accompanied by John Connor and must help defeat the new terminator model, the T-1000. John doesn’t have any powers, nor is he a trained fighter like his mother, but he is integral to the plot of the film, urging his mother to trust The Terminator and helping the Terminator to blend into the human world.

3 Jim Gordon - The Dark Knight (2008)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

This 2008 Batman film directed by Christopher Nolan changed how the world saw Batman and created the mold for future DC superhero films to follow. The film stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron Eckhart, but the real gem here is James Gordon played by Gary Oldman. Gordon is a police officer who stands by Batman’s side and helps him through his connections with the Gotham police department. The film was nominated for six, and won two Oscars, one for Heath Ledger’s performance and another for its sound editing.

2 Short Round - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

     Paramount Pictures

This Classic Steven Spielberg-directed action/adventure film stars Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, and Ke Huy Quan as Short Round. The film was nominated for an Oscar for its original music score and won for its visual effects. Short Round is a young boy who accompanies Jones on his adventures. He is a competent and quick-thinking sidekick who throughout the film saves Jones from a few non-ideal situations.

1 Goose - Top Gun (1986)

Closing out our list is the affable and friendly Goose from Top Gun. The character is played by Anthony Edwards and acts alongside Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick. The film was directed by Tony Scott and won an Oscar for the original song “Take My Breath Away.” It was nominated for an additional three Oscars pertaining to its sound design, sound effect editing, and film editing. Goose is a perfect example of a sidekick; he was Maverick’s Radar Intercept Officer, a role of utmost importance in aerial combat. He is not only Mavericks co-pilot, but also a friend, and the film wouldn’t be the same without his presence.