10 Best Movie Goths, Ranked

The goth character archetype is much more than black clothes, dark makeup and a pale face. Who are some of the best goth characters in the movies?

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The goth subculture has been around since the 1980s, having originated from gothic rock music with bands such as The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Bauhaus. Ever since then, the character of the goth has been a very popular archetype in the movies.

There is a lot more to the goth character than the stereotype of the gloomy pale person wearing black, nor does the goth only ever appear in horror or spooky-themed movies. In fact, goth characters can have a lot of depth and interesting personalities that make them likable and sympathetic, even some of the villainous ones.

10 Marla Singer (Fight Club)

Many people know Helena Bonham Carter as a frequent star in gothic director Tim Burton’s movies. Yet one of her most notable performances is portraying the enigmatic Marla in the cult movie Fight Club.

Marla is essentially a flawed character but she holds her ground well in a film that is primarily focused on men. She is confident, has a good stable job, and most importantly, remains true to herself – which is partially what being goth is all about. Marla is there until the end, holding the Narrator’s hand in one of the most memorable final shots of any 90s movie.

9 Angela (Night of the Demons)

Night of the Demons is a horror movie from 1988. Teenagers partying in an abandoned mortuary with a grisly past on Halloween night… what could possibly happen? Anyway, the host of this party and ultimately the movie’s antagonist is Angela Franklin. Things go awry for her when she ends up possessed by a demon accidentally summoned at the party, and murders her friends as a result.

Whilst Night of the Demons was not completely well-received, goth Angela is easily the stand-out character of the movie. She went on to terrorize more victims in two sequels in hopes to gain more party guests – or victims.

8 Gary King (The World’s End)

The last film of the ‘Cornetto’ Trilogy, The World’s End is a surreal sci-fi comedy in which a group of old school friends attempts a legendary pub crawl, only to find their hometown has been replaced with androids. The lead friend here is Gary King, an immature alcoholic played by Simon Pegg.

Despite his immaturity, Gary is a well-developed character and a refreshing break from the typical goth stereotype. He is laidback, cheerful, and carefree but underneath this lies something deeper. Gary is vulnerable and unhappy, who only wants to accomplish something in life to prove to his friends that he is worth something.

7 Gypsy and Clive (Gypsy 83)

Todd Stephens’ Gypsy 83 is a lesser-known movie in general but it is a staple in the goth community due to the accurate yet refreshing depiction of goths in reality. Released in 2001, it tells the story of two goths’ journey to New York to attend a festival dedicated to witchy icon and musician, Stevie Nicks. The two main characters are aspiring singer Gypsy and young romantic Clive. The film is currently unavailable to watch but the film’s website can be found here.

6 Adam (Only Lovers Left Alive)

Only Lovers Left Alive is a modern vampire story, starring Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as two vampire lovers called Adam and Eve. The goth in question is Adam, a musician who collects vintage instruments and also sports scientific knowledge acquired over time.

Adam is a fascinating character due to his conflicted beliefs – he wishes to connect with others through music but does not want his vampiric secret exposed to the masses. According to IMDb, this is one of Hiddleston’s best movies, and it is worth watching for Hiddleston and Swinton’s characters alone.

5 Lisbeth Salander (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)

Introverted computer hacker Lisbeth Salander is the titular antiheroine in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Based on the books by Steig Larson, the movie was made twice, in 2009 and 2011. Both versions were well received, and this was partly due to both actresses’ performances of Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara respectively).

Lisbeth is a brilliantly thought out and in-depth character, whom there is more to than meets the eye. She is very compelling to watch in both versions of the movie, as well as to read about.

4 Eric Draven (The Crow)

Cult dark fantasy movie The Crow is well known partially for the tragic passing of lead actor Brandon Lee towards the end of filming. However, the movie, dedicated to Lee, was a success, and this was partially due to Lee’s performance as tragic goth antihero Eric Draven AKA The Crow.

With his pale face, leather attire, and black wild hair, Eric’s distinctive look draws a lot from the traditional goths of the 1980s. The movie itself is a gothic masterpiece but it is Lee’s haunting performance as Eric as he seeks revenge for the murder of himself and his fiancee that is the crowning glory of this underrated comic book feature.

3 Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)

One of the most famous on-screen families is The Addams Family, and one of the most popular characters is daughter Wednesday. She has appeared in a number of films and two TV series but it is Christina Ricci’s portrayal in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values that is easily the best, especially the latter.

Ricci’s Wednesday has become iconic among spooky fans for her unflinching expression, sinister undertones, brilliantly deadpan one-liners, and staying true to herself, even when subjected to the saccharine torture of the summer camp counselors and residents. Wednesday is to be the star of her own Netflix series, directed by Tim Burton. which could be good news for Wednesday fans.

2 Nancy Downs (The Craft)

The brash Nancy Downs is one of the main characters in the cult classic The Craft. Played by Fairuza Bulk, Nancy has become an icon among horror fans and the goth subculture and she stands out in the movie and as a goth icon for three main reasons.

Firstly, she is outspoken, impulsive, and extremely rude but shows a softer side to her friends and her mother. Secondly, she is an excellent example of a cautionary tale, as her abuse of the powers of Manon comes to her at a heavy price. The third reason is the iconic catchphrase: “We are the weirdos, mister.”

1 Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice)

One of the most iconic goths in cinema is without a doubt Lydia Deetz from the Burton classic Beetlejuice. As one of Tim Burton’s hallmarks, Lydia is a creative outsider who appreciates the macabre and enjoys photography. But there is more to Lydia than just being “strange and unusual.”

Lydia is lonely and unhappy and ends up finding a kindred spirit in the Maitlands. As a result, she tries to make peace between them and her outrageous family, even offering to marry Beetlejuice to save the Maitlands from exorcism. Lydia is beloved because of her iconic looks and catchphrases but there is a lot more to her that makes her a brilliant character.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/ten-best-movie-goths-ranked/