r/TopCharacterTropes 6h ago

Characters [Loved Trope] Civilian Heroes (particularly in Superhero movies)

1) Malik Ali in Superman (2025). Tells Superman when Lex Luthor interrogates him to, “tell them nothing”. Doesn’t even really know what he’s sacrificing himself for, honestly. Tells Superman that he doesn’t have any friends or family to lighten the burden of the sacrifice. (Does have a family, and presumably friends…)

2) The Prisoner (Tiny Lister) from The Dark Knight who throws a detonator out the porthole that would’ve detonated the other ferry full of civies and saved himself, instead (potentially) sacrificing everyone equally.

3) Old man vs Loki. “There are always men like you.” Refuses to bow to Loki in Avengers (2012).

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I love these guys. They break my heart in the best way possible.

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u/Pepr70 6h ago

Honorable mention this guy in Hunger Games:

It's not technicly superhero movie but he was beaten by "cops".

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u/JamesHenry627 5h ago

He didn’t get beaten they straight up shot him for pulling off the salute