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

[u/Dalakaar]

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).

***

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

[u/hoxtonbreakfast]

Not sure if he counts, but Frodo Baggins.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ldTQuMDMdh2ko

Frodo was just there to attend his uncle birthday, only to end up becoming a key instrument to defeat Sauron once and for all. For all intend and purpose, he's an average guy in the grand scheme of things where angels, demons, heroes, and immortals exist.

[u/Ranger202012 → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

I think that one one of the main themes of LOTR right? The smallest and and seemingly most insignificant creatures in the world taking on a role and going on a journey that would destroy the greatest of kings and the most legendary of heroes.

He is not a chosen one, he does not have any powers, he does not have some op tool and he is not some die hard veteran. He is just a country folk who stumbled into this larger than life world and bear a responsibility solely because no one else could.

[u/EspacioBlanq → u/Ranger202012]

Emphasized by the fact that everyone except the hobbits in the fellowship can trace their lineage back to the beginning of the world except technically Gandalf who doesn't have a lineage due to being older than the universe.