While INTJs make up less than two percent of the population (less than one percent of women), they make up a significant portion of some of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. INTJs may be considered outsiders amongst most of their peers, in film they are often a marvel to behold. Cool, collected, intuitive to a point where they are often perceived as seers. Born with the “curse of knowledge” as some INTJs may put it.
INTJs often fill a cold, antagonistic role. Often a ruthless and tactical opposing force in many great films, INTJs can, however, also fill the role of the cunning and decisive protagonist, the wise sage, Gotham’s greatest detective, or even the most famous cannibal put to screen. But what elements, preferences, and habits define the INTJ? And more importantly, what separates them from each other?
Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games
While volunteering to be through in the annual death games in the place of her sister may have appeared to be something spontaneous and improvised, it’d be money well spent to place a bet that Katniss had already had that plan in her back pocket for a long time. Katniss loves like she fights, fiercely. Katniss like many of her INTJ brothers and sister does not have dreams, she has goals. And a logical sequence of steps to achieve them.
She knows how and when to strike to inflict the most pain on the people that have opposed her. A young woman that would bring an entire empire to collapse around itself. Katniss is not an enemy to be taken lightly.
Emperor Palpatine - Star Wars
Speaking of people that always have a plan, Emperor Palpatine was (is?) essentially the one man that orchestrated the entirety of the Skywalker Saga of the Star Wars films. The wars, of titular fame, would not have taken place had good ole E-Palps not been around to orchestrate the whole mess.
To Palpatine, the wars that have taken place throughout the entirety of the franchise are a well thought out plan that has finally come to fruition after decades of manipulation on a galactic scale. While it’s yet to be seen exactly what happened to Palpatine after Vader suplexed him into the Death Star’s reactor, it’s probably a safe bet that he had a plan for that as well.
Lisbeth Salander - The Millenium Series
It’s a bit of an odd statement to make, but INTJs love to be confused or perplexed because if they’ve become confused or perplexed, that means they’ve stumbled onto some knowledge that has remained hidden from them. So in a lot of ways it makes perfect sense that an INTJ like Lisbeth Salander would take up a career that involves her solving multiple levels of puzzles.
First comes the hack, the door that needs to be unlocked to get to the information. The hack is just a fun little game that takes place before the research-- before the real game begins. Lisbeth’s strong sense of justice and her willingness to impose it herself is a common trait among INTJs. The only rules that exist, that matter, are the ones the INTJ has set for themselves.
Hannibal Lecter - Silence Of The Lambs
If someone is on the hunt looking for someone who will abide by social norms the INTJ is probably not the person to reach out to. Things like small talk, social etiquette, and not eating people are generally frowned upon by people that share this personality type. Okay, maybe that last one just specifically applies to Hannibal Lecter.
Hannibal is EXTREMELY intelligent. Not only was he able to keep his culinary side-gig a secret from law enforcement officials for decades, but even when he was caught he managed to secure his own release while helping/distracting federal agents. Hannibal has made a point of indulging in all of the finer things in life, legal or not.
Clarice Starling - Silence Of The Lambs
Clarice Starling had made a career out of always being the smartest person in the room. That is, at least until her run-in with Hannibal Lecter. While their initial meeting and through the bars partnership did lead Clarice to the killer she sought to capture, she underestimated just how intelligent Hannibal was. Clarice is great at taking in both the details and the big picture as a whole.
Much like working on a puzzle while staring at the image on the box, INTJ detectives are often at the forefront of their profession. Capturing the big bads too smart or sneaky to be hunted by anyone else.
Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes
Speaking of detectives at the forefront of their profession, Sherlock Holmes is quite possibly the great fictional detective to have ever lived (fictionally). While INTJs often have a very deep understanding of patterns and how the world, subjects, and people work and operate in relation to each other, the thing that makes the INTJ detectives mentioned in this article so proficient is that fact that they’ve worked so hard at identifying the smaller details.
These INTJ detectives understand that God is in the details and that having a god’s eye view is made even greater by being able to zoom in on the little, and seemingly insignificant details. Something, not all INTJ understand.
Dr. Manhattan - Watchmen
There are many INTJ that like to think of themselves as having a god’s eye view of the world around them and their place in it, perhaps the greatest example of this would be Dr. Manhattan. While people like Sherlock Holmes, Clarice Starling, and even Batman focus largely on the details while still keeping the larger picture in mind, Dr. Manhattan has lost touch with that aspect of his personality.
As Dr. Manhattan himself might say, “I am tired of this world, these people. I am tired of being caught in the tangle of their lives.” But that tends to happen when one gets torn apart molecule by molecule by an intrinsic field subtractor and begins to see the totality of time happening all at once. What are ya gonna do?
Erik Lehnsherr(Magneto) - X-Men films
Erik Lehnsherr is not the type of mutant to be taken lightly, nor is he the type of mutant would grant anyone, especially humans, a second chance if it weren’t absolutely necessary or absolutely deserved. Erik has seen the darkest atrocities that mankind has wrought firsthand.
Unlike Charles, Magneto, is unwilling to take the risks associated with changing the hearts and minds of men. But his mind is more willing to lead to the logical conclusion that men can, and will, do everything in their power to destroy what they can not understand or make subservient. Magneto makes the hard choices that need to be made, while Charles plays his little games trying to appease the hearts of men.
Gandalf - The Lord Of The Rings
Ah, Gandalf. The grey wizard who would become white. Throughout the films as well as the books, Gandalf goes through quite a bit of change. One thing that doesn’t change, however, is his plan and his determination. Gandalf knows immediately that the quest to destroy the ring will not only be filled with trials but will likely become the most important task that he, along with anyone else in the fellowship, will ever accomplish.
When things don’t go according to plan, like when the fellowship has their little run-in with the Balrog, Gandalf can be a bit harsh when he feels the others don’t understand just how important this task is. However, even at his most harsh, “Run, you fools.” is about as stern as Gandalf gets.
Bruce Wayne - Batman Films
Well, he’s finally here. The INTJ that raises the bar for INTJ all across worlds be real and fictitious. The dark, the vengeance, the knight. Batman, or as his friends would call him, Batman, is the man with plans upon plans upon plans. Friends with Superman?
Think his power is a little frightening given what he could accomplish should he decide to stop obeying the rules? Multiple plans involving Kryptonite and magic. Same for the rest of the Justice League. Nervous someone might unmask his unconscious body? Good luck.
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