From Aragorn swinging open the gates of Helm's Deep to Sam carrying Frodo the final stretch to Mount Doom, the Lord of the Rings is full of moments where characters got to show their coolness. Not every character got to show off their awesomeness, but the ones who did were all the more memorable for it.
For those looking forward to seeing even more fantastic characters in the upcoming Rings of Power series, here is a full rundown of the coolest characters in Middle Earth from the movies, voted for by the film buffs of Ranker.
Éowyn
There isn't anything much more badass than proving every doubter wrong and achieving far more than anyone expected, and Éowyn is the perfect example of this. After training herself in swordsmanship, Éowyn isn't happy about being refused the chance to battle by King Théoden, her uncle.
After the second time, she takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a man to ride with the army to Minas Tirith. Bringing along Merry, one of her best friends in The Lord of the Rings, Éowyn proves herself by slaying the Witch-king and creating one of the most iconic moments in the entire trilogy.
Arwen
Perhaps it comes with the territory of being many times older than the average human, but Arwen retains a serene demeanor in the movies even as events bring her into conflict with her father, Elrond. Appearing mysteriously in The Fellowship of the Ring as she helps deliver a wounded Frodo to Rivendell, Arwen immediately has a heroic air about her.
When she uses her magic to summon a surge of water to prevent the Ringwraiths from following them, this image is only heightened. As the movies continue, Arwen is shown giving up her immortality for the sake of her love for Aragorn and eventually becoming queen alongside him, the rightful place for a character as epic as her.
Elrond
When Elves are thought of as being wise, knowledgable, and helpful to those in need, Elrond is who they think of. Whilst being a fantastic character often means participating in lots of action and performing incredible physical feats, Elrond manages to achieve the same effect simply by offering wisdom and aid to others.
Having had to watch Isildur take the Ring of Power for himself all those years ago, it would be understandable for Elrond to have his doubts about the capabilities of those entrusted with the Ring ever since. However, though Elrond offers some stern words at times, especially for his daughter and Aragorn, he is nothing if not benevolent.
Galadriel
Although her appearance in the film was relatively short, the impact Lady Galadriel had on both the fate of the Fellowship and the audience was huge. Ruling over the woods of Lothlórien as one of the most powerful and wise Elves on Middle Earth, it would have been understandable for Galadriel to try and take the ring when it drops into her home.
Instead, she shows Frodo a vision of just how terrifying she would be with that kind of corruptive power before giving the fellowship gifts that they wouldn't have been able to complete their quest without. There is something inherently awe-inspiring about quietly helping others without asking for anything in return.
Faramir
As the younger brother of Boromir, who had already died while saving Merry and Pippin from a group of Uruk-hai, Faramir had some heroic boots to fill. Indeed, in the eyes of his father Denethor II, nothing he could do would ever allow him to surpass his older sibling, even as captain of the Rangers of Ithilien.
With the Ring of Power, Faramir could have attempted to secure his own legacy, but he instead proves himself even stronger than his brother in this regard. Even when Denethor sends Faramir on a reckless mission to hold Western Osgiliath, Faramir does a valiant job before being wounded in battle.
Samwise Gamgee
Sometimes coolness arises in the unlikeliest of circumstances and within the unlikeliest of people. Sam is a simple gardener in the Shire before he agrees to come along with Frodo on their adventure but, even in the most adverse of circumstances, he is able to step up and show the others what true heroism looks like.
Samwise carrying Frodo on his back to Mount Doom when his friend can no longer walk and giving a speech about being in a story to cheer up his flagging friend are some of the Lord of the Rings scenes that only get better with time. Sometimes, the best thing a person can be is a reliable friend.
Gimli
As the polar opposite of Elves, small, unkempt, and unglamorous, it would be expected for Dwarves to be far less cool. However, with his gruff manner and his dry sense of humor, Gimli encapsulates what does make Dwarves awesome. Whereas Elves are all about show and serenity, Dwarves are all about keeping things real.
Although Legolas consistently outmatches him in battle, Gimli more than keeps up with his elf companion in wits, turning the historical conflict between their races into a friendly bit of competition. Even in his most undignified moments in the movies, being thrown by Aragorn or unable to see over the wall at Helm's Deep, Gimli manages to somehow be great.
Legolas
With incredible aim, reflexes, acrobatic ability, and so much more, there aren't many characters more impressive on the battlefield than Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although the character may come across as pretentious initially, as soon as he is given a chance to back up his words with action, Legolas comes into his own.
Being amazing in combat can be fantastic by itself, but a big part of Legolas' cool factor occurs as a result of his development as the films continue. When he changes from being suspicious of Gimli to calling him a friend, Legolas shows the kind of respect and humility that makes a person truly endearing.
Aragorn
One of the most heroic characters in The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn's arc in which he initially has no interest in being king until he is forced to step up more and more as a leader to fulfill his true potential is one of the best subplots. On the battlefield, Aragorn shows his bravery in taking on whatever enemy appears in front of him.
When he is off the battlefield and forced to make tough decisions and inspire those around him, the character shows his kingliness. There is no way the kingdoms could have united to attack Mordor if not for Aragorn's leadership, and that takes some charisma. Whether he is a mysterious ranger dressed in black or a king wearing royal armor, charisma is never a thing that Aragorn lacked.
Gandalf
When he first appears in the movies as a friendly, pipe-smoking old man, Gandalf seemed far more like a scholar and an entertainer than any kind of hero. It doesn't even take until the end of the first movie for him to shake this disguise and show his power and bravery, facing off against a Balrog that even the Orcs in the Mines of Moria didn't dare go near.
Gandalf's best quality has always been his ability to be both a powerful wizard capable of great feats in battle and a gentle advisor to his friends in times of trouble, and it helps that he's played by one of the greatest British actors in the form of Sir Ian McKellen. Rising to the occasion in some of the most awesome moments in the trilogy, it's easy to see why Gandalf is considered the coolest character.