Good Examples Of Alpha Males In Movies

What do you consider the best examples of alpha male roles in movies?

Great to see you back Royalty.

I'll let others put their input in on this one. Others know more about these different roles than I do usually lol.

I would just normally say Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Perhaps I can help. My ex-roomate studied filmography, so I used to be his labrat when he needed opinions. I've watched a ton of movies involving large male egos, so here are my picks for actors (in ROUGHLY this order):


-Will Smith in I, Robot, Men In Black II, Enemy Of The State, Bad Boys II, Hancock, Ali, and Seven Pounds (never seen this one though, just the trailer). There's something about Will Smith that just screams alpha, in particular his more recent films (after Bel-Air). Can't quite put my finger on it, but I've no doubt in my mind that he's definitely alpha.
-Brad Pitt and George Clooney both displayed alpha in Ocean's 11/12/13. I believe they also played together in Burn After Reading (though I've never seen this one).
Bradd Pitt also as Archilles in Troy (very alpha here; loved this one), Tyler Durden in Fight Club, Mr. Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and so on.
George Clooney also in Batman & Robin as Batman (a bit of a cliche oldie). George Clooney also exudes a very masculine (alpha?) aura in many films he plays in, regardless of his actual role.
-Denzel Washington's performance in American Gangster was top knotch from all perspectives, including when it comes to being alpha.
-Tom Cruise was also a popular topic, movies like Mission Impossible III, Top Gun, Collateral, and for a good part of The Last Samurai.
-All James Bond actors have been more or less alpha: Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig are ones I particularly enjoyed. I also remember my mom telling me when I was younger that of all the Bonds, she loved Timothy Dalton the most. Casino Royale (Craig) and Tomorrow Never Dies (Brosnan) are ones that strike me from memory.
-Vin Diesel in some films. (Off the top of my head, xXx and The Pacifier, Boiler Room) Though most of his films are action and involves him being alpha through violence, etc., Vin Diesel has the tendency to dominate the screen in any movie he appears in.
-Bruce Willis is very alpha in my opinion; in particular his older films. (John McClane in Die Hard 1/2, Live Free or Die Hard, Sonny Trueheart in Alpha Dog are the ones that come to mind).
-Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Carribean 1/2/3, despite being a bit of a goofy comic-relief character; as well as Sweeney Todd (sp?)
-Ioan Gruffudd had a great performance as Lancelot in King Arthur and displayed signs of being alpha even though his role was initially beta to Clive Owen's (Arthur).
-Russell Crowe is easily one of the more alpha male actors (Maximus in Gladiator was one I enjoyed a lot). He also played the detective in American Gangster.
-Clint Eastwood always has my vote; I loved Gran Torino and True Crime, but he's pretty alpha in just about every film he plays in.

Some of these actors normally don't play "alpha-roles", but regardless, int he corresponding movies, they all have phenomenal performances. The last couples are tossups; no one particular actor is really that much better than another.
Other ones I could think of are:
Mel Gibson (Hamlet, etc.).
Christian Bale (Dark Knight; also waiting for Public Enemies with Johnny Depp to come out).



Movies off the top of my head that strike big red "ALPHA"'s include (in no particular order):
Top Gun
Troy
Die Hard 2
The Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum (In particular the Ultimatum)
American Gangster
Boiler Room
Casino Royale
And most definitely: Oceans 11/12/13. These three simply because it suits the definition of alpha more when you talk from a pickup perspective.

Edit: Also Hitch; can't forget that one lol

How did I forget about Will Smith? Good one to point out.

L.A. Tripp wrote:

Great to see you back Royalty.

I'll let others put their input in on this one. Others know more about these different roles than I do usually lol.

I would just normally say Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Thanks for the welcome back Tripp! Nice to be back!

Hey VH, thanks for such a great list!!!

I definitely want to see American Gangster and El Torino as well as some of the other ones listed.

Tripp, VH, or anyone else here, could any of you possibly give me a good link to an article or at least a definitive explanation of what alpha male really means, especially in regards to how a guy acts around women? I have read things about it but not recently, and I don't feel like I have as good of an understanding of what it really means as I would like to.

I think the main reason I don't have as good of an understanding of it as I would like to is that before I ever read anything about pickup, I had a very different and wrong idea of what alpha male meant, and still sometimes I find myself thinking about it in the old terms that I originally was told by people it meant - I was told it's the typical jock, someone loud and aggressive, etc.

Then I learned that's a stereotype and isn't the true definition. I was also told "why bother thinking about it if you aren't one because you can't do anything about it if you're not - if you did it would be like acting. You'd be pretending to be someone you're not." Does anyone have any comments on that? Thanks.

So if anyone could maybe guide me to a link to something, possible even something right here on Tripp's forum where the exact meaning of alpha male is described well I would appreciate it.

Very great list, but you have left out, Al Pacino( Scarface, Carlito's Way) Rob De Neiro( Untouchables, Meet the Parents, Taxi driver)
Also watch A James Dean film, rebel without a cause. Those are some very good alpha behaviors. peace,lvoe and succe SS

Not a movie but I think the dude that plays Christian Troy in Nip Tuck is Super alpha..

Fortunehooks1 wrote:

Very great list, but you have left out, Al Pacino( Scarface, Carlito's Way) Rob De Neiro( Untouchables, Meet the Parents, Taxi driver)
Also watch A James Dean film, rebel without a cause. Those are some very good alpha behaviors. peace,lvoe and succe SS

These are definitely some classic movies. I don't think I understand what alpha means in a pick up context though. See, my reason for asking for some good alpha male roles was so that I could find some to try to emulate. But look at these roles Al Pacino - a violent criminal who ultimately self destructs with his cocaine addiction, Robert Deniro in Taxi Driver - a paranoid sociopath who is out of touch with reality, Brad Pitt and George Clooney in Oceans 11/12/13 - all criminals, Boiler Room - a movie about a crooked bunch of stock brokers who were cheating people out of their money, breaking the law, and deceiving newcomers with flashy speeches about how great their lifestyles were...Honestly I don't want to emulate any of the roles I've named there.

Now roles such as Bruce Willis in Die Hard and Russell Crowe in Gladiator or any if the James Bond roles are admirable yes, they're exciting to watch of course, but how realistic is it for any if us to find ourselves in those kinds of situations? This is Hollywood, it's fantasy, it's escapism, but it's so far removed from real life that I have a hard time finding anything in these roles that I could use to emulate.

I'm not trying to criticize the people who spent their time answering me. I honestly appreciate the time and effort. But what is there in these roles that we either would want to emulate, or could have any reasonable chance of finding ourselves in lives that resemble these unbelievable, exciting, dramatic, action filled movies?

If someone could possibly give some examples of role models in movies to emulate that are a little more down to earth - people in more realistic situations than robbing casinos, fighting terrorists, gangsters, gladiators, or the typical villains of James Bond movies, it would be much more helpful.

em·u·late (my-lt)
tr.v. em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing, em·u·lates
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.

Note . . . this isn't to copy.

I hear you Royalty, but the idea is that we are not copying the characters in these roles. We are looking at certain qualities of these characters and incorporating those qualities into our lives. Such as, the dominate body language of the alpha guys. We aren't looking at how they robbed the casino or fought the terrorists. Focus on what it is about the character that makes others want to follow them. The facial expressions, the body language, the overall "air" about them.

I can agree with you up to a point here Royalty. The thing is You did ask though. If you are going to ask for outside opions make yourself clear on what you are asking for. You asked simply for alpha males and people gave their responces. As for the rest why try to be like someone else at all. Be yourself woman are more fond of men who know who they are and are true to themselves. Wish you best of luck Royalty and I would be true to yourself and not try to copy others from movies. Those are fantasy men and woman may like to daydream about them but we know they do not exist and I for one prefer a real man in the real world.

I suppose there is more than one way to define what it means to be an 'alpha'.

For example, the guy with the most stamina, skill, and leadership would be the 'alpha' because he plays center ice.
But bring the same guy and put him in an academic field and he'll be nowhere near an 'alpha'.

The same thing applies in pickup, because each individual has a different approach and preferred method/style.

Like in the movies mentioned above, there isn't really a way to judge if one actor's role in a particular movie is 'more alpha' than another. The plots and the characters themselves vary from each movie. But you may find one role to be 'more alpha' than another because that's what you prefer to consider what it means to be 'alpha'.


-vH

What seperates an alpha and a beta is not what they do...

For instance a gangster can be completely beta, and a homosexual completely alpha.

Its all about how they do things...how they handle others, how they react (or dont) to things. The reasons that those characters are good alpha examples are because of how they handle the things around them.

For instances Al Pachino isnt alpha bc hes shooting ppl lol...hes alpha bc he takes what he wants, he has ambition and doesnt take no for an answer. Hes alpha because he has a "who gives a fuck" attitude, even when it comes to things most people would hesitiate to consider.

Brad Pitt and Clooney in Oceans 11/12/13 because they are the leader of Men, people who are by all means their peers or seniors even listen to them and do as they say. They are respected.

Honestly you have to stop looking for what id refer to as surface answers...alpha is not a tangible thing, nor an easily described thing...it varies and can take form in so many different ways. No one can really explain in words what alpha is, your gonna have to start seeing it in others, and in yourself...and mold what is alpha for you to your personality.

For instance Brad Pitt and Ryan Renolds...both alpha but both very different personalities...RR is very loud and cocky funny where as Brad Pitt is calm cool and collected. So dont try to peg one celeb or person as alpha, instead look for traits that are alpha and adopt the ones that fit your natural personality.

L.A. Tripp wrote:

em·u·late (my-lt)
tr.v. em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing, em·u·lates
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.

Note . . . this isn't to copy.

I hear you Royalty, but the idea is that we are not copying the characters in these roles. We are looking at certain qualities of these characters and incorporating those qualities into our lives. Such as, the dominate body language of the alpha guys. We aren't looking at how they robbed the casino or fought the terrorists. Focus on what it is about the character that makes others want to follow them. The facial expressions, the body language, the overall "air" about them.

OK, I see the point, thank you.

Mizcook29 wrote:

I can agree with you up to a point here Royalty. The thing is You did ask though. If you are going to ask for outside opions make yourself clear on what you are asking for. You asked simply for alpha males and people gave their responces. As for the rest why try to be like someone else at all. Be yourself woman are more fond of men who know who they are and are true to themselves. Wish you best of luck Royalty and I would be true to yourself and not try to copy others from movies. Those are fantasy men and woman may like to daydream about them but we know they do not exist and I for one prefer a real man in the real world.

Thanks for your post. Your viewpoint is encouraging. I guess I didn't make myself clear, or maybe didn't give enough thought before my previous posts. Asking for roles I could emulate was a bad way of putting it and Tripp cleared that up. I don't think I could copy someone from the movies if I wanted to, and I don't even want to. But there may be certain characteristics about the roles that I could learn from though such as body language.

I'll add Jason Stathem. He plays the lead role in transporter 1 ,2, and 3 Crank.