The majority of movies, even those about impossible topics like space monsters and vampires, tend to mirror our lives. Fictional characters find themselves thrust into the middle of chaos, and if they want to fulfill their goals, they must adapt, change, and make tough decisions.
Great movies don’t simply entertain their viewers. They leave a long-lasting impact that invites us to reflect on our choices and accept the fact that staying 100% safe in every respect is counterproductive to progress. Find out how memorable movie characters teach us to be daring and what lessons we can learn from their courage.
Why Risk-Taking Matters in Storytelling?
Even people who find comfort in safety are eager to toe the line and experience something exciting from time to time. Some do it because they know the end result is going to be worth the risk. Gambling is a strong example in this context. People who see what kind of Quatro Casino rewards await can be enticed into visiting this casino online to try their luck and claim their prizes. Others decide to take it a step further and join land-based gambling establishments to experience the risks and enjoy the rewards live.
It’s risky, yes, but people often have to face challenges to achieve their goals, and this aspect of our nature is an inherent part of storytelling. Risks are a key driver of character development. They:
- Make a character step outside of their comfort zone
- Stimulate characters to make sacrifices to achieve their objectives
- Subject characters to losses and make them undergo emotional growth
These points of development are fascinating to watch as they unfold right before our eyes. Most importantly, seeing risk outcomes helps us form an emotional connection with the characters, so we find ourselves rooting for them even if they are villains.
Lessons from Realistic Risk-Takers in Film
Let’s consider a well-known example of risk-takers based on Good Will Hunting. It’s a classic movie about a math genius with multiple emotional wounds. This man, Will Hunting, is terrified of opening up to someone, including his friends. Violence and scorn come easily to him, so he uses them as defense mechanisms to push people away.
His downward spiral ceases when he starts having sessions with a therapist. At first, he resists, but bit by bit, he accepts the risk of being vulnerable, confronting his past, and fighting for a better future.
This movie won an Oscar, and for a good reason. It became so popular that decades later, people wanted to make a Good Will Hunting sequel and have some of the star actors return. Will Hunting lies at the center of this popularity. He isn’t a superhero: he’s a regular person like us, so we can relate to his struggles.
Will teaches us that with the right support, we can find the strength to heal from our trauma and move forward. Sometimes, being honest with yourself is the deadliest but the most rewarding risk we could take.
Big Risks in High-Stakes Genres
Characters in high-stakes genres also deserve a mention. Consider Iron Man, a movie everyone has heard of. Tony Stark, the protagonist, is attacked by a terrorist group. He is wounded and taken as a prisoner. His experiences leave him scarred, both physically and emotionally, but they also push him to become a better person.
In particular, Tony Stark reinvents himself as an Iron Man, a superhero who’s willing to risk his life to save others from encountering the same crippling experiences. His innovativeness gives him a technological edge over his enemies, and support from friends helps him stay afloat. This character teaches us that bold decisions can be worth the risk, and even if the odds aren’t in your favor, with good planning and teamwork, you can prevail anyway.
The Dark Side of Risk
Movies wouldn’t strike us on a deep emotional level if everything always ended well for the characters. Not all risks lead to rewards — that’s a fact of life.
Breaking Bad is a popular crime drama series featuring a character called Walter White. His risk-taking journey features the following milestones:
- Being diagnosed with cancer and deciding to enter the drug trade to guarantee his family has money
- Getting an opportunity to stop but deciding to continue because he tasted power and wants more of it now
- Building an entire criminal empire and growing ruthless with every step
- Alienating people he loves and losing what mattered most to him
Walter White’s example demonstrates that ego and bad moral judgment can lead to the opposite of what we intended. Caution and value matter, and it’s vital to stay level-headed and true to your ideals no matter what risks you’re planning to take.
Key Traits of Risk-Taking Characters
What stands behind our fascination with movies? Revenue in the cinema market is projected to reach US$86.10bn in 2025, which is a clear sign that people will keep looking for new favorite characters and plots. The more risks a character takes, the more exciting it is to watch them. Let’s compile a list of their key traits.
- Self-belief. Believing in yourself and relying on your intuition and knowledge can be invaluable in risk-taking. Sherlock Holmes is a good example of this trait.
- Planning. If you want to succeed while taking risks, you need to have a solid strategy in place. Dom Cobb from Inception is one of the best planners out there: this man has a backup plan for a backup plan.
- Purpose. Knowing why you’re risking can help you keep on fighting. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games was motivated to save her sister, and while she failed, her effort changed the world for the better.
- Resilience. Failure and hardship shouldn’t have the power to stop you. Pete Saengtham from the KinnPorsche series stayed resilient despite being tortured, which ensured his survival and eventually led to his escape.
- Timing. Knowing when to strike and when to wait can make a difference between success and failure. Hannibal Lecter from Hannibal is an anti-hero, but his sense of timing helps him execute his plans perfectly.
Each of these traits can inspire us to approach the risks smartly and stay brave no matter what.
What Viewers Can Learn from Movie Risk-Takers?
Fictional risks taken by fictional characters can help us fight for what we want. Whether you’re hoping to start a business, enter a university you feel underqualified for, or even ask your crush out, drawing inspiration from fiction can be invaluable.
Open up like Will Hunting, embracing yourself for who you are. Be innovative like Tony Stark, and remember the importance of your values, unlike Walter White. When facing a risky decision, think about what your favorite character would have done — this might give you the strength to take a step forward.
Main photo courtesy of Miro