Weapons are kind of their own characters sometimes! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the twenty most iconic, coolest, and badass weapons in movie history.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the 20 Most Iconic, Coolest
00:12and Badass Weapons in Movie History.
00:15We're focusing on non-superhero weapons that can be handheld or worn.
00:27Zorro's Sword, The Mask of Zorro
00:35The story of Zorro, the Mexican vigilante fighting for the common man, has been adapted
00:40to film time and again.
00:42In 1998, heartthrob Antonio Banderas donned the vigilante's mask and wielded his sword.
00:48Zorro's signature sword in this reboot is a stunning razor-edged rapier.
00:52Zorro's blade is a symbol embodying justice, skill and rebellion.
00:56He uses it to carve his signature Z mark wherever he appears, representing both his
01:00victory and his wildness.
01:02With his black and silver blade in hand, Zorro bravely, hence skillfully, cuts through injustice
01:08with both finesse and style.
01:18Noisy Cricket, Men in Black
01:22The action comedy has been a staple in film for decades, but to some, the genre was perfected
01:27in the 1990s.
01:29Men in Black is an excellent example, and it includes one of the screen's most memorable
01:34sci-fi weapons, the noisy cricket.
01:45A perfect visual gag.
01:47On its face, it's a silly-looking thing about the size of a derringer.
01:52Then lies the secret of its appeal.
01:53The noisy cricket has shocking and unexpected power for such a tiny package.
01:58Will Smith's Agent J, scoffing at the gun, learns the hard way that he isn't quite ready
02:03for the weapon.
02:05To be fair, neither were audiences.
02:12Identity Disc, Tron Franchise
02:13The Tron franchise is based on a fascinating conceit.
02:16What if a human being entered the digital world?
02:19In that world, a world full of sentient computer programs, what would combat look like?
02:24Programs and erstwhile human programmers literally fight for their lives with their lives.
02:29The Identity Disc serves as a weapon, data storage device, and a symbol of the user's
02:34identity all wrapped in one.
02:44It can be thrown and returned like a boomerang, leaving glowing light trails in its wake.
02:49The weapon represents the desperation of any being in that situation.
02:53It simultaneously acts as a means of aggression and vulnerability.
02:57Lose your disc and you won't live long enough to get another.
03:09The Auto-9, Robocop Franchise
03:12The Robocop films tell the story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop forced to become a cyborg to
03:17stay alive.
03:18He's a new breed of cop for a city overrun with violence, utilizing one of the coolest
03:28guns in movie history.
03:30His sidearm is the Auto-9 machine pistol, kept in a retractable holster in Murphy's
03:35thigh.
03:36Its multiple modes, both single shots and three-round bursts, make it a versatile sidearm
03:40in any situation.
03:48It fires all kinds of ammunition, including armor-piercing and explosive rounds, and appears
03:53too big for a normal human to wield with one hand.
03:56With its sleek, futuristic look and incredible firepower, the Auto-9 sure leaves an impression.
04:02Medusa's Head, Clash of the Titans
04:06Both the original Clash of the Titans and its 2010 reboot tell the tale of Perseus,
04:11the mythical hero who saved the city of Argos and its princess.
04:22Forced to contend with the wrath of the gods, Perseus must find a weapon to defeat their
04:27monster, the Invincible Kraken.
04:29Perseus seeks out Medusa, a mortal woman turned into a monstrous gorgon by Athena, but the
04:34goddess felt nothing but disgust.
04:37The gorgon is a tricky foe, as meeting her gaze turns the viewer to stone.
04:49Using his wits, Perseus decapitates Medusa, taking her head as the ultimate weapon.
04:55With it, he is able to turn the giant sea monster into stone.
05:01Lawgiver Pistol, Judge Dredd and Dredd
05:03In the dystopian future of Mega City 1, crime isn't fought by normal cops.
05:08The streets are patrolled by judges, including the infamous Judge Dredd.
05:19They are empowered by the law to be judge, jury, and executioner.
05:23As such, they wield weapons that act as the futuristic equivalent to an executioner's
05:28axe.
05:29The Lawgiver is a horrifying amount of power in a small package.
05:32It fires a variety of round types, changing ammo with voice commands.
05:36Its DNA-coated hand grips make it impossible for anyone but the judge to use the weapon.
05:42If someone tried, they would pay the ultimate price.
05:52Atlantean Sword, Conan the Barbarian
06:07Older nerds agree.
06:08Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan the Barbarian was the ultimate 1980s sword and sorcery movie.
06:13When his people are slaughtered, young Conan is sold into slavery.
06:17Years manning a milling wheel gave him a supernatural physique and strength.
06:21His days as a pit fighter and wanderer gave him expert training, but it took the accidental
06:26discovery of an ancient tomb to find a weapon worthy of him.
06:30Created by ancient Atlanteans, the sword's design is a blend of fantasy and ancient craftsmanship.
06:36In a film highlighting the importance of good steel from its opening frame, the blade helps
06:40Conan to seize his destiny in his own hands.
06:55Walther PPK, James Bond Franchise
06:57What makes James Bond a great spy?
07:00It's not just his charm, nor is it all the gadgetry he gets from Q. James Bond is a great
07:05spy because he adapts to every possible situation.
07:08When it comes to combat, Bond has used every gun under the sun.
07:12Still, since 1962's Doctor No, the super spy has been synonymous with a single weapon,
07:18the Walther PPK.
07:30More than any other gun, the Walther PPK has become known as a stylish, sophisticated weapon
07:35thanks to its association with 007.
07:38It's the perfect sidearm for a spy, compact, easy to conceal, and reliable.
07:52Number 12.
07:54Exosuits, Edge of Tomorrow
08:02Edge of Tomorrow begins with humanity in desperate straits.
08:06Troopers have landed and conquered all of continental Europe.
08:09A D-Day-esque invasion is humanity's last chance against a superior foe.
08:14To fight the battle, troopers are equipped with advanced exosuits, which give them enhanced
08:18strength, speed, and agility.
08:20Unfortunately, without specialized training, the exosuits are essentially mobile coffins.
08:36When Tom Cruise steals the alien's ability to relive the day over and over, he is able
08:40to pack years of training into a single morning.
08:43With the exosuit's HUD helmet, enhanced capabilities, and advanced weapons, he and
08:47Emily Blunt manage to save the world.
08:50Number 11.
08:52Deckard's PKD Blaster, Blade Runner Franchise
08:55In 1982, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner was one of several pieces of fiction to launch
08:59the cyberpunk genre.
09:01Taking place in a futuristic and dystopian 2019, the film stars Harrison Ford as a Blade
09:07Runner, a cop sent to take out rogue android.
09:10Ford is an iconic actor, starring in an epic sci-fi adventure, and so deserves a kick-ass
09:15weapon.
09:16Deckard's PKD Blaster delivers, and is a favorite of sci-fi and movie geeks.
09:28A futuristic revolver with a heavy barrel and festooned with LEDs, the PKD looks like
09:34it can take out an android without any problem.
09:48Number 10.
09:49Wizards Wand, Harry Potter Franchise
09:51In a secret world ruled by wizards, what's possible is limited only by the imagination.
09:57But that imagination requires a tool to be made manifest, namely a wand.
10:08Wands can take many shapes and sizes.
10:10They're personalized objects that reflect both the identity and abilities of their owners.
10:15The variety of woods, cores, and designs makes every wand unique, enhancing the sense of
10:20individuality and craftsmanship within the wizarding community.
10:24The wand famously chooses the wizard, responding to a person's specific magical vibe.
10:38Through a wand, anything is possible.
10:40It's usually more a tool than a weapon, though in times of war, witches and wizards
10:44do what they must to survive.
10:47Number 9.
10:48Chainsaw Hand, Evil Dead Franchise
10:51The Evil Dead films are at once scary, hilarious, and action-packed.
10:55Ash Williams travels great distances through time and space to fight armies of evil deadites
11:01armed with a custom-built arsenal.
11:03Fans of the franchise know well that he likes to use his boomstick, a powerful shotgun,
11:08to send zombies back to hell.
11:10Ash's most iconic weapon, however, is his chainsaw hand.
11:14In Evil Dead 2, after a curse infects his hand, Ash is forced to cut it off to save
11:19his own life.
11:20He replaces it by modifying a chainsaw as a wearable weapon.
11:25Whether zombies, skeletons, or evil witches, no undead minion of the Necronomicon can stand
11:31against humanity's greatest champion.
11:35Number 8.
11:36Sting, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Franchises
11:40Little more than a dagger for a human or elf, Sting is a fearsome short sword for a hobbit.
11:50Originally found by Bilbo Baggins' crew of dwarves in a troll horde, the blade was
11:57later utilized by his nephew Frodo in his quest to destroy the One Ring.
12:01Forged by elves, Sting glows blue in the presence of orcs and goblins.
12:06Sting is one of the most famous blades in modern literature, and its iconic status translates
12:11perfectly to the silver screen.
12:13Like the hobbits who wield it, Sting's diminutive size belies its ability to smite the forces
12:18of darkness.
12:26Number 7.
12:27M41A Pulse Rifle, Alien
12:39The xenomorph in the Alien franchise is one of the most dangerous and terrifying villains
12:44in movie history.
12:45Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley only managed to survive a single xenomorph by tricking
12:50it into the vacuum of space.
12:52In the 1986 sequel Aliens, Ripley is recruited to accompany a squad of colonial marines on
12:57a rescue mission to a colony built on a nest of xenomorph eggs.
13:01The marines arm her with a cool futuristic piece of military tech, the M41A Pulse Rifle.
13:07The combat rifle uses armor-piercing rounds,
13:19crucial for piercing xenomorph carapaces in the middle of a bug hunt.
13:23Number 6.
13:24Proton Pack, Ghostbusters franchise
13:26It took the scientific genius of Egon Spengler to figure out how to physically deal with
13:31an incorporeal enemy.
13:41Created from negative energy, he needed positive particles to neutralize them.
13:45Enter the Proton Pack, a wearable cyclotron that creates a pool of positively charged
13:50energy.
13:51When connected to a launcher, the device can shoot a beam of protons to lasso and debilitate
13:56ghosts.
13:57Its design, with its vibrant colors and intricate technical gizmos and doodads, is instantly
14:02recognizable to Ghostbusters fans.
14:14Thanks to the combination of Proton Packs and Ghost Traps, supernatural beings can be
14:19caught and sequestered, leaving the streets of New York ghoul-free.
14:23Number 5.
14:24Hattori Hanzo's Katana
14:25Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2.
14:28On their face, there is nothing outwardly special about Hattori Hanzo's katanas.
14:33The first clue the audience gets as to their quality is Beatrix's reaction to being in
14:38their presence.
14:39As one of the world's deadliest killers, we are forced to defer to her expertise in
14:43tools of death.
14:44She and her fellow killers treat the blades with unbelievable reverence.
14:55Hanzo, named after one of Japan's real-life master swordsmiths, is the greatest craftsman
15:00in the world of Kill Bill.
15:02His blades are masterworks, each taking a month to forge.
15:06The blade he makes for the bride is, by his own admission, the greatest of his works.
15:21He proceeds to wield it with deadly efficiency, slicing a bloody swatch through hordes of
15:27deadly enemies.
15:28Number 4.
15:29Phaser – Star Trek Franchise
15:31The original Star Trek series presented a contradiction of sorts.
15:35While meant to portray a utopian future human society bent on peace and exploration, it's
15:40also an allegory for the Cold War.
15:42Whether dealing with warlike Klingons, treacherous Romulans, or other strange threats, Starfleet
15:48officers need to be armed.
15:50Enter the Hand Phaser, a versatile particle beam weapon.
16:02The handheld device has been redesigned time and again over the years, but its functionality
16:07has never changed.
16:08The phaser is capable of stunning, hitting, or disintegrating targets with adjustable
16:13settings.
16:14In 60 years of Star Trek television shows and films, the phaser has consistently protected
16:19the United Federation of Planets from harm.
16:28Number 3.
16:29Indy's Whip – Indiana Jones Franchise
16:31Indiana Jones is one of Harrison Ford's best and most iconic roles.
16:35For four decades, Indy has searched for and fought to preserve history's greatest treasures.
16:48No matter where his travels take him, Indy can never be parted from his trademark fedora
16:54and bullwhip.
16:55At first blush, the whip seems like a silly weapon to use and, to be fair, Indy is no
17:00stranger to firearms.
17:02But whether fighting Nazis or traversing jungles, Indy uses a whip to a great effect.
17:06Ever since stumbling into a train car with an angry lion as a teenager, Indiana Jones
17:11decided to take his whip with him wherever and whenever his travels took him.
17:27Number 2.
17:28Excalibur – King Arthur Legend of the Sword
17:31Tales of Excalibur, the legendary sword of the fabled King Arthur, have floated around
17:36since the 11th century.
17:37The legend of Excalibur has grown and spread throughout popular culture, first in Europe
17:42and eventually throughout the world.
17:49Hollywood has adapted Arthur's tale many times over the years.
17:53Both Excalibur and King Arthur's Legend of the Sword lean heavily into the sword's
17:57legend.
17:58The sword transforms its wielder into an unstoppable warrior, provided they fight for the right
18:02cause.
18:03Archie's adaptation, in particular, emphasized the blade's magical properties, able to
18:08slay whole squads of men in a mere moment.
18:33Number 1.
18:34Lightsaber – Star Wars Franchise
18:48It should come as no surprise to anyone that the lightsaber is the most iconic weapon in
18:53the history of cinema.
18:54Let's face it, a space sword made out of plasma that can deflect laser beams is just
18:59cool.
19:00Its wielders are sometimes mocked by the odd scruffy nerf herder who prefers a good blaster.
19:06They never seem to mind.
19:08The lightsaber is an honorable weapon, wielded by those who can use the force to deflect
19:13ranged attacks.
19:14Powered by kyber crystals, lightsabers come in many colors, reflecting the personality
19:19and vocation of its Jedi or Sith owner.
19:26They can cut through almost anything, and have inspired multiple generations of children
19:31to sword fight with cardboard tubes.
19:33Did our list go off with a bang or a dud?
19:35Is there an iconic movie weapon that we forgot?
19:38Let us know in the comments down below, and don't forget to like and subscribe for more
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