The most memorable characters from David Fincher movies

The twists and turns of this popular 1997 thriller — and David Fincher's third film — engulfs investment banker Nicholas van Orton (Michael Douglas). Van Orton carries plenty of life baggage and taking part in this apparently life-changing game for his 48th birthday only adds to the complexity of this befuddled yet intriguing character. His emotions are vast while never overwhelming. That's both a testament to Douglas' experience as a legendary actor and Fincher's obscurely delicious vision for the film.

Fincher obviously did not create the Alien franchise, and he wasn't the first choice to direct a film that was quite arduous to make. It was Fincher's directorial film debut from 1992, but he has essentially disowned a movie that received lukewarm reviews and wasn't near the caliber of the first two installments of the series. However, Charles S. Dutton's role as Dillon, the presumed leader of Fiorina 161's prisoner base who were already trying to survive, is an undisputed highlight. In reality, his speech embracing a fight to the death might be the most memorable moment from the picture.

There is something about Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) that still rubs us the wrong way. We still don't know what to think about him, even at the conclusion of this acclaimed 2014 film that ranks among Fincher's best. Nick is a talented writer, no doubt, but he tends to feel sorry for himself. He's often too guarded and hasn't done much to maintain his marriage. He's a character who's calling out for sympathy, but we often have a hard time giving in. Maybe that's what makes him intriguing — and human.

Some of Fincher's best screen work came when tackling real-life events. Zodiac (1993) might be one of his more unheralded moments. There are several noteworthy performances (Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.) in the film, but Jake Gyllenhaal's turn as the involved political newspaper cartoonist stands out. Graysmith, who became perhaps the foremost authority on the infamous zodiac killer events in the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early '70s, is detailed, nerdy and completely obsessed with the killings and the investigation. Solving the case became a personal quest for Graysmith, who had plenty of emotional scars from his involvement. 

We touched on Jake Gyllenhaal's performance, but the true gem of Zodiac is John Carroll Lynch's brilliant portrayal of Arthur Leigh Allen. Based on circumstantial evidence, he was suspected of committing the aforementioned (and unsolved) zodiac killings. Lynch is an accomplished character actor, and though on screen a short time here, his interview with detectives is one of the film's highlights. Simple, yet chilling, mostly because Leigh seems so comfortable amid what's essentially an interrogation.

Fincher received one of his three Best Director Oscar nominations for the 2010 story of Facebook's birth. One of the co-founders and early principal monetary backers was the good-natured, loyal Saverin (superbly played by Andrew Garfield). He helped get Facebook off the ground, only to be stabbed in the back by his introverted best friend and brain-trust of the operation (more on him later) who only wanted to be socially relevant — or armed with power. Whichever came first. 

The late Meat Loaf wasn't just known for his music during a rather legendary entertainment career. Fans of this popular 1999 film, which has grown into a cult classic, praise him as Robert Paulsen, the down-on-his-luck, former bodybuilder. His life is in shambles, and his body is ravaged from steroid use. But he's found solace within Project Mayhem — and the distorted camaraderie that comes with it.

Sticking with Fight Club. This is no doubt a macho, guys movie. However, one of the highlights of the picture is Helena Bonham Carter's performance as Marla. The character is outwardly dysfunctional, intellectually creative, and somewhat disturbing. A former misfit, Marla attends the different support groups because they are more entertaining than any movie she could see. Plus, there's free coffee. It's safe to say Marla owns just about every moment she's on screen.

Fincher based this 2020 biographical drama on a screenplay his late father, Jack, wrote years prior. It chronicles, in-depth, the famed Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz's process for writing Citizen Kane. We'll get into the lead character soon, but Amanda Seyfried's performance as Hollywood mogul Marion Davies, whose complicated friendship with Mankiewicz is an unheralded aspect of the plot, provides some of the film's most notable moments. Seyfried earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Fincher's follow up to Fight Club, Panic Room was quite popular and worthy of consistent praise. Maybe because the movie's villainous trio of Forest Whitaker (Burnham), Jared Leto (Junior), and Dwight Yoakim (Raoul) were so good. There's plenty to like about each character, but Yoakim's Raoul stands out. He's crude, coarse and impressively casual — as one might not expect from a white-trash ex-con. Yet, he's ruthless, and pretty much fine with his lot in life.

Taraji P. Henson earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Queenie, the young woman who operates a senior citizen home and finds — and ultimately raises — the abandoned, age-reversing infant she names Benjamin. "She's the embodiment of unconditional love," Henson said of her character. And that's exactly what she gives to Benjamin, who remained grateful to her as he lived his unique life. It's a performance that often gets overshadowed by her A-list co-star (more on him in a bit).

When The Social Network came out in 2010, a good chunk of the buzz was directed at Justin Timberlake's performance as the young entrepreneur and Napster founder who finds his way into the Facebook universe. Parker is witty and smooth. As severely charming as he is financially and creatively ruthless. It's possible to love and loathe Parker at the same time. And we can thank Timberlake's stellar performance for it all.

Would we expect anything less than greatness from Gary Oldman? He's simply superb as the enigmatic Mankiewicz and truly captures the raw emotion and pain that the character went through while trying to write the screenplay for what's considered, perhaps, the greatest film of all time. Fincher excels in bringing actual, historic figures even more life on the screen. Now, having an Oscar-caliber performer like Oldman only helps matters.

Brad Pitt has been a regular in Fincher films. The first of the lot came in this 1995 psychological crime thriller that was disturbingly suspenseful and filled with plenty of twists. Notably, the ending. Pitt's Mills is a young, hardworking detective. He can be impatient and emotional ("What's in the box?"), especially when it comes to solving the case of a demented serial killer who fancies the seven deadly sins as his MO. 

OK, Fincher was grandfathered Ripley — one of the great female action characters of all time, and perhaps Sigourney Weaver's signature role. Ripley was iconic in Alien and Aliens 2, but just as empowered and compassionate in the third film of franchise. Even though, the actual film was more forgettable when compared to the first two movies. Though Aliens 3 received little critical acclaim, Ripley remains a reason to watch — along with the aforementioned Dutton. It's easy to remember why she's such a celebrated character.

The protagonist, played by Edward Norton in one of his most popular roles, from Fight Club is never associated with an official name. He uses various aliases while attending support groups to help deal with the disdain he harbors for his white-collar job. It can be agued that that this is the most complex character in any Fincher movie. The director referred to this as a coming-of-age picture, but from the standpoint of a flawed character looking for fulfillment. While also dealing with some emotional and mental stability he probably did not know was lurking inside.

While a host of actors played the part of the age-reversing Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt's portrayal remains the most celebrated. The character is unique in itself, navigating life after being born with physical and mental aspects of an elderly individual and doing everything in reverse. The adventures and relationships Benjamin experiences make this an emotionally impactful film that earned Pitt a Best Actor Oscar nomination and Fincher his first for Best Director.

While Michael Douglas stars as the aforementioned protagonist Nicholas van Orton, Sean Penn's part as Conrad van Orton, the estranged brother of the lead, steals the show. The viewer never seems to know what to make of Conrad and his intentions when it comes to the intriguing birthday gift he gives Nicholas. He's free-wheeling, a little immature, but perhaps more intelligent and cunning than we give him credit.

When a Morgan Freeman character talks, audiences should listen. Fincher's film characters have a tendency to be quirky outcasts looking for their place in whatever society the story is being told. Then there is Det. Somerset, a grizzled law enforcement veteran who is nearing retirement, but not before he tackles perhaps the most challenging and sickening case he's ever come across. It's a wonder Freeman's Somerset is able to remain grounded — at least on the outside — and offer words of wisdom to fellow detective David Mills after all he's seen on the job that's likely done damage on the inside.

Jodie Foster replaced Nicole Kidman in the starring role of this popular Fincher thriller, then learned she was pregnant in the early weeks of filming. Maybe her budding maternal instinct kicked in, because Meg is at her protective best — mentally and physically — when it comes to her daughter (Kristen Stewart) dealing with an intruder trio that breaks into her house. Meg is everything one would need from a mother if ever put in such a dangerous, and potentially deadly, predicament. 

John Doe (Kevin Spacey) from Se7en is pure evil. He's cunning but diabolical. Intelligent, but uses his vast knowledge of the world in a sinisterly psychopathic way. Se7en is highly unsettling, yet undisputedly entertaining. As mentioned, the characters played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are obviously noteworthy, but the deranged and casually unhinged John Doe remains on the most sickening villains in movie history.

Love it or hate it, Facebook is not going anywhere. And the tale of the social media platform's backstory — and its principal co-founder — is just as intriguing as the site itself. It's easy to see from the film why the highly intelligent but socially-stunted Zuckerberg (via an exceptional performance from Jesse Eisenberg), had few friends and even fewer morals when it came to starting and expanding Facebook. While we'd like to put Zuckerberg in his place, it's also possible to feel sorry for someone who is desperately trying to fit in with the socially elite within his realm.

Rooney Mara was nominated at the Oscars for Best Actress for her 2011 portrayal of Erica Albright in The Social Network. She is the catalyst for Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook idea, and the character is based on that from the 2005 novel by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. Salander is highly intelligent, but she's severely scarred from a past of emotional and sexual abuse that's left her introverted, jaded, and vulnerable to trust. Yet, she's used that pain to grow into a vigilante of sorts. Complete with jet black hair and lipstick, she's powerful enough to defend herself from any danger that may lurk while trying to solve a cold case.

Diabolical in a highly entertaining way, Amy Dunne is perhaps the most disturbing character portrayed in any Fincher film. Of course, a ton of the credit goes to British actress Rosamund Pike, whose performance outshined co-star Ben Affleck and was honored with several award nominations, including an Oscar. The story surrounding Amy's disappearance, and the trends of her past, are brought to life in harrowing display through Pike's dramatically powerfully effort. 

Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) may boast the life, or persona, that some guys would want. Care free and confident, with a chiseled chest, washboard abs and no real feelings of respect, responsibility or remorse. Within one's mind, Tyler Durden is a guilty pleasure. The ultimate male, and someone who makes for quite the memorable film character. Now, Pitt's talent as an actor capable of succeeding in any role he plays, as we've already seen on this list, was the difference.