Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

15 Revolting Movie Youths

Features
By Simon Kinnear published 29 January 2010

Sorting out the rebels from the rabble

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Francois Dillinger

Francois Dillinger

The actor/film: Michael Cera, Youth In Revolt (2010)

Anti-social behaviour: Francois est un bad boy. Giving a Gallic shrug to good behaviour, he prefers sex, smoking and criminal damage.

Rebel Cause: Francois isn't real. He's the alter-ego of virginal nice guy Nick Twisp (also Cera), who's chosen the Serge Gainsbourg vibe in order to keep the girl of his dreams.

Rebellious or Revolting? Francois is kinda cool...but it must be well creepy for Nick's friends when he randomly starts behaving like un salaud .

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Johnny Strabler

Johnny Strabler

Actor/film: Marlon Brando, The Wild One (1953)

Anti-social behaviour: Whaddya got? As head of biker gang Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, Johnny has the means to wreak havoc. But he still goes all tongue-tied in the presence of a girly.

Rebel Cause: Johnny doesn’t give much away, although he hints at an abusive childhood. Mainly, though, he doesn’t like squares.

Rebellious or Revolting? Today's Asbo kids would 'ave him in seconds. But without Johnny's iconic poise, we'd probably still be asking our parents permission to stay out past midnight.

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Veronica Sawyer

Veronica Sawyer

Actress/film: Winona Ryder, Heathers (1989)

Anti-social behaviour: The ultimate about-turn. One minute she's an honorary Heather, the clique that runs her high school. The next, she's plotting their execution under the tutelage of canteen whack-job J.D. (Christian Slater).

Rebel Cause: Boredom with her job of being popular and shit. Her teen-angst bullshit now has a body count.

Rebellious or revolting? Serial killing really ought to put her in the latter category. But her Swatch dogs and Diet Coke head victims do kinda deserve it.

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker

Actor/film: Haydn Christiansen, Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Anti-social behaviour: Betraying – and slaughtering – his Jedi mates to curry favour with the Dark Side’s head honcho, Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid). Bad padawan.

Rebel Cause: He says it’s because he wants to protect wife Padme (Natalie Portman). But, deep down, it’s because Yoda passed him over for promotion.

Rebellious or Revolting? Even before the charred stump of his body is encased in cybernetic body armour, he shows his vile nature by strangling preggers Padme.

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Ferris Bueller

Ferris Bueller

Actor/film: Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Anti-social behaviour: Truant maestro Ferris manages to cram modern art mockery, a parade day singalong and the demolition of a Ferrari into a single schoolday, without being caught.

Rebel Cause: A philosopher's awareness of the fleeting joys of life...although a shit-eating grin and unparalleled cockiness can't hurt.

Rebellious or Revolting? The most radical thing most of us do on a bunk-off is to snuggle under the duvet in front of Diagnosis: Murder . Compared to that, Ferris is Che Guevara.

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Frank Abagnale, Jr

Frank Abagnale, Jr

Actor/film: Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Anti-social behaviour: Flying passenger jets, treating patients, trying court cases. Career stiff? Try 'unqualified teen conman.'

Rebel Cause: Traumatised after seeing his parents split up over bad debts, Frank Jr is just living the dreams denied his pauper papa (Christopher Walken).

Rebellious or Revolting? Come off it. Given half a chance, we’d all be trying it on, right?

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Alex DeLarge

Alex DeLarge

Actor/film: Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Anti-social behaviour: High on drencrom and Ludwig van, Alex is up for lashings of ultra-violence and a bit of the old in-out. Oh, and he doesn’t care too much for the Queen’s English, either.

Rebel Cause: Alex sees only dullness in the cruel attitudes of family and society alike. So he's made sure his cruelty is exciting .

Rebellious or revolting? On the one hand, there’s the cheeky wit, the funky threads, and the fact that the authorities are brutal gits. On the other hand, you really wouldn’t want a surprise visit from Alex.

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Billy Loomis

Billy Loomis

The actor/film: Skeet Ulrich, Scream (1996)

Anti-social behaviour: Watch a few movies, make a few notes, and suddenly Billy and partner-in-crime Stu (Matthew Lillard) are Munch-masked serial killers taking 'trick or treat' too far.

Rebel Cause: It's scarier without a motive. Sadly, Billy has a rather humdrum one: abandoment, leading to revenge. Less "Boo!" than boo-hoo.

Rebellious or Revolting? Crazy? They prefer the term 'psychotic.' Same difference when you're being garrotted. Somebody revoke their Blockbuster rental card, will ya?

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko

Actor/film: Jake Gyllenhaal, Donnie Darko (2001)

Anti-social behaviour: Oh, the usual... Flooding his school, swinging an axe into a statue, burning down the home of a local paedophile, that sort of thing.

Rebel Cause: The long version – involving time travel and falling jet engines – is complicated. But essentially, he’s acting out because a rabbit told him to.

Rebellious or Revolting? When most messed-up kids’ defiance takes the form of drinking cider in the park, Donnie scores 10/10 on originality alone.

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Jim Stark

Jim Stark

The actor/film: James Dean, Rebel Without A Cause (1955)

Anti-social behaviour: The full gamut of 1950s teen scandal from the mildly outrageous (drunk and disorderly) to the insanely dangerous (a clifftop 'chicken run' drive).

Rebel Cause: Surely he's Without ? Well...no. The cool title's just a smokescreen for another by-rote dysfunctional movie family.

Rebellious or Revolting? Just a bit mixed up, is all. He'll soon grow out of it. For textbook fucked-up delinquency, check out Jim's best mate, gun-toting headcase Plato (Sal Mineo).

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Raymond Aibelli

Raymond Aibelli

Actor/film: Jeremy Davies, Spanking The Monkey (1994)

Anti-social behaviour: The monkey-spanking we can understand. The suicide attempts aren’t that unusual. But dont’cha think he’s getting too close to invalid Susan (Alberta Watson)? After all, she is his mother.

Rebel Cause: Mom's totally coming on to him with those endless requests to be washed. And, stuck in the middle of nowhere, there’s not much else to do.

Rebellious or Revolting? If your first thought isn't "Eww!" you might want to reconsider your life's priorities.

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Louise Freeland

Louise Freeland

Actress/film: Evan Rachel Wood, Thirteen (2003)

Anti-social behaviour: Led astray by wild child Evie (Nikki Reed), 13-year-old Louise hurtles headlong into body piercings, sniffing aerosols and underage blowjobs. Sounds like the synopsis for one of those late night Hollyoaks specials, doesn't it?

Rebel Cause: Mom (Holly Hunter) is a ex-addict screw-up has suddenly gone all puritan on Louise's ass. So of course she's gonna play up.

Rebellious or Revolting? It's a phase. Give it a year and she'll be back into Hannah Montana and Nintendogs.

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
The Sherminator

The Sherminator

Actor/film: Chris Owen, American Pie (1999)

Anti-social behaviour: Chuck Sherman is a sexual revolutionary. As The Sherminator, he’s a one-man robot army from the future, here to make some sweet loving to humankind.

Rebel Cause: It’s totally an act, dude. None of Chuck’s Sherm-sperm has ever got within 100 yards of the laydeez.

Rebellious or Revolting? Remember: no likey, no lightey. Blimey, it's gone dark in here.

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
Antoine Doinel

Antoine Doinel

Actor/film: Jean-Pierre Léaud, The 400 Blows (1959)

Anti-social behaviour: Quantity rather than quality. Antoine indulges in minor mischief (theft, graffiti) but gets caught so often he’s interned in a work camp for delinquents.

Rebel Cause: If you guessed 'bad parenting,' you'd be right. Yet again. Antoine's adulterous mother is so cold she actually told her son she wanted to abort him.

Rebellious or Revolting? Antoine grows up to be a bit of a dick in the sequels (we say franchise, they say français) but here we just want to reach out and give him a hug.

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
John Bender

John Bender

The actor/film: Judd Nelson, The Breakfast Club (1985)

Anti-social behaviour: Specifically, pulling a false fire alarm. But of all the kids in detention (brain, athlete, basket case, princess) it's Bender, "the criminal," who is the regular.

Rebel Cause: John cites an abusive father as the root of his woes. Most flagrant act of abuse? Calling him Bender.

Rebellious or Revolting? After a Saturday morning with this lot, Bender's gone from wild one to princess-lovin' softie. Detention: it's cheaper than therapy.

Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
Simon Kinnear
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Latest in Movies
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary 2 may happen after the film had the biggest non-franchise opening at the box office since Oppenheimer
 
 
Ewan McGregor, Christian Convery, Maisy Stella, and Anne Hathaway in The End of Oak Street
Sci-Fi Movies Dinosaurs take over suburbia in first trailer for It Follows director's intriguing new sci-fi movie
 
 
Peaky Blinders – one of the best Netflix shows
Drama Movies Peaky Blinders creator explains why Arthur Shelby wasn't in The Immortal Man
 
 
Megan Fox as Jennifer Check in Jennifer's Body
Horror Movies Diablo Cody says Jennifer's Body 2 is bolder than the original and "a response" to it becoming a cult classic
 
 
Billie Roy in Lee Cronin's The Mummy
Horror Movies Evil Dead Rise director says he turned down a sequel in order to take a "risk" on new installment in the Mummy franchise
 
 
Star Fox
Animated Movies "Thank you, Miyamoto-san": Star Fox designer reacts to Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveal
 
 
Latest in Features
Simon looking at a CRTV during the trailer for the new game, Silent Hill: Townfall
Silent Hill Silent Hill: Townfall – Everything you need to know about the next Silent Hill game
 
 
Pokemon Pokopia gameplay showing Ditty in human form, frowning in front of a lighthouse
Pokemon Pokemon Pokopia's hard-hitting maturity is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of Pokemon
 
 
Dying Light: The Beast
Survival Horror Games Dying Light: The Beast's Restored Land update puts the survival back into survival horror
 
 
Screenbound screenshot showcasing the 3D world in the background with sky and clouds and Qboy in foreground
Platforming Games I wish I were melting my brain in Screenbound right now
 
 
Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Marvel TV Shows Wonder Man season 2 release date speculation, cast, plot, and everything there is to know
 
 
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in HBO's Harry Potter TV show
HBO Harry Potter TV series release date, cast, trailer, plot, and more news
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
    1
    3 new to Netflix shows I recommend you binge-watch this weekend (March 27–March 29)
  2. 2
    Crimson Desert inexplicably changes the name of its fat cats to "loafy cats," and I might be the only person on-board
  3. 3
    Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor "definitely avoided a few roles" because he didn't want to do "the Astarion thing" again
  4. 4
    Steam's new "golden age" is special because so many genres are popping off at once, expert says
  5. 5
    Legendary fan translator now helping bring back a mascot platformer that couldn't escape the '90s

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...