Magneto (Ian McKellen), X-Men (2000)

The dynamic between the two figureheads of the X-Men universe — Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto — is often compared to that of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. While Xavier holds to a peaceful co-existence between humanity and mutantkind, Magneto is convinced that the only way that his Brotherhood of Mutants will receive respect is to seize it for themselves by any means necessary. Although Michael Fassbender has done a stellar job bringing a younger version of the character to life in recent years, Ian McKellen’s wearier Magneto still edges him out, thanks to the actor’s effortless charisma and the character’s long history with Patrick Stewart’s Xavier. A survivor of the Holocaust, Magneto has plenty of justification in his feelings towards humanity, and even though his methods may be far too extreme, it’s difficult not to understand why he believes he’s doing the right thing for the mutant race.