5) Puss In Boots
The first Shrek is an anarchic, anti-Disney triumph, with Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy achieving their definitive roles for this generation in Shrek and his ignoble steed Donkey. But the third member in their trio didn’t turn up until Shrek 2. The Zorro-like Puss In Boots is a terrific creation, a purrfect bit of self-parody from Antonio Banderas.
We’re not quite sure how they came up with the idea to turn the French fairy tale character into a Spanish assassin, but it certainly was a stroke of genius. Plus, how can you resist that face? As the franchise’s breakout character, he later featured in his own solo movie titled, um, Puss In Boots in 2011. While that proved he was better in moderation, it doesn’t take away from his success in the main Shrek series.
4) Dr. Henry Jones
Indiana Jones was originally conceived by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as their very own James Bond character, and so it was a natural choice to cast 007 himself as Indy’s father in The Last Crusade.
Connery gives one of his best Post-Bond performances as the against-type fusty archaeologist Dr. Henry Jones Sr., enjoying a great comic chemistry with Harrison Ford. Not only one of the standout characters in a sequel, he’s one of the best cinematic dads to boot. If he had returned for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well, it might have helped to soften the blow of one of the worst sequel characters in Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt.
A shout out must also be given to the franchise’s other latecomer star in Short Round, the adorable kid sidekick from The Temple of Doom.