What Is The More Iconic / Famous Alan Rickman film role?

[Lee3691]

Hans Gruber (from Die Hard)
Severus Snape (from Harry Potter film series)

[ExistenceNow]

I voted Gruber, but I can't really even judge since I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies.

[ExistenceNow]

Metatron from Dogma is actually what I most associate him with.

[K270]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

I voted Gruber, but I can't really even judge since I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies.

Same here.

[coldengrey12]

I'm gonna go with Snape here only because that's a role that lasted over several movies whereas Gruber, while also iconic, appears in just one picture

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

I voted Gruber, but I can't really even judge since I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies.

Sort of this. I have only seen like 3 of the HP movies.

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by coldengrey12

I'm gonna go with Snape here only because that's a role that lasted over several movies whereas Gruber, while also iconic, appears in just one picture

But his role is so important to Die Hard 3!

[mr. testaverde]

Answer probably depends on your age. Lotta youngins may not have seen Die Hard

[JRS1386]

It’s definitely Snape

[JRS1386]

Originally Posted by mr. testaverde

Answer probably depends on your age. Lotta youngins may not have seen Die Hard

I don’t think that would matter. Snape is a crucial character is one of the most iconic fantasy series of all time. Die Hard, while popular, is nowhere near as important/popular

I would also argue that Snape is the best acted part of any of the Potter movies. Rickman nailed it

[Tiduwho]

Very big Die Hard fan. Thought about this a good bit. Definitely Snape...

[AlpineValley804]

The correct answer is Snape, but it has a huge advantage of being part of a series that has a massive built-in fan base before even the first movie came out.

Rickman played the role of Snape terrifically, but how much of the character’s iconic status is actually due to Rickman’s contribution to the role? Gruber’s iconic status, on the other hand, is almost exclusively due to Rickman’s portrayal. I have to remind myself that Die Hard was also based on a book. I am tempted to vote for Gruber on that criteria.

[Roose13]

He played Snape in eight movies and was a major character in most. That's your answer.

[Roose13]

Originally Posted by JRS1386

I don’t think that would matter. Snape is a crucial character is one of the most iconic fantasy series of all time. Die Hard, while popular, is nowhere near as important/popular

I would also argue that Snape is the best acted part of any of the Potter movies. Rickman nailed it

No argument. It's fact. Imelda Staunton's Umbridge is a close second, but she was in a movie and a half.

[Climb2safety]

Harry from Love actually for me.

Amazing performance, so human and so flawed and opposite Emma Thompson was incredible.

[AlpineValley804]

Originally Posted by JRS1386

I don’t think that would matter. Snape is a crucial character is one of the most iconic fantasy series of all time. Die Hard, while popular, is nowhere near as important/popular

I would also argue that Snape is the best acted part of any of the Potter movies. Rickman nailed it

I definitely think you can make a case, when talking exclusively about film, that Die Hard is a more important movie. It completely changed the action genre.

I would definitely agree, however, that Die Hard never came close to reaching the same height in terms of being a cultural phenomenon. But I don’t think that necessarily translates to actually being more influential for filmmaking.

[Lee3691]

Originally Posted by mr. testaverde

Answer probably depends on your age. Lotta youngins may not have seen Die Hard

Almost included age in the poll, as I thought the same thing. Question came from a discussion with someone ten years younger than I.

[Lee3691]

Originally Posted by JRS1386

I don’t think that would matter. Snape is a crucial character is one of the most iconic fantasy series of all time. Die Hard, while popular, is nowhere near as important/popular

I would also argue that Snape is the best acted part of any of the Potter movies. Rickman nailed it

This is completely wrong. Die Hard is one of the most important action movies ever made, as for years & years afterwards, all action movies were described as "Die Hard on a bus" (Speed), "Die Hard on a plane" (Turbulence) , "Die Hard in a bullring" (Skyscraper).

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Climb2safety

Harry from Love actually for me.

Amazing performance, so human and so flawed and opposite Emma Thompson was incredible.

I find the scene with Both Sides Now is one of the most moving scenes of all time. They’ve both so good, but Emma...holy shit.

[K270]

Originally Posted by AlpineValley804

The correct answer is Snape, but it has a huge advantage of being part of a series that has a massive built-in fan base before even the first movie came out.

Rickman played the role of Snape terrifically, but how much of the character’s iconic status is actually due to Rickman’s contribution to the role? Gruber’s iconic status, on the other hand, is almost exclusively due to Rickman’s portrayal. I have to remind myself that Die Hard was also based on a book. I am tempted to vote for Gruber on that criteria.

Have you ever read the book or read the comparisons between the movie and the book? Its kind of interesting.

[K3nTaKa0s]

Robin Hood.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by Climb2safety

Harry from Love actually for me.

Amazing performance, so human and so flawed and opposite Emma Thompson was incredible.

100% this.

[BotheLaneFan]

Die Hard.

The only people who remember the Harry Potter movies are people who like Harry Potter. Die Hard is bigger and betterer. It’s also good!

[TwoStep2888]

love Die Hard but I thought of Snape first when I read the thread title

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by BotheLaneFan

Die Hard.

The only people who remember the Harry Potter movies are people who like Harry Potter. Die Hard is bigger and betterer. It’s also good!

The only people who remember Die Hard are Die Hard fans


#s would dictate that Alan Rickman is known/famous globally and domestically moreso as Snape


Snape is obviously the right answer.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by smokew11

The only people who remember Die Hard are Die Hard fans


#s would dictate that Alan Rickman is known/famous globally and domestically moreso as Snape


Snape is obviously the right answer.

This right here... is recognize him as Snape WAAAAAAAYYY before I’d recognize him as the bad guy from Die Hard, and I’m from the generation that puts that pussy on a pedestal.

I still associate him most with Love Actually though.

Oh, and I’ve never seen the entire Harry Potter series or Die Hard in its entirety... so this is coming from an unbiased perspective.

[Climb2safety]

Originally Posted by scrock25

100% this.

Love it when we’re on the same side!

[GSUdawg521]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

I voted Gruber, but I can't really even judge since I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies.

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

Metatron from Dogma is actually what I most associate him with.

Both of these posts may have well been mine

[junior94]

fuckin hell this is a hard question. I mean, the character of Snape I think it's more than fair to say had already reached "iconic" status just from its existence on the page, before Alan Rickman came anywhere near it. The first four Harry Potter books were already out and it was pretty much a worldwide phenomenon before the first film was made and released. (and sidenote fwiw, Rickman wasn't even the first choice, they went to at least Tim Roth before him who turned it down)
Yes strictly speaking Die Hard was based on a book, but it wasn't some big hit, much less reaching the status of Potter, and quite a lot was changed in the adaptation.


Yes, Snape was many peoples' favorite character in both the book & film series, and Rickman their favorite overall performance, but Die Hard is also universally accepted as groundbreaking in the action genre, with many (including myself) regarding it the greatest action film of all time.
I'm sure it'll sound like a cop out, but I think this might be one where it's reasonable to say they're about even.

[Mickey Carson]

More famous role: Snape (no question)
More iconic role: Hans Gruber