John, the chameleon: how one name fits every movie genre

Have you ever noticed something peculiar about action movie lead characters? We love a good rough-and-tumble film—packed with explosions, great one-liners, and over-the-top villains. But aside from the cliché, there’s another common thread that runs through a lot of these films: the name John.

It seems like you can’t throw a grenade in an action movie without hitting a character named John. And it’s not just limited to one genre either; dramas, thrillers, and even romantic ones have more Johns than a phone book.

Why is that? Is there something about the name that makes it irresistible to screenwriters and directors?

The hallmark of action heroes

Let’s start by looking at some of the most iconic action movie characters.

    John Wick from the John Wick series

    John McClane from the Die Hard series

    John Smith from Mr. & Mrs. Smith

    John Anderton from Minority Report

    John Rambo from the Rambo series

    John Connor from the Terminator series

    John Mason from The Rock

Each of these characters shares more than just a name; they share a persona. They’re rugged, relentless, and always seem to have a one-liner ready. Coincidence? Unlikely. The name John is easy to say, easy to remember, and most importantly, it suggests a sense of strength and reliability.

Strong and classic

John is a strong and classic name. It’s been around for centuries, and it carries a certain weight. Think about it: John the Baptist, King John, John Adams—there’s a legacy here. It’s a name that’s not tied to any specific era, but rather one that’s timeless. You could have a John in a medieval castle or a John on a spaceship in the future, and it would still feel appropriate. That versatility is gold for filmmakers.

For action heroes, the name John conveys the kind of strong, no-nonsense attitude you’d expect from someone who’s about to save the world. It doesn’t sound too fancy or pretentious. John is a guy who gets things done, whether he’s shooting his way through a high-rise building or battling an army of robots.

Easy to remember

In addition to its strength, John is just…easy. Easy to say, easy to spell, easy to remember. And in the fast-paced world of marketing and movie promotions, that’s important. If you want people to talk about your movie, you want the main character’s name to stick in their heads. There’s a reason why many iconic movie names are short and simple—James Bond, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt, and of course, John.

For screenwriters, John is a safe bet. It’s almost universally recognizable and familiar. And if you’re casting a character who’s meant to be relatable to a broad audience, why not go with a name that feels like it could belong to anyone? It’s not too exotic or unusual.

The everyman appeal

Part of the reason so many characters are named John is that it has an everyman appeal. John is a name that fits a variety of personalities and backgrounds. Whether he’s a cop, a soldier, or a vigilante, John can embody the common man who rises to meet extraordinary challenges.

Take John McClane in Die Hard. He’s not a superhero or a trained assassin. He’s a regular guy—a New York cop—who’s thrown into an extreme situation and has to use his wits and guts to survive. That’s what makes the name John work so well. It doesn’t overpower the character; it enhances their relatability.

John the chameleon

What’s fascinating about the name John is that it doesn’t just belong to action heroes. Characters named John show up in all genres, from dramas to comedies to thrillers. And no matter where you put the name, it fits like a glove.

Here are a few more Johns from various genres:

    John Coffey from The Green Mile (drama)

    John Nash from A Beautiful Mind (biography/drama)

    John Smith from Pocahontas (animated adventure)

    John H. Miller from Saving Private Ryan (war drama)

    John Book from Witness (crime/thriller)

    John Dunbar from Dances with Wolves (historical drama)

    John Constantine from Constantine (supernatural thriller)

    John Blutarsky from Animal House (comedy)

All these characters have vastly different personalities and backgrounds, yet the name John feels appropriate in each case. That’s the chameleon-like quality of the name—it can mold itself to any character, regardless of the genre or the role they play.

The title character

In some cases, the name John becomes so iconic that it transcends the character and becomes the title of the movie. Think John Wick, John Carter, or John Q. The name is so fundamental to who these characters are that it becomes synonymous with their entire identity and, by extension, the movie itself.

Take John Wick, for example. The simplicity of the name makes it all the more menacing when paired with Keanu Reeves’ stoic, deadly performance. You don’t need a flashy or unique name for a character who’s going to let his actions speak for him. The name John is understated, allowing the character to come to life through their actions rather than their name alone.

Similarly, in John Q, John Q. Archibald represents the everyman caught in an impossible situation—desperate, flawed, and human. The movie title is as much about the character’s universal struggles as it is about his specific plight.

The psychology of “John”

So why does John work so well across genres and decades? There’s a bit of psychology at play here. The name John is often seen as dependable, trustworthy, and strong—qualities we want to project onto our heroes. On a deeper level, John is one of those names that can carry emotional weight because it’s so common.

We all know a John—whether it’s a family member, a friend, or even ourselves. That familiarity makes it easier for audiences to connect with the character on screen, even if they’re fighting terrorists or aliens. In a way, naming a character John taps into the collective unconscious, making the character feel like someone you already know.

At the end of the day, John is not just a name—it’s a blank slate that allows filmmakers to paint their characters with whatever qualities they need. It’s timeless, easy to remember, and most importantly, relatable. Whether the character is saving the world or an assassin with morals, John is a name that can carry the weight of any story.