The Greatest Movie Heroes of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

A while back I did some posts about the greatest villains of every Myers-Briggs® personality type. Since then, I’ve gotten several requests to do a follow-up heroes post. This post was a lot of fun to write and research, and I hope you’ll enjoy it! Keep in mind that throughout the post I address various cognitive functions. If you find it confusing, just remember that the dominant and auxiliary functions (the first two we talk about) are the most advanced, whereas the inferior function is the weakest preference, or the Achille’s heel, of every of type.

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ISTJ Hero – Katniss Everdeen

Katniss Everdeen embodies many of the positive characteristics of ISTJs. She’s responsible for her family and every decision she makes has to do with that strong sense of responsibility and integrity. She has a rich and often disturbing memory of her past, and can recall with precision techniques that have worked well for her before when she’s in the battlefield. She’s keenly aware of the details around her and uses that to her advantage when navigating the arena and interacting with others.

Katniss shows her Extraverted Thinking (Te) in the way she quickly and decisively analyzes the situations she’s in and finds rapid solutions. Like most ISTJs, she’s blunt, straightforward, and puts her emotions aside when it’s needed for survival.

We see Katniss’s inferior Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in the way she catastrophizes the future. When she’s highly stressed she can’t imagine anything possibly going right, and can’t imagine any positive possibilities for the future. She has a hard time intuitively trusting anyone and trusts her logical instincts and what she can see and sense more than any type of gut instinct.

Other notable ISTJs: Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Spock from Star Trek, The Count of Monte Cristo

ESTJ Hero – Bryan Mills from Taken

When tragedy strikes, Bryan Mills is fast to act and quick to put his emotions aside. He embodies the quick-thinking precise nature of the ESTJ. He knows how to take charge, create an effective plan, and can easily give instructions to other people over the phone on how to move forward.

Mills shows his Introverted Sensing (Si) in the way he systematically pays attention to everything around him. He can easily recall past information on the fly and he relies on his vast experience with the CIA to recognize warning signs and reach out to contacts other less detail-oriented types would have trouble remembering.

We see Mills inferior Introverted Feeling (Fi) in the way he has struggled with remaining emotionally available to his wife, thus resulting in the dissolution of their marriage. He doesn’t express his love through words, but through actions. He keeps his emotions private and rarely shows the depth of his feelings to anyone around him.

Other notable ESTJs: Princess Leia Organa from Star Wars, Peter Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter

ISFJ – Steve Rogers/Captain America

Steve Rogers embodies the responsibility, compassion, and dedication of the ISFJ. He is stable, thinks things through, and is eager to uphold the traditions he values in America. He finds himself uncomfortable in the modern world, where many of the things he once knew have changed and transformed. He holds very tightly to his past memories and the lessons he learned in his early life.

We see Steve Roger’s use of Extraverted Feeling (Fe) in the way he connects with the people around him. He’s concerned for the welfare of humanity as a whole and will do whatever it takes to save whoever is in harm’s way. He is generous, selfless, and is eager to defend his fellow man.

Roger’s use of inferior Extraverted Intuition (Ne) becomes apparent in the way he remains skeptical about any new changes and innovations. He butts heads with Tony Stark, who uses dominant Extraverted Intuition, partially because they view the world in such fundamentally different ways. His inferior Ne makes it hard for him to come to terms with anything new or unexpected.

Other notable ISFJs: Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings, Westley from the Princess Bride, Padme from Star Wars

ESFJ – Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit

Bilbo Baggins is a quirky, lovable version of the ESFJ hero. No matter how much he may dislike the dwarves invading his home, he tries as hard as possible to remain polite and hospitable. He thinks before he speaks and is quick to negotiate with his friends to come up with a harmonious decision for everyone involved. He knows how to adapt to get the most out of his interactions with other people.

We see Bilbo’s use of Introverted Sensing (Si) in the way he decorates his hobbit hole. It is filled with heirlooms and nostalgic details. He’s traditional and afraid of change initially, and it takes quite a bit of thought and persuasion before he’s willing to leave his world behind and have an adventure. He spends a great deal of time considering the past and uses his past experience in problem-solving and decision making.

We see Bilbo’s inferior Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the way he reacts to stress. When things get bad, Bilbo starts to panic. He wants excessive details about everything that is expected of him, and he struggles with remaining objective in his decisions.

Another notable ESFJ hero: Primrose Everdeen from The Hunger Games

ISTP – Han Solo from Star Wars

Han Solo captures the devil-may-care, quick-thinking qualities of the ISTP. We see his Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the way he keeps his rational thought processes internalized. He is constantly expanding and making improvements to the Millennium Falcon and needs to know why he must do something before making a decision. This constant tinkering and modifying and the search to constantly know “why” are all hallmarks of Introverted Thinking types.

We see Solo’s use of Extraverted Sensing (Se) in his impulsive ability to jump into a crisis and handle things efficiently. He’s agile and brave and can respond quickly without a lot of prior information or consideration.

Solo shows his inferior Extraverted Feeling (Fe) in the way he responds emotionally to other people when he’s stressed. In his day-to-day life, he isn’t easily swayed by the emotions and feelings of others, but deep down he actually does have a strong urge to help out his companions.

Other notable ISTPs: Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, Wolverine from the X-Men, Black Widow from The Avengers, Mazer Rackam from Ender’s Game, and Jason Bourne from The Bourne Trilogy.

ESTP – Jim Kirk from Star Trek

Jim Kirk embodies the impulsive, opportunistic nature of the ESTP personality type. He lives fully in the moment and is quick to react to changes in his environment. He loves a fast-moving, daring lifestyle and loves to experience new and novel things.

We see Kirk’s use of Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the way he can come up with solutions to problems at the spur-of-the-moment. He thinks through things internally and surprises people with his effective, logical conclusions.

Kirk struggles with his use of inferior Introverted Intuition (Ni). We see this in the way he isn’t able to foresee the implications of many of his choices. He acts quickly, on impulse, and doesn’t normally trust his gut instincts about other people who seem threatening to him.

Other notable ESTPs: Thor, Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible, Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean

ISFP – Luke Skywalker from Star Wars

Luke Skywalker shows his masterful Introverted Feeling in the way he makes his decisions and goes through life. He has a strong internal set of values that he refuses to ignore. While at times he may be overly emotional in his responses, he learns to harnesses his emotions and feelings into a powerful use of the force. He is intensely compassionate, serving the people he cares about while remaining true to his values and dreams.

We see Skywalker’s use of Extraverted Sensing (Se) in the way he notices opportunities and responds fully in the moment. He can find immediate solutions to problems and is extremely aware of his environment. He relies on his natural reflexes, and can be impulsive; a trait common to SP personality types.

Luke’s inferior Extraverted Thinking (Te) shows up in the way he makes decisions off the cuff and doesn’t spend a lot of time planning things out. Unlike a dominant Te user, Luke doesn’t like schedules, rules, and hard facts. As he matures he gets a little better at thinking about consequences and details.

Other notable ISFPs: Eowyn from Lord of the Rings, Cinna from The Hunger Games, Judah from Ben-Hur

ESFP – Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson captures the thrill-seeking, opportunistic character of the ESFP personality type. He’s quick on his feet, aware of his environment, and able to make snap-decisions to defend his friends and defeat his enemies. He’s incredible at multi-tasking and responding in a crisis to get the most immediate result.

We see Jackson’s use of Introverted Feeling (Fi) in the way he has a strong internal moral compass. He’s very sure of his beliefs and doesn’t sway from his strong set of inner values. While he may not talk about his feelings or emotions very readily, he is deeply caring and communicates his loyalty and compassion through actions rather than words.

Jackson’s inferior Introverted Intuition (Ni) shows up in the way he isn’t quick to grasp the nature of other’s intentions. Unlike a dominant Ni-user, he’s not very adept at reading people’s intentions. However, he does still use this function in his ability to instinctively know his destiny and pursue it wholeheartedly.

Other notable ESFPs: Ron Weasley from Harry Potter, Finnick Odair from The Hunger Games, Sam Wilson/Falcon from The Avengers, Anna from Frozen

INFJ – Gandalf from Lord of the Rings

Gandalf embodies the intense foresight and knowledge of people that is characteristic of INFJs. We see his strong use of Intuition in the way he can foresee events long before they happen. He’s a master strategist; always looking towards the future and working unceasingly towards his goals. He is excellent at decoding symbols and solving riddles, and looking into the hidden intents of others.

We see Gandalf’s use of Extraverted Feeling (Fe) in the way he can see deep into the hearts of others and determine their purpose. He isn’t cold or calculating in his interactions with others, but knows how to motivate them in a personal way towards their destiny. While other types may have looked for more obvious leaders to destroy the Ring, Gandalf can easily sense human potential in even the most underestimated of characters; Hobbits like Bilbo Baggins and Frodo. He gets extremely irritated when people make decisions without regard for the welfare of “the group”.

Gandalf shows his inferior use of Extraverted Sensing (Se) in the way he retreats from the group and finds solace in nature. He can become over-stimulated and need solace to access his dominant function. He’s not excited or thrilled by upcoming battles and the actions that must take place, but he knows participation is mandatory. He has spent a long time mastering his inferior function and is able to leap into action and be attentive to his surroundings when it’s necessary, but it isn’t his preferred mode of living.

Other notable INFJs: Charles Xavier from the X-Men, Galadriel from Lord of the Rings, Obi-Wan Kenobe from Star Wars, Vision from The Avengers.

ENFJ – Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games

Peeta Mellark has a charisma and natural understanding of people that greatly helps him (and others) during the Hunger Games. He can charm the audience with his strong use of Extraverted Feeling (Fe), and find ingenious ways to protect Katniss by convincing others of her importance. He has a remarkable ability to manipulate the capitol crowds into rooting for Katniss; using his combined Feeling and Intuition about what will draw them in. He is loyal and compassionate, and willing to go to any lengths to care for the ones he loves.

We see Peeta’s use of Introverted Intuition (Ni) in the way he can easily foresee events unfolding. He can intuitively grasp what steps need to be taken to reach the desired outcome, and isn’t afraid to interact with other people and find strategic plans to fulfill his long-term goals.

Peeta’s inferior Introverted Thinking becomes evident in the way he puts people before rational objectives. In every decision he is motivated by what’s good for others (Fe) instead of stepping outside of the situation like a Thinking dominant person would be able to. He can make logical decisions when necessary, and isn’t afraid to make tough choices; but his natural strengths lie in serving others, communicating and inspiring others; not coming up with quick logical deductions.

Another Notable ENFJ: Tauriel from The Hobbit

INFP- Frodo from Lord of the Rings

Frodo Baggins embodies the kind-hearted, soft-spoken generosity and imagination of the INFP. He will do anything to protect the ones he loves; even put himself in danger and risk almost certain death. He has a strong sense of empathy for others and is motivated by his core values to such an extreme that he is the only one capable of not being corrupted by the ring. He can take things personally, as Introverted Feelers tend to do, but he is always willing to give others’ a second chance.

We see Frodo’s use of Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in the way he is able to maintain hope even in the darkest times. He can instinctively sense changes in people’s behavior and demeanor that might be threatening in the long term. He can intuitively grasp what he should do to destroy the ring, even if it frightens him. He dreams of the future and is fascinated by Gandalf’s stories and adventures.

Frodo uses his inferior Extraverted Thinking (Te) when he makes decisions for the group and organizes plans to reach his future goal. However, it’s not his ideal way of using his time. He’s much more comfortable being independent; going off on his own instead of delegating to others.

Other Notable INFPs: Faramir from Lord of the Rings, Wanda Maximoff (The Scarlet Witch) from The Avengers.

ENFP – Finn from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Finn captures the optimism and strong values that are central to the ENFP personality type. He’s quick to see opportunities as they arise and is always on the lookout for more possibilities and ideas that could make the future better. He’s idealistic in his pursuits and is determined to fulfill his potential.

We see Finn’s use of Introverted Feeling (Fi) in the way he is unwilling to bend his moral code. He has a strong set of internal values that cannot be swayed, no matter what his upbringing has been. He may not talk about his feelings, but he clearly bases most of his decisions off of his emotional ties to people and what he intuitively grasps is right and wrong.

Finn’s use of inferior Introverted Sensing (Si) comes into play in the way he has no consideration for his authority as a Stormtrooper, and he has no desire to repeat what he’s learned. He’s able to extricate himself from his past much more easily than a dominant Si-user might. He’s not especially aware of the details around him, relying heavily on Poe and Rey to get him out of jams. He’s not as quick to grasp the ins and outs of machinery and systems as well as a Si-user might.

Other notable ENFPs: George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life, Po from Kung Fu Panda.

INTJ – Bruce Wayne from Christopher Nolan’s Batman Series

Bruce Wayne captures the innovative thinking and intense, goal-focused nature of the INTJ personality type. He has a very clear vision of what he’s supposed to be, what he’s supposed to do, and how he will get there. As a dominant Intuitive he uses symbolism (the bat as a symbol of fear, for example) to further his cause. He’s always considering the big picture, and can quickly and easily see how events will unfold based on the immediate situations he’s in. Nothing can deter him from accomplishing his goals and fulfilling his vision and purpose. Not R’as Al Gul, and certainly not the warnings of any other of his friends. This singular focus is one of the hallmarks of dominant Introverted Intuitives (INTJs and INFJs).

We see Wayne’s strong use of Extraverted Thinking (Te) in the way he can efficiently put aside his emotions and feelings and focus on the task at hand. Unlike a Feeling type who may have difficulty playing a part to protect someone, Wayne can masterfully hide his true feelings because of his greater purpose. He has a strong sense of logic and is excellent at delegating and organizing to get a job done as efficiently as possible.

Wayne’s inferior Extraverted Sensing (Se) shows up more in the first Batman movie: Batman Begins. He has to undergo a lot of training in order to respond in the moment in battle. His Extraverted Sensing also appears in the way he responds to stress; engaging in casual sex or acting impulsively, even if it hurts him. He’s able to develop a certain mastery of this function, but not without a lot of hard work and dedication.

Another Notable INTJ: Severus Snape from Harry Potter, Frank Castle/The Punisher.

ENTJ – Maximus Decimus Meridius from Gladiator

Maximus Meridius from Gladiator captures the strong leadership skills and intense foresight of the ENTJ personality type. He is quick and strategic in his decision-making abilities and can quickly take command of others for the better good. He doesn’t waste time and he’s extremely focused on achieving his goals, for himself and others.

We see Maximus’s strong use of Introverted Intuition (Ni) in the way he can easily foresee how events will unfold. He strategizes every action to line up with his vision of a more perfect Rome. He uses symbolism in his speech (“Rome is the light”, “There was a dream that was Rome”), and is constantly keeping his focus on the future (“What we do in life echoes in eternity”). He has a keen insight into the minds of his enemies and is able to predict their movements based on this knowledge.

We see Maximus’s inferior Feeling in the way he cares so little about the adoration and love of the crowd. His grief over the loss of his wife and son is immense, and at first he cannot determine a way to handle it. He doesn’t talk about his grief with others, and doesn’t seem outwardly emotive around other people, but his feelings and values shape many of his choices.

Other Notable ENTJs: Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max, Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy.

INTP – Neo from The Matrix

Neo is driven to understand the complexities and meanings of the universe. “What is the Matrix?” is the question that is always on his mind. He stays up all night searching for answers, and he doesn’t care how long it takes him to uncover the truth. He loves to gain new skills and to constantly expand his mind more and more; even if it doesn’t always serve a practical purpose. This patience with learning and this persistence in the pursuit of knowledge is a hallmark of Introverted Thinking types. While he’d like to know everything in a hurry, he’s not as bothered taking his time and pursuing his interests on his own. He’s not a delegator or a natural leader; he’s independent in his search for knowledge. He defies authority and comes up with rational solutions quickly, on his own.

We see Neo’s use of Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in the way he can see the potential in his environment. He comes up with creative solutions to problems and naturally questions what “is”. While a sensor might have taken the world around him for granted; Neo is able to easily see that something is not quite right in the universe. Neo’s skepticism and desperate search for the meaning behind things exemplify the INTP version of Intuition.

Neo’s inferior Extraverted Feeling becomes obvious in the way he cares deeply about his companions but is not able to vocalize or show it in a clear way. He pushes his emotions aside and seems stoic and calm on the outside. However, when push comes to shove, he will do just about anything to protect his team.

Other Notable INTPs: Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, Peter Parker/Spiderman, Yoda from Star Wars.

ENTP – Tony Stark from Iron Man

ENTPs are often called The Inventors, and you’ll find almost no greater example than Marvel’s Tony Stark. He’s quick to see possibilities and to get excited about ideas for the future. He’s given a nearly impossible task to accomplish at the beginning of the Iron Man movie, but with his quick ability to see possibilities and potential, he’s able to one-up his captors and create the perfect escape. Vocally you can see his use of Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in the way he speaks quickly, jumps from one topic to the next with ease, and finds inspiration for his ideas in the outer world.

We see Stark’s use of Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the way he is able to objectively make logical decisions without getting overwhelmed emotionally. He’s obsessed with accuracy and perfecting his Iron Man Suit; no matter how much time and modification it takes. Where Te users like to complete a project and have it ready to go quickly, Ti users are much more patient with their projects. This is one of the reasons that Ti-users may seem to procrastinate to Judging types. While a J personality type may try to push out a product in more of a hurry, and be more focused on deadlines, the Perceiver doesn’t care as much about deadlines or structure and cares more about having a full knowledge of how something works and experimenting with it to make it perfect.

Stark’s inferior Introverted Sensing (Si) is hard to see from the movie adaptations of Iron Man. We can see that Stark is always forward-thinking and tries not to focus too highly on the past. Si-users are always drawing from past experiences and have a breadth of detail stored inside their minds to draw from. Tony Stark is more concerned with future plans, future details, and responding in the current environment. However, he still uses Introverted Sensing, and this gives him the ability to remember important details as he builds, invents, and experiments.

Other Notable ENTPs: Hiro Hamada from Big Hero 6, Peter Quill from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Want to see the bad guys? Check out my posts on the villains of every Myers-Briggs® personality type.  For NF Villains, Click Here. For NT Villains, Click Here.  For SP Villains, Click Here. For SJ Villains, Click Here.

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

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