The most compelling fictional slackers in movie history (2024)

YouTube

At 19, trying to decide what to do post-high school graduation isn't necessarily grounds for being a slacker. That said, Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mike (Dennis Quaid) seem to have little drive for anything amid their Bloomington, Indiana surroundings in this stellar coming-of-age film from 1979. Moocher quit his car wash job seconds after starting, punching the time clock following an insult about his height from the boss. He also didn't have enough money for a marriage license. Meanwhile, bitter Mike, no longer the popular star he was in high school, was apparently canned from his job at the local A&P and liked to blame others for his current lot in life. Of course, like other buddies Dave (Dennis Christopher) and Cyril (Daniel Stern), there's potential to turn things around.

YouTube

Soon-to-be 21-year-old Will (Matt Damon) is one of the smartest humans on the planet, specifically for his ability as a mathematician. However, a rough upbringing that included enduring abuse from foster families has harbored trust issues that have kept him from reaching his potential. He's hot-tempered, volatile, and not a big fan of authority. He doesn't seem in too much of a rush to give up his life as a janitor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, drinking at the L Street Tavern and causing havoc on the streets of South Boston.

YouTube

It can be argued that the entire staff of Championship Vinyl are slackers. Then again, Rob Gordon (John Cusack) actually owns the store, so he has responsibilities in his life. On the other hand, Barry, brilliantly portrayed by Jack Black, does not seem to care about anything besides music and waking up before 11 a.m. He's crass, mean to customers who don't appreciate his specificmusical tastes andcan agitate with the best of them. As this popular Americanized film version of Nick Hornby's book goes on, we learn that Barry might have what it takes to find success as a singer. No joke. The guy can sing.

YouTube

By age 17, Doughboy (Ice Cube)had already been in jail. From a young age, it seemed his destiny. Though he was quite bright from a young age, Dough was lazy and unmotivated. His mother never thought he would amount to anything, favoring Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a star football player at Crenshaw High. Even after returning from prison, Doughboy pretty much spent his days sitting on the front porch sipping 40s. Sadly, Doughboy's lack of ambition and hot temper would lead to more trouble as tragedy fell upon the Baker family.

YouTube

From 1991, Toy Soldiersis one of the more underrated films of the 1990s. Sean Astin's Billy Tepperis the worst kind of slacker. He's smart, with plenty of potential to be a good student at the Regis School, but he's a master troublemaker. He disdains authority and tries to cause havoc nearly every chance he gets. However, when it comes to ending a hostage situation at his prep school, Billy essentially comes up with a plan to take down the bad guys and save the school. Now, we wonder if he still had to wash all those pots and pans following his heroics.

YouTube

First off, Cliff (Matt Dillon) has ambition. He aims to be the biggest rock star in the world. The only problem is that as frontman of Seattle grunge-rockers Citizen Dıck, Cliff doesn't realize how poor a musician he actually is considered (check out his forgotten demos). Cliff also holds several menial jobs, is not bright, and does not know how to install a car stereo system . However, Cliff does have a softer side and realizes the most important thing in his life is his girlfriend, Janet (Bridget Fonda), whom he takes too much for granted. For as much of a cartoon character Cliff seems to be, he's worth rooting on.

YouTube

Bender (Judd Nelson) is undoubtedly a slacker but also a bully, bad boy, and burnout. He doesn't care about school, authority, or who he offends while terrorizing the halls of Shermer High School. However, Bender, who in the text of the movie is referred to as a "criminal," also has a heart and knows he's the kind of guy who is perfect for a popular girl, like detention-mate Claire (Molly Ringwald) to bring home and get back at her parents. Nelson has played memorable roles, but this still might be his defining moment.

YouTube

Some fictional slackers are funny, and others are simply unlikeable. Then there are those who audiences can't help but root for and become beloved over time. No doubt, Duckie Dalefalls into the latter category. A poor student with a good sense of humor, Duckie (Jon Cryer) is a hopeless romantic who is in your face, quick-witted, and an outsider within the confines of the American high school. The only thing that motivates Duckie is Andie (Molly Ringwald), his best friend and the object of his obsession. He's also responsible for most of Pretty in Pink's most memorable moments.

YouTube

This won't be the first time we single out one of Seth Rogen's characters. In his little slacker world, Ben has it made : No job while still living off the financial damages he was awarded after his foot was run over by a Canadian postal truck, eating spaghetti, and smoking pot all day with his buddies in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately for Ben, that dream life turns into a potential nightmare after he gets one-stand Alison (Katherine Heigl) pregnant. It's a serious wake-up call for Ben, whom we are happy to say, gets serious about upcoming fatherhood and makes strides to turn his life around. Though, we're sure the pot intake did not stop.

YouTube

Peter (Ron Livingston) is technically not a slacker by choice. He kind of slipped into it through an occupational hypnotherapist. When the doctor dies of a heart attack during the session,Peter has his own awaking and decides he no longer wants to work at Initech. He also doesn't want to pay any bills. It's the ultimate slacker move, which earns Peter a promotion, making matters worse. He's not the most conventional slacker, but most people long to be Peter when work becomes too much to handle.

YouTube

There are plenty of slacker types in the View Askewniverse, but Brodie (Jason Lee) is one of the best and funniest. He lives in the basem*nt of his mother's house, surrounded by comic books and focused on taking the Hartford Whalers to the video-game version of the Stanley Cup. He likes to sleep late. He's foul-mouthed and unfulfilling to his girlfriend, Rene (Shannen Doherty). Oh yeah, Brodie is also obsessed with the local shopping mall: Hanging around here, yelling at parents to watch their kids on the escalator while sipping soft drinks out of a mini Dixie cup.

YouTube

There are many options to choose from Richard Linklater's celebrated indie film from 1990. However, for our money, former Būtthole Surfers drummer Teresa Taylor plays the best of the lot. Credited as "Pap Smear Pusher," her character doesn't have a big role but might be responsible for the flick's most memorable moment. First, she rambles on, in full detail, about a highway-shooting incident. Then tries to sell a pap smear of pop superstar Madonna that her Hollywood gynecologist friend sent her. "It's a material world, and I'm a material girl."

Paramount Pictures

Plenty of misfits are forced to take a remedial English summer school class, reluctantly taught by physical education teacher Mr. Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) in this classic 1987 comedy. But the most unhinged of the group are horror-film addicted, super-slacker buddies Dave (Gary Riley) and "Chainsaw" (Dean Cameron). The goal of their entire existence is to get drunk and see which can disgust the other or anybody within earshot. They essentially make Mr. Shoop's experience hell, and their antics even land him in jail. However, like the rest of the class, Shoop ultimately gets the pair to calm down and study.

YouTube

OK, it would be easy to add Dale's drug dealer buddy Saul Silver (James Franco) to make this a combo. However, Saul technically has a somewhat lucrative job and seems to enjoy his work. Sure, he's not bright, but compared to Seth Rogen's Saul, he's CEO material. Daleis lazy, lives to smoke weed, and treats his job serving subpoenas like he's auditioning for a role in some cheesy B-movie. When it comes to those actors who have seemingly mastered the art of playing a slacker, Rogen is in the Hall of Fame, even if he's outgrown such parts.

YouTube

"Seven years of college down the drain." Bluto (John Belushi)pretty much described his experience in higher education in a nutshell after he and the rest of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity were expelled from Faber College following their legendary toga party. However, Bluto's only purpose for being in college was to drink and have fun with his frat buddies. He had an impressive 0.0 grade-point average but was well known for entertaining school cafeteria eating habits. In terms of college slackers, Bluto gets straight As.

YouTube

Sonny (Adam Sandler) has it pretty good. He's a 30-something law-school graduate who never took the bar exam but lives in Manhattan thanks to a six-figure settlement from an accident involving a cab. He's a slob, works one day a week as a toll booth attendant, and hangs out with the delivery guy (Rob Schneider) from the local deli. Sounds sweet? That's until five-year-old Julian, the unknown son of his roommate Kevin (Jon Stewart), turns Sonny's life upside down — for the better. This is one of Sandler's more underrated comedic roles that's good enough to hang with the likes of Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, or Bobby Boucher.

YouTube

Another offering from director Richard Linklater and another character played by the always entertaining Jack Black. Dewey Finn lives to rock and essentially nothing else. When he gets booted from his band, he needs money to pay the rent. He turns to deception by taking on the identity of roommate Ned Schneebly(Mike White) to get a substitute teaching gig at a prep school. While there,he introduces a strait-laced classroom of students to the world of rock music and enlists them to help win a local Battle of Bands. Dewey is crass with questionable hygiene but brings out a side of the students they never thought was there.

Paramount Pictures

These legendary Saturday Night Live slackers struck gold on the big screen with two massively popular Wayne's World movies. The persona of Wayne (Mike Myers), who lives in his mother's Aurora, Ill., basem*nt, hangs out at a donut shop, plays street hockey, and drives around listening to Queen with other head-banging friends like Garth (Dana Carvey), is undoubtedly slacker-worthy. Yet, they have their cable-access TV show, which is pretty impressive. As we see, the pair is poised for bigger and better exposure and success.

YouTube

One more moment of brilliance from Richard Linklater, this time from his breakthrough 1993 movie. David Wooderson might be the most relatable fictional slacker of all time. Plenty of high schools had or have that one graduate in his 20s but still hangs out at high school parties. That's Wooderson (in Matthew McConaughey's breakout role), who apparently works for "the city" but seems fine with his current situation of "L-I-V-I-N."WhileWooderson can certainly be described as a rather creepy figure to some, he remains quite the stoner/slacker icon.

YouTube

For most of his existence within the confines of Kevin Smith's Clerks saga, Randal (Jeff Anderson) is a slacker who doesn't have much use for anything other than hockey, Star Wars movies, p*rn, and tearing into his customers. Whether doing a terrible job working at RST Video, Quick Stop, or Mooby's. He's rather unlikable and treats buddy Dante (Brian O'Halloran) with little respect. Though, as time goes on, it's also apparent, once we get past the insults and profanity, that perhaps the only thing he does care about is Dante.

YouTube

When it comes to the quintessential 1990s, fictional Gen-X slacker, Troy (Ethan Hawke) could be the poster boy. With college behind him, Troy seems aimless. He has potential as a guitarist but struggled to hold a series of menial jobs. Meanwhile, he spends a good chunk of his days lounging around, smoking weed as a lazy house guest of friends Lelaina(Winona Ryder) and Vickie (Janeane Garofalo).He has a thing for Lelaina but would rather annoy her than pursue a relationship. However, that changes following a family tragedy.

Miramax Films

Whether talking about the Clerks series, Mallrats, Dogma, Chasing Amy, and even their own feature films (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back; Jay and Silent Bob Reboot), foul-mouthed Jay (Jason Mewes) and tubby sidekick Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) have earned almost icon status within comedy. While their goofiness and rather lucrative business selling weed and making money off their comic book likeness encompass their worlds, the guys have managed to offer some wisdom and sentimental moments over time, whether hanging outside the Quick Stop, inside the Eden Prairie Mall, or at Mooby's.

Orion Pictures; De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

Slacker metalheadsBill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves)have been going strong since the late 1980s. They've come quite far from the high school misfits, in danger of not graduating for wasting too much time knocking around San Dimas, Calif., and trying to earn success with their band, Wyld Stallyns. However, their music could very well form some utopian society in the future, thrusting Bill and Ted into the role of time travelers. While the initial premise still seems quite ridiculous, the duo remains a pop culture icon, and the three movies have grossed more than $85 million worldwide.

YouTube

Jeff Spicoli might be the ultimate film stoner, but he's a true slacker at heart. Spicoli (exceptionally played by Sean Penn, who literally got into the role) seems to be living in his own world dominated by dope, surfing, video games, and ordering pizza while in class. School is an afterthought to Spicoli, who only attends for social purposes. He also has no time for a job; he only needs "some tasty waves (and) a cool buzz."Finally, Spicoli does not have a care in the world, and that's something to admire. Nothing bothers him until he's faced with not graduating from Ridgemont High.

Gramercy Pictures; PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

He's "The Dude." Or, if one prefers, "His Dudeness," "Duder," or "El Duderino." A product of the Coen brothers from this 1998 cult classic comedy and the true definition of a slacker. "The Dude" (in Jeff Bridges' most recognizable role) lounges around most of the day in shorts, boxers, a robe, or an oversized bottom-down sweater. His only known form of identification is a grocery card, and he's a fantastic bowler. Much like the aforementioned Wooderson, Lebowski just wants to live his casual life, but that takes a hit when he's attacked and beaten while mistaken for a millionaire with the same last name. From there, The Dude's life is turned upside down, but he manages to remain quite calm with help from some liquid assistance. He's the one guy who makes slacking seem pretty cool.