Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere)

Officer Eddie Dugan is disillusioned with the police force.  After years of service, he no longer feels his job has any effect on the crime and poverty that envelops in his city.  In his final days as an officer, Eddie has the choice to surrender and simply finish his career as a morose has-been or he can rekindle his hope and try one last time to make a difference. 

Clarence ‘Tango’ Butler (Don Cheadle)

Clarence ‘Tango’ Butler is an undercover Narcotics Officer in the NYPD.  He has spent years infiltrating the operation of “Casanova,” one of the biggest drug lords in all of New York.  Recently, Clarence has got closer to his target and discovered that despite his profession, Casanova is not only a good man, but a good friend.
 Clarence has to decide between his loyalties to a man he considers his friend and his duty as an officer of the law.

Sal Procida (Ethan Hawke)

Sal Procida is a Narcotics Officer in the NYPD.  He’s a good cop, but finding it extremely hard to provide for his wife and children.  During drug raids, Sal begins to think about boosting dirty money to improve his family’s financial situation.  Sal must make the choice of compromising his morality as a police officer in order to provide for his family.  

1 - Officer John McClane, Die Hard, 1988-2007

“Yippie-kay-yay mutha******!”He is described as being a foul-mouthed, wisecracking, no-nonsense New York cop with an itchy trigger finger, an aversion to Eurotrash terrorists, and a never-say-die spirit.  Bruce Willis as McClane holds a place in the heart of many film fans and has been the inspiration for further tough-guy movie cops.

2 - Inspector Harry Callahan, Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry, 1971

"You've got to ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" Dirty Harry provoked a critical uproar in 1971, elevating Clint Eastwood to superstar status in a role meant for Frank Sinatra.   “Dirty” Harry Callahan is a sardonic, hard-working San Francisco cop who can't finish his lunch without having to foil a bank robbery with his 44 Magnum, "the most powerful handgun in the world."

3 - Sergeant Martin Riggs, Mel Gibson, Lethal Weapon 1987-1998

The role that persuaded Franco Zefferelli that Gibson would make a great Hamlet, on paper Martin Riggs seems like your run-of-the-mill cop on the edge. Gibson did play Riggs as a wild-eyed nutcase but, armed with Shane Black's wonderful dialogue, also conveyed the desperation of a man who wants to live, but has forgotten how.

4 - Det. Alonzo Harris, Denzel Washington, Training Day, 2001

Alonzo Harris is a Narcotics Officer who sets out to be above the law to get what he needs; all he has to do is be a worse cop than any other.  Alonzo is the ultimate bad ass cop whose demeanour and reputation makes him meaner than any of L.A.’s mean streets. Alonzo keeps a firm grip on the criminals he deals with, yet doesn’t seem intent on arresting anyone.

5 - Lt. Vincent Hanna, Al Pacino, Heat, 1995

Lt. Hanna is what cops would call ‘a good operator,’ moving to LA after making a name for himself in Chicago taking down major criminals.  In his third marriage, Hanna appreciates the hard work of an able adversary.  Whip-smart and an intellectual match for Robert DeNiro’s Neil McCauley, Hanna commands attention without threat or force, making him the quiet snake in the grass for all criminals to watch out for.

6 - Chief Marge Gunderson, Frances McDormand, Fargo, 1996

Earning an Academy Award win for Best Actress, Marge Gunderson is a larger-than-life character who has been part of many “best characters of all time” movie polls.  Armed, heavily pregnant and dangerous, Marge investigates a series of homicides with a ball-busting, likeable, take-no-crap attitude.

7 - Wendell “Bud” White, Russell Crowe, LA Confidential, 1997

Officer Wendell "Bud" White is a violent 6-foot-tall brute and the most feared man in the LAPD.  He has a violent obsession with punishing woman-beaters, counterbalanced by his tenderness towards the victims.  His temper often overpowers his thought, and he is perceived as a mindless thug.  A nice thug, though.

8 - Mr Orange, Tim Roth, Reservoir Dogs, 1992

One of the bravest undercover cops seen in popular culture, Mr Orange is part of the hugely successful ensemble cast of Tarantino’s directorial debut.  Although he has been shot during the diamond heist, Mr Orange tries to save the life of a fellow innocent police officer captured by Mr Blonde.  Dying, Orange declares his undercover status to a disbelieving, gun-slinging Mr White, before being murdered. 

9 - Clarice Starling, Jodie Foster, Silence of the Lambs, 1991

Another Academy Award winning Best Actress in the list, Jodie Foster gained wide accolade playing FBI student Clarice Starling.  Starling has been ranked the sixth greatest protagonist in film history on AFI's 100 Years of 100 Heroes and Villains poll, making her the highest ranking female hero in film history.  She garners Hannibal Lecter’s mutual respect, fights for her life on numerous occasions and survives the horror, provoking Hannibal’s question, “Have the lambs stopped screaming?”

10 - Hartigan, Bruce Willis, Sin City, 2005

The only actor to be included twice in this list, Bruce Willis plays Hartigan, a good-hearted 60-year-old ex-con/ex-cop who, ironically enough, has a rather severe heart condition. Hartigan was one of the few honest and honourable cops on the Basin City Police force in Sin City, who was framed and imprisoned for the attempted rape and murder of Nancy Callahan.  Hartigan leaves prison and seeks his revenge, being the best badass cop he can be.