87. Ethan Hunt

Appearance: The Mission: Impossible series (1996–)

Creator: David Koepp, Steven Zaillian, Robert Towne

Performer: Tom Cruise

Defining moment: Hunt’s penchant for defying gravity, physics and fear reached its apotheosis in part four, with the daring climb up the side of the Burj Khalifa – aka the world’s tallest building – in Dubai.

Fascinating fact: Rumour has it that Hunt was going to die in Ghost Protocol, but the character survived due to production rewrites.

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