There are many characters in Peter Jackson’s epic, award-winning fantasy trilogy but the best Lord of the Rings characters rise above the rest. Adapted from the classic novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, the three Lord of the Rings films tell the story of Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy Sauron’s ring of power in the fires of Mount Doom. The movies went on to earn nearly $3 billion dollars at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) and earned 30 Academy Award nominations, winning 17, including Best Picture for the final film, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, a rare feat for a fantasy movie.

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The best Lord of the Rings characters are excellent adaptations of their counterparts who appear on the pages of the novels. There are hundreds of names in Tolkien’s legendarium and Jackson makes an effort in his movies to include the most significant figures so as to paint the important motivations in the plot while not bogging down the storytelling. Every character who appears in the movies is well-acted, explained, and depicted. Even so, there is a distinct set of characters who make the biggest impact and bring the most action, heart, and drama to the Lord of the Rings franchise.

10 Saruman

Saruman is beloved villain in Lord of the Rings because of Christopher Lee’s menacing performance as the powerful wizard. Saruman the White was once the head of the White Council, but his mind was eventually corrupted by Sauron, and he turned against those he was supposed to protect. Saruman is exceedingly intelligent and his ability to control the minds of others with his words is a sinister and unique power. Lee’s booming voice and formidable gravitas serve the character exceptionally well, making Saruman one of the best Lord of the Rings characters. It’s never hard to understand why the forces of good fear his turn to evil so much.

9 Éowyn

Éowyn (Miranda Otto) is one of the few female Lord of the Rings characters in the franchise. In Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Éowyn dresses as a man to join in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and strikes the killing blow on the Witch-King of Angmar. Éowyn is one of the purest examples of bravery in the Lord of the Rings, as she fights against evil on the field and even in her own hall against Saruman. As shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn represents stability, strength, and an unwillingness to bend in the face of evil, a particularly admirable trait as she has every opportunity to stay behind and avoid the threats.

8 Merry And Pippin

Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are a double act in Lord of the Rings and their separation in The Return of the King serves to show their closeness by revealing how lost they are without each other. They have one of the greatest bromances in Lord of the Rings, starting the journey setting off fireworks and ending it as the first to follow Aragorn at the Black Gates. The hobbits also serve as much-needed comic relief throughout the movies. Their arc, from vegetable thieves to warriors in great battles, is important to show that everyone who left the Shire changed, not just Sam and Frodo.

7 Frodo

Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is arguably one of the most important Lord of the Rings characters. He has to carry the burden of the Ring throughout the trilogy and the balance of good and evil hangs on the completion of his task. The weight of his quest nearly overcomes him at multiple points, but he still soldiers on. One of the major themes of Lord of the Rings is that even the smallest person can have the most profound effect on their world. Frodo exemplifies this and also serves as the crucial statement that even succeeding in a dangerous task can leave scars that are not easily healed.

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6 Gimli

Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) the Dwarf is one of the fiercest Lord of the Rings characters and a loyal friend, particularly to Legolas, whom he begins at odds with before eventually softening to him. Their back-and-forth is a joy to watch and helps bring some much-needed levity to the Lordo f the Rings films. Gimli is more than just comic relief, however, and is as fearsome as any warrior. He threatens horse lords, cave trolls, a king of the dead, and more, all in the name of saving Middle-earth. His crudeness is a welcome change of pace from the occasionally stifling gallantry of his fellows.

5 Samwise

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) stands out as one of the greatest hobbits in Lord of the Rings. He might not be among the wisest or the strongest Lord of the Rings characters, but what he does bring is heart. Sam is a hero in the truest sense of the word, facing much larger dangers and standing up to enemies far beyond what is expected of him. He’s arguably the most trustworthy character in the franchise, and one of the few to resist the temptations of the One Ring. Sam is Frodo’s rock and therefore the rock of the Middle-earth people.

4 Gollum

The motion-capture performance from Andy Serkis alone makes Gollum one of the greatest Lord of the Rings characters in the trilogy. His finding of the Ring twisted him into a low and vile creature, obsessed with “his precious”. Gollum’s role in the story is to be a mirror held to Frodo. All throughout his journey, Frodo has to confront what could happen to him if he refuses to let go of the Ring at Mount Doom. Gollum is the living testament of how a bearer’s willpower is sapped by the evil within, and Frodo’s hopes of saving him are a reflection of his hope to save himself.

3 Gandalf

The most intelligent member of the LOTR Fellowship, and also one of the kindest, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and as a wizard, its most powerful ally. Gandalf is known throughout Middle-earth for his smarts, leadership, and advice. When Gandalf the Grey perishes and Gandalf the White resurrects, the Lord of the Rings character becomes an even more potent force against evil. Gandalf’s effect on those who trust him is immediately apparent. He inspires kings and brings hope to the forlorn. Without him, Frodo may not have had the strength to continue on and Minas Tirith may have fallen.

2 Legolas

Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is one of the most beloved Lord of the Rings characters by fans of the trilogy. Hailing from the Woodland Realm, Legolas is a legendary warrior and perhaps the most dangerous member of the Fellowship, save Gandalf. Legolas rarely speaks but when he does, it’s to inspire his friends or simply ease tension with his barbs toward Gimli. Lord of the Rings takes place during the Third Age of Middle-earth, where Men rule, and the Elves are leaving for the West. Legolas serves as a reminder of the once-great power of the Elves and how they defeated Sauron in the first place.

1 Aragorn

While the movies are ostensibly about Frodo, Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) story is nearly as important. This Lord of the Rings character is from the line of Kings of Gondor; his blood is royal, and yet he suspects there’s weakness in it because of his ancestor Isildur’s mistake. Sauron wants to end the Age of Men, and Aragorn is the last person who can unite Men against him. Frodo’s victory is one of good over an “other” evil. Aragorn’s is a victory over the base evil present in humans themselves, and his ability to overcome his own doubts and inspire others to overcome theirs is critical to the story.