Inside Hookclaims the original himbos began with characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and Sylvester Stallone. The über tough guy, who became a symbol for fanboys as a more attainable hero, was birthed in action films. Not surprisingly, the himbo has evolved within the action genre and comes in varieties. AsThe Washington Postoutlines, the “himbo erectus” are all muscle with no interest in romance, whereas the “himbeau sapiens” are chauvinistic tough guys. The true flexibility of the “himbo” is in movies and TV shows, where he begins as a joke but grows to be a wholesome and lovable character.
Update August 13, 2025: This list has been updated with even more great himbos from film and television.
A “himbo” is typically large, beefy, and relatively handsome but friendly. Across movies and TV shows, the himbo is the muscle and, typically, not the sharpest tool in the shed. One way the himbo is humanized is by pairing them with an organized love interest or a crotchety best friend. Whomever the himbo is paired with, their partnership makes them tolerable. Typically, the himbo has a moment (in movies) or a handful of moments (in TV) where they prove they’re smarter than assumed. After they prove themselves, they are taken a little more seriously. These are the best himbos in movies and TV shows.
15Johnny Storm — Fantastic Four (2005)
The younger brother of Sue Storm, Johnny’s body was altered by a blast of radiation from the sun that allowed him to voluntarily set his body on fire. In his first superhero role, in 2005’sFantastic Four,Chris Evans portrayedthe youngest member of Marvel’s First Family, well, marvelously. Johnny Storm is a classic chauvinist. Additionally, he is the team prankster and risk-taker. Once he receives his powers, he does everything to avoid boredom, including showing off for attention. These risks often result in Johnny being on TV or surrounded by the women he objectifies.
14Kyojuro Rengoku — Demon Slayer
The three main characteristics of a himbo is that they are buff, kind, and a little dumb. Well, that description matches perfectly withDemon Slayeranime’s fire hashira Kyojuro Rengoku. The fans only got to see him for one season, but within that time, he was able to win all our hearts. Rengoku was a man of immense bravery and one of the kindest and sweetest people in the anime. He had a big and bright personality that everyone loved and sometimes seemed a little dumb. He was one of the strongest hashiras and taught Tanjiro and the gang a lot during their brief encounter. His death was truly heartbreaking for everyone, and we can definitely say that this mama’s boy is one of the most beloved anime himbos of all time.
13Andy Dwyer — Parks and Recreation
InParks and Recreation, Andy begins as an innocent but dopey boyfriend to Ann, whom he takes advantage of quite frequently. In fact, Andy was originally meant to be Ann’s deadbeat boyfriend for one season, but the writers enjoyedChris Pratt’s performanceso much they kept him on the show. Andy becomes ambitious in later seasons due to his wife April’s encouragement, but he remains off base in many social situations. Despite not connecting all the dots, Andy’s childlike excitement about life makes him one of the most beloved himbos on TV.
12Troy Barnes — Community
Played by Donald Glover, the belovedCommunitycharacter Troy Barnes is as himbo as a himbo could be. He is buff, really dumb, very nice, and moreover, he respects women. That is a himbo quality that some of them tend to lack, but not Troy. One of the best things about Troy is his character arc in the show. He started the series as a jock and kind of a jerk who was really scared to let go of his high school persona. But over time, he became one of the best characters in the show and definitely one of the sweetest.
11Kronk — The Emperor’s New Groove
As the right-hand man to Yzma, the Emperor’s advisor, Kronk is very dedicated to her, despite her verbal abuse. ThroughoutThe Emperor’s New Groove, he often seems out to sea, especially when the plan to murder Kuzco goes awry, and his main concern is the dinner he made getting cold. Kronk nevertheless gets to prove himself a couple of times in the film. First, he takes over a restaurant kitchen with ease, though it did stall Yzma’s pursuit of Kuzco, and his final redemption comes when Kuzco makes him head chef and the leader of the Squirrel Scouts.
10Kim Geon-Woo — Bloodhounds
The character of Kim Geon-woo is proof that a himbo can be present anywhere, even in a serious drama likeBloodhounds.In the Netflix series, Kim Geon-woo is a former marine and a boxer who is as gentle and nice as they come. His killer punch is strong, but his moral compass is stronger. Not only is he buff and nice, he is such a good person that it can be borderline dumb sometimes. Thankfully, Woo-jin, his friend and senior is there to keep him on his toe. Geon-woo is not only a mama’s boy through and through, but also respects the women around him, making him a true himbo action hero.
9Jason Mendoza — The Good Place
The ultimate Florida Man inThe Good Place, and the former Jacksonville resident, Jason Mendoza brings distraction in the form of a Molotov cocktail, causing distressful but necessary chaos to his friends in the afterlife. Jason is not the brightest, especially where logic is needed. This Molotov cocktail-loving himbo redeemed himself several times in the afterlife and once when he was back on earth. Of course, his biggest redemption moment comes when he saves everyone from being obliterated.
8Scott Lang - MCU
Played by Paul Rudd, the character of Scott Lang/ Antman is one of the himbo-est characters in the entire MCU. He is sweet, strong, loving, and just here to have a good time. We cannot say that Scott Lang is entirely dumb, but he appears to be lacking a few IQ points in several situations. But he is a beloved character. He tries to build a relationship with his daughter, and we see that he is a really great father. If you watch MCU movies, you cannot help but love Scott Lang and his antics, even though you will be frustrated with him from time to time, making him a perfect himbo.
7Rambo — First Blood
One of the reasons the himbo exists, and why action films are so beloved, is because of Sylvester Stallone’s characters — in particular, his portrayal of Rambo inFirst Blood. The film is based on David Morrell’s novel of the same title and follows a Green Beret Vietnam Veteran. Rambo is an expert at guerrilla warfare, knife-fighting, and hand-to-hand combat. He is also a stealth master and survivalist.
Essentially, he is set apart from other himbos due to his knowledge of various languages. Rambo is a tragic himbo, one suffering from PTSD. While later films would make him more a cartoon action hero, it is worth remembering the first film painted him as a tragic figure.
6Kevin Beckman — Ghostbusters (2016)
When Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Erin (Kristen Wiig), Jillian (Kate McKinnon), and Patty (Leslie Jones) started their Ghostbusters business in 2016’s rebootGhostbusters, they realized they needed a secretary. Their vacancy was filled by aspiring actor Kevin Beckman (Chris Hemsworth). Though his hiring was solely because Erin had a crush on him, he spent most of his time preoccupied with choosing headshots. Unlike other himbos, Kevin doesn’t necessarily redeem himself as he becomes possessed and wreaks havoc on the city. Even though he survives the possession, he remains virtually unchanged and goes to a deli to get a sandwich.
