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2024 has been another incredible year for cinema, with many iconic characters captivating audiences and sparking conversations.
A new study by QR Code Generator sought to uncover which movie characters dominated in popularity this year, based on the monthly Google searches made for characters featured in 2024 releases.
Topping the list is everyone’s favorite mischievous demon, Beetlejuice, who saw a massive revival in popularity thanks to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. With an impressive 2.3 million average monthly searches, the spooky specter dominated the ranking.
In second place, with two million monthly Google searches, is Deadpool. Back for a highly anticipated team-up in Deadpool & Wolverine, the wise-cracking antihero also sparked viral moments, including the NSYNC ‘Bye Bye Bye’ dance that took the internet by storm.
Top 15 influential movie characters from 2024 movie releases
Joining his co-star in popularity, Wolverine is the third most-Googled character with 986,000 monthly searches. The enduring popularity of this iconic mutant was reignited by his return alongside Deadpool in their first on-screen collaboration.
The Monster King, Godzilla, came in fourth with 762,000 monthly Google searches following his epic showdown in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. His colossal presence continues to fascinate audiences in the US and across the globe.
Claiming fifth place is Furiosa, with 691,000 monthly Google searches. As the latest entry in the Mad Max franchise, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga introduced a younger version of the fearless warrior, portrayed by Anna Taylor-Joy.
Moana, the beloved Motunui princess, sailed into sixth place with 614,000 monthly searches. Moana 2, released over Thanksgiving weekend, brought fans a story of adventure and self-discovery that resonated with audiences young and old.
Another antihero, Venom, made the list in seventh place with 569,000 monthly searches. The third installment of the franchise, Venom: The Last Dance, saw the symbiote return to cinemas.
Joker took the eighth spot with 521,000 monthly searches. In Joker: Folie à Deux, this infamous character returned with a musical twist, showcasing a fresh and unique take on the iconic villain that sparked widespread intrigue and conversation.
Everyone’s favorite kung-fu-fighting panda, Po, ranked ninth. With 471,000 monthly searches, the Dragon Warrior made a triumphant return in Kung Fu Panda 4, delivering laughter to audiences of all ages.
In tenth place, secret agent Argylle left a mark on audiences, whether they enjoyed the movie of the same name or not, with 456,000 monthly searches.
Gaming icon Sonic raced into eleventh place with 344,000 monthly searches. The blue hedgehog returned to the big screen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, reigniting nostalgia for longtime fans while capturing new audiences alike.
Harley Quinn ranked twelfth with 336,000 monthly searches. As the other half of Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga’s portrayal of the infamous antiheroine brought her back into the spotlight.
In thirteenth place is Anxiety, the nervous emotion residing in Riley’s head in Inside Out 2. With 162,000 monthly searches, this relatable new character struck a chord with audiences, symbolizing the struggles of growing up and navigating complex emotions.
Garfield, with 155,000 monthly searches, ranked fourteenth. The iconic lazy cat made his cinematic return in The Garfield Movie, with Chris Pratt voicing.
Finally, in fifteenth place is Kraven, with 145,000 monthly searches. The latest Marvel Comics character to make his big screen debut in Kraven the Hunter has intrigued audiences, offering a new perspective on the supervillain.
Marc Porcar, the CEO of QR Code Generator commented on the results saying: “This year’s results highlight how deeply audiences connect with movie characters, not just their role in stories but also for the cultural conversations they inspire.
“Characters like Beetlejuice, Deadpool and Moana thrive on nostalgia and franchise loyalty, while others, like Furiosa and Kraven, spark intrigue by offering fresh takes or new narratives within beloved universes.
“Interestingly, the buzz around these characters doesn’t always stem from universal acclaim; for some like Argylle the attention may arise from divisive opinions and negative reviews. This demonstrates how polarizing a character or movie can still result in cultural relevance and online searches.
“As we look ahead to 2025, it will be fascinating to see which characters resonate with audiences. Will it be the return of iconic figures, the introduction of entirely new faces, or perhaps unexpected underdogs? One thing is clear: our love for exploring, debating, and celebrating movie characters remains as strong as ever.”
Methodology: Monthly average search volume data was taken from Ahrefs Keywords Explorer based on Google searches over the last 12 months to reveal the rankings. The search volume was calculated and then used to rank the characters from the highest number of average monthly searches to lowest.
Search volume accurate as of December 2nd 2024. Search terms included ‘[character name]’ or ‘[character name] [movie].’ Some names of characters were combined with their movie title to generate genuine searches.
