No hero’s journey is complete without a mentor to guide them (partially) along the way. With some of the most quotable lines in cinema, mentors span a wide range of grumpiness, wisdom, oddity, and sincerity. Most mentors live only long enough to pass the torch of responsibility onto their successors that either begin their quest or serve as an emotional gut-punch in the hero’s darkest hour.
With many a mentor to choose from and not nearly enough well-written women, these are some of the most memorable for their time on screen and what sagely advice their wisdom still brings to generations of film fans.
Yoda – Star Wars Franchise
With as massive a franchise as Star Wars is, with books, games, films, and cartoons, it has more than one iconic mentor. Yoda made his debut in The Empire Strikes Back and from that point onward, his jumbled syntax and oddball personality have been adored by fans with every reappearance he makes.
“Do, or do not, there is no try,” has transcended the Star Wars canon, emboldening his students to succeed or fail with no middle ground of ambiguity. Within the Prequels and other media, Yoda serves as a voice of reason on the Jedi council and with his cameo in The Last Jedi, remains wiser than them all.
Aslan – The Chronicles of Narnia
That he is a very thinly veiled metaphor for the Christian God matters little within the context of Narnia’s overarching story. Liam Neeson brings a refined depth to the character’s voice as old as the world itself. The Great Lion serves as a mysterious force for much of the three films, as well as a rallying point for the Pevensie siblings and their allies.
Like many mentors of fantasy, Aslan is the center point of a heartbreaking sacrifice and eventual revival. Aslan’s message is a simple but powerful one: “Courage, dear heart,” in the face of loss and adversity and terrifying odds and to never lose faith, whether that means in a higher power or oneself.
Obi-Wan Kenobi – Star Wars Franchise
Originally serving as little more than a vessel of exposition in A New Hope, Kenobi has a rich history within the franchise films and beyond. Kenobi is played most famously by Alec Guinness and Ewan McGreggor. He came back as a force ghost, then near single-handedly carried the prequels as the one Jedi all others should aspire to be. Appearing again in Cartoon Network’s The Clone Wars and other TV shows, Kenobi finally has the chance to shine as the protagonist in his upcoming series on Disney +.
Kenobi lives up to the ideals he espouses, unshakably bound to the Light despite so much loss in his life. Both humble and witty and deeply respectful of his students and subordinates and a powerful Jedi universally loved by fans, Kenobi is the friend, brother, and mentor all deserve to have.
Charles Xavier – X-Men Franchise
Another mentor audiences got to see both young and old, Charles Xavier is the leader of the X-Men and a mentor in life, and in the classroom. A devout believer in mutant equality and the goodwill of humanity, Xavier pushes his students to their limits to achieve the best they can be.
“Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever,” and Xavier himself is shown to speak from experience. Sir Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy bring his wise older self and rugged younger years to life in vivid color, guiding generations of X-Men and fans to never give up on themselves.
Mary Poppins – Mary Poppins
“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” and it’s more than just a catchy tune. Julie Andrews’ Mary Poppins brings the same excitable sense of fun and adventure she did in The Sound of Music to a pair of siblings in need of it. Poppins is hired to be a strict and stern nanny, and instead takes the Banks children under her care on a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventure.
Less a message to look for the silver lining and more to take a bad situation and find a way to make it easier to handle, it’s as important to the Banks kids as it is to every kid (and adult) watching and singing along.
Gandalf the Grey – The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit
Departing slightly from his appearance in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books as more a more goal-oriented guiding hand, Gandalf serves as a beacon of hope and well of sagely wisdom for all of Middle Earth. Initially falling to an assumed tragic demise in Fellowship of the Ring, where most modern mentors would bow out, Gandalf returns stronger than ever to ensure the victory of Tolkien’s heroes and the dawn of a new age in Middle Earth.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us,” is one of many of Gandalf’s bouts of comforting advice to brave against the uncertainty and evil of Mordor, and beyond. Whether he’s guiding a future king to his throne or uplifting the hearts of Hobbits uncertain of their place in the chaos, Gandalf is the great archetypical mentor for the ages.
Morpheus – The Matrix Trilogy
Red pill or Blue? Laurence Fishburne poses the iconic question as Morpheus, the rebel leader and captain of the Nebuchadnezzar in one of the most influential sci-fi films of all time. On a quest to free enslaved humans from the false reality of the Matrix, Morpheus becomes a teacher and mentor to Neo (Keanu Reeves), “The One” prophesized to save them all.
He pushes, but does not direct, teaching Neo how to defend himself and how to understand the Matrix and all the lies he’s been led to believe. Morpheus serves as a unique mentor in that he gives Neo the choice to turn back, free of consequence, because the lesson is in taking control of one’s life and what circumstance has set out for it.
Mr. Miyagi – The Karate Kid
Similar to Yoda, the methods behind Mr. Miyagi’s (Pat Morita) madness are not clear at first. When caught in the middle of a bullying incident between protagonist Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and a band of Cobra Kai students led by Jonny Lawrence (William Zabka), Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel the martial art forms of karate so that he may best the snooty students of Cobra Kai in an undisputable victory.
Miyagi’s unorthodox teachings that Daniel initially dismisses end up making him a prolific karate student. More than that, his insistence of winning with discipline and honor instead of petty revenge make victory that much sweeter, and it begins with the humblest of tasks: “Wax on, wax off.”
Auguste Gusteau – Ratatouille
Ratatouille is already one of Pixar’s finest films, from its animation and music to its phenomenal story and characters. One in particular, Chef Auguste Gusteau, is a rather unique mentor, as he spends the entire film a figment of protagonist Remy’s imagination. With the added character depth of all Gusteau’s advice being courage and knowledge that Remy gives himself, the film’s central theme is cemented between the two of them.
“Anyone can cook,” comes to mean more than what critic Anton Ego proclaims as a dismissal of any skill or talent needed to succeed. Gusteau’s catchphrase means instead what Ego realizes, that “not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.” Whether that means a lowly rat, or anyone who faces discrimination in their craft, Gusteau’s is a lesson anyone can learn from.
Sean Maguire – Good Will Hunting
Robin Williams could fill his own list with mentor figures, and chief among them is Sean Maguire. Good Will Hunting follows Will (Matt Damon), a troubled genius of a student under the tutelage of Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård) to avoid jail time, with the caveat of accepting therapy. Will’s therapist, played by Williams, is initially as abrasive and uncooperative as Will is, until the two break each other’s walls down and learn of the tragedies they have in common.
Maguire’s, “It’s not your fault,” scene in particular, in effort to convince Will that the abuse he’s suffered as a child is neither just punishment nor due to his own actions, is nothing short of raw, heartfelt emotion. Among millions who suffer domestic abuse, Maguire’s quiet insistence is one far too many need to hear.