1

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)

Image: superneox lightsaber

Luke Skywalker is one of pop culture’s most beloved icons. In the first "Star Wars" movie, this young man goes from a life of solitude and safe boredom to a wondrous journey filled with lasers and space magic. Luke not only finds invaluable friends, mentors, and comrades, but he also discovers the purpose he has been looking for his entire life.

Mark Hamill portrayed this character for over 40 years, from his days as a young Jedi apprentice in 1977 "A New Hope", to Luke’s last days as a wise hermit in 2017 "The Last Jedi". You would think that being typecast for such a long time would discourage Hamil, but the actor seems to always be happy to portray Luke on the big screen.

2

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)

Image: Colton Jones

Indiana Jones proved to an entire generation that archaeologists can be cool too! Harrison Ford first brought this iconic adventurer to life in the 1981 classic "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and continued to portray him for 4 more films, with the last one in the series (so far) being released in 2023.

Indiana is instantly recognizable through his wide-brimmed fedora, his trusted whip, and his quick-witted sense of humor. There’s not much we can say about this character that’s not already common knowledge, so we’ll end this entry with a less-known fact: Did you know that Indy’s full name is Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr?

3

Superman (Christopher Reeve)

Image: Jon Tyson

While up to date over 13 actors have portrayed " the Man of Steel " on film since the character’s creation in 1938, a pretty strong argument could be made that Christopher Reeve’s performance in the 1978 movie "Superman" truly brought this iconic superhero to life.

Reeve was just perfect for the part: He effortlessly brought a level of nuance and depth to Superman while still maintaining the warmth and disposition that made him a pop culture icon. In the end, Reeve is able to show us that, just like every American hero, Superman’s main source of strength is his heart.

4

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox)

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Marty McFly , the quick-witted and hot-headed protagonist of the "Back to the Future" trilogy, was meant to represent a typical American teenager. And yet, Marty is by all means definitively way cooler than the average teenager: He is charismatic, an amazing guitar player (so much so that he "invented" rock n’ roll), and extremely proficient with his trusted skateboard.

Much of Marty’s legacy as a pop icon can be attributed to Michael J. Fox’s performance. This amazing actor was able to portray Marty’s coolness as well as his bravery, sensitivity, and daredevil ways. Almost 40 years have passed since the release of the first "Back to the Future", but most of us still get goosebumps whenever we see Marty and his iconic Delorean speeding up through time.

5

Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)

Image: Diego Marín

Few sci-fi characters inspire the awe and admiration that Ellen Ripley does. The very first movie in the Alien series depicts her as a cool-headed and strategic leader, who almost single-handedly manages to defeat one of the deadliest creatures in the universe.

As the films went on, Ripley’s guts and strength continued to grow, saving the Earth from a full-blown alien invasion on at least three different occasions. Portrayed by legendary actress Sigourney Weaver, Ripley is to this day considered to be one of the toughest characters in this genre’s history.

6

John McClane (Bruce Willis)

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Is John McClane the ultimate action hero? That’s definitively a heated debate, so it might be better to set that question aside for another article. However, no one can deny that Bruce Willis’ character in this groundbreaking series is one of the finest cops the NYPD has to offer.

Based on a character from the 1979 novel "Nothing Lasts Forever", John McClane is a sarcastic, wisecracking, and particularly skilled detective who finds himself in dangerous situations in which he is forced to single-handedly save the day. Willis has played McClane in five different films, which go from the original 1988 film to 2013’s "A Good Day to Die Hard".

7

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)

Image: Yosuke Ota

Some believe that Forrest Gump is the quintessential American protagonist, and with good reason: Whether it's his huge heart or a random stroke of luck, Forrest seems to always be at the right place at the right time. Not only that, but his personal story seems to be directly connected to major turning points during the latter half of the 20th century.

Portrayed by Tom Hanks in an outstanding performance that earned him an Academy Award, Forrest Gump is a simple-minded but warmhearted and extremely talented Alabama man who lives an extraordinary life. His search for his childhood love takes him on a journey throughout American history: Forrest teaches Elvis how to dance, helps expose the Watergate Scandal, and runs a three-year marathon across the United States.

8

The Man With No Name (Clint Eastwood)

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Let’s start this entry by addressing the elephant in the room: Yes, Clint Eastwood’s iconic cowboy character does have a name. In fact, he has several: In the three movies this laid-back and quiet gunslinger appears, he is called by several names including "Blondie", "Joe", and "Manco". However, the truth of the matter is that a man with many names is the same as a man with none, so in the end "The Man with No Name" seems like an appropriate title.

Eastwood played this taciturn antihero in "A Fistful of Dollars", "For a Few Dollars More", and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." While his most notable characteristic is his silent manners, he is also instantly recognizable by his poncho and tan cowboy boots.

9

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)

Image: Zane Burko

Rocky’s story, both inside and outside the movie set, can be summed up into a single word: Resilience. In the first film, released in 1976, Rocky is an up-and-coming club boxer who risks it all at a shot at the heavyweight title. Likewise, Sylvester Stallone was a financially broke actor when he wrote the screenplay for "Rocky" in just three days. However, he resisted and persevered with his intent of playing the titular character, which eventually resulted in his most iconic movie role.

After the first movie became a huge hit, winning the Oscar for Best Picture, Stallone reprised this Philadelphia boxer in six different "Rocky" films. Not only that, Balboa has now taken on a mentor role in the franchise’s spin-off series "Creed".

10

Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart)

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We’ll end this article with an American legend. The 1942 film " Casablanca " is now considered one of the most influential films of all time: It is consistently on the top of lists of the best films in history, and it was selected for preservation by the U.S. Congress in the National Film Registry. In that regard, much of what made this film so unforgettable comes from Humphrey Bogart’s performance as Rick Blaine, a cynical American expatriate with a heart of gold living in Casablanca, Morocco.

Alongside Detective Sam Spade, Rick is perhaps Bogart's most iconic character. His seemingly bitter persona hides the pain of his long-lost love Ilsa Lund, wonderfully portrayed by Ingrid Bergman. In the end, Boggart helps Ilsa and her husband escape the German army, showing his good nature before leaving Casablanca.

1

"Louisiana Rain" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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Iconic musician Tom Petty included this bittersweet track in his third album with the Heartbreakers, titled "Damn the Torpedoes". This 1979 track tells the story of a heartbroken narrator walking down the streets of an undisclosed Louisiana city.

Petty’s slightly scruffy voice goes perfectly with the song’s melancholic and slow tempo. The song’s sliding guitars and harmonica solos provide an amazing background for the song’s thoughtful lyrics, where Petty sings "may never be the same" when he reaches Baton Rouge.

2

"Montana Song" by Hank Williams Jr

Image: Michael Bourgault

While he was born in Louisiana, musician and songwriter Hank Williams Jr. seems to have a place in his heart for the unparalleled beauty of "the Treasure State" . After all, the lyrics to his 1975 track "Montana Song" speak about a lonesome man "going to Montana to rest my soul".

While Williams’ song definitively centers on the heartbreak the narrator feels after losing "that special someone", it is nearly impossible not to picture Montana’s snowy peaks and cold beauty when listening to this song.

3

"Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits

Image: Manisha Raghunath

We have included a fair share of songs about failing relationships in this article, so why don’t we provide some balance with this song about two lovers separated by the Hudson River? When Tom Waits wrote this song for his 1980s album "Heartattack and Vine", he was thinking of his future wife Kathleen Brennan, who, at the time, was living in New Jersey.

While the song is definitively slow-paced and melancholic, it is refreshing to hear Tom Waits’ ragged voice play the part of a man in love. In an interview, Waits admitted, "I never thought I would catch myself saying 'sha la la' in a song".

4

"New Hampshire" by Sonic Youth

Image: Suraj Gattani

Perhaps the most experimental song in this list, this 2004 track by rock band Sonic Youth features a myriad of electric guitars intertwined with singer Thurston Moore’s voice. "New Hampshire" goes from distorted rock riffs to more expansive and melodic interludes, all the while guided by a slow-paced beat.

The song’s lyrics describe the adventures of Steve and Joe, "the New Hampshire boys", and how they went "beyond/ Doing it for life". While the true meaning of the lyrics is enigmatic, many believe they refer to musicians Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, who met in New Hampshire and formed the band Aerosmith.

5

"New Mexico" by Johnny Cash

Image: Maddy Baker

If there’s one person in this list that needs no introduction, that’s the "Man in Black" . Johnny Cash’s song about "The Land of Enchantment", aptly named "New Mexico", tells the story of a young man from the town of Griffin traveling to this state for a summer job. Johnny’s characteristic deep voice narrates the prospect of a "pleasant summer out in New Mexico".

However, this is the point at which the narrator stops singing the praises of this state and instead narrates the perils and hardships he experienced in "the God-forsaken country they call New Mexico". Nevertheless, we all know that the parts of this song that describe the beauty of this state are a much more accurate representation of the real New Mexico.

6

"New York, New York" By Frank Sinatra

Image: Florian Wehde

This is perhaps the most famous song in this list. Everyone who has ever stepped into New York City, from the grumpy locals to the tourists dazzled by the lights of Times Square, has hummed this Frank Sinatra song at least once in their lifetime.

While it's true that the legendary Liza Minelli was the first one to perform "New York, New York" (as part of the soundtrack for the 1977 Scorsese film of the same name), Sinatra’s rendition is definitively the quintessential version of this song. His dulcet yet powerful voice perfectly describes the sense of wonder most people feel when they see New York City for the first time.

7

"Oklahoma Morning" by Charley Pride

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There’s a lot to be said about this love letter to "The Sooner State", but Charley Pride can definitively say it better when he sings "That Oklahoma mornin' / Puts Oklahoma sunshine in my soul". This country song is truly a beloved homage to Oklahoma and is one of the many reasons why this iconic singer was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

While the music and Pride’s voice are definitively remarkable, perhaps the true beauty of this song can be found in the lyrics: They perfectly describe the yellow sun and placid warmth of an Oklahoma morning before stating, "There ain't nothin' like an Oklahoma mornin'".

8

"Ohio" by The Black Keys

Image: Ben Shbeeb

Both members of the American rock duo The Black Keys were born and raised in Akron, Ohio, so it seems only natural that they felt the need to record their love for this state. Simply titled "Ohio", this song’s lyrics describe the homesickness the narrator feels about finding himself so far away from Ohio while begging for someone to "Get me home/ Before, before I lose my mind".

Singer Dan Auerbach's robust voice manages to turn the name of his home state into a powerful chorus. The guitar riffs seamlessly combine blues and rock chords, resulting in a melancholic but potent track.

9

"Eugene Oregon" by Dolly Parton

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You might think that a Dolly Parton song in this list would probably center on her beloved Tennessee: Certainly, her 1972 track "My Tennessee Mountain Home" could have been a fitting choice. However, we have instead chosen a less-known song that focuses on another location dear to "The Queen of Country".

The very first line that Dolly sings in this song is "Eugene, Oregon, I'll remember you for the rest of my life". This perfectly encapsulates the tone of the lyrics: Parton expresses her gratitude to this city for its kindness whenever she felt homesick of her Tennessee hometown.

10

"Beautiful Texas" by Willie Nelson

Image: Roberta Guillen

We’ll end this list with a Texas institution. We could have easily chosen any of the songs included in the 1968 Willie Nelson album "Texas in My Soul" for this list: After all, the entire record is Nelson’s tribute to his home state, and is composed of standards and traditional songs that sing the praises of "The Lone Star State".

We ultimately chose "Beautiful Texas" because it truly shows the love Nelson has for this state. The entire lyrics describe Texas’ history and gorgeous scenery , from the "white cotton, green pastures, blue rivers" to the vast fields "where the beautiful bluebonnets grow".

1

The Moon landing (July 20, 1969)

The moment Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface, he had millions of eyes upon him across millions of TV screens. Considered the television event of the decade, t he July 20, 1969 Moon landing broke records at a national and international level. Gathering an estimated 600 to 650 million viewers worldwide, "the small step for man, giant leap for mankind" was watched by around 125 to 150 million American viewers, representing around 93% of households with a TV. This record was not surpassed until the 1981 wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles.

2

"Day of Infamy" speech (December 8, 1941)

A day after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Imperial Navy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the U.S. Congress during a joint session. His speech, which started by describing the day before as "a date which will live in infamy", was not meant to convince Congress about declaring war —which it did shortly after—but to rally a distressed and shocked nation. One of the most famous political speeches of all time, this address attracted the biggest radio audience in American history, with more than 100 million people (an estimated 81% of the adult population) tuning in.

3

The first Kennedy-Nixon debate (September 26, 1960)

The first of the 1960 presidential debates between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon does not hold the record for the most viewed debate of the century (held by the 1980 Carter-Reagan debate), but it’s nonetheless a landmark event in American television. The first televised presidential debate ever, it attracted between 66 and 77 million viewers , and it is considered one of the main reasons for the shift in public opinion in favor of Kennedy. Nixon, aged 47, the leading candidate before the broadcast, appeared exhausted and pale compared to the much younger-looking and more telegenic Kennedy, aged 43.

4

"I have a dream" speech (August 28, 1963)

The date and location of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech were not accidental. As part of the marches in support of President Kennedy’s proposed civil rights legislation, it coincided with the centennial of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation made by Abraham Lincoln, at whose memorial King gave his speech. Besides the massive live audience (around 250,000 people), the speech was broadcast by the three major television networks and by major radio stations in the country . Although there are no official numbers recorded, it is estimated that there were millions of viewers and listeners, including the First Family at the White House.

5

The War of the Worlds broadcast (October 30, 1938)

On October 30, 1938, CBS Radio Network broadcast a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds , directed and narrated by Orson Welles. The first part of the broadcast was delivered as a realistic news broadcast, with reporters breaking the news about an alien invasion, which led part of the audience to panic and believe that an actual invasion was taking place. The episode had an estimated audience of 6 million, and it is thought that more than a million listeners believed it was a real broadcast.

6

The Beatles’ first U.S. television performance (February 9, 1964)

The most famous British band of all time made their American TV debut on February 9, 1964, on The Ed Sullivan Show , with an audience of 73 million viewers. The performance was highly anticipated —the broadcast network received 50,000 applications for the 728 seats available in the studio— and it is considered the starting point of American Beatlemania and the so-called "British invasion" of American music.

7

FDR's first Fireside Chat (March 12, 1933)

In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the radio became one of the main sources of entertainment and news. President Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats used the radio format as a way to connect directly with millions of weary Americans , explaining the policies that were being implemented to combat the crisis, dispelling rumors, and encouraging them to trust in the government. The friendly, informal tone of these broadcasts was highly effective in raising the nation’s morale and reducing general anxiety. With the first broadcast reaching an audience of 60 million, the Fireside Chats attracted more listeners than most of the popular radio shows, with numbers rising as America entered World War II.

8

Nixon’s resignation speech (August 8, 1974)

On August 8, 1974, President Nixon addressed the American public from the Oval Office to announce his decision to resign the following day as a result of the Watergate scandal and under the threat of an impending impeachment. Besides an ample radio audience, the televised speech was watched by 90 to 110 million television viewers. While the reactions of the public were mixed, the speech had an unprecedented impact and is considered one of the most important political speeches of that era.

9

_Roots_’ final episode (January 30, 1977)

The production and broadcast of the 1977 Roots miniseries was a milestone in itself. Only a few years before, tensions around the Civil Rights movement had shaken America, and some thought that airing a story that put the enslavement of Black people in the spotlight was a huge risk. But audience numbers proved them wrong: with around 29 million households tuning in for the first episode, the series became a cultural phenomenon that sparked conversations about race, ancestry, and American history. The final episode, with more than 100 million viewers —more than half of the U.S. population— was the most-watched TV episode of the time, and the second-most-watched overall series finale in U.S. history.

10

Super Bowl XVI (January 24, 1982)

Nowadays, it’s not surprising that sports events like the Super Bowl have a huge television audience, but things were different in the 1980s. Super Bowl XVI, played on January 24, 1982, in Michigan, with the San Francisco 49ers facing the Cincinnati Bengals, was watched by more than 85 million people, breaking all broadcasting records of the time .

11

Louis-Schmeling rematch (June 22, 1938)

When Joe Louis faced the German boxer Max Schmeling for the first time in 1936, everyone predicted that Schmeling would lose against the undefeated and rising Louis. To the world’s surprise, Schmeling won by knockout. Their rematch two years later was not only Louis’ opportunity to change the result and defeat Schmeling , but it was also charged by the increasing political tensions between Hitler’s Germany and the U.S. Besides its huge live audience at Yankee Stadium, the fight had a record audience of 70 million people in America, with an additional 30 million estimated listeners from other countries.