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)

Image: Roger Ce

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)

Image: Matt The Artist

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)

Image: Luis Domenech

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)

Image: Darius

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

Townhouse

Image: Aman Kumar

Most commonly found in cities, townhouses have spacious layouts, more amenities than the condo styles, and lower maintenance than most residential homes. They’re typically two or three-story homes, usually sharing one or two walls with adjacent properties, and a rooftop deck to enjoy sprawling views.

While the most famous examples are the ones from New York or San Francisco, thanks to TV series and movies, these types of homes can be found all over the country.

2

Cape Cod

Image: Phil Hearing

Cape Cod houses bring to mind the classic American cottage style but with a weekend feel to them. This type of home design migrated from the UK to the United States, maintaining its symmetrical design and central chimney.

These houses feature a steep roof to keep snow from accumulating, dormer windows for added light, wood siding and shutters to keep the heat in, and hardwood floors for comfort and practicality.

3

Modern

Image: Avi Werde

Funny how the word "modern" is used to define things that happened 100 years ago, right? Emerging in the 1920s to embrace minimalism and reject the more ornate house styles, modern house styles include progressive elements such as asymmetrical exteriors, flat roofs, and integrated outdoor spaces.

Many modern interiors also feature minimal to zero molding and trim, neutral color palettes, and metal accents to accentuate the simplicity of its design.

4

Farmhouse

Image: Raychel Sanner

A house design that has been around for a long time, the farmhouse style was created back in the early 1700s, as housing for farmers and is all about practicality.

Modern farmhouses still showcase many of the same features from the original design such as large, wraparound front porches, clapboard siding, large fireplaces, wood floors, eat-in kitchens, and oversized kitchen sinks.

5

Craftsman

Image: Lernestorod

This style became increasingly popular in the 1900s and has remained a staple throughout the 21st century. Craftsman style adds charm to any neighborhood with its exterior features, including shingles, low-pitched roofs, and covered front porches.

These types of houses feature interior details such as thick trim, prominent ceiling beams, and built-in shelving and seating.

6

Contemporary

Image: James Kovin

A style often compared to modern style architecture, contemporary is very much a trend these days among house builders. These homes have simple forms without elaborate ornamentation or detail.

Showcasing geometric lines, large windows and doors to bring in light, and open floor plans, contemporary homes often incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly building materials, textures, and components, exposed roof beams, and flat or low-pitched roofs.

7

Cottage

Image: Czapp Botond

As the name implies, cottage houses of the 1920s and 30s were inspired by the cozy cottage-style houses of the English countryside, but with a more modern twist.

This style of house typically has a steep, thatched roof, arched doorways, and shuttered windows. They can be found in semi-rural areas, closed communities, and holiday spots, among other places.

8

Mid-Century Modern

Image: Lenalensen

A style that has been well represented in modern media, the mid-century modern style is part of the modernism movement and dates back to post-World War II, and remained popular throughout the 1970s.

This design is characterized by minimalism. Think of clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, open layouts, and a mix of natural and manufactured materials for the interior elements like wood, stone, steel, and plastic.

9

Colonial

Image: Mateus Campos Felipe

Another early style, colonial architecture has maintained its allure in many parts of the United States. These classic homes are known for their vintage charm, decorative doorways, and symmetrical window placement.

Many of these houses will be similar to the Cape Cod-style home because of their symmetry and side-gabled roofs but with two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood exteriors.

10

Ranch

Image: Michal Průcha

A style that dates back to the 1930s, ranch homes grew in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, and are still popular today. This architecture is known for its simple, single-story floor plan, low-to-the-ground look, often with an open layout and occasional basement.

With a smaller yard, attached garage, and a low-pitched roof, the ranch-style home often features large windows and sliding glass doors, encouraging an indoor-outdoor living style. A ranch can also be called a ‘rambler,’ depending on which region in the country it is located.

1

National Nothing Day

Incredibly, National Nothing Day is a real, unofficial observance celebrated every year on January 16. It all began when columnist and publicist Harold Pullman Coffin proposed the idea in 1972.

His objective was to create an "un-event" , reminiscent of the Mad Hatter's "un-birthday" celebration in Alice in Wonderland , giving people permission to celebrate, observe, or honor absolutely nothing. It was meant as a pushback on a growing list of commercialized commemorative days. Finally, a holiday with no to-do list.

2

National Toilet Paper Day

Now here’s a holiday that covers a truly essential household item . That’s why National Toilet Paper Day is a completely real unofficial holiday celebrated annually on August 26. Before you take your next roll for granted, remember: it has quite a history.

In 1857, entrepreneur Joseph Gayetty began selling commercially manufactured toilet paper in the United States. His product came in flat sheets, not rolls, and was marketed as "Gayetty’s Medicated Paper." This bathroom staple has a surprisingly fascinating backstory.

3

National Talk Like a Pirate Day

Ahoy! International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a real, globally recognized unofficial holiday celebrated every year on September 19.

John Baur and Mark Summers invented International Talk Like a Pirate Day in 1995 as a joke while playing racquetball in Oregon. They chose September 19 because it was Summers’s ex-wife’s birthday, and the idea remained a private joke for years. In 2002, columnist Dave Barry promoted the holiday in his newspaper column, turning it into a worldwide phenomenon, and the rest is pirate history.

4

National Tooth Fairy Day

The Tooth Fairy has been an important part of childhood for generations, so it's only fitting that she has a day of her own. Amazingly, she not only has one but two national days.

The holidays land biannually on February 28 and August 22. Some say the intention was for it to match dentists’ recommendation for semi-annual checkups. The Tooth Fairy herself is said to have originated in 1920s health education campaigns that used imaginary fairies to encourage kids to eat vegetables and brush their teeth.

5

National Soft Ice Cream Day

Who doesn’t love soft serve ice cream? Some would say it was inevitable for this dessert to have its own commemoration, and luckily, that’s the case. National Soft Ice Cream Day is celebrated yearly on August 19. Now the question that remains is: why does it refer to the "soft" type?

One popular story dates the rise of soft serve ice cream to 1934, when ice cream vendor Tom Carvel reportedly got a flat tire in Hartsdale, New York, over Memorial Day weekend. Forced to pull over, he noticed his ice cream stock was melting and started selling the softened product to passing motorists, who apparently loved the softer texture. That’s how Carvel went on to develop equipment for serving soft serve ice cream and eventually built a business around it. Talk about turning a breakdown into a sweet opportunity .

6

National Rubber Ducky Day

National Rubber Ducky Day is celebrated every year on January 13 to honor the iconic yellow bath toy. The date comes from a 1973 Sesame Street calendar that designated January 13 as the birthday of Ernie’s famous bath-time companion, Rubber Duckie.

Ernie first sang the hit song "Rubber Duckie" in February 1970, and the song went all the way to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Surprisingly, the earliest versions of the toy in the late 19th century were made of hard, solid rubber and were meant as chew toys rather than floating bath accessories. That’s one bath-time fact you probably didn’t see coming.

7

National Pickle Day

National Pickle Day is a completely real unofficial observance celebrated every year on November 14.

While it sounds like something made up by internet foodies, it was actually popularized by the National Pickle Packers Association (now known as Pickle Packers International) in 1949 as part of a public relations push to celebrate the crunchy, briny snack . In the United States, more than 2.5 billion pounds of pickles are consumed every year, making it more than worthy of its own calendar slot. That’s a whole lot of pickles and a pretty good reason to celebrate.

8

National Left-Handers Day

It’s well known that the majority of people are right-handed, but left-handed people have a day of their own: August 13.

First established in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell (the founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.), the day was created to celebrate the uniqueness of left-handed people while raising awareness about the everyday challenges of living in a world designed largely for right-handed people. If you’re a lefty, this is your day to shine.

9

National Waffle Day

While National Waffle Day might sound like a corporate marketing stunt, the day actually marks a specific milestone in history.

On August 24, 1869, a New Yorker named Cornelius Swartwout received U.S. Patent No. 94,043 for an improved waffle iron. While waffles had been enjoyed for centuries in Europe, Swartwout’s invention was a hinged, flippable iron designed to sit over a coal stove, making it easier to prepare waffles at home . Turns out your breakfast has a patent.

10

National Bubble Bath Day

Love a long, relaxing soak? This one has your name on it. Celebrated on January 8, National Bubble Bath Day encourages people to slow down , relax, and enjoy a warm, bubbly bath.

Its origin is unclear, but its popularity has increased as an opportunity to promote self-care, especially during the cold winter months. No complicated celebration required; just add bubbles.