Top 5: Kids with attitude

5. Dash (The Incredibles, 2004)

Undoubtedly the best character in one of Pixar’s most celebrated films, Dash pulls off the ‘spirited kid’ label with vigour. Super competitive and certainly a bit of a show-off, this gutsy character is well worth a place on the list.

4. Tallulah (Bugsy Malone, 1976)

Jodie Foster’s A-list breakthrough in 1976 found her picking up two BAFTAs- for Taxi Driver and Bugsy Malone. But I chose Tallulah over Iris as her feistiness is pure entertainment.

3. Mathilda (Léon: The Professional, 1994)

Any kid with ambitions of becoming a hit man (or woman) warrants the opportunity to be considered for this list, but Natalie Portman embodied the grittiness of New York counter culture as Mathilda, making her fully deserving of third place.

2. Hit-Girl (Kick-Ass, 2010)

Defined more by what she does than by what she says, Chloë Moretz’s Hit-Girl is cooler than any of us will ever be, and she’s only thirteen.

1. Sam and Suzy (Moonrise Kingdom, 2012)

To be honest, I would give every spot on this list to these two if I could. Whether climbing onto church rooftops, stabbing their pursuers with scissors or, even, getting struck by lightning, Sam and Suzy show that they have limitless attitude. Anyone who hasn’t yet, see this film. We’ve told you enough times.