Fictional Character IQs, Ranked
The highest estimated IQ on our list belongs to Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) at 170 to 190. Below are all 115 characters, from anime strategists to TV detectives, each with the scenes behind the number. They are fan estimates: a fictional character cannot sit a real IQ test.
Hannibal Lecter's IQ is about 180. What's yours?
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All 115 characters, ranked
115 of 115
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MeruemHunter x Hunter | Hunter x Hunter | Anime and manga | 200off scale |
| 2 | GLaDOSPortal | Portal | Video games | 195off scale |
| 3 | The DoctorDoctor Who | Doctor Who | TV series | 185off scale |
| 4 | DataStar Trek: The Next Generation | Star Trek: The Next Generation | TV series | 180off scale |
| 5 | Hannibal LecterSilence of the Lambs | Silence of the Lambs | Film | 180170 to 190 |
| 6 | Rick SanchezRick and Morty | Rick and Morty | TV series | 180170 to 190 |
| 7 | Mycroft HolmesSherlock Holmes (canon) | Sherlock Holmes (canon) | Books | 178170 to 185 |
| 8 | James MoriartySherlock Holmes (canon) | Sherlock Holmes (canon) | Books | 175165 to 185 |
| 9 | Reed RichardsFantastic Four | Fantastic Four | Comics | 175165 to 185 |
| 10 | Doctor DoomMarvel Comics | Marvel Comics | Comics | 170155 to 185 |
| 11 | Grand Admiral ThrawnStar Wars | Star Wars | Books | 170155 to 180 |
| 12 | OzymandiasWatchmen | Watchmen | Comics | 170165 to 178 |
| 13 | GandalfLord of the Rings | Lord of the Rings | Books | 168160 to 175 |
| 14 | Bruce BannerMarvel Cinematic Universe | Marvel Cinematic Universe | Film | 165155 to 175 |
| 15 | Ender WigginEnder's Game | Ender's Game | Books | 165150 to 180 |
| 16 | Lex LuthorSuperman | Superman | Comics | 165150 to 180 |
| 17 | Senku IshigamiDr. Stone | Dr. Stone | Anime and manga | 165155 to 175 |
| 18 | Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes (canon) | Sherlock Holmes (canon) | Books | 165155 to 175 |
| 19 | SpockStar Trek | Star Trek | TV series | 165155 to 175 |
| 20 | Elliot AldersonMr. Robot | Mr. Robot | TV series | 163155 to 170 |
| 21 | Hercule PoirotAgatha Christie novels | Agatha Christie novels | Books | 163155 to 170 |
| 22 | Lisbeth SalanderThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Books | 163155 to 170 |
| 23 | Albus DumbledoreHarry Potter | Harry Potter | Books | 160150 to 172 |
| 24 | Dr. EggmanSonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog | Video games | 160145 to 175 |
| 25 | L LawlietDeath Note | Death Note | Anime and manga | 160150 to 168 |
| 26 | ShuriMarvel Cinematic Universe | Marvel Cinematic Universe | Film | 160146 to 172 |
| 27 | Sosuke AizenBleach | Bleach | Anime and manga | 160148 to 172 |
| 28 | Tony StarkIron Man | Iron Man | Film | 160148 to 170 |
| 29 | Walter BishopFringe | Fringe | TV series | 160145 to 172 |
| 30 | Kurisu MakiseSteins;Gate | Steins;Gate | Anime and manga | 155145 to 165 |
| 31 | Light YagamiDeath Note | Death Note | Anime and manga | 155145 to 165 |
| 32 | Matilda WormwoodMatilda | Matilda | Books | 155140 to 170 |
| 33 | Sheldon CooperThe Big Bang Theory | The Big Bang Theory | TV series | 155142 to 168 |
| 34 | Will HuntingGood Will Hunting | Good Will Hunting | Film | 155140 to 168 |
| 35 | Adrian MonkMonk | Monk | TV series | 153145 to 160 |
| 36 | Beth HarmonThe Queen's Gambit | The Queen's Gambit | TV series | 153145 to 160 |
| 37 | Spencer ReidCriminal Minds | Criminal Minds | TV series | 152140 to 163 |
| 38 | Bruce Wayne (Batman)Batman | Batman | Comics | 150145 to 155 |
| 39 | Erwin SmithAttack on Titan | Attack on Titan | Anime and manga | 150138 to 162 |
| 40 | Gus FringBreaking Bad | Breaking Bad | TV series | 150138 to 160 |
| 41 | Itachi UchihaNaruto | Naruto | Anime and manga | 150140 to 160 |
| 42 | Jimmy NeutronJimmy Neutron: Boy Genius | Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius | Animation | 150138 to 165 |
| 43 | Kiyotaka AyanokojiClassroom of the Elite | Classroom of the Elite | Anime and manga | 150140 to 160 |
| 44 | Lelouch vi BritanniaCode Geass | Code Geass | Anime and manga | 150140 to 160 |
| 45 | Shogo MakishimaPsycho-Pass | Psycho-Pass | Anime and manga | 150138 to 160 |
| 46 | Stewie GriffinFamily Guy | Family Guy | Animation | 150140 to 162 |
| 47 | Temperance BrennanBones | Bones | TV series | 150138 to 162 |
| 48 | The BrainPinky and the Brain | Pinky and the Brain | Animation | 150138 to 160 |
| 49 | The RiddlerBatman | Batman | Comics | 150138 to 162 |
| 50 | Tyrion LannisterGame of Thrones | Game of Thrones | Books | 150140 to 158 |
| 51 | Gregory HouseHouse M.D. | House M.D. | TV series | 148135 to 158 |
| 52 | NearDeath Note | Death Note | Anime and manga | 148138 to 158 |
| 53 | Peter ParkerMarvel | Marvel | Comics | 148140 to 155 |
| 54 | Schneizel el BritanniaCode Geass | Code Geass | Anime and manga | 148136 to 158 |
| 55 | Wednesday AddamsThe Addams Family | The Addams Family | TV series | 148140 to 155 |
| 56 | Hermione GrangerHarry Potter | Harry Potter | Books | 147138 to 156 |
| 57 | Dexter (Dexter's Laboratory)Dexter's Laboratory | Dexter's Laboratory | Animation | 145132 to 158 |
| 58 | Dexter MorganDexter | Dexter | TV series | 145140 to 150 |
| 59 | Doctor StrangeMarvel Cinematic Universe | Marvel Cinematic Universe | Film | 145135 to 158 |
| 60 | Edward ElricFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Anime and manga | 145132 to 158 |
| 61 | Johan LiebertMonster | Monster | Anime and manga | 145130 to 160 |
| 62 | Michael CorleoneThe Godfather | The Godfather | Film | 145140 to 150 |
| 63 | Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger)Game of Thrones | Game of Thrones | TV series | 145132 to 156 |
| 64 | Shikamaru NaraNaruto | Naruto | Anime and manga | 145135 to 155 |
| 65 | Shinichi Kudo (Conan Edogawa)Detective Conan (Case Closed) | Detective Conan (Case Closed) | Anime and manga | 145132 to 158 |
| 66 | Sora (No Game No Life)No Game No Life | No Game No Life | Anime and manga | 145132 to 158 |
| 67 | The JokerBatman | Batman | Comics | 145140 to 150 |
| 68 | Thomas ShelbyPeaky Blinders | Peaky Blinders | TV series | 145140 to 150 |
| 69 | Patrick JaneThe Mentalist | The Mentalist | TV series | 143135 to 150 |
| 70 | Arisu SakayanagiClassroom of the Elite | Classroom of the Elite | Anime and manga | 142130 to 152 |
| 71 | The Professor (Sergio Marquina)Money Heist | Money Heist | TV series | 142132 to 152 |
| 72 | Walter WhiteBreaking Bad | Breaking Bad | TV series | 142130 to 152 |
| 73 | Armin ArlertAttack on Titan | Attack on Titan | Anime and manga | 140128 to 152 |
| 74 | Izaya OriharaDurarara!! | Durarara!! | Anime and manga | 140128 to 152 |
| 75 | Joker (The Dark Knight)The Dark Knight | The Dark Knight | Film | 140135 to 145 |
| 76 | Kakashi HatakeNaruto | Naruto | Anime and manga | 140128 to 150 |
| 77 | Lisa SimpsonThe Simpsons | The Simpsons | Animation | 140125 to 155 |
| 78 | Loid ForgerSpy x Family | Spy x Family | Anime and manga | 140128 to 150 |
| 79 | Miles "Tails" ProwerSonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog | Video games | 140128 to 152 |
| 80 | Miyuki ShiroganeKaguya-sama: Love Is War | Kaguya-sama: Love Is War | Anime and manga | 140128 to 150 |
| 81 | Raymond ReddingtonThe Blacklist | The Blacklist | TV series | 140128 to 150 |
| 82 | Shaun MurphyThe Good Doctor | The Good Doctor | TV series | 140128 to 150 |
| 83 | ShiroeLog Horizon | Log Horizon | Anime and manga | 140128 to 152 |
| 84 | Walter O'BrienScorpion | Scorpion | TV series | 140130 to 152 |
| 85 | Frank UnderwoodHouse of Cards (US) | House of Cards (US) | TV series | 138126 to 148 |
| 86 | MelloDeath Note | Death Note | Anime and manga | 138128 to 148 |
| 87 | Mike RossSuits | Suits | TV series | 138128 to 148 |
| 88 | Suzune HorikitaClassroom of the Elite | Classroom of the Elite | Anime and manga | 138126 to 148 |
| 89 | Atticus FinchTo Kill a Mockingbird | To Kill a Mockingbird | Books | 135130 to 140 |
| 90 | Clarice StarlingSilence of the Lambs | Silence of the Lambs | Film | 135130 to 140 |
| 91 | Don DraperMad Men | Mad Men | TV series | 135130 to 140 |
| 92 | Elizabeth BennetPride and Prejudice | Pride and Prejudice | Books | 135130 to 140 |
| 93 | Kaguya ShinomiyaKaguya-sama: Love Is War | Kaguya-sama: Love Is War | Anime and manga | 135122 to 148 |
| 94 | Ragnar LothbrokVikings | Vikings | TV series | 135130 to 140 |
| 95 | Rust CohleTrue Detective | True Detective | TV series | 135125 to 145 |
| 96 | Satoru GojoJujutsu Kaisen | Jujutsu Kaisen | Anime and manga | 135120 to 150 |
| 97 | Saul GoodmanBetter Call Saul | Better Call Saul | TV series | 135122 to 148 |
| 98 | Solid SnakeMetal Gear | Metal Gear | Video games | 135122 to 148 |
| 99 | Abed NadirCommunity | Community | TV series | 130120 to 140 |
| 100 | Captain Jack SparrowPirates of the Caribbean | Pirates of the Caribbean | Film | 130125 to 135 |
| 101 | Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker)Star Wars | Star Wars | Film | 130125 to 135 |
| 102 | Gordon FreemanHalf-Life | Half-Life | Video games | 130115 to 145 |
| 103 | James Bond007 Franchise | 007 Franchise | Film | 130125 to 135 |
| 104 | Killua ZoldyckHunter x Hunter | Hunter x Hunter | Anime and manga | 130118 to 145 |
| 105 | Rintaro OkabeSteins;Gate | Steins;Gate | Anime and manga | 128118 to 138 |
| 106 | Cersei LannisterGame of Thrones | Game of Thrones | TV series | 125120 to 130 |
| 107 | Daenerys TargaryenGame of Thrones | Game of Thrones | TV series | 125120 to 130 |
| 108 | Holden CaulfieldThe Catcher in the Rye | The Catcher in the Rye | Books | 125120 to 130 |
| 109 | Jay GatsbyThe Great Gatsby | The Great Gatsby | Books | 125120 to 130 |
| 110 | Naruto UzumakiNaruto | Naruto | Anime and manga | 118105 to 132 |
| 111 | ElevenStranger Things | Stranger Things | TV series | 115110 to 120 |
| 112 | Harry PotterHarry Potter | Harry Potter | Books | 115110 to 120 |
| 113 | Katniss EverdeenThe Hunger Games | The Hunger Games | Books | 115110 to 120 |
| 114 | GokuDragon Ball | Dragon Ball | Anime and manga | 10898 to 120 |
| 115 | Forrest GumpForrest Gump | Forrest Gump | Film | 7570 to 80 |
Ranked by the midpoint of each estimated range. Above about 160 the numbers stop meaning much, because real tests cannot measure that high reliably. Every estimate follows the same five-part method.
The highest estimates
- 1. Hannibal LecterSilence of the Lambs · The Dark Sage180
- 2. Rick SanchezRick and Morty · Multiverse inventor, serial self-saboteur180
- 3. Mycroft HolmesSherlock Holmes (canon) · The Armchair Mind178
- 4. James MoriartySherlock Holmes (canon) · The Napoleon of Crime175
- 5. Reed RichardsFantastic Four · Builds anything, misjudges everyone175
Rankings and matchups
- Smartest characters, rankedEvery evidence-based profile, best first
- Smartest anime charactersLight, L, Lelouch, Senku and more
- Smartest TV and film charactersSherlock, Tony Stark, Rick and more
- Who is smarter? MatchupsLight vs L, Sheldon vs Reid
- Smartest characters by showEach franchise ranked on one scale
- How we estimate fictional IQThe rubric and rules behind every number
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