Even though Valentine’s Day is supposedly reserved for the celebration of true love, which we’re obviously big believers in, we can’t help but indulge in a little bit of masochism around this time of year and reminisce about all those bad boys who once stole our hearts many moons ago. You know the type (don’t we all?): handsome, mysterious, evasive. He usually comes with a great head of hair and won’t return your calls in a timely fashion—that guy. They’re the ones who disappear for days and then show up, flash a smile, and you still go weak in the knees. Those men who everyone told you to stay away from, and yet . . . To celebrate February 14th (or curse it), we’ve chosen 14 of our favorite fictional bad boys of film and television—these are the men we still can’t stop thinking about.
Mr. Big in Sex and The City
The ultimate archetype for every emotionally unavailable yet completely irresistible man in our lives.
Pacey Witter in Dawson’s Creek
Never has a decision made more sense than when Joey Potter ditched Dawson to go spend the summer sailing with his best friend, Pacey.
Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights
Forget about Texas Forever—more like Riggins Forever.
Jared Leto in My So Called Life
The definition of a hot and cold, on-and-off, high school boyfriend who treats you one way in public and another in private. His hair was so beautiful though, we’d forgive him everything all over again.
Stringer Bell in The Wire
He was your classic silent, brooder type—except for that whole life of crime thing.
Erik Killmonger in Black Panther
Sure, he was the bad guy of Wakanda, but come on, look at those abs!
Don Draper in Mad Men
A sub-par husband, lousy father, and at times, mediocre ad man, but damn, did Don Draper look good in a suit.
Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls
Leather jacket? Check. Rebel without a cause attitude? Check. Well versed in literature and beat poetry? Check. No wonder Rory Gilmore couldn’t stay away.
Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born
The ultimate broken, world-famous musician with a heart of gold just looking for someone to love. You can blame him for all the ugly crying you did in public at the movie theater last year.
Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl
The only guy who could ever wear a lavender suit and make it look downright Machiavellian.
Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones’s Diary
Of course, Daniel Cleaver was up to no good since the moment he sent that first naughty email, but who can resist a good looking man with a witty sense of humor?
Harry Sanborn in Something’s Gotta Give
Who else could successfully date and break up with his much younger girlfriend in order to date her mother and not come off as a total creep?
Juan Antonio in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Not every guy could convince his new girlfriend to happily co-habitate with him and his ex-wife, but I guess if you look like Javier Bardem then anything’s possible.
Sebastian Valmont in Cruel Intentions
Ok, so he was in love with his stepsister for most of his life, and enjoyed playing sadistic bets and games on people, but all was forgiven the moment he jumped in front of that cab, right? Also, his car was pretty fab.
