So I just watched "Inside Llewyn Davis" and it is the first and only Coen brothers movie I did not like. And I realized he reason is that the main character is completely and totally unlikable. I had no interest in him, didn't care what happened to him, and found him to be sort of a repugnant worthless human being. Maybe that was the point, but it just ruined it for me.

So I was wondering who else are candidates for least likable protagonist in a film?

The lead kid in Attack the Block. Hell, the whole gang of project thieves were assholes and I hated that movie due to their dumb asses.

Leo's character in the Departed. Also Sharlto Copley and Matt Damon in District 9 and Elysium, respectively.

Jesus in practically every movie about him. Man, what a preachy martyr.

There wasn't one likable character in Bridesmaids and Kristen Wiig's character was by far the worst of the bunch.

Shia Labeouf in every film where he's the protagonist.

The girls in Death Proof. I was rooting for Kurt Russell.

Paul Giamatti's Harvey Pekar

Totally agree. Those girls are sooooo freakin annoying in that movie. Awful film from start to finish.

Any human being in any of the Transformers movies. Hell, half the Transformers are unlikeable as well.

Robert Duvall in The Apostle

Anakin

I think we have a winner.

I know the Star Wars saga was supposed to be about he rise and fall of Anakin, or whatever bullshit Lucas was spewing that particular week, but I've always considered Obi-Wan to be the protagonist in the prequels.

Well, if you're from below the Mason-Dixon line...

I'll go with this as well

If you get really quite and put your hand to your ear you can still hear them yammering on and on.

Leo in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Anwar Congo, The Act of Killing

My vote, too.

The OP started with a Coen Bros. film, so immediately FARGO popped into my head. William Macy's character is pretty shifty. I guess some would argue that Francis McDormand's character is the protagonist, but I think Macy is more of the "lead" role.

How about the cast on American Hustle? are they likable?, Been meaning to check the film out but everytime I look at the box-cover... the crew just look like total shitheads...which turn me off to checking the film out.

Came in here to post this exact thing.

They're all likable, IMHO, even the "jerky" ones have their charms.