Executive producer Steven Spielberg, writer Chris Columbus, and director Richard Donner created one of the best adventure movies of the 1980s: The Goonies. In the film, a group of kids set out to find a pirate’s long-lost treasure while a family of criminals follows close behind them. Filled with adventure, heart, and comedy, this film is an absolute classic that is still loved by people today.
The Fratellis are terrific comical villains and Sloth is definitely a memorable character, but it is the chemistry between all of our young heroes that truly make this movie stand out and become the cult classic that it is. Here are all the main protagonists, ranked based on their likability.
Mouth
Corey Feldman portrays this classic movie character. Mouth is the jokester in the group. He struggles to take things seriously, and he always has some sort of wisecrack remark ready for any occasion no matter what is going on around him. He grows throughout the movie, and he really does care about his friends. Mouth is not a bad character, but his jokes get pretty annoying now and then. Still, he is a genuinely nice person who just needs to grow up a bit more.
Stef
Stef, portrayed by Martha Plimpton, is basically the opposite of Mouth. She has a no-nonsense attitude on life, and she takes everything seriously. She is best friends with Andy, the love interest of the oldest male protagonist, so Stef basically just followed her and ended up in this situation.
She and Mouth constantly talk back to one another, but there is a great little moment at the end when they apologize and grow to appreciate one another. She is very outspoken, and even though she may not get along with everyone right away, she is willing to work with the group. She is not a fully developed character like some of the others, but she is likable.
Andy
Kerri Green plays Andy, a high school cheerleader and the love interest of Brand, the older brother of Mikey, the main protagonist. She has a caring heart, and she does not follow the typical dumb cheerleader stereotype some other movies from the era created. Even though she and the rest of the gang are in this insane situation, she constantly tries to make a move on Brand and does not let the situation they are in be her top priority in various moments of the movie, including when she accidentally kisses Brand’s younger brother in the dark.
Her piano skills lead the group to safety in one moment of the film, and even though her relationship with Brand plays a big role in her character development, her care for the group makes her a very likable character.
Chunk
Jeff Cohen plays Chunk, the clumsy friend of the group who is completely scared of the situation he is in, and simply wants to not be the butt of some of the jokes by his friends. He does not interact with the rest of the group as much for most of the film since he is kidnapped by the criminals. However, he befriends Sloth, arguably the most famous character from the movie, and they save the day. Chunk’s comedy, one-liners, and overall care towards his friends make him a fan favorite among fans of the film.
Brand
Brand is played by Josh Brolin, and he is the oldest in the group. He is the brother of Mikey and the love interest of Andy. He is a good older brother and a great leader for the group. He may be annoyed by his little brother and his friends, but he truly cares about them and wants them to be safe. He takes charge when he needs to and comforts people when that is the appropriate action to take. He is a great character in the film, and it is fun to see Josh Brolin here in one of his earliest film roles.
Data
Data, played by Jonathan Ke Huy Quan, is a fantastic character and definitely one of the more memorable ones. He loves James Bond and comes up with cool gadgets that are actually pretty useful in some of the gang’s situations looking for the treasure.
By the end of the film, you realize that he is simply proud of his dad and wants to be just like him. He is a valuable member of the group, and he is an overall great friend to every other member of the Goonies.
Mikey
Sean Astin portrays Mikey, the main protagonist of the film. He wants to find the treasure more than anyone else so he can keep his friendships and help everyone financially so they do not have to move. He is very caring and a born leader for the group. He faces danger head-on, will stop at nothing in order to make sure his friends are okay, and his determination to find the treasure plays a big role in their success. All the characters are memorable and likable, but Mikey just may be one of the very best.
