Characters Breaking the Fourth Wall – What Does it Mean?

You are watching a movie and suddenly you see that the actor in the movie starts talking to you, starts describing the situation that’s going on. If you are a comic book reader and have read some DC and Marvel comics, you would be very well aware of what breaking the fourth wall means. But for those who just came across the term and want to know its meaning, here is a complete article dedicated to explaining the term – breaking the fourth wall.

In simple words, we can say that when a character in the movie or a book or a comic becomes self-aware that he knows he is inside the movie, then that character is said to be “breaking the fourth wall”.

Meaning of Breaking the Fourth Wall:

As per Wikipedia, the meaning of breaking the 4th wall means,

“The fourth wall is the imaginary “wall” at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.”

The Fourth Wall is a thin line that differentiates fiction from reality. Breaking the 4th wall has been a common thng in comedy shows and performances but isn’t limited to just comedy. When a character from a movie or comic book becomes aware that he is in the movie playing his part and talks to the audience pointing out mistakes or just blabbering about something, he is said to be breaking the 4th wall.

There have been many instances on television shows, movies, cartoons and comic books, where the characters are regularly shown talking to the audience, telling them there perspective in the show.

From Kevin Spacey in House of Cards to She-Hulk in Marvel Comics to Mickey Mouse, all of them breaks the 4th wall and talks to the audience. Though they are not too famous when it comes to the wall, but certain characters are quite famous for their fourth wall breaking powers.

Characters Famous to Break the Fourth Wall:

1. Deadpool from Marvel Comics

Deadpool, the merc with a mouth, is the most famous comic book character known for his ability to break the 4th wall every now and then. Deadpool has been shown talking to the audience, cutting through the comic to reach the real world and changing the credits of Ultimate Spiderman cartoon series to Ultimate Deadpool by cutting Spiderman’s name.

Deadpool is very well aware that he is in a comic book and makes sure that we don’t forget the fact. Check out this comic book moment when he tells Bullseye exactly when was the last time they met precisely.

2. Bugs Bunny from Looney Tunes

We all have grown up watching Looney Tunes cartoon shows. Seeing Bugs Bunny at the end saying “That’s all folks” was a delight!

However Bugs Bunny was not the first character to appear at the end of every Looney Tunes show. Porky Pig was the first cartoon character to appear at the end credits of the shows saying “That’s all folks!” in his own unique accent and later Bugs Bunny took over the mantle.

Other Characters Known to Break the 4th Wall:

• The Flash
• Animal Man
• Meowth
• Cerebrus
• Garfield
• Joker
• Ambush Bug
• The Muppets

I hope that now you might have understood clearly what breaking the fourth wall means! So please go and share the post by liking it on Facebook or pinning in on Pinterest or with a simple Tweet!

Check Out WatchMojo’s Top 10 4th Wall Breaks on TV: