If you’ve played video games, you’ll know that at the end of the game or an important section, you will have to overcome a challenge. The music will swell, you’ll be in some dramatic environment and have to come face to face with what is very clearly a “boss.” But did you know that you can run into them in real life as well?
We’ve gathered the best posts from a group dedicated to gathering the best, most interesting and unhinged examples of “final bosses” spotted in the wild. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and even stories in the comments section below.
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Stomp, The Stomper Of Girlfriends
He's a gorgeous polydactyl! Is the girlfriend still around? I hope not...
I'm upvoting for your 1st sentence. The girlfriend may have stayed and grown to love the cat.
Load More Replies...Lockdown Woman, Hater Of People, Fan Of Lockdowns
Me too. Then everyone else quarantined and did all these cool crafts and at home bucket list projects making me feel completely inadequate. I liked everyone getting on my level though.
Load More Replies...I loved the lockdown maybe a little to much. Such quiet peaceful days.
I loved lockdown. I was so stoked that everyone had to stay home and only go out if necessary. I was training for that my whole life!
Bruce, The Berry Annihilator
Boy I wish I thought of that cuz my parrot liked to fling his berries everywhere
Same here. But then again he liked to fling everything.
Load More Replies...thanks for the great idea, I need this when I eat a concerning amount of cherries every summer lol
This reminded me of pitting cherries. We'd put on old clothes and do it outside, otherwise we'd have a cherry stained kitchen.
Load More Replies...Brilliant idea but please can we make it a berry-eating dome, with a hyphen, because I thought he was eating the dome.
It’s not just video games that feature “boss fights,” they are a staple part of martial arts films (or most action cinema in general), table top roleplaying and, if you really stretch it, a key part of the hero’s journey. Humans just have an understanding of the world where “winning” or achieving something does mean you have to “beat” some sort of major challenge.
Of course, this idea is probably the most prominent in video games. However, as you may have noticed, “boss fight” is a term that is mostly gaming-exclusive. We wouldn’t call Rocky fighting Ivan Drago his “boss fight” even if it fits the form. In general, the best explanation for this term comes from the games popular in the 80s and 90s, where the final “boss” would be “in charge” of the other characters.
Old Man, 21st Century Odin
Today, my head stopped working and I had to do that thing where you pretend you are a fully functioning adult because some jobs require that and I work in a high school. That is how I ended up trying to break up a fight on the school yard - between crows. I admit it was a bad moment, but the crows took it well. Obviously I was relentlessly and deservedly roasted by teachers and students. I would absolutely love to turn up Monday with a crow on my shoulder and own it. Wish I could at least get this guy to follow me for a bit.
On a tangent ,,, find a Norwegian film "Torden" aka "Mortal." An interesting take on what happens when a Norse God is in a modern world.
The 6' 10" Business Card Dealer
When I was in college I lived next door to one of the basketball players. He had a t-shirt that said "7' 2" - Yes, I play basketball!". He also had size 17 feet.
Oo-er. Is that a question you would have asked? (because it would never occur to me)
Load More Replies...I wish I've seen this when I was growing up and in my 20s! I hated going in circles with new people about me being naturally very skinny... No, I'm not anorexic. Yes, I eat normally. No, don't grab my wrists to see if you can circle them with fingers. NO, YOU CAN'T pick me up to see how light I am. (This one was especially annoying - people really did that all the time! Without even asking.) No, calling me "chives" isn't endearing.
I sympathise. At school I was nicknamed 'Skinny weed'. The teacher made me come out to the front of the class so the headmaster could put his fingers round my wrists. They're still small, wrist-watch straps are always too long, need extra holes made in leather straps.
Load More Replies...J. Udge He Is The Senate
Couldn't he just take the bar? It's probably different in Kenya, but if you know law you know law.
In order to even sit the bar, they have to have graduated from a certified university and take part in the Advocates' Training Programme which lasts 18 months. Edit: in other words, he has to pay into the system and first.
Load More Replies...All in all, games make sure the player understands that the opponent they face isn’t “normal,” that this is a bigger challenge with, hopefully, bigger rewards. Typically, this will be communicated with musical stings (or even theme music, which is also common in films) to make sure the person playing knows what is happening.
Hot Satans The Fallen Lustful Brothers
The first one was made by Joseph Geefs, a Belgian sculptor and was known as L'ange du mal. The second one, Le génie du mal, was made by his older brother, Guillaume Geefs.
I like the second one better. The arm over his head is just... Well, they'll block my comment.
Load More Replies...That means there nothing under his wee blanket then...
Load More Replies...If you banish someone to hell's eternal flames, of course he's going to be hot.
Satan, rather Lucifer, was God's right hand man before the fall and supposedly the most beautiful.
i misinterpreted this as the metal got really hot and started to melt in church. Not metal. whatever the sculpty stuff is called oh no
Bird Man, The Feeder Of The Bird Feeder
i hope you are friends with the neighbor. Otherwise this is immensely creepy
The Stubby Legged Wolf Of Terror And Dispair
The main thing, as in video games and these pictures, is that whatever is in front of you isn’t typical. It’s bigger, scarier, more impressive. It has, as gen Z slang would say, an unmistakable “aura” that sets it apart from anything else. Just take a look at some of the entries here, if you put your mind to it, it’s not hard to imagine the soundtrack that is playing.
The Arcane Deer, Scurge Of The Dark Lands
It's a pity the pic is heavily edited. It would've been gorgeous.
The Last Transformer
This is the most nonfictional science fiction-y thing I've ever seen.
That looks like a V-22 Osprey or similar. Can do VTO but isn't a helicopter. Nit pick aside, it's an interesting effect, but it must make the maintenance folks cringe.
Flying into Dubai during a minor sandstorm was enough to trigger static friction on the wings creating Saint Elmo’s Fire. Very, very cool plasma green glow from the leading edge of the wings along to the wingtips just before landing. Yay for window seat ☺️
Why has this never been in a movie? Dragging your heels, every director ever
Real Life Square Root, The Last Math Challenge
The reports of there being something negative about it are purely imaginary.
This drama is an important part of visual and audial storytelling in games, films and really any non-written media. How do you know that something is important? It’s got spikier armor, it’s bigger, there are flames coming out of it or, at the very least, you see other folks clearly in awe of it.
Lenarus, The Almighty Bloodsucker
I don't like horror movies, but this is really clever. Should be entered in a competition or something, although it would get beaten by some cheating photoshopped thing nowadays.
Frehnieggy, The One True Solver Of Mysteries
Japanese Emperor Caterpillar, Ruler Of Japan
Town I grew up in had a goat as mayor. To be fair the mayor role doesn't have any real authority, however I think we could start normalising this.
How high do you want him to go? When he's a butterfly, he flies up quite high.
Load More Replies...Sakasia charonda is the scientific name, and here is what the butterfly looks like. (The photo is in the reply to this comment).
In non-gaming circles, this might be generally called the “big bad,” the primary antagonist. The aforementioned Ivan Drago, for example, would qualify for this term. It originated, surprisingly, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in the episode "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," but can be used these days for any antagonist that isn’t a minor character.
Archangel Pringlei, The First Ophanim
I'm surprised she was able to use that many Pringles without eating them before finishing, Pringles are tasty.
Let's write a jingle for the pringle ringle and get a tingle when we mingle
Oops, sorry, did I knock the table? Were you doing something important then?
Man-Made, False God
So glad it wasn't only me whose thoughts went straight to melted butter
Load More Replies...The Lobster God seems to be missing his mighty claws. How will he smite his enemies? 😁
that one is a Spiny Lobster, they don't have the big claws like the ones further north.
Load More Replies...Bring back the red-coated LOBSTERBACKS of 18th century England as your army?
Warp Frog, You Already Fought Him, He Already Won
Of course, all this rhetoric makes it sound like everyone here is some sort of supervillain, when in most cases it’s just a cool image, or, at worst, an interesting person. Indeed, in some cases, these are downright cool people. However, if you happen to be an artist and designer and need some inspiration, I’m sure there is something useful in this list.
Figaro, The 9th Passenger
Yi Long Maa CEO Of China Tech
Never forget, Elon has ZERO technical, scientific or engineering background or education. He's the antithesis of a trusted or knowledgeable source.
He probably means that Chinese don't make weird jumps and sieg heil gestures.
Elon Musk has two bachelor's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in physics and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School in 1997. The tiny photo shows an example of his physics homework. People should really get the facts before you spout off. Screenshot...37-png.jpg
Sisyphus, The Boundless
Sisyphus wins again... but given how his past times beating gods worked out for him, is this really a victory?
Sisyphus just keeps coming back again and again. Oh, or maybe I misspelled that.
Sysiphus got smart and buggered of down to the pub while the ball kept going up and down without him.
Looks like someone caught him cheating by sneaking in the elevator to get his stone to the top!
Ultimately, what makes any of these images memorable is that they have the aforementioned “aura,” just a sort of energy to them that is both impressive and interesting. It catches your eye, it intimidates, it maybe even inspires you. It has an, well, “it factor” that can’t be easily described, but you definitely know it when you see it.
Big Truckin Goth Farmer
The Clipsmith, Armorer Of The Fae
Tinkerbell is very even-tempered... UNLESS someone calls her a "b***h." Then, watch out!!!
Load More Replies...The One Who Walked On Fours
Wings evolved from front legs (technically arms). This mutation happens when the arm-building genes which have lain dormant in the bird's ancestral DNA for millions of years are switched on instead of the wing-building genes. The same thing happens in humans that are born with tails; it's a 'throwback' to our early tail-bearing primate ancestry.
And on tomorrow's news, Tyson and other mega chicken companies will start breeding chickens with extra drumsticks
I was also gonna make a comment about extra drumsticks.
Load More Replies...No, just four limbs. The front legs - which are actually arms - are genetically-mutated wings.
Load More Replies...In southpark there is this mad-scientist who breeds animals with 4 @$$es for whatever reason....
Trinity Of Assassin Guild
I would definitely watch a movie with these three as lead characters.
They shouldn't be allowed to use special gear - either you can shoot or not. If you need all that special gear then you aren't good enough to enter the competition.
The thing that gets me about this competition is all the aids all but the Turk used. I too can be a crack shot if I have all the junk they used to alter their natural ability to shoot. Take away all that junk and lets see how they do. How is this any different that runners or other physical athletes using steroids? They both alter the persons natural ability.
The Beast The Winter Brings - Elves Devourer
The only reason i'd ever want kids...to do insane stuff like this and warp their little minds. Gotta have something to tell their therapist.
This is the sort of thing my dad would do - once. The number of things that my mum suggested might not be advisable is limitless.
Giant Kangaroozilla, Against Of Bushfires
Don't mind that kangaroo, be afraid of the one that did that to his ear.
Mitoggy, Dog Of Mitosis And Father Of One
Rythaze The Beast Master, Caller Of The Avian Titans
I have no doubts that a giant Canadian goose can demolish everything it sets it mind to. Not limited to armies.
I think a regular Canada goose can demolish armies, all by itself.
Load More Replies...I hope he's done one with an emu, given that there was an actual Emu War that the emus won.
Winged Figure, Wanderer Of The Ancient Earth
Baphomet is a representation of Mahomet in Hell, shown with hooves and horns. No wings. Or rakes sticking out of his shoulder pads, which ever you choose to see this as.
Load More Replies...It's commonalities like these between cultures that are separated by thousands of years and vast oceans that really makes me wish we could have an understanding on the prehistorical migration of humanity and belief systems / mythologies. Another are the small handbags featured in Tepe culture, Mesopotamia and Central America. As for pyramids, I'm going Philomena Gunk and just going with men just like stacking stones 😀
I suspect this is just because ancient people migrated around a lot more than we give them credit for and thus shared stories and myths that ended up everywhere. Like this slendermothman, or whatever this is.
Maybe humans all over have wondered what it would be like to have wings and fly like birds?
I seem to find it less than most people that humans have travelled around out of curiosity and the need for adventure for all times. Ancient navigational skills were amazing (including things like tasting the sea water) so I can believe humans have made it across the Atlantic, the Pacific, and other sea routes many times over thousands of years. Not as 'invasions' but just to broaden their horizons and experience new things.
We are ALL out of Africa, hence similar ideas across many cultures. NO aliens. FFS
I find it amazing that the same figure is found pretty much worldwide. There is so much we don't know. A time machine would be helpful.
Hector The Multiversal Being
212 film credits so far, with 25 more in production! Got his start at 15 in a Taco Bell commercial. This is one hard working dude
Yeah, except this list is not true. The actor's name is Noel Gugliemi. His character is Price of Glory was Angel. His character in Training Day was Moreno. His character in The Animal was unnamed. His character in Barrio Murders was Johnny. In Malibu's Most Wanted it was Snuffy. As far as I can tell, he only played Hector in The Fast and the Furious.
Load More Replies...Let's not hector Hector about being ONLY Hector since I bet he's all hectored out though his bankbook thanks him for all his Hector moves....
He played "Hood" in Bruce Almighty. If you've never seen it, you don't wanna know what happens to him, lol...
Fighters Who Always Fight
I recall that one of them was a Konami employee who wanted to show that not having a limit on the amount of cards a player in the deck was ridiculous.
Turkraken Kitchen Experiment Gone Powerful
I am as well. And I shouldn't. But I've played Call of Cthul..er..nevermind.
Load More Replies...this could be really good. octopus tastes really good and in some places is considered a delicacy.
The Circuit Masters, Keepers Of The Grid
I'm pretty sure the majority of the lines aren't power cables, but still, NOPE!
They;re nowhere near the cables anyway. Follow the line of the bottom two to the right and you'll see they pass in front of the building.
Load More Replies...lies, this is two cool people from naruto posing for an action shot
Bossu Kitty, Main Head Of The Sanrio Mafia
And could cut off his own finger without flinching.
Load More Replies...Wow, I've never seen my permanent mood in a single photo until now
The Holy F35
Go forth and kill well for the Empire of the Rising Sun. (I happen to really like Japan).
My grandpa on my mom's side was a Marine and fought against the Japs in WWII. My mom did Ancestry DNA last year and found out she's from Appalachia and Japan.
Load More Replies...As usual, religions blessing weapons. No wonder their prayers for world peace don't seem to be working.
Mary The Golden Guardian Of Basilica
Jesus / God : "The things of this world don't matter. It's all about eternal salvation for your soul by following me." Roman Catholic Church: "Um, okay, but we're still gonna save all the bits of your friends and followers and basically deify / worship them."
"... and cast them in gold, because it's shiny and the most fúcking expensive thing of this world."
Load More Replies...first off Bible clearly stated to NOT worship idols, second "Aliens". She is in a space suit for gods sake....
For God's sake, she is in a symbolic suit of ARMOR. You know, "put on the whole armor of God..."
Load More Replies...Keeping skulls and bones of religious figures.... not at all creepy
Got to love the Catholic Church and their nightmare fuel
Muscle Priest With Max Str Statatus
You should meet his boss. He could move stone tomb doors even though He was dead.
Need to send him to Washington or Mar-A-Lago to have a 'little chat' about tariffs.
The Question Is, “Who” Is The Boss In This Picture
Look at his face - not shocked, not mad, not surprised ...
Load More Replies...Chadus Maximus, Medium Of Masculinity Itself. Has All The B**ches
While the thrill of a video game boss fight often ends onscreen, some have dared to experience that type of pulse-pounding moment in real life.
Stefan Janković's close encounter with a bear evokes the same kind of drama and tension seen in a challenging game or film showdown.
Benedict And Cumberbatch, Twins Of Vengeance
The Art Girls, Defender Of Art
Mumen Rider, The True Hero
I’ve heard keeping a routine is important in times of stress. That’s why I’m about to eat cereal and take a nap.
He’s Back
"Strange women, lying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!"
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fabled-sword-from-medieval-french-folklore-disappears-180984682/
That's not Excalibur. Excalibur was the sword King Arthur got from Lady of the Lake. The one he pulled from a stone was just a sword.
Luigi: The One Who Waits
Apparently, they were unable to contain him for very long ;) Now we need him in DC
"Hey, You Over There"
The pool concession stand says it needs more loaves and fishes, Guy.
Estonian, Commander Of The Season, Defender Of Ships
Well, Estonians are quite close to Fins... So I wouldn't dismiss him.
Tito once wrote Stalin "You have sent four assassins to kill me and they have all failed. If I decide to kill you, I will only have to send one."
Hesh Seal The Demolisher Of Tanks
Hentai Hazmat, The Ultimate Girl Reflector
Well.. Hentai isn't exactly a clean kind of anime. If you know what i mean *winkwink
