4. Optimus Prime / Megatron
Franchise: Transformers
Factions: Autobot versus Decepticon
Film: Transformers: The Movie
Forget the sorry excuse for a scrap that took place in Michael Bay’s Transformers, the real showdown between the leaders of the Autobots and the Decepticons takes place in Transformers: The Movie (1986). Prime and Megatron go at it with some seriously damaging metal-on-metal action and they seem pretty evenly matched, before Hot Rod manages to scupper Prime’s chances of victory by getting involved. When the final bell rings, both fighters are wounded and Prime hands over the Matrix Of Leadership while Megatron is tossed into space by Starscream – now that’s loyalty for you.
3. Neo / Agent Smith
Franchise: The Matrix
Factions: Human versus Agent
Film: The Matrix
There are several enthralling match-ups between these two sci-fi powerhouses, but their very first throwdown is surely the most memorable, as it brilliantly showcased the Wachowskis’ now-infamous bullet time effects. Mr Anderson and Mr Smith meet and then systematically destroy a subway station with some lightning quick blows, gravity-defying kicks and a rather cheeky finger stab to the throat. Though on occasion Mr Anderson gets his arse handed to him, it does mark the moment when he realises that he could bery well be The One. Sorry, did we say Mr Anderson? His name is Neo.
