1

Chewbacca ( Star Wars )

Chewbacca, an over seven-foot-tall Wookie covered in fur, is a character that never needed words to steal our hearts . He’s been Han Solo's faithful companion since the beginning of the Star Wars saga in A New Hope (1977), helping the heroes not only with his knowledge of starships and combat skills, but also adding a warm sense of humor and unbreakable loyalty.

Chewbacca (played by Peter Mayhew in the first three original Star Wars films) doesn’t appear on camera nearly as much as protagonists Han, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia, yet he’s become a symbol of Star Wars and a familiar face we always enjoy seeing again.

2

Doc Brown ( Back to the Future )

While it was never clear how a cool high school student who rides a skateboard is friends with an eccentric inventor, Marty McFly and Dr. Emmet "Doc" Brown are one of the most iconic movie duos . And though Marty (Michael J. Fox) is the lead character, all the events of the Back to the Future movies (1985-1990) are set in motion by Doc (Christopher Lloyd) and his time-travel machine.

His crazy white hair and energetic personality fill the movie with plenty of funny scenes as well as emotional and reflective moments that have made Doc Brown as memorable as the hero.

3

Robin ( Batman )

Robin is probably the most recognizable sidekick of all. He first appeared on the big screen in the 15-chapter Batman theatrical movie serial released in 1943, though he was a known character from the DC comics before that. Over the following decades, Robin appeared in several Batman television shows, animated series, films, and other adaptations.

Robin is Batman’s young crime-fighting partner, who adds a little bit of optimism and humor to the dark and solemn world of the hero. He contributes with his agility, courage, and a more easygoing personality, making him an iconic Gotham figure hard to separate from Batman.

4

Samwise Gamgee ( The Lord of the Rings )

"Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam," says Frodo (Elijah Wood) in The Two Towers (2002), and we all agreed. Few sidekicks have the strength and courage to remain loyal as Sam did in the face of an evil much greater than himself.

The epic journey of the two hobbits in The Lord of the Rings ’ saga is centered around Frodo and his struggle with the One Ring, but Sam’s (Sean Astin) commitment and never-give-up attitude were the key reason the duo succeeded — but his humility and kind heart were what won ours.

5

Donkey ( Shrek )

Just thinking about Donkey can make you laugh. Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) is impossible to ignore, and he’ll make sure of that. He’s the fast-talking, nonstop-chattering companion of the grumpy ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) in the Shrek films (2001 - 2010, with a fifth film slated for 2027), and honestly, the movies wouldn’t be nearly as fun without him.

One of the best things about this duo is seeing how Donkey drives Shrek up the wall , though he can’t bring himself to dislike him. The clash of their personalities created the most hilarious scenes of the series and has made Donkey as essential as Shrek.

6

Toto ( The Wizard of Oz )

Small in size but unforgettable in spirit: that’s little Toto. He’s Dorothy’s companion throughout her journey in the magical Land of Oz in The Wizard of Oz (1939), and he taught us that even the smallest fellow can make a big difference .

But Toto was not just adorable (though that’s a good reason we love him); he actually helps Dorothy (Judy Garland) many times throughout the movie, exposing the Wizard’s secrets and getting her out of danger time and time again.

7

Jiminy Cricket ( Pinocchio )

Jiminy Cricket serves as Pinocchio's conscience in Disney’s Pinocchio (1940), but in a way he became the voice of everyone’s conscience. The little cricket (voiced by Cliff Edwards) tries to help Pinocchio understand right from wrong and always encourages him to do good, even when it isn’t easy.

His wisdom and charisma make him responsible for much of the film’s humor and heart, and he evolved into a symbol of integrity in pop culture. None of Pinocchio's growth would’ve been possible without this little fellow.

8

Goose ( Top Gun )

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) is Maverick’s (Tom Cruise) best friend in Top Gun (1986), bringing warmth to the movie and also contrasting Maverick’s recklessness with a more grounded personality. Their unique bond and friendship make each character grow throughout the film.

Goose became a fan favorite (despite having much less time on camera than the protagonist), especially due to the tragic events he’s involved in, which represent some of the most emotional moments in the entire movie and a turning point for Maverick.

9

Dr. Watson ( Sherlock Holmes )

While Sherlock Holmes is indeed the star of the story, with his brilliant mind and sharp observation, Dr. Watson plays a key role when it comes to solving the duo’s cases, as he brings a bit of "humanity" and common sense to Holmes’ cold calculations and eccentricities.

Dr. Watson also contributes with subtle touches of humor , giving funny remarks that clash with Holmes’ quirks. From the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle to the many adaptations for film and television, Watson became as iconic as Sherlock, making it impossible to think of one without the other.

10

Short Round ( Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom )

The charming, fearless boy who proved that he could save the day despite his age and be more than just the comic relief of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) — that’s Short Round, played by future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan.

His quick wit and funny banter with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) added a necessary share of humor to the film, and his relationship with the archaeologist felt more like a father-and-son kind of thing, which was enough for Short Round to steal the show. And while he has only appeared in one of the many Indiana Jones movies, he became a fan favorite from day one.

1

Point Roberts, WA: The 49th parallel accident

Imagine if you had to cross two borders just to get to the market for a gallon of milk. That’s actually a reality for residents of Point Roberts, Washington. That’s because, following the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, the 49th parallel divided Canada and the U.S. In 1846, the line was extended westward and then officially recognized by the International Boundary Commission in 1925.

However, a tiny tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula poked out just below that line. Since then, the locals have lived in a boundary quirk. To get to the rest of Washington State by land, they must drive through Canada, show their passports, and do it all over again on the way back.

2

Statue of Liberty: Common misconception

If you want to start a friendly argument at a dinner party, ask whether the Statue of Liberty lives in New York or New Jersey. The funny thing is, both answers are technically right . While the statue physically sits in the waters of the Garden State, Liberty Island is legally an exclave of New York. This dates back to a 1664 land grant by the Duke of York in a document so vague and confusing that it took a 1834 Compact between the two states to settle the deal. New Jersey gets the water and the submerged lands, but New York keeps the monument.

However, the Federal Government actually manages the site through the National Park Service (NPS), providing security and maintenance.

3

The State of Franklin: Failed 14th state

In 1784, three counties in North Carolina felt neglected by their government and decided to strike out on their own . They even elected a governor, John Sevier, and printed their own money. They came just two votes short of being recognized by Congress as a formal state.

Eventually, things got heated, and North Carolina sent troops, leading to a small civil war between the locals. By 1789, the dream of Franklin was buried, and the territory became part of Tennessee.

4

Kentucky Bend

If you look closely at a map, there’s a piece of Kentucky that looks like it doesn’t belong. That’s the Kentucky Bend, also called the New Madrid Bend, a tiny peninsula in Fulton County that is almost completely separated from the rest of the Bluegrass State . The strange situation was the consequence of the massive series of earthquakes that took place in that area between 1811 and 1812, which were so violent they famously caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for several hours. When the dust settled, the river had carved a new path that looped around this small patch of land, surrounded by Missouri and Tennessee instead of Kentucky. The 9 residents living there today go through Tennessee just to get to their home state.

5

The State of Deseret: The empire that almost was

Imagine a state so big it makes Texas look tiny. That almost happened back in 1894, when Mormon pioneers proposed the State of Deseret. The territory comprised what we now know as Utah, most of Nevada, parts of Arizona and Colorado, and a massive chunk of the California coast, including San Diego.

Had it been formalized, it would have been a powerhouse with its own seaport and total control over the West. However, Washington, D.C. wasn’t so keen on one group having that much territory and power, so they whittled it down, and we ended up having the states we know today.

6

The lawless "No Man's Land"

Have you ever wondered what happens when two governments simply give up on a piece of land? Between 1806 and 1821, there was a strip of land in what is now western Louisiana that was, literally, No Man’s Land. Neither the U.S. nor Spain, which owned part of the territory, could agree on the border, so they declared it "Neutral Ground" to avoid armed conflicts . The plan backfired as, with no laws to contain it, it quickly became a favorite for the outlaws in the West —meaning deserters and bandits hiding there were legally untouchable. The conflict was resolved by the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty, which officially set the Sabine River as the legal boundary.

7

The Republic of the Indian Stream

In the early 1830s, people living in a small area between New Hampshire and Quebec were fed up, and in this case, taxes were the problem. Both Canada and the US were trying to collect taxes, and nobody likes being double-billed . In 1832, the residents essentially said "neither of them can tax us" and formed their own country called the Republic of the Indian Stream. They had their own constitution and Capitol for four years, until 1836, when the militia marched on the disputed territory to reclaim the land. It wasn’t until 1842, when the land dispute and the double taxation were definitively resolved by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty, which assigned the land to New Hampshire.

8

The Northwest Angle: Mapping mistake of 1783

When the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 to end the Revolutionary War, the mapmakers used a chart that was flat-out wrong. They thought the Mississippi River started much further north than it actually did. Because of that mistake, a piece of Minnesota got cut off from the rest of the country . To this day, the "Northwest Angle" is the only place in the lower 48 states north of the 49th parallel. Much like Point Roberts, you have to cross a massive lake or drive through Canada just to visit it.

9

The District of Columbia’s "lost" corner

If you look at a map of D.C., you’ll notice it’s missing a chunk; it’s not a perfect square as it was originally intended. Originally, the capital was a perfect ten-mile square diamond , taking land from both Maryland and Virginia. But by 1846, things got tense. Residents in the Virginia portion, which included Alexandria and Arlington, were worried the federal government would abolish slavery in the District, which was the backbone of their economy. They successfully petitioned to have Virginia "take back" that portion of the land and subsequently changed the shape of the national capital forever.

10

UN Headquarters: International territory

If you want to feel international, go to the United Nations Headquarters on the East River in midtown Manhattan, New York. Once you cross that gate onto the 18-acre site, you are technically leaving the United States. You don’t need to show your passport, but that’s international territory, which means it has its own laws , its own security force, and even its own postal service. It is a legal hole in the middle of New York City.

1

Measuring

This is a difference most Americans are aware of: most countries use the metric system rather than U.S. customary units, and most use Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Countries such as the UK and Canada still use some imperial units in everyday life, but they mainly use the metric system. Another measure that confuses foreigners is the particular way ingredients are measured in American recipes, which often use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons rather than measurements by weight.

Fun fact: The only other countries that use the Imperial system officially are Liberia and Myanmar.

2

Sales tax

Do you find having to calculate sales taxes annoying? That’s a unique American experience. In the majority of the world, the price you see is the price you pay , because it has the sales tax already added.

Why is it different in America? Sales taxes vary across states , so retailers find it easier to showcase the base price and then calculate the total at checkout.

3

Cutlery use

Many Americans abroad are surprised by the realization that not everyone uses a knife and fork in the same way they do . In fact, no one else does. While most Americans have learned the American style —also called the zig-zag or fork switching method— that involves using the fork in the left hand for cutting and then changing it to the right to pick up the food, European and Latin American countries don’t do this . It might seem like a small difference, but it completely changes the way you eat.

4

Iced drinks

Do other countries not have ice? They do, but they don’t necessarily assume everyone will want it. While serving water and other beverages with ice is customary in America, in many other countries, you need to request it —even during the hottest of summers.

But even if you get ice, many times you will need to specify the amount : the same drink that would be filled with ice cubes in America might come to you with just two or three cubes elsewhere.

5

Date formatting

The U.S. is not completely alone on this one, but there’s a difference big enough to be worth mentioning. The standardized way of recording the date in America is month-day-year , a convention also followed by some Caribbean and Asian countries. But in the rest of the Western world, the conventional format is day-month-year , which can lead to confusion for Americans. In most Asian countries , the most commonly used format is year-month-day .

6

The word ‘American’

In the English language, ‘American’ is the only way to refer to people with U.S. citizenship . Other words, such as ‘Usian’ or ‘Unitedstatian’ have been proposed, but never stuck. This is why many Americans are surprised when other countries —Latin American countries in particular— use ‘American’ for anyone in the American continent , or continents, another big difference. In most European and Latin American countries, there is a different word for U.S. citizens, such as the Spanish ‘estadounidense’ or the Portuguese ‘estadunidense’ .

7

Moving out at 18 years old

This one is not so black and white, but more like a general tendency. Compared with most of Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Americans give serious consideration to the possibility of moving out after high school. Not everyone does, and not everyone can afford it, but it's fairly common.

In other countries, young adults generally move out if their job or education requires it , but they tend to stay at home a few more years if they can.

8

Driving a car as a teenager

America is quite car-centric , especially if you live outside of the big cities. While not everyone can afford to have a personal car —even a second-hand one—, it is common for 16 and 17-year-olds to legally drive their parents’ car, or save for their own.

In the rest of the world, the chances of high schoolers driving themselves to school are much lower, as most countries don’t allow underage kids to get a driving license .

9

Solo cups

Do plastic cups exist outside of the U.S.? They do, but they are not as iconic or as widely used as Solo cups, introduced in the 1970s as a disposable but sturdy cup for parties and events. Many foreigners visiting America are surprised when they realize that solo cups are a real thing , and not something that just happens in movies.

10

Filing taxes

Taxes in the U.S. are not that different from taxes in other countries, except for how they are filed . During tax filing season, thousands of Americans direct their efforts to ensure they have properly reported their income and that their return will match the IRS’s data.

In other parts of the world, however, the one responsible for calculating and filing taxes is the government , while citizens merely corroborate that everything is in order.