JUMPY IN REINDEER GAMES (2000)
Thug type: Robber/henchman
Badass moment: Helps pull off a casino heist dressed as a Santa Claus.
Complex says: This laughably bad heist flick is filled with so many ridiculous twists that it's awesome. In perhaps the biggest twist, Trejo helped convince Vin Diesel to abandon a bit part to star in The Fast and the Furious, which catapulted him to stardom. Hey, we didn't say there was a happy ending.
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EL JEFE IN XXX (2002)
Thug type: Cartel boss
Badass moment: Interrogates and tortures extreme sports rebel and would-be secret agent Xander "xXx" Cage (Vin Diesel), who was dropped off in the middle of a Colombian cocaine field as a test.
Complex says: According to Trejo, this role was payback for helping Diesel to launch his career. No word yet on when the Deez will be paying the rest of us back for seeing his movies.
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BARTENDER IN ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004)
Thug type: Bartender
Badass moment: Tries to convince drunken disgraced misogynistic 1970s newscaster Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) that times have changed and ladies can "do stuff" now.
Complex says: Trejo doesn't really have any killer lines in this one, but anytime you can be in a movie where somebody says, "it smells like Bigfoot's dick!" you do that shit.
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RONDO IN THE DEVIL'S REJECTS (2005)
Thug type: Bounty hunter
Badass moment: One half of "The Unholy Two," he helps a revenge-crazed sheriff hunt down the mass murderous Firefly family that killed his brother...so he can torture them.
Complex says: One of the few characters to survive a confrontation with the "Devil's Rejects," Trejo had come a long way from being done in by a massive snake. Ayo!
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MACHETE IN GRINDHOUSE (2007)
Thug type: Federale/hitman
Badass moment: Has a revenge threesome with the wife and daughter of the man who set him up for murder.
Complex says: The Machete trailer was the best two minutes and 44 seconds to come out of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 191-minute double-feature. Somebody should really make a full-length movie out of that shit.
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Don Maze September 1st, 2010 at 03:35 PM
yo y'all forgot the biggest movie of all. Blood in blood out!
BIG FRED September 1st, 2010 at 04:04 PM
I LIKE HIM IN THAT HALLOWEEN JOINT. SMALL PART BUT ONE OF THE FEW WHERE HE WASN'T PLAYING A THUG MUHFUCKA!!
Areyoukidding September 1st, 2010 at 04:17 PM
Uhhhhh Bubble Boy? He was badass especially when he stole Bubble Boys mom, WildFire!
Brandon September 1st, 2010 at 05:27 PM
I didn't think "Reindeer Games" would be on anyone's radar, but when Trejo talked about creating a Christmas 2, it was so stupid, I became a fan.
Deliverance September 2nd, 2010 at 07:27 PM
"Once Upon A Time In Mexica ", anyone ?!? Robert Rodriguez´ sequel to desperado , where he had bigger supporting role as ... well, henchman and thug . More Badass than most of this list , COMPLEX!
Deliverance September 3rd, 2010 at 12:42 PM
... Mexico, not Mexica ! Perdonad me !