Hail to the Chiefs: 10 Great Fictional Presidents

Mars Attacks!: Kobal Collection

James Dale

PLAYED BY Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson's aloof President Dale may not be the most effective commander in chief, but in this 1996 Tim Burton flick, he proves to be one of the funniest. In his defense, how was he supposed to know that the Martians would attack? Or that they could be killed by the audio frequencies found only in the falsetto yodeling of Slim Whitman recordings? Give Dale credit also for his ability to put a positive spin on disaster. After the Martians destroy Congress, he announces, ''I want the people to know that they still have two out of three branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad.''