10 Movies Where The Main Character Isn’t The Real Star

While some movie characters fulfill the narrative role of the protagonist, another character steals the show with charisma and theatrics, making them the true stars. Movies where supporting characters are better than the heroes have been just as successful as those that let the central character shine, with a different balance in character focus only making it better. Sometimes, the villain is doubtlessly the true star, driving the entire story when the protagonists are living standard lives.

This is often the case with some of the best animated Disney villains, whose classic villainy still makes them fan-favorite characters. However, this trend is not limited to classic action movies where villains steal the show; sometimes, a supporting character is simply more interesting, written to be the thing that sets the story in motion in the protagonist’s mundane life. How two such characters share the screen and interact with each other is an interesting topic, demonstrating different options for storytelling.

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10 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Furiosa, Not Max

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Allegedly, Mad Max: Fury Road is another Mad Max movie, but the story is inherently different. In the best Mad Max movie yet, Max is once again unwittingly pulled into an adventure of helping someone in need when he is just trying to make it on his own. The difference is that the group of women fleeing Immortan Joe is already being led by Furiosa, a capable road warrior who is more than a match for Max. While Max is seen first, the movie follows her perspective as it segues into the main conflict.

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Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth film in George Miller’s long-running sci-fi franchise, with Tom Hardy starring as Max Rockstansky, a vagabond who lives on the road in an apocalyptic wasteland. When Max comes across a cult group that keeps its people in fear and under control with a monopoly on water and other crucial supplies, he joins up with Imperator Furiosa, a warrior woman leading a rebellion against the cult’s leader, Immortan Joe.

Director George Miller Release Date May 14, 2015 Writers George Miller , Brendan McCarthy , Nick Lathouris Cast Tom Hardy , Charlize Theron , Nicholas Hoult , Zoe Kravitz , Hugh Keays-Byrne , Riley Keough , Courtney Eaton , Abbey Lee , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Runtime 120 Minutes

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Rather than being a story about Max wandering around on his own and coming across someone who needs help, Fury Road is about Furiosa’s vigilante mission, with Max playing a part in it. While Tom Hardy is great as Max, the fact that he is a recast while Furiosa is an original character makes her the novelty of this movie. Fury Road also directs more attention to the female cast and women’s perspective of this setting, with Max and Nux being the only heroic male characters among Furiosa, the wives, and the Many Mothers.

9 The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

Hannibal, Not Clarice

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Of course, the razor-sharp dialogue and Anthony Hopkins’ performance combined mean that the attention is always on Hannibal.

In theory, The Silence of the Lambs has a superfluous villain in Hannibal Lecter. Clarice already has a serial killer to track down, which is the foundation of a serviceable horror story. However, The Silence of the Lambs is such a highly acclaimed psychological thriller because of Clarice’s attempts to pick the brain of one of the most iconic movie villains of all time. Hannibal adds flavor and intrigue to the movie when the story is really about the complexities of his and Clarice’s dynamic.

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The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, portrayed by Jodie Foster, as she seeks the help of imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins, to solve a series of gruesome murders. Directed by Jonathan Demme, this 1991 psychological thriller delves into the dark world of criminal profiling and the complex relationship between a young investigator and a brilliant, but dangerous, psychopath.

Director jonathan demme Release Date February 14, 1991 Writers Thomas Harris , Ted Tally Cast Jodie Foster , Anthony Hopkins , Scott Glenn , Ted Levine , Anthony Heald , Brooke Smith , Diane Baker , Kasi Lemmons Runtime 118 Minutes

Of course, the razor-sharp dialogue and Anthony Hopkins’ performance combined mean that the attention is always on Hannibal. Clarice is the average civilian character who is affected by Hannibal’s chilling comments; he is the catalyst who gives her something to go on in her investigation. How the supporting cast acts around him also contributes to the weight of his character. Jodie Foster also won an Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs, but Hopkins is doubtlessly the more memorable of the two.

8 The Fast And The Furious (2001)

Dom, Not Brian

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Back when Fast & Furious was a much more grounded franchise, The Fast and the Furious was about an undercover cop forced to question his loyalties when he befriends the lead suspect of a hijacking crime. However, Dom has always had more gravitas as a character than Brian. Dom is the star of the underground racing community in this story, regarded as the top driver and mechanic in the area. Brian himself gravitates to Dom’s skill and personality.

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The first film in the Fast & Furious franchise, The Fast and the Furious introduces Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) gang of street racers in order to investigate a string of vehicular heists. Falling in love with both Toretto’s sister and the world of street racing, O’Conner finds his sense of duty strained to the limit by loyalty to his newfound friends. 

Director Rob Cohen Release Date June 22, 2001 Writers Gary Scott Thompson , David Ayer , Erik Bergquist Cast Jordana Brewster , Michelle Rodriguez , Rick Yune , Vin Diesel , Paul Walker Runtime 106 minutes

When a story concludes that the undercover cop is in the wrong, it likely favors the criminal with a heart of gold. Additionally, the found family of Fast & Furious has always been “Dom’s family,” while the fourth movie onwards continues to focus on him at the center of the story. Brian and Mia ultimately go on the run after helping Dom escape custody, who becomes the de facto leader of their group.

7 Aladdin (1992)

Genie, Not Aladdin

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Traditionally, Genie has been played by a more famous actor than Aladdin. When the live-action remake came around, the producers didn’t try to kid themselves and gave Will Smith top billing. Part of the reason he is such a draw is that Robin Williams’ agreement with Disney for Aladdin meant that he was allowed to write and improvise his own dialogue. As a result, Genie is a more gimmicky character who is constantly cracking jokes and adopting pop culture reference forms, animated to go along with Williams’ impressions.

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Aladdin is an animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the film follows Aladdin, a street-smart youth in the city of Agrabah, who discovers a magical lamp containing a genie, voiced by Robin Williams. With the genie’s help, Aladdin tries to win the heart of Princess Jasmine while thwarting the schemes of the villainous Jafar. 

Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 11, 1992 Writers Ron Clements , John Musker , Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Ed Gombert , Burny Mattinson Cast Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga Runtime 90 Minutes

Aladdin gets two songs whereas Genie gets one, but even if “A Whole New World” is one of Disney’s most iconic songs, “Friend Like Me” is much catchier and more of a spectacle. Genie is the more dynamic character, always doing wild stuff on screen to provoke laughter. The live-action movie also frames the movie with Genie (not disguised as a merchant) narrating, implying that the story is about him and the impact Aladdin had on his life.

6 Mean Girls (2004)

Regina, Not Cady

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Cady is the main character of Mean Girls, while her friendship-rivalry with Regina is what sends her teenage life spinning out of control. Lindsay Lohan would have been better known at the time for the teen-focused drama movie genre of Mean Girls, but Regina George has grown beyond the average mean queen bee character in pop culture. Like Sharpay in High School Musical, Regina is so flashy that she instantly became iconic. Meanwhile, Cady’s character falls into the less interesting “shy new girl” category.

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Mean Girls tells the story of Cady (Lindsay Lohan), a teen girl who falls in with the wrong crowd. After returning to the USA after spending her childhood in Africa, Cady infiltrates her school’s group of mean girls, befriending the conniving Regina George (Rachel McAdams) and her cronies. However, Cady finds the high school hierarchy to be far more complicated than she had imagined, drawing her into a game of manipulation and deceit that threatens her reputation.

Director Mark Waters Release Date April 30, 2004 Writers Tina Fey Cast Amy Poehler , Lacey Chabert , Tina Fey , Rachel McAdams , Amanda Seyfried , Lindsay Lohan Runtime 97 minutes

Additionally, the number of quotable lines in Mean Girls revolving around just mentioning Regina George makes her one of the easiest elements to reference. Any mention of Regina instantly recalls the most chaotic high school experience and the worst popular girl possible. Regina is the face of Mean Girls, embodying the superficiality and spite that has gone out of control in the story, which gradually comes to define Cady’s personality as well.

5 The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator, Not Kyle & Sarah

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Arnold Schwarzenegger was always at the forefront of The Terminator’s marketing, with Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn being the secondary stars. Schwarzenegger’s Terminator has the biggest presence in the movie, an indestructible assassin who is the entire point of the story. He is the reason Sarah and Kyle are constantly moving and the proof that Skynet exists in the future, as well as the title character. Despite Hamilton’s newfound fame and Sarah’s character arc, the T-800 still dominates the story in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

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The Terminator is a sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a cyborg assassin sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton, whose son will lead a resistance against machine domination. Michael Biehn portrays Kyle Reese, a soldier also sent back in time to protect Sarah. The film explores themes of time travel, artificial intelligence, and survival.

Director James Cameron Release Date October 26, 1984 Writers James Cameron , Gale Anne Hurd , William Wisher Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Michael Biehn , Linda Hamilton , Paul Winfield , Lance Henriksen , Bess Motta Runtime 107 Minutes

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Going forward, Schwarzenegger remains the mascot of the franchise, despite the varying role he plays in each movie. He overshadows John and Kate in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and only cameos in Terminator Salvation. While other characters might be given more attention in the story in the subsequent two movies, he is still impossible to ignore. Ironically, the Terminator in Terminator Zero is unremarkable, mostly serving as a reason for the action to happen.

4 The Great Gatsby (2013)

Gatsby, Not Nick

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Nick Carraway is technically the protagonist of The Great Gatsby. Nick narrates the story, which starts when he comes to New York and witnesses the fraught relations between Jay Gatsby and the Buchanans, commenting on the frivolity and corruption of their world. At the center of his story is Gatsby, who is the true star by virtue of being the title character shrouded in mystery and wealth. In a way, The Great Gatsby is about Nick setting out to unravel the mystery of Gatsby’s life.

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The Great Gatsby is a 2013 drama romance film based on the book of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The movie is one of many adaptations of the iconic 1925 novel, this time starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. The film received a polarizing reception upon release but won two Oscars at the 2014 Academy Awards.

Director Baz Luhrmann Release Date May 10, 2013 Writers Baz Luhrmann , Craig Pearce Cast Leonardo DiCaprio , Carey Mulligan , Joel Edgerton , Tobey Maguire , Jason Clarke , Elizabeth Debicki , Isla Fisher Runtime 143 Minutes

It is hard for a character not to be the star when he is throwing massive, decadent parties every weekend. Again, Nick is merely a witness to Gatsby and Daisy’s affair; this plot point is the driving force of the story’s drama, while Nick’s dynamic with Jordan is relatively tame. In the end, Gatsby’s fate and Daisy’s abandonment are the ultimate tragedy in a story that is almost exclusively about him.

3 101 Dalmatians (1961)

Cruella, Not Pongo & Perdita

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The lovable banality of all the main characters of 101 Dalmatians is what allows Cruella de Vil to shine as its star.

Roger and Anita are pleasantly bland civilians, while their Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita are kindly parents-to-be. These characters all have simplistic, realistic aspirations and priorities: pay the bills, take care of their loved ones. There are too many similarities between the dogs and their owners for any of them to stand out. The initial sequence of Pongo looking for a date for Roger draws comparisons between the dogs and their owners, while Anita and Perdita ultimately have the same goals and complementary personalities as their partners.

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The story of a family of Dalmatian puppies who are kidnapped by a terrible woman called Cruella De Vil, who is fascinated by fur coats and is determined to turn them into a coat.

Director Wolfgang Reitherman , Hamilton Luske , Clyde Geronimi Release Date January 25, 1961 Cast Rod Taylor , J. Pat O’Malley , Betty Lou Gerson , Martha Wentworth

The lovable banality of all the main characters of 101 Dalmatians is what allows Cruella de Vil to shine as its star. She has the most flair and is the most interesting of everyone on screen, who is a solo act in comparison to most of the other characters coming in twos or bigger groups. When one of the movie’s two songs is an extremely catchy jazz number named after her, she is a one-woman spectacle.

2 The Dark Knight (2008)

The Joker, Not Bruce Wayne

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No part of The Dark Knight has inhabited a bigger space in people’s minds or had a bigger impact on pop culture than the Joker. Heath Ledger’s Joker inspired other performances in years to come, while the iconic Batman villain is the reason for The Dark Knight’s story. Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent get a fair amount of screen time dedicated to great action and discussing the movie’s main themes, but nothing can compare to the mania of the Joker’s machinations.

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Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime.

Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 18, 2008 Writers Christopher Nolan , Jonathan Nolan , David S. Goyer Cast Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , Nestor Carbonell , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , David Dastmalchian , Anthony Michael Hall Runtime 152 Minutes Expand

One of the best opening scenes ever shows exactly what Batman is up against with the Joker’s clever and deadly bank robbery in which he is the only winner. All of The Dark Knight’s best and most intense scenes feature the Joker, as he manipulates the population and major players of Gotham City. Ledger’s posthumously awarded Oscar for his performance cemented his iteration of the character’s place in history, making him the most remembered part of this landmark action movie.

1 Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Jack, Not Will

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Will and Elizabeth are the more traditional protagonists of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The movie begins with Elizabeth as the POV character, while the narrative follows Will’s straightforward goal of rescuing Elizabeth. Jack’s entrance is not only bizarre because of the sinking ship gimmick, but because he shows up at an odd point for the main character. This is because he isn’t the main character in a narrative sense, but a mascot that ties the whole story together and makes it unique.

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The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.

Director Gore Verbinski Release Date July 9, 2003 Writers Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert Cast Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce Runtime 143 Minutes

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Throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Jack is flightier and has less defined motivations than the supporting characters. Like in the first movie, Jack serves as an isolated, out-of-this-world character who elevates Will’s standard swashbuckling adventure to something original. In this case, Jack is widely considered the main character of the franchise, and Johnny Depp always gets top billing. However, knowledge of narrative tropes reveals that Pirates of the Caribbean is doing something different.

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