20 films where a supporting actor outshined the star

Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is the main attraction of his titular movie. It has to be said that it’s Tom Hiddleston’s Loki who steals the show. He’s the quintessential brat prince and chaos demon, and this would remain true during his entire time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in the films and TV series. Even though Hiddleston is a remarkably versatile actor with many other roles to his credit, it’s arguably Loki for whom he’ll best be remembered.

Charlize Theron seems to effortlessly steal any scene in which she appears. This is inarguably the case in Mad Max: Fury Road. S he plays the memorable action heroine Imperator Furiosa. She’s a more dynamic presence than the film’s star, Tom Hardy, who portrays Max. Her character left such an impression and became so beloved that she ended up getting her own film, though the younger version of the character was played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly is arguably one of the most beloved characters from 1980s cinema, and he’s the center of gravity in Back to the Future. It’s impossible to imagine the film without Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown, wild hair and all. There’s a remarkable exuberance to Lloyd’s performance in this role, and it’s easy to see why he remains so beloved by fans of the films and those who look back to 1980s films with a great deal of fondness. 

Margot Robbie gives a heartfelt and heartbreaking performance in I, Tonya,  in which she plays controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. While she’s undoubtedly the star, Allison Janney gives a terrific and scene-stealing performance as Tonya’s mother, LaVona Golden. Raspy and often cruel, LaVona is a powerful presence in the film, driving her daughter to achieve more success while also never ceasing to tear her down. It’s one of Janney’s most embodied performances, and it’s easy to see why she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. 

Orlando Bloom stars in Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven,  where he plays the epic hero Balian of Ibelin. While he’s the center of the story, Edward Norton is the film’s brightest light, portraying the doomed but honorable King Baldwin of Jerusalem, also known as the Leper King. It’s a subtle performance from Norton, and one that’s particularly since he never reveals his face. He bears his pain with remarkable stoicism and ends up being as much of a hero as Bloom’s Ibelin.

It was probably inevitable that Robin Williams was going to steal the show in the film Aladdin, even though his character, the Genie, only comes in roughly a third of the way into the movie. So vibrant is Williams’ performance, however, that it’s impossible to deny that, in some ways, he is the real star of the show. He manages to balance his usual spitfire delivery with a warmer sensibility, and this helps to elevate Genie above some of the other sidekick characters that are such a key part of the Disney sensibility.

Daniel Radcliffe burst into fame as Harry Potter in the first film in the series, but for many, the most indelible performance was given by the late Alan Rickman. Rickman portrays Severus Snape, who immediately dislikes Harry and does everything he can to make his life miserable. Even though the truth behind Snape’s dislike wouldn’t be revealed for years to come, Rickman’s performance still suggested that there was far more to this Potions Master than Harry or the viewer could see.

In many ways, Interview with the Vampire  is Brad Pitt’s movie since he is the narrator, the tormented vampire Louis. However, he’s often outshone by Tom Cruise, who portrays Louis’ maker and companion Lestat. Lestat struts and preens across the stage, much as he does in Anne Rice’s original novel, and there are many times when Cruise’s star power threatens to outshine Pitt’s. However, it’s hard to deny the power that Lestat wields, both over the viewer and Louis, so it’s understandable why so many fans of Rice’s books should continue to gravitate toward Cruise’s performance.    

Ralph Fiennes can steal a scene without even trying, and he proves this in Schindler’s List.  He is the epitome of Nazi terror as Amön Goth, a man who is utterly ruthless and capable of acts of great and unspeakable cruelty. He puts a face to the horrors of the Holocaust, and while Liam Neeson’s Oskar Schindler is the film’s tortured hero, it’s Fiennes who often steals the show. He’s repulsive and unforgettable, and it remains one of the actor’s most memorable performances.

As with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes follows Andy Serkis’ Caesar as his group of apes encounter humans after several years of isolation. Arguably, the most fascinating character is Koba, Caesar’s lieutenant, who turns to the darkness and tries to overthrow his friend. Toby Kebbell gives a powerful motion-capture performance, and he allows the audience to see Koba as something of a tragic figure, someone who has been so damaged by his torture at the hands of humanity that he can never bring himself to see them as worthy of life or equal rights.

The Green Mile has the distinction of being one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King novel. Tom Hanks stars as prison guard Paul Edgecomb, but it’s really Michael Clarke Duncan’s doomed inmate John Coffey who is the heart of the film. There’s so much soul to Duncan’s performance that one can’t help but love and feel for him, particularly since he has been wrongfully convicted. His death near the end of the film hits like a punch to the gut, and this, more than anything else, is a testament to the potency of Duncan’s performance.

At first glance, Star Wars,  particularly the first film in the original trilogy, is very much Luke Skywalker’s story. However, from the moment that Harrison Ford’s Han Solo appears, it’s clever who’s going to be taking up a lot of energy in the movie. Even at this early stage in his career, it was clear that Ford was a true movie star of the old-fashioned variety. He’s dashing, handsome, and a smart-aleck, and this is precisely why fans continue to love him and hold him up as one of the best characters in the franchise.

Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is a harrowing look at the Vietnam War, and much of it focuses on the experiences of Joker and Pyle, portrayed by Matthew Modine and Vincent D'Onofrio. However, R. Lee Ermey is just so powerful a presence as Gunnery Sergeant L. Hartman that he overshadows the other two in any scene. It’s the kind of role Ermey seems to have been born to play — full of authority, command, and a no-nonsense attitude — and very similar to the others he would play throughout his career.

12 Monkeys is one of those films that only becomes more pertinent as the years go by, focusing as it does on a terrible plague that decimates the planet, leading Bruce Willis’ James Cole to go back in time to try to find a cure. While Willis gets top billing, Brad Pitt is even more charismatic, compelling, and downright terrifying as Jeffrey Goines, a mental patient whose behavior is strange and erratic. It’s one of those roles that call for Pitt to fully embody his character’s troubled psyche, and he more than succeeds. 

Daniel Craig continued his successful stint as James Bond in Skyfall.  As so often in the Bond series, the most fascinating thing about the film is Javier Bardem’s performance of the villain Raoul Silva. His silken menace is terrifying to behold, particularly since he has a particular ire for Judi Dench’s M. He’s one of those villains just as captivating as Bond himself. It’s easy to see why he is often regarded as the film's best part.

Jodie Foster gives one of the most memorable performances of her career in The Silence of the Lambs,  in which she plays Clarice Starling, an FBI agent on the hunt for the killer known as Buffalo Bill. Everyone knows, however, that it’s Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter who really steals the show. He might not be on-screen for very long, but he exerts such a magnetic pull that he’s impossible to forget, and while the venerable actor has been in many roles in his long career, Hannibal — in all of his suave menace — will always be one of his best.

On the surface, The Dark Knight  is about Christian Bale’s Batman. In truth, the film very much belongs to Heath Ledger’s Joker. His iteration of the character is quite simply chaos incarnate, and this makes him one of the most terrifying characters in Nolan’s trilogy. It’s a masterful performance from the late Ledger, and it helped to solidify his reputation as one of his generation’s most formidable acting talents. So committed was he to becoming the Joker that, at times, it’s hard to see where Ledger ends and the role begins. 

The gross-out comedy Bridesmaids  is primarily focused on the friendship between Kristen Wiig’s Anne Walker and Maya Rudolph’s Lillian Donovan. However, the film is also a showcase for the remarkable comedic talents of Melissa McCarthy, whose Megan definitely steals every scene in which she appears. The film plays to McCarthy’s strengths as a comedian, and her masterful command of physical comedy — as well as her ability to deliver a hilarious line — allows her to shine, and any time she appears, she manages to get a laugh. 

Bruce Willis is undoubtedly the hero of Die Hard, but the film wouldn’t be nearly as memorable if it wasn’t for Alan Rickman. Rickman portrays Hans Gruber, the leader of the terrorists and the big bad of the whole film. He exudes cool European menace, and the role is a reminder of why Rickman was widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation. Even though the franchise would go on without him, none of its other villains ever quite measured up to his standard. 

The Fugitive might showcase Harrison Ford’s tremendous talents as a leading man, but it also features a dynamic and memorable performance from Tommy Lee Jones. Jones portrays Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, tasked with bringing Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble to justice. It’s just the sort of role that Jones was born to play, and he makes Gerard into a man of honor and someone the audience can respect, even if he is trying to arrest the hero of the film for a crime he didn’t do.