Every movie has a protagonist the audience is meant to follow through the story, and then there are supporting players who fill out the protagonist's world. However, sometimes those secondary characters are the ones the audience gravitates towards and that end up stealing the whole show.
It takes a very talented actor to make supporting characters shine in such a big way and it can be a real thrill when fans find instances of this. Whether it is a particularly funny character, a hard-hitting performance with limited screen time, or just a unique character, these supporting players took the spotlight in smaller roles.
Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables (2012)
The big musical production of Les Misérables boasts a star-studded cast that includes Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the lead roles. But it is Anne Hathaway who carries the first act of the movie with her performance as the tragic character Fantine.
With her incredible musical performance of the heartbreaking song "I Dreamed a Dream," Hathaway delivers a show-stopping moment in the movie before leaving the story. Unfortunately, this adaptation of the classic story never recovers from her absence.
Val Kilmer - Tombstone (1993)
The epic saga Tombstone stars Kurt Russell in one of his best Western roles as legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. It is a role Russell fits perfectly, but while Earp is a great reserved and noble hero, it is Doc Holliday who has all the fun in the movie.
Val Kilmer creates a character who is funny, intelligent, and badass as the immoral yet heroic gunslinger slowly dying from his alcoholism. Holliday gets all the best dialogue and even takes down the movie's main villain, literally stepping into Earp's role for the crowd-pleasing moment.
Sean Penn - Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Given the kind of intense roles he would later be known for, it is surprising to see that Sean Penn's career started with a scene-stealing comedic role. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a teen comedy exploring the lives of high school students.
There are a number of storylines in the movie with Jennifer Jason Leigh's Stacy as the main focus. However, it is Penn's performance as stoner Jeff Spicoli that became iconic. Despite only appearing in scattered scenes, Penn made this doofus character the standout image of the movie.
Viola Davis - Doubt (2008)
The intense drama Doubt features Oscar winners like Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in terrific roles. So it is quite impressive that relatively unknown Viola Davis was able to come in and steal the entire movie with only a single scene.
She plays the mother of a troubled student at a Catholic school who meets with Streep's strict nun. Incredibly, Davis completely takes the scene over from Streep, delivering a heartbreaking, complicated, and layered performance in only a matter of minutes.
R. Lee Ermey - Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Stanley Kubrick's classic war movie Full Metal Jacket is split into two separate parts. While the second half which actually takes place during the war is solid, it pales in comparison to the first half which takes place in boot camp. A big reason for this is the presence of R. Lee Ermey.
Though he had little previous acting experience, Ermey commands the entire movie as the vulgar, brutal, and hilarious drill sergeant. Ermey was in fact a drill sergeant in real life, but he is a natural on-screen and the movie sorely misses him when the story moves on.
Michael Peña - Ant-Man (2015)
It is quite special when a superhero movie's best character is a supporting character with no superpowers. Such was the case for Michael Peña's performance as Luis in Ant-Man. While the movie follows Scott Lang's journey to becoming a hero, most fans could have watched an entire movie focused on Luis.
This ever-optimistic criminal is a joy to watch, especially with his long and rambling stories peppered with his surprisingly astute observations. Peña was able to take this small supporting role and make him one of the most likable characters in the MCU.
Cuba Gooding Jr. - Jerry Maguire (1996)
Tom Cruise gave one of his best performances in the romantic-comedy Jerry Maguire and the movie remains one of the most quotable movies of all time. And several of the most iconic lines in the movie come from Cuba Gooding Jr. as the arrogant but likable football player Rod Tidwell.
Though the love story is meant to take center stage in Jerry Maguire, the movie gets an extra special whenever Rod is onscreen. He is an energetic, hilarious, and charming character whose flaws only make him more fun to watch.
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids (2011)
While Bridesmaids helped cement Kristen Wigg's Hollywood career, few actors have made such a splash with a breakout role as Melissa McCarthy in this movie. Her role as Megan is a powerhouse comedic performance that steals every scene that she is in.
From the disaster at the wedding dress shop to the shenanigans on the airplane, all the movie's hilarious situations are made even funnier with Megan's participation. It is no surprise that McCarthy earned an Oscar nomination for this role.
Joe Pesci - Goodfellas (1990)
Martin Scorsese's gangster masterpiece Goodfellas is so brilliant because it shows both the intoxicating life of organized crime before also revealing the brutal and violent side of this world. Both sides are wonderfully highlighted by Joe Pesci's performance as Tommy DeVito.
Pesci brings an unpredictability to every scene he is in. He can be the fun-loving wild man at one moment only to turn into a murderous monster with the flip of a switch. It is a hypnotic and terrifying performance to behold.
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight (2008)
Upstaging Batman in his own movie is no easy feat, nor is following Jack Nicholson's iconic performance as Joker in Batman. Heath Ledger managed to do both with his new take on the Clown Prince of Crime in The Dark Knight.
Joker is scattered throughout the movie with large chunks of screen time where he is missing, but Ledger's wild and terrifying presence in the role is felt over the entire story. He is funny, shocking, and cloaked in a fascinating sense of the unknown.