The sci-fi genre is filled with iconic characters that have cemented their place in movie history. but while most of these characters are the leads of their own stories, there are some side characters who steal the show and sometimes feel like they should be the protagonist.
It is not just about a funny sidekick or menacing villains who stand out as supporting players. These exceptional side characters have such strong personalities, motivations, and charisma that it is easy to imagine them starring in their own story within these bold sci-fi worlds.
Bug - The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Fans were very excited to see characters like Neo and Trinity return in The Matrix Resurrections, but the movie's best character ended up being an entirely new one. Bug is introduced as a leader of resistance fighters seeking to free Neo from the Matrix.
She is a brave and intelligent soldier but also a hero who is willing to do anything in the fight for good. It might have been more interesting to explore the story from her perspective as she seeks to save the older generation of former heroes.
Ollie - The Mist (2007)
The Mist follows a group of survivors who get trapped in a grocery store with otherworldly monsters lurking outside. The lead of the story is a father looking to protect the innocent survivors, but the real hero is an unassuming store clerk named Ollie.
Ollie doesn't seem like much of a hero when he is first introduced, but he quickly proves himself. From telling off his boss to proving to be a skilled gunman, Ollie becomes the badass of the story. He also gets the biggest crowd-pleasing moment when he takes out the movie's vile villain.
Billy - Predator (1987)
With a squad of muscle-bound commandos on a jungle mission, Predator has a lot of fun side characters who stand out. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch ends up being the last man standing, but Billy is set up to be the most interesting of the group.
Billy is a strong silent warrior who is every bit as deadly as his comrades. But he is also the only one on the team to sense the alien that is hunting them. He even gets a badass final stand as he decides to face the alien on his own, without weapons or even a shirt.
Russell Case - Independence Day (1996)
As one of the most entertaining alien invasion movies ever made, Independence Day has a lot of memorable human characters from soldiers to politicians. But the day is ultimately saved by a washed-up pilot, Russell Casse.
Russell initially seems like a wacky comic relief character, but the fact that he has a supposed history with the aliens makes him a lot more interesting. He gradually shows he is more than just a local eccentric and gets the big hero moment when he sacrifices himself to take down the alien ship.
Eames - Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan's Inception is an inventive sci-fi heist movie taking place inside people's dreams. It also features a strong cast, led by Leonardo DiCaprio. But it is Tom Hardy in one of his first blockbuster roles who leaves the biggest impression.
Hardy plays Eames, the "counterfeiter" of the team and a very smooth operator. He is a suave gentleman criminal with enough charisma to overshadow everyone else. His epic ski action sequence was especially thrilling, and the role helped convince many people he'd be ideal as James Bond.
Duncan Idaho - Dune (2021)
Denis Villeneuve's recent adaptation of Dune was one of the best-reviewed sci-fi movies of 2021 and featured an incredible all-star cast. While Jason Momoa was just one of the many big names, his character of Duncan Idaho was a standout in the massive story.
Idaho is one of the most loyal members of the Atreides and one of its fiercest warriors. Idaho's adventures with the native people of the planet feel like it could be its own movie as he is able to gain their respect and learn their ways. He also seems like a one-man army as he makes a thrilling final stand to protect Paul.
Muldoon - Jurassic Park (1993)
While the dinosaurs are most certainly the stars of the show in Jurassic Park, the human characters are well-written and entertaining. But the one who stands out as the most interesting among them is the hunter, Muldoon.
He is one of the few park employees who sees the dinosaurs as the real threat they are and seems to have anticipated the moment they would get free. Even in the face of all the chaos, he is a calm and collected badass who sets out to hunt the raptors by himself. Even when facing death, Muldoon remains a cool customer.
Roy Batty - Blade Runner (1982)
There are plenty of villains who are so evil that they become the most compelling characters in the movie. However, Roy Batty is an antagonist who truly seems like he should be the central focus of the story in Blade Runner.
He is an android who rebels against programming which says he is nothing more than a slave. His journey of seeking revenge against his creator, fighting to live free, and ultimately proving himself more human than those hunting him is the most sympathetic and powerful arc in the movie.
Hicks - Aliens (1986)
It is interesting that Ellen Ripley was initially something of a supporting character in Alien only to become the lead by the end of the story. When she returns in Aliens, she is even more of a hero, but she is also surrounded by terrific supporting characters, including Hicks.
Within the group of commandos, Hicks is the quiet and reserved soldier. After much of the team is wiped out, he reluctantly becomes the leader of the operation and rises to the task of being a true hero.
Furiosa - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Since Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth installment in the franchise, fans naturally assumed that Max would be the lead of the story. While Tom Hardy successfully fit into the titular role, Charlize Theron as Furiosa felt like the real protagonist.
She is given her own tragic backstory, taken from her family and turned into a warrior for a brutal warlord. But she rebels against him to rescue his slave wives whereas Max just seems to be around for the ride. George Miller seemed to realize this as he is launching a spinoff movie, Furiosa.