Films where the 'supporting' actor steals the show from the main lead?

rfonzorfonzo Posts: 11,771
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One obvious one for me was Morgan Freeman in 'The Shawshank Redemption.' Another could also be Morgan Freeman in '7even.'
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  • sarahj1986sarahj1986 Posts: 11,305
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    Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicago was for me better than Renee Zellwegger
  • AneechikAneechik Posts: 20,208
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    Anything with Chrsitine Baransky.
  • Peter VenkmanPeter Venkman Posts: 1,769
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    Thomas Ian Griffith in The Karate Kid III.

    Crispin Glover in Back to the Future.

    John Lithgow in Santa Claus: The Movie and Cliffhanger.

    Robert Shaw in Jaws.
  • DandemDandem Posts: 13,247
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    Django Unchained. Jamie Foxx wasn't bad, but Christoph Waltz was absolutely superb.
  • astorastor Posts: 575
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    The wee boy in "Sunshine on Leith"

    Fab child actor !
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josey Wales.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,138
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    Alan Rickman in Robin Hood POT
  • jeff_vaderjeff_vader Posts: 938
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    Agree with majority of above. And John Lithgow and Rickman in just about anything :D. Steve Buscemi is also a scene-stealer par excellence.

    The first 'supporting' actor I remember seeing on TV who I thought was as good, if not better, than main star was Karl Malden. I thought he out-acted Brando in One-Eyed Jacks, and equal to George C. Scott in Patton (as Omar Bradley).
  • pburke90pburke90 Posts: 14,753
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    Alan Rickman in Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
  • TakaeTakae Posts: 13,555
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    Fun question.

    Jeannie Berlin - The Heartbreak Kid (when I think of this film, I think of her performance)
    the Camden joint guy - Withnail & I
    Matthew McConaughey - Dazed and Confused
    Jackie Earle Haley and the father, too - Breaking Away
    Steve Zahn - Rescue Dawn; Out of Sight; Happy, Texas
    Gwyneth Paltrow - Hard Eight
    Robert Carlyle - Trainspotting
    Don Cheadle - Devil in a Blue Dress (totally stole the show from Denzel Washington; well, he is good at stealing scenes)
    Ben Foster - Alpha Dog; 30 Days of Night; 3:15 to Yuma
    John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
    Heather Graham - Drugstore Cowboy
    Sarah Polley - Go
    Willem Defoe - Platoon

    Disqualified because they're antagonists?:
    Adolph Caesar - A Soldier's Story
    Rutger Hauer - Blade Runner
    Burt Lancaster - Sweet Smell of Success
    Mandy Patinskin - The Princess Bride
    Chiwetel Ejiofor - Serenity
    Willem Defoe - Streets of Fire (he's shamelessly hammy, which fits the film)
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    Slim Pickens in Dr Strangelove
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,164
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    Parker Posey in Scream 3 is the only reason to watch it.
  • Susie_WilcoxSusie_Wilcox Posts: 1,014
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    It's got to be Burl Ives in 'A Big Country' (1958). The role of Rufus Hannassy really only amounted to a matter of minutes screenwise but Ives absolutely dominated his few scenes. His first scene in the film is when his character Hannassy crashes the engagement party of his rival's (Charles Bickford) daughter...absolutely powerful stuff and for his he actually won the Supporting Actor Oscar. One of the best moments in movies IMO.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMiD6PU8SKI
  • Cracker_CakeCracker_Cake Posts: 1,478
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    Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained.

    Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects.

    Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive.
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    Ber wrote: »
    R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket

    Good one
  • RebelScumRebelScum Posts: 16,008
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    Joe Pesci in Goodfellas
    Harrison Ford in Star Wars
    Also, the most obvious one; Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight.
  • MrMarpleMrMarple Posts: 3,417
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    dee123 wrote: »
    Parker Posey in Scream 3 is the only reason to watch it.

    She was fantastic in that film. Never before have I rooted for a character NOT to be killed off in a slasher movie.

    My choice would be Marisa Tomei in 'My Cousin Vinny'.

    She totally stole in every scene she was in, in a role that could have been very, very annoying.
    She more than held her own up against Joe Pecsi.

    One of my favourite performances of all time.
  • Peter VenkmanPeter Venkman Posts: 1,769
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    Also, the most obvious one; Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight.

    I was observing to see how many posts we could go before Heath got mentioned :D.
  • Peter VenkmanPeter Venkman Posts: 1,769
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    Tom Cruise in Magnolia.

    In fact, I think its his best acting performance ever.
  • dearmrmandearmrman Posts: 21,408
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    Joe Pesci in Goodfellas
    Harrison Ford in Star Wars
    Also, the most obvious one; Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight.

    Personally I have always thought of them as main leads rather than supporting, even though he won best supporting actor.

    The Dark Knight: Christian Bale & Heath Ledger

    Star Wars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford
  • MrMarpleMrMarple Posts: 3,417
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    Tom Cruise in Magnolia.

    In fact, I think its his best acting performance ever.

    I agree.
    I can't stand TC to be honest, but he was outstanding in that film.
    He really was robbed of The Oscar IMO.
  • TakaeTakae Posts: 13,555
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    Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects.

    For me: Benicio del Toro as the Marble Garbler in The Usual Suspects. The giggling scene, for instance.
  • RebelScumRebelScum Posts: 16,008
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    dearmrman wrote: »
    Personally I have always thought of them as main leads rather than supporting, even though he won best supporting actor.

    The Dark Knight: Christian Bale & Heath Ledger

    Star Wars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford

    That would be them stealing the show then ;)

    Harrison Ford was certainly one of the main leads in Empire & Jedi. But in SW he was in a supporting role. That one was all about Luke.
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,164
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    Also, the most obvious one; Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight.

    It was very good but not great. Now overrated because he died.
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