9 Stars Who Outshined Their Co-Stars in Movies

Remember William Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean? How about Jack Sparrow?

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• February 11, 2023

Creating a movie is an incredibly complicated and time-consuming process. It requires a vast amount of supporting staff and actors to come together and bring a story to life.

From the writers, producers, and directors to the camera crew, makeup artists, costume designers, and all of the actors, each person plays an important role in making a movie successful. When choosing leading stars for a movie, absolute care must be taken; however, there are times when the supporting characters end up stealing the show.

Movie studios are essentially businesses, and their goal is to get people to watch their movies. In some cases, a supporting actor will give such an incredible performance that they become the most memorable part of the film. This is especially true when they outshine the lead, and their character becomes the focus of the movie.

For example, Jack Sparrow came in on a sinking ship and overshadowed William Turner in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and Furiosa was the real star of "Mad Max: Fury Road." So, it's time to grab some popcorn and take a look at this list of nine supporting characters in movies that managed to outshine the leads and stay in the audience's memory for a long time.

1. Johnny Depp stole “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” from Orlando Bloom

Although “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was originally intended to be an Orlando Bloom vehicle, given the success of “Lord of the Rings”, the actor was seen as a rising star.

Bloom was introduced in the film as a blacksmith, unaware of his pirate origins, and while the screenplay gave his character Will Turner a grand romance and self-discovery arc, the show ultimately belonged to Captain Jack. As such, Bloom was relegated to a supporting role.

2. Chloe Moretz And Nicolas Cage stole “Kick-Ass” from Aaron Taylor-Johnson

The comedy superhero film "Kick-Ass" follows the story of a normal teenager, Dave Lizewski (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who seeks to become a real-life superhero. While the focus is on Dave, Nic Cage as the former cop-turned-Bat-like vigilante and Big Daddy's skilfully trained 11-year-old daughter both steal the show.

3. Heath Ledger stole “The Dark Knight” from Christian Bale

Heath Ledger's performance in "The Dark Knight" as the Joker, a mass-murdering psychopath, is widely considered one of the best movie performances of all time. His work was truly remarkable.

Christian Bale did an admirable job as Batman, but it was Ledger's performance that truly made the film soar, elevating it to one of the greatest superhero movies ever. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

4. Jeff Goldblum stole “Jurassic Park” from Sam Neill

Although Grant is the main character in the movie, Dr. Ian Malcolm steals the show with his predictions of what will go wrong. His most famous line, "life finds a way," has become a major part of the Jurassic Park franchise. Goldblum's character is undoubtedly the most celebrated of the series.

5. Zach Galifianakis stole “The Hangover” from Bradley Cooper

In the movie "The Hangover," Bradley Cooper is the most recognizable actor as he portrays Phil, the alpha of the wolf pack. However, the true star of the film is Zach Galifianakis as Alan.

There is a memorable scene in the movie where Alan straps a baby to his chest, gets tasered in the face and confesses to giving the group of friends roofies in order to make their Las Vegas bachelor party more enjoyable.

6. Neil Patrick Harris stole “How I Met Your Mother” from Josh Radnor

Many fans of the show credited Josh Radnor's performance but admitted that they were kept glued to their screens because of Barney Stinson's sly womanizing. Some even suggested that the show's success might not have been possible without him.

7. Anne Hathaway stole “Les Misérables” from Hugh Jackman

If there was any doubt as to Anne Hathaway's acting ability, Les Misérables put it to rest. Not only is she a stunningly beautiful actress, but her performance in the movie was also so impressive that it earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Of course, we can't forget the incredible work of Hugh Jackman that contributed to the film's success.

8. Will Smith stole “Bad Boys” from Martin Lawrence

Viewers of the movie "Bad Boys" were struck by the monumental star power of Will Smith compared to Martin Lawrence. Smith's character, Mike Lowrey, was central to all of the action, with Lawrence playing his partner, narcotics detective Marcus Burnett.

9. Harrison Ford stole “Star Wars” from Mark Hamill

Harrison Ford's portrayal of Han Solo was so great that he became perhaps the most iconic character in "Star Wars". Luke was played perfectly by Mark Hamill, but Ford's swagger as Han Solo was unmatchable. His role as Han Solo was the beginning of his long career as a leading man.

Supporting roles often take away some of the spotlights from main roles in movies, but that's what makes movies interesting. Supporting roles help to create a dynamic story by adding depth and complexity to the main characters' arcs.

Without these additional characters, the story would be much less interesting and engaging. Supporting roles often provide the audience with a different perspective on the main characters' experiences, which can help to make the story richer and more engaging.

Additionally, they can help to highlight certain aspects of the story, such as conflict or tension, that would otherwise be less visible.

Damjan