Not every main character, to be honest, is capable of fascinating us. At times, they might be excessively serious, overly predictable, or simply exist. At the same time, a secondary character comes, takes over each scene, and becomes, in fact, the main reason for you to watch. This is one of the most charming devices of storytelling, and the audience has been arguing about these “scene thieves” for years. Here is a list of 10 supporting characters whose role was to support the characters, but they took over the spotlight.
10. Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)
When Luna appeared in Order of the Phoenix, she instantly made waves. Dreamy, quirky, and unfazed by anyone’s thoughts, she served as a welcome counterpoint to Harry’s perpetual angst. Well beyond mere comic relief, Luna’s bluntness and fearlessness provided depth that made the Chosen One seem downright mundane at times.
9. Hit-Girl (Kick-Ass)
Kick-Ass might have gotten his name on the marquee, but Hit-Girl stole the show. Tough, profane, and brutally effective, she paired graphic violence with touching vulnerability. With her heartbreaking history and unstoppable drive, she provided the movie’s emotional center—and left everyone clamoring for way more Hit-Girl than Kick-Ass.
8. Oda Mae Brown (Ghost)
Whoopi Goldberg’s stint as a grudging medium finding her authentic talent is not to be forgotten. Her biting wit, naked emotion, and down-to-earth realism brought a grounding quality to a ghost story romance that threatened to get too maudlin. Her Oscar-winning role is still one of the most remembered aspects of Ghost, and it isn’t unreasonable to say she stole the film.
7. Inigo Montoya (The Princess Bride)
Few characters are more iconic than Inigo Montoya. His quest for revenge and that famous line provided The Princess Bride with its heart of gold. Sure, the romance is sweet, but when people think of the movie, it’s Inigo’s energy, humor, and swordfighting that immediately spring to mind.
6. Burnham (Panic Room)
In a thriller that was full of tension, Forest Whitaker’s Burnham injected unexpected humanity. As a thief struggling between greed and conscience, he was the most complicated character in the tale. While the leads were hiding out and living, Burnham was grappling with morality—and his internal struggle lent the film unexpected emotional heft.
5. Captain Edward Smith (Titanic)
Jack and Rose were the emotional center for some, perhaps, but Captain Smith’s tale had its haunting strength. Seeing him have to make impossible decisions as the ship went down provided the Titanic with gravitas. His destiny—and the guilt on his face—remained long after the romance dissipated.
4. Ramona Vega (Hustlers)
Although the film technically is about Destiny, Ramona, played by Jennifer Lopez, was the one who dominated the screen. Complicated, charismatic, and endlessly magnetic, she was the brains and the beating heart of the crew. Lopez’s powerhouse performance made Ramona the character that people remembered.
3. Alfred Pennyworth (The Dark Knight Trilogy)
Bruce Wayne may have donned the cowl, but Alfred was the backbone of Gotham’s hero. Michael Caine brought warmth, intelligence, and tragic honesty to the devoted butler, turning him into the emotional center of the trilogy. Without Alfred, Batman would’ve been a broken man in a mask.
2. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
Ted could have been the “main character,” but Barney was the reason the majority of us tuned in. Neil Patrick Harris’s iconic performance made the suit-wearing ladies’ man a surprisingly textured, emotionally rich character. His antics and one-liners brought us in, but his development made him unforgettable—solidifying him as a legend over poor Ted entirely.
1. Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)
What began as a stereotypical jock boyfriend status, however, soon turned into one of television’s favorite characters. Steve’s development as lovable, baseball-bat-toting “mom” of Hawkins—and his improbable bromance with Dustin—solidified his place as a fan favorite. His wit, humor, and redemption storyline frequently stole the show from the kids themselves.
Supporting actors often don’t get the starring roles, but they are usually the ones who make a tale unforgettable. Whether their roles are as comic relief, emotional depth, or as simple scene stealers with pure charm, side characters show us that sometimes the best that a story has to offer isn’t taking center stage—it’s just to the left and right of it.