Movies you watched for one actor, and their co-star stole the show

This is what happened with "The Godfather". It was somewhat marketed as a Brando movie, and the relatively unknown Pacino just jumped out of the screen.

The Birdcage for Robin Williams. But Hank Azaria steals every scene he’s in.

Wouldnt necessarily say I watched Mission Impossible Rogue Nation just for Tom Cruise but he was definitely the franchise. But I came out of that movie thinking about Rebecca Ferguson. I was like "who is she?!" Such a breakout role.

“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” This came up last week; I went to see it because of Johnny Depp. But, it was this young kid, playing a disabled person, who stole the show. Some kid named Leonardo DiCaprio or something like that…

The Last Samurai lead is Tom Cruise. Ken Watanabe steals every scene he's in.

Watched the Revenant for Leo (who was good) but I thought Tom Hardy stole the show

Watch the trailer for The Hangover. Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper have all the lines and are in almost every shot, most of the time together. Yet Zach Galifianakis is easily the reason to rewatch that movie. He blew up after it and was in everything. https://youtu.be/TZc39afdeXU?si=tpVLnKvShgFDzufg

I went in to Hateful Eight for Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson in a Tarantino film. Walton Goggins and Jennifer Jason Leigh stole the whole damn thing!

Went into Spider-Man: No Way Home psyched out of my mind for Tobey Maguire. Came out wanting more Andrew Garfield.

I was born the year it came out but I imagine Tombstone was similar to this with Kurt Russell being the front man as Wyatt Earp, and then Val Kilmer gives one of the greatest performances ever.

The best character in GO was the drug dealer (medium part). The best character in The Girl Next Door was the P*** Producer (medium part). The best part of Alien:Earth is the Synthetic Human Philosopher (Big Cast, Medium part). Timothy Olyphant is the guy behind all 3 roles, but the first 2 movies were at the beginning of his career. He just Owns the Camera when he is on screen. Justified is one of the best shows ever, because Walter Goggins as the villain WOULD Have stolen the show, if not for TO matching him as the Hero.

Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men is probably the greatest breakout ever, up against no less than Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin.

Val Kilmer in Tombstone. He will always be the best example of this in my book.

We went to see hamnet, mostly for my wife's love of Paul mescal Walking out of the theater, we agreed about Jessie Buckley "that's how you win an Oscar"

Benicio del Toro being the main acting highlight in One battle after another was a big surprise. Even in a movie so packed with great acting, what he does is spectacular.

Not really an example where costar outshined the lead, but for me it's The king of comedy. De Niro's best ever performance imo, considering that Jerry Lewis was certainly able to hold his own and deliver a memorable performance.

Elia Kazan's **On the Waterfront** is known for (among other things) Marlon Brando's acting, but Rod Steiger knocks it out of the park! Actually very similarly Toshiro Mifune gets all the love for his flashy role in Kurosawa's **Seven Samurai,** but Takashi Shimura holds it down just as much as his character does in the movie.

girl, interupted

I watched Legends of the Fall for Brad Pitt, but I noticed how perfect and 'in the pocket' Aidan Quinn delivered every line and became a fan. He is under-utilized as an actor.

The Blue Angel. Audiences came for Emil Jannings, but it turned into the starmaking vehicle for Marlene Dietrich.

I watched Excorcist III basically for George C. Scott, who was great, but Brad Dourif absolutely ran away with that movie.

The new Frankenstein. Went in for Oscar Isaac and was blown away by Jacob Elordi.

I went into Django Unchained for Jamie Foxx but Christoph Waltz completely stole it for me, every scene with him just hits. Same with The Dark Knight, I was there for Bale but Heath Ledger just took over the whole movie.

Controversial take. Please dont come for me. When Get Him to the Greek came out, the sell was Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. But Diddy's minor character stole the show for me. Looking back, its probably bc he wasnt acting and now im grossed tf out, but at the time...I thought Sergio was the best part of the movie.

Blade runner 2049 for Harrison Ford, whole cast overshadowed by Dave Bautista, I still can't process how it happened. Movie peaked in the first scene

I normally HATE Tom Cruise but Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder... I didnt even realize it was him for an embarrassing amount of time on my first watch

Wagner Moura in Narcos

The only thing I knew about Predestination was that Ethan Hawke was in it. Watched it for him, fell in love with Sarah Snook. Amazing performance.

I went to see the first Shaft movie with Samuel L. Jackson to see Samuel L Jackson but he was overshadowed by Christian Bale AND Jeffrey Wright.

Bullet Train with Brad Pitt. But Tangerine and Lemon steal the show.

Seven Psychopaths has a pair of random characters who were killed on the bridge/dam and they're actually two of the most important characters in Boardwalk Empire. My headcanon is that the two were in town for a convention or appearance and got pulled into the movie by the director or producer because they had worked together. I watch anything with Ben Foster in it because he was the stand-out in 3:10 to Yuma with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.

I didn’t really watch Pulp Fiction for Travolta or Willis, but I walked out thinking that Samuel L Jackson gave the stand out performance.

Bugonia. Came for Emma Stone, left in awe of Jesse Plemons.

Mission Impossible 3 because it seemed like they were going to go back to what made the first one successful. Darker and grittier. Phillip Seymour Hoffman killed it in that movie. The guy is so menacing.

Brad Pitt in Snatch

*A Fish Called Wanda* has John Cleese and Michael Palin in it but Kevin Kline is the funniest person in it.

Well, I can’t remember why exactly I went to see the aviator, but presumably it’s because of Scorsese and DiCaprio. But once Cate Blanchett is in the screen you can’t take your eyes off of her. She was amazing.  Looking back at her filmography I must have seen her in a role before, but I had never noticed her. She had done a comedy with Bruce Willis and (I think) Billy Bob T in 2000 that I had seen. 

Go in for Tom Hanks in Charlie Wison's War and get Philip Seymour Hoffman crushing it.

Can't say that I've ever watched a movie for one actor

Eddie Murphy completely stole the show in Bowfinger.

Went to watch Nicolas Cage go all crazy in *Drive Angry*, but it was William Fichtner who walked away with the film.

Went to see No Way Out for Kevin Costner, but was blown away by Sean Young's performance.

Went to see tropic thunder for the trio of stiller, rdj, and jack black. Once I figured out that Les Grossman was being played by tom cruise, it was the gut buster effect for me.

I guess Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted is the classic example. Not only did Angelina Jolie steal the movie, you could say Brittany Murphy looted a few scenes as well

"Girl, Interrupted" was suppose to be Winona Ryder's comeback vehicle, but Angelina Jolie stole the show.

Galaxy Quest. Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Justin Long, and that random voice actor that played Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. All gave amazing performances but Sam Rockwell killed every second that he was on screen. It was my Rockwellakening.

8mm (Joaquin Phoenix)

Maybe this is basic, maybe it’s not. Joe Pesci took the mic from Donald and Mel hard in Lethal Weapon 2. Chris Rock did the same thing in LW3.

Brando nailed his portrayal of Vito but the movie’s focus shifted as it went on and Pacino’s part went through some changes.

I went into Gimme Shelter for my boy Brendan. Vanessa Hudgens absolutely stole the show.

Little Big Man. Richard Mulligan as Gen. Custer.

Ant-Man. Strangely, also I Love You, Man

Went to go see Knives Out for Daniel Craig, left with a huge crush on Ana De Armas

Everything Everywhere All At Once. I saw it the weekend it opened, having no idea about the return of Ke Huy Quan; my motivation to see Michelle Yeoh. I think everyone now knows whose performance stole the show. Blew my mind once I put it together while watching the movie. “Wait……is that ‘Data???’ No….it can’t be!” It WAS. Other than that, the scenes with Geraldine Page in Pope Of Greenwich Village comes to mind.

Speed racer. Obviously the movie is about speed, but Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are just acting circles and chewing perfectly on the scenery.

The Fifth Element

Tombstone - Val Kilmer is the real star