People Are Talking About "Small Role" Actors Who Stole The Scene Or Entire Movie, And It's a GREAT List

People Are Talking About "Small Role" Actors Who Stole The Scene Or Entire Movie, And It's a GREAT List
Skip To ContentHomepageQuizzesTV & MoviesShoppingVideosNewsTastySign InSearch BuzzFeedSearch BuzzFeedlol Badge Feedwin Badge Feedtrending Badge Feed

Pop Culture

TV & MoviesCelebrityBest of the InternetAnimalsMusicRewindBooksLGBTQ

Quizzes

LatestTrendingFoodLoveTriviaQuiz Party

Shopping

LatestHomeFashionTechBeauty & Personal CareKidsPetsSex ToysSports & FitnessStoresSubscriptionsBuzzFeed Merch

Video

LatestCocoa ButterNEW!Mom In ProgressWorth ItUnsolved True CrimeUnsolved SupernaturalMultiplayerPero LikeCocoa Butter

Lifestyle

As/Is: StyleBringMe: TravelGoodful: WellnessNifty: DIYParentsFoodWeddingsSex And LoveNEW!

Community

What is Community?Join Community!Featured PostsLeaderboard

From Our Partners

Science Will WinHoliday Cookie ShowdownIt's Your JourneyHey BaeBeauty & Style BuzzHolidays Make Us Feel GoodCalling All Travel LoversLA LivingNew Money Mindset

About

About UsAdvertiseInvestor RelationsJobsNewslettersEditionUSUKAustraliaBrasilCanadaDeutschlandIndiaJapanLatamCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information © 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAccessibility StatementAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemapBuzzFeed NewsReporting on what you care about. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing.BuzzFeed TastySearch, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place!BuzzFeed GoodfulSelf care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life.BuzzFeed Bring MeObsessed with travel? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me!BuzzFeed As IsSomething for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity.TV and Movies·Posted 12 minutes ago

People Are Talking About "Small Role" Actors Who Stole The Scene Or Entire Movie, And It's a GREAT List

The best things come in small packages...even movie roles.

crystalro-v2-27596-1554940887-0_large.jpg?downsize=60:*&output-format=jpg&output-quality=autoby Crystal Ro

BuzzFeed Staff

FacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink

A lot of times the best performance in a movie only lasts a few minutes. In fact, sometimes the actors are SO good in these small roles they actually win Oscars — for example, Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love, whose on-screen time was only 8 minutes or Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables, whose on-screen time was about 15 minutes. (Both won for Best Supporting Actress, for the record.)

anigif_sub-buzz-7889-1642637162-1_preview.gif?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360:*

Tap to play or pause GIF Tap to play or pause GIF

Miramax

So, when Reddit user u/CherryDamzel posed the question, "What small role actors stole the scene or entire movie?" to the r/Movies community, they were quick to respond with some really great examples of stars who had a big impact on a particular scene or movie, despite having a relatively small role in the overall film. Here are some of the most popular and top-voted responses:

1. Ana de Armas as Paloma in No Time To Die

Nicola Dove /  MGM / Danjaq / Courtesy Everett Collection

"She was absolutely stunning and kicked ass. Best part of the film."

—lph1235

"The fact she was in the film for such a short time is a shame. She was easily the best part of that dull film."

—NoNefariousness2144

2. Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson in Boogie Nights

sub-buzz-2655-1642632958-11.jpg

New Line Cinema

"Apparently PTA gave Molina an earplug and an earpiece, so all he could hear was the dialogue during the scene. That's how he was able to act unfazed through all those firecracker sounds."

—Romulus3799

3. Lil Rel Howery as Rod Williams in Get Out

Justin Lubin / Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection, Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

"I remember my entire theater gasping and whispering, 'NOOOOOOO!' when the flashing lights pull up at the end of Get Out. Then when the TSA friend got out of the car, the entire theater CHEERED."

—dasher11

4. Jonah Hill as an eBay customer in The 40-Year-Old Virgin

sub-buzz-2959-1642636613-3.png

Universal Pictures

"I have money... I just want to purchase these so I can... wear them."

—Knuc85

5. Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Beatrice in Men in Black

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I quote many of her lines from this movie to this day lol. She absolutely nailed her small part."

—rainedrop87

6. Mathieu Kassovitz as the mugger in The Fifth Element

sub-buzz-2824-1642633695-2.jpg

Buena Vista International

"'GIMME THE CASH!!!' You can see Bruce Willis doing his very best not to burst out laughing. 'That's a very nice hat...' 'YOU LIKE IT??!!'"

—cdncbn

"His little dance at the end is great."

—alligatorislater

7. Chris Tucker as Ruby Rod in The Fifth Element

Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I mean, clearly the movie was about him."

—Bromogeeksual

8. Kathy Lamkin as the Desert Aire Manager in No Country for Old Men

sub-buzz-2700-1642633913-13.jpg?crop=980:541;113,0

Miramax Films

"She took zero shit and even Anton respected it. The Coens are good at unforgettable small roles."

—xavPa

"I also don’t think he respects anyone, I think he hated that woman as he was leaving, but he accepted she 'won' the confrontation, which is just very unusual to him. He couldn’t intimidate her, and he couldn’t kill her in that moment. To him, the situation is probably infuriating."

—I_dont_bone_goats

9. Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder

DreamWorks Pictures

"The character becomes 10x funnier when you realize it’s Tom Cruise in makeup and prosthetics, except for at the end where he’s dancing and it’s literally only funny because it’s Tom Cruise."

—xavPa

10. Evan Peters as Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past

sub-buzz-2811-1642634044-31.jpg

20th Century Fox

"The kitchen scene was so good at creatively using his speed without relying on an ounce of 'superhero strength.' He pokes a cheek here, redirects a bullet there, but there are no big punches or massive lifts. He’s just doing things anybody could do if they had the time, with all the confidence of someone who ALWAYS has time."

—cooperific

11. Harish Patel as Karun Patel in Eternals

Marvel Studios / Disney

"He was 100% my favorite part of that movie! Adorable!"

—4ThaLolz

"The MCU sidekicks are amazing overall, but he is definitely in my top 3. Along with Luis from Ant-Man and Katie from Shang Chi."

—speedx5xracer

12. Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker in Scream

sub-buzz-2735-1642634736-3.jpg

Dimension Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I honestly have forgotten the rest of the movie but I can’t forget the opening with Drew Barrymore."

—evmarshall

"One of the 3 best opening scenes of all time, for me."
—Kodst3rGames

13. Harold Perrineau as Mercutio in Romeo + Juliet

20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection, 20th Century Fox

"That man stole the show, beyond a shadow of a doubt. My favorite character. Hands down. Brings Mercutio to life for me."

—DiseaseBuster

14. Sam Rockwell as Guy Fleegman in Galaxy Quest

sub-buzz-7811-1642634663-45.png?crop=754:457;223,0

DreamWorks Pictures

"God I love Rockwell. He stole Hitchhiker’s Guide too, although it wasn’t really a bit part. Within about a minute he’d turned my least favorite character into my new favorite character."

—JimmyLegs50

15. Peter Stormare as Lucifer in Constantine

Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

"The white suit, dripping oil/acid from his feet, the paleness of him, fuck that scene is so good. When tumblr was a thing I remember saving a bunch of gifs from that scene because it was so metal."

—Ghrave

16. Jennifer Coolidge as Paulette in Legally Blonde

sub-buzz-2720-1642634339-21.jpg?crop=1558:911;48,204

MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Truly a treasure."

—Ewww_David_

17. John Turturro as Jesus Quintana in The Big Lebowski:

Gramercy Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

"The Jesus in The Big Lebowski stole his scenes so hard that they gave him his own (ill advised) movie."

—SlamBrandis

"John Turturro always stands out to me in movies. Lebowski, Mr. Deeds, Transformers. Just really good at playing the (generally) good kind of unhinged characters prone to making you want to do a spit-take."

—KorgX3

18. Billy Crystal and Carol Kane as Miracle Max and Valerie in The Princess Bride

sub-buzz-2878-1642635175-3.jpg

20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Have fun storming the castle!"

—kluivertfan2

"Carol Kane stole the scene from Billy Crystal — who stole the scene from EVERYONE ELSE."

—propita106

19. Bill Murray as himself in Zombieland

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I saw that movie without even knowing he was in it and it blew me away...don't know if that could ever happen with all the moviemaking transparency these days."

—peteoneillbassnyc

20. J.K. Simmons as the CIA superior in Burn After Reading

sub-buzz-2776-1642633162-48.jpg

Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Honestly my favorite performance of his."

—BobTheGC

"His ending scene is so freaking good — 'So what did we learn…?'"

—DashSatan

21. Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop

Paramount Pictures

"Tell Ms. Summers that Mr. Achmed Foley is here—"

"No, no, 'Axel'."

"Achmel? Achwel?"

"AXEL."

(pause) "Foley's here to see her."

—NateDogTX

22. Christopher Walken as Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction

sub-buzz-7840-1642635279-23.jpg?crop=2575:1764;39,238

Miramax Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Nothing like telling a story about 'wearing' a watch up your ass."

—JoeSaru

23. Alden Ehrenreich as Hobie Doyle in Hail, Caesar!

Universal Pictures

"Alden Ehrenreich had a relatively small role in Hail, Caesar!, but he stole the show from some pretty big name actors including: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum."
—The-Mandalorian

24. Brad Pitt as Floyd in True Romance

sub-buzz-2777-1642636330-8.jpg

Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I don’t think there is a better 'stoner' performance anywhere."

“Don’t forget the cleaning products.” :)

—dodgycool_1973

25. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Freddie Miles in The Talented Mister Ripley

Paramount Pictures

"He might have been in the movie for too many scenes to qualify, but he stole every scene in a film that included a murderers row of good young actors."
—sockpuppetwithcheese

26. And finally, Paul Brooke as the Rancor keeper in Return of the Jedi

sub-buzz-2893-1642636855-30.png

20th Century Fox

"This detail was one of Roger Ebert's favorite parts of the movie."

—ArrakeenSun

"This was legit the first time I realized that 'the bad guys' are people with feelings too."

—prostheticmind

Who else would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments below!

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Share This Article

FacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink

TV and Movies

Get all the best moments in pop culture & entertainment delivered to your inbox.

Newsletter signup formYour email address (required)Sign upThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.