32 Iconic Movie Characters Who Deserved More Screen Time

In many beloved movies, some unforgettable and hilarious characters appear infrequently. It’s even more frustrating when a well-known character’s role in a movie is drastically decreased compared to their earlier performances.

Additionally, there are characters whose chance to shine or make a significant impact on the plot is hindered not only by limited screen presence, but also by insufficient development within the narrative. This list highlights such underappreciated roles that could have made a greater impact in their respective films.

Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

It’s fascinating to consider how the galactic bounty hunter, initially played by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen, gained such immense popularity despite having minimal screen time in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” Even when Temeura Morrison took over the role for Disney+’s miniseries, “The Book of Boba Fett,” he was often overshadowed by Pedro Pascal’s character from the show it spawned, “The Mandalorian.

Raoul Silva (Skyfall)

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem’s brilliant performance as elusive cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva in 2012’s Skyfall comes in pretty late into the plot. While the payoff to the preceding buildup is effective, the otherwise acclaimed Daniel Craig-era James Bond film could have potentially benefitted from more of his cat-and-mouse game with 007.

Beth March (Little Women)

Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated film “Little Women,” which is widely regarded as a powerful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, spotlights the lives of the March sisters. Despite its praise, some viewers might concur that among all the sisters, Beth, played by Eliza Scanlen, receives the least attention in the 2019 period piece.

Clubber Lang (Rocky III)

It’s astonishing to think that Clubber Lang, one of the memorable characters from the Rocky series, never made another appearance. Mr. T delivers an electrifying and captivating performance opposite Sylvester Stallone in the 1982 sequel, a role that left us yearning for a follow-up performance in some capacity.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

In the 2004 film “The Incredibles”, Bob Parr’s (Craig T. Nelson) longtime friend and fellow superhero, Lucius Best, alias Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), gets to display his skills in several notable scenes. However, it is suggested that Frozone, who possesses ice-manipulating abilities, could have had a more significant role within the movie. This would have given a stronger and more logical foundation for his decision to come out of retirement and join the climactic battle.

Donny Kerabatsos (The Big Lebowski)

In Joel and Ethan Coen’s beloved comedy film, “The Big Lebowski,” Steve Buscemi’s character is often silent due to Walter Sobchak (played by John Goodman) seldom giving him the chance to speak for unknown reasons. Nevertheless, after discovering more about Donny from Walter’s emotional eulogy following his death, it leaves us wishing we could have glimpsed a bit more of his life story.

The Five Wives (Mad Max: Fury Road)

One reason George Miller’s 2015 post-apocalyptic thriller, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” stands as one of the greatest action movies ever made lies in its deliberate decision to keep certain aspects a secret. Yet, there were moments in the film where more background information could have been provided regarding the band of young women (portrayed by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton), who are the ones that Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are fighting to save from Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

Batman (The Dark Knight)

Interestingly enough, while Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film, “The Dark Knight,” is often hailed as the standout in his Batman trilogy, some might contend that it’s Christian Bale’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman that falls a bit flat. This argument could also be made about Tim Burton’s DC films, “Batman” from 1989 and “Batman Returns” in 1992, despite the widespread acclaim for Michael Keaton as Batman.

Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

In the humorous 1986 high school movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” directed by John Hughes, the central and crucial bond is clearly between Ferris Bueller, the mischievous protagonist (played by Matthew Broderick), and his close friend Cameron Fry (Alan Ruck). Yet, it would be beneficial to delve a bit deeper into the character of Ferris’ girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (portrayed by Mia Sara), as we currently know very little about her.

Darth Maul (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace)

It’s safe to say that even those who are just casual viewers of the Star Wars movies would probably concur that Ray Park’s character, Darth Maul, was terminated prematurely and ought to have been present in at least one subsequent movie after 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Therefore, his reappearance in later animated series and a scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 is one of the few instances where retcons (reinterpretations or alterations of established facts within a story) in pop culture history have been generally accepted by fans.

Charon (John Wick)

Lance Reddick’s portrayal of Charon in the 2014 movie “John Wick” added a captivating dimension to what was originally a small role. But it wasn’t until “Chapter 3 – Parabellum” in 2019 that we truly saw how tough and dedicated the Continental’s faithful concierge could be.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

Some viewers might contend that Jared Leto’s portrayal of The Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad could have benefited from less on-screen presence. However, there are certain DC enthusiasts who think the Academy Award winner had the capability to leave a stronger impact – as hinted by his role in Zack Snyder’s Justice League reboot – and maybe even been the lead antagonist instead of being underutilized as a subplot.

Michael Myers (Halloween Ends)

2022’s Halloween Ends, contrary to its initial billing as a confrontation between iconic horror character Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), primarily explored the troubled past and ill-starred love affair of newcomer Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) with Laurie’s granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). The final installment of director David Gordon Green’s reboot trilogy concluded on a highly contentious note due to minimal screen time for the ominous masked antagonist, resulting in a divided response among viewers.

Boo (Monsters, Inc.)

It would’ve been nice if Boo, whose past remains shrouded in mystery, made a comeback in a sequel to Monsters Inc., rather than the generally liked prequel, Monsters University. And, one can’t help but wonder about the fate of the charming interdimensional traveler following her return to her own world. Surely, there must have been an exhaustive search for her during those long hours she was missing.

Ned Ryerson (Groundhog Day)

Stephen Tobolowsky’s insurance agent character, while amusing, seemed to be underutilized as he frequently repeated the same lines during his brief scenes in the 1993 comedy film “Groundhog Day”. However, the enduring popularity of the strange fan theory that Ned Ryerson is actually the Devil disguised and manipulating Phil Connors’ (Bill Murray) predicament suggests that the character has reached iconic status.

The Salesman (Sin City)

It’s possible that the character played by Josh Hartnett, a contract killer with a specialty in assisted suicide, was utilized effectively in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s visually stunning comic book thriller, Sin City. However, it could be argued that the film noir favorite from 2005 could have provided slightly more hints or teasers about his story to make “The Salesman” a role even more unforgettable.

Blanche (Drive)

In the 2011 neo-noir thriller directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Christina Hendricks’ character might have become iconic if she had been given more lines to speak. With just a few brief appearances in Drive, her role could have made a greater impact with more dialogue.

Kaecilius (Doctor Strange)

When you choose a talented actor such as Mads Mikkelsen to play your antagonist, it’s crucial to provide him with substantial content to work with. Unfortunately, the character of Kaecilius in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange, the tale of Benedict Cumberbatch’s transformation from surgeon to Sorcerer Supreme, is largely underdeveloped and less impactful than Dormammu, who appears primarily for an entertaining sequence.

Scrat (Ice Age)

In essence, he was the main promotional figure for what many consider Blue Sky Studios’ finest animated film, yet his role seemed insignificant, limited to humorous interludes unrelated to the primary narrative. Interestingly, even though Scrat’s name is a blend of “squirrel” and “rat,” which isn’t explicitly mentioned in any Ice Age films, he still got to headline his own short spin-off series.

Dracula (Renfield)

It’s clear that in Chris McKay’s 2022 horror-comedy, the leading role goes to Renfield, Dracula’s namesake familiar, played by Nicholas Hoult. However, the film could have delved deeper into the troubled, one-sided dynamic between Renfield and the merciless vampire, masterfully portrayed by Nicolas Cage, as the narrative might have benefited from more focus on this relationship.

Emma Watson (This Is The End)

In the film “This is the End,” Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, makes a brief appearance for just one scene. During this scene, she suspects that a house full of male celebrities have malicious plans for her. If only we could have witnessed more of Emma Watson’s talent with an axe and how she would have handled the bizarre situations in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2014 post-apocalyptic comedy, it would have added so much fun to the movie!

Gorr The Godbutcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)

Fans who enjoy Marvel films might argue that Christian Bale’s vengeful character is the standout aspect in Taika Waititi’s sequel to Thor: Ragnarok, but unfortunately, Gorr the Godbutcher’s screen time in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder seems to be as poorly justified as the untimely demise of his family.

Helga Sinclair (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

In one of Disney’s top-notch animated films from the 21st century, specifically “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” released in 2001, a resourceful linguist named Milo Thatch, played by Michael J. Fox, is invited on an expedition to locate the legendary city of Atlantis by the wealthy Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney). Helga Sinclair (Claudia Christian), Preston’s personal assistant, serves as the secondary adversary in the narrative but possesses a far more captivating charm than the primary antagonist, Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke (James Garner).

Sandman (Spider-Man 3)

In simpler terms, the third part of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man series, often cited as a classic case of the “too many bad guys” trope in superhero movies, features three villains competing for screen time. Among these, Flint Marko, also known as Sandman (portrayed by Thomas Haden Church), stands out due to his compelling and empathetic character development. If only one antagonist had been used, arguably, it should have been him. His story unfolds after a strange incident where he gains the ability to transform into sand.

Wizard (Taxi Driver)

In the movie “Taxi Driver,” directed by Martin Scorsese, it’s hard to overlook the significant yet underestimated character of Peter Boyle’s Wizard. This wise and experienced cab driver is one of the few individuals in the grim 1976 drama who could have been considered a genuine friend for Travis Bickle (played by Robert De Niro). If the Wizard had been more present, he might have guided the troubled ex-marine towards a more positive path.

Boris Podgorny (The Fabelmans)

Judd Hirsch’s Academy Award nomination for playing Steven Spielberg’s granduncle in “The Fabelmans” (2022) was completely justified. In truth, the character Boris Podgorny could have had a more significant part in the narrative if it aligned with the semi-autobiographical story that the renowned director was developing.

Luna Lovegood (The Harry Potter Movies)

Evanna Lynch plays Luna Lovegood, a beloved character from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books who stands out for her optimistic demeanor. Many fans of the Wizarding World believe that the character of Luna, belonging to Ravenclaw house, was not fully explored in the popular movie adaptations.

Jeff Portnoy (Tropic Thunder)

In the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder,” Jack Black, known for his animated performances, is given more prominence in the credits than Robert Downey Jr., despite Downey’s Academy Award-nominated role. However, Jack Black’s character, Jeff Portnoy – a comedian trying to be serious in a war movie – has the least amount of screen time and material to develop in the movie, directed by Ben Stiller.

Lady Sif (Thor)

Among the Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, I find Lady Sif, played brilliantly by Jamie Alexander, to be one of the most underestimated. Despite making an appearance in each of Thor’s standalone films, her screen time is limited. In my opinion, Jamie Alexander’s compelling portrayal of this Asgardian Goddess of War deserves a starring role or at least a more prominent part in future MCU projects.

Rhino (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

In a less favorably received sequel, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of the Spider-Man villain Rhino was introduced, with plans for a larger role in a potential third installment featuring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. Unfortunately, due to the negative response to the 2014 film, the sequel was scrapped before Tom Holland took over as the MCU’s version of Spider-Man.

Officer Benjamin Clawhauser (Zootopia)

Characterized by Nate Torrence’s voice, the hilarious Officer Benjamin Clawhauser, who loves doughnuts, is arguably the most amusing character from 2016’s Zootopia. Given his comedic prowess, it would be fitting for a more significant role in the wholesome police comedy-drama revolving around anthropomorphic animals.

Garraka (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire)

In the fifth film of the Ghostbusters series, titled “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire“, takes its name from the primary villain’s ability to trigger a second Ice Age. Yet, the evil being, Garraka, enters the scene much too close to the end in the 2024 sequel, disrupting the movie’s pacing.

2025-02-24 16:39