"Every second counts." This expression is extremely meaningful when we talk about supporting characters in film. Heck, they can be "brief appearances" for some characters, but that doesn't stop them from delivering a memorable performance.
On the subreddit r/LetterBoxd, Reddit user u/Diamondhandd started a discussion about great characters with little screen time. Here are characters that people think about a lot after a movie, despite the character having a small role:
1. Kathy Lamkin as Desert Aire Manager — No Country for Old Men (2007)
Despite less than a minute of screen time, Lamkin's interaction with Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) was unforgettable. She was the only character to verbally stand up to the killer throughout the entire movie when she refused to give out any information about Chigurh's target. Luckily for her, she wasn't the only one working that day, so Chigurh left the premises quietly.
2. Patricia Gage as Mrs. Wolfe — American Psycho (2000)
If the manager in No Country for Old Men had an equal, Mrs. Wolfe would raise the stakes and actually scare Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman. The role is brief, but her character sees right through Bateman's facade and is somehow more unsettling than the man we've seen chop people up for almost two hours. Seriously, Mary Harron's direction in this film is just *chef's kiss*.
3. Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett — Star Wars: Episode XI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
There might not be a more talked-about minor character than Boba Fett. They even made a TV show for him, despite him having zero lines and under 2 minutes of screen time in Return of the Jedi. I specify his appearance in the third installment because he looked so cool, and fans were hyped to see the bounty hunter again, but his impact was even bigger despite doing less for the plot.
4. S.D. Nemeth as Bixby Snyder — RoboCop (1987)
Despite never actually appearing in a scene and only being on television, the host Bixby Snyder had audiences cackling and saying, "I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR!" He had under one minute of screen time sprinkled throughout the movie and still had everyone wanting that for a dollar.
5. Christopher Walken as Captain Koons — Pulp Fiction (1994)
When Walken is in his element, he is truly a great actor. He appears in one scene with Butch (Bruce Willis), dreaming of the story Koons told him about a gold watch, and every second is captivating. Walken saying "his ass" lives in my head rent-free.
6. Edie McClurg as Car Rental Desk Agent — Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
McClurg's Planes, Trains, and Automobiles scene is less than 2 minutes long, but her acting is comedy gold. Still, she is probably more famous for her role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Her reaction to Steve Martin's profanity-laced monologue is too good, and her retort about him not having his rental agreement is perfect.
7. Dick Young as Pratt — Jaws (1975)
Everyone's favorite fisherman in Jaws better be Pratt, aka the "A what?" fisherman. His earnest delivery has stuck with Jaws fans for more than 50 years. What's hilarious is that Pratt's voice never sounds like that again. Underrated Pratt line: "I'm gonna stuff your friggin' head in there..."
8. Alice Nunn as Large Marge — Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Argue with a wall — Nunn's performance as Large Marge is the best in the entire movie. There are killer performances, but the whole tonal shift her character takes in the film is hilariously unsettling. Plus, all of Pee Wee's reactions to her story are gold. She's in one scene, but her jump scare did irreversible damage to children everywhere.
9. Fiona Johnson as The Woman in the Red Dress — The Matrix (1999)
"Look again." She gets no lines, and simply has to look pretty. What I'd kill for that role. Her presence in The Matrix is huge for the plot, and for Neo's character to understand that he can't trust anything in the computer world.
10. Robert Duvall as Boo Radley — To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
"Hey, Boo." Arthur 'Boo' Radley's long-awaited introduction in To Kill a Mockingbird is a beautiful payoff. Played by a young Duvall, his facial acting brings this character to life, even in this brief scene.
11. Tim Cappello as Beach Concert Star (Saxophone Guy) — The Lost Boys (1987)
No explanation needed. Just enjoy the sweet sax and sweet moves.
12. Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller — Doubt (2008)
There are no small roles, and for Davis, this was her breakout performance. Going toe-to-toe in a scene with Meryl Streep and leaving jaws on the floor is tough; then again, few have range like Davis. Her monologue is emotional and incredibly compelling.
13. Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I — Shakespeare in Love (1998)
I mean, Dench won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role. If this were a ranking, it could easily be No. 1, but I am "Dench-biased" with all her work. Actors are stars. She's a presence.
14. Ben Stein as Economics Teacher — Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
"Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?...Bueller?"
15. Elsa Lanchester as The Monster's Bride — Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
As a kid, I thought this movie would center on the Bride. She appears right at the end, and when she does, she leaves a lasting impression.
16. Bridget Everett as Louise — Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
Her phone call shifts the story away from our typical Knives Out "whodunit" themes and takes an important turn for the main character, Father Jud (Josh O'Connor). It feels like a raw, emotional moment compared to the joke-filled nature of the other Knives Out films, and her performance is an absolute standout among an ensemble cast.
17. Bonnie Aarons as the Haggard Figure — Mulholland Drive (2001)
Quite literally a "jump scare and dip" moment in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, the Haggard Figure's sudden appearance leaves us all feeling like:
18. Matt Damon as Donny — Eurotrip (2004)
To me, Damon's appearance in Eurotrip is so much more than a cameo. The character is a huge launching pad for Scotty's character and the Eurotrip itself. Plus, "Scotty Doesn't Know" is an absolute banger.
19. The Flower Shop Woman — The Room (2003)
She is not a paid actor, but she killed this rushed scene. "You're my favorite customer" and "Oh, hey, Johnny, I didn't know it was you" are my two favorite lines.
20. Eddie O'Dea and Brian V. Towns as Roger and Horace — The Shining (1980)
Roger the dog and Horace's private moment is really creepy from a distance. Ghosts, man. The crash zoom makes it all so much more unsettling. Plus that ominous score. "Great party" indeed.
21. And finally, my own entry: Rob Morgan as Robert Talley — Smile (2022)
As a horror fan, I took a moment to think about a recent performance that stuck with me, and man, did Rob Morgan knock it out of the park in Smile. CHILLING. He plays the typical "exposition" character in one scene, but he ends it with an absolute bang. He starts out as a tough inmate and ends by screaming in horror, demanding to be taken away from our cursed main character.
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