When you ask someone who their favorite characters are, chances are that they will say either a good hero or a chilling villain. Even if their favorite is not a hero or villain, then chances are those favorite characters will at least be the main character of their story. All of these characters, like Batman or Michael Myers, or even George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life, are awesome, but where does that leave the side characters of these stories? There are boatloads of supporting characters that are just as crucial, if not more so, to making the story more enjoyable and interesting. More often than not, they even manage to steal the movie from the leads!

So, we figured it would be a fun idea to go through some of our favorite side characters from movies so far in 2024. There are so many to choose from, and this list is not ranked in terms of who does the better performance, screentime, etc. The one rule we did give ourselves was that they had to be a clear-cut supporting character, so people like Chris Hemsworth in Furiosa or Adria Arjona in Hit Man are more in the category of co-leads and did not qualify for this list (even though they are extraordinary in their movies). Without further ado, let’s put a spotlight on the side roles that have made movies in 2024 shine!

1. Alpha, Monkey Man

Probably the first person that came to mind when creating this list was this wonderful character from Dev Patel’s Monkey Man. This movie is the directorial debut of the Oscar-nominated actor, who stars in the movie himself, and it remains one of my favorite movies of the year bar none! By the time that Vipin Sharma shows up in the film as Alpha, I was completely sold on the movie, but his character easily becomes a standout once he appears. Acting as something of a mentor to Dev Patel’s character in his quest for revenge, Alpha makes a remarkable impression with his limited screentime by providing some strong wisdom for the Kid’s journey, and may I say, Alpha was something of an absolute badass. Couple that with her character being such a remarkable achievement for trans representation in mainstream cinema and you have yourself an amazing character in an already amazing movie! Stream on Peacock.

2. Raka, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Speaking of movies that heavily feature monkeys, Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes marked a strong return to a beloved franchise. With the technology that Andy Serkis helped pioneer with his trilogy, it has become even easier for actors to make a lasting impression with a motion-capture performance, and Peter Macon as Raka is no exception. From the moment he appears on screen, you quickly become attached to this character, and like Noa in the film itself, you instantly perk your ears up when Raka starts telling his stories. In a movie that already has a lot of great performances, both live-action and motion-capture, Peter Macon did such a wonderful job at making Raka such a lovely orangutang. Maybe he’ll have to chance to return as this character once the next installment rolls around. In theatres now.

3. Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino, Dune: Part Two

Anyone who loves movies shouldn’t be surprised we had to include a character from Dune: Part Two on this list. One of the biggest movies of the year financially and critically, people have praised just about every cast member under the sun with this return to Arrakis. Whether it be Austin Butler’s creepy turn as Feyd-Rautha, Zendaya’s captivating turn as Chani, and Timothée Chalamet’s complete transformation into LISAN AL-GAIB, there are plenty of good contenders. Yet, only one of these cast members knows the true power of the cowbell. That’s right, Christopher Walken! I still remember how surprised I was to see his casting as the formidable Emperor of this galaxy, and even more surprised how genuinely intimidating he was with little screentime. Everyone loves Christopher Walken for his brand of “Christopher Walken silliness” and having one of the most iconic voices in our industry, yet people easily forget how good of a dramatic actor he can be as well. So, sorry Paul Atreides, but we will not be silent on our love for this performance! Stream on Max.

4. Jean Claude the Dog, The Fall Guy

For a movie that puts a spotlight on the underdogs of the industry (get it?), we could’ve gone with several characters from The Fall Guy. Alas, we would be remised if we did not use this list to promote one of our favorite surprises in the movie… a dog who only understands French and chomps people in the nuggets on command. It sure does sound like a choice that borders on jumping-the-shark, but the playful nature of the movie makes Jean Claude fit in like a charm.We were genuinely so happy to see that one shot of Ryan Gosling riding shotgun with a dog turn out to be more than just a trailer shot. And if any of you did the same research we did, you would’ve learned that Jean Claude’s inclusion was an homage to one of Ryan and Eva Mendez’s old doggos. Safe to say, anyone with a heart will melt knowing that this dog knows how to kick some serious butt in The Fall Guy. Available on VOD/Digital.

5. Janis, Mean Girls

There are plenty of characters from this movie in the running to make this list, and then we thought, "Moana?! Moana!" Auliʻi Cravalho is a voice many people are sure to be familiar with from her performance in the Disney Princess movie of the same name, so it was no shock to see how well she did with the musical numbers in this movie. What really surprised us was just how infectiously charismatic she was every time she appeared onscreen, to the point where we kept wanting to see more. Indeed, Cravalho was an amazing addition as Janis in Mean Girls, and we can’t wait to see her return to the role that made her a movie star in Moana 2 later this year! Stream on Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+.

6. Lou Sr., Love Lies Bleeding

Is it safe to say that Ed Harris is a certified legend in this industry? We sure as heck think so, hence why we were incredibly excited to see him in the A24 crime-thriller Love Lies Bleeding. Although the focus on the movie is undeniably on Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian, the role of Lou Sr. is an important one for the movie to fully achieve what it set out to do. Ed Harris knew exactly how to step up to bat with that crucial presence, because every time he appears in any frame of this movie, statistics have proven that the hairs on your arm will stand on edge for a least 30 minutes. Now, we may not be doctors or statisticians to back up that statement, but we sure do believe in it from just how terrifying he is in this movie. Another standout performance in an already standout movie from this year! Available on VOD/Digital.

7. Nostalgia, Inside Out 2

Do you remember when we all saw the first Inside Out? We sure do, and the personification of Nostalgia from Inside Out 2 absolutely does as well! She may not have the same importance or screentime as the new batch of Emotions in this sequel, but June Squibb makes you fall in love with Nostalgia every second she is on screen. Plus, who doesn’t love reminiscing so much about the past they forget to focus on the present? Wait… what do you mean that’s not it works for everyone?! That can’t be right, everybody loves being nostalgic, right?! Well, either way, with how much money this movie is making at the box office, at least audiences will love the literal character of Nostalgia for Inside Out 2. In theatres now.

We can’t wait to see what other side characters are able to join this list! Who knows, maybe some of these performers could garner Supporting Actor nominations come the Oscars next year?!