# Movies and TV shows named for a non-lead character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [January 30, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049 "2023-01-30T11:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/21 "2023-01-30T17:52:10Z")
Dr No is barely in, erm, Dr No. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/22 "2023-01-30T17:55:33Z")
Then how about _Waiting for Guffman_? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/23 "2023-01-30T18:23:39Z")
Or _Waiting for Lefty_. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/24 "2023-01-30T18:29:37Z")
A couple further ideas: - _The Big Lebowski_: The movie is about a slacker named Jeffrey Lebowski, not the “Big” Lebowski, a millionaire with the same name who barely appears in the film. - Peter Jackson’s _The Lord of the Rings_ trilogy: The title refers to the Dark Lord Sauron, who sets the plot in motion but who appears bodily in only a brief flashback. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/25 "2023-01-30T18:31:12Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > The title refers to the Dark Lord Sauron, who sets the plot in motion but who appears bodily in only a brief flashback. And, from time to time (though, again, only briefly), as a giant disembodied fiery eye. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/26 "2023-01-30T18:39:11Z")
The entire Thin Man series of movies and the TV show. The “Thin Man” was not the William Powell character but the person of interest in the first movie. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/27 "2023-01-30T18:58:02Z")
_Waking Ned Devine_ ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/28 "2023-01-30T19:01:57Z")
The Zodiac Killer isn’t in Zodiac much. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/29 "2023-01-30T19:02:08Z")
A twofer: **To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar** ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/30 "2023-01-30T19:02:21Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > The Zodiac Killer isn’t in Zodiac much. Or is he? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/31 "2023-01-30T19:03:01Z")
…or she? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/32 "2023-01-30T19:15:34Z")
_The Iceman Cometh_ ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/33 "2023-01-30T19:38:03Z")
They’re not characters at all, but the title of _Glengarry Glen Ross_ seems like it _should_ be in reference to the name of a character, and I would wager that a huge portion of the moviegoing public assumed that Glengarry Glen Ross was the name of either one main character, several main characters, and/or the name of the real estate firm in the movie. But they’re not. In perhaps a deliberately obtuse move by David Mamet, the title refers to two separate land-development schemes in the plot - one called Glengarry, the other called Glen Ross - which were oddly thrown together to create the three-word title, and which are barely ever referred to in any of the movie’s dialog. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/34 "2023-01-30T19:38:45Z")
And then there’s The Third Man. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/35 "2023-01-30T20:00:09Z")
_Better Call Saul_ Saul doesn’t appear until the season 4 finale ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/36 "2023-01-30T20:12:12Z")
Doesn’t Jimmy make a commercial with ‘Saul Goodman’ in a cheap wig and stick on facial hair in an early episode? I could be misremembering. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/37 "2023-01-30T20:21:37Z")
_ **The Postman Always Rings Twice** _ _ **I Love You, Alice B. Toklas** _ ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/38 "2023-01-30T20:40:02Z")
How about Fargo? The story mostly takes place in Brainerd. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/39 "2023-01-30T21:59:47Z")
_The Last of Shiela_. Shiela died a year before. _Duffy’s Tavern_ was an early TV show based on a radio show. Duffy never appears, though he does call occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/40 "2023-01-30T22:06:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > _Duffy’s Tavern_ was an early TV show based on a radio show. Duffy never appears, though he does call occasionally. Like “Charlie” on _ **Charlie’s Angels** _. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049.md?page=3)