# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/61 "2023-02-01T15:26:08Z")
“Tron” isn’t really about Tron. Many movies are named after animals, but the animal is almost never the lead character, as per Jaws, Old Yeller, or Flowers for Algernon. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/62 "2023-02-01T16:24:35Z")
Captain Hook isn’t the main character in “Hook.” ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/63 "2023-02-01T16:46:43Z")
The title character of the TV adaptation of _The Man in the High Castle_ doesn’t show up until the second season, and he is never a lead character. Maybe _The Walking Dead_, _Night of the Living Dead_, _Resident Evil_ and such like titles. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/64 "2023-02-01T16:59:41Z")
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is not really about Sarah Marshall. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” does have Liberty Valance in it, but he’s not the lead. I guess “The Godfather” sort of depends on who you think the word refers to. Is the titular character Vito or Michael Corleone? ---
**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:** [February 1, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/65 "2023-02-01T17:51:06Z")
I think The Walking Dead are those not yet zombies? Which would cover all the characters really. Except the zombies. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/66 "2023-02-01T18:09:58Z")
It’s common in monster movies, which are about people reacting to the monster. Thus _The Thing from Another World,_ _Them!, the Blob, Alien, Dr. Cyclops, The Island of Dr. Moreau,_ and others give the actual title character minimal screentime. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/67 "2023-02-01T18:14:08Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I think The Walking Dead are those not yet zombies? I think it was purposefully a play on the zombies being dead people that walk and the living being ‘dead men walking’. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/68 "2023-02-01T19:11:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” does have Liberty Valance in it, but he’s not the lead. Neither is the man who shot him . . . or is he? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/69 "2023-02-01T19:47:50Z")
He is. Stewart is listed first on the poster but Wayne is listed first nearly everywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/70 "2023-02-01T19:59:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It’s common in monster movies, which are about people reacting to the monster. Thus _The Thing from Another World,_ _Them!, the Blob, Alien, Dr. Cyclops, The Island of Dr. Moreau,_ and others give the actual title character minimal screentime. Horror movies are sort of a weird case for this thread: the monsters both are and are not the main character. In terms of story structure, they’re not the main character, but they’re also 100% the reason people went to see those films. No one cares about the adventures of New Mexico State Trooper Sgt. Ben Peterson, they want to see giant ants eating people. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/71 "2023-02-01T20:16:24Z")
Really, how many lines of dialog did Bruce the shark get in **Jaws**? ---
**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:** [February 1, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/72 "2023-02-01T20:18:59Z")
We don’t see much of _The Invisible Man_ I’ll see myself out… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/73 "2023-02-01T20:44:08Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Dr No is barely in, erm, Dr No. Several Bond movies qualify: Goldfinger The Man with the Golden Gun Octopussy (I still can’t believe that’s an actual non-porn movie title) ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/74 "2023-02-01T22:35:17Z")
Stretching the definition of “character”, Wanda doesn’t even have any lines in _A Fish Called Wanda_. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/75 "2023-02-02T02:25:33Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > It’s common in monster movies, which are about people reacting to the monster. Thus _The Thing from Another World,_ _Them!, the Blob, Alien, Dr. Cyclops, The Island of Dr. Moreau,_ and others give the actual title character minimal screentime. > > Horror movies are sort of a weird case for this thread: the monsters both are and are not the main character. In terms of story structure, they’re not the main character, but they’re also 100% the reason people went to see those films. No one cares about the adventures of New Mexico State Trooper Sgt. Ben Peterson, they want to see giant ants eating people. Essentially, the monsters are just McGuffins. Dr. Strangelove doesn’t appear until well into the movie. Not technically a character, but the Maltese Falcon doesn’t show up until nearly the end of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/76 "2023-02-02T05:48:09Z")
In the last episode of the first season of **Andor** it becomes apparent that the show is not necessarily named after Cassian. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/77 "2023-02-02T15:53:10Z")
I’ve remarked many times on this Board about Peter Shaffer’s plays, and about **Amadeus** in particular. Certainly Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gets lots of stage time in the play and screen time in the movie. But Antonio Salieri is pretty clearly the Lead Character. We see the story through his eyes – more obviously in the play than in the film (where he tells the story as a sort-of confession to the priest, rather than tearing down that fourth wall and directly addressing the audience, as in the play). So why isn’t it called **Salieri**? (Aside from the fact that no one would go to see it. Before the play came out, how the hell many non-experts had even _heard_ of Salieri?) Or, more to the point, why **Amadeus** instead of **Mozart**? Because, like so many of Shaffer’s plays, this isn’t really about the historical incident that inspired it, but about the relationship between Man and God. In the case of this play/movie, Salieri, who has devoted his life to being obedient to God and has (he thinks) been rewarded with musical talent and ability, learns that the puerile, vulgar, selfish, and utterly undeserving Mozart has been granted musical talent light years beyond his own, and feels that God has broken their bargain. So he wages war against God, discarding all his pious activities and doing everything in his power to destroy Mozart – waging war against God with Mozart as the battlefield. This is a lot clearer in the play than in the film (for instance, Salieri, upon learning that Mozart is not impoverished by Salieri’s efforts because the Freemasons are supporting him, convinces Mozart to use a thinly-disguised version of Freemasonry in **The Magic Flute**. The Masons, convinced Mozart has betrayed the secrets of the society, withdraw their support, and Mozart falls into poverty. This is pretty much glossed over in the film). Shaffer wasn’t setting out to write a historically accurate account of the interaction between Mozart and Salieri, but to write an allegorical work using that historical incident as a scaffold for his drama. Don’t go to see **Amadeus** hoping to see history, just as you shouldn’t try to learn about Pizzaro and Atahuallpa frrom **The Royal Hunt of the Sun** , or about a grotesque real-life incident in England from **Equus.** It’s called “Amadeus” because that famous middle name means “Love of God”, usually interpreted as “beloved by God”. His original middle name was _Gottlieb_, which is the same thing in German. Mozart was beloved by God, Salieri felt, to an absurd degree for one so undeserving. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/78 "2023-02-02T16:10:16Z")
In the movie **The Sure Thing** Nicolette Sheridan’s character is credited as _The Sure Thing_ and she appears only in the final scenes of the movie. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/79 "2023-02-02T17:14:27Z")
The bomb shows up pretty late too! ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049/80 "2023-02-02T19:20:46Z")
**The Princess Bride** Buttercup is maybe the 3rd or 4th lead. 5th? 6th? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-shows-named-for-a-non-lead-character/979049.md?page=5)