Specifically, I’m referencing supporting/less-prominent roles, not unlike when a[n episodic] tv show has a 1-episode actor/actress knock it out of the park, only for them to have played a small role in the scheme of things.

I’m watching Pacific Rim. While I won’t necessarily call it a bad movie (it is quite the visual treat), it’s not exactly the cream of the crop; it’s a typical blockbuster by definition imo (nothing wrong with that btw). Anyway, I’m currently at the scene where the Kaiju experts/scientists are explaining their research and plans to fix the problem for good, and I can’t help but notice that the role of Hermann Gottlieb (played by Burn Gorman) as the lead Kaiju scientists is surprisingly impressive for me not expecting such from this type of movie. Granted, this example would likely pale in comparison to many others y’all may mention, but his performance spawned this very post.

So yeah, what are some surprisingly amazing (or at least “above expectations”) performances that you’ve seen from lesser roles in a [lesser-praised] show or movie?

(Edited for correction of a character’s name)