These characters stole the show in a flash! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the film characters who left a lasting impression, despite a relative lack of time on screen.
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00:00Get it straight, Buster. I'm not here to sing, please. I'm here to tell you what to do.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the film characters who left a lasting impression,
00:09despite a relative lack of time on screen.
00:11There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you.
00:17Number 10. Draco Malfoy. Harry Potter franchise.
00:20You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter.
00:25You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.
00:30Given his prominence in the Harry Potter franchise and his presence in the fanbase,
00:34you'd think that Harry Potter's snide rival Draco Malfoy would have a big chunk of screen time.
00:38Training for the ballet, Potter!
00:41Yet if you look at actor Tom Felton's appearances across all eight films and tally up how long he's on screen,
00:46you'd probably be surprised to discover that he reportedly only appears for just under 32 minutes.
00:51Why are you wearing glasses?
00:53Uh, um, reading.
00:55Reading?
00:58I didn't know you could read.
00:59Honestly, it's impressive that the filmmakers and Felton managed to give Malfoy such a defined character arc in such little time,
01:05going from insufferable snob to wannabe Voldemort follower to not quite such a jerk after all.
01:13Number 9. Mrs. Miller. Doubt.
01:15Mrs. Miller?
01:16Yes.
01:17There aren't a lot of characters in this drama film, but Mrs. Miller comes in for one scene and not only makes her mark,
01:22but she does so in less than roughly eight minutes.
01:24The mother of Donald, an altar boy caught drinking wine, she talks about her child with sister Aloysius.
01:29You honestly think that priest gave Donald that wine to drink?
01:32Yes, I do.
01:33Then how come my son got kicked off the altar boys if it was a man that gave it to him?
01:37The boy got caught. The man didn't.
01:40Aloysius believes Donald was given the wine by Father Flynn, whom she believes has an improper relationship with the boy.
01:45Shockingly, Mrs. Miller doesn't want to hear it.
01:47I know what I won't accept.
01:49You accept what you got to accept and you work with it.
01:52This man is in my school.
01:53Well, he's got to be somewhere. Maybe he's doing some good too.
01:55He's after the boys.
01:56Well, maybe some of them boys want to get caught.
01:58Donald is gay and she believes attending the school is his best chance at not only a better life but survival,
02:03given his abusive father.
02:04Viola Davis' powerful performance more than earned her an Oscar nomination.
02:08I don't know if you and me are on the same side.
02:10I'll be standing with my son and those who are good with my son.
02:15It'd be nice to see you there.
02:16Not many can match Meryl Streep like that.
02:188. Fantine, Les Miserables
02:21Her impact on the plot of Les Miserables is so profound that it's easy to forget how little Fantine appears in the story.
02:26What can I do? It pays a debt.
02:30And Franks may save my poor corset.
02:36A worker fired from Jean Valjean's factory for having an illegitimate child,
02:41Fantine is put through the ringer physically and emotionally.
02:44Turning to sex work to support herself and her child, she's exploited and mistreated at every turn.
02:48I dreamed a dream and time gone by.
02:54Yet Anne Hathaway's amazing performance both vocally and in her dedication to physically looking the part
02:59helped Fantine stand out even among the large ensemble.
03:02Despite reportedly only showing up for somewhere around 15 minutes, the character is not easily forgotten.
03:07Take my love, for love is everlasting.
03:157. Blake, Glengarry Glen Ross
03:18A, B, C. A always, B, B, C closing. Always be closing.
03:25It says a lot about Alec Baldwin's performance that he's able to come in for a roughly 8-minute long scene
03:30and steal the movie away from some of the best dramatic actors in the business.
03:34Blake's speech to a group of struggling salesmen is meant to light a fire under them so they'll perform better.
03:39That's my name. You know why, mister?
03:41Because you drove a Hyundai to get here tonight.
03:44I drove an $80,000 BMW. That's my name.
03:48It's one part sales technique seminar, another part harangue,
03:51and basically a huge flex on them all using his own success as a benchmark.
03:55Blake has everyone in the room and the viewers hanging on his every word.
03:58Speaking of which, it's shocking how many quotable lines are packed into just this speech.
04:02If you should always be closing, then Blake closed this scene no problem.
04:06Oh, have I got your attention now? Good.
04:136. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
04:15It's showtime.
04:17His name is the title. Of course, Beetlejuice is in a lot of the movies, right?
04:20Yes.
04:21Granted, this spooky comedy film isn't very long,
04:24but it's still surprising to remember that it's namesake characters in the film for less than 20 minutes.
04:28Hey, these aren't my rules. Come to think of it, I don't have any rules.
04:32Beetlejuice's manic energy and madcap comedic timing absolutely steal the show whenever he's on screen.
04:38Welcome to Windy River.
04:41The undead fixer may be extreme in everything from his behavior to his methods,
04:44but he's a joy to watch work.
04:46If the folks behind the sequel know what they're doing, they'll definitely put him front and center.
04:50Yeah, I'm feeling a little anxious, if you know what I mean.
04:565. Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz
04:59While we also paid some attention to how little the eponymous man behind the curtain appears,
05:03it's the Wicked Witch that has us incredulous.
05:05I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too.
05:09The cackling, green-skinned villainess looms large over the film and indeed pop culture in general.
05:14The Wicked Witch hounds Dorothy and her friends throughout their journey to Oz and even beyond,
05:18yet it's usually from afar.
05:19Here's Carol. Wanna play ball?
05:22By the time she's finally melted down, the witch has only appeared for around 12 minutes in total.
05:27Not bad, considering how memorable she and so many of her lines are.
05:30What a world, indeed.
05:31You cursed brat! Look what you've done!
05:33I'm melting! Melting!
05:36Oh, what a world! What a world!
05:39Who would have thought I couldn't know a girl like you?
05:414. Winston Wolfe, Pulp Fiction
05:43It's 30 minutes away. I'll be there in 10.
05:46Tarantino films are rife with memorable single-scene characters.
05:49Although fellow Pulp Fiction character Captain Coons was a tempting alternative,
05:53Winston Wolfe just makes too big a splash.
05:56You're Jimmy, right? This is your house?
05:59Sure is.
06:00I'm Winston Wolfe. I solve problems.
06:02The criminal fixer arrives on the scene in record time to help Jules and Vincent dispose of the accidental murder in their car.
06:08With time a factor, Mr. Wolfe, call him Winston, takes charge.
06:11If I'm curt with you, it's because time is a factor.
06:14I think fast, I talk fast, and I need you guys to act fast if you want to get out of this.
06:19So, pretty please, with sugar on top.
06:21Assessing the situation quickly and formulating the most efficient way to resolve it,
06:25the Wolfe's commanding presence, politeness, and impeccable dress sense embed him immediately in the watcher's minds,
06:30even if he only shows up for somewhere around 12 minutes.
06:33Not only is he a character, he has character.
06:353. Vito Corleone, The Godfather
06:38Godfather?
06:44While the famous Mafia Don does appear more in Part 2,
06:47it's Marlon Brando's iconic performance most people associate with the character.
06:51And sure, at roughly 40 minutes of The Godfather's runtime, that's more than the rest of our entries.
06:56But first, The Godfather is a really long movie,
06:58and second, Don Vito is among the most recognizable Mafia characters ever.
07:09Brando's incredible performance is not only fantastic throughout,
07:12it and Don Vito himself have become synonymous for many with the idea of a mob boss.
07:25We couldn't refuse him a spot even if we wanted to.
07:282. Darth Vader, Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope
07:31I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last.
07:36The circle is now complete.
07:38The Star Wars franchise has some of the most recognizable characters in film,
07:42yet it would surprise many to learn how little some of them appear in the original films.
07:45Although Boba Fett's paltry screen time is also notable,
07:48Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold.
07:51Vader is just a more legendary character.
07:53I want every part of this ship checked.
07:55Yes, sir.
07:57I sense something. A presence I've not felt since...
08:01Indeed, the famous villain only shows up for somewhere between 8 to 12 minutes in the film that started it all,
08:06and not much in some subsequent ones either.
08:08Yet Vader's commanding voice, intimidating presence, and iconic design ensured that he stood out,
08:13even among the many memorable elements of the first Star Wars.
08:16I find your lack of faith disturbing.
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08:50Roughly 16 minutes of screen time gave us one of cinema's greatest villains,
08:53Anthony Hopkins' incredible portrayal of the cannibal psychiatrist may not last long,
08:57but it's utterly unforgettable.
08:59That was good.
09:01Pity about poor Catherine, though.
09:03Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
09:05The soft-spoken killer is erudite, intelligent, and utterly terrifying.
09:09Good evening, gentlemen.
09:11Even if he spends most of his time behind bars or restrained,
09:14Hannibal commands every scene he appears in.
09:16His hypnotic, charismatic voice gets under your skin,
09:19and his ability to manipulate everyone around him is as frightening as his few violent outbursts.
09:24I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner.
09:30It's little wonder that Anthony Hopkins nabbed multiple awards,
09:33including a Best Actor Oscar for the role.
09:35Bye.
09:36Is there a small part that casts a long shadow that we forgot?
09:39Well, comments are for closers.
09:41Are you a closer? Make your case below.
09:43Put that coffee down.
09:50Coffee's for closers only.
09:52Did you enjoy this video?
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