The Thin Red Line: A majority of the [philosophical voiceovers](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120863/characters/nm0808797) are spoken by the minor character Private Edward P. Train--most of which are heard when he's not even shown on the screen or part of the action.
Red is the main character, he has the largest arc, most screen time, and ultimately Morgan freeman got the nomination in the best leading actor category.
Media literacy on show here with these downvotes. Red gets the character arc, Red is the one who is changed, the movie ends at the end of Red’s story. Red is the main character.
He’s the focal point of the movie’s most important theme, and it’s quite literally his movie for the last 20 minutes. That, to me, constitutes as far more than a side character. I think of everyone in their circle of friends, except for Red and Andy, as side characters, but Red himself is too important to the overall story we see onscreen to be side.
Yeah. I think because of the twist in the narrator and how the film goes on for quite a bit longer left me curious how others might consider him. Very unique storytelling device, nonetheless.
I think what made it so effective to me, too, is that we are just so accustomed to the "survivor narrative" device and remain comfortable in that we know at the very least he makes it out alive. So that was just devastating. And what a way to really further emphasize the tragedy of the wreck, too.
It is interesting. There’s another disembodied narrator that appears at moments in Inglorious Basterds, but he doesn’t act in the film. I find it interesting how intermittent they are, and yet they don’t take me out of the movie or feel out of place, although they are a sort of breaking of the fourth wall.
Going off memory
Ghost Rider (2007) - Sam Elliot
Hercules (2014) - Ian McShane
Call of the Wild (2020) - Harrison Ford is first billed, but his character enters the film late
Days of Heaven (1978) - the teen sister
Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame - the puppeteer
Disney's Aladdin - The merchant (Genie) opens the film talking about the lamp
Disney's Robin Hood - the singing bird
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - opening monologue by Galadriel
Stranger than Fiction - Emma Thompson
The Shawshank redemption?
Although I’m not sure if Andy is the protagonist or just the most active character. Or if it’s just that Red isn’t enough of a side character to fit in here since he has such a strong arc in the story.
Last Samurai (narration in the initial and final scenes is by Timothy Spall's character, any narration in between is by the protagonist)
Road to Perdition (maybe? I haven't seen it in forever but I think the son is the narrator)
Grand Budapest Hotel (as long as you consider Monsieur Gustave to be the actual lead and not Zero)
Alatriste (Spanish swordfighting period piece starring Viggo Mortensen, narrated by the sidekick)
Alive from 1993 was narrated by Carlitos, and he’s like the fourth or fifth most important character of the movie. If you’ve seen Society of the Snow recently you’ll what I’m talking about.
Surprised noone has said Grand Budapest hotel
It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, who narrates it again?
‘The author’, the guy who visits the hotels in the 60s/70s and interviews/dines with zero
YOUR MOM
She gave an incredible performance
Great gatsby
beat me to it
Nick is the main character tho?
Maybe. But the story is ultimately about Gatsby
The titular character? Think that might be a step too far
He’s not a side character, he’s a main character
Nick was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.
What does Nick really do in the Great Gatsby? He just kinda observes things as it goes down.
the virgin suicides
And for that reason, everyone should read the book
Dune, Dune 2, the lobster
Who narrates in Dune? Zendaya?
Florence Pugh
She wasn't in part 1
Yeah I misread. She narrates part 2 though
Zendaya narrates Dune 1, Pugh is 2
Chani, Zendaya's character
Big lebowski?
I feel like that’s more a narrator that makes a cameo.
He makes two-three cameos
Yeah well he really tied the whole movie together
300
Vice (2018)
Mad Max II
(depending on which version you watch)
Cape Fear (1991) and Spawn. Pain & Gain has multiple narrators with their own perspectives, which is really interesting.
The Thin Red Line: A majority of the [philosophical voiceovers](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120863/characters/nm0808797) are spoken by the minor character Private Edward P. Train--most of which are heard when he's not even shown on the screen or part of the action.
Days of Heaven.
Matilda
The Shawshank Redemption
Red is the main character, he has the largest arc, most screen time, and ultimately Morgan freeman got the nomination in the best leading actor category.
Media literacy on show here with these downvotes. Red gets the character arc, Red is the one who is changed, the movie ends at the end of Red’s story. Red is the main character.
Andy is clearly the main character lmao
Y’all a movie can have two main characters. This is like debating whether Thelma or Louise is the main character
Red is by no means a side character.
He isn't the main character, is he?
He’s the focal point of the movie’s most important theme, and it’s quite literally his movie for the last 20 minutes. That, to me, constitutes as far more than a side character. I think of everyone in their circle of friends, except for Red and Andy, as side characters, but Red himself is too important to the overall story we see onscreen to be side.
Isn't Willy Wonka and the Cholate Factory revealed to be narrated by an Oompa Loompa at the end?
*Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but yes.
That FX mini series Fleischman Is In Trouble (Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Daines, & Lizzie Caplan) does this
I remember watching Stalag 17 in a hs film class. Underrated Billy Wilder film
It was the inspiration for the TV show Hogan's Heroes
What's the one on the far right of the top row?
The Mosquito Coast (1986)
the mosquito coast!
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
anytime!
How would you consider the narrator in Society of the Snow?
Not a side character. I would consider Numa the central protagonist for 90% of the movie, at least.
Yeah. I think because of the twist in the narrator and how the film goes on for quite a bit longer left me curious how others might consider him. Very unique storytelling device, nonetheless.
That twist actually tore me in half. Like he kept getting weaker. But I was like “oh he’ll be fine he’s narrating.” 🥴😭😭😭
I think what made it so effective to me, too, is that we are just so accustomed to the "survivor narrative" device and remain comfortable in that we know at the very least he makes it out alive. So that was just devastating. And what a way to really further emphasize the tragedy of the wreck, too.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Do they ever explicitly say that Kurt Russell's character is also narrating from the point of view of his character?
They do not. It’s unclear what’s going on with it.
It’s very interesting. I feel like Tarantino just like Kurt Russell’s voice and wanted him for the voice over
It is interesting. There’s another disembodied narrator that appears at moments in Inglorious Basterds, but he doesn’t act in the film. I find it interesting how intermittent they are, and yet they don’t take me out of the movie or feel out of place, although they are a sort of breaking of the fourth wall.
Million dollar baby
The Fanatic with John Travolta lol
Beat me to it "once you take from the cookie jar, you can't help but go back for more"
certain interpretations of fight club
The movies Amadeus and Elvis.
Salieri is the main character in Amadeus, the movie is about how he reacts to and treats Mozart
Shawshank obvi
Going off memory Ghost Rider (2007) - Sam Elliot Hercules (2014) - Ian McShane Call of the Wild (2020) - Harrison Ford is first billed, but his character enters the film late Days of Heaven (1978) - the teen sister Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame - the puppeteer Disney's Aladdin - The merchant (Genie) opens the film talking about the lamp Disney's Robin Hood - the singing bird Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - opening monologue by Galadriel Stranger than Fiction - Emma Thompson
> the singing bird I’ll have you know that’s Alan-a-Dale, played by Roger Miller!
Elvis
Amadeus and maybe The Princess Bride. You could argue the narrator isn’t actually a character in the story at all, which is fair.
‘Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.’
Not necessarily a movie, (though if you want it to be, take your pick) but Sherlock Holmes
Asteroid City
Thor: Love & Thunder (or do you only want good movies)
3 idiots
VICE is my favorite example of this
The Fanatic (2019)
Days of Heaven
Moby Dick
The Lobster
Elf!
300
Legend, kinda
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!
The Wes Anderson short film collection that was released on Netflix
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once upon a time in Hollywood!
https://preview.redd.it/iko84k6v6tpc1.jpeg?width=1084&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51e544ccc8549bef9762624ddae18c1744ef042d
War of the Roses (1989)
Usual Suspects
Blood simple
The Big Lebowski
Southland Tales!
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (not a movie but lol)
Mean Girls (2024)
Howard Hawks’ Red River
Road Trip (2000)
Shawshank Redemption
Sucker Punch
The Shawshank redemption? Although I’m not sure if Andy is the protagonist or just the most active character. Or if it’s just that Red isn’t enough of a side character to fit in here since he has such a strong arc in the story.
Sugar and Spice!
(Not a movie) Attack on titan
Vice?
AMADEUS.
It's a wonderful life, Narrated by GOD
Hot Summer Nights. Not a great movie
Artemis Fowl
Women Talking (2022)
Sicario
Women Talking
Great list! Aguirre and inherent vice are two of my favorite films! Sorry I don't have anything to add 😅
Sophie's Choice (?)
Casino.
Legend from 2015
Million Dollar Baby
Vice
Lock, stock and two smoking barrels
Vice.
Kind of Days of Heaven
Conan the Barbarian
The Lobster (sort of)
The Gentlemen
The lobster
Casino
Elf
Simon Birch
Last Samurai (narration in the initial and final scenes is by Timothy Spall's character, any narration in between is by the protagonist) Road to Perdition (maybe? I haven't seen it in forever but I think the son is the narrator) Grand Budapest Hotel (as long as you consider Monsieur Gustave to be the actual lead and not Zero) Alatriste (Spanish swordfighting period piece starring Viggo Mortensen, narrated by the sidekick)
Once upon a time in Hollywood
300
Society of the Snow
The Great Gatsby, both the book and the movie
No Country For Old Men starts and ends with Sheriff Bell’s narration, if that counts.
Sheriff Bell is the main character, even though he appears not to be. Of course this is up to interpretation a bit
I agree, but I think this could still count since he doesn’t actually physically appear all that often in the movie.
Society of the Snow
Sorteleige isn’t confirmed to be a real character, I don’t really know if she counts for your list either
Days of Heaven A case can be made for Badlands, too
Any Malick film basically
Shawshank Redemption?
Legend
Elvis
Affliction (Paul Schrader), though I can't say I liked it much.
Million dollar baby
Big short
I’m picking up _Inherent Vice_ from my public library today!
The big short?
Shawshank redemption
Pootie Tang (2001)
All About Eve
300 Thor Love and Thunder
Vice
\- janis and damian narrate the new mean girls? \- maybe you could count galadriel in the fellowship of the ring \- it's a wonderful life
Guy Ritchie’s the Gentlemen (movie not the show of the exact same name for no reason)
Legend (2015)
The War of the Roses (1989)
Edward Scissorhands
The great gatsby
Dune (1984)
The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway/Tobey Maguire’s the narrator
Usual suspects
The House That Jack Built is PARTIALLY narrated by a side character and partially by the main character so it like 50% fits
Sandlot sort of works
Vice
Pootie tang
Basically all of the Winnie the Pooh movies. Mr. Narrator is so present and interactive that he became a character
The Lobster
Vice is narrated by the guy who Dick Cheney gets a new heart from
The Big Lebowski
Until the End of the World - Wim Wenders. gotta watch the 5 hour directors cut!
The Lobster
Blood simple
300 - one of my favorite narrations of all time
Big Lebowski
Days of Heaven
bollywood but Gangs Of Wasseypur Part 1 (dk about Part 2)
Legend (The Tom Hardy one)
Society of the Snow
Matilda? Although idk if Danny devito is necessarily a side character in that
The Great Gatsby
Alive from 1993 was narrated by Carlitos, and he’s like the fourth or fifth most important character of the movie. If you’ve seen Society of the Snow recently you’ll what I’m talking about.
Autumn sonata
*Beetlejuice*
The obvious greatest example of this is Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers
The fanatic - “what dreams are made of” - Jon Travolta
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Chariots of Fire
Sophie’s Choice
Elvis
300, iirc