20 Background Characters From Movies You've Seen A Bunch But Never Noticed

    I was today-years-old when I noticed this in Jaws.

    Jeremy Hayes
    by Jeremy Hayes

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    There are tons of movies I have watched more than once, and the more you watch, the more you notice the little things in the background. Here are 21 background characters you might have never noticed before:

    1. They just wanted to enjoy a football game, Bane! (The Dark Knight Rises)

    Crowd looking frightened, and a couple wearing silly yellow and black hats hiding behind a rail
    Warner Bros. Entertainment

    Some extras are happy to be in a movie, while others go the extra mile by acting absolutely terrified during Bane's speech at the football game. Plus, those matching hats are so in right now.

    2. This Indiana Jones stand-in forgets to keep his head down for this two second shot in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

    A man dressed as Indiana Jones squats near wall
    Paramount Pictures

    During the scene in the spike room, Willie comes running in, wiping bugs off of her, but Indiana Jones turns into a background character...literally. Who is this guy?

    If that is Indiana Jones, then I am Mickey Mouse! *wink*

    3. In Grease, Sandy sings "Summer Nights" while a fellow student appears lost in his own world.

    Sandy from "Grease" singing while a man sits in the background on the table in deep thought
    Paramount Pictures

    While Sandy walks off from her new friends to finish her song, this guy is weirdly present and everyone else is heading back to class.

    I want his story. Maybe after this scene, he broke out into a song of his own.

    4. This guy that looks like Jimmy Buffet isn't going to waste away in Jurassic World...wait a second...Jimmy!?

    Jimmy Buffet holds margaritas while running away from pterodactyls
    Universal Pictures

    Leave the children...save the margaritas.

    I tried to keep well-known cameos off this list, but this one is pretty great.

    5. Apparently, you can't have a spicy make out session on a rooftop without Spider-Man ruining your good time.

    Couple kissing in background while Spider-Man swings in with Mary Jane
    Sony Pictures Releasing

    The 2001 Spider-Man is full of great campiness and funny movie extras, but I never noticed these two lovebirds until a later viewing of the film.

    6. A peculiar Oompa Loompa has the sole duty of handing Willy Wonka his cane that he doesn't even need.

    Oompa Loompa hands Willy Wonka a cane
    Paramount Pictures

    We never see this guy again, which means Wonka makes him stand in this room to watch over his cane. Wonka seems like just as much of a jerk as Grandpa Joe.

    7. This cameraman wizard in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets looks a little too old to be attending Hogwarts.

    Cameraman among children during a wizarding duel
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Less of an extra and more of a blooper, but this cameraman is canon in the Potter universe. At least he got that good close-up of a disappointed Alan Rickman.

    8. All of Ralphie's classmates in A Christmas Story are pretty fun to watch, especially when he snaps out of his daydream.

    Children laugh as Ralphie speaks to the teacher
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    People are usually tough on child actors, but I thought these kid extras really sold the scenes they were in and like they actually found what was happening in each scene funny.

    9. One stormtrooper deserves a medal for this simply brilliant stunt work in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

    A stormtrooper face plants after being shot by Finn
    Lucasfilm

    People really sleep on the Force Awakens, and the stunt work in every scene is a lot of fun, but one trooper in particular stands out. Finn gets a shot off in this chaotic moment, but the camera doesn't linger on one stormtrooper that dies in tremendous fashion.

    10. An alien made out of bad thoughts and nightmares makes a quick appearance in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

    Green and yellow alien in Jabba's Palace
    Lucasfilm

    Star Wars is known for their aliens, but they should put this thing back where he came from. I believe he is a puppet, which makes him all the more creepier.

    11. This man in Raiders of the Lost Ark is the worst butcher ever during one of the most iconic improvised moments ever.

    Man pretends to chop meat behind Indiana Jones
    Paramount Pictures

    As he pretends to chop, the butcher is either extremely weak or that is some tough cut of meat.

    12. In Beauty and the Beast, two friends are more riveted by a turtle than the singing around them.

    Two animated characters behind Belle are riveted by a turtle
    Disney

    What's better than this? Guys being dudes...and staring at a turtle. I won't even get into the outfits, there's too much to unpack.

    13. This man drinking coffee in Elf gets a good laugh thanks to Buddy.

    Man laughing while he looks at Buddy the Elf
    New Line Cinema

    Will Ferrell gives him a subtle "hi" and a prolonged stare that just sends this man over.

    14. Inside Men in Black headquarters, one man is dangling on the catwalk like a bat.

    A man walking upside down on a catwalk
    Columbia Pictures

    I never noticed this guy until I was older and Will Smith's J is staring right at him.

    15. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, one man is the ultimate Norrington Stan.

    Red coat laughing smugly behind the Commodore
    Disney

    Everyone else seems content being a background character, while this man is actually engaging in the scene by laughing at Norrington's jokes in the most smug way. I appreciate you, random soldier!

    16. One guy brought a trident to a vehicle fight in Mad Max: Fury Road.

    Man holding trident while hanging out of a fast-moving car in "Mad Max: Fury Road"
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    At least I think it is a trident...maybe a pike. It also looks like it is mounted on a cannon. Either way, they need this man leading the charge.

    17. This man from Batman Forever, who points and shouts "Batman, yeah!", is criminally underrated as a background guy.

    Man in a crowd, pointing to the ceiling in jubilation
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    I cannot confirm if this is the "boiling acid" guy, but he brings the same energy, so I wouldn't be surprised. Also, how about that signature Batman entrance?

    18. I've seen Jaws a million times and never noticed the first mate's dog until this year.

    Dog sitting behind Quint in "Jaws"
    Universal Studios

    I guess Quint's speech was so captivating I've never noticed the pup. Such a well-behaved dog!

    19. This young woman in Frozen lets her family ditch her just so she can admire Princess Anna.

    Young woman starring at Anna in awe
    Disney

    I know everyone pays attention to Tangled characters Rapunzel and Flynn, but I thought this was a cool little detail to show the kingdom's excitement in a shot that last seconds.

    20. So, the hockey puck from Toy Story isn't quite a background character, but I have a lot of questions because I never really paid any attention to him for his two seconds of screen time.

    Hockey Puck toy shrugging
    Disney

    Why does it have limbs? Why red boots, but yellow gloves? Why does it break the fourth wall and shrug to the audience? Does it ever appear again in the film franchise? Does Andy even play hockey? Do we ever see a hockey stick? Would the hockey stick be sentient? Is it even a toy? Is it a chew toy for the dog they don't have yet?

    Hockey Puck might be the most mysterious character in cinema.

    Which have you never seen before? Is there one you love not on this list? Comment below!