Not Just Backup: How Sidekicks Are Taking Over The Screen

When was the last time you found yourself rooting for the sidekick over the hero? From Robin in Batman to Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy, supporting characters are no longer relegated to the shadows—they’re stepping into the spotlight and capturing our hearts. These characters have dimension and questionable morals, but that’s why audiences are loving them more and more – they are real.  The role of the sidekick in modern films has evolved dramatically with characters like the Minions, Samwise, and Rocket Raccoon gaining significant depth, emotional arcs, and relevance to the story. What were once background or support characters are becoming the reason many people love their film, and in doing so changing what it means to be a sidekick. 

Sidekicks used to be simple in film. A character most often used for comic relief, moral support, or just simply a helping hand to the main character. These types of characters had little to no individual character detail and are mainly defined by their relationship to the main character. Some good examples of this in the past are Robin in Batman and Samwise in The Lord of the Rings. Everyone knows that Batman is really Bruce Wayne, but does everyone know that Robin is really Dick Grayson. The answer is no, and I bet if you walked down the street and asked what Robin’s real name is you would find the same conclusion. This is because all audiences, not deeply invested in Batman lore, solely know Robin as Batman’s sidekick. There is even a common phrase used now because of the two characters; “the batman to my robin”. Another character and sidekick duo of the past is Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Most people know about Sherlock Holmes, the mastermind detective, but what do you know about Dr. Watson? Nothing, and this is because there is not much to know about him. His character simply serves as Sherlock’s friend and assistant in his detective work. He works as a “normal” character to balance out the eccentric acts of Sherlock. And like most sidekicks of the past, the memory of Dr. Watson and Robin’s few characteristics were lost in time being pushed aside by their respective main characters. 

But what has changed? Sidekicks are now being given more complex personalities, and in return gaining a lot more love and attention from their audiences. In recent decades, sidekicks have been slowly starting to steal the show. Characters once pushed to the back of a scene are now getting their own fanbase, slowly changing what people knew about sidekicks in modern film. A real first glimpse at this can be seen with The Lord of the Rings Samwise Gamgee. Samwise, in the films, is a wonderfully complex sidekick who offers emotional depth, bravery, and an unwavering sense of hope and loyalty. He has the dedication and loyalty of a traditional sidekick, but also a hero arch along with humor and humanity that made him so much more than that. His relationship with Frodo elevates him from a mere sidekick to a central figure in the story, proving that heroism doesn’t always come from greatness or power—it can come from love, loyalty, and the strength to keep going, even when the world seems against you. Another example of a sidekick that rose above their ranks of a sidekick is Rocket Racoon and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. Serving as mostly comedic relief originally, Rocket and Groot soon became the franchise fandom’s most cherished characters. Their emotional depth and growth throughout the films made for audiences to easily attach themselves to the characters, and in result pushing these characters out of their molds as simply sidekicks and making them the heroes. The change in these types of characters has led audiences to expect, or sometimes even demand, richer and multidimensional characters. After all, what would the Guardians franchise be without Rocket and Groot?

The Minions (2015) caused a major shift in how sidekicks are treated in film by making sidekicks the protagonist. Minions was a spin-off of the franchise Despicable Me and brought together the story of another beloved group of sidekicks, the Minions. Despite speaking gibberish, the Minions quickly stole the show in Despicable Me. They were fun and chaotic, which successfully captivated the minds of the franchise’s majorly young audience. The Minions were even given distinct personalities and a universal appearance that made it easier to resonate with the audience. For example, Kevin is seen as more of a leader type, Bob is the cute, loveable personality, Stuart is the wannabe cool guy, and Dave is the fun, energetic one seen most often doing some sort of activity. The impact that the Minions had is a cultural phenomenon, as the acquired a mass cult following that was more vast than that of the main characters of their original franchise, signaling a new era for supporting characters across all of film. 

Just like the Minions have transformed the view on sidekicks, Perrito in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that even the most unexpected characters can go beyond comic relief and play a crucial, heartfelt role in the story. Initially when audiences meet Perrito he is a simple sidekick to Puss in Boots, but Perrito’s arc throughout the film outshines this initial role. He proves to be an essential part of the story, offering unwavering loyalty and emotional wisdom. He is terribly clumsy and underestimated, but that is what makes him so loveable to audiences. He is someone to root for. His emotional backstory helps solidify audiences feelings towards the character, as his traumatic experiences in an abusive home, adds complexity to his character and makes him more than just a sidekick. He’s a representation of the power of kindness, self-worth, and growth. His simplicity and innocence, juxtaposed with the more hardened characters around him, bring emotional balance and depth to the narrative further proving just how dependent modern films are becoming on their sidekicks.

In recent years, sidekicks have gone from comic relief to compelling, multi-dimensional characters who not only support the hero but often steal the spotlight with their emotional depth and relatable arcs. Characters like Rocket Raccoon and Perrito pave the way for the future of sidekicks in film and change the way audiences view sidekicks in and out of film. As these characters evolve, sidekicks will continue to show they’re just as essential to the story as the heroes, flipping the script and proving that sometimes the best part of the tale is the one standing just off to the side.