The protagonist is usually a film's most likable, sympathetic character. The audience should want to see their story and pray for their success. Sometimes a side character can become more charming than the protagonist. Even then, however, it's usually for their comedic potential rather than being a better character in their own right.
However, films can present one or more characters who clearly outdo the originally intended protagonist. The main character could be underwhelming, or the side characters are that much more compelling. However it comes about, audiences may feel that some films focused on the wrong person.
10 Passengers
Passengers is a romantic drama infamous for the moral bleakness of its premise. It centers on Jim Preston, a space colonist who awakens far too early on an interplanetary voyage. Consumed by loneliness, he wakes up another colonist, Aurora Lane, to keep him company. In effect, Jim ruins another person's life because he thinks she's attractive.
Jim's actions are monstrous, despite their sympathetic edge. Passengers expects audiences to side with him and hope he wins Aurora over. Many have noted that Passengers would be much more effective if Aurora was the protagonist and Jim was its villain. Instead of a romantic drama, it could make for an excellent psychological thriller.
9 Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most beloved films. However, it's contentious with some fans for being an Avengers-level crossover masquerading as a Captain America film. Steve Rogers is the film's protagonist. However, he shares main character duties with Tony Stark throughout.
Captain America: Civil War opens and closes on Tony. His actions help drive the second and third acts. He provides most of the finale's emotional punch despite the presence of both Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. As well-liked as Tony's arc is in Captain America: Civil War, many fans hoped for more emphasis on the title character.
8 Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the franchise's most infamous and controversial film. It doesn't have a single main character, following several plot lines. Rey experiences a spiritual journey with Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren at the same time as Finn, Poe Dameron, and Rose Tico's own adventures.
However, many feel The Last Jedi wastes most of its cast members. They would have liked to see Poe or especially Finn take center stage for the film rather than given side stories to enjoy. No small number think that Kylo Ren is a much more central character than either, and that this is a questionable choice that harms much of the film.
7 Godzilla (2014)
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Godzilla (2014) is a divisive entry in the franchise despite kickstarting the well-liked MonsterVerse. As with many modern monster films, much of its criticism centers on its human cast. Godzilla's protagonist is Ford Brody, a US soldier with familial ties to Godzilla who gets caught up in a monster rivalry.
Many fans consider Ford an underwhelming protagonist. Despite a good performance from Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the character is bland and unmemorable. Many prefer his father, Bryan Cranston's Joe Brody, as the film's protagonist. Others still think Godzilla should have taken center stage in a Godzilla film rather than being upstaged by humans.
6 Twilight
Twilight faces criticism on many grounds. However, its central characters are responsible for a lot of the mockery. Bella Swan is a too-perfect and awkwardly-written protagonist who is difficult to relate to. Edward Cullen is a controlling and off-putting presence whose actor hates the film. Jacob Black becomes increasingly possessive and unpleasant even before he falls in love with a baby.
At the same time, Twilight has a wealth of far more interesting characters and stories. Bella's father Charlie is a small-town cop beset by supernatural crimes he cannot solve. Jasper Cullen has centuries of experience waging vampire wars across America. Rosalie Hale wreaks bloody vengeance on her fiancé and his friends after a life-threatening assault. Twilight has so much potential that falls to one side for a teen supernatural romance.
5 The Matrix Resurrections
The Matrix Resurrections is panned for flaws on many levels. Aside from its underachieving fight scenes, it struggles with writing from start to finish. One of the film's best new characters is Jessica Henwick's Bugs. She leads the film's first few scenes and is present throughout. After Neo's freed, however, The Matrix Resurrections sidelines new characters in favor of the older generation.
The Matrix Resurrections could have emphasized Neo as a legendary and symbolic figure by focusing on characters he's inspired to fight, such as Bugs. Instead, it forefronts him to do little more with his character other than emphasize his love for Trinity. The resulting story hasn't gone over well with fans.
4 Kick-Ass 2
Kick-Ass wins fans over as a funny and surprisingly heartfelt satire of superhero films. Its focus on Dave Lizewski works as a surrogate for the audience who overcomes great hardship to do good. However, there's little else to do with his character after Kick-Ass. Despite this, Kick-Ass 2 continues to focus on him despite the presence of other interesting characters.
The most obvious candidate for Kick-Ass 2's protagonist would be Hit Girl. Her own story throughout the film, trying to fit in after a warped childhood, is far more interesting. However, it's relegated to a significant side story. Kick-Ass 2 has other more interesting characters as well, such as veteran superhero Colonel Stars-and-Stripes.
3 Blade Runner
Blade Runner has two overlapping storylines running throughout: Rick Deckard's quest to eliminate the Replicants on Earth contrasts and clashes with Roy Batty's quest to overcome his limited lifespan. Of the two, however, Deckard's storyline has far more prominence. He is the protagonist and Roy Batty is a sympathetic antagonist.
Some think that Blade Runner would work just as well or better with the ratio flipped. Roy Batty's story is every bit as gripping and central to the film as Deckard's. However, this isn't a universal opinion. Others think that the dynamic of Deckard's relentless protagonist and Batty's humanized antagonist contributes to the film's poignancy.
2 Thor: Love And Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder has disappointed many MCU fans. It's a less funny and less gripping follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok that struggles with its own identity. A focal point for its uncertain writing and tone is its central character. The MCU has done so much with Thor over several films that there's not much else to explore.
However, Thor: Love and Thunder has several other characters who would be perfect to take over and leave Thor in a more supporting role. Jane Foster's Mighty Thor is a breath of fresh air for the franchise with a compelling arc of her own. Villain Gorr the God Butcher is the most acclaimed part of the film. The minimal presence of both is a significant weakness of the film.
1 Solo: A Star Wars Story
The selling point for Solo: A Star Wars Story is that it's a prequel focused on one of Star Wars' most iconic characters. However, Solo actually wastes Han Solo. Despite an excellent performance from Alden Ehrenreich, the character doesn't get to explore his origins or go through much meaningful growth over the course of the film.
Solo's most celebrated parts are everything around Han. It's a fun heist in the Star Wars universe that shines a light on an under-explored part of the galaxy. Most significant are its supporting characters. Qi'ra, Tobias Beckett, and especially Lando Calrissian all get more compelling writing than Han. Any of them could have easily been the main character.