Feature: Top 10 Movies Starring Midgets

While watching a television show titled Little People, Big World I got to wondering how many midgets are working in Hollywood. How many of their roles were actually any good? What I thought would be any easy list to churn out was a lot harder to compile than it should have been.

Criteria: No Christmas movies (that would be too easy); Midget(s) in major role or important to overall movie experience; Can’t be something other than a person (no form altering costumes, i.e. Ewoks, R2-D2); Same midget can’t be used twice.

10		Jackass: The Movie Midget: Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuà±a Initially, I wasn’t convinced I should add this to the list. It’s really just a compilation of crazy stunts from the television show. But then I remembered that fat guy chasing Wee Man around on city streets and I laughed. Every time I see that sketch I crack-up; this movie wouldn’t be the same without him.
9		The Man with the Golden Gun Midget: Hervé Villechaize Every Bond film has a memorable villain with a henchman. This one had Scaramanga along with his small pal Nick Nack. It’s not the best Bond Movie ever made, but it is the only one with a midget causing people grief!
8		Willow Midget: Warwick Davis This is probably the best action-fantasy movie in which a dwarf plays the lead role. My first inclination was to add him due to his role in Leprechaun, but then I remembered how bad that movie was (I’m amazed there are 5 sequels to it)! Willow is a must see for all D&D fans.
7		Freaks Midget: Harry Earles Exploitation film at its finest. It’s about circus freaks and other carnie folk. Can there be a better combination? Hell no, since the movie is 75 years old and still banned in Sweden!
6		Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Midget: Angelo Rossitto He was the tiny guy (The Master) sitting on the shoulders of The Blaster. They turned pig shit to power for Bartertown. This would be the best of the Mad Max series if it weren’t for the casting of Tina Turner.
5		The Wizard of Oz Midget: Various Does this movie require a description? If you haven’t seen it, then you just need to get sucked into a tornado. It’s a classic that everyone should see at least once.
4		Time Bandits Midget: Various From the warped minds of Monty Python. Only these guys could envision a movie about little guys jumping to different periods in time (with a stolen time/space map) to steal stuff and cause general havoc. A very funny movie.
3		Poltergeist Midget: Zelda Rubinstein This movie scaried the shit out of me when I was a kid. Adding this spooky midget to clear the house of poltergeists and retrieve the little girl from the other side was pure genius. She was more frightening than the ghosts!
2		Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Midget: Various Here is another movie that doesn’t require a description. These little green and orange dudes gave me nightmares for weeks (even though they weren’t supposed to be scary). References to this movie can be found everywhere (Wonka candy, Veruca Salt, etc.). One of Gene Wilder’s crowning achievements.
1		Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Midget: Verne Troyer Mini Me. Those two words just bring a smile to my face. This is single handedly the funniest movie ever made that stars a midget. Pure comic genius.

I know, you’re going to tell me that I’ve missed several hundred movies with small folk in them. Why not clue me in? I need something to waste my Netflix subscription on.