History Main / BillingDisplacement

* The boxart for ''[[VideoGame/{{Skylanders}} Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure]]'' puts the titular character to the right side of the group lineup while Stealth Elf takes dead center.

* Ads for the film ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' give Creator/MirandaCosgrove second billing (possibly to appeal to the film's target audience, as ''Series/ICarly'' was a huge hit at the time with that demographic). In the actual film, she is billed fifth (behind Creator/SteveCarell, Creator/JasonSegel, Creator/RussellBrand and Creator/KristenWiig) despite being an important character.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'' averts with the protagonist, given Creator/KellyMacdonald (Merida) is still the first. But the follow-up isn't Creator/EmmaThompson (Queen Elinor, Merida's mother), the second most proeminent character, but Creator/BillyConnolly (King Fergus, Merida's father). [[spoiler: Though Thompson's speaking part is reduced throughout the movie given Elinor spends most of it turned into a bear.]]

* Disney Junior shows ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Vampirina}}'' place the voice of TheHero in the middle, with supporting voices between them.

* Ads for the film ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' give Creator/MirandaCosgrove second billing (possibly to appeal to the film's target audience). In the actual film, she is billed fifth (behind Creator/SteveCarell, Creator/JasonSegel, Creator/RussellBrand and Creator/KristenWiig) despite being an important character.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/FullHouse'': Creator/JohnStamos has top billing over the main cast, when it’s the late Creator/BobSaget who should’ve been credited first seeing how his character Danny Tanner is the actual lead. This carries over to the spin-off, where Stamos is always billed higher than the other legacy guest stars.
* ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'': After the show’s original star Creator/CharlieSheen was fired, remaining co-lead Creator/JonCryer plays a much larger role than before, thus making his character Alan the new protagonist. However, Sheen’s actual replacement Creator/AshtonKutcher joins the cast as second lead to Cryer but still receives top billing. This was likely influenced by Kutcher‘s popularity at the time.
* ''Series/{{Violetta}}'': For an odd reason, Martina Stoessel is billed second in the opening theme behind Diego Ramos, who plays her father.
* ''Series/{{Warped}}'': In the opening credit scrawl after TheTeaser, Kate Godfrey is up first with Anton Starkman second, despite the fact ''Milo'' is the main star.
[[/folder]]

* ''Series/{{Full House}}'': Creator/JohnStamos has top billing over the main cast, when it’s the late Creator/BobSaget who should’ve been credited first seeing how his character Danny Tanner is the actual lead. This carries over to the spin-off, where Stamos is always billed higher than the other legacy guest stars.
* ''Series/{{Two and a Half Men}}'': After the show’s original star Creator/CharlieSheen was fired, remaining co-lead Creator/JonCryer plays a much larger role than before, thus making his character Alan the new protagonist. However, Sheen’s actual replacement Creator/AshtonKutcher joins the cast as second lead to Cryer but still receives top billing. This was likely influenced by Kutcher‘s popularity at the time.

A variation is caused by the repackaging of an older movie with a [[RetroactiveRecognition then obscure, now famous actor]] prominently advertised. This happened to ''Satisfaction'' (1988) which, after ''Film/PrettyWoman'' made her famous, was repackaged as ''Girls of Summer'' "[[RetroactiveRecognition
starring]]" Creator/JuliaRoberts and featuring a small appearance by Creator/JustineBateman (who, for those who don't get the joke, was in 1988 a major figure as a co-star in ''Series/FamilyTies'' but is today better known as Creator/JasonBateman's sister) as the lead character.

A variation is caused by the repackaging of an older movie with a [[RetroactiveRecognition then obscure, now famous actor]] prominently advertised. This happened to ''Satisfaction'' (1988) which, after ''Film/PrettyWoman'' made her famous, was repackaged as ''Girls of Summer'' "starring" Creator/JuliaRoberts and featuring a small appearance by Creator/JustineBateman (who, for those who don't get the joke, was in 1988 a major figure as a co-star in ''Series/FamilyTies'' but is today better known as Creator/JasonBateman's sister) as the lead character.

A variation is caused by the repackaging of an older movie with a [[RetroactiveRecognition then obscure, now famous actor]] prominently advertised. This happened to ''Satisfaction'' (1988) which, after ''Film/PrettyWoman'' made her famous, was repackaged as ''Girls of Summer'' "starring" Creator/JuliaRoberts and featuring a small appearance by Creator/JustineBateman (who, for those who don't get the joke, was in 1988 a major figure as a co-star in ''Series/FamilyTies'' but is today better known as [[Creator/JasonBateman]]'s sister) as the lead character.

A variation is caused by the repackaging of an older movie with a [[RetroactiveRecognition then obscure, now famous actor]] prominently advertised. This happened to ''Satisfaction'' (1988) which, after ''Film/PrettyWoman'' made her famous, was repackaged as ''Girls of Summer'' "starring" Creator/JuliaRoberts and featuring a small appearance by Creator/JustineBateman (who, for those who don't get the joke, was in 1988 a major figure as a co-star in ''Series/FamilyTies'' but is today better known as Jason's sister) as the lead character.

* Semi-justified (and even a kind of FridgeBrilliance) in the case of the poster for the 2006 ''Royal Rumble''. It showed the entire [=McMahon=] family - Vince, Shane, Stephanie, even Linda - dressed as Roman patricians in the Colosseum (other than the fact that the event was being held in Miami, Florida, one of the most "Latin" cities in the United States, the ancient Roman motif wasn't really relevant). As it happens, Vince and Shane ''do'' make an appearance during the Rumble match, conspiring to eliminate Wrestling/ShawnMichaels from the contest - but Wrestling/{{Edge}}, Wrestling/JohnCena, Wrestling/KurtAngle, Wrestling/MarkHenry, and Royal Rumble winner [[spoiler:Rey Mysterio]] were certainly more important.

Compare BilledAboveTheTitle, SpotlightStealingTitle, and WolverinePublicity, where a popular character is deliberately added for the ''sole purpose'' of selling a product, whether or not the character is actually relevant to the story. Also compare AwardCategoryFraud, where a minor role is given an award for a major one, or vice versa.

** Amazon's listing for the sixth and final volume the American DVD releases gives top billing to the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, who only appears in two of the twelve included episodes.

* ''VideoGame/TheQuarry'' bills Creator/DavidArquette first in the announcement trailer, and is the most prominent person on the box art. This is despite the fact that he's not one of the playable characters. [[spoiler:Arquette is barely in the game at all, only appearing in 2 out of the 10 chapters, one of which is little more than a cameo (he appears in werewolf form in 1-2 more chapter.]] Creator/ArielWinter and Creator/HalstonSage are both playable characters and are billed second and fifth respectively. Winter and Sage are both playable characters, but are FAR from the main characters that their billing would imply (this honor goes to Creator/JusticeSmith, billed third, Creator/BrendaSong, billed fourth, and Creator/SiobhanWilliams, billed sixth). [[spoiler:Both Winter and Sage are barely featured past the first act of the game, and can both be killed off before its conclusion (Winter in Chapter 6 and Sage in Chapter 4).]] Compare this to Creator/MilesRobbins, billed eighth, who is easily the biggest character in the game outside of Smith, Song, and Williams.

** Taken UpToEleven when Kristin Davis' credit was dropped, giving Jay ''first billing''.

* For ''WesternAnimation/{{Epic}}'' Creator/AmandaSeyfried is billed third despite voicing the main character. Though this decision could have something to do with Seyfried having been on a box office cold streak during production.

** This seems to be happening now with "Uptown Funk!" It's actually by Mark Ronson featuring Mars, but most Americans have never heard of Ronson before and think of it as a Mars song.

* Most pressings of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Zeroman}}'' complete series DVD set list Creator/RyanReynolds' name on the top, and no one else's. Not only did he not play the title character... that would be Creator/LeslieNielsen... the character Ryan ''did'' play isn't even pictured!

* The advertising for ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' heavily billed Music/{{Sia}}, despite her character Songbird Serenade barely appearing in the movie and being completely unnecessary to the plot. Even the cover to the movie depicts the Mane Seven, the allies who help them save the day, the BigBad, his [[TheDragon dragon]] and henchman, and Songbird Serenade. It's especially ironic as Sia herself is uncomfortable with public attention and wears her iconic hair to hide her face.

* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' featured Dante from the ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' series in its western release, and his presence was more heavily touted in Europe, where the game had a completely different box art, with Dante alongside the Demi-fiend and the memetic "Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series!" Stamp, Just in case you didn't notice Dante taking half of the box art. But in the game itself, only the first encounter with him is mandatory. In fact one can actually finish the game without seeing or hearing from him again, and the next time you see him, if you want to, is near the ending of the optional dungeon, so you've almost finished the game at this point.