Big Stan

Wealthy real estate con artist who marries Mindy. Sentenced to three years at Verlaine Correctional Facility, he undergoes a dramatic transformation into a martial-arts capable peacemaker who leads a peaceful order within Oaksburg. His arc centers on redefining success from wealth to protection of others.

A mysterious guru who trains Stan in martial arts and acts as a moral compass. He proves pivotal in Stan's shift from fear to confidence and even guides Mindy during incarceration. The Master’s teachings challenge the prison's violence-driven status quo.

Stan's wife who experiences the strain of his crime and incarceration. She harbors uncertainty about her relationship with Stan and the Master, and she ultimately supports a future built on Stan's peaceful leadership. Her presence underscores the film's focus on personal bonds.

The corrupt warden steering the prison's fate with plans for a riot to liquidate the facility for profit. His power clashes with Stan's peacemaking, setting up the central conflict of leadership versus exploitation.

A sympathetic guardsman who becomes an ally to Stan, offering a human bridge between prison authority and inmate harmony. His stance matters as Stan's influence grows within the yard.

A fellow student of the Master who presents a foil to Stan, pushing him into combat moments. Dang embodies the challenge of old rivalries within the reform narrative.

Stan's parole attorney who relentlessly hypes the legal route while steering the sentencing toward favorable outcomes for his own interest. His reassignments and schemes reveal systemic opportunism.

An elderly inmate who initially intimidates but ultimately becomes part of Stan's peacekeeping approach. He helps demonstrate the potential for reform even among hardened convicts.

A long-serving inmate who befriends Stan and shares insight into prison life. Their budding friendship highlights the human capacity for empathy in confinement.

Mindy and Stan's daughter, who grows into a focal point in the later reconciliation and family-centered ending. Stan becomes her nanny, shaping a future beyond prison.