Cedar Rapids

Tim is a naive, idealistic insurance agent from a small-town Wisconsin who is thrust into a high-stakes regional conference. His earnestness and genuine kindness drive his relationships, but he flirts with risk in pursuit of belonging and success. Over the course of the story, he grapples with ethical choices and decides to start a new life with a core group of clients.

Dean is a wary, blunt, and worldly insurance agent who becomes Tim's ally and foil at the conference. He embodies a pragmatic approach to the industry, often guiding Tim through moral grey areas while revealing his own rough edges. Despite his rough exterior, he shows a capacity for loyalty.

Joan is a sharp, persuasive conference attendee who befriends Tim and challenges the corporate status quo. She provides emotional insight and later reveals the darker side of Lemke's reputation, influencing Tim's decisions. Her honesty and wit complicate the group's dynamics.

A sex worker Tim encounters at the conference, Bree is portrayed with a mix of street-smarts and vulnerability. Her presence catalyzes Tim's late-night choices and adds a dose of raw reality to the event.

Orin Helgesson is the president of ASMI who enforces the pressure to win and condones bribery. He becomes the procedural obstacle that Tim must confront during the assessment.

Former colleague idolized by Tim, Roger is revealed as a symbol of the corrupt path to success whose legacy drives Tim's moral crisis as the truth about his actions emerges.