Top 10 Most Unexpected Brutal Deaths of Movie Villains
#10: Mr. Sloan
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“Wanted” (2008) Morgan Freeman completely transforms into the supervillain Mr. Sloan in the outrageous comic-book adaptation "Wanted." By the end of the film, he tries to one-up the hero Wesley at his office. Sloan realizes too late that it's all a trap as he stands in the crosshairs of his nemesis. This leads to his bloody demise from a bullet that travels a considerable distance, in perhaps one of the most precise shots in movie history. The character’s scared look underscores the sudden nature of his defeat. It may not be utterly unrealistic, but this death still packs a punch as part of an effective twist ending.
#9: Thanos
Gorr vs Thanos
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) During the climactic film in the "Avengers" saga, the remaining heroes go to extraordinary lengths to defeat Thanos and recover the Infinity Stones. Their initial attempt at an ambush goes well enough. But they find the villain's gauntlet empty, and he reveals that he’s obliterated the Stones. Thor then retaliates by cutting off the antagonist's head in a hasty and brutal strike. It all happens so fast that viewers are left stunned by the effectiveness of the Norse god's violent swing. While it might not be Thanos' final, official death, the unforgettable moment reveals the surprisingly merciless nature of "Avengers: Endgame."
#8: Wicked Witch of the West
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“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) People sometimes forget that an old classic like “The Wizard of Oz” can be every bit as disturbing as a modern film. The Wicked Witch of the West notably invokes fear into the hearts of viewers at any age. Her accidental death comes as Dorothy tries to extinguish a fire on the Scarecrow. She dumps a bunch of water on her friend, hitting the sorceress and melting her in the process. The villain screams in agony as she withers away into nothingness. The film is without a doubt a children’s fantasy classic, but there’s no denying the brutal shock of this climactic moment.
#7: Jasper Sitwell
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) After Captain America and his allies interrogate the corrupt agent Jasper Sitwell, they run into some trouble on the road. The Winter Soldier slams onto the roof of the car and tosses Sitwell out of the window. Not only that, but the man enters the path of a large truck that adds insult to injury. It’s the kind of death you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, even if they happen to be working with Hydra. There isn’t even a slight chance for any of the nearby heroes to save him. A quick and awful way to go, this supporting character’s demise might be one of the most horrible in the entire franchise.
#6: Leon 'Bats' Jefferson III
“Baby Driver” (2017) Jamie Foxx steals scenes and money as the robber Bats in "Baby Driver." His final seconds come as a surprise to viewers, after a botched getaway leads to him shooting a security guard. Bats tries to intimidate the title character into leaving, but soon comes to regret it. Fighting back against his counterpart's methods, Baby drives forward and puts his passenger in the path of some rebar. Nobody could have guessed that the driver would retaliate like that. The effects of the crash are especially gross, with Foxx truly selling the brutality of his character’s death.
#5: The Tusken Raiders
Top 10 Most Unexpected BRUTAL Deaths in Movies
“Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” (2002) Perhaps the most disturbing part of this “Star Wars” prequel comes when Anakin gets revenge for his mother’s death at the hands of the Tusken Raiders. He quickly reveals the darkness inside him after being overcome with rage, which leads him to destroy a village of Tuskens on Tatooine, sparing no one. The series of killings undoubtedly ranks among the more adult parts of the sci-fi story. The moment is particularly unexpected given the character’s otherwise heroic actions in the film. Showcasing the beginnings of Skywalker’s descent into evil, the sequence is especially disturbing for a PG movie.
#4: Franz Sanchez
“Licence to Kill” (1989) By the end of the James Bond adventure "Licence to Kill," the hero finds himself up against the machete of villain Franz Sanchez. Bond might be cornered, but he pulls out a lighter at the last second to dispatch with the antagonist. The graphic scene sees Sanchez screaming as the flames engulf him in a terrifying sight, followed by an explosion for further emphasis. It’s a sequence that narrowly beats out other worthy entries from the “James Bond” series, such as Trevelyan’s death in “GoldenEye”. As one of the more mature missions for the secret agent, this plot also has one of the grittier endings of them all.
#3: The Manson Family
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“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) Writer and director Quentin Tarantino often has his way with history. Just look at the way he chose to rewrite World War II and Hitler’s death in “Inglourious Basterds.” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and its gory finale follow in that tradition. Members of the Manson family ultimately head to actor Rick Dalton’s house instead of Sharon Tate’s in this fictional retelling. There, they encounter stunt man Cliff Booth. Booth, assisted by his dog Brandy and Dalton’s wife, starlet Francesca Capucci, violently and permanently does away with two of the cult followers. The final attacker, meanwhile, endures lots of pain before finally being torched with Dalton’s flamethrower. In inventive and gratuitous ways, Tarantino reminds audiences of his signature ability to cause complete mayhem.
#2: Captain Henry Rhodes
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“Day of the Dead” (1985) Despite all of the zombies, Captain Rhodes is the main antagonist in George Romero's "Day of the Dead." And let’s just say the military leader is one of the more unsavory villains in screen history. He and his soldiers are entirely unprepared for a horde of zombies to enter their underground base, where Rhodes ends up cornered by Bub the zombie. Trying to make a break for it, he opens the doors only for a swarm of undead creatures to jump out. The result is one of the more graphic death scenes ever put to film. An impressive array of makeup effects and the sheer surprise of the moment combine for a memorable (if disturbing) moment.
#1: The Nazis
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“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) In the mother of all movie villain deaths, the Nazis in the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" finally receive their comeuppance in a thrilling conclusion. They think they can just go around stealing priceless artifacts until the Ark of the Covenant fights back, melting faces and destroying the evil men. There's also a mix of amazing practical effects that really sell the genuine horror of the moment. It's a shocking end to an otherwise kid-friendly adventure, starting a trend of nightmare-inducing deaths in “Indiana Jones” films that notably continued with Donovan’s in “Last Crusade”.
