Top 10 Movie Death Scenes That Left Us SPEECHLESS
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most impactful and unexpected deaths in live-action movies. There’s also a spoiler alert for the following films. Did we forget a death scene that shocked you? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: Kane
“Alien” (1979) We knew something fatal was bound to happen in this sci-fi horror film, but we didn’t think it would be this gross. The first death of “Alien” comes after Kane wakes up from his facehugger coma to sit down for a meal. Everybody is all smiles until the crewmate starts to be sick. He appears to have died, but that’s just the least of everyone’s problems. His chest bursts open to reveal a baby xenomorph in a horrifying reveal. The effects are still scary to this day, provoking realistic reactions from the cast members. Setting off a horrible chain of events, this death strikes terror into the hearts of most viewers to this day.
#9: Maggie Fitzgerald
“Million Dollar Baby” (2004) If you went into this movie expecting a typical sports plot, you were probably shocked by its ending. Hilary Swank’s character receives a serious injury in the ring that paralyzes her. Spending the rest of the story in the hospital, she eventually asks her trainer Frankie Dunn to end her life. Maggie’s dire condition makes her consider a much different fate than anyone could’ve expected at the film’s start. It might be a dark ending, but it also makes you wonder about the hardships people go through with various medical problems. Her controversial death brings this Oscar-winning project to a dramatic and gut-wrenching close.
#8: Bruno & Shmuel
“The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” (2008) The horrors of WWII and the Holocaust are explored through the eyes of children in this period drama. Bruno makes an unlikely friend in Shmuel after finding him on the other side of a concentration camp fence. Neither kid completely understands their place in the larger society around them, representing the innocent bystanders caught in a broken world. The pair end up spending their final seconds together as they both enter the gas chamber. It’s already a terrible moment to watch, but it’s made even worse knowing their age. Bruno’s parents can’t even come to save him in time. Many people that watch the movie will likely never forget this powerful climax, completely knocked over by these deaths.
#7: Albus Dumbledore
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“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009) Among the most pivotal figures in the saga, Albus Dumbledore doesn’t survive the sixth entry in the series. His death comes at the hands of Severus Snape in a tense confrontation. The mentor and friend dies without Harry Potter being able to help him. This also signals a huge win for the Death Eaters and Voldemort, and is a major setback for the greater wizarding world. Michael Gambon and Alan Rickman’s key performances are crucial to creating the impact of this emotional scene. The latter actor in particular gets to really shine, conjuring up one of his most compelling turns on screen.
#6: Wolverine
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“Logan” (2017) Seemingly bringing the Wolverine story to an end, “Logan” gives the titular hero one last chance to prove himself. Set in the future, he faces off against the clone X-24 in a brutal fight in the forest. After being impaled on a tree, the protagonist survives with the help of the powerful Laura. The two then share a touching moment together before Logan succumbs to his wounds. The power of Hugh Jackman’s acting makes the scene one of his best as the character. Even as the performer plans to return to the role, this remains an impactful sequence featuring the demise of a legendary superhero.
#5: Everyone in the Car
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“The Mist” (2007) In this horror climax, the remaining survivors of the film are seemingly trapped in their car as they contemplate their next move. Deciding to make a drastic choice, the group opts to kill themselves rather than die at the hands of the movie’s interdimensional villains. David executes the other passengers and prepares to get taken by the creatures. By the time the mist fades away, the military appears and reveals that safety was only a few more minutes away. The hero realizes his premature actions in a disturbing scene. Thomas Jane’s character screams in despair, completely broken and at his lowest point. The entire film comes to a close on one of the biggest gut-punches in recent cinematic history.
#4: Charlie Graham
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“Hereditary” (2018) After his sister Charlie has an allergic reaction, Peter drives her to get medical attention. Charlie opens the car window to get some air, but the car swerves to avoid a deer and a telephone pole takes off her head. Charlie’s death is especially gruesome and her brother can’t even process the death afterward, staring into the distance in silence. Proving to be the pivotal scene of the movie, the sequence ensures that nobody is ever the same after the tragedy. You probably won’t be sticking your head out of a car window anytime soon after watching this. “Hereditary” lives for these kinds of uncomfortable twists, bringing a sense of dread to the audience at every turn.
#3: Half of Humanity
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) Once Thanos gathers the stones for his gauntlet, he snaps away half of the population. The result is one of the more disturbing scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Looking completely lost, many of the Avengers watch helplessly as their friends turn to dust, shocking even the most casual fan of the superhero series. Witnessing the likes of Black Panther and Spider-Man disappear is unsettling, leaving the remaining heroes in a state of hopelessness. Peter Parker’s demise really puts the entire snap into perspective as he fades away in Tony Stark’s arms. Seeing such powerful people crumble still makes us break down, beating out the deaths of Black Widow and Tony Stark in “Endgame.”
#2: John Coffey
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“The Green Mile” (1999) Michael Clarke Duncan’s character is a miracle worker in this adaptation of the Stephen King story. Even though he’s behind bars, John Coffey makes the best of his death row sentence by healing several people. It becomes clear that the prisoner is also innocent of his crime, but this doesn’t stop the authorities from executing him. Unable to save Coffey, the guards are forced to go through with the act in a harrowing sequence. The climax of the movie shows that “The Green Mile” avoids the usual fantasy cliches. It also speaks to the unfortunate nature of innocent people being executed, giving viewers a hard dose of reality in the process. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Goose, “Top Gun” (1986)
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Brooks, “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
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Rue, “The Hunger Games” (2012)
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Neil Perry, “Dead Poets Society” (1989)
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Tom Blake, “1917” (2019)
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#1: Malcolm Crowe
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“The Sixth Sense” (1999) If you didn’t know this surprise going into the movie, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. M. Night Shyamalan’s beloved thriller features one of the greatest and most startling reveals of them all. Malcolm Crowe, the child psychologist that aids Haley Joel Osmont’s character, has been dead the entire time. His shooting at the start of the film actually resulted in his death, completely transforming the meaning of each scene after. Viewers can watch the first sequence again with a renewed appreciation for the material, taking in the real power of the twist. Bruce Willis’ character becomes even more tragic with this realization, giving viewers one of the best surprises ever.
