Top 10 Movies That Killed Off the Wrong Character

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
To claim the Soul Stone on Vormir, either Natasha or Clint Barton must make the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a close call, but Natasha loses her life while Clint loses his best friend. While definitely an emotional highlight, why didn’t Clint meet his end instead? As Ronin, Clint went down a dark path that should’ve been much harder to come back from. Giving up his life to save his family would’ve been a tragic yet inspiring exit, leaving the door open for somebody else to assume the Hawkeye mantle. Natasha’s death doesn’t really mesh with her character arc, especially since she was becoming the peanut butter who held the sandwich together. Since heroes rarely stay dead in the MCU, though, Natasha just might save another day.

“Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002)
“Nemesis” is among the most forgettable “Star Trek” movies, which is strange since it not only capped up “The Next Generation” films, but also killed off a major character. Data’s death is so clumsily handled, however, that we understand why fans like to ignore this entry. Saving Captain Piccard, the android blows himself up along with the Scimitar. We think the filmmakers were trying to pull a “Wrath of Khan” ending. Unlike Spock’s sacrifice, though, Data’s death has little buildup and thus comes off as unearned. Making the moment even more gimmicky and disingenuous, it turns out Data uploaded his memories to B-4, a plot point that ultimately goes nowhere. At least Data’s demise paved the way for some interesting ideas explored in “Picard.”

“Alien 3” (1992)
Coming off “Aliens,” “Alien 3” was given an opportunity to elaborate on so many fascinating character dynamics. We could see Newt grow up with Ripley serving as her adoptive mother. It also might’ve been intriguing to see Hicks recover from his injuries and maybe step up as Newt’s father figure. But nope! Instead, “Alien 3” soullessly kicks things off with Newt and Hicks dying in agonizing ways, undermining the previous film’s happy ending. Without Newt or Hicks, Ripley has less to fight for throughout this third chapter, lowering the stakes. When Ripley eventually sacrifices herself, it feels less like a blaze of glory and more like she’s finally being put out of her misery. The studio couldn’t even let Ripley rest in peace, however.

“X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006)
Despite being a major part of the comics, Cyclops’ role seemed to be downsized with each passing “X-Men” installment. He went from being a team leader in the first movie, to disappearing for a good portion of the second movie, to dying part way through the third. Adding insult to injury, Scott dies offscreen at the hands of the newly revived Jean Grey. Since Scott and Jean’s relationship was so integral to “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” we knew from the getgo that the film wasn’t going to do this story arc justice. Perhaps Scott’s death could’ve worked if it had been saved for the climax, but the execution here is so abrupt and meaningless that “Days of Future Past” hit the redo switch.

“Serenity” (2005)
Joss Whedon isn’t afraid to ax off his characters, which isn’t always for the best. A “Firefly” fan favorite, Wash was a primary source of comedic relief. “Serenity” features one of his most heroic moments, but faster than you can say, “leaf on the wind,” Wash goes out like a candle in the wind. Getting impaled by a harpoon from a Reaver ship, Wash’s death is brutal, sudden, and comes out of nowhere. We guess that’s what Whedon was going for, but if he wanted a crew member to die here, why not Simon? After all, River is this story’s driving force, so wouldn’t it have made dramatic sense if the person closest to her died? Simon’s death would’ve been more poetic while Wash’s death is just random.

“Rocky IV” (1985)
Love it or hate it, most would agree that “Rocky IV” is where the franchise started to get ultra goofy. With a Soviet superhuman and an ‘80s robot, this installment lost the grounded tone of its predecessors. This makes it all the more jarring when the filmmakers shoehorn in a serious death scene. Going up against Ivan Drago, an aging Apollo Creed dies in the ring, leaving Rocky to avenge him. Punching out Apollo for good is one thing, but doing so in such a hoaky film is completely out of place. It would’ve been more appropriate if Drago seriously wounded Apollo, ending his fighting days. In retrospect, we wish Apollo’s death had been saved for another time and place - like the beginning of “Creed.”

“Terminator: Dark Fate” (2019)
The “Terminator” franchise has been declining ever since Sarah Connor unceremoniously died offscreen in the third movie. “Dark Fate” wiped the slate clean with a new timeline, bringing back Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Edward Furlong as John Connor. To the disappointment of many, Furlong’s role was reduced to a de-aged, motion captured cameo and John gets terminated in the first scene. Did we learn nothing from “Alien 3?” It’d be one thing if “Dark Fate” took the series in a new direction, but John is simply switched out with another savior. While Daenerys isn’t a bad replacement, we don’t have a strong connection to her, and, quite frankly, we wanted to see Furlong as an adult John. Now we likely never will.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” (2016)
“Independence Day” wasn’t the most character-driven movie, but it was impossible not to like Steven Hiller. The role solidified Will Smith’s status as a movie star and we can’t imagine the film without him. When Smith said no to the long-delayed sequel, the studio should’ve pulled the plug entirely. Rather than kill the project, the filmmakers decided to just kill Hiller off. Even though Smith’s character evaded certain death around every corner in the first film, it’s revealed that he died while testing an alien hybrid aircraft. The most we see of Hiller is a painting, which had us all collectively shouting, “lame!” Smith shared a similar sentiment, saying, “It was terrible when I found out my character died.”

“The Matrix Revolutions” (2003)
You know how some video games offer a choice that seems important, but ultimately leads to only one road? That’s the best way to describe Trinity’s fate. In “The Matrix Reloaded,” Neo decides to save Trinity and potentially doom Zion in due course. This doesn’t matter, as humanity still prevails and Trinity dies in the next film - not in a cool fight, but by getting impaled during a crash. The only reason Trinity seems to die is so that Neo can have a one-on-one final fight with Smith, which doesn’t even make sense since the countless clones could jump in at any time. As for Neo, he’s given a predictably Christ-like exit and we can only hope that all of this will be retconned in “Matrix 4.”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

Mako Mori in “Pacific Rim: Uprising” (2018)
The Fans Helped Make This Sequel Happen, So Why Kill Off a Fan Favorite?

Joe Brody in “Godzilla” (2014)
How Did Matthew Broderick Survive His “Godzilla” Movie, While Bryan Cranston Dies Early On? Weak!

Primrose Everdeen in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (2015)
Hot Take: Katniss Should’ve Died & Prim Should’ve Stepped Up In Her Place, Showing That Anyone Can Be the Mockingjay

Johnny Cage in “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” (1997)
Don’t Finish Him Just Yet!

Merlin in “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (2017)
Really? A Land Mine? This Feels Forced.

“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017)
“The Last Jedi” remains polarizing, due in part to Luke Skywalker’s vanishing act. Even the film’s most diehard defenders, however, generally agree that Snoke could’ve been so much more. Rather than deliver on the mystery established in “The Force Awakens,” this sequel reveals nothing new about Snoke and opts to simply have him unceremoniously cut in half. Huh, why were we intimidated by this guy? Granted, it’s learned in “Rise of Skywalker” that Snoke was Palpatine’s puppet. If that was really the plan from the start, though, why not bring in Palpatine sooner? Why squander time on Snoke and get audiences excited about a villain who goes absolutely nowhere?