Top 100 Over the Top Deaths in Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most excessive, memorable, and creatively violent movie deaths of all time. We’ll be excluding anime, and won’t always be able to show the exaggerated scenes in full - but otherwise: brutal or goofy, live-action or animated, it’s here! And full of spoilers galore, obviously! Which of these crazy deaths is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

#100: Captain Bennett
“Commando” (1985)
Say what you will about the double-crossing Captain Bennett, but he sure is persistent. This guy is shocked, beaten, almost fried alive, and still has it in him to spout off some cheesy, 80s quips. But, not even he can take on Arnold Schwarzenegger in all his zany, action-hero glory. To put Bennett down for good, Schwarzenegger ends up tearing a steam pipe off the wall and using it as a makeshift javelin. It still blows air and everything! As if death-by-steaming-impalement isn’t awesome enough, Schwarzenegger proceeds to read Bennett his last rites in the form of a perfect one-liner.

#99: Dr. Frank Poole
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
This astronaut made two fatal mistakes in his last expedition. The first was thinking he could simply unplug the artificial intelligence, HAL. The second was getting caught. Refusing to be powered off, the robot promptly cuts Frank’s oxygen line, killing him and sending his body careening into the vast unknown of space. Like most things in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” it’s presented with minimal sound effects, and the silence rings louder than a scream ever could. For what it’s worth, fellow astronaut Dave does brave the stars to save his comrade. But, at that point, it’s really just so they have something to bury.

#98: Colonel Miles Quaritch
“Avatar” (2009)
In his attempts to pillage Pandora, the scumbug Quaritch brought giant robots, legions of men, and a whole lot of self-absorbed hubris. However, the people of Pandora had heart, and that was more than enough to give Quaritch his due recompense. Neytiri gets the honors by firing not just one, but two arrows clean into the villain’s chest. To punctuate the moment, Quaritch’s entire mech suit falls over in suitably dramatic fashion. A one-two blow to the heart doesn’t sound like a very fun way to go out. But given that Quaritch nearly destroyed Pandora, it’s hard to feel too bad for him.

#97: Gotham Mobster
“The Dark Knight” (2008)
Nothing lightens the mood like a magic trick, right? The Joker certainly thinks so. When meeting with the worst of Gotham’s criminal elite, he delivers an act that simply can’t be followed. The Joker puts a pencil on the table, grabs a mobster’s head, and - voila - the pencil disappears. A magician never reveals their secrets, so we’ll just say that you really don’t want to be the assistant in this trick. After all, it’s saying something when you can faze the slimiest crooks in all of Gotham. Who knew the Joker was such a convincing illusionist?

#96: Cutler Beckett
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007)
Good business, bad business, whatever. The fact of the matter is that, now, Beckett isn’t doing any business at all. When he tried to take control of the seas, he found himself stuck between a pirate ship and a hard place. From there, Beckett’s ship gets completely blown to bits, and it’s a glorious sight to behold. You’ve got slow-mo close-ups! You’ve got flying debris! Heck, you’ve even got exploding cannonballs, just for good measure. Beckett himself is consumed with fire moments before his entire vessel goes down. Nowadays, if you want a meeting with this chairman, you’ll need to commute to the bottom of the sea.

#95: Beni Gabor
“The Mummy” (1999)
Stealing from an ancient, lost city is usually a pretty bad idea. But, apparently, no one told Beni that. In all his infinite wisdom, he tries to loot Hamunaptra’s treasures, setting off a booby trap that nearly gets everyone killed. The rest of the team escapes, but Beni isn’t so lucky. As punishment for his transgressions, he becomes dinner for a very nasty swarm of carnivorous scarabs. We don’t actually see the body, but since the entire city collapses in on itself soon after, odds are Beni didn’t make it. Hey, at least he got a quick burial.

#94: Grigori Rasputin
“Anastasia” (1997)
There’s going out dramatically, and then there’s Rasputin. He spent the whole film getting demons to do his bidding, and when Anastasia finally sets them free, you could say they had a bone to pick. In fact, by the time they’re finished, Rasputin doesn’t have any bones left at all. Without getting too graphic, he loses his soul, his skin, and his skeleton in a single, magical zap. Animated or not, Rasputin’s horrified screams are enough to leave you wondering how on Earth this ever made it into a children’s musical.

#93: Major T. J. “King” Kong
“Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964)
Everyone wants to go out with a bang, but this bomber pilot may have taken that idea a bit too literally. Although, to be fair, Major Kong’s only real crime is trying to fix the wiring on his plane’s bomb doors. The good news? It works! The bomb doors open, and the nuke drops. Bad news? The bomb falls while Kong is still sitting on top of it. Cheerful to the end, though, Kong spends his final moment hollering like he’s having the time of his life. Rest assured: this is an explosive sacrifice we won’t be forgetting any time soon.

#92: Paul Oswald
“Snakes on a Plane” (2006)
Karma can come in many forms. For some, it’s ruined relationships. Others, it’s lost money. For this high-flying jerk, it’s snakes on a plane. More specifically, a giant python to the head. It sounds gratuitous, but trust us: Paul had it coming. Throughout the film, he makes it very clear that he only cares about Paul, Paul, and Paul. He even rips a dog out of a woman’s arms to use as snake bait. It’s poetic, then, that the same python comes back to eat Paul for dessert. It’s the best kind of bloody satisfaction.

#91: Rod “Torque” Redline
“Cars 2” (2011)
A movie about sentient vehicles going undercover as spies sounds innocent enough, right? Well, it would be, if not for this horrifying scene with Rod Redline. The American agent is captured, interrogated, and then filled with a special kind of oil that makes him go boom. Yeah, the word “shocking” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Don’t forget: this is a Pixar film. And yet, there’s no sugarcoating what goes down here. They use the word “kill” and everything. No one could have expected that “Cars 2” would have a death tally, let alone one so twisted.

#90: James “One” Shade & Company
“Resident Evil” (2002)
The mission here is simple: open the door; secure what’s inside. It sounds straightforward, until you realize these hallway lasers aren’t just for show. Just like that: Shade and his operatives are forced into a crazy, life-or-death game of limbo. Oh, and the lasers fully cheat, too. Shade shows off some slick moves trying to avoid their cutthroat touch. But, by the time all is said and done, he joins his team as a pile. “Resident Evil” can throw all the zombies it wants at us; nothing will top the sheer brutality of this laser maze.

#89: Ferruh
“Karate Girl” (1973)

#88: Olivia Castle
“Final Destination 5” (2011)

#87: Dr. Facilier
“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

#86: The Stegosaurus
“Fantasia” (1940)

#85: Thanos
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
At the start of this crossover film, the Avengers have a lot of avenging to do. Although, in Thor’s case, it looks more like cold, hard retribution. When he decides Thanos is no longer of use to them, the Asgardian offs the Titan’s head right then and there. No warning. No mercy. Thanos just snapped away half of the universe, and yet, his abrupt execution is what stands out the most. Not simply because of its ferocity, but because a freaking Avenger just decapitated someone in cold blood. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? More like Earth’s Mightiest Executioners.

#84: The Librarian
“Kill List” (2011)

#83: Elevator Hitman
“Drive” (2011)

#82: Rory Peters
“Final Destination 2” (2003)

#81: Maleficent
“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)

#80: Scar
“The Lion King” (1994)
You mess with the lion, you get the claws. Scar tried his best to be prepared, but after Simba reclaimed Pride Rock, his dictator past came around to bite him in the butt. Literally. Remember all those hyenas he once ordered around? They’re back, they’re hungry, and they’re itching for some revenge. There’s no way to Hakuna Matata your way out of something this vicious. The movie thankfully pans up before things get too gnarly. But, the shadowy outline is still enough to convince us that Scar’s death wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t painless.

#79: The Killer
“Hush” (2016)

#78: Alfred
“Hudson Hawk” (1991)

#77: Norman Stansfield
“Léon: The Professional” (1994)

#76: Captain Henry Rhodes
“Day of the Dead” (1985)

#75: Sonny Corleone
“The Godfather” (1972)
Let’s break down the facts: Sonny Corleone, gangster extraordinaire, is ambushed in his car and shot. He manages to get outside, and is shot some more. After that, Sonny falls to the ground, where he, you guessed it, continues to be shot at. Then, to really grind salt into the wound, Sonny gets a good, old kick to the face, too. As you can probably surmise, this entire scene is a jaw-dropping display of excessive force. But, in a way, Sonny should take that as a compliment. It took a hell of a bullet storm to take the eldest Corleone down for good.

#74: Paul Serone
“Anaconda” (1997)

#73: Barry Convex
“Videodrome” (1983)

#72: Richmond Valentine
“Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2014)

#71: Prom-goers
“Carrie” (1976)

#70: The Illuminati
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022)
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Especially when that woman is a Hex Witch on a warpath. To prove it, Wanda Maximoff carved a bloody trail through the multiverse in search of her kids, eventually ending up on the Illuminati's front door. It didn’t go well for them. Black Bolt lost his head, and Mr. Fantastic looked like he went through a shredder. Oh, and Peggy Carter? She got divided in half by her very own shield. The list goes on, each murder gorier, scarier, and more insane than the last. Evidently, they don’t call Wanda the Scarlet Witch for nothing.

#69: Celia
“M3GAN” (2022)

#68: Karen
“Cabin Fever” (2001)

#67: Eldon Tyrell
“Blade Runner” (1982)

#66: Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke
“Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)

#65: Edward Malus
“The Wicker Man” (2006)
The movie may be legendary for all the wrong reasons, but this maligned horror remake has an unrated alternate ending that everyone needs to see at least once. It all comes down to two tiny words: the bees. This is Nicolas Cage at his most unhinged, and it’s truly something. Admittedly, it’s probably hard to stay grounded when you’re being tortured by bees and set ablaze in a giant wicker man. But Cage leans so far into the absurdity, the whole thing comes off as an unintentional farce. For better or worse, there’s no escaping the legacy of the bees.

#64: Lord Shen
“Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011)

#63: Tatum Riley
“Scream” (1996)

#62: Krug
“The Last House on the Left” (2009)

#61: Nora Carpenter
“Final Destination 2” (2003)

#60: Adolf Hitler & Joseph Goebbels
“Inglourious Basterds” (2009)
Writer-director Quentin Tarantino is known for his overblown violence, and the third act of “Inglorious Basterds” is no exception. Then again, what else would you expect from a film about assassinating two of the most infamous Nazis in history? Right after the Jewish Shosanna hijacks Hitler’s movie screening, the entire theater erupts in flames. The doors are barred, too, and people are raining bullets from above. All the while, Shosanna’s pre-taped footage is actually laughing at them. Then, as the cherry on top, the whole building ends up exploding. Yeah, the climax of “Inglorious Basterds” is a lot, but coming from Tarantino, that’s hardly surprising.

#59: Stans
“Predators” (2010)

#58: Howard Payne
“Speed” (1994)

#57: Lord Farquaad
“Shrek” (2001)

#56: The Horned King
“The Black Cauldron” (1985)

#55: Military Police Officers
“The Mist” (2007)
Arachnophobes, beware: this is not the movie for you. Despite the name, the titular fog isn’t actually the scariest part of this movie. It’s what lives in it. Namely, the giant, mutant spiders that like to eat military police officers. See, these creatures don’t just web up their prey. They utterly infest them. All we’ll say is that, by the time the civilian survivors mount a rescue operation, the mother’s eggs have already hatched. Whatever you’re thinking of, it’s worse. Trust us. “The Mist” definitely gets point for creativity, even if it the final result is hard to watch.

#54: Ashley & Ashlyn
“Final Destination 3” (2006)

#53: Adrienne Thomas
“Jason X” (2001)

#52: Ursula
“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

#51: Christian
“Midsommar” (2019)

#50: General Zod
“Man of Steel” (2013)
Of all heroes, it’s most shocking of all to see Superman with a kill count. But, if that doesn’t take your breath away, the actual scene will do the trick, no question. At the end of “Man of Steel,” Superman is given a choice - save an innocent family, or put Zod in the ground. One sickening neck crack later, he’s made his decision. That’s right, Superman, a symbol of hope and peace, murders Zod with his bare hands. It’s a gut-wrenching moment, both in its gruesomeness and what it means for Clark’s character. We could try to sum it up, but Superman’s grief-stricken roar says it all.

#49: Frank D’Amico
“Kick-Ass” (2010)

#48: Howard Saint
“The Punisher” (2004)

#47: Steve Hadley
“The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)

#46: Ernesto de la Cruz
“Coco” (2017)

#45: Lucas Flannery
“Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)
In the midst of all the giant, fighting robots, it’s sometimes easy to forget the little guy. Lockdown didn’t, though, and he greeted Lucas and the other humans the Decepticon way. That being a massive grenade to the face. In true “Transformers” fashion, there’s enough slow-motion explosives to last you a lifetime. To say nothing of the actual carnage. One moment Lucas is running for his life, and the next, he’s a skeleton of ash. Since humans are defenseless against the Decepticons, this whole charade feels wholly unnecessary. But, at least Lucas got to go out with a real blaze of glory.

#44: Agent Whiskey
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (2017)

#43: Damien Cockburn
“Tropic Thunder” (2008)

#42: Mike
“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (2010)

#41: August Walker
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (2018)

#40: Team One
“The Suicide Squad” (2021)
With a name like that, it’s really no surprise that Task Force X has a high turnover rate. But, that number goes way up when Amanda Waller sends an entire squad to their deaths as a diversion. Washing up on a beach right into an enemy ambush, the unlucky schmucks of Team one are shot at, blown apart, shredded by a falling helicopter, set on fire, and so much more. Keep in mind: this is just the first few minutes of the film. Based on that average, you won’t find such a high volume of eccentric deaths anywhere else.

#39: James Franco
“This Is the End” (2013)

#38: Major Vic "Deak" Deakins
“Broken Arrow” (1996)

#37: Senator Aaron McComb
“Timecop” (1994)

#36: Georgie Denbrough
“It” (2017)

#35: The Assassins
“John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023)
As if he wasn’t stylish enough before, in this fourth entry, John Wick gets a new toy by the name of a Dragon Breath Shotgun. Long story short: it shoots fire. Seriously. What follows is a one-sided massacre that’s too electric to look away from for even a second. Presented in one-take from a novel top-down perspective, John dispatches the army of assassins with finesse, flair, and, of course, fire. Is it a tad extravagant? Absolutely. But, from a franchise as consistently entertaining as “John Wick,” that’s the way we like it.

#34: David
“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

#33: Captain Darrow
“The Rock” (1996)

#32: Hopper
“A Bug’s Life” (1998)

#31: Ethan Roark Jr.
“Sin City” (2005)

#30: Zara
“Jurassic World” (2015)
Apparently, dinosaurs don’t know the meaning of the word “overkill.” During the initial breakout at Jurassic World, poor Zara is plucked from the crowd by a raging Pteranodon. She’s dropped mid-air, grabbed by another Pteranodon, dropped yet again, and just when you think she’s finally seen the worst of it… a Mosasaurus pops out of the water and swallows her whole. It’s so needlessly overblown, it’s almost funny. The same can be said for Simon Masrani, who crashes a helicopter that then proceeds to explode. Just cause. Suffice it to say, neither of these characters appeared in the sequel.

#29: Emil Antonowsky
“RoboCop” (1987)

#28: The X-Force
“Deadpool 2” (2018)

#27: Tony Montana
“Scarface” (1983)

#26: Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom
“Con Air” (1997)

#25: Kim Jong Un
“The Interview” (2014)
In the final minutes of this satirical comedy, James Franco and Seth Rogen realize the only way to stop a nuclear war is to blow Kim Jong Un out of the sky. So, that’s what they do. Naturally, it’s in slow-motion, with a cover of Katy Perry’s “Firework” playing in the background. It’s certainly an inspired ending. So much so, the real Kim Jong Un got involved and tried to bury “The Interview” from any kind of official release. Considering how this movie portrays North Korea’s dictator, that kind of publicity is an unofficial badge of honor.

#24: Jonah
“The Green Inferno” (2013)

#23: Alec Trevelyan
“GoldenEye” (1995)

#22: Deacon Frost
“Blade” (1998)

#21: Deputy Nick
“Bone Tomahawk” (2015)

#20: Hawthorn Restaurant Staff & Guests
“The Menu” (2022)
This s’mores recipe is to die for. It starts off innocent enough with Graham Cracker crumbs, marshmallow sweaters, and hats made of chocolate. But, the final step really sets it apart. To make sure the dish cooks fully through, you light up the whole restaurant. In layman’s terms, these dinner guests don’t get a menu. They are the menu. In a disturbing vow of solidary, the chefs join in, too. The sugary sadism ensures that this thriller ends with a distinctly bittersweet dessert. But, one thing is for certain: it’s one hell of a last meal.

#19: Puss in Boots
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022)
Most of the time, you only get to see a character die once. Not Puss in Boots, though. He gives you eight gloriously extreme deaths for the price of one. The feline is trampled by bulls, crushed by his own deadlift, and shot out of a cannon. Another time, Puss tests the theory that cats always land on their feet. To put it lightly, the results are less than satisfactory. All together, we see Puss lose eight of his nine lives in a rapid-fire montage that completely goes for broke. He won’t be laughing in the face of death anymore, that’s for sure.

#18: Vilos Cohaagen
“Total Recall” (1990)
After spending the entire film as a greedy dirtbag, Governor Vilos Cohaagen gets sent on a one- way trip to the uninhabitable surface of Mars. Turns out, death by space suffocation isn’t very pleasant. The man’s entire face goes red and starts to blow up like a balloon, showcasing some of the very best practical effects the 90s has to offer. They still hold up, too. When you combine that artistic vision with Cohaagen’s unrestrained screams for help, you get a scene that perfectly toes the line between horrifying and ridiculous.

#17: Jupe & the Horse Show Spectators
“Nope” (2022)
In horror films over the years, there have been alien abductions, and there have been graphic deaths. But, there’s never been anything quite like what happens in “Nope.” Jupe’s monetizing of a UFO sighting dooms everyone in attendance, and once he recognizes the mistake he’s made, the horror in his eyes is simply unmatched. “Nope” doesn’t stop at their abduction, though. Director Jordan Peele gives you an up-close and personal look at what happens inside the unidentified flying object. Calling it “disturbing” would be a massive understatement. Actually, there’s only one word capable of summing this scene up, and that’s ‘nope.’

#16: Thunder
“Big Trouble in Little China” (1986)
Introduced as a so-called elemental master, this guy brings the thunder by swelling up his body parts. That’s all fine and dandy until he finds his former boss, Lo Pan, dead. Instead of working through his grief, Thunder starts growing. A lot. Feet, hands, face, you name it, it all swells up until the martial artist looks like a human bowling ball. These days, the image of Thunder’s over-inflated head is practically iconic. Especially since, after all that, he just pops! As far as villain deaths go, this one personifies “big” trouble like no other.

#15: Ocean Liner Passengers
“Ghost Ship” (2002)
Haven’t you heard? There’s a new trend sweeping the dance floor, and it’s positively killer. If you need proof, just look at the opening scene of “Ghost Ship.” Everyone’s laughing, dancing, and having a good time when, suddenly, a razor-wire cuts in. A moment later, it’s stained red on the other side of the dance floor. We’ll let you connect the rest of the dots. This is the epitome of an elaborate horror set piece; creative, efficient, and above all, bloody. While the rest of the film doesn’t quite live up to the hype, many agree that this opening scene is pure, campy fright at its finest.

#14: Dr. Kananga
“Live and Let Die” (1973)
At the end of this spy flick, a Bond villain gets blown up. Just not the way you’d expect. During a tussle in Kananga’s lair, 007 forces the double-crosser to swallow a compressed, air-capsule bullet. A second later, it’s goodbye Kananga, and hello, oversized inflatable! Admittedly, the visual is a bit silly, but that just makes what follows even more entertaining. The balloon man rises to the top of the cavern and pops into oblivion. Exaggerated or not, it’s an oddly fitting way for Kananga to go out. As Bond says himself, he always did have an inflated ego.

#13: Candice Hooper
“Final Destination 5” (2011)
In a franchise known for its absurdly intricate death scenes, it’s surprising that this one starts small. A nail on a balance beam. Some dripping water near an electric fan. But, when blended with shots of Candice’s risky gymnastics maneuvers, the tension becomes almost too much to bear. It continues to build and build until, all at once - splat. Putting it nicely, Candice’s landing earns a few deductions. Unless you have a stomach of steel, this wince-inducing descent is sure to keep you alway from gymnastics for a very, very long time. Add it to the long list of things “Final Destination” has ruined for us.

#12: Judge Doom
“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)
No matter how sinister, most evildoers would throw in the towel after being flattened by a steamroller. But, not Judge Doom. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word “quit,” and as a reward for his dedication, he’s melted by a puddle of toon-killing Dip. It’s not a particularly quick death, either. It starts at Doom’s feet and slowly works its way up, leaving enough time for actor Christopher Lloyd to chew a bit more scenery before he goes. Since he’s clearly having a blast with the role, it’s impossible to resist laughing along with this looney turn of events.

#11: Olga Ivanova
“Suspiria” (2018)
It may look graceful, but by the time Susie’s dance is over, Olga is dead, and it’s all her fault. Unbeknownst to Susie, her act is contorting Olga’s body, turning each move into a ballet of broken bones and grisly cries. There’s shattered mirrors, bent limbs, and more spine-tingling imagery than most movies have in their whole runtime. Then, as if poor Olga hasn’t suffered enough, the Academy’s Matrons appear and drag her corpse away. You can’t deny the artistic merits of this lethal tango, but that doesn’t make it easy viewing by any means.

#10: Syndrome
“The Incredibles” (2004)
At the end of the day, it’s not the Omnidroid, any other Supes, or even the Parr family that does Syndrome in for good. It’s his cape. After a well-timed car toss destroys most of his plane, the mastermind and his flowing cloak are put right in the path of a high-speed jet turbine. Syndrome tries to claw away, but, well, there’s a reason Edna Mode doesn’t make super suits with capes anymore. Syndrome’s demise is by and large one of the most ferocious to come out of a Pixar film in a very long time. Maybe, ever. “Totally wicked,” indeed.

#9: Dieter Von Cunth
“MacGruber” (2010)
When you crash a wedding with a rocket launcher, you deserve whatever’s coming to you. In Dieter Von Cunth’s case, that includes a Grade-A whooping from the one, the only, MacGruber. Always one for dramatics, though, he isn’t content just knocking Cunth around. No, he fully pushes the miscreant off of a cliff. And then shoots him to bits. And then blows him up with a grenade. Oh, and for maximum disrespect, Cunth’s body gets a shower from MacGruber’s yellow waterfall, too.

#8: William Clayton
“Tarzan” (1999)
It’s nighttime, lightning’s flashing, and Clayton’s got a machete in hand. The stage seems perfectly set for an epic, final confrontation with Tarzan. But, that’s not what happens. Blinded by rage, the hunter hacks through every vine between him and the apeman. Well, all of them, except for the one around his neck. By the time Clayton understands what he’s done, it’s already too late. Still, his terrified cries are just scratching the surface. The very worst part of Clayton’s fall from grace is knowing he did it to himself. It’s an exceeding grim thought bound to stay with you long after the credits roll.

#7: Belloq, Toht, & The Nazis
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
You know the saying “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth?” Well, obviously, the same principle applies to ancient Arks. Indy has the right idea closing his eyes. The assembled Nazis, however, weren’t so lucky. By opening the ancient artifact, they got treated to a face-melting show of fire, brimstone, and electrical currents. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is technically rated PG, but the carnage here is straight out of an R-rated horror flick. On a brighter note, the Nazi’s fate ironically speaks to yet another famous saying: you reap what you sow.

#6: Vision
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
With Thanos after the Infinity Stone in his head, Vision gives up his life to save half the universe. The issue? His beloved, Wanda, is the only one capable of destroying it. In a scene that should come with a box of tissues, Vision spends his final moments assuring Wanda they’re making the right choice… and yet, it doesn’t matter. Thanks to the Time Stone, Thanos undoes their heartbreak only to pry the artifact from Vision’s skull, anyways. The Avenger died twice, and half the universe went with him. In retrospect, all Vision’s heroic sacrifice did was leave Wanda with twice the trauma to unpack.

#5: Mrs. Tweedy
“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” (2023)
Mrs. Tweedy can argue all she likes, but there’s no denying these chickens got the last cluck. After narrowly escaping a gravy-induced death in the first film, the mischievous farmer returned in the sequel with a new evil plan: the dreaded chicken nugget. However, in a poetic turn of events, Tweedy’s the only one who ends up breaded around here. With some not-so-helpful nudges from the other chickens, she trips the factory’s security system, too. Cue the lasers! Since the entire complex blows apart right after, it’s safe to say Tweedy’s staying down for good this time.

#4: William Easton
“Saw VI” (2009)
Insurance executive William goes through blood, sweat, and tears to survive Jigsaw’s twisted game. But, in the final round, it’s not John Kramer who decides his fate. It’s a family he previously denied life-saving health insurance to. The grieving clan chooses vengeance, and since this is a “Saw” movie, that means injecting William with acid and letting him burn. It’s beyond sadistic. But, then again, this is the same series that twists limbs on a rack and puts people in reverse bear traps. Whether Jigsaw’s behind it or not, it’s clear that the “Saw” franchise always delivers the gory goodness.

#3: Jesus Christ
“The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
Adapting what is arguably the most prolific source material in existence, director Mel Gibson decided to treat the text as gospel. Well, more so than usual. In practice, that meant faithfully portraying Jesus’ crucifixion. Blood, guts, and all. Whether you’re familiar with the religious context or not, the sheer amount of violence on display is genuinely difficult to sit through. Taking the subject matter into account, you can argue that it’s supposed to feel excessive. But, as a piece of cinema, it’s hard to appreciate that messaging when you have to watch the scene through your fingers.

#2: Allie
“Terrifier 2” (2022)
Art the Clown isn’t your average slasher villain. Mainly because he doesn’t just kill his victims, he butchers them. Allie, bless her soul, is stabbed, sliced, bent, torn, and broken in just about every single terrifying way imaginable. After that - yes, there’s more - Art douses her in bleach and salt for no other reason than to watch her suffer. If you can’t tell already, Allie’s death is a tour-de-force of inordinate cruelty and one that we obviously won’t show in its entirety. Honestly, it’s to the point that you can’t even call it a murder anymore. No, this is a splatterfest, through and through.

#1: Kane
“Alien” (1979)
The word “chestburster” has a legacy that speaks for itself, and all it takes is one viewing to see why. You can practically feel the dread in the air as Kane begins sputtering at the dining table. When you figure out what’s happening, that dread turns into panic, and that panic into absolute horror. Using groundbreaking practical effects, there’s never been anything quite as ghastly as the moment the alien pops out of Kane’s chest. It’s a good thing that no one can hear you scream in space, because something tells us this Xenomorph has caused more than a few shrieks over the years.