Top 20 Brutal Movie Deaths of The Century (So Far)

“It” (2017)
Georgie’s parents taught their youngest son not to take things from strangers. However, that didn’t stop the killer clown Pennywise from striking up a deeply uncomfortable conversation with the boy. The scene stews in spine-tingling tension just long enough to make the eventual jumpscare downright unforgettable. For his friendliness, Georgie lost his boat, his arm, and his life. The pained cries for his brother are haunting no matter how you cut it, let alone from a six-year old child. It set a sinister precedent for Pennywise’s rampage through the rest of the film.

“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (2017)
More often than not, traitors and villains end up in handcuffs by the time the credits roll. Except, in this case, there isn’t a hand left to cuff. Pedro Pascal’s traitorous Whiskey put his personal vendetta above the mission, but all he got was a much-deserved beatdown courtesy of Eggsy and Harry Hart. The two agents didn’t just stop at fisticuffs, though, and they decided Whiskey was better left as a paste instead of a man. As far as painful ends go, diving headfirst into a meat processor has got to be pretty high on the list.

“Final Destination 5” (2011)
Death will not be thwarted! In the fifth entry of this horror franchise, the first named character death is the most brutal. Candice’s fatal gym practice is full of misdirects and dead ends, conjuring an unbearable sense of dread to every move. In the end, though, it all comes down to gravity. Namely, a rather botched landing. Candice definitely earned a few deductions on this one, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s just a mercy that the aftermath is obscured until the dust settles, which leaves plenty of time to look away from the disturbingly mangled remains.

“Predators” (2010)
It’s a cardinal rule of horror that the villain always comes back for one last scare. But, evidently, Stans hadn’t brushed up on the topic before gloating about killing the Predator. The creature doesn’t take it very kindly, and treats the death-row inmate to a shot in the back and a very rough spinal surgery. As if the visuals alone weren’t bad enough, the sickening sound effects prove that it doesn’t feel very nice. At least Stans bought enough time for his team to get away.

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)
By the time all is said and done, this guy probably wished he would hurry up and zombify already. Admittedly, it’s hard to feel too bad for David’s demise, especially since he’s the one who decided to start removing the barricade in the first place. All it did was put him on a silver platter for the zombies, who didn’t stop feasting until his insides were on the outside. A single bite would’ve done the same thing, and been a lot less painful. But hey, at least Dianne found a use for his detached leg. Quite frankly, it’s the biggest help David had been in the whole movie.

“Ghost Ship” (2002)
This adds new meaning to the phrase “dance like there’s no tomorrow” - since, for most of these passengers, there wouldn’t be one. After all, the only thing sharper than these dance movies was the razor wire that swept the crowd - and not in a fun way. The result is a remarkably bloody, inventive, and efficient massacre that lives on in horror infamy. Honestly, we can’t decide what’s worse: death by division, or being the only one left in an actual sea of bodies. At least it was quick, because judging by the force of the wire, it most certainly wasn’t painless.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022)
No one expects a so-called superhero to stain their hands red, much less in a family-friendly Marvel film. But, given the history of director Sam Raimi, it shouldn’t have come as a shock when Wanda upgraded to supervillain - or that she went on an absolute massacre through the multiverse. From Black Bolt’s implosion, to shredding Reed Richards, to Peggy’s bisection, each of her murders are more gruesome than the last. It’s all compounded by the fact that this is coming from a former Avenger of all people. Suffice it to say, the Scarlet Witch lived up to her name by embracing a different shade of red.

“Jason X” (2001)
In this futuristic slasher film, everyone’s favorite hockey-masked killer found some equally forward-thinking ways to dispose of his victims. Unfortunately for Adrienne, that meant a swirlie into liquid nitrogen. On its own, a face of severe frostbite is creative enough to stand out even in Jason’s esteemed kill catalog. But, no one’s ever accused this horror icon of shirking on his work. At least, not the kind that involves putting people into body bags. So, instead of letting Adrienne succumb to her very fatal wounds, he decides to shatter her skull into bloody crystals. You know, just for good measure.

“Apostle” (2018)
While this macabre execution definitely earns points for creativity, that doesn’t make it any easier to watch. The poor Jeremy is framed for the murder of his lover, and sentenced to a slow and agonizing death by makeshift drill. Not only is it a shockingly vile way to go, but the fact the entire village has to watch makes it that much worse. Seeing some of them lose their lunch at the sight says more than the drill itself does. After all, if this is too much for even the cultists to stomach, it’s no wonder the scene is a total jaw-dropper to the uninitiated.

“The Green Inferno” (2013)
This bloody demise is beyond savage. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished, and Jonah’s well-intentioned activism results in his dismemberment. He basically becomes an action figure to the natives, complete with limbs and organs that easily pop out of place. It’s plain disgusting in every sense of the word, especially when the cannibals feast upon the remains as if it were a delicacy - and all in front of his friends, too. The only small mercy is that the villagers started with his head, putting him out of his misery before they finished their plate.

“Sinister” (2012)
These may be forgotten tapes of other families, but they have more in common with horror films than home videos. The footage starts out innocent enough, but there’s still a certain unsettling quality to the grainy filter. Then, just when it seems the danger seems to have passed, suddenly the mower isn’t only cutting grass anymore. The shrill score sells it as one of the genre’s most effective jumpscares, but the actual mode of death is nothing to forget, either. Even putting aside the pain of it all, the victims had to endure torment at the hands of one of their own, which is just a different kind of demented.

“Drive” (2011)
This hyper-violent action thriller delivered an unforgettable assassination in the tight confines of an elevator, before it even reached its floor. It’s all done without a single word uttered - or even a weapon, for that matter. All it took was a small space, a worthy pair of kickers, and a whole lot of rage. Ryan Gosling’s titular Driver just doesn’t quit, even when the hitman is clearly down for the count. The end result is a man with a puddle where his face should be. It’s a stunning sequence that’s remembered just as much for its brutality as it is for its technical merits.

“Final Destination 2” (2003)
Even in a series known for offing its cast in exceedingly dramatic fashion, this was a rough way to go. Surprisingly, it isn’t the exploding car that kills Rory - or at least, not directly. That honor, or dishonor (?), belongs to a barbed wire fence, which gets blasted with enough force to do more than shave a few pounds off. In the end, all Rory - or, rather, the pieces of him - can do is slowly fall to the ground like the uneven layers of a human cake. As far as dismemberments go, this one cuts the deepest, if only because of that sickening aftermath.

“Suspiria” (2018)
What makes this horrifying scene even worse is that Olga’s last dance wasn’t actually her own. Instead, it was choreographed by the unknowing Susie, who created a routine that’s practically to die for. It contorts Olga’s body into a gross tangle of limbs that’s just difficult to look at, let alone experience. The unflinching savagery easily positions it as one of the most ruthless body horror scenes in any movie, period. Afterwards, the matrons grab her with hooks and use her for their ritual. Olga didn’t technically die here, but given what transpired after, she probably wished she had.

“Bone Tomahawk” (2015)
Getting imprisoned by cannibals rarely spells good fortune, but the utter lack of humanity here puts it in a league of its own. At this point, it was already clear that the so-called ‘Troglodytes’ were not friendly. However, watching them strip and scalp Nick conveys their brutality in a way words never could. The camera rarely points away from the bloodshed, which makes it an endurance test of sorts as the humiliation escalates. The desecration ends with them tearing him in two. Watching them eat his remains after the fact feels particularly callous considering everything they just put him through.

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)
We’ve all seen the bottom of the bottle during a night out. Unfortunately for this suspected rebel, Captain Vidal showed him a more literal meaning of the phrase. In doing so, he left the victim’s skull looking more like a crater than a head. However, even that abrupt flash of gore isn’t as spine-tingling as the complete calm in which Vidal does it. It’s clear he’s done this before, and will do it again if given the opportunity. He had a gun on him, after all, so the fact he chose to personally and violently dispatch the farmer speaks volumes.

“Hereditary” (2018)
Evidently, iconic death scenes run in the family. No doubt, Annie’s throat massage with piano wire is the greatest kind of shocking sendoff a character could hope for . But, despite Paimon’s best efforts, even that can’t top the unmitigated shock of Charlie’s abrupt decapitation. It’s the ultimate bloody surprise during a scene that demands its audience focus on anything but the coming telephone pole. While it’s hard to say if Charlie’s nut allergy would have claimed her anyway, it certainly would have been a less violent way to go. If anything, it would have left the Graham family with a lot less trauma.

“The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
Director Mel Gibson made sure this film earned its R rating, that’s for sure. No matter how controversial the resulting violence may be, there’s no denying it crafted one very memorable death scene. The movie puts an immense, prolonged, and almost gratuitous focus upon the suffering that Jesus endured during his crucifixion. That means showing everything, blood and all. Even though it's adapted from revered source material, seeing it performed in a mainstream blockbuster is an entirely different experience. The excessive violence and somber score make the scene more unpleasant than uplifting. But, then again, that seems to be the whole point.

“Terrifier 2” (2022)
Even psychopathic killers need a refreshment every now and then. But, once he’s rehydrated, Art the Clown does what he does best - terrify. He’s not one to make false promises, either. By the time his torment of Allie is over, she’s lost skin, limbs, and has suffered broken bones to boot. Then, Art decides to season his new victim with salt and bleach, even going as far as rubbing it into her wounds. Clearly, this is a dish best served with a barf bag.

“Saw VI” (2009)
Admittedly, this horror franchise has no shortage of gory, horrifying, and downright nasty modes of death. Look no further than the twisted rack scene from “Saw 3.” Or, how about the sadistically creative reverse bear trap from “Saw 3D?” No matter where you look, there’s plenty of blood to satisfy genre diehards. And yet, none of that compares to William’s death by acid. It might not sound all that bad, until you realize that he doesn’t just die - he dies from the inside out. What remains can’t even be called a body anymore. If this isn’t Jigsaw’s sick Magnum Opus, we don’t know what is.