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The most powerful big screen movie deaths
- A death scene is typically a big moment, and it can even be one of the biggest in an entire plot. Whether it's a hero or a villain, a major character's death is often one of the most memorable parts of a film, which can leave a mark even after the credits have rolled. Whether they take place in a classic rom-com or a big-budget superhero flick, these deaths can be either triumphant, admirable, tragic, or deeply shocking. But one thing is for sure: they left an impact in cinematic history. Click through this gallery to relive these moments, but proceed with caution: there are some serious spoilers ahead.
© Getty Images/NL Beeld
0 / 30 Fotos
Bubba Blue - 'Forrest Gump' (1994)
- Bubba's death isn't the only one Forrest Gump encounters, but it's certainly the most violent. After convincing Forrest to get into the shrimping business, Bubba ends up fighting with him in Vietnam, where he's killed. To honor him, Forrest becomes a shrimp boat captain and names the company after him.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Marley - 'Marley & Me' (2008)
- If you're watching a dog movie, be assured that you'll probably shed some tears. And while Marley's death wasn't a surprise for people who read the memoir, it's even worse watching it all play out on screen.
© NL Beeld
2 / 30 Fotos
Jack Twist - 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005)
- Despite prejudice and societal expectations, cowboys Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar never get over each other after falling into a passionate relationship. They go their separate ways, and Ennis later learns through a postcard that Jack has died.
© NL Beeld
3 / 30 Fotos
Darth Vader - 'Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi' (1983)
- No one will ever forget when Darth Vader died after finally removing his mask to see his son Luke. It was the ultimate redemption arc.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
John Coffey - 'The Green Mile' (1999)
- Based on 'The Green Mile' novel by Stephen King, the plot is primarily set on death row, where the guard Paul Edgecomb believes in the innocence of John Coffey. And the heartbreaking part is that Paul must still oversee John's execution.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Mufasa - 'The Lion King'
- Who can ever get over Mufasa's death? Both the 2019 live-action and the classic 1994 animated versions are extremely emotional.
© NL Beeld
6 / 30 Fotos
Tony Stark - 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019)
- It was Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark who launched the entire Marvel Universe, so even if it's sad, the end of his story was still epic.
© NL Beeld
7 / 30 Fotos
Marion Crane - 'Psycho' (1960)
- Alfred Hitchcock was behind many acclaimed films, but 'Psycho' has one of the most iconic death scenes in cinematic history. And although the shower attack on Marion might seem tame by modern standards, it was truly shocking in the '60s.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Jack Dawson - 'Titanic' (1997)
- Whether you believe he could have fit on the door or not, you've probably shed a tear at the death of Jack Dawson.
© NL Beeld
9 / 30 Fotos
Guido Orefice - 'Life Is Beautiful' (1997)
- In this classic by Roberto Benigni, he plays an Italian Jew who turns surviving a concentration camp into a game for his young son. While his boy is rescued by the Allied soldiers, Guido tragically gets executed by the Nazis.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Fantine - 'Les Misérables' (2012)
- Life isn't easy for the tragic heroine Fantine, as she's fired from her factory job when her illegitimate child is discovered. She ends up selling her body to survive. After Valjean promises to take care of her daughter, she passes away.
© NL Beeld
11 / 30 Fotos
Jamie Sullivan - 'A Walk to Remember' (2002)
- Starring Mandy Moore and Shane West as a preacher's daughter and a popular bad boy who fall in love, this movie is a true tissue fest. Moore's Jamie reveals early in their relationship that she has leukemia, but they nonetheless become engaged and spend a final summer together before she dies.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Artax - 'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)
- This 1984 fantasy film broke our hearts when the young hero Atreyu loses his loyal companion, his horse Artax, in the Swamps of Sadness. Fortunately, they're reunited in the end, but the separation was still triggering.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Rosie - 'Jojo Rabbit' (2019)
- Executed for her anti-Nazi activities, everyone cried when Jojo found his mother hanging in the town square while chasing a butterfly.
© NL Beeld
14 / 30 Fotos
Maggie Fitzgerald - 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004)
- Hilary Swank plays professional boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, who becomes paralyzed from the neck down after a wrongly placed punch. Her family is money hungry, and the only person she can trust is her trainer, played by Clint Eastwood. He's the only one Maggie can ask to end her life, and he does as she requests.
© NL Beeld
15 / 30 Fotos
Casey Becker - 'Scream' (1994)
- An iconic death is definitely the best way to start a successful franchise. And even if viewers didn't get to know much about Casey Becker, she definitely left her mark.
© NL Beeld
16 / 30 Fotos
Thelma and Louise - 'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
- Rather than be captured and tried for their crimes, the iconic duo refuse to surrender and agree to drive their car over the edge of the Grand Canyon. The moment will forever be remembered as one of the most iconic death scenes in cinematic history.
© NL Beeld
17 / 30 Fotos
Captain Miller - 'Saving Private' (1998)
- In this Steven Spielberg World War II epic, a team of soldiers led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) are tasked with bringing home the only living son of the Ryan family. Several of the men end up giving their lives to complete the mission, including Captain Miller.
© NL Beeld
18 / 30 Fotos
Spock - 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' (1982)
- This 1982 sequel ends with Spock entering a radiation-tainted engine room to save his ship and crewmates from being blown up. It's a heroic and memorable act.
© NL Beeld
19 / 30 Fotos
Romeo and Juliet - 'Romeo + Juliet' (1996)
- Sure, it's not a surprise how things end with Romeo and Juliet, but Baz Luhrmann's adaptation introduced a new generation to this Shakespearean classic. And it was emotional!
© NL Beeld
20 / 30 Fotos
Terminator - 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
- You'll never forget watching the Terminator going into molten lava, and the thumbs up at the end really makes the scene.
© NL Beeld
21 / 30 Fotos
Neil Perry - 'Dead Poets Society' (1989)
- Inspired by his bombastic English teacher John Keating, Neil resurrects the Dead Poets Society at his prep school. However, his love for literature and poetry isn't supported by his father, who pulls him out of the school. Rather than go to military school, Neil takes his own life with his father's gun.
© NL Beeld
22 / 30 Fotos
Satine - 'Moulin Rouge!' (2001)
- The opening of 'Moulin Rouge!' starts with Christian saying, "The woman I loved is dead." So Satine's death doesn't really come as a surprise. However, it still leaves quite an impression.
© NL Beeld
23 / 30 Fotos
Tony Montana - 'Scarface' (1983)
- Montana's final scene is truly iconic. Surrounded by his enemies and with nowhere to go, he introduces the thugs to his "little friend." Ultimately, Montana is shot countless times and falls dead in his pool.
© NL Beeld
24 / 30 Fotos
Emma Greenway - 'Terms of Endearment (1983)
- Starring Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine, this movie revolves around a complex mother-daughter relationship that's only resolved after Emma Greenway, Winger's character, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Emma makes peace with her mother and says goodbye to her two young boys before dying.
© NL Beeld
25 / 30 Fotos
Roy Batty - 'Blade Runner' (1982)
- The face-off between Deckard and Roy Batty, the main antagonist of the movie, is priceless. Face to face with death, Roy breaks down in sadness and revolt. And then there's the pigeon flying away when he finally dies.
© NL Beeld
26 / 30 Fotos
Lester - 'American Beauty' (1999)
- One of Kevin Spacey's most memorable roles, Lester's end was equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. And everything was leading up to it.
© NL Beeld
27 / 30 Fotos
Maude - 'Harold & Maude' (1971)
- In this comedy drama, everyone seems against the romantic love that develops between 18-year-old Harold and 79-year-old Maude, but that doesn't stop them. Certain that she wants to end her life on her 80th birthday, there's nothing Harold can do to stop her.
© NL Beeld
28 / 30 Fotos
Mei - 'House of Flying Daggers' (2004)
- Zhang Ziyi stars as Mei, who believes she might be the daughter of the former leader of a Robin Hood-like gang. Ending up in a love triangle, it doesn't end well as she tries to save her new lover from her old one.
© NL Beeld
29 / 30 Fotos
The most powerful big screen movie deaths
- A death scene is typically a big moment, and it can even be one of the biggest in an entire plot. Whether it's a hero or a villain, a major character's death is often one of the most memorable parts of a film, which can leave a mark even after the credits have rolled. Whether they take place in a classic rom-com or a big-budget superhero flick, these deaths can be either triumphant, admirable, tragic, or deeply shocking. But one thing is for sure: they left an impact in cinematic history. Click through this gallery to relive these moments, but proceed with caution: there are some serious spoilers ahead.
© Getty Images/NL Beeld
0 / 30 Fotos
Bubba Blue - 'Forrest Gump' (1994)
- Bubba's death isn't the only one Forrest Gump encounters, but it's certainly the most violent. After convincing Forrest to get into the shrimping business, Bubba ends up fighting with him in Vietnam, where he's killed. To honor him, Forrest becomes a shrimp boat captain and names the company after him.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Marley - 'Marley & Me' (2008)
- If you're watching a dog movie, be assured that you'll probably shed some tears. And while Marley's death wasn't a surprise for people who read the memoir, it's even worse watching it all play out on screen.
© NL Beeld
2 / 30 Fotos
Jack Twist - 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005)
- Despite prejudice and societal expectations, cowboys Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar never get over each other after falling into a passionate relationship. They go their separate ways, and Ennis later learns through a postcard that Jack has died.
© NL Beeld
3 / 30 Fotos
Darth Vader - 'Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi' (1983)
- No one will ever forget when Darth Vader died after finally removing his mask to see his son Luke. It was the ultimate redemption arc.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
John Coffey - 'The Green Mile' (1999)
- Based on 'The Green Mile' novel by Stephen King, the plot is primarily set on death row, where the guard Paul Edgecomb believes in the innocence of John Coffey. And the heartbreaking part is that Paul must still oversee John's execution.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Mufasa - 'The Lion King'
- Who can ever get over Mufasa's death? Both the 2019 live-action and the classic 1994 animated versions are extremely emotional.
© NL Beeld
6 / 30 Fotos
Tony Stark - 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019)
- It was Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark who launched the entire Marvel Universe, so even if it's sad, the end of his story was still epic.
© NL Beeld
7 / 30 Fotos
Marion Crane - 'Psycho' (1960)
- Alfred Hitchcock was behind many acclaimed films, but 'Psycho' has one of the most iconic death scenes in cinematic history. And although the shower attack on Marion might seem tame by modern standards, it was truly shocking in the '60s.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Jack Dawson - 'Titanic' (1997)
- Whether you believe he could have fit on the door or not, you've probably shed a tear at the death of Jack Dawson.
© NL Beeld
9 / 30 Fotos
Guido Orefice - 'Life Is Beautiful' (1997)
- In this classic by Roberto Benigni, he plays an Italian Jew who turns surviving a concentration camp into a game for his young son. While his boy is rescued by the Allied soldiers, Guido tragically gets executed by the Nazis.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Fantine - 'Les Misérables' (2012)
- Life isn't easy for the tragic heroine Fantine, as she's fired from her factory job when her illegitimate child is discovered. She ends up selling her body to survive. After Valjean promises to take care of her daughter, she passes away.
© NL Beeld
11 / 30 Fotos
Jamie Sullivan - 'A Walk to Remember' (2002)
- Starring Mandy Moore and Shane West as a preacher's daughter and a popular bad boy who fall in love, this movie is a true tissue fest. Moore's Jamie reveals early in their relationship that she has leukemia, but they nonetheless become engaged and spend a final summer together before she dies.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Artax - 'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)
- This 1984 fantasy film broke our hearts when the young hero Atreyu loses his loyal companion, his horse Artax, in the Swamps of Sadness. Fortunately, they're reunited in the end, but the separation was still triggering.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Rosie - 'Jojo Rabbit' (2019)
- Executed for her anti-Nazi activities, everyone cried when Jojo found his mother hanging in the town square while chasing a butterfly.
© NL Beeld
14 / 30 Fotos
Maggie Fitzgerald - 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004)
- Hilary Swank plays professional boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, who becomes paralyzed from the neck down after a wrongly placed punch. Her family is money hungry, and the only person she can trust is her trainer, played by Clint Eastwood. He's the only one Maggie can ask to end her life, and he does as she requests.
© NL Beeld
15 / 30 Fotos
Casey Becker - 'Scream' (1994)
- An iconic death is definitely the best way to start a successful franchise. And even if viewers didn't get to know much about Casey Becker, she definitely left her mark.
© NL Beeld
16 / 30 Fotos
Thelma and Louise - 'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
- Rather than be captured and tried for their crimes, the iconic duo refuse to surrender and agree to drive their car over the edge of the Grand Canyon. The moment will forever be remembered as one of the most iconic death scenes in cinematic history.
© NL Beeld
17 / 30 Fotos
Captain Miller - 'Saving Private' (1998)
- In this Steven Spielberg World War II epic, a team of soldiers led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) are tasked with bringing home the only living son of the Ryan family. Several of the men end up giving their lives to complete the mission, including Captain Miller.
© NL Beeld
18 / 30 Fotos
Spock - 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' (1982)
- This 1982 sequel ends with Spock entering a radiation-tainted engine room to save his ship and crewmates from being blown up. It's a heroic and memorable act.
© NL Beeld
19 / 30 Fotos
Romeo and Juliet - 'Romeo + Juliet' (1996)
- Sure, it's not a surprise how things end with Romeo and Juliet, but Baz Luhrmann's adaptation introduced a new generation to this Shakespearean classic. And it was emotional!
© NL Beeld
20 / 30 Fotos
Terminator - 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
- You'll never forget watching the Terminator going into molten lava, and the thumbs up at the end really makes the scene.
© NL Beeld
21 / 30 Fotos
Neil Perry - 'Dead Poets Society' (1989)
- Inspired by his bombastic English teacher John Keating, Neil resurrects the Dead Poets Society at his prep school. However, his love for literature and poetry isn't supported by his father, who pulls him out of the school. Rather than go to military school, Neil takes his own life with his father's gun.
© NL Beeld
22 / 30 Fotos
Satine - 'Moulin Rouge!' (2001)
- The opening of 'Moulin Rouge!' starts with Christian saying, "The woman I loved is dead." So Satine's death doesn't really come as a surprise. However, it still leaves quite an impression.
© NL Beeld
23 / 30 Fotos
Tony Montana - 'Scarface' (1983)
- Montana's final scene is truly iconic. Surrounded by his enemies and with nowhere to go, he introduces the thugs to his "little friend." Ultimately, Montana is shot countless times and falls dead in his pool.
© NL Beeld
24 / 30 Fotos
Emma Greenway - 'Terms of Endearment (1983)
- Starring Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine, this movie revolves around a complex mother-daughter relationship that's only resolved after Emma Greenway, Winger's character, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Emma makes peace with her mother and says goodbye to her two young boys before dying.
© NL Beeld
25 / 30 Fotos
Roy Batty - 'Blade Runner' (1982)
- The face-off between Deckard and Roy Batty, the main antagonist of the movie, is priceless. Face to face with death, Roy breaks down in sadness and revolt. And then there's the pigeon flying away when he finally dies.
© NL Beeld
26 / 30 Fotos
Lester - 'American Beauty' (1999)
- One of Kevin Spacey's most memorable roles, Lester's end was equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. And everything was leading up to it.
© NL Beeld
27 / 30 Fotos
Maude - 'Harold & Maude' (1971)
- In this comedy drama, everyone seems against the romantic love that develops between 18-year-old Harold and 79-year-old Maude, but that doesn't stop them. Certain that she wants to end her life on her 80th birthday, there's nothing Harold can do to stop her.
© NL Beeld
28 / 30 Fotos
Mei - 'House of Flying Daggers' (2004)
- Zhang Ziyi stars as Mei, who believes she might be the daughter of the former leader of a Robin Hood-like gang. Ending up in a love triangle, it doesn't end well as she tries to save her new lover from her old one.
© NL Beeld
29 / 30 Fotos
The most powerful big screen movie deaths
© Getty Images
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