Top 10 Accidental Movie Deaths
Cinema's certainly not shy about letting characters die in uncontrollable ways. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Accidental Movie Deaths.
For this list, we're taking a look at the moments in film where characters meet their makers unexpectedly and by accident. We've excluded scenes with premeditated deaths and reasonable explanations; our focus is solely on the unpredictability and randomness of certain movie characters' passing.
Special thanks to our users Daniel John and Rocky Al for submitting the idea at WatchMojo.comsuggest
#10: Aim for the Bushes “The Other Guys” (2010)
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Stupid is as stupid does. This appears to be the thinking in this pivotal scene, in which New York detectives Highsmith and Danson pursue a group of criminals. Unfortunately, the chase leads to a rooftop, and the criminals escape via an easily dismantled zip-line. Danson and Highsmith are of one mind in what comes next, though: a bold leap off the building. The intent may have been to safely land on the street below, but it doesn’t seem the detectives accounted for aim. Or gravity, for that matter.
#9: Steamrolled “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997)
Random henchmen for evil villains typically have a low survival rate and that’s primarily due to their own ineptness. This may be stretching the definition of an accident, but somehow it still feels out of everyone’s control. While making a truly high-octane escape, time-displaced secret agent Austin Powers and his partner Vanessa face the issue of dodging security guards. One particular guard can’t get away in time and is brutally crushed... by a slow moving steamroller. We’re obliged to ask, how do security personnel lack such basic survival instincts?
#8: Unfortunate Bisection “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” (2007)
Sibling play-fighting is nothing new, and yet we’re still surprised by this scene’s outcome. Then again, the prospect of two brothers – the titular Dewey and his sibling Nate – playing around with their father’s machete is certainly unusual. The sequence transitions from cute brotherly combat to jaw dropping body horror as Dewey’s machete becomes unsheathed and strikes the mortal blow. That’s not the end of it, though; Nate, despite being halved, is still alive enough to make some humorous remarks. Just remember, the wrong kid died!
#7: Godspeed, Goblin “Spider-Man” (2002)
Chalk this one up to poor judgement. At the climax of “Spider-Man,” the titular hero faces his glider-riding foe in a ruined building. Fists fly, bricks shake, and when the dust settles the Green Goblin lies on the ground at Spidey’s mercy. But he’s not done yet; revealing his true identity, Goblin appeals to Spider-Man’s sympathies – while subtly commanding his glider to strike. Thankfully, Spidey knew when to dodge oncoming projectiles. We can’t say the same about Green Goblin. Sure is convenient how all Spider-Man’s nemeses get themselves killed, huh?
#6: Blood and Woodchips “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (2010)
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“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as a pair of hillbillies going up to their newly-bought cabin, at the same time that a group of teenagers goes camping. After a series of misunderstandings, one of the teens attempts to rush Tucker...and instead flings himself head-first into a woodchipper. It’s grimly amusing to watch Tucker struggle in vain to save the kid considering how easily this madness could have been avoided. While the beehive-caused chase packs quite the punch, this one is still the biggest shocker.
#5: The Present “Happy Gilmore” (1996)
Top 20 Accidental Movie Deaths
We sense gift giving may require a more delicate touch than this. Returning from a successful day of golf training, our titular hero Happy Gilmore is presented with a modified putter by his mentor Chubbs. Happy, being a compassionate friend and student, also happens to have a gift for Chubbs: the head of the alligator that took his right hand. While it’s usually the thought that counts, Chubbs is understandably horrified – and promptly falls backwards out an open window to his death.
#4: Freak Gasoline Fight “Zoolander” (2001)
Sometimes people just don’t think things through. In this 2001 comedy, Ben Stiller stars as the not-so-bright supermodel Derek Zoolander, living the high life with his three friends. During an excursion to a gas station, Zoolander’s friends begin goofing around with the nearby materials, gravitating from squeegees to gas hoses – and all set to a Wham soundtrack, of course. Everything’s all well and good until Zoolander’s friend Brint tries to light up. Such a waste of human life... and all that gasoline. You’ll never listen to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” the same way again.
#3: Traffic Accident “Meet Joe Black” (1998)
Black comedy can be tough to wrap one’s head around, especially when it comes so randomly. Take this scene from 1998’s “Meet Joe Black” for example. A young man, played by Brad Pitt, gazes longingly in the distance while crossing the street, after meeting a girl in a coffee shop. Pitt’s character manages to avoid one oncoming vehicle, but fails to predict the pair of cars that subsequently run him down. It’s a scene worth gaping at, though whether it’s out of horror or amusement is up to you.
#2: Melting Witch “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
It’s short, but cathartic in our eyes. Cornered by the guards of the Wicked Witch, our Kansas-born heroine Dorothy Gale and her assembled friends can only huddle together in the face of evil. The Witch gloats, delivers threats, and even sets Dorothy’s friend The Scarecrow on fire. Unfortunately for the Witch, Dorothy uses a bucket of water to put Scarecrow out, splashing the Witch in the process. In the course of a few seconds, the green-faced source of villainy melts into oblivion, and with her go our fears. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Luck of the Irish “DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story” (2004) - Killer Bees “My Girl” (1991) - Joe Brody’s Fall “Godzilla” (2014) - Road Kill “Taken” (2008)
#1: I Shot Marvin in the Face “Pulp Fiction” (1994)
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In the realm of accidental deaths, this one might take the bloody cake. In the final segment of Quentin Tarantino’s second feature film, hitmen Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield drive through town with an informant, Marvin. While discussing a miracle they supposedly witnessed, Vincent turns back to seek Marvin’s opinion on the matter... and his gun suddenly discharges in Marvin’s face. The resulting bloody mess is horrifying, though Vega and Winnfield’s reactions take the scene from unexpected horror to morbid comedy. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite accidental movie death? For more morbidly-amusing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
