Top 10 Deaths of Beloved Movie Characters
#10: Mr. Spock
Top 10 Unsatisfying Deaths of Hated Movie Characters
“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) For a show that only lasted three years in its original run, Star Trek has shown remarkable persistence and resilience. One of the most beloved characters from the original series, and arguably all of Star Trek, is that of Mr. Spock. Over three seasons, audiences saw Spock go from an emotionless first officer to a fully fleshed out character full of flaws and weaknesses. The show ultimately turned into a film franchise which gave us one of the most shocking deaths of the time. In a last ditch effort to escape Khan’s grip, Spock sacrifices himself to save the crew, and his friends. We still get teary eyed watching his hand on the glass against Kirk’s.
#9: Dumbledore
Dumbledore Versus Gandalf
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009) In a series as long running as Harry Potter, it was expected that we would see at least one death of a major character. Whether you had read the books or only followed the movies, it was still a shocking surprise to find the headmaster of Hogwarts killed near the end of the sixth movie. It was an emotional ride for audiences as we’d all become enamored of this wise if sometimes mysterious mentor of Harry Potter. Thankfully something like his spirit returned in the final film, and the prequel movies offer an opportunity to see his younger years.
#8: Han Solo
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“Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens” (2015) During one of the teaser trailers for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” fans finally got to see the return of longtime favorite character, Han Solo. The scruffy-looking nerf-herder had some grey in his hair and may have mellowed a bit, but he was still the same beloved Solo we remember. However, Harrison Ford finally got his wish granted as the character faced a terrible death at the hands of his own son, Ben, AKA Kylo Ren. Ford had pleaded with George Lucas to have Solo die during “The Empire Strikes Back.” Apparently it took the power of Disney buying out Lucasfilm to grant that request.
#7: Black Widow
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“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) Introduced in 2011’s “Iron Man 2,” Black Widow started her journey in the MCU as an assistant to Pepper Potts. From there we learned of her true purpose as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and then eventually watched her become an Avenger. Although fans expected to see some major character deaths in “Avengers: Endgame,” hers was one that no one saw coming. Having been part of the franchise for so long, it was tragic to see her fall on Vormir. Not even Hulk’s snap of bringing everyone back could save her. Thankfully, 2021 is giving us her much deserved backstory through the new Black Widow movie. Still though, it really hurt to lose her.
#6: Laurie Strode
“Halloween: Resurrection” (2002) The horror franchise Halloween has seen its characters and timelines rewritten several times over the years. One staple of the film series has been Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode. Laurie was originally stalked by Michael Myers in the very first Halloween film released back in 1978. When 2002’s “Halloween: Resurrection” comes along, Laurie is stabbed by Michael as she hangs over the side of a building and then plummets to her death. Oddly, she kisses him and says [b-roll1: “I’ll see you in hell”]. At the time, viewers were shocked to see such a longtime character bite the dust. It’s short-lived, however, as the more recent films have largely ignored all the sequels and kept her alive.
#5: Loki
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“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) The God of Mischief has had a very interesting arc over the course of the MCU. He’s ping-ponged back and forth across the villain line more times than perhaps any other character in film history. It’s the blurring of that line between hero and bad guy that has made him such an alluring character for fans. After faking his death during “Thor: The Dark World,” Loki finally met his match by his former boss Thanos during the opening minutes of “Avengers: Infinity War.” By that time, Loki had redeemed himself as a somewhat anti-hero so hearing Thanos tell us [b-roll: “No resurrections this time”] was hard to hear.
#4: Ellen Ripley
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“Alien 3” (1992) What would you do if you had the embryo of an alien queen inside of you? If you’re Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise, you throw yourself into a furnace to take out the evil creature. Over the course of three movies, we saw Ripley repeatedly battle, and survive, the onslaught of these face-hugging antagonists. She ultimately ended up being one of several recurring characters in the film series that didn’t survive. Ripley was eventually brought back in the following film but that didn’t change the after-effects of “Alien 3.” The movie was critically panned and has since been disowned by the director.
#3: Logan / Wolverine
LOGAN Spin-Off Movie About X-23 in the Works – The CineFiles Ep. 44
“Logan” (2017) Hugh Jackman earned himself a Guinness Book of World Record for portraying the character of Wolverine for 17 years. First appearing in the original X-Men trilogy, Jackman’s portrayal of the clawed beast quickly became a fan favorite. The X-Men movies have been hit and miss among fans, but there’s never been any doubt of the audience admiration for the character of Wolverine. When Hugh announced that the movie “Logan” would be his last appearance as the character, fans hoped his final film would do the character justice. Thankfully, the movie was a critical and financial success, and gave us a great sendoff to a beloved Marvel character.
#2: Luke Skywalker
Top 10 Luke Skywalker Moments
“Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi” (2017) The story of Luke Skywalker becoming a Jedi and defeating the Empire defined the original Star Wars trilogy. So when a new sequel trilogy was announced, fans were ecstatic to learn what Luke had been doing all this time. When we finally got to see him, he was a changed man who turned his back on all things Force-related. Thankfully, Rey brings him back into the fold and we see his final gift to the rebels as he Force-projects himself to distract Kylo Ren. Drained, Luke becomes one with the Force, and this legendary Jedi is no more. It’s a bit anticlimactic given how much time has passed, yet we still mourn the loss of this great hero. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Mystique, “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” (2019) No Amount of Shape Shifting Could Have Saved Her Caesar, “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) He Finally Succumbs to His Injuries Darth Vader, “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi” (1983) Redeemed by Luke, but Not in Time to Save Himself
#1: Tony Stark
Bruce Wayne Vs Tony Stark
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) Given the magnitude of what fans knew was coming with “Avengers: Endgame” there was already an expectation that major character deaths were on the table. That didn’t make it any easier to deal with the loss of Tony Stark. Having been the character that kicked off the entire MCU, his death allows the story to come full circle. He may have sacrificed himself to save the Earth, but that still doesn’t lessen the blow to both his fellow superheroes and his family. It’s a death that continued to resonate even into “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. A hero, beloved by the world, gone but not forgotten.
