Top 10 Most Rewatched Movie Deaths
#10: T-800
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“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991) Widely considered among the best sequels ever, this movie comes to a heartbreaking conclusion. The T-800 spends the movie protecting John and Sarah Conner, completing his objective by the end. After realizing his technology can be reverse engineered to restart the possibility of an apocalypse, the T-800 decides to terminate itself. It leads into a touching farewell with John, as the bond between the two allows T-800 to understand human emotions. As he ends up giving his life, T-800’s decision is a masterclass in cinema, demonstrating the bravery that comes with sacrifice. It’s also seen as the peak for the “Terminator” series, highlighting the way we’re encouraged to feel for the death, or demise, of a machine. His final thumbs-up remains an iconic parting moment.
#9: Quint
“Jaws” (1975) Sometimes watching the final moments of beloved characters is the best way to pay tribute. Fans of "Jaws" deeply respect Quint, who's an absolute badass in the fight against the killer shark. Quint and Hooper are the protagonists who manage to survive till the climax, but Quint's luck runs out when the shark escapes the cage. While it's a worthy death for a fighter such as him, it's still a reminder that anyone can die, as his final moments are as brutal as they come. The scene has also gained notoriety for being the perfect representation of what viewers expect from the franchise: pure, jaw dropping horror. Plus, we like to wonder if Quint could have survived if there was a bigger boat.
#8: Hans Gruber
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“Die Hard” (1988) Hans Gruber takes the entire Nakatomi Plaza hostage to claim an enormous ransom. But he doesn't account for John McClane's presence, who eliminates Hans’ goons one by one. Their personal antagonism throughout the movie sets up for the high-octane finale. Gruber's demise is preceded by some witty banter between the two enemies that leads to Hans precariously dangling. His death scene is a fan favorite because of its nail biting suspense, as it seems like Hans will take John's wife with him to his death. Hans' reaction is what completes the moment, due to actor Alan Rickman's genuine surprise. Rickman was let go before his cue to get an authentic shot of his expression, and it certainly looks like he's about to meet his maker.
#7: Paul Allen
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“American Psycho” (2000) Christian Bale's upper-class banker Patrick Bateman is so taken with material value that he develops a resentment for his coworker, Jared Leto's Paul Allen, because Paul has a seemingly better business card and a reservation at a high-class restaurant. Fooling Paul to accompany him to his home, Patrick goes on a rant about the artistic merits of "Hip to be Square," and acts like a complete goof. It's all a ploy to drug Paul, though, following which Patrick hacks his rival to his demise. The scene is a deeply disturbing blend of horrifying and funny. It's also entertaining to watch Christian Bale absolutely lose it. Of course, contemporary audiences mostly watch it because it's as if Batman just killed the Joker.
#6: Donald Gennaro
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“Jurassic Park” (1993) The “Jurassic Park” experience is all about appreciating the beautiful cinematography, larger-than-life characters...and all the dinosaurs that eat humans. The first movie needed a death with significant impact to set up the feared T-Rex, and Donald had to be the one. The T-Rex’s arrival changes the tone of the movie, moving from a sense of adventure into absolute horror. Gennaro's abandonment of the kids ultimately catches up to him, as fate serves him on a platter to the hungry dinosaur. This moment is an iconic piece of the series because of the establishing shot of the T-Rex bearing down upon its victim. It leaves no doubt of the danger the characters are in, and does justice to the movie's entertainment value.
#5: Tony Stark
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“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) With Thanos initiating the Battle of Earth, all the heroes fight for the fate of the universe. Ultimately, it's Tony who needs to find the grit and heart to sacrifice himself to save everyone else. The Marvel Cinematic Universe would never have taken off without Tony Stark, and he deserved a heroic death. It's how he went out, with Tony putting an end to Thanos and getting a last chance to say goodbye to his family. While the MCU has doled out major deaths like Black Widow's, Tony's demise spelled the end of an era, and it's fitting to rewatch to honor the hero's sacrifice. There's also the fact that his eulogy is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.
#4: Mufasa
“The Lion King” (1994) "The Lion King" is a classic not just because of the story, but for its deeply poignant themes. Simba's uncle Scar sets him up to be killed by a stampede, and his father arrives to save his son. Unfortunately, Scar betrays his brother as well, coldly sending him to his doom. An entire generation of children associate Mufasa's passing with the concept of death. Mufasa's death shatters both Simba's and viewers' hearts, as Simba must watch his beloved father fall. A guaranteed tearjerker, fans can't help but return to this scene to feel a genuine surge of emotions. If there's any consolation, Mufasa at least went out proving himself to be a wonderful father.
#3: Marion Crane
“Psycho” (1960) There's never been a death scene as definitive to the horror genre as this. An A-list star, Janet Leigh as Marion Crane was expected to be the lead role of the movie. "Psycho" starts off staying true to this expectation... only for Marion to meet her doom with most of the film still remaining. The death is particularly interesting for the way it's shot, as Marion's last moments play out in a bone chilling but hazy manner that confuses as much as it shocks. Movies in the genre have since repeatedly replicated the shock value that "Psycho" first introduced, but there's nothing quite like the original impact that Marion's demise delivers. It remains a must-rewatch for any horror fan.
#2: Jack Dawson
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“Titanic” (1997) Rarely has a fictional death brought in so many arguments over the matter of physics. Rose and Jack's love story reaches a heartbreaking conclusion when the pair are part of the Titanic's destruction. Although the two attempt to board a piece of the ship to save themselves, they realize it can't accommodate both of them. Ever the chivalrous hero, Jack sacrifices himself to save Rose, and she must let him go. This moment seals the emotional impact of the movie, with the star-crossed lovers torn apart. It also has massive replay value, as many fans watch again and again seeking a loophole where Jack could have been saved along with Rose. Jack's rewatchable death scene ultimately contributes to "Titanic's" status as an all-time classic. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Ellie Fredricksen, “Up” Way to Break Our Hearts in One Montage, Pixar Sonny Corleone, “The Godfather” Because There’s No Kill Like Overkill Russell Franklin, “Deep Blue Sea” No One Expected Sam Jackson Would Get His Concentration Broken This Way Thomas Kane, “Alien” Now That's One Nasty Stomach Issue Wicked Witch of the West, “The Wizard of Oz” Because Who Among Us Hasn't Tried to Act Out This Line?
#1: Greedo
“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977) The easiest way to make some "Star Wars" fans angry is to claim that Greedo shot first. It's a pop culture phenomenon for the way it's become such a hotly debated topic. The original scene showed Han shooting Greedo mid-sentence, which many consider true to his character. However, remastered versions show Greedo shooting first, which indicates Han just got lucky when he shot back in self defense. The differences in the two versions make Han's character look strikingly different and fans have analyzed the moment relentlessly over the years. Greedo's death has been edited so many times to justify the change that it's more of a running gag by now. This death even tops Palpatine’s dramatic apparent demise in “Return of the Jedi.”
