Top 10 Movies Where the Hero Makes an Impossible Choice

“Gone Baby Gone” (2007)

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Ben Affleck’s directorial debut presents more ethical dilemmas than your average kidnapping thriller. In a twist, the kidnapper is more sympathetic than the child’s mother. Captain Jack Doyle conspired in little Amanda’s kidnapping, but he’s been taking good care of her. Although he committed a serious crime, Doyle is still more nurturing than Amanda’s neglectful mother, Helene. Nevertheless, P.I. Patrick Kenzie concludes that Amanda needs to return. This decision costs Patrick his girlfriend and he can’t even take satisfaction in knowing he did the right thing. Although Helene loves her daughter, she learns little from the experience and the cycle of neglect is bound to continue. Watching over Amanda, Patrick realizes he’s not the only one who must live with his choice forever.

“127 Hours” (2010)

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Based on the true story of Aron Ralston, our protagonist gets his right arm stuck between a boulder and a wall in Bluejohn Canyon. Nobody knows where Ralston is, and he’s likely to expire by the time somebody stumbles across him. Ralston’s only options are to either accept the canyon as his gravesite or say goodbye to his arm. Even when his arm is beyond the point of salvaging, it’s far from an easy call. Ralston ultimately goes through with the amputation, but he still runs the risk of bleeding out or dying from dehydration. The loss of his arm might’ve been for nothing were it not for a family that found Raston, leaving the audience on a hopeful note.

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

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Just as a person changes into a zombie, “Shaun of the Dead” is a movie that transforms before our eyes. What starts as a zombie satire evolves into the real deal by the third act. This change culminates in a choice as the gang finds that Shaun’s mother has been bitten. She soon takes her last breath before becoming part of the outbreak. Trapped in the Winchester with her, David insists that finishing off Shaun’s mother is the only way to ensure their survival. Although it’s hard to argue with David’s reasoning, we understand why Shaun would have reservations about shooting his mum (zombie or not). Shaun concedes that David is right, doing the deed himself. It’s terrifying, tragic, and yet, still a comedy.

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

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Harvey Dent tries making his own luck with a two-headed coin, but control is an illusion. The Joker’s forces kidnap Gotham’s White Knight along with his girlfriend, Rachel Dawes. With both being held at different locations set to explode, Batman is caught in the middle. The Clown Prince of Crime gives the Dark Knight a sadistic choice: save the woman he loves or preserve Gotham’s future. Showing how far we’ve come since the Schumacher days, our hero can’t solve this dilemma with a batarang. Batman chooses Rachel, but as a twisted punchline, Joker reverses the addresses. The police fail to reach Rachel while Batman saves Harvey, although the DA’s faith in the system goes up in flames along with his beloved - and half his face.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023)

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Achieving balance is part of being Spider-Man. This can range from juggling work and crimefighting to choosing between Mary Jane and or a tram car of young hostages. Tragedy is another inevitability of being Spider-Man… at least that’s what Miles Morales is told. With his father set to die upon becoming captain, Miles insists that he can save him. In doing so, though, he risks unraveling his universe along with the multiverse as a whole. It’s a decision that carries astronomical weight, but Miles doesn’t waste much time making up his mind. He’s resolute on preventing his father’s death even if it’s him against the Spider-Verse. That’s essentially the case, as virtually every Spider Society member tries to stop Miles from doing his own thing.

“The Mist” (2007)

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“The Mist” might’ve faded into the library of Stephen King adaptations if it weren’t for a gut-wrenching decision our hero is forced to make. That said, this is the definition of a downer ending, which we can’t help but admire the film for. Out of gas, the five remaining survivors can either surrender to the surrounding mist or go out on their own terms. With only four bullets left, David Drayton shoots the others, which includes his son. Accepting fate, David goes outside and waits for the end. As the mist clears, though, David sees that the crisis is over with the army coming to the rescue. Had David waited longer or left the supermarket earlier like another survivor, this choice could’ve been avoided entirely.

“Million Dollar Baby” (2004)

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What starts as an uplifting underdog story immediately changes gears when Maggie is paralyzed during a match. The third act of “Million Dollar Baby” isn’t about Maggie overcoming the odds or finding a new purpose in life. As her condition worsens, Maggie becomes convinced that she died in the ring, asking her trainer and surrogate father Frankie to end things. Although Frankie is initially reluctant, he’s convinced after Maggie pursues a more painful alternative. Frankie puts Maggie to sleep, but he must carry the burden for the rest of his days. Leaving his coaching days behind, Frankie has little left to live for. The only glimmer of hope is that Frankie *might* reconnect with his biological daughter. Maggie’s fate is still destined to haunt him.

Over the course of two movies, we go from being horrified by one T-800 to crying for another. With the T-1000 thwarted, only one loose end remains. To ensure Judgement Day doesn’t occur on August 29, 1997, the T-800 reveals that he too must be destroyed. Unable to self-terminate, T-800 tells John and Sarah that they must lower him to his molten grave. John tearlessly protests letting go of his father figure, but he understands what must be done. Of course, if we take the other sequels into account, this either leads to Judgement Day simply being postponed or John dying at the hands of another Terminator. Why don’t we pretend the series ends with this perfect goodbye? Give a thumbs up if you agree.

“Fail Safe” (1964)

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Released not long after the Cuban Missile Crisis, this Cold War thriller centers on a U.S. aircraft mistakenly given orders to bomb Moscow. Unable to stop the aircraft, the U.S. President must prove that this was an accident. The only way to do so is for America to drop another nuclear bomb on New York. The loss will be devastating, but by trading one city for another, an all-out nuclear holocaust may be avoided. Making matters even more personal, the First Lady is visiting New York. General Black, who’s tasked with bombing the Big Apple, also has a family down below. New York is obliterated with war presumably being averted, although nobody would call this a success, putting the fail in “Fail Safe.”

This might seem like an obvious choice, but the choice Sophie’s given at Auschwitz is anything but. Arriving with her son and daughter, Sophie tells an officer that she isn’t Jewish or a communist. Just when it appears her family might be spared, the nazi tells her to choose between her children. In his eyes, this is merciful. In reality, it’s arguably more monstrous than having no choice. Sophie reluctantly chooses her son as his odds of surviving the camp are better. While we never see what happens to him, it’s strongly suggested that Sophie is her family’s only surviving member. That’s not to say her choice didn’t matter. From that moment to her dying day, Sophie must live with the fact that she chose. Which impossible choice keeps you lying awake at night? Let us know in the comments.