Top 10 Saddest Non-Human Deaths in Movies

#10: Kong

“King Kong” franchise (1933-)

"It was beauty killed the beast.” This is the immortal line uttered by Carl Denham at the end of the original 1933 “King Kong,” a bit of dialogue that’s become synonymous with the downfall of this giant beloved ape. Granted, Kong’s rampage does result in the deaths of many people over the course of his franchise’s history, but it’s important to note King Kong never asked to be brought to New York. That makes his fall from the Empire State Building all the more moving and affecting. It also doesn’t matter whether one is viewing the death of Kong in 1933, 1976 or 2005 or from what building the fall occurs…they’re all tragically epic ends befitting a truly iconic monster.

#9: The T-800

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)

This sequel to James Cameron’s original “Terminator” flips the script a bit, presenting the T-800 as a heroic opposition to an even greater threat. The android is now tasked with protecting the young John Connor from the T-1000, a shapeshifting upgrade from the original that’s even more devious and dangerous. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is notable for its action set pieces, but also for a sense of humor that was largely lacking in the OG. Still, the death of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 at the film’s climax remains one of the franchise’s most well-remembered moments.

#8: Hooch

“Turner & Hooch” (1989)

We’re sort of used to the buddy cop genre including some manner of serious moments at their climax, one where one of the protagonists may be wounded but ultimately makes it out alive. This was tragically not the case for Hooch, the canine partner of Tom Hanks’ Detective Scott Turner. This police dog is a true hero, saving the day for Turner at the cost of his own life. It’s the comedic beats of “Turner & Hooch” that make us in the audience expect that Hooch will survive his time on the operating table. Alas, this is not to be, and no amount of sequel baiting with a new litter of puppies was enough to dry our eyes from watching Hooch take a bullet.

#7: Artax

“The NeverEnding Story” (1984)

It’s the animal death that scarred a generation of eighties kids, to the point where many STILL can’t watch the scene without tearing up. “The NeverEnding Story” was a decade defining fantasy adventure with tons of imagination. It’s also another example where not even Bastian’s eventual undoing of The Nothing’s plans makes up for that scene in the Swamps of Sadness. The performance of Noah Hathaway as Atreyu tears out our collective hearts as he pleads for his horse, Artax, to emerge from his slow sinking into the swamp. His exclamations of frustration and rage still ring in our ears, and remind us of that traumatic moment where we realized that the stakes in “The NeverEnding Story” were high.

#6: Optimus Prime

“The Transformers: The Movie” (1986)

Call this one an example of WTF 1980s? It speaks volumes that the producers of 1986’s “The Transformers: The Movie” were so intent on selling new toys to kids, that they somehow thought the death of FREAKING OPTIMUS PRIME was a good idea. This scene plays it straight, as it builds upon the deaths of Autobots Brawn, Prowl, Ratchet and Ironhide earlier in the film. The Vince DiCola score feels like a funeral dirge, because it is one, as Optimus Prime surrenders the All Spark to Ultra Magnus. The tears are real from both us and the movie’s human characters as the Autobot leader dies, while as adults we can’t help but marvel at the gall “Transformers: The Movie” had by including such a scene.

#5: Bambi’s Mother

“Bambi” (1942)

It’s important for young people to understand the gravity of death, and movies often serve as the hand that removes this y painful emotional bandage. “Bambi” may have been released in 1942, but its status as a certified Disney classic ensured that generation after generation would continue to be traumatized by the demise of Bambi’s mother. This cinematic death is frank and realistic, as Bambi’s mother is shot by a hunter. The film doesn’t necessarily set up this death as something inherently malicious, per se, but rather as an aspect of life. This realism doesn’t make the death of Bambi’s mother any less upsetting for kids, of course, but in a way we’re also thankful that the scene at least doesn’t feel emotionally exploitative.

#4: Old Yeller

“Old Yeller” (1957)

Consider this an OG from the long line of traumatic “don’t kill the dog” movies, a la “Marley & Me” or “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.” “Old Yeller” is, at its heart, the story of a family. There’s action, adventure and drama to be had, but there’s also the relationship between young Travis Coates and his dog, Old Yeller. Yeller is a loyal companion and a trusted member of the family, ultimately sacrificing himself in battle to ward away a rabid wolf. Unfortunately, Travis is forced to kill his beloved pet after Old Yeller contracts the disease. It’s a heartwrenching scene where the emotion leaps off the screen, and another example of a realistic depiction of how, sometimes, we have to lose the things we love.

#3: Dobby

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010)

Every generation has that one cinematic death that hits home, that they’ll always remember long into adulthood. For many kids, that death was Dobby’s from 2010’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.” This house elf certainly earned a hero’s demise, as Dobby takes a knife thrown by Bellatrix Lestrange. This death in service to Harry, Hermione and Ron receives the proper on-screen reverence it deserves, although some fans of the “Harry Potter” franchise have remarked how the book version was even more traumatic. Still, the scene clearly underlines the stakes at play as the “Harry Potter” film series reaches its final climax.

#2: The Iron Giant

“The Iron Giant” (1999)

Does the fact that the titular Iron Giant from the film of the same name survives his encounter with a nuclear missile make the scene any less troubling? We don’t think so, since the execution from this 1999 Warner Bros. effort makes it a point to make The Iron Giant’s sacrifice feel just as big as he is. There’s a gravitas to the Giant’s speech, to the cinematography and to the atmosphere at play as the inevitable collision gets closer and closer. Sure, the final reveal lets us know that The Iron Giant is going to rebuild himself, but by that point we were already in tears.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Littlefoot’s Mother, “The Land Before Time” (1988)

Littlefoot is Orphaned by a T-Rex

Samantha, “I Am Legend” (2007)Will Smith’s Face Says It All, Really

Roy Batty, “Blade Runner” (1982)

The Death Speech to End All Death Speeches

Two Socks, “Dances With Wolves” (1990)

This Wolf Dies a Hero

Caesar, “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017)Hails to this Fallen Leader of the Ape Army

#1: Mufasa

“The Lion King” (1994)

“Long live the king.” This is really all we have to say, right? It’s perhaps the most obvious answer, but also the right one, as the lion king is betrayed by Scar and trampled to death by wildebeests. It’s not only Mufasa’s fall that gets us (and, let’s face it, everyone else) but also the behavior of Simba as he begs his father to rise. The young lion cub’s animalistic pawing at Mufasa’s lifeless body ruins us, as we cry out to comfort Simba in his hour of need. This scene from “The Lion King” proved that children’s animation didn’t always need to be kid stuff. It could also serve as high art that moved emotional mountains with a tragic beauty that resounds through generations.

We keep reaching for the tissues here, so just talk amongst yourselves. And let us know your thoughts about how movies hook us in with these intensely emotional scenes.