Top 20 Slow Motion Deaths in Movies

Zoolander (2001)
Whoever said that these sorts of slow motion death scenes also couldnt be fun?, Or, at the very least, blackly comedic? Were not sure whats more humorous about the freak gasoline fight accident from Zoolander. The over-the-top nature of Dereks friends spraying gasoline all over each other or the supermodel being totally cool about the whole ordeal. Derek doesnt even seem alarmed at first, smiling as the petrol is seen dowsing the entire scene. Then it just sort of hits the supermodel, but hes too late to stop his friends from exploding in a giant, fiery conflagration.

Cliffhanger (1993)
For this action thriller, Sylvester Stallone plays Gabe Walker, a rescue ranger who is enlisted to help stranded mountaineers in the Rocky Mountains. In this mesmerizing opening sequence, Gabe attempts to save Sarah, the girlfriend of his best friend Hal Tucker. Since its the opening scene, you expect Gabe to save her in the nick of time against the odds. But the movie defies expectations and drops Sarah to her death, all in dramatic slow motion, allowing the viewer to relish in the shock factor. That scream would haunt our dreams for years to come.

The Hurt Locker (2008)
In 2008, director Kathryn Bigelow took the world by storm with this intense masterpiece about...well, pretty much about disarming bombs, but damn did it do that well! In the riveting opening sequence, Sergeant Matthew Thompson, played brilliantly by Guy Pierce, attempts to disarm a bomb before realizing that it is unstoppable, and he runs away in fright. The shot of the bomb exploding in slow motion sends the viewer into shock and awe, and provides one of the film's many gorgeous and heart-stopping sequences. Future directors, take note. THIS is how you make a war movie.

The Last Samurai (2003)
Just because 2003s The Last Samurai dramatized the real-life stories of Eugène Collache[a], Jules Brunet and Enomoto Takeaki during the Boshin War, didnt mean that the end results were without emotional pathos. The final charge of Captain Nathan Algren and Lord Moritsugu Katsumoto is a fatalistic one, a last stand where both men know full well the likely outcome. Katsumotos death arrives by his own hands, with the assistance of Algren, but the gatling gun fire is shot in painful slow motion. Its these bullet wounds that push Katsumoto and his cavalry to the brink of death, although the sacrifice of this titular last samurai does not ever feel in vain.

Dredd (2012)
We have to marvel at what a good slow motion sequence can do for a film. While Dredd was well received by critics, this final scene is pure cinematic ecstasy. After pushing Ma-Ma out of a window, viewers are treated to a dazzling sequence, full of reflective shining glass and divinely colorful shots. The slow, atmospheric music helps to flawlessly set the tone for the scene, and it proved to be a stunning sequence in a movie that critics and audiences were willing to write off as just another violent escapade at the cinema.

Alien 3 (1992)
Theres certainly a lot to love about David Finchers controversial Alien 3, including the memorable, slow motion demise of Ellen Ripley. The last survivor of the Nostromo has been propagated with the embryo of an alien queen, but we dont see the final reveal until that evocative shot of Ripley falling into the furnace. The queen Xenomorph erupts from Ripley as she tumbles down the shaft, cradled in the heros arms as she chooses self-destruction over assisting the Weyland-Yutani Company achieve their goals. Its bittersweet, to be sure, but at least fans didnt have to wait too long for Ripley to return, in clone form anyway, in Alien Resurrection.

Boyz n the Hood (1991)
It looks like a bad dream or a nightmare. Rickys death by gunshot at the hands of gang members doesnt spare the audiences feelings, nor does it shy away from the brutality of this situation. The slow motion here feels agonizing, as Morris Chestnut runs for his life, attempting to escape the assassins bullet. Co-star Cuba Gooding, Jr. is also shot in this fashion, running towards Ricky in a futile attempt to stop what he already knows is tragically true. The practical effects of the bullet squib on Chestnut only adds to the visceral power this scene still possesses today.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Its one of the most iconic series of panels in comic book history. This meant that a lot was riding on director Marc Webb and crew when it came to shooting The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The familiarity audiences likely had with the source material meant that this film could even afford to get artsy with the execution. Emma Stones facial expression as Gwen Stacy is tragically beautiful as shes tossed from the clock tower by Green Goblin. Andrew Garfields real-life romantic history with Stone also comes into play, and the actors grief at not being able to save his doomed love feels legitimately emotional and powerful.

Top Gun (1986)
Masculine men from all walks of life felt the needthe need to cry during this emotional sendoff to Nick Goose Bradshaw. Action fans during this era often felt that their heroes were invulnerable, because they usually were. And granted, Tom Cruises Maverick does manage to successfully eject from his F-14, but his wingman isnt so lucky, and Goose crashes into the canopy of their jet. The actual impact that breaks Bradshawss neck is thankfully brief, but this brevity doesnt lessen its impact. Its a tragedy for both Maverick and the Top Gun audience.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007)
Lord Cutler Beckett was a satisfying antagonist for the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. A charismatic villain with understandable motives, he nevertheless earns villain status via the means with which he achieves his ends. This is, in part, what makes his demise at the climax of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, feel so satisfying and earned. The disappointed look of finality washes over Cutlers face as his HMS Endeavor is annihilated by the combined forces of The Black Pearl and The Flying Dutchman. He knows the end is near, with the cannonball chaos that surrounds him effectively sealing his doom.

King Kong (2005)
The demise of The Eighth Wonder of the World, King Kong, always arrives with a certain amount of melancholy. This was, after all, a creature that didnt ask to be taken from Skull Island nor brought to New York City. Kongs death has been beautifully and tragically shot many times over the years, but the slow motion manner chosen by director Peter Jackson feels indebted to the mans love for the original. Jackson just cant seem to let the big ape go, and there isnt a dry eye in the house as Kong tumbles from The Empire State Building, down to the street below.

Braveheart (1995)
We dont really need to see the nuts and bolts of whats happening to William Wallace to know that it hurts. This leader for Scottish independence is being executed slowly and deliberately, but fans of Braveheart know full well what this scene is driving toward. Wallaces cry for freedom amidst all of his pain isnt just lip service; its one of the films central themes. Braveheart was a film that felt realistic and violent, but never exploitative. As a result, the slow motion of Wallaces noble death scene doesnt feel like a cheap shot, but a fulfilling ending to an epic story.

Watchmen (2009)
Jeffrey Dean Morgans portrayal of The Comedian still serves as one of the most reprehensible villains within the comic book movie medium. The characters death kicks off Zack Snyders 2009 adaptation of this fan favorite comic in evocative style. The Comedian is attacked by a mysterious and shadowy figure, before unceremoniously being tossed out of his apartment window. The blood stained button that follows him down sets the stage for Snyders epic retelling of Alan Moores story, although at this point were left with more questions than answers. This will soon change, yet the memory and visual of The Comedians last ride stays with us forever.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The idea of a heroic sacrifice within the confines of a movie is nothing new, usually existing as a means for a secondary character to buy the main protagonist a little time. Nux may speak the mantra of I Live, I Die, I Live Again early on in Mad Max: Fury Road, but Nicholas Hoults character has changed by the time of this sacrifice. The illusion of Immortan Joes control over this War Boy has been shattered, with Nux shifting allegiances to assist Imperator Furiosa and Mad Max. This makes his wrecking of the rig in Fury Roads final act feel fitting, although, if were being honest? We were sorry to witness Nux go.

Rocky IV (1985)
Iiin thiiis fooourth...OK, that's enough. In this fourth installment of the series, good old Rocky travels to Moscow in order to get revenge on Ivan Drago for killing his friend and mentor, Apollo Creed. Oh, and to seemingly end the Cold War by himself, but that's a whole other thing. Apollo's death scene is perhaps one of the few dramatic moments in this otherwise goofy film that actually works, and it is undoubtedly helped by the use of slow motion. It's used to great effect in the final punch, giving it that much more oomph, and lends dramatic weight to Creed's falling body.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Snape kills Dumbledore! While that particular spoiler may be old news by now, it was everywhere in the late 2000s, and this movie beautifully captured the powerful wizard's death and perfectly translated it to the big screen. After arriving back from his and Harry's trip to the zombie cave, Snape uses the Avada Kedavra curse and knocks Dumbledore off the clock tower. It's a heart-stopping moment, and the slow motion is put to perfect use to amplify the drama of the scene. We can only watch in horror as Dumbledore falls away from the camera and out of the story forever.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Its perhaps one of the most obvious examples of bullet-ballet, slow-motion death scene artistry on this list. The ending to director Arthur Penns Bonnie and Clyde helped push forward the boundaries of acceptable violence on the silver screen. It also served as a stunning example of the New Hollywood era of American filmmaking. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are making the mistake so many criminals make mere moments before their deaths: they lose focus. Granted, they dont know that the father of their partner, C.W. Moss has sold them out to the authorities. Bonnie and Clydes brief moment of lapsed attention is shattered in a hail of gunfire, as hidden gunmen riddle them with bullets. Its tough to watch, even by todays standards.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
You cant have a death-related list without Sean Bean. The Lord of the Rings films don't kill off major characters often, but when they do, the impact is heavily felt. At the end of this installment, when the fellowship is traveling to Parth Galen[c], they are ambushed by Uruk-hai, and their leader, Lurtz, fires multiple arrows into Boromir's chest. The scene will bring tears to your eyes due to its soft music and stirring use of slow motion, making Boromir's sacrifice and last stand that much more powerful. While Boromir had his flaws, his extraordinary send-off more than redeems him.

Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard is a true action classic, not only due to its everyman hero and realistic approach, but also due to its marvelous villain Hans Gruber, played superbly by Alan Rickman. When John McClane finally arrives to rescue his wife Holly, he sends Hans tumbling out the window. After John releases Holly's watch, we watch in morbid wonder as Hans' face slowly changes from confidence to fright as he realizes that his death is imminent. Fun fact: the wondrous effect was used by actually dropping Alan Rickman onto the safety airbag on the count of two instead of three.

Platoon (1986)
One of the most parodied death scenes in film, Elias's demise is heroic, heartbreaking, and entirely captivating to witness thanks in no small part to its use of slow motion. After Barnes tells the platoon that Elias has been killed (after shooting him himself), Elias dramatically emerges from the trees and is gunned down in front of his fellow soldiers. The music swells to epic proportions, and we watch in astonishment as Elias gets more and more wounded, eventually reaching to the heavens before succumbing to his injuries. It's truly one of the most memorable scenes in film history.


What, to you, is most impactful about the art of slow motion? Let us know in the comments!

zshool broo-NEH https://translate.google.ca/?sl=fr&tl=en&text=Jules%20Brunet&op=translate
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boh-SHIN/SHEEN https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ja&tl=en&text=%E6%88%8A%E8%BE%B0&op=translate
AWL-grin https://youtu.be/4YM5N-jIkhA?si=u2aE8zW_-Y6IVlKP&t=123
moh-REET-soo-goo kaht-soo-MOH-toh https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ja&tl=en&text=%E7%9B%9B%E6%AC%A1%20%E5%8B%9D%E5%85%83&op=translate
[b]https://youtu.be/821ft1hVTtw?si=GpE2j-iO-ZjM7TYh&t=11
[c]GAW-lin https://youtu.be/mKgXsoVnq4o?si=NqwL_aeqkocX77OM&t=154