Top 5 Bizarre Villain Deaths

That’s One Way to Kill Off an Antagonist…

Whether they’re henchman or the big boss, there’s nothing in a villain’s contract that says they’re guaranteed to receive a dignified ending. Even some of the most iconic villains in cinematic history have left the mortal coil in a most unflattering fashion, with these five standing at the top of the leaning tower of crazy!

#5: Auric Goldfinger
“Goldfinger” (1964) 

Even in a film that sees a woman die by being coated in gold paint, the villain’s death is still, somehow, the weirdest. Going up against Goldfinger and Oddjob, Sean Connery’s James Bond attempts to foil Goldfinger’s plan to contaminate Fort Knox’s gold reserves. Bond proves successful, prompting a vengeful Goldfinger to hijack the agent’s airborne plane, leading to a cabin window accidentally being shot and the plane decompressing. With Bond holding on for dear life, a bewildered Goldfinger is sucked out of the window. It’s certainly an odd way to go, but with age, the special effects involved have made this death almost comedic.

#4: Hitman
“Shoot ‘Em Up” (2007) 

Oh, you thought John Wick killing someone with a pencil was impressive? Clive Owen’s Shoot ‘Em Up is an hour-and-a-half of pure insanity, with the most ludicrous moment occurring in the first ten minutes. Owen’s Smith is a drifter with a heart of gold, who ends up saving a pregnant woman from the clutches of a villainous hitman. Facing off against the gun-happy attacker, Smith sticks a carrot in the dude’s mouth and punches the produce right through the offender’s skull. Who said vegetables were good for you?

#3: Wicked Witch of the West
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) 

Arguably one of the most famous deaths in movie history, the manner in which this witch perishes is also pretty weird. Aided by an army of monkeys, the Wicked Witch of the West is a genuinely terrifying villain, one capable of eliciting fear across the magical land of Oz. Desperate to return to Kansas, Dorothy must first best the Wicked Witch, an act accomplished by throwing a bucket of water on the villain, which causes the Witch to melt. This might be a reference to history, as potential witches were thrown into a river to see if they float. Regardless… it’s an oddly simple Achilles heel for such a powerful villain.

#2: Dr. Kananga
“Live and Let Die” (1973) 

With Roger Moore’s first appearance as James Bond, this eighth installment took the franchise in a goofier direction. Live and Let Die sees the MI6 spy trying to foil Dr. Kananga’s plan to produce and distribute heroin. Along the way, Bond uses tarot cards to seduce Solitaire, escapes certain death by jumping along the backs of alligators, and stops a voodoo sacrifice. Annoyed by Moore’s constant interferences, Karanga tries to feed the agent and Solitaire to sharks, but Bond escapes and stuffs a compressed-gas pellet into the Doctor’s mouth, causing the villain to explode. It might be a live action film, but that move is straight out of a cartoon.

#1: Thunder
“Big Trouble in Little China” (1986) 

Ever felt so angry that you might explode? Thunder knows that feeling. John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is a hilariously over-the-top action-comedy starring Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a truck driver who gets entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy involving curses and wizards. The final battle sees Jack use his rad knife-throwing skills to take out the big-bad, David Lo Pan; causing Thunder – his henchman – to self-destruct out of frustration. The hero had absolutely nothing to do with it… Thunder just inflates into the shape of a basketball and pops all on his own.

Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Funniest Animated Villains in Movies.