jolldan
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A great movie death can be something so iconic that it almost transcends the movie itself with the likes of the shower stabbing scene in Psycho or the chestburster scene in Alien.
As with all of these lists I do I know im probably not going to get all the major ones on here to start with so if there is one you feel is really iconic and would have liked to vote for that I missed just tell me in the comments and I will add them.
Only Rules
1. No coming back from the dead after this death has happened, so won't be including the likes of Gandalf as I would have included that but I think he technically died and then came back.
2. No animated movies as I feel like I could do a list of just that alone
1. Marion Crane, Stabbed Repeatedly In Shower, Psycho
Im not sure if there a more iconic death scene in cinema history this scene has become part of pop culture copied or parodied in several other films and tv shows.
2. Gilbert Kane, Chestburster Explodes Out Of Chest, Alien
Sure it looks a little dated now but this was benchmark setter for the rest of the horror genre, its been attempted to be recreated and copied plenty of times but nothing captured that initial terror and surprise.
3. Harry S. Stamper, Self Sacrifice, Armageddon
If you managed to keep your eyes dry the first time you seen this then I think you are likely in the minority as this scene got pretty much everyone I know right in the feels.
4. Hans Gruber, Falling To His Death, Die Hard
The Die Hard villain had been in a thorn in John McClaine's side the entire film so for him to meet such a nasty end was very stratifying. Rickman's reaction is supposedly real as they told they would drop him on 3 then did it on 1 to get a more organic reaction.
5. Major Arnold Toht, Melted By The Angels Of Death, Raiders Of The Lost Ark
As a child there were few films you could watch that produced nightmare fuel like the death of Arnold Toht in Raiders. The fact that he get to see him as he is literally melted by if what I remember correctly is Angels of Death.
6. Quint, Eaten By Shark, Jaws
Quint's death is brutal but somewhat poetic, Jaws draws parallels between Quint & the shark very similar to that of Captain Ahab & Moby Dick.
7. Darth Vader, Succumbs To Injuries, Star Wars
Darth Vader's death is so iconic for me personally because it was probably one of the best subversions of expectation ever. The whole movie Vader has been presented as this tall, strong and imposing figure so you expected a face to match but what we got was the face of the man he used to be.
8. Jack Dawson, Hypothermia & Drowning, Titanic
Lets be honest you knew I couldn't do a list of greatest movie deaths without this one. Its become one of the more well known deaths in modern cinema history with it even drawing controversy as the "there was room for two on the door" meme's began swirling the internet.
9. Donald Gennaro, Eaten By Dinosaur, Jurassic Park
This was a hard one to choose between this and the death of Dennis Nedry also in this film but in terms of memorable image I felt this one of Donald sitting helpless on the toilet as the T-Rex stands over him before killing him.
10. Wicked Witch Of The West, Water, Wizard Of Oz
"Im melting, im melting! Oh what a world" Probably one of the most iconic sayings in cinema to go along with one of the most iconic death scenes.
If you think you have a more iconic death scene write in the comments below and I will get it added to the poll.
As with all of these lists I do I know im probably not going to get all the major ones on here to start with so if there is one you feel is really iconic and would have liked to vote for that I missed just tell me in the comments and I will add them.
Only Rules
1. No coming back from the dead after this death has happened, so won't be including the likes of Gandalf as I would have included that but I think he technically died and then came back.
2. No animated movies as I feel like I could do a list of just that alone
1. Marion Crane, Stabbed Repeatedly In Shower, Psycho
Im not sure if there a more iconic death scene in cinema history this scene has become part of pop culture copied or parodied in several other films and tv shows.
2. Gilbert Kane, Chestburster Explodes Out Of Chest, Alien
Sure it looks a little dated now but this was benchmark setter for the rest of the horror genre, its been attempted to be recreated and copied plenty of times but nothing captured that initial terror and surprise.
3. Harry S. Stamper, Self Sacrifice, Armageddon
If you managed to keep your eyes dry the first time you seen this then I think you are likely in the minority as this scene got pretty much everyone I know right in the feels.
4. Hans Gruber, Falling To His Death, Die Hard
The Die Hard villain had been in a thorn in John McClaine's side the entire film so for him to meet such a nasty end was very stratifying. Rickman's reaction is supposedly real as they told they would drop him on 3 then did it on 1 to get a more organic reaction.
5. Major Arnold Toht, Melted By The Angels Of Death, Raiders Of The Lost Ark
As a child there were few films you could watch that produced nightmare fuel like the death of Arnold Toht in Raiders. The fact that he get to see him as he is literally melted by if what I remember correctly is Angels of Death.
6. Quint, Eaten By Shark, Jaws
Quint's death is brutal but somewhat poetic, Jaws draws parallels between Quint & the shark very similar to that of Captain Ahab & Moby Dick.
7. Darth Vader, Succumbs To Injuries, Star Wars
Darth Vader's death is so iconic for me personally because it was probably one of the best subversions of expectation ever. The whole movie Vader has been presented as this tall, strong and imposing figure so you expected a face to match but what we got was the face of the man he used to be.
8. Jack Dawson, Hypothermia & Drowning, Titanic
Lets be honest you knew I couldn't do a list of greatest movie deaths without this one. Its become one of the more well known deaths in modern cinema history with it even drawing controversy as the "there was room for two on the door" meme's began swirling the internet.
9. Donald Gennaro, Eaten By Dinosaur, Jurassic Park
This was a hard one to choose between this and the death of Dennis Nedry also in this film but in terms of memorable image I felt this one of Donald sitting helpless on the toilet as the T-Rex stands over him before killing him.
10. Wicked Witch Of The West, Water, Wizard Of Oz
"Im melting, im melting! Oh what a world" Probably one of the most iconic sayings in cinema to go along with one of the most iconic death scenes.
If you think you have a more iconic death scene write in the comments below and I will get it added to the poll.
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