Losing a character in a film can be either a tragedy or a blessing, depending on the context. For instance, audiences were relieved when Scar was ripped to shreds by his hyena minions in The Lion King. But when we lose a hero or a character that we have learned to love, it brings out some harsh emotions. What is even more traumatising is when a death comes out of nowhere and is completely unexpected. It can happen in a matter of seconds, and the audience is left with the shock of losing one of their favorite characters.
When it comes to good drama, death is inevitable. One of the greatest aspects about cinema is that it can portray real life. Death is a part of life, and that goes the same for films. Movies like Zombieland showed us that death can actually be comedic, if done in the right way. Whether it is fantasy, horror, or drama, movie deaths create emotional responses in the audience, making the film that much better. Throughout the years, there have been several surprising movie deaths that shocked audiences around the globe. Let's dive into ten of the most surprising cinematic deaths of all time.
10 Chad Feldheimer - Burn After Reading
In the Coen brothers' Burn After Reading, we watch Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) investigate the residence of Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) looking for sensitive materials to further his blackmail scheme with Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand). Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) unexpectedly arrives at the residence, and after Feldheimer hides in the closet, Pfarrer opens the door and shoots Feldheimer in the head with his pistol. The smiling expression of Felheimer's face right before he is shot is classic, and audiences couldn't believe what they just saw.
9 Charlie - Hereditary
Charlie's (Milly Shapiro) death in Hereditary is tragic, shocking, and completely unexpected. After suffering an allergic reaction at a party, her brother Peter (Alex Wolff) rushes to drive her to the hospital. Charlie is struggling to get air, so she sticks her head out the window. Peter is driving very fast, and Charlie’s head collides with a pole, completely decapitating her. This scene happens earlier in the film, so it totally surprised the audience. What is equally disturbing is Peter's reaction of numbness to what he just experienced.
8 Dick Halloran - The Shining
In Stanley Kubrick's classic horror film, we watch as Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) is called upon telepathically by Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd) to rescue him from the horrors of the Overlook Hotel. When Halloran arrives, there is a long take of him walking around the vacant hotel searching for the family. Out of nowhere, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) emerges and swings an axe into Halloran, killing him. The screams of Halloran and Danny mixed with the piercing music creates a disturbing and surprising scene in The Shining.
7 Goose - Top Gun
Goose (Anthony Edwards) was unquestionably the best friend that anybody could ask for. He's always there for Maverick (Tom Cruise), through the good and the bad, and audiences around the globe wept when he was tragically killed while flying. When a loveable character like Goose is killed off, it creates high stakes that completely flips the film. Maverick is lost without Goose, and his tragic death completely adds to the inner struggles of Maverick as a pilot. It was an unexpected, emotional death, but ultimately added a lot of substance to Top Gun.
6 Calvin Candie - Django Unchained
Calvin Candie (Leonardo Dicaprio) was one of the most despicable characters in cinematic history. In Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, Candie is a racist, psychopathic villain, and audiences were relieved to finally have him shot to death. Never has there been a death so deserved. Right before Schultz (Christoph Waltz) is about to leave, he is persuaded by Candie to give him one final handshake. Instead, out of left field, Schultz's pistol emerges from his sleeve and he shoots Candie in the heart, finishing him once and for all. Even though Schultz knew that he would most likely be killed shortly after...he couldn't resist.
5 Bill Murray - Zombieland
Bill Murray gives one of the greatest cameos ever, playing himself in the acclaimed film, Zombieland. Although his screen time is cut short, Murray delivers some great laughs. When attempting to pull off a practical joke, disguised as a zombie and scare Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), the prank goes wrong and Columbus shoots him with his rifle. Murray's death is slow, but hilarious, as he delivers jokes until his last breath.
4 Jack Vincennes - L.A. Confidential
In the 1997 neo-noir film, L.A. Confidential we watch as a team of cops investigate a series of murders in 1950s Los Angeles. After a groundbreaking discovery in the case, one of the investigators, Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) confronts Police Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell), and Vincennes is unexpectedly shot in the heart by the hand of Smith. The shocking plot twist proved that Smith was in the middle of the corruption, and added great depth to the classic detective story.
3 Vincent Vega - Pulp Fiction
Although Vincent Vega (John Travolta) is killed off in the middle of Pulp Fiction, it is not the last time we see him due to Tarantino's intersecting stories. The notorious hitman is an anti-hero who we learned to love as he tore up the dance floor at Jack Rabbit Slims. After emerging from the bathroom while staking out Butch's (Bruce Willis) apartment, Butch shoots him to death with a machine gun in an epic scene of chance. Although Butch got lucky in that moment, his crazy journey of redemption was just getting started.
2 Billy Costigan - The Departed
Billy Costigan's (Leonardo Dicaprio) death in The Departed was one of the most surprising fatalities in cinematic history. After finally getting the corrupt police officer, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), in handcuffs, they ride down in the elevator and everything seems as if it is going to work out for the best. Suddenly, as the doors open, Costigan is shot in the head by another corrupt cop, shocking audiences. Costigan was the main protagonist throughout the film, and to have a death like that come completely out of nowhere was totally unexpected.
1 Marion Crane - Psycho
The death of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) in Psycho was not only one of the most iconic scenes in history; it broke boundaries for cinematic storytelling. Crane is stabbed to death by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in the shower only about thirty minutes into the film. Audiences were expecting Crane to be the center of the entire film, so her death coming so soon into the movie was a complete shock. Alfred Hitchcock loved to turn the tables on the audiences, and proved his genius as a master storyteller.