Top 20 Movies Where the Protagonist Dies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most memorable films that kill off a main character. In this list, we take a look at movies like Psycho, Saving Private Ryan, The Sixth Sense and Thelma & Louise. Who is your favorite movie hero to die on-screen? Let us know in the comments!
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#MovieHeroes
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#movievillains

[@WatchMojo]

Who is your favorite movie hero to die on-screen? Let us know in the comments! For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3mynIacbN5-ms0 Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@Funny.Man101]

The Home Deppt employee says "I work at the Electrical department" ITS SHOCKING!!!

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@Funny.Man101 can you not spam your jokes. You are not even funny

[@mlynettepinky595]

Yall forgot a lot 1. Turner and Hooch 2. Fallen character tells how he died. 3. Man on Fire 4. Benjamin button 5. Pay it forward Old school movies 1. Shayne 2. Citizen Kane 3. Sunset Blvd character tells how he died 4. Cool Hand Luke Super Hero 1. Iron Man in Avengers Endgame 2. Professor Xavier in The Last Stand Protagonist is still in the movie after they are killed 1. Ghost 2.p The Crow

[@adamhoward1408]

"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a Villain".

[@exitscreaming4637]

Charlton Heston in The Omega Man

[@trinaq]

I love how "Psycho" epically subverted expectations, by having you believe that Janet Leigh was the protagonist. But after she takes a shower, it's literally curtains for her!

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

The 1983 remake ‘Scarface’ is still one of my most favorite Hollywood remakes of all time. The antihero Tony Montana messed up badly after killing his best friend/brother in law for no reason and also failed to save his younger sister Gina.

[@kellychuang8373]

That's one or another movie where the main character died look up American Made where Barry Seal meets his end.

[@SPAnComCat]

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!

[@kellychuang8373]

@@SPAnComCat Yeah it really is the 1980s Scarface and also another mention in this list American Made played by Tom Cruise as Barry Seal in which he meets his demise. Anyway really look that up also is based on a true story.

[@SPAnComCat]

@@kellychuang8373 Wow! I never Knew that!

[@jasonbean2764]

The opening scene of "Ghost Ship" blew my mind.

[@downhomesunset]

That was gruesome. I couldn’t believe I sat on my couch and watched the rest!

[@bbbabrock]

There was a scene in 3 body Problem that reminded me of Ghost Ship..

[@MrJtmendoza180]

Leon the Professional. The quintessential film that has a bitter sweet ending. Needless to say, it is a classic.

[@trinaq]

Kevin Spacey's chilling monologue after his death in "American Beauty" always gives me the feels. Also, I was so shocked that the "Sixth Sense" ending, that I had to rewind the tape, just to double check.

[@gregwodzynski941]

Right. American beauty should have been on here.

[@thereallg4587]

*We all knew Jack from titanic was No.1. It’s always been a conversation of if Jack could’ve survived but it is what it is.*

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

Sir Daniel Craig did a fantastic job on all 5 James Bond movies, including ‘Casino Royale’; ‘Skyfall’; and ‘No Time to Die.’

[@meinzer]

You got Bonnie and Clyde, but not Easy Rider?? Big miss. Also I would add the original Night of the Living Dead. Saw it in 1969 and its still shocking.

[@stevenmackay4984]

Came here to say this. A jaw-dropper death.

[@kellychuang8373]

Yeah that's 1 and another American Made with Tom Cruise playing Barry Seal and can say it was really a blast on that scene of him meeting his demise.

[@raysparro3937]

The Poseidon Adventure, Pulp fiction, and Django.

[@exitscreaming4637]

Oh yeah , Poseidon Adventure was a good choice

[@a.jthomas6132]

Scarface: The Skull kills Tony Montana. Scarface - The World is Yours game: *Hold my beer!*

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

Clint Eastwood’s award-winning movie ‘Million Dollar Baby’ will turning 20 before the end of 2024.

[@user-dt8vy2yb3d]

Is that the movie 🎥 that Hilary Swank won an Oscar?

[@Viglin123]

@@user-dt8vy2yb3d Yup

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

@@user-dt8vy2yb3d Yes. For the 2nd time.

[@victorruizricalde6392]

…And f**k that pretentious film since then

[@Patm-um8tg]

7:43 V for Vendetta is an absolute underrated masterpiece of a film.. It is one of my personal favorites of the Wachowskis… You’ve got such an incredible cast in this film… I mean HUGO WEAVING’S V STILL gives me full body chills… and Natalie Portman’s vulnerable yet strong Evie was just perfection. The cinematography in this film is just incredible, the slow mo shots of V’s fight sequences are just the cherry on top.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Jack Torrence’s stare at the end of _The Shining_ and that chord have aged like a fine wine.

[@jeremywilliams5141]

1. Robocop 2. The Crow 3. Alien 3 They never said the character had to die at the end nor did they say that the character couldn't be resurrected.

[@mlynettepinky595]

Lol That's what I was thinking Add Ghost with Patrick Swayze

[@jeremywilliams5141]

@@mlynettepinky595 And Ghost Dad with Bill Cosby

[@mariafox9226]

Boy in the Striped Pajamas made me lose my childhood innocence.

[@puterboy2]

That honor went to Revenge of the Sith for me.

[@XBC3-4GOTY]

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and The Departed are both Classic MasterPieces and they’re in My Top 5 Movies of All Time

[@aliceholmes4952]

I love all three of your channels.

[@tristankingcooldudewhite8392]

Honorable mentions “Scream” (2022) “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) “Train to Busan” (2016) “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” (1987)

[@downhomesunset]

Agree with Ghostbusters!

[@markula_4040]

You forgot "300" (2006)

[@demondsims5411]

Yeah. I hated that Nancy died in Nightmare On Elm Street 3. It was shocking, sudden,and very sad. I remember watching it in theaters as a kid and my was wide open by the shock of it.

[@filmfocusmind]

Promising Young Woman did a good job of this, especially because the main character intended to die in order to complete her revenge.

[@GG-zo3ew]

Bruce Willis in Armageddon

[@winstenonline]

You are missing king leonidas of 300. How did he not make the list?

[@SeanBoylston]

Armageddon too

[@duncancurtis5108]

I am Iron Man.

[@a.jthomas6132]

I have seen *One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest* in one of my film classes, and it was an absolute cinema!

[@DJ-Frostbite64]

Iron Man's death in Endgame was the most tragic death I have watched

[@TrustInDustin85]

To be fair, it wasn't just a cliff that Thelma & Louise went over. It was the Grand Canyon!!

[@BCBaron]

No mention of Roddy Piper's character from They Live?

[@Lynxan]

That was one that I thought of first.

[@106andie]

Growing up I thought Thelma and Louise survived lol, I still like to think they did.

[@yxeaviationphotog]

No Rogue One?? They kill off every main character.

[@harryboyes2812]

Yes. How could they leave that out?

[@geviesanta3631]

Dude, why the hell would they that one out 😢

[@anthonyperno1348]

How about some oldies? Petrified Forrest, White Heat, The Roaring 20s, Sands of Iwo Jima, Double Indemnity.

[@spacejam8765]

Randy getting lobotomized in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is one of the hardest things I have ever seen. 😢

[@The_Dudester]

1) Jan Decleir in The Memory of a Killer 2) Richard Beymer in West Side Story (1961) 3) John Wayne in The Cowboys 4) John Wayne in The Shootist 5) John Wayne in The Alamo 6) John Wayne in The Seabees

[@raymondhopwood9393]

John Wayne in "Sands of Iwo Jima".

[@713davidh42]

John Wayne in Wake of the Red Witch John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind

[@joshdelagarza231]

Qui-Gon in the Phantom Menace. Also Optimus Prime in the 1986 Transformers movie, which as far as I know is the only time the protagonist has ever been killed in a mainstream animated children’s film.

[@user-fb6rp4pn3t]

The Wild Bunch, Ride the High Country, Sands of Iwo Jima, Sunset Boulevard, Secondhand Lions.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

‘Psycho.’ Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. One of the best damn slasher movies of all time.

[@GentlemanGaGa29]

It's alright, there's way better slasher movies

[@marilyntaylor9577]

Unless you were eight years old and your parents took you to the drive-in to watch it (from the floor of the back seat)

[@chelseacanales8763]

I can’t believe that Logan is 7 years old. Damn, seeing James Howlett and Charles Xavier demise still hurts 😢😢😢😢😢

[@tvalokibatman6563]

At least wolverine coming back in Deadpool 3 but it’s not same wolverine we all know and love

[@chaddon7685]

It felt like the death of my youth 😢

[@GentlemanGaGa29]

Logan wasn't even that good

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

2017’s ‘Logan’ became one of top 3 favorite X-Men movies.

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! Amazing collection of the best movies. I'll watch the ones I've missed..!! 🤣

[@a.jthomas6132]

There are other movies you missed out (or should’ve been) on this list: Public Enemies War for the Planet of the Apes Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 300 Braveheart Children Of Men The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Into The Wild Seven Pounds Cloverfield The Departed The Blair Witch Project Man On Fire

[@frayhua9716]

How about Mel Gibson in Braveheart.

[@Gorf1234]

Theo Faron "Children of Men"

[@KarlSturmgewher]

Leon the Profesisonal took the villainous cop Stansfield down with him. Leon: This... is from... Mathilda... Stansfield: (seeing no way to save himself from Leon's last bundle of grenades) Shit...

[@JaiCSC]

I feel like Pan's Labyrinth is missing from this list.

[@marcostellodimas2761]

thanks for the big red circle and arrow watchmojo! def wouldnt have seen the car without it fr

[@tiffypop803]

I was hoping to see the Hateful 8 on this list.

[@Sun_Cat_Pop]

Fallen 1998 and it's still incredible

[@teoudvooreenhippenaam3914]

No Braveheart?!?!?!

[@DJGamingSmash]

Uh, some of these doesn't really feel like they should count? Like, the dying of old age ones where it's implied they die after the movie is over, but they are still technically alive before credits roll, we don't see them die. That's like including American Sniper because the ending text says "hey, he died after the last scene but we ended the movie before that" right before end credits are played.

[@ghostsquad410]

I’d say number one for me is from the first ever Godzilla movie when Dr Serizawa sacrifices himself to kill Godzilla

[@stevenmackay4984]

The original Manchurian Candidate from 1962. Also Kevin Spacey in LA Confidential. Just as he turns an ethical corner, wanting to redeem himself, his detective is shot dead.

[@Gor85]

So many great ones! :D Leon,Million Dollar Baby(so sad),No Time To Die,Scarface,Logan,Vendeta,Gladiator,The Shining,Shining,Thelma and Louise,Psycho. Titanic is epic! Perfect number 1.It's really tragic story. Rose and Jack. It's based on true love story too.Great video!😁

[@tylergoodman3560]

The best one on the list to me is Thelma and Louise. 🎉

[@Zenith200]

Sarah Cotter from Smile? I saw that movie weeks ago and I felt so bad for her.

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Great list 👌 👍 Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, Butch and Sundance ❤❤❤ and definitely American Beauty!

[@mikeshearer1250]

Walt Kowalski from Gran Torino was one. Took out the gang with him as well

[@samkresil6011]

300, Les Miserables, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Jennifer's Body, Rouge One, War for the Planet of the Apes, Avengers: Endgame and Braveheart.

[@readysetactioncommentaries]

Number 1 is valid. Jack did everything he could to help Rose continue a life. Jack knew he was dead, he knew his job was to keep Rose alive and to keep her from slipping away. Number 1 was perfect!

[@jekw23]

I sat “To live and Die in LA” and my mum turned to me and said, “did that just happen” after a certain scene. Was so abrupt and the film just moved on she couldn’t accept it and thought there would be a twist ending. Only time I ever saw her shocked by how a major protagonist was dealt with.

[@Supasmartguy]

No Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street?

[@Patm-um8tg]

THATS WHAT I WAS SAYING. #justiceforsweeney 🫡

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥈

[@GentlemanGaGa29]

Terrible movie

[@samkresil6011]

I knew No Time To Die was going to be on here. Surprisingly, the first film to actually kill off James Bond.

[@bbbabrock]

10:00 I prefer to think that Thelma and Loise ended in the exact same way as The Wrestler- In both films, after much conflict, self reflection and personal growth, in the final shot, the titular heroes all learn to fly.

[@CodyFairlessLee]

I love SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and GLADIATOR. But yeah, PULP FICTION was left out.

[@Luke-ko8hq]

American Beauty ??? Pan's Labyrinth ??

[@RichardBenge-bz5zs]

You forgot John Wayne in "The Shootist". He was really during while filming.

[@geviesanta3631]

You should've added two more entries: Rouge One a Star Wars Story and Avengers: Endgame.

[@deemariedubois4916]

MIDWAY Captain Matthew Garth died. This is huge because it was Charlton Heston.

[@lawman592]

Cool Hand Luke merits at least an honorable mention.

[@jimmybowler6472]

Braveheart. It should be #1. Wallace is tortured for 15 minutes, screams Freeeeeeedom as the bagpipes reach a crescendo and then he's beheaded. Gut wrenching and uplifting at the same time.

[@CarlosMendoza-es4rx]

No Honorable Mentions like The Matrix Revolutions, Avengers Endgame or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon?

[@jimmylamboy4550]

You forget "Man Of Fire " with Denzel Washington, smh!!!!

[@NotMeNaNaNa]

The first movie I saw where the death of the protagonist shocked me was 15 Minutes. I went in expecting DeNiro to be the hero who prevails in the end only to be devastated when he’s unceremoniously killed off.

[@youtubeuser5173]

How did you miss "The Wicker Man" (1973 original with Christopher Lee) for this list ????

[@SheriffOutlaw]

The fact that Road To Perdition isn't acknowledged as a DC Comics film is baffling . Same with A History of Violence

[@garrettpeck4437]

I can't believe you got through this whole list without Charlton Heston. He was killed in so many movies

[@chadgaming8288]

You forgot about Charles Xavier from X-Men: The Last Stand. Yes, he lives, but fans didn’t knew that until PROBABLY the post-credits for The Wolverine. You also forgot got Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope.

[@derekberry6122]

Wasn't Shane one of the movies that actually had the main character die at the end of the movie or alluded to it? There are also too many horror movies that had the same situation.

[@Sandlot1992]

I will never forget how I saw Logan in theatres and the part where Professor Xavier and Logan died!

[@akarbit3r111]

Haven't watched the video yet, but hopefully Alien 3 (possibly Windtalkers and/or Saving Private Ryan as well)

[@CassidyBobsonAlexanderEntebang]

5:13 James Bond will “not” return...? That scene blowing mind...

[@kwaikcheung75]

Denzel Washington in "Man on Fire."

[@johnepperson6533]

How can this list be complete without Citizen Kane?

[@trentonhamilton645]

Marcus Wright - Terminator Salvation John Connor and T-850 maybe the current protagonists of the franchise, but as a stand alone feature, Marcus carried most of the plot thread as a redemption story.

[@kingb6427]

My two favorite movies 🎥 from this list: v for vendetta (11) and titanic (1)

[@williamtristan5925]

Samuel L. Jackson's self-sacrifice in "187" to teach a lesson posthumously. Great, underrated movie.

[@joelzaborowski9839]

Star wars Rogue One!

[@jacobdrolet4262]

The main character of dead silence.

[@gregcircanow]

Sunset Boulevard

[@mlynettepinky595]

I'm ready for my close up Mr Dermille 😂 Another old school movie Citzen Kane

[@Jarbloko]

Arlington Road 1999

[@dboyer3803]

Road to Perdition is the most underrated movie of all time

[@cenexxis]

Black Swan has been mentioned. Good!

[@TheRennDawg]

Not gonna lie, I was rooting for the iceberg while watching Titanic.

[@Antonrdm65]

Me too. 😂

[@roxy5588]

Ian McKellen’s James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998)

[@inathinkosimnini7365]

What about blood diamond

[@Croclover431]

Just saying, only two people have ever survived a Final Destination movie...

[@MarVin-db2tu]

Here are my 7 that was not in this video.... Gran Torino (Eastwood) Star Trek: Wrath of Khan (Spock) Rocky 4 (Apollo) Turner & Hooch (Hooch,, do dogs count? Runner-up: Marley & Me) Pay it Forward Avengers" Endgame Insomnia

[@erictaylor5462]

15:50 She was the protagonist for act I of the film. I think that is why the death is so shocking. She has been the main character of the film so for, but from this point the lead changes to the Motel owner.

[@JohnJohansen2]

15:03 The wasn't using horses to pull the wagons on those roads? 😉

[@saiberunato]

The Crow. Although Eric Draven sorta wasn't alive during most of the film either.

[@tonygibson5171]

I’d add the place beyond the pines although it has 3 main characters in three parts

[@RussellPirtle-ib6ov]

I'll tell you another sad and touching protagonist death: Jean Valjean as played by Hugh Jackman.

[@ShadyRK9]

Wait. Thelma and Louise was the protagonist? Didn't they like do some crimes before driving off the cliff?

[@user-ju9re9ob2v]

They were BOTH forced into the circumstances, the way that grapes were viewed by the witnesses, and Brad Pitt stole their life savings, they actually NEVER EVER hurt anyone else!

[@rickcole349]

Protagonist is the main character in a narrative.