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Top 10 Movie Death Scenes

By Noelle Buffam · February 28, 2012

As Yoda once said, "Death is a natural part of life." The words of the wise Jedi Master are true. And not only is it natural, but death is inevitable. Since it is a critical and often emotional part of one’s life journey, death plays a huge role in many films. 

Automatically, the term "death scene" conjures up images of blood and gore. While many great death scenes do entail gruesome massacres (think Night of the Living Dead or Pulp Fiction), some of these scenes achieve iconic status without the blood and guts.  Many great death scenes play off the dying character's life and personality – fully completing their character arc through death. Other times, the film's world makes the death have a particularly large impact on audiences (like Sonny's death in the Godfather).

Still, some death scenes give a film and the audience closure (as with the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark), while others take place on such a grand scale that they sear a place the hearts of audiences everywhere [think Saving Private Ryan or King Kong (1933)]. 

Whatever form they come in, the best death scenes are memorable. Below are the Top 10 Best Death Scenes in film. While everyone has their personal favorites, the death scenes on this list have transcended the actual movies themselves and earned a place in movie history all on their own. 

Honorable Mentions:

Bonnie and Clyde (1967): The Death of Bonnie and Clyde

At the time of its release, Bonnie and Clyde was criticized for the extensive amount of violence. The last scene where Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed by gunfire in front of their car had a particularly large impact of audiences.

Dr. Stangelove or: How I Stopped to Stop Worrying Love the Bomb (1964): The Death of Major T.J. "King" Kong 

The black comedy's death scene is truly remarkable. Major T.J. "King" Kong (Slim Pickens) straddles a nuclear bomb, riding like a cowboy until it detonates.

American History X: The Death of a Crip

When he suspects three Crips are trying to steal his truck, white supremacist Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) makes one "bite the curb". It's horrible, gruesome, and unforgettable.

10. Fargo (1996): The Death of Carl Showalter

The Coen Brother’s dark comedy Fargo follows two low-level criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaer Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), as they get involved in a plot to kidnap the wife of a Minnesotan car salesman. The plan goes horribly wrong, resulting in multiple deaths along the way. However, the most infamous death scene comes at the climax of the film. Carl and Gaer begin to argue about splitting the acquired ransom and Gaer settles the matter by attacking Carl from behind with an ax. Meanwhile, Chief of Police Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) spots the criminal’s car outside a cabin while on patrol. She walks through the snow, hearing the loud buzzing of a piece of heavy equipment. The sound grows louder and louder as she approached a man in a plaid coat. She gets closer and sees Gaer is feeding a man (Carl’s leg to be exact) into a wood chipper. Blood spurts out all over the white snow as Gaer realizes the Chief of Police is there for him. He runs, leaving Carl’s white-socked foot vibrating in the chipper. The wood chipper scene is celebrated as one of the most gruesome and disgusting deaths in all of film. Not only has the actual wood chipper from the film been on public display in the city of Fargo, but it even has its own Facebook page (with over 11,000 “likes” to boot).

9. Kill Bill Vol. 2: The Death of Bill

Quentin Tarantino could have his very own “Top 10 Greatest Deaths” list. Between Inglorious Basterds, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Tarantino has death down to an art form. As hard as it is to choose just one death scene from the filmmaker, the death of Bill (David Carradine) stands out as exceptional. In the sequel, The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her quest for vengeance against her ex-boss, Bill. While the death of Bill is not a surprise (the film is called Kill Bill after all), the way in which it is executed isn’t predictable in any form. The Bride enters Bill’s hacienda with caution. There, to her surprise, she finds her daughter alive and well. The Bride puts her daughter to bed. After a long and bloody affair between the two, the actual death is a moment of tenderness (juxtaposed with swordplay, of course). The Bride uses Pai Mei’s fatal pressure point technique. Bill, knowing he will shortly die, makes his peace with her. The Bride and Bill share an affectionate farewell, and Bill walks to his death.

8. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): The Death of Butch and Sundance

Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) embody the virtues of the classic western outlaw: they are bold and absolutely worthy of admiration. In Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the famous robbers flee to Bolivia to escape the law. At the end of the film, a stable boy recognizes them and alerts the local police in San Vicente. An epic gun battle begins, and Butch and Sundance take shelter in an empty house. Low on ammunition, Butch makes a mad dash to their mule to get more while Sundance covers him. Even though Butch was able to get more ammunition, they end up wounded from gun-fire. Over 100 soldiers of the Bolivian cavalry are now surrounding the duo. Realizing their time is up, they discuss what to do next. Butch suggests going to Australia where “… at least they speak English.” Butch and Sundance stand up, deciding to die the only way they know how: fighting. The come out of the house, guns drawn. The film feezes. Slowly the image of Butch and Sundance going with a bang turns to a sephia tone, the sound of hundreds of rifles firing in the background. Epic and daring, we would expect nothing less from the greatest outlaw pair of all time.

7. Alien (1979): The Death of Kane

One word: Chest-burster. It is the most well known scene out of the hit movie Alien. In this famous death scene, crew member Kane (John Hurt) sits at the mess table chowing down on some food. The conversation turns to wistful dialogue about returning home. Kane remarks "The first that I'm gonna do when I get back is to get some decent food." Suddenly, the nice meal goes terribly wrong as his body launches into a violent fit: chocking and shaking. Attempting to calm him, the crew holds him down flat on the table… and then it happens. His chest explodes, splattering blood all over his white shirt. From there, a slimy alien emerges from the hole in his chest. As the alien lets out a howl and slides away, Kane quivers and dies on the table. That’s right. The alien was born through one of the crew members. This scene is one of the most iconic in all of Sci-Fi film. In fact, the chest-burster has been mimicked and parodied in a number of movies and television shows through out the years. 

6. Jaws (1975): The Death of Chrissie Watkins

It is one of the most well known scenes in all of movie history. The opening scene in Jaws takes place on a warm summer night on Amity Island in New England. Chrissie Watkins (Susan Backlinie) and her beau decide to separate themselves from a beach party they are attending. Playfully innocent, the couple runs along the fence posts that line the beach and make their way to the water. Chrissie strips off her clothes and dives into the water. Her boyfriend is drunk, and has trouble getting his clothes off in his intoxicated state. Chrissie, eager for him to take a dip, calls for him to join her. Silence. The only sound is the movement of the water. Chrissie swims out further. The camera angle changes and we see the silhouette of her body from the view of the ocean floor. Back above the water, Chrissie yells for him to join her again. Suddenly, something tugs on Chrissie. There is a split second reaction of confusion, and then Chrissie is tugged again. Suddenly, she is pulled underwater. Chrissie emerges again screaming in terror. She is pulled, left then right, and back again. A final scream, and Chrissie disappears under the water forever. Not only did it set the whole tone of the film, but Chrissie’s death lives on as one of the greatest scenes ever portrayed on film.

5. Thelma and Louise (1991): The Death of Thelma and Louise

Ridley Scott's tale of two heroines became an instant and critical success. In the film, Thelma (Gina Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) decide to run from the law after Louise kills a man trying to rape Thelma. While on the outside, their journey seems to be about evading capture, the famous duo are actually attempting to free themselves from their troubled and mundane lives. It isn't until the end of the film that the famous death scene takes place. Driving in their Thunderbird convertible, Thelma and Louise realize they must make a choice. Behind them is a slew of cops, waiting to take them in for murder. In front of them lies the Grand Canyon. Thelma proposes that they keep on driving, essentially committing suicide. At first Louise does not understand, so Thelma repeats herself. Louise smiles and asks if Thelma is certain, to which Thelma replies "Yes." The pair exchanges a kiss, and grasps each other by the hand. Thelma floors it, catapulting their car into the Grand Canyon. The imagine freezes, car mid-air, capturing the last moment of freedom for Thelma and Louise. 

4. Scarface (1983): The Death of Tony Montana

Known as "Tony's last stand", the death scene from Scarface has earned its place in film history. The scene opens with Tony (Al Pacino) snorting a huge pile of cocaine from his desk. His sister, Gina Montana (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), enters the room dressed only in panties and a purple robe. Heavily drugged, she shouts at Tony, asking him if this is what he wants. She pulls out a gun, intent on retaliation for Tony's role in the assassination of her husband. Suddenly, a man bursts through the balcony and shoots Gina. After tossing the killer off the balcony, Tony realizes that his compound is surrounded by armed men. He decides to go down the way only Tony Montana would: armed with an M-16 and a grenade launcher. He takes his last stand by uttering his famous line,  "OK. You wanna play rough? OK. Say hello to my little friend!" What happens next is a bloody battle. Clearly outnumbered, Tony goes down fighting. He kills an impressive amount of his opponents, but in the end he cannot compete with the numbers. His bullet-ridden body tumbles down the stairs and into his fountain. Appropriately, the fountain reads, "The World is Yours".

3. The Wizard of Oz (1939): The Death of The Wicked Witch of the West

In one of the greatest death scenes of all time, it seems Dorothy (Judy Garland) is trapped with no way out. She, along with the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley) and the Lion (Bert Lahr), are surrounded by The Wicked Witch of the West's (Margaret Hamilton) green-faced soldiers. They close in on the Dorothy and her friends, using their spears as weapons. The Wicked Witch appears, preparing to get rid of each of them in her own special way. First, she chooses the Scarecrow. She screeches, " How about a little fire, Scarecrow?" and lights his arm on fire with the end of her broom. Dorothy grabs a bucket of water nearby and tosses it on him, trying to save his life. However, she inadvertently splashes the horrible Witch. Suddenly, the Wicked Witch lets out a blood-cuddling scream. She yelps, "I'm melting. Melting!" And melt she does, indeed. The Witch is reduced to a puddle. It is an unforgettable scene, lasting over 70 years to become a celebrated death scene in cinema history.  

2. Citizen Kane (1941): The Death of Charles Foster Kane

Not only is it upheld as one of the greatest films of all time, but Citizen Kane claims one of the best opening scenes and consequently, death scenes, of all time. The film by Orson Welles opens with a close up of a man's (Kane's) lips. The man clutches a snow globe desperately in his hand.  Carefully, he murmurs "Rosebud". It turns out that it would be Kane's last word. As he slips into death, his hand relaxes. The snow globe drops, rolls down a few steps and then shatters on the marble floor. Of course, it isn't until the end of the film that the audience recognizes the significance of "Rosebud". Yet, this death scene is one of the most tender and influential of all time. In fact, in 1982 Steven Spielberg bought the "Rosebud Sled" (for over $60,000), saying that he placed it above his typewriter to remind him "that quality in movies comes first."

1. Psycho (1960): The Death of Marion Crane

The shower scene: not only is it the best death scene of all time, but it is highly regarded as one of the best film scenes ever shot period. In Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) checks in to the lonely Bates Motel in attempts to run away from her problems. The owner of the motel, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) peeps at Marion as she undresses for a shower. Once in the shower, we see an anonymous person approach the bathroom. The shower curtain is ripped open. Marion screams as a person yielding a knife stabs her to death, violins, cellos, and violas screeching in the background. As one most well known scenes in cinema history, the shower scene has spawned all sorts of myths and legends. While the rumor that Hitchcock used cold water in the shower to spur an authentic reaction from Leigh is false, the production did use chocolate syrup as blood during filming (it showed up better on black and white film). The sound of the knife entering flesh was indeed a recording of someone stabbing a watermelon. Finally, Hitchock used 77 different camera angles during the 3 minutes and 50 second scene. The combination of close up shots with short durations is a technique Hitchcock explained as, "transferring the menace from the screen into the mind of the audience.” And transfer the menace he did. The shower scene from Psycho still stands as a bone-chilling example of the ultimate death scene.