Movies That Kill Off the Main Character

[J.W.]

Godzilla
Armageddon

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

^
Though personally, I think Bruce Willis's death in Armageddon was merely a plot device to facilitate the crying scene that Ben Affleck does in almost all his movies.

lol lol lol

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The English Patient is another one. But I can understand why he dies.

 

[LizzieMaine]

^
Though personally, I think Bruce Willis's death in Armageddon was merely a plot device to facilitate the crying scene that Ben Affleck does in almost all his movies.

lol lol lol

Affleck dies in all of his movies, even when his character doesn't.

 

[tonyb]

Well, I doubt it! He's stronger than you think.....

You are the first I've known to doubt that the main character meets his end when the screen goes black. So I noodled around the 'net a bit and saw that you aren't alone in that view. Still, the guy who directed the film makes pretty darned clear in this interview ... http://www.film.com/movies/darren-aronofsky-interview-the-wrestler#fbid=uC3yxad1HEV ... that the character croaks.

Here's the pertinent part. "DA" is Darren Aronofsky, the director.



LL: As a director I think it’s fair to say you leave a lot up to audience interpretation. What we make of it is up to us. You’re not into giving answers …

DA: Yeah, it’s important to respect your audience. Audiences are pretty sophisticated and smart. We’ve all seen so many f*%ing movies and we know how they all work out. It’s nice to allow people to talk about things afterwards and not just be hand-fed stuff.

LL: So me and the guy who just interviewed you, Brad Brevet (here’s his interview too if you want more Aronofsky for your dollar) have argued about the ending to The Wrestler. And I don’t know if it’s our worldviews or what… but we have really different takes on what happens at the end.

DA: Yeah, he’s completely wrong. What did you think?

**QUASI SPOILER ALERT START**

LL: I said that he dies in the last scene. He dies jumping off the ropes.

DA: Yeah, if not now, when? That was my answer.

LL: He’s a timebomb.

DA: Yeah, there’s been a few people like that (with Brad’s interpretation). I think they just like him (The Ram) so much. But it’s pretty obvious what’s going on.

LL: And he’s dies doing what he loves … he dies happy.

DA: Yeah.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I don't have any new examples of movies where the hero dies during the movie, especially at the end. I will note that killing the hero off at some point DOES have the attraction of driving a stake through the heart of the Endless Sequel. Rambo was good, Rambo II was pretty good, ... Not to pick on Stallone, but Rocky was good, Rocky II was good, but I'm concerned about a 75 year old Stallone wearing those patriotic boxing shorts.

This is one good thing about the Duke, the sequels made sense, and ended quickly.

Later

 

[MisterCairo]

Fair enough, but the film in fact ends with a fade to black as he jumps off the ropes. Whatever the director's intent, the audience is left in literal doubt, and therefore able to draw their own conclusions.

I conclude he lives happily ever after with Marisa Tomei!

You are the first I've known to doubt that the main character meets his end when the screen goes black. So I noodled around the 'net a bit and saw that you aren't alone in that view. Still, the guy who directed the film makes pretty darned clear in this interview ... http://www.film.com/movies/darren-aronofsky-interview-the-wrestler#fbid=uC3yxad1HEV ... that the character croaks.

Here's the pertinent part. "DA" is Darren Aronofsky, the director.



LL: As a director I think it’s fair to say you leave a lot up to audience interpretation. What we make of it is up to us. You’re not into giving answers …

DA: Yeah, it’s important to respect your audience. Audiences are pretty sophisticated and smart. We’ve all seen so many f*%ing movies and we know how they all work out. It’s nice to allow people to talk about things afterwards and not just be hand-fed stuff.

LL: So me and the guy who just interviewed you, Brad Brevet (here’s his interview too if you want more Aronofsky for your dollar) have argued about the ending to The Wrestler. And I don’t know if it’s our worldviews or what… but we have really different takes on what happens at the end.

DA: Yeah, he’s completely wrong. What did you think?

**QUASI SPOILER ALERT START**

LL: I said that he dies in the last scene. He dies jumping off the ropes.

DA: Yeah, if not now, when? That was my answer.

LL: He’s a timebomb.

DA: Yeah, there’s been a few people like that (with Brad’s interpretation). I think they just like him (The Ram) so much. But it’s pretty obvious what’s going on.

LL: And he’s dies doing what he loves … he dies happy.

DA: Yeah.

 

[tonyb]

Not to project too much, but I suspect that many a viewer could think of much sadder endings than riding off into the sunset with Marisa Tomei.

 

[John in Covina]

The latest one I can think of is I Am Legend.

The Last Man on Earth and The Omega Man are the same story and have the main guy die.

 

[John in Covina]

One of my favs is Friedin's "To Live and Die in L.A." Richard Chance played by William Petersen gets blown away. When I saw it I had no idea this would happen and it shocked the heck out of me.

 

[rue]

She isn't the main character.

Just saying.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Hi

I don't have any new examples of movies where the hero dies during the movie, especially at the end. I will note that killing the hero off at some point DOES have the attraction of driving a stake through the heart of the Endless Sequel. Rambo was good, Rambo II was pretty good, ... Not to pick on Stallone, but Rocky was good, Rocky II was good, but I'm concerned about a 75 year old Stallone wearing those patriotic boxing shorts.

This is one good thing about the Duke, the sequels made sense, and ended quickly.

Later

I don't know about that, look at Bobby from the TV show Dallas... or am I just dreaming?

 

[W-D Forties]

Gladiator.

I personally like it when the main character dies as it shows the writer or director has guts, LA Confidential is a great example. Like Edward I always feel cheated when they tack an artificial 'happy' ending on.

Atonement makes me howl for day, however. My husband hates it when I watch that so I usually indulge in a sob-fest with a bottle of wine for company when he's out!

 

[LizzieMaine]

"Pride of the Yankees." Still a heartbreaker, even though you know going in that it's coming.

 

[MisterCairo]

Well, that's saved me the cost of a rental!

Gladiator.

I personally like it when the main character dies as it shows the writer or director has guts, LA Confidential is a great example. Like Edward I always feel cheated when they tack an artificial 'happy' ending on.

Atonement makes me howl for day, however. My husband hates it when I watch that so I usually indulge in a sob-fest with a bottle of wine for company when he's out!

 

[DNO]

"Pride of the Yankees." Still a heartbreaker, even though you know going in that it's coming.

But if memory serves, the main character doesn't die in the film. Doesn't it end with his wonderful farewell speech? (Have the DVD around here somewhere...time to watch it again!)

 

[1961MJS]

I don't know about that, look at Bobby from the TV show Dallas... or am I just dreaming?

Usually, I would say I hate that whole concept, BUTTTTTTT they can do it with 2.5 men anytime they want to. Not a movie, so a little off topic. I had managed to keep Dallas forgotten for a long time too. Back in that time, I lived next door to a really nice looking girl who stayed home on Friday nights so she could watch Dynasty and Dallas. Heck, if she would have gone to Happy hour with us, she could have LIVED it, well, junior version anyway. We had a rich guy who fooled around, etc. Oh well.

LaterLater

 

[LizzieMaine]

But if memory serves, the main character doesn't die in the film. Doesn't it end with his wonderful farewell speech? (Have the DVD around here somewhere...time to watch it again!)

You're right at that. I think, in fact, he actually died while the movie was in production. No doubt the Hollywood publicists were in the grip of mixed emotions.

 

[Formeruser012523]

Gladiator.

I personally like it when the main character dies as it shows the writer or director has guts, LA Confidential is a great example. Like Edward I always feel cheated when they tack an artificial 'happy' ending on.

Atonement makes me howl for day, however. My husband hates it when I watch that so I usually indulge in a sob-fest with a bottle of wine for company when he's out!

I didn't like the end of Gladiator, at first...then as I later thought about the story, it couldn't end any other way without leaving the audience feeling jipped. [huh]

Atonement? Ugh! I only saw the ending & was kinda glad about it. :laugh:

I don't know about that, look at Bobby from the TV show Dallas... or am I just dreaming?

:rofl:

I remember that as a kid & thinking it was stupid then. lol

What about Moulin Rouge?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

LIFE OF BRIAN!

nuff said.