101 Movie Deaths to Inspire How to Kill Your Characters

When it comes to writing a great story, conflict is everything. There is no more compelling and engaging plot device than killing off a major protagonist or supporting character to create much-needed conflict in a script.

With that in mind, we’re here to introduce 101 ways for movie characters to die to inspire your next big death scene in your script.

101 Ways to Kill a Movie Character

1. The characters drive off a cliff while being chased by the authorities.
2. One character intercepts an incoming missile, saving thousands of lives.
3. The heroes turn into zombies, and their friends look on sadly.
4. Beloved pet euthanized by owner.
5. A character is stabbed to death in the shower.
6. A mother is killed as her children watch.
7. A character dies on his death bed, kicking off the story.
8. An alien bursts out of the character’s body as their friends watch in horror.
9. A monster falls to its death after being tortured by mistake.
10. When the power/life force of an artificial intelligence is shut down, it slowly speaks its last words.
11. A father looks into his child’s eyes with regret after years of living on the dark side of life.
12. An innocent man died in the electric chair.
13. An ocean hunter was eaten alive by the sea creature they were hunting.
14. The characters play Russian roulette with each other until one of them dies.
15. One character goes out with a gun.
16. Both protagonists go out with guns.
17. A previously strong and powerful man died of old age while playing with his grandson.
18. A character is killed unfairly by the police.
19. One character freezes to death during a winter storm.
20. An innocent character is forced to participate in a violent death game and die a tragic death.
21. A character dies peacefully but tragically in a hospital bed.
22. When a character dies, their soul is carried by angels into the afterlife.
23. Soldiers fight side by side in an epic battle.
24. A character is shot by a mugger while their significant other holds them in tears.
25. A character gets stuck in a garage dog door and is crushed to death.
26. A beloved character dies multiple times in a succession of dramatic fashions.
27. A character is stung by a bee in the woods.
28. A character jumps off a cliff to their death, but they somehow survive.
29. Artificial intelligence kills its creator.
30. One character is pinned to a wall by the killer’s knife.
31. A character is shot dead in an alley by a gangster.
32. Long-time lovers died together in the hospital, holding hands.
33. Someone sacrifices themselves so that others can survive.
34. One character is waving goodbye when he is suddenly hit by a car.
35. After another character says goodbye to them and walks away, one character is suddenly hit by a car.
36. One character is defibrillating a victim, only for their body to transform into an alien hybrid, killing them.
37. A dying character learns that the loved one who gave up life to be with them despite knowing they would eventually die, committed suicide in an accident.
38. The characters allow the demon to take them instead of the child.
39. A beloved character is accidentally killed by someone they thought was good.
40. One character creates an explosive vest to save others from imminent harm.
41. A character freezes in icy water and is let go by their loved ones.
42. A theater full of bad guys is on fire.
43. A room full of bad guys has been destroyed by a hidden bomb.
44. A reporter chasing an ambulance kills for the story.
45. A character puts a grenade into a bad guy’s pants.
46. The gangster was beaten to death by other gangsters in the cornfield.
47. The old man has lost his significant other and must face the pain of loss.
48. A character cries out in defiance as he is beheaded.
49. When characters die at the hands of their pursuers, they atone for their sins.
50. A character is impaled on a broken branch.
51. When a character dies quietly, a shocking truth is revealed.
52. One character suddenly suffers a heart attack during combat, and the attackers try to save them.
53. A character drinks from the wrong cup and dies tragically.
54. A character dies in another’s arms without understanding what went wrong.
55. A beloved leader is betrayed and killed by his own kin.
56. A character is told they died in an accident, but we see they actually died a violent and wrongful death.
57. A character is murdered in their apartment in what appears to be a murder attempt.
58. A gangster was tricked into thinking he was becoming a certified mafia man, only to be beaten instead.
59. A beloved character sacrifices himself to save others on the ship.
60. Hunters appreciate the hunting methods of their prey before they kill it.
61. A martial arts master kills another man using ancient techniques.
62. A father sacrifices himself to save his children by reminding himself of the existential threat.
63. One character takes a loved one off life support through euthanasia.
64. When a box is opened, the character’s loved ones are dead.
65. The hero is mortally wounded before his final showdown with the villain, but in order to kill the villain before they die.
66. One character dies a slow, tragic death from multiple arrows.
67. A man trying to help a character in need is suddenly killed by a villain.
68. A man who wanted to help a character in need was suddenly killed by that character.
69. A boxer dies after a brutal fight.
70. Two characters watch as their planet explodes, killing them.
71. One character is eaten by a beast in a car.
72. The character attempts to deactivate the bomb, but fails to do so in time.
73. One character fakes his own death, leading to shocking revelations.
74. Someone was killed by a sniper.
75. The witch died after being splashed with water.
76. A tutor lets threats knock him down in order to save his students.
77. A character is killed by a wild beast while going to the toilet.
78. Someone died from a ricochet from their own gun.
79. Someone survives a night of zombie attacks until they are killed by someone they think is a zombie.
80. A soldier thought to have been killed in battle breaks out of the jungle and is hunted by the enemy in front of his comrades.
81. Just as they are about to kill off the main character, a character is suddenly killed by a predator in the woods.
82. A character falls to his death from an elevator shaft.
83. The bad guys will be melted to death by divine intervention.
84. A character hangs outside an open elevator, but his arm is severed as he passes to the next level.
85. A pipe bomb is inserted into the robot’s exoskeleton.
86. One character eats himself to death.
87. Characters drown because they are forced to hold their breath for too long.
88. In retaliation, a gangster was shot dead in the street.
89. As punishment, the hero’s other half is killed.
90. A nanny was killed while caring for a baby.
91. A character is swept away by a tornado.
92. An astronaut’s spacesuit malfunctions in space.
93. One character is burned to ashes in the explosion.
94. Someone kills a character with a pencil through the eye.
95. Someone kills a character with an icicle.
96. The character is pushed into the propeller and dies.
97. One character dies after being sucked into a jet engine.
98. A deadly virus is injected into someone’s bloodstream.
99. A large rock fell from above and crushed a man.
100. Characters are crushed by a steamroller.
101. The villain falls from a building after losing control of a character in distress.

Read more: Why you should try writing horror

“Terrorists 2” (2022)

Why it’s important to kill your characters

Character death can also serve as an effective story and character arc resolution:

• You might want that villain to get the comeuppance they deserve.
• You might want the cathartic moment to make the audience cry, to have them walk out of the theater feeling powerfully affected by the character’s death.
• You might want a funny “death” that makes the audience laugh in shock.

Read more: 10 reasons to consider killing off your main character

No matter what genre framework you’re writing within, the death of a memorable movie character can do wonders for your screenplay.

This list represents valid types of movie deaths, you can:

• Shape into something new.
• Pay tribute or replicate in different story and location settings.
• Mix and match to create original hybrids.

Or you can use them as writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

If you want to make your list more interesting, see if you can match the types of movie character deaths to the original movies that used them.

Want more other types of ideas? Check out our other story prompts!

Ken Miyamoto worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

As a production writer, he participated in numerous studio meetings with companies such as Sony, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, Disney, Warner Bros., and numerous production and management companies. He previously signed a development deal with Lionsgate and has had numerous writing assignments, including starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haley ·The miniseries “Blackout” starring Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric LaSalle and Bruce Bucklina. Follow Ken on Twitter @ken电影