WGTC Weekly Throwdown: Saddest Cinematic Deaths

 WGTC Weekly Throwdown: Saddest Cinematic Deaths

Arguments – they’re part of life. We’re all competitive beasts, never wanting to admit fault or defeat, and will go to great lengths when defending our honor when challenged or threatened. Arguments have started wars, shattered relationships, broken families, declared victors, but have also awarded respect. A win will always be a win, but longstanding respect and admitted defeat are far greater trophies than another tally mark on a record sheet somewhere. That’s where our story begins for this group of alcohol swigging, loud mouthed master-debaters (had to make that joke once, c’mon!), connected by our love of whiskey, which is only overpowered by our love for all things pop culture – cinema, music, television, gaming, you name it. Inebriation and verbal assaulting, how could this go wrong?!

Needless to say, all we do now is argue about pop culture and hot topics of the day. Despite sounding like the grunts and groans of a pack of psychopaths, we decided to translate our debates into a readable affair. This means that every few weeks or so, we will be posting our thoughts on upcoming releases and pop culture in general. Since agreeing is for peace-loving hippies, our arguments will be broken up into two sides, and the winner is decided by the readers. Yes, our fates are in your hands!

Before we begin though, allow us to introduce ourselves.

Christian: A nearly retired cop with nothing left to lose, Christian turned to bath salts and cat urine to deal with losing three wives and up to seven stepchildren (they were gingers though, does that even count?). Although it is true that he is extremely opinionated, Christian only pushes his opinions on those he loves most (especially you, dear reader). Famous for his last stand at the Alamo and ability to produce children with a single look, this is a man who should by no means be considered harmless. Aside from devilish good looks and cologne that doesn’t come in an aluminum can, his knowledge of everything pop-culture will leave wives crying for divorce and daughters breaking the locks their fathers rightfully installed on their chastity belts. Debating isn’t exactly his strong suit, but he did once defeat a whole debate team using only the power of a flamethrower, so maybe that counts.

Gem:  Gem has lived the secluded life of an academic, dedicated to a better understanding of critical analysis. Emerging from five years struggling to insert page numbers into Word, Gem indulged in the world of film to satiate her creative side – from which burst the need to obliterate those who do not agree with her inane, profane ranting. Her most critically acclaimed debate was executed at this year’s Comic Con when she swayed a crowd of riotous nerds into agreeing that yes, a coat rack could defeat Wolverine. The opposition doesn’t stand a chance.

Nato: Traveling back in time from a dystopian universe where pop culture debates are a game of life and death, Nato (formerly Natobombious Kick-Assious) continues to extend his unbeaten streak against the competition he now sees in three (barely) functioning alcoholics who devour useless entertainment factoids like the bottles of Jack taped to their hands. Matt can make a case for anything, but enjoys the new challenge of debate through writing, disabling his hypnotically enchanting “hair-flip” closing visual, typically bringing competition to their knees with one swiftly punctuated “swoosh.” Who needs a closing argument when you have great hair? You’re about to witness the great lengths he’s willing to go and mighty stretches he’s willing to make, abandoning all notions of self-respect just to deliver the most convincing arguments conceivable. A pop-culture chameleon, Nato can do it all. We promise we’ll do our best to contain him, but it might be too late already…

Alex: Formed from the recovered DNA of Stephen A. Douglas, Ben Franklin, and Socrates, Alex is an unstoppable force in an argument. Basically every epic speech in every courtroom movie/TV show ever was copied verbatim from arguments Alex has made. If the world listened to his points on abortion, gay marriage, or America’s healthcare system, all people would finally be in agreement. But why waste his talents on such minutia? It’s the world of the media that sparks the fiercest debates, and thus his fiercest opinions. But just because he’s such an eloquent debater in person doesn’t mean that doesn’t translate into his writing. Some argue the pen is mightier than the sword. Well Alex doesn’t write with a pen, he uses a sword to slice paper into the words that crush those who disagree. Whoever opposes him ought to fear for not only their dignity, but their safety as well.

Today’s Argument: Which On-Screen Death Do You Consider The Saddest?

With the glorious re-release of Top Gun in 3D this weekend, my fellow Throwdown team and I decided to get a little somber and honor those film characters lost all too soon. Be it from war, disease, dinosaurs, or evil brothers, there are a handful of cinematic deaths that deserve so much more recognition than others. Sure, every death is technically sad, but not every one is done right. These are the deaths we’ve all deemed tear worthy, but of course we still can’t agree – it’s up to you to decide which one of us has picked the pinnacle of saddening cinema. This one’s for you Goose, my sweet, sweet angel.

Next
Hot Stories From Around The Web
  • http://www.facebook.com/kserenyi Kenneth Serenyi

    Even sadder than having to watch “My Girl” as a kid (hey Anna Chlumsky was a cutie) was Macaulay Culkin’s character’s death.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kserenyi Kenneth Serenyi

    Even though I knew Spock would come back later, Spock’s death scene in Star Trek II is still so moving and well acted, it deserves to be on the list.

  • The Deleted

    Optimus Prime! That s all I can say…

  • vangpo

    Animated deaths? GTFO of here with that. Little kids cry over cartoon deaths. I’ll go with Red Stovall (Clint Eastwood) in HonkyTonk Man, or Hooch in Turner and Hooch.

  • Darkstar

    Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby…choked up just writing that!

  • http://www.facebook.com/scasey Samuel J Casey

    Back with I was a kid, I gotta go with both Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers: The Movie’ (1986), and Atreyu’s horse Artax in ‘The Neverending Story’.

    • John “Ratty” Arbuckle

      Great choices! Unlike the ones by the authors of the article. Mufasa’s death is quickly passed over, Land Before Time AND Lion King have the “dead” character reappear as a ghost (lessening the “gone forever” theme), Steel Magnolias…well…I’m not a woman so I’ve never seen that one…..Top Gun? Get real, I laughed at that. Randy Quaid’s death in ID4 had more impact that Goose dying in Top Gun. As for Saving Private Ryan? I f*cking hate that awful movie. Almost as terrible as Forrest Gump, which also stars the insufferable Tom Hanks.

      • Junk Horder

        steel magnolias- read my comment i just left, then grab a copy & watch it. you wont burst into tears, but you will not regret having seen it.

  • blubba

    I saw it once when I was about 10.
    Captain Courageous. When spencer Tracy is teaching alittle rich brat how to behave properly.

    Later in the film Spencer Tracy’ character is lost during an accident, not before giving some sage advice, both my dad and myself were fighting for the hankies. I still remember it vividly 20+ years later.

  • Aaron

    What about Obi Wan Kenobi?! This guy needs to watch more movies.

  • http://www.facebook.com/andythewys Andy Estes

    Let me first commend you all for voicing compelling and poingnant arguements to support your opinions. Opinions which, sadly, are so very wrong that the grief they evoke can ONLY be rivaled by the SaddestMmovie Death of all Time. (Take note:Its always valid-er when you capitalize) Think of every dream help dear by the oppressed peoples of the world and roll them into one brief Hollywood Moment. Of course I speak of the death of the Russian XO aboard Red October. Sam Neil, who simply wanted an RV and a fat American wife. “I should have liked to see Monatana….”

    • http://www.facebook.com/andythewys Andy Estes

      Exscuse the typos…my tears have blinded me…

    • http://www.facebook.com/michael.cooney.1650 Michael Cooney

      Yes very sad

  • http://twitter.com/jujuthefirst Julie Gordon

    I’m old. Ol’ Yeller. If you do not weep at a boy forced to kill his own dog, you have no soul.

    • http://www.facebook.com/jallwood1 Joe Allwood

      Oh, without a doubt…I’m puddling up just thinking about that one.

  • tainted lunch

    Optimus Prime and the little sister from Grave of the Fireflies.

    • Morgan

      Oh, god, Grave of the Fireflies itself is just a completely heart-wrenching movie. One of the saddest movies I have ever seen.

  • http://twitter.com/NicoCuevas Nico Cuevas

    Giovanni Ribisi’s death in Saving Private Ryan, was much more tragic than Tom Hanks.

  • neoanakinpotter

    The 3 most saddest cinematic deaths that never fail to make me cry…

    #3: Joe Pesci @ the end of “With Honors”.

    #2: the last 5 minutes of “Ghost”. Even more tragic/touching now after Patrick Swayze passed away back in 2009.

    #1: John Coffey @ the end of “The Green Mile”.

    • Alex Lowe

      After Watching Lethal Weapon 3 and 4 about 100 times, I can never do anything except root for Joe Pesci to die.

  • SamIam

    The Animated Feature: Grave Of The Fireflies – The Brother & Sister, Old Yeller for childhood and recently Saving Private Ryan’s – Captain tied with
    the Last Samurai’s – Katsumoto

  • Clark

    1. Jenny in Forrest Gump (gravestone scene)

    2. John Coffey in The Green Mile

    3. Bambi’s mom in Bambi

    4.Ellie in Disneys Up

    • DeltaJuliet

      All four of these, yes, but especially #4. I still leave the room to “do dishes” or “get a drink” whenever that scene comes on. My heart can’t take it.

  • angela

    The saddest death to me was of John Wayne’s character in “The Cowboys”. His character was a magnificent man with principles and courage. It was so sad to see him die at the hands of a man who was who wasn’t good enough to kiss his feet. His death at the hands of such a man was so hard to take and it broke my heart.

  • nick_jones55

    Slim Pickens in “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”, with Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” on the soundtrack

  • IminyJo

    I’m a crier so all the films listed and more have produced water works. And I don’t know if this will be considered a flippant or insensitive or somehow inappropriate answer because it’s a dramatization of real events but the little girl in the red coat in Schindler’s List is my absolute undoing. At the end, when Schindler thinks how many more people he could have saved for the cost of his watch, etc. I am absolutely destroyed. I watched it for the first time in college with my roommate and I was completely inconsolable for hours. I haven’t, can’t watch it again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jallwood1 Joe Allwood

    Saddest for me is Augustus McCrae in “Lonesome Dove”. It’s unexpected…you think he HAS to pull throught…it’s Gus, after all…then he doesn’t and it’s just…empty.

  • Cat

    There are soooo many here that I fully agree with, but I have to throw down Wash in Serenity. That was rough.

  • alex

    akilles from the movie troy

  • alex

    rue from hunger games

  • alex

    hector in troy

  • Evan Bolick

    This is really no contest. The absolute saddest movie death is Littlefoot’s mother. COmbined with the epic score, it is truly a heartbreaking loss, made all the worse that they actually spent some time developing the mom before she died heroically. I bawl then, and again when Littlefoot gives up hope before following his mother’s shadow to the Great Valley. I also weep knowing how awfully this film has been butchered by sequels.

  • lavalampryanman

    Um, Dobby? (Harry Potter 7)

  • Jack

    Guido? Life is beautiful.

  • Me

    Jack in Titanic… look I was a young girl obsessed with Leo Dicaprio… I cried for days it seemed like. “JUST MOVE OVER YOU SELFISH COW!!!” lol…

  • JW

    I don’t know why, but when Ken Wananabe dies in the Last Samurai I get teared up, should’ve gotten best supporting actor for that movie

  • Kardoushian

    How About In Frosty The Snow Man… When Frosty Melts At The End Of Winter? Biggest Tear Jerker Ever For Little Kids!

  • jess21013

    Ellie in “Up” was truly sad, but thankfully my heart couldn’t feel like it did before I saw “I Am Legend” and actually wept over the death of a dog.

    • http://www.facebook.com/cat.war Cat War

      omg that dog is the saddest death in a film ever because it leaves poor will smith completely alone and signifies the loss of the last piece of his old life – i totally cried like a baby!

    • http://www.facebook.com/tammy.ward.7355 Tammy Ward

      I cried like a baby in “I Am Legend”. It was bad enough that the dog, the only friend in this sad man’s life, but that he had to kill him. It was terrible. Worse than “Old Yeller”

  • handsome

    How weird. The saddest death is the one you don’t see: Lou Gehrig, “Pride of the Yankees.”

  • Cheryl Loudd

    Oh my GOD when Mufasa dies! And Bambi’s mother. I still cry buckets. What is it about me and animated animal films?

  • http://www.facebook.com/Seano123 Sean Ramsay-Moore

    When I was a kid, the most tragic death that always had me in tears was the otter’s from “Ring Of Bright Water” – haven’t seen it in years (probably too traumatised!). John Coffey’s from The Green Mile is right up there as well!

  • http://www.facebook.com/lisa.lockerumbolt Lisa Locke-Rumbolt

    My Dog Skip

  • http://www.facebook.com/cat.war Cat War

    Leon in Leon – it’s the line “this is for Mathilda” and the beautiful camera work that makes all the more heart breaking.

  • http://twitter.com/ASAP_Tipton Tipton

    My top 3:
    1. Hector in Troy… That was just absolutely unfair… His wife and father had to watch
    2. The dog in I Am Legend… It didnt just die… it was gonn turn into a zombie… And Will Smit had to strangle it! *bursts into tears*
    3. Jack in Titanic: The background music made it even harder to swallow. I kept hopin that when the boast came back they would maybe find him or something… too sad

  • elimgarak01

    I cried like a baby at the end of Terminator 2….that scene….oh,my God…

    T-800: “I now know why you cry, but it is something I can never do.” As he touches John Connor’s face…

    And when he’s lowered into the molten iron…His thumbs up the very last thing you see…

    Goodness that was an emotional moment for me,silly as it sounds.

  • shockhoss

    just thinking about Meg Ryan’s character in “City of Angels” and how it left Nicholas Cage

  • Kevin Rubio

    You know guys, movies existed before 1982. You really need to broaden your knowledge of film.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Canor63 Claudia Nordling

    Alfredo in “CInema Paradiso” Hands down. I dare you to watch the ‘clips’ scene and watch the grown up Toto crying and not bawl your eyes out.

  • Junk Horder

    “At Shelby’s graveside, the women gather to comfort M’Lynn. If you can watch this scene without unleashing torrents of tears than you may have contracted something (like a parasite) or possibly sold your soul to the devil”

    Or you’re a dude.

    dont get me wrong, its a great movie and ive even gotten some of my friends to watch it with the argument of “yeah.. its a chick flick, but dude… its actually really freakin good!” (which works to get guys to watch the joy luck club also… which kinda sorta relates to the list here).
    this scene requires a bucket to catch the flood and a mop to clean up the tears that missed the bucket from girls, and every guy i know thats watched it just says “that was pretty harsh” (or some variant)

  • nanoen

    really, no reference to Moulin Rouge! One of the most dramatic and heartfelt movies in the history of film. Satine’s death makes me cry everytime. You guys are idiots.

    • Alex Lowe

      Moulin Rouge is horribly sad. I cry every time. Kidman is incredible, but I still stand by Mufasa being way sadder. As sad as a lost love is, a child left without his father, and thinking he’s to blame, is absolutely heartbreaking

  • Payno

    Marley and me. Enough said.

  • Jamklein

    What about Ole Yeller and Bambi’s mother.

  • Jamklein

    What about Ole Yeller and Bambi’s mom?

  • Jared

    Old dan and little Ann in where the red fern grows

  • eddiemoney

    Quentin Tarantino’s character in “Django.”

  • Tayo

    Bambi has to be the winner after Bruce in Armageddon .. so freaking sad … yeah and when smith died in The Matrix .. I was like :’(

  • Rodders

    What? Noone has mentioned Watership Down? One of the few films I cried at as a kid. That ending haunted me for days!

  • dukecal

    What a pretty poor list there are loads more worthy like R.P McMurphy in One Flew over the cockoo’s Nest or even Frank Sinatra running for the train in Von Ryan’s Express but the greatest for me is Dennis Hopper in True Romance when Christopher Walken shoots him after he says “if that’s a fact tell me I am lying because you are part eggplant” classic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/gracie.szentmariay Gracie Szentmariay

    The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I bawled like a baby.

  • hippyherb

    Wash from the movie Serenity.

  • Colcum

    The snowman in ‘The Snowman’ … maybe that’s a UK?Ireland thing, Hmm.

  • BirdSong

    1) The Wrath Of Kahn
    2) King Kong

  • S.F.Thunder72

    Come on….what about the shooting death of Cornbread….from Cornbread, Earl and me….that starred an up and coming guy by the name of Laurence FIshburne.

  • S.F.Thunder72

    what about Shane?…….was he dead or injured while he rode off into the sunset…either way it was beautiful.

  • S.F.Thunder72

    Sean Connery as King Arthur in First knight….gave his life for his Kingdom…his Kingdom…not his Whore queen….it doesnt get any better than that…

  • Someone

    Dally in the Outsiders. When TwoBit yells “he’s just a kid” but they shoot him anyways always makes me cry even more than when Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay gold right before he dies.o

  • Mo Fro

    Boromir LOTR brilliant and soooooooo sad

    • Jeff Simon

      I always disliked the character of Boromir in the books. Sean Bean did such an awesome job or humanizing and redeeming that character I can’t express my admiratioon enough.

  • Jack the Ripper

    Very surprised that “Braveheart’s” William Wallace (Mel Gibson) or “Gladiator’s” Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) have not been mentioned, not even though of for the list. Both guy flicks leaves a heavy heart in the chests of all adult men that workout at the gym like fiends. Even the the themes in the movie are excellent for relation to the viewers: loyalty, honor, betrayal, consequence, love, death, and revenge! A top 10 list needs to be created!

  • Jordan

    Saddest (sort of) death from my childhood was from the first pokemon movie, when Ash was turned to stone and pikachu was trying so hard to revive him.

  • nick

    I cry like a little bitch at the end of Man on Fire everytime. Creasy is the embodiment of passion.

    • Jeff Simon

      Yeah. Creasy is tough to take. Dakota Fanning loves him so much. That soundtrack doesn’t make it any easier.

  • Gavlar

    Interesting choices, but taking death and sadness into context, the death of David (Kiefer Sutherland) is pretty tragic and sad. Through out most of the film, he is a charismatic, rebellious, sadistic and violent killer. He has no compunction to using his vampirism to reach his goals. However after the battle with Michael, David is staked through the heart, and unlike some vampire films were vampires turn to goo or ash, David reverted back to his human self.
    Michael looks relieved at David’s death but one can speculate that there was a moment of horror that really what he had done was killed an innocent who was cursed by another. Very few films show such loss of innocence like Lost boys, and that’s why it will always be in my all time favourite movie list.

  • Draya

    Sissy Spacek in ‘Night Mother

    Micheal Keaton in My Life

    Mary Louis Parker in Fried Green Tomatoes & Boys on the Side

    Dobby in Harry Potter

    Clark Greg in The Avengers

  • http://twitter.com/VognG Vogn Gee

    Mel Gibson’s death in Braveheart n, that firefly character in Princess and the frog…#sad… bt thr r probably many moments a feel like cryin whn a character dies

  • http://www.facebook.com/danielle.whitakerowens Danielle Whitaker Owens

    Bruce Wilils in Armageddon. Jack in Titanic. John Coffee in the Green Mile. “The Boy In The Striped Pajamas” was a great movie which I’m sure a lot of people haven’t seen.

    • mike

      I cheered when Jack sunk in Titanic. I hated that character even more than the actor playing him.

  • Old film fan

    Ryan in Von Ryan’s Express – you always think he’s going to make it, but he never does.

  • theMan

    Cartoons? Did your mom make you include Steele Magnolias? Here are 4 off the top of my head. You need to age a bit and watch more movies:

    1) at least you included pvt ryan…most were very sad deaths
    2) Million Dollar Baby is sadder than anything listed, yes even Pvt Ryan.
    3) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
    4) Blade Runner
    5 Forest Gump

  • chris

    braveheart..anyone?

  • http://www.facebook.com/steve.slater.100 Steve Slater

    ‘Rizzo’ from ‘Midnight Cowboy’…John Coffey in’Green Mile’…….John Merrick in ‘The Elephant Man’. ..John Merrick especially as it was based on a true story…

  • Vomit Tears Smith

    I’m sorry, but vomiting out of sadness over any film or source of fiction is just plain pathetic. I understand being “in the moment” and tearing up… but vomiting?

  • Louise

    Satine – Moulin Rouge
    Marley – Marley and Me
    Snape – HP DH 2
    and also dobby in DH1
    Ellie – Up

    Maggie – Million Dollar Baby

    Walt – Gran Torino
    Jean ValJean – Les Mis!!!!

  • tesstan1

    Does anyone remember Always? Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and John Goodman? About pilots who put out forest fires. John Goodman’s reaction when (no spoilers here) the EVENT happened while they were flying. He definitely should have received an Oscar!!! I get tears thinking about it.

  • Jen

    Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. I never need to watch that one again. PS: I’m from Wisconsin ;-)

  • K

    Mufasa wins. Also, Bruce Willis in Armageddon.

  • Elvis

    WHAT ABOUT DOBBY

  • http://twitter.com/DeionPartyboy97 Deion G.

    I cried as a child when I saw these movies but I don’t cry now, there is only one movie that will still make me cry though, the pacifier, I saw it around the time my mom and dad got a divorce, so I related to the movie.

  • Antonio Leggieri

    The cartoon shoe in Who framed Roger Rabbit is the worst of the worst.

  • wiessej

    I think people should watch the movie “The Cure” and see if they don’t cry at the end when Dexter dies. I mean SERIOUSLY!!