This article contains spoilers for several of 2024’s biggest movesAs with any year, there’s been a wide variety of movies in 2024 that left a huge impact on audiences. Whether these were big-screen blockbusters or low-budget dramas, the year has been filled with interesting movies that have left their mark - and one of the biggest ways to leave an impression on the audience is by killing off a beloved character. Deaths are a major part of any story, and often the moments that are remembered long after the credits roll. Themost heartbreaking movie deathsare the ones that viewers never see coming, and 2024 had plenty of those.
However,a well-executed movie death isn’t just one that shocks and upsets the audience- it’s also got to have a very specific purpose that makes the film better through its inclusion. Evenmovie villain deaths can be great, and sometimes sad, if they’re carried out with enough empathy and purpose. 2024 had several movies that accomplished this feat, killing off their most complex and polarizing characters in ways that constantly surprised the audience and subverted expectations.
10Skye Riley (Smile 2)
Played By Naomi Scott
Although Skye Riley’s death inSmile 2’s ending scenewas more frightening than emotional, it’s still an incredibly sad scene because of how much trauma and stress the character went through in the film - all for nothing.The use of practical effects in this final scene is amazing,and Parker Finn’s direction does a great job of showing the audiencejustenough without turning her death into a needless spectacle.
9Sister Barnes (Heretic)
Played By Sophie Thatcher
Hugh Grant is undeniably the star of the show inHeretic, but the two lead performances from Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East also deserve recognition for their ability to create such sympathy and empathy for their characters. The audience really comes to care about them as they’re put through numerous torturous trials, which is why Barnes’ sudden death comes as such a depressing surprise. It’s the clear turning point of the film, and her character’s absence is really felt afterward.
8Arthur Fleck (Joker: Folie a Deux)
Played By Joaquin Phoenix
Arthur Fleck’s death at the end ofJoker: Folie à Deuxwas extremely unexpected, and while the character was objectively a bad person, there’s still some sympathy to be felt that his death came as a result of him trying to repent for his crimes.It’s a striking statement from director Todd Phillips about the cyclical nature of evil, ending his film on a sour note that intentionally leaves audiences dissatisfied.
7Lucilla (Gladiator 2)
Played By Connie Nielsen
AlthoughLucilla didn’t play a huge role inGladiator 2, the character is still a major part of this series, andher death in the sequel’s closing moments was a crushing scene. She was among the only figures who was consistently willing to put her life on the line in order to achieve her father’s vision of Rome as a functioning democracy, and the fact that she had to die before seeing this dream come to fruition is a tragic ending to her arc.
6Kay (Alien: Romulus)
Played By Isabela Merced
Kay is one ofAlien: Romulus’ most relatable and likable characters, which is why her death in the film’s final act is so upsetting. The film almost tricks the audience into thinking the conflict is over, defeating the first wave of aliens that they’ve been battling against for the majority of the story, before abruptly killing Kay and introducing an even more dangerous foe for the remaining characters.It’s a shocking moment that really subverts expectations, and while the audience isn’t granted much time to grieve, Kay’s death is still a sad one.
5Gerald (Blitz)
Played By Paul Weller
Steve McQueen’sBlitzis one of themost emotional movies of 2024, but the scene that really made audiences cry the most was right at the end, when young George returns home to find that his grandfather has died following a Nazi air strike. This impactful death seems to come from nowhere, but that’s exactly why it’s so powerful - it proves that nobody was ever safe during the war, and innocent lives were always at risk.
4Samira (A Quiet Place: Day One)
Played By Lupita Nyong’o
Samira’s death at the end ofA Quiet Place: Day Oneis a noble sacrifice that the film does a great job of gradually working towards. The story drops plenty of hints that she may be unable to continue much further, so when the time comes for her to lay her life on the line,it feels like a well-earned momentthat fits perfectly with her character.
3Sammy (Civil War)
Played By Stephen McKinley Henderson
Sammy’s character serves as a beacon of hope and optimism inCivil War, so when he’s abruptly killed off towards the end of the film, it’s a clear statement from director Alex Garland on the indiscriminate nature of warfare.His death extinguishes all the light from this story, and the characters’ emotional goodbyes really push this point home.
2Vincent (His Three Daughters)
Played By Jay O. Sanders
Although Vincent barely appears inHis Three Daughters,his death is a crucial moment that feels inevitableafter all the conflicts and resolutions that lead up to it. It’s his children that take center stage for the majority of the film, but Vincent’s appearance atthe end ofHis Three Daughtersis a gripping scene that speaks volumes to the film’s key themes of regret and repentance.
1Almut (We Live In Time)
Played By Florence Pugh
Although it’s clear right from the beginning ofWe Live In Timethat Almut is approaching her final days, that doesn’t make her implied death at the end of the story any easier. The film spends lots of time discussing the importance of prioritizing what really matters in life, and Almut’s death really pushes home the idea that nobody ever knows how long we have left.
We Live in Time
Cast
A witty chef and a recent divorcee have a chance encounter that changes their lives. As their love story unfolds, they build a life together, but a hidden truth threatens to unravel their relationship, bringing humor, drama, and emotional depth to their journey.
