Moments That Hit Different

Movies have this weird power over us. They make us laugh, scream, and sometimes ugly cry in dark theaters. Certain goodbyes stick around long after the credits roll, becoming part of our emotional baggage.

John Coffey: The Green Mile

Michael Clarke Duncan had to portray an extremely emotional character in his role as John Coffey. He succeeded so well that he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. To give such conviction, Clarke would recall the time that his father left him as a child.

Warner Bros. Pictures, The Green Mile (1999)

John Coffey: The Green Mile (Cont.)

When Coffey was set for the electric chair, he had one dying wish: to watch a movie with the guards before his passing. The film's soundtrack features the song “Heaven” by Mark Sandrich, resulting in a very emotional scene for Coffey and the guards.

Warner Bros. Pictures, The Green Mile (1999)

The Girl In Red: Schindler's List

A splash of color against three hours of black-and-white footage, the unnamed girl in a red coat represents a highly powerful symbol of innocence lost. Oliwia Dabrowska from Poland played the part after she was cast for the role in 1993, when she was just three years old.

Universal Pictures, Schindler’s List (1993)

The Girl In Red: Schindler's List (Cont.)

Her fate marks a pivotal moment for Schindler. Witnessing the little girl’s red coat among the bodies profoundly shakes him. Ultimately, the sadness of her death lingers because she stands out as a "red flag"—a call for help overlooked by the world.

Universal Pictures, Schindler’s List (1993)

Jenny Curran: Forrest Gump

Screenwriter Eric Roth confirmed in 2019 what audiences had long suspected: Jenny's death was caused by late-stage HIV, a revelation that came during discussions about a canceled Forrest Gump sequel. According to her tombstone, Jenny was 36 years old when she died on March 22, 1982.

Paramount Pictures, Forrest Gump (1994)

Jenny Curran: Forrest Gump (Cont.)

Robin Wright recently defended her character against critics who view Jenny as an anti-feminist role, stating, “I don't think it's a punishment that she gets AIDS. She was so promiscuous—that was the selfishness that she did to Forrest. He was in love with her from Day 1”.

Paramount Pictures, Forrest Gump (1994)

Sam Wheat: Ghost

The 1990 film, which earned $505 million worldwide, turned a simple love story into something transcendent through the exploration of life after death. Sam's death occurs early in the movie, but his presence as a ghost allows the story to explore themes of eternal love.

Paramount Pictures, Ghost (1990)

Sam Wheat: Ghost (Cont.)

The death scene itself was deliberately shocking because it established the supernatural premise. When Sam finally has the chance to say goodbye to Molly (Demi Moore) as he moves on to the afterlife, the instrumental version of "Unchained Melody" plays in the background.

Paramount Pictures, Ghost (1990)

Emma Greenway: Terms Of Endearment

The Academy Award-winning 1983 tearjerker revolves around a complex mother-daughter relationship that's only fixed after Emma Greenway is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Following years of being at odds, she makes peace with her mother, Aurora, and delivers a heartbreaking speech.

Paramount Pictures, Terms of Endearment (1983)

Emma Greenway: Terms Of Endearment (Cont.)

She tells her older son, who has been angry with her, “I love you very much. I love you as much as I love anybody, as much as I love myself…”. The passing away itself serves as a catalyst for healing broken family bonds.

Paramount Pictures, Terms of Endearment (1983)

Ellie Fredricksen: Up

Before the film's worldwide release date, Pixar granted a wish from 10-year-old Colby Curtin to see the movie before she died. Colby had been diagnosed with cancer, so a Pixar employee flew to the Curtins' house with a DVD of the finished film. 

Walt Disney Pictures, Up (2009)

Ellie Fredricksen: Up (Cont.)

Director Pete Docter conceived the opening sequence based on his parents' Super 8 home movies, noting, “There's something almost more emotional about it without the sound”. The sequence uses “visual techniques and musical sound to accomplish all the above functions without relying on dialogue”.

Walt Disney Pictures, Up (2009)

Dobby: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Fans have left so many socks at Dobby's memorial grave site that it became an environmental hazard, forcing the UK's National Trust to threaten removal of the memorial in 2022. The scene was shot at Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales. 

Warner Bros. Pictures, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Dobby: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Cont.)

Emma Watson, who played Hermione, said in an interview that Dobby's demise made her completely break down during filming. Toby Jones voiced Dobby in his film appearances, and his final words, "Harry Potter," mirror his first words when meeting Harry, creating a sorrowful bookend to their relationship. 

Warner Bros. Pictures, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Tony Stark/Iron Man: Avengers: Endgame

Over the first 22 MCU movies, Tony Stark served as the heart of the franchise. Robert Downey Jr's character started the whole thing off in the original Iron Man, and the Infinity Saga essentially served as his character arc from a selfish weapons manufacturer to the ultimate hero.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Tony Stark/Iron Man: Avengers: Endgame (Cont.)

Thanos wanted to prune the universe’s timeline to prevent a multiversal war. Unable to lose his wife and daughter, Tony steps forward and gives his life to save everyone he loves. His final words, "I am Iron Man," callback to the phrase that launched the MCU.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Wolverine: Logan

Hugh Jackman's 17-year portrayal of Wolverine came to a brutal end in this 2017 film. It served as both the character's swan song and a commentary on the superhero genre itself. The film took place in a future where Logan's superhuman healing powers have slowed to a crawl.

20th Century Fox, Logan (2017)

Wolverine: Logan (Cont.)

Logan's death scene is particularly heartbreaking because it shows the formerly immortal character finally finding peace after decades of violence and suffering. His final words to his daughter-clone, Laura, "Don't be what they made you," act as a warning and a blessing.

20th Century Fox, Logan (2017)

Marley: Marley & Me

The 2008 comedy-drama, based on journalist John Grogan's 2005 memoir, follows the true story of a family's 13 years with their boisterous and sometimes destructive yellow Labrador named Marley. The film showcased Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as the couple who adopt Marley as a puppy.

20th Century Fox, Marley & Me (2008)

Marley: Marley & Me (Cont.)

Despite his misbehavior, Marley proves to be an integral part of the family, teaching them valuable lessons about the importance of unconditional love and loyalty. Marley's passing away from an intestinal disorder forces the family to make the difficult decision to euthanize him.

20th Century Fox, Marley & Me (2008)

T-800 Terminator: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Linda Hamilton herself admitted she wasn't fond of the T-800's iconic final thumbs-up gesture, telling director James Cameron, "No" during the filming of Terminator: Dark Fate. The thumbs-up moment was actually added during filming, with Cameron considering it "too sentimental" for the story. 

TriStar Pictures, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

T-800 Terminator: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Cont.)

Unlike the original T-800 sent to kill Sarah Connor in the first film, this version is programmed to protect John from the more advanced and deadly T-1000 Terminator. Arnold Schwarzenegger's character sacrifices himself to prevent Skynet's creation by destroying the computer chip in his head.

TriStar Pictures, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Mufasa: The Lion King

Mufasa is a major character in The Lion King franchise, depicted as a wise and benevolent lion who is the King of the Pride Lands and father of Simba. He teaches Simba about leadership and the "Circle of Life," but is tragically killed by his brother Scar.

Walt Disney Pictures, The Lion King (1994)

Mufasa: The Lion King (Cont.)

According to co-director Rob Minkoff, the entire movie was an experiment for the team, particularly because killing off a prominent character so early in the film broke Disney's traditional formula. The death scene of Mufasa features the powerful line, "Long live the king," delivered by his own brother.

Walt Disney Pictures, The Lion King (1994)

Thomas J Sennett: My Girl

The death of 11-year-old Sennett stands as one of cinema's most shocking child fatalities, made even more devastating by its star power. Macaulay Culkin was cast in the main role of Thomas Sennett in January 1991, at the height of his fame following Home Alone.

Columbia Pictures, My Girl (1991)

Thomas J Sennett: My Girl (Cont.)

On August 14, 1972, he and Vada shared an innocent kiss. He then went into the woods alone to retrieve Vada's mood ring, only to step on a beehive and get stung multiple times. The death sequence of 14 seconds was filmed in slow motion.

Columbia Pictures, My Girl (1991)

Bambi's Mother: Bambi

Bambi was loosely based on Felix Salten's novel of 1923, Bambi: A Life in the Woods, and was supervised by David Hand, directed by a team of sequence directors. The production took years to complete, with Walt Disney striving to depict the animals' movement as realistically as possible.

RKO Radio Pictures, Bambi (1942)

Bambi's Mother: Bambi (Cont.)

Even without showing the corpse, the scene remains devastating. One critic noted that “my grandmother, who saw Bambi in the theater at a very young age, recounted to me once that this scene had all the young children in the theater in tears”.

RKO Radio Pictures, Bambi (1942)

Old Yeller: Old Yeller

Disney's 1957 adaptation broke new ground by forcing its young protagonist to make an impossible choice that would traumatize generations of viewers. The movie was adapted from the 1956 book by Fred Gipson, who also co-wrote the screenplay with William Tunberg, ensuring the story's emotional authenticity remained intact. 

Walt Disney Pictures, Old Yeller (1957)

Old Yeller: Old Yeller (Cont.)

Set in post-Civil War Texas, the film follows Travis Coates as he's forced to take on adult responsibilities while his father works a cattle drive in Kansas. The climax comes when a rabid wolf attacks them. Travis successfully shoots the wolf, but not before Old Yeller is bitten by it. 

Walt Disney Pictures, Old Yeller (1957)

Jack Dawson: Titanic

After the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins to sink, Jack and Rose cling to a piece of floating debris in the freezing Atlantic waters. Jack ensures Rose stays on the debris while he remains partially submerged in the icy water.

20th Century Fox, Titanic (1997)

Jack Dawson: Titanic (Cont.)

Jack ultimately dies from hypothermia, but Rose is saved by a returning lifeboat and later rescued by the RMS Carpathia. The scene is poignant because it personifies themes of loss, love, and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. 

20th Century Fox, Titanic (1997)

Romeo And Juliet: Romeo + Juliet

Baz Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation brought Shakespeare's tragedy into the modern era while maintaining the original Shakespearean dialogue. Leonardo DiCaprio was 21 at the time of filming, while originally cast Natalie Portman was deemed too young at 14, making DiCaprio look older than intended.

20th Century Studios, Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo And Juliet: Romeo + Juliet (Cont.)

Juliet takes a potion-induced slumber that puts her into a death-like sleep to avoid marrying Paris. When she awakens from this potion-induced slumber in the Capulet tomb, she finds Romeo already dead from having drunk poison, believing she was truly dead.

20th Century Studios, Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw: Top Gun

Here, aviation sequences were shot using real F-14 Tomcats provided by the US Navy, making Goose's demise during the training exercise feel startlingly realistic for audiences. Anthony Edwards' character serves as Maverick's radar intercept officer and best friend, crafting a father-figure dynamic.

Paramount Pictures, Top Gun (1986)

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw: Top Gun (Cont.)

The ejection scene that kills Goose was based on real incidents where aircrew have died during emergency ejections due to mechanical malfunctions or adverse conditions. Edwards' demise occurs when their F-14 enters an unrecoverable flat spin after flying through the jet wash of another aircraft.

Paramount Pictures, Top Gun (1986)

Ricky Baker: Boyz N The Hood

John Singleton's 1991 directorial debut earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director at 24. Ice Cube, in his acting debut, played Doughboy, while Morris Chestnut portrayed his half-brother Ricky, whose dreams of football scholarship and college represent hope in their violent neighborhood.

Columbia Pictures, Boyz N The Hood (1991)

Ricky Baker: Boyz N The Hood (Cont.)

Ricky meets his end when he's gunned down in a drive-by shooting just after taking his SATs and receiving confirmation of his college prospects. The scene was particularly impactful because audiences had spent the entire movie rooting for Ricky to escape the cycle of violence.

Columbia Pictures, Boyz N The Hood (1991)

Gwen Stacy: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

This character’s passing away is a pivotal and tragic moment that pays homage to the iconic comic book storyline known as “The Night Gwen Stacy Died”. In the film, during a battle with the Green Goblin (Harry Osborn), Gwen falls from the top of a clock tower. 

Sony Pictures Releasing, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Gwen Stacy: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Cont.)

Spider-Man attempts to save her by shooting a web to catch her as she falls. Although the web grabs her, it ultimately fails to save her because the sudden stop causes her fatal injury, and she hits the ground, dying in Peter's arms.

Sony Pictures Releasing, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Yondu Udonta: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2

Yondu sacrifices himself to save Peter Quill (Star-Lord) from being killed by Ego, the movie's antagonist. This heroic act redeems Yondu, who was previously a rough and sometimes antagonistic figure but is revealed to have a deep, fatherly love for Peter.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Yondu Udonta: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (Cont.)

In the climactic scene, Yondu uses his deadly arrow to fight off enemies, but in the end, he is mortally wounded. Peter tries to save him, but he dies peacefully, reinforcing the surrogate father-son bond that had developed between them. 

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Bing Bong: Inside Out

Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary friend, sacrifices himself to help Joy and Sadness return to Headquarters, ensuring they can restore balance to Riley's emotions and memories. His final words, “Take her to the moon for me,” add a bittersweet poignancy to the scene.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Inside Out (2015)

Bing Bong: Inside Out (Cont.)

Originally, Bing Bong’s demise was even more extended and emotionally heavy, with scenes showing his desperation and sadness. However, the filmmakers trimmed it to a shorter, impactful moment that resonates deeply without overwhelming the story’s conclusion. This sacrifice is both sad and heroic.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Inside Out (2015)