15 Times We Really Think a Character Should Have Died

Most of the time, when watching a movie, you’re not so into the experience that you forget that you’re watching a movie. As such, you know that certain characters can survive nearly anything since the plot still needs them to further it. However, that doesn’t mean that it makes sense.

We don’t just mean that something seems impossible to survive (although that certainly happens in movies), we also mean moments where, narratively speaking, it would’ve made more sense for the character to die. These are the survivors we just can’t stop thinking about.

Maverick, from Top Gun: Maverick

Many fans feel this legendary pilot should have made a heroic sacrifice to pass down the torch. There is even a popular theory that he actually died early on when his hypersonic plane broke apart.

Finn, from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

In this 2017 space opera, this former stormtrooper attempted a deeply emotional sacrifice to save the resistance. Having him survive at the last possible second undermined a moment that would have perfectly completed his character arc.

Han Solo, from Return of the Jedi

Harrison Ford actually advocated for this famous smuggler to die via noble self-sacrifice. Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan agreed that a major character should have died early in the last act to raise the stakes for everyone else.

Indiana Jones, from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Surviving a nuclear explosion by hiding inside a lead-lined refrigerator in this 2008 film remains entirely unbelievable. Sometimes it makes more sense for an older adventurer to gracefully bow out rather than outrun an atomic blast.

Hawkeye, from Avengers: Age of Ultron

Many viewers argue he should have died instead of Quicksilver. Quicksilver had far more future potential, and this archer making the sacrifice would have carried a much heavier emotional consequence for the rest of the team.

John Hammond, from Jurassic Park

In Michael Crichton’s original novel, the park’s creator is killed by small dinosaurs. Critics often point out that changing his fate weakened the film’s ending, as his careless ambition meant his demise was entirely deserved.

John Rambo, from First Blood

If this movie followed its original source material, this veteran would have been killed. Sylvester Stallone actively fought against the original ending and completely refused to let him die, changing action movie history forever.

Rocky Balboa, from Rocky V

After enduring massive brain trauma and a brutal street fight in the 1990 sequel, the physical toll on this legendary boxer was immense. A tragic ending would have firmly grounded the harsh reality of the sport.

Happy Hogan, from Iron Man 3

Caught in a massive localized explosion that completely leveled a crowded area, this loyal bodyguard somehow made it out of a coma. His passing would have given Tony Stark a much stronger motivation for revenge.

James Bond, from Spectre

Surviving a drilling procedure directly into his brain that was meant to erase his memories and motor functions is completely absurd. In this 2015 spy film, he just walks away from a lethal neurosurgical trap.

Ethan Hunt, from Mission Impossible: Fallout

Crashing a helicopter into a snowy mountain in this 2018 action film should have been the definitive end for this superspy. Walking away to engage in a brutal cliffside fistfight completely ignores basic human biology.

Legolas, from The Hobbit

Defying gravity by leaping across falling debris over a bottomless chasm was visually completely ridiculous. No matter how graceful an elf is supposed to be, physics should still apply when you are fighting heavily armed monsters.

Neo, from The Matrix Resurrections

His story reached a perfect, messianic conclusion in the original trilogy. Bringing him back for this 2021 sequel completely undercut his massive sacrifice, proving that some heroes really should be allowed to rest in peace.

Steve Trevor, from Wonder Woman 1984

After his incredibly moving sacrifice in the previous movie, magically bringing this pilot back by possessing another man’s body was a bizarre choice. His original death was perfect and should have remained a permanent fixture.

John McClane, from Live Free or Die Hard

Surfing on top of a fighter jet and dodging missiles in this 2007 sequel pushed this regular cop way past his limits. He was supposed to be a normal guy, not an invincible superhero ignoring gravity.