In some movies, the main characters die at the beginning of the movie! This unusual event can pose challenges to the film’s narrative, but it can also make the movie much more engaging.
For some people, cinema is a great way to have fun and unwind for a few hours. For others, it is an extremely important art form with significant value for society and individuals. Regardless, it’s safe to say that cinema holds an important place in our lives overall. Of course, everyone enjoys watching different kinds of movies. While some prefer to watch exciting action movies, others enjoy art films with a philosophical background. However, almost everyone finds a movie with surprising elements intriguing. For this reason, many screenwriters and directors include unexpected elements in their movies to surprise the audience. Sometimes, this surprise comes in the form of an unexpected ending; other times, it’s a compelling mystery that unfolds throughout the movie! Yet, there’s another approach to astonish viewers: killing the main character right at the beginning of the movie!
It is indeed unusual for the main character of a movie to die at the beginning. However, when used appropriately, these “untimely deaths” can be a powerful way to shock the audience and make a significant impact on the movie’s narrative. Audiences typically connect with the main characters and expect the story to unfold through them, which makes these untimely deaths a major surprise. Here are 10 movies where the main characters die at the beginning…
1.Sixth Sense
This cinema classic isn’t actually a movie where the main character dies at the beginning! Instead, one of the main characters is already not alive during the movie! However, this does not stop the audience from following the story of Malcolm Crowe and Cole Sear, portrayed by Bruce Willis. In the movie, Malcolm Crowe, who tries to help Cole Sear, a boy who claims to see dead people, doesn’t believe the child at first. However, Cole Sear is indeed able to communicate with the dead. By the end of the movie, Malcolm Crowe realizes that he, too, is no longer alive!
Information about The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Director: M. Night Shyamalan
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
- Release Year: 1999
- Duration: 1 hour 47 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Similar Movies: Unbreakable (2000), The Others (2001), Shutter Island (2010)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: The Sixth Sense on IMDb
2.Beetlejuice
This Tim Burton-directed movie also begins with the main characters dying at the very start! In this entertaining movie, the couple Adam and Barbara Maitland lose their lives in an untimely traffic accident. However, they must wait a while before crossing to the “other side.” The two ghosts return to the house they lived in before they died, only to find that new people have moved in—a situation that deeply disturbs them. They try to scare the new occupants, but their attempts fail. So, they decide to get help from the truly annoying and frightening ghost named Beetlejuice!
Information about Beetlejuice (1988)
- Director: Tim Burton
- Cast: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder
- Release Year: 1988
- Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Synopsis: A recently deceased couple hires a mischievous spirit, Beetlejuice, to scare away the new residents of their home, leading to chaos and dark humor.
- Similar Movies: Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Addams Family (1991), Coraline (2009)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Beetlejuice on IMDb
3.The Crow
The Crow, which opens with the death of the main character and carries its entire story through this loss, is a very dark revenge story! This 1994 movie still has a passionate fan base today. The movie stars Brandon Lee, son of the world-famous Bruce Lee. At the beginning of the movie, Eric Draven and his fiancée Shelly are murdered by members of a ruthless gang. A year later, Eric Draven embarks on an intense revenge journey, guided by a crow that visits his grave. However, this cult movie is also known for an extremely tragic event—shortly before filming ended, Brandon Lee was accidentally shot with a loaded gun and lost his life…
Information about The Crow (1994)
- Director: Alex Proyas
- Cast: Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott
- Release Year: 1994
- Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Similar Movies: Sin City (2005), Dark City (1998), V for Vendetta (2005)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: The Crow on IMDb
4.Ghost
This 1990 movie, though not widely remembered today, was actually the highest-grossing film of that year and won numerous awards. In the movie, a couple named Sam and Molly are attacked by a thief. As a result, Sam loses his life. However, the ghost of the unfortunate man soon learns that the attack was not a simple robbery and that Molly is in danger. Thus, Sam’s ghost embarks on a challenging journey to save Molly’s life!
Information about Ghost (1990)
- Director: Jerry Zucker
- Cast: Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn
- Release Year: 1990
- Duration: 2 hours 7 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Similar Movies: City of Angels (1998), Always (1989), The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Ghost on IMDb
5.What Dreams May Come
This movie, starring the famous actor Robin Williams, tells the story of Chris and his wife Annie, who lose their lives in a terrible car accident. After Chris dies, he arrives in a heaven just as he had always imagined. However, Annie, unable to bear the loss of her husband, takes her own life and is sent to hell. In response, Chris decides to journey to hell to save his wife’s soul. What Dreams May Come is a visually stunning movie where the main character dies at the beginning yet continues his story in an extraordinary way.
Information about What Dreams May Come (1998)
- Director: Vincent Ward
- Cast: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Jessica Brooks Grant
- Release Year: 1998
- Duration: 1 hour 53 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: The Lovely Bones (2009), The Bucket List (2007), Beetlejuice (1988)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: What Dreams May Come on IMDb
6.A Matter of Life and Death
This iconic movie from 1946 is considered one of the best films about World War II. However, what the movie truly focuses on is not the war but the power of love! During the war, things are not going well for Peter, who is returning from a difficult bombing mission. His plane is badly damaged, and he doesn’t have a parachute to save himself. Peter spends his last moments before he dies talking to a woman named June on the other end of the radio. Remarkably, Peter falls in love with June within minutes! He jumps out of the plane but miraculously survives! What allows Peter to survive is a mistake that occurs on the “other side.” Perhaps it is the power of love. Peter, who normally should have died but survives, must explain to a court established in the afterlife why he should continue to live.
Information about A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
- Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
- Cast: David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Marius Goring
- Release Year: 1946
- Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
- Language: English
- Age Rating: Not Rated
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Similar Movies: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Brief Encounter (1945)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: A Matter of Life and Death on IMDb
7.RIPD
This movie, released in 2013, did not receive a passing grade from either viewers or film critics. However, its plot is interesting enough to earn a spot on our list of main characters who die at the beginning of the movie! The life of a police officer named Nick Walter ends in a bloody fight. However, his career is not over yet. After his death, Nick is assigned to work for an organization called RIPD. In fact, he begins working with an agent who died centuries ago! The organization’s goal is to catch evil spirits in the world and make it a better place. However, Nick struggles to adjust to “being dead”! Consequently, pursuing his own killer complicates matters even further
Information about R.I.P.D. (2013)
- Director: Robert Schwentke
- Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker
- Release Year: 2013
- Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
- Similar Movies: Men in Black (1997), Ghostbusters (1984), The Other Guys (2010)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: R.I.P.D. on IMDb
8.Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life falls into the romantic comedy category. However, this movie also successfully incorporates dramatic elements. People who have lost their lives, the spirits in a place called Judgement City, discuss their lives and await the decision on whether they will return to the world. This purgatory-like place is filled with entertaining structures such as bowling alleys and comedy clubs. The main character in the movie falls in love with a woman who died some time ago in Judgement City! However, since the main character lives a life filled with fear, it is decided that he should be sent back to the world to live again. Yet, our character’s only wish is to be with the woman he loves, whether in the world or not.
Information about Defending Your Life (1991)
- Director: Albert Brooks
- Cast: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant
- Release Year: 1991
- Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Similar Movies: Groundhog Day (1993), What Dreams May Come (1998), The Truman Show (1998)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Defending Your Life on IMDb
9.Spawn
Another movie where the main character dies at the beginning is Spawn, a 1997 superhero, or rather, anti-hero movie! A hitman named Albert Simmons is used by the CIA for very difficult operations. However, one day, he wants to leave this dangerous life behind. His boss tells him that he only has one last mission left before he can have the peaceful life he desires. So, Simmons is sent to North Korea for this final assignment. However, there is not only a difficult mission waiting for him there! Simmons is brutally killed by his boss! This untimely and treacherous murder does not prevent Simmons from returning to the world! Thus, Simmons makes a deal with the devil to come back and see his wife again. Albert Simmons transforms into Spawn. With superhuman powers, Spawn begins his quest for revenge against his own killer. However, there are some costs to making a deal with the devil.
Information about Spawn (1997)
- Director: Mark A.Z. Dippé
- Cast: Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle
- Release Year: 1997
- Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 5.2/10
- Similar Movies: Blade (1998), The Crow (1994), Hellboy (2004)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Spawn on IMDb
10.Heaven Can Wait
This movie, which met with the audience in 1978, is very colorful and entertaining despite the untimely death it contains. Joe Pendleton, a successful athlete, loses his life in a traffic accident and is taken to heaven by his guardian angel! However, this is a significant mistake because Joe Pendleton’s time on Earth has not yet expired! This error made by the angel leads to substantial problems and the beginning of a fun adventure. Since the successful football player’s body was burned, he cannot return to his own body and is sent back to Earth to live in the body of an elderly billionaire who has passed away. As if all these complicated events were not enough, Joe Pendleton also falls in love with a young woman!
Information about Heaven Can Wait (1978)
- Director: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
- Cast: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Dyan Cannon
- Release Year: 1978
- Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: The Goodbye Girl (1977), What Dreams May Come (1998), Ghost (1990)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Heaven Can Wait on IMDb
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