# Movies in which the brutal, onscreen death of the villain is roundly celebrated \[spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418 "2012-12-18T13:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/21 "2012-12-18T14:42:45Z")
There’s that one thug in _Robocop_ who gets coated in toxic waste, wanders around slowly disintegrating for a few minutes before being splattered all over the hood of a car. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/22 "2012-12-18T14:49:46Z")
[QUOTE=Pitchmeister] It’s hard to imagine a more cruel, soulless excuse for a human being than Hans Landa, and the fact that he’s so smug and superior all the time only serves to hate him more. [/QUOTE] It’s easy to cheer on Liam Neeson killing dozens of people who really had it coming in _Taken_, but it’s even easier to cheer when he drops Tim Roth in _Rob Roy_. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/23 "2012-12-18T14:54:24Z")
One could point to any number of the Bond films, but the most graphic ones that come to mind include Yaphet Kotto in _Live and Let Die_ (er, inflated to death) and various villains in _Goldeneye_ (caught in a tree while suspended from a crashing helicopter; falling from a great height, then impaled by a huge chunk of satellite dish; frozen by liquid nitrogen, then shattered into a million pieces). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/24 "2012-12-18T15:01:57Z")
Jurassic Park where the lawyer gets eaten by a T Rex. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/25 "2012-12-18T15:02:53Z")
Oh, and how could I forget the demise of Wez at the end of _The Road Warrior_? ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/26 "2012-12-18T15:12:37Z")
I just think its the funniest juxtaposition that we hold human life to be so sacred, but a movie can morph an actor into such a dispicable worthless piece of crap that we laugh and enjoy their gorey demise. Thats what made the last ~20 minutes of Death Proof so enjoyable. You see these women shoot Kurt Russell in the arm. He screams in pure agony as he tries to pour alcohol on it. Then, he tries desperately to get away from these women who are now hunting him. Just as he thinks he has driven away from them, the women slam their car right into him. They pull him out of the effing car, circle around him, and beat him senseless. Then, Rosario Dawson delivers a final axe kick with the heel of her stilletto going right in his eye IIRC. Even though you grimace, the song playing (Chick Habit) just makes you smile with delight. I’m also reminded of Reservoir Dogs when Mr. White shoots Mr. Orange in the final moment, followed immediately by the credits and the shockingly traquil “Coconut” being played. Last time I saw it (a week ago) it just made me smile, even though everyone in the movie except Mr. Pink was just brutally murdered. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/27 "2012-12-18T15:13:16Z")
[Breakdown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakdown_(film)): The bad guy gets crushed by his own semi falling on him trailer and all. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Not_Appearing_In_This_Film)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/28 "2012-12-18T16:07:15Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Need I go on? All of these deaths were widely seen as worthy of celebration. But most are not brutal or graphic on-screen deaths. Three that come to mind: **Ben Hur** **Rob Roy Excalibur** These all feature the villain’s brutal death while actively trying to kill the protagonist, which I guess makes the audience feel okay about cheering. For sheer brutality, it’s hard to beat \*\* Apocalypse Now\*\* though by that time the audience is to shell-shocked to cheer. Maybe **Conan** is a better example. These deaths probably work best for comedic effect, such as in **Live and Let Die** or \*\* Blade\*\*. Upon review, I see a couple of these are already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/29 "2012-12-18T17:41:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Jurassic Park where the lawyer gets eaten by a T Rex. I don’t remember the lawyer as villainous, but it’s been years since I saw the movie. The stalker movie with Glenn Close (_[Fatal Attraction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_Attraction)_) was the first time I ever heard an audience cheer for a woman’s death on screen. While not as bloody as some mentioned above, there was a lingering camera shot on the body that was faintly disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/30 "2012-12-18T17:45:51Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > I don’t remember the lawyer as villainous, but it’s been years since I saw the movie. Villain by default. \* **Rex O’Herlihan:** You’re not a good guy at all! **Bob Barber:** I’m a lawyer, you idiot! \* -_Rustler’s Rhapsody_ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/31 "2012-12-18T18:00:48Z")
I assume the OP means deaths where the audience litterally cheers and claps (or laughs). > [@muldoonthief](#): > > Well, it’s not the main villain, but the first three Indiana Jones movies show someone beating the crap out of Indy, then suffering a brutal & graphic (for PG-13 at least death) - > > German aircraft mechanic eats a propeller > > Indian bodyguard gets crushed by huge stone rollers > > German soldier gets run over by a tank. You forgot the badass guard who brought a scemitar to a casual gun fight! > [@Wheelz](#): > > And who didn’t cheer _Die Hard_’s Hans Gruber falling to his death while John McClane quipped “Yippie-Ki-Yay, Motherfucker”? Wooo…I hope that’s not a hostage… “Dick…You’re FIRED!” from **Robocop** Also “Your fired!” from **True Lies**. Matrix lets Sully go in **Commando** I distinctly heard cheering when Murtaugh revoked Arjen’s diplomatic immunity in **Lethal Weapon 2**. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/32 "2012-12-18T18:04:55Z")
[QUOTE=The Devil’s Grandmother] The stalker movie with Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction) was the first time I ever heard an audience cheer for a woman’s death on screen. [/QUOTE] I can’t be sure, but I’m willing to bet I heard the audience cheer when Arnold Schwarzenegger gunned down Sharon Stone. _“Consider that a divorce!”_ (And for the reverse, I’m _ **entirely** _ sure I heard the audience cheer when Julia Roberts called the police while holding her abusive husband at gunpoint. _“Yes, this is Sara Waters at 408 Tremont. Come quickly. I’ve just killed an intruder.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/33 "2012-12-18T18:06:49Z")
> [@glaeken](#): > > Surely the Inglourious Basterds death to cheer for was machine gunning Hilter in the face? Brutal and graphic and surely worth a cheer. I thought part of Tarantino’s genius in Inglourious Basterds was that we first get to see the in-movie movie audience watching Nation’s Pride and cheering as many people die. Then, a short time later, we find ourselves as a movie audience watching Inglourious Basterds and cheering as many people die. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/34 "2012-12-18T18:11:17Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > I don’t remember the lawyer as villainous, but it’s been years since I saw the movie. This is the one I came in to mention. Gennaro (that was the lawyer’s name) wasn’t villainous _per se_. He wasn’t evil, just kind of smarmy, but his cowardly act of deserting the two kids in the Jeep to run and hide in the bathroom earned him the cheer when the T-Rex plucked him off the toilet and ripped him to pieces (though that part wasn’t seen, just implied (“I think this was Gennaro.” “I think this was, too.”) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/35 "2012-12-18T18:13:41Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Also “Your fired!” from **True Lies**. Long before that, I can assure you I heard cheers after our hero put on a brave face for the merciless interrogator. _“First I’m gonna use you as human shield, den I’m gonna kill dis guard over dere with da Patterson trocar on da table. And den I was thinkin about breakin your neck.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/36 "2012-12-18T18:36:35Z")
> [@Labtrash](#): > > The shark blowing up in _Jaws_ was met with thunderous applause when I saw it in a theater as a youngster. Absolutely! _"…smile you son of a bitchKABOOM!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/37 "2012-12-18T18:41:21Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Arguably, Vader is no longer a villain at this point - he is the Jedi Knight Anakin fighting against the Dark Side that enslaved him for so long. You know, it sucks every bit of life and cool out of that whole angle when you consider that it’s the ultimate end of the whiny little bitch Anakin from the prequels. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/38 "2012-12-18T18:42:43Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/39 "2012-12-18T18:46:34Z")
> [@glaeken](#): > > Surely the Inglourious Basterds death to cheer for was machine gunning Hilter in the face? Brutal and graphic and surely worth a cheer. That was the best part of the movie because the audience I saw it with visibly and audibly reacted to the scene the same way the Nazis in the film reacted to the film they were watching. ETA: I posted before reading Mr. Greenjeans’s post which makes the same point. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418/40 "2012-12-18T18:55:54Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > You didn’t feel Inglorious Basterds meets that standard? It’s hard to imagine a more cruel, soulless excuse for a human being than Hans Landa, and the fact that he’s so smug and superior all the time only serves to hate him more. He goes around France killing Jews (which he doesn’t even particularly hate) and when the tide of battle shifts, he turns around and pretends he was fighting the Nazis all along? That’s pretty disgusting, if you ask me, and he got what he deserved. Hmmm.. Landa is a despicable person no doubt and I fully agree that his punishment is just desserts… but your description makes hims sound almost cartoony. There’s a really interesting change in the character from the opening scene in the farm house and his discussion with the Basterds later. In the opening he’s professionaly proud “Jew Hunter” moniker, later he actually shows disdain for the title. I didn’t take it like he was trying to distance himself from it for his own safety, but rather had grown tired of that part of the job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-in-which-the-brutal-onscreen-death-of-the-villain-is-roundly-celebrated-spoilers/644418.md?page=3)