15 Unanticipated Movie Deaths

      These cinematic deaths caught everyone off guard. Spoilers ahead, of course.

      James Caan as Sonny in The Godfather

      Credit: James Caan as Sonny in The Godfather, Paramount

      Francis Ford Coppola’s classic gangster film The Godfather features numerous deaths, most of which are foreshadowed in one way or another. However, Sonny’s death is entirely unexpected.

      On a tenth or eleventh viewing, you might recognize Carlo's motive for betraying Sonny and see Barzini's advantage in removing the hot-headed Don. Still, it's hard to find anyone who wasn't taken aback by Sonny's ambush on the causeway during their first viewing of this legendary film.

      Rest in peace, Santino — you may have been a flawed Don (Vito’s words), but you certainly had a lot of spirit. We wish your demise hadn’t been one of those movie moments we never anticipated.

      Steve Coogan as Damien Cockburn in Tropic Thunder

      Credit: Steve Coogan and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder, Paramount, DreamWorks

      This hilariously shocking movie death made viewers leap from their seats.

      As movie director Damien Cockburn excitedly navigates through the jungle, hopeful of making the greatest war film ever, he inadvertently steps on a landmine and is instantly obliterated.

      Watch your step, folks!

      Kate Winslet as Mears in Contagion

      Credit: Kate Winslet in Contagion, Warner Bros.

      In this pandemic thriller, Kate Winslet portrays Dr. Erin Mears, an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service, tasked with tracking down everyone who interacted with an infected woman who succumbed to a terrible illness.

      She appears set up as a significant character — until she falls ill and dies unexpectedly early on.

      One moment she's suffering in a hospital bed; the next, she's in a body bag. Such is the unpredictable nature of life in the movies.

      Steve Buscemi in The Big Lebowski

      Credit: Steve Buscemi in The Big Lebowski, Gramercy Pictures

      Steve Buscemi plays Theodore Donald “Donny” Kerabatsos in The Big Lebowski, an enthusiastic bowler and companion to Jeff Bridges’ character, The Dude.

      One of the film's most unforgettable moments — aside from Donny being frequently told to “shut the f— up, Donny” — is his demise.

      He unexpectedly suffers a heart attack during a confrontation with nihilists outside the bowling alley. In an effort to honor his love of surfing, Walter (John Goodman) and The Dude attempt to scatter Donny’s ashes at the beach, but it famously backfires, blowing ashes back in their faces.

      Phil LaMarr as Marvin in Pulp Fiction

      Credit: John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction, Miramax

      In one of the most shocking moments from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, John Travolta’s Vincent asks Phil LaMarr’s Marvin for his thoughts on the conversation taking place in the front seat of the car.

      However, Vincent inadvertently points his gun at Marvin's face, and in the heat of the exchange, he pulls the trigger, leading to one of the most unanticipated movie deaths ever.

      Cue the iconic line, “Oh man, I shot Marvin in the face,” as Marvin's blood splatters across him and the car, delivered with the same nonchalance as “Oh no, I spilled my beer.”

      Drew Barrymore as Casey in Scream

      Credit: Drew Barrymore in Scream, Dimension Films

      This is one of the most famous death scenes in horror cinema.

      When Casey is introduced as a target for Ghost Face in the original 1996 Scream, it's natural to root for her, assuming she'll escape. However, she meets her end within the first 12 minutes of the film.

      Her death is quite brutal — after being stabbed with Ghost Face’s knife, she’s hung from a tree. Despite her brief appearance, Drew Barrymore was eager for the role.

      “I always felt that in horror films, the main character usually makes it to the end, just barely, but what I wanted was to eliminate that comfort,” the actress shared on Sean Evans’ YouTube show, Hot Ones. “I requested to play Casey Becker to establish that this rule doesn’t apply in this film.”

      Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer in Burn After Reading

      Credit: Brad Pitt as Chad in Burn After Reading, Focus Features

      Brad Pitt’s portrayal of the bumbling trainer Chad Feldheimer in Burn After Reading serves as a cautionary tale about gun safety.

      While sneaking around George Clooney’s Harry Pfarrer’s house, Chad is unexpectedly taken aback when Harry returns home early — prompting him to hide in the closet. As Harry dresses after a shower, he unwittingly grabs his gun, and when he opens the closet, he comes face