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Warning: This article contains spoilers about several films. Read at your own risk.
You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs and you can't deliver juicy drama without offing a few characters. But usually, we can see it coming. Someone in a Nicholas Sparks tearjerker coughs. It's a war movie. You read the book and know that Beth March is doomed. A nerdy girl is in a horror movie. The lead's best friend starts talking about the meaning of life and his or her plans for the future. We know where this is going.
Once in a while, though, a character dies so unexpectedly that we're left reeling. A major star gets killed off in the first act or Quentin Tarantino decides that this seemingly innocuous moment would be the perfect opportunity for a gun to go off. We cry, we shriek, we pee our pants. It's a little thrilling, but also...kind of effed-up, you know?
Read on to see which cinematic deaths completely stunned us. Seriously: spoilers ahead.
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Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet), Contagion(2011)
This virus-outbreak drama wasted no time in killing off star Gwyneth Paltrow, but we thought Kate Winslet would stick around long enough to find a cure and save the day. Not so much.
Pictured: Kate Winslet as Dr. Erin Mears
Photo: Warner Bros Pictures/Photofest.Clik here to view.
Maureen Hope (Rachel McAdams), Southpaw (2015)
Based on the film's poster, which shows McAdams and co-star Jake Gyllenhaal in a romantic clinch, we were expecting Southpaw to be a love story with intermittent boxing scenes. We were not expecting her to die from a gunshot wound right off the bat.
Pictured: Miguel Gomez with Gyllenhaal and McAdams
Photo: REX/Shutterstock.Clik here to view.
Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum), Side Effects (2013)
Martin, an insider trader recently sprung from prison, wasn't long for this world. Wife Emily (Rooney Mara) quickly stabbed him to death, then blamed the whole thing on her meds.
Pictured: Mara and Tatum as Emily and Martin
Photo: Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock.Clik here to view.
Tyler Keats Hawkins (Robert Pattinson), Remember Me(2010)
This emo romance starring Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin was, frankly, pretty ho-hum. Then, the twist came: Tyler was in the North Tower on September 11, 2001. Why'd you do us like that, Hollywood?
Pictured: Robert Pattinson as Tyler
Photo: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.Clik here to view.
Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), No Country for Old Men(2007)
Okay, if you read the Cormac McCarthy book, you knew that Llewelyn wasn't going to be able to fight off Mexican drug cartels and Anton Chigurh. Still, it was pretty jarring to realize that his death by gunfire at a cheap motel wasn't even captured on screen. Bad luck, friendo.
Pictured: Josh Brolin as Llewelyn
Photo: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.Clik here to view.
Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson), Forrest Gump(1994)
This one hurts. It just doesn't seem right that Bubba and Forrest aren't selling shrimp at Bubba Gump in Times Square.
Pictured: Tom Hanks and Mykelti Williamson
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Vincent Vega (John Travolta), Pulp Fiction (1994)
So yeah, the hero of Pulp Fiction dies thanks to a jumpy toaster and the fact that he had to go #2. Vega's death at Butch's (Bruce Willis) hands was a bummer of a plot twist, but it's not the film's most shocking death. That title belongs to poor Marvin, who got his head accidentally blown off in the car.
Pictured: John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson
Photo: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.Clik here to view.
Wash (Alan Tudyk), Serenity (2005)
Let's pour one out for fan-favorite Wash. The pilot was tragically killed by Reavers in Firefly 's big-screen adaptation.
Pictured: The ill-fated Tudyk (second from right)
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Det. Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), L.A. Confidential(1997)
The smooth operator got more than he bargained for when he turned up for coffee at Captain Smith's (James Cromwell) house. The silver lining is that he managed to pull one last fast one with his dying breath, pegging his killer as "Rollo Tomasi."
Pictured: Kevin Spacey as Det. Vincennes
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Lt. Col. Austin Travis (Steven Seagal), Executive Decision (1996)
At the time, Seagal was a pretty big action hero, so it was a huge shock when his character didn't even manage to step onto the damn plane. In the end, Travis sacrificed himself, a noble act that resulted in Seagal earning a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actor.
Pictured: Kurt Russell and Steven Seagal
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Tracy Mills (Gwyneth Paltrow), Se7en(1995)
"What's in the box?" Funny you should ask, Brad. Se7en saved its most chilling plot twist for the end. UPS deliveries haven't been the same since.
Pictured: Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, and Morgan Freeman
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Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger), Inglourious Basterds(2009)
It almost looked like the glamorous double agent was going to get away with it all, but her Cinderella moment gave it up.
Pictured: Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark
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Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), The Sixth Sense(1999)
Now that you mention it, it did seem strange that Crowe never spoke to anyone aside from that kid. We just thought his wife was a grump.
Pictured: Bruce Willis and Olivia Williams
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Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), Burn After Reading (2008)
Clueless Chad learned the hard way that hiding in other people's closets is a risky move.
Pictured: Brad Pitt as Chad
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Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore), Scream (1996)
Hire a big star, let her be terrorized by a masked killer, and let her die before the opening credits. Way harsh, guys.
Pictured: Drew Barrymore as Casey
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Jody Domergue (Channing Tatum), The Hateful Eight(2015)
A thing about this film (and pretty much all other Quentin Tarantino projects): Everyone dies. Tatum's sudden head explosion, however, seemed particularly gruesome and unexpected. Here's hoping he wasn't paid by the minute.
Pictured: Channing Tatum as Jody Domergue
Photo: Weinstein Company/Everett.Clik here to view.
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