16 Movies Where Pretty Much All Characters Die At The End (Spoiler Alert!)

There are numerous ways to wrap up a movie. The happy, joyous situation may be left behind by the heroes as they ride off into the distance. They might prevail despite all obstacles and immense pain, carrying the psychological wounds of their triumph. Even if the enemy prevails, the remaining heroes will be forced to flee, reorganize, or simply try to survive.
Films that take it a step further and end with every character dead or facing imminent death are rarer even. This type of conclusion has a considerable deal of risk since viewers might believe that their time was wasted or that it was a cheap ploy. But in movies that do it right, it may lead to a powerful and moving conclusion.
These tragic outcomes can include daring sacrifices made in the course of heroic efforts, unanticipated carnage that results in character deaths, or clashes that develop into last-man-standing battles.
Hence, we selected the top 16 films where pretty much everyone dies if you’re really curious about the topic. Scroll down to see more.

#1 Dr. Strangelove

Source: Columbia Pictures

One of the greatest directors of all time, Stanley Kubrick, created Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest traditional black humor films ever made. Seriously, Dr. Strangelove was one of the first 25 movies chosen to be preserved in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, which was established to gather and preserve 25 movies annually that have been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It is impossible to overstate how significant this nuclear war parody was and remains.
Who's Dead: Several nuclear bombs explode at the climax of the movie, so, um, all of humanity? Probably?
Who’s Still Standing: It's difficult to say if anyone managed to survive by self-preservation a la Fallout, so let's suppose that widespread nuclear destruction wiped off the human race.

#2 The Hateful Eight

Source: The Weinstein Company

Given that most of the key characters in Western films are always in shape, there is a lot of room for violence in these movies. And even though Quentin Tarantino is known for crafting violent movies in which many people perish, he went all out with The Hateful Eight. Eight strangers who ultimately decide to seek refuge from a blizzard together in 1870 are the subject of Tarantino's 2015 film. And before the movie is through, every character who appears in the film dies.
Who's Dead: All characters.
Who’s Still Standing: No one!

#3 Reservoir Dogs

Source: Miramax Films

Without Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino would not be who he is today. Even though Tarantino's first movie didn't have the same level of popularity as Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill, it nevertheless had all the defining characteristics of his directing style. The crime thriller about a botched jewelry theft has a lot of lengthy speech exchanges, pop-culture allusions, and excessive violence.
Who's Dead: By the end of the movie, every single "Dog" has perished. Well... almost all of them.
Who's Still Standing: Mr. Pink, played by Steve Buscemi, is the only person from the robbery crew to survive, but he is imprisoned.

#4 The Cabin in the Woods

Source: Lionsgate

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's 2012 horror parody The Cabin in the Woods has a lot of fun poking fun at slasher movie clichés. The film's conceptual nature makes it tough, to sum up exactly what makes it so effective, but it's fun to see a group of young people battle to stop a scheme by a mysterious organization to sacrifice them to the "Ancient Ones." If you get the humor, the movie has its tongue firmly on its cheek, and you'll like it.
Who's Dead: Almost everyone, I suppose. Chris Hemsworth's Curt has passed away. The Director from Sigourney Weaver is no more. Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins' characters are no longer alive. Everyone dies except for Fran Kranz's Marty and Kristen Connolly's Dana, and once everything is said and done, those two don't appear to live very long.
Who’s Still Standing: The "Ancient Ones" are officially returning to wipe out everyone on Earth, but Dana and Marty are still alive in theory, but not for long.

#5 The Departed

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Robert Scorsese Johnny Nicholson DiCaprio, Leonardo. Damon Matt. With names like those, there was no way that 2006's The Departed wasn't going to be a huge hit—despite having more violence and swearing than you can shake a stick at. The Departed, a remake of 2002's Infernal Affairs, is the tale of two moles, one in the Boston Irish mob and the other in the Boston PD, who are attempting to uncover each other's identities before the other does.
Who's dead: Almost every major character, including Martin Sheen's Captain Queenan, Billy Costigan played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Sullivan by Matt Damon, and Frank Costello by Jack Nicholson. Even Trooper Brown, played by Anthony Anderson, is shot.Who's Still Standing: In the famed last scene of the movie, Sean Dignam, played by Mark Wahlberg, kills Matt Damon's character in his own home, putting an end to the violence and making Dignam basically the only person still alive.

#6 Carrie

Source: United Artists

Despite Stephen King's near-constant presence in Hollywood now (and for decades), Carrie was the first of King's books to be adapted for a different platform when it was published in 1976. The movie centers on a high school student with telekinetic abilities who plans to exact revenge on the bullies in her life. Carrie, which cost less than $2 million to produce, unexpectedly became a great blockbuster and received two Academy Award nominations.
Who Dies: The infamous "prom fire" scene results in the deaths of numerous individuals. After crucifying her mother with sharp items and flipping their car in an attempt to run Carrie over, Chris and Billy bite the bullet. Carrie then kills herself by bringing down her house.
Who’s Still Standing: The only character to manage to escape alive is Sue, who was kicked out of the prom before the carnage, although the events severely psychologically damage her.

#7 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Fans were anticipating the ultimate continuation of the Skywalker Saga, which would carry on the stories of some of the most adored characters of the 20th century when Disney acquired Lucasfilm back in 2012. Fans may have been most ecstatic with Disney's insistence on expanding the galaxy with works like The Mandalorian and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rogue One, the first Star Wars spin-off movie ever made, follows the tale of the rebels who steal the Death Star designs, setting up A New Hope in the process.
Who's Dead: By the time Grand Moff Tarkin destroys the Imperial base on Scarif, every member of the cast of heroes—including Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso—is either already dead or perishes in the explosion. Additionally, the base's demolition results in the demise of the evil Orson Krennic.
Who's Still Standing: Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and Tarkin himself, along with other well-known figures from A New Hope, are still with us today.

#8 Scarface

Source: Universal Pictures

Scarface, a 1983 remake of Howard Hawks' 1932 classic of the same name, was written by Oliver Stone and directed by Brian De Palma. Scarface depicts the story of Al Pacino's Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who utilizes the drug trade to go from rags to riches before dying in the climax and has a poster that has been a staple in college dorm rooms for decades. Scarface is brash, lavish, and in your face, and fans can't get enough of its fashionable extravagance.
Who's Dead: In addition to the various characters who pass away over the film's extensive running time, Tony, his sister Gina, and a large number of henchmen during the legendary climax. Yes, she did say, "Hello, my little friend."
Who's Still Standing: The few individuals still alive at the end of the film include drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa, Tony's ex-wife Elvira, Tony's mother Georgina, and Sosa hitman "The Skull."

#9 Snowpiercer

Source: The Weinstein Company

The sci-fi action movie Snowpiercer, directed by Bong Joon-ho and based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, is set on a train carrying the last of mankind as it journeys around the globe after the Earth has experienced a snowy apocalypse. The action movie Snowpiercer, which starred Chris Evans, Ed Harris, Tilda Swinton, and John Hurt, received positive reviews at the time it was released. It later gained cult status and gave rise to a TV series of the same name.
Who's Dead: All but two of the passengers die during the movie due to the various fights that take place on the train throughout the story and the explosion/avalanche that causes the train to crash towards the conclusion.Who's Still Standing: Yona and Timmy are the only two survivors, and at the end of the movie, they come across a polar bear, which makes them understand they're not entirely alone in the world.

#10 300

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Zack Snyder had success with the 2007 film 300 before he became well-known for his work on the DC Extended Universe. The movie, which is an adaptation of the same-named Frank Miller comic book series, centers on a group of 300 Spartan troops who get together to fight a Persian invasion force that numbers more than 300,000 people against all odds. If you're in the mood for that kind of thing, it's extremely violent, extremely macho, and a bloody good time all around.
Who's Dead: Almost all 300 Spartans, including Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler, and an untold number of Persian warriors.
Who's Still Standing: Dilios, a wounded soldier who Leonidas sent back to Sparta, lives to relate the inspiring story of the 300 men who persisted in the face of overwhelming odds.

#11 The Wild Bunch

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Wild Bunch, directed by Sam Peckinpah, is one of those Westerns that dads all across America love to cite as "one of the best movies ever." Sam Peckinpah is known for his blatant depictions of violence at a time when they were most definitely not usual. A bandit group in pre-World War I America is the subject of the uncompromising movie The Wild Bunch. Before the vast bulk of them are eliminated in a blaze of glory after the movie, this is a bunch of abhorrent guys who commit abhorrent acts and show no remorse.
Who's Dead: You're not going to make it out alive, pal, if your name isn't "Deke Thornton" or "Freddie Sykes." The climactic gunfight between the Wild Bunch and the band of Mexican Federales results in the deaths of even William Holden and Ernest Borgnine's characters.Who's Still Standing: Thornton and Sykes ride out with Mexican insurgents at the end of the movie still alive and continuing their lives of violence.

#12 Hamlet

Source: Sony Pictures Releasing

Although there have been many Hamlet adaptations over the years, none have come close to Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film. It is an unabridged adaptation that lasts more than four hours, was shot on 70mm film, and includes an ensemble cast that is stacked high with well-known actors. A-list actors like Billy Crystal, Gérard Depardieu, Charlton Heston, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, and Kate Winslet have all acted in one of the most well-known pieces of literature in history.
Who's Dead: Since the play is one of Shakespeare's most brutal tragedies, the majority of the main cast perishes. Everyone, including Polonius, Ophelia, Claudius, and even Hamlet himself, dies.
Who’s Still Standing: Horatio is practically the only key character to survive the entire film, while several minor people do as well.

#13 Sunshine

Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Sunshine, a frequently overlooked movie by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, is set shortly in 2057 and tells the story of a heroic group of astronauts who set out on a perilous journey to rekindle the sun and save all of mankind on Earth. Sunshine has emerged as one of the real cult movies of the late 2000s thanks to its amazing ensemble, which includes Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Benedict Wong, and Michelle Yeoh, epic soundtrack, and chic photography.
Who Dies: A large portion of the crew is killed by Mark Strong's psychotic Captain Pinbacker, but even those who survive his homicidal rampage die when Robert Capa, played by Cillian Murphy, detonates the nuclear payload after the movie.
Who's Still Standing: In the end, Capa's sister and the rest of the Earth's inhabitants are saved.

#14 All Quiet on the Western Front

Source: Universal Pictures

It's no surprise that a sizable portion of the major cast would pass away by the time the credits rolled because All Quiet on the Western Front is an anti-war movie. The original 1930 adaption, which was based on the same-titled novel by Erich Maria Remarque, is regarded as one of the greatest war movies ever made. It is an amazing accomplishment given how early in the history of the medium it was created. It tells the terrifying story of a German soldier named Paul Bäumer who, during World War I, served in the "2nd Company" of the German army before being tragically shot.
Who's Dead: Many characters—including Paul, Himmelstoss, Kat, and Behn—directly perish. The camera pans to a vast cemetery as the movie finishes with a new 2nd Company arriving at the front.Who's Still Standing: Professor Kantorek, who persuaded Paul and his pals to enlist in the military, is still working as a terrible teacher.

#15 Easy Rider

Source: Columbia Pictures

Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda's 1969 film Easy Rider is frequently cited as one of the most influential and significant films in American film history. The film was a surprise hit that, along with other successes like The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde, helped usher in the "New Hollywood" era of American cinema in the early 1970s. The plot tells the tale of Wyatt and Billy, two anti-culture bikers who tour the country with the proceeds of a drug trade. Your enjoyment of The Godfather, Chinatown, or Taxi Driver can be attributed to movies like Easy Rider, which forced Hollywood to abandon the established studio system.
Who's Dead: Random acts of violence by strangers result in the deaths of Wyatt (Peter Fonda), Billy (Dennis Hopper), and George (Jack Nicholson).
Who's Still Standing: Certainly none of the characters the movie wants us to care about.

#16 King of New York

Source: New Line Cinema

Looking back, it's difficult to understand why King of New York, a thriller, received very little attention upon its premiere in September 1990. You'd think it would have at least recouped its meager $5 million budget with a cast that includes Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, and Wesley Snipes, a great up-and-coming director in Abel Ferrara, and a strong critical reception, but that just didn't happen. It's a well-known criminal story that ends with almost all of the characters dead, but you'd think with such a big cast, it would have garnered more attention. Such a shame, really.
Who's Dead: Because King of New York is so violent, the majority of the actors in the primary cast died from gunshot wounds. If you get a lot of screen time in this movie, you will die a lonely and depressing end after your body has been shot to pieces.
Who's Still Standing: Steve Buscemi's Test Tube (what a terrific name!) and Janet Julian's Jennifer are two of the few who are still alive.