9 Movies That Begin With the Main Character’s Death (And Why It Works)

Some films don’t wait to shatter your expectations: they do it in the very first scene by killing off the main character. Along with challenging conventional filmmaking methods, it creates mystery and intrigue among the viewers from the get-go. Because if the hero is dead already, what is the story all about?

This is indeed a daring approach to weave in complex plotlines and evoke strong feelings regarding life and death. Here are some of the best movies with oddball openings in which the protagonist dies.

9 Greatest Movies Where the Protagonist Dies in the Opening

1. Citizen Kane (1941)

Widely recognized as one of the greatest films ever made, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane opens with one of cinema’s iconic death scenes. “Rosebud,” the only word uttered on the deathbed of newspaper king Charles Foster Kane, starts his journey in motion.

With his unconventional filmmaking techniques, including extensive, fragmented flashbacks, conflicting narrators, and deep-focus cinematography, Orson Welles revolutionized filmmaking for generations.

2. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Despite being 25 years old, The Sixth Sense still packs a powerful twist at the end for those who haven’t watched it yet. Dr. Malcolm (Bruce Willis) is shot dead in the opening scenes of the movie as it subtly sets up the reveal that Dr. Malcolm was a ghost all along.

However, attentive viewers might still piece it together; it does a great job at preserving the revelation. After all these years, The Sixth Sense stands as M. Night Shyamalan’s most polished and effective twist ending movie.

3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Lawrence of Arabia, a little less than a four-hour epic, opens with the death of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole). David Lean’s masterpiece then delves into Lawrence’s World War I exploits during the Arab Revolt, anchored by Peter O’Toole’s career-defining performance.

Shot by Freddie Young, the film’s vast desert landscapes and breathtaking battle scenes are still remembered as some of the best. With seven Academy Awards under its belt, Lawrence of Arabia is considered one of cinema’s greatest achievements.

4. The Crow (1994)

In some cultures, crows are considered omens of death. The Crow took the concept too literally and made an enchanting movie about spirit and Gothic love. The film opens with the brutal murder of Eric Draven (Brandon Lee), who resurrects later to get vengeance.

Sadly, Brandon Lee’s tragic death during the production left a heavy weight on the film. However, the movie reflects Alex Proyas’s striking visual style along with its hellish cityscape. With Brandon Lee’s lasting performance, The Crow lives on as a powerful ‘90s action cult classic.

5. Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Although death is a tragic subject to deal with, Heaven Can Wait treats it with warmth and wit. Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), a football player, is mistakenly taken to Heaven. When his original body is cremated, he is placed in a new body.

In short, this movie is a screwball comedy. With a clever premise and timeless humor, Heaven Can Wait is a beloved adaptation of the American playwright Harry Segall’s play of the same name.

6. Always (1989)

Though not widely known, Always was directed by Steven Spielberg, who remade the 1943 film A Guy Named Joe.

The film features Richard Dreyfuss in the lead as Pete Sandich, who is a daring and risk-taking firefighter. He dies in the line of duty, only to return as a guiding spirit for his protégé, Ted (Brad Johnson), and Dorinda Dursten (Holly Hunter). Always is a romantic drama that showed Spielberg’s ability to tell heartfelt stories about love and loss.

7. Sunset Boulevard (1950)

After Citizen Kane, Sunset Boulevard stands as another legendary movie with an unforgettable visual: A screenwriter narrates his own story while floating dead in a pool.

Billy Wilder’s dark comedy was ahead of its time. It comments on Hollywood’s cruel nature and fading fame. Joe Gillis (William Holden) is attracted to the delusions of Norma Desmond, gloriously portrayed by Gloria Swanson.

The film is hauntingly funny and carries a distinctly cynical tone.

8. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies is a devastating film to watch. It focuses on the scars that wars leave on humans.

Based on the short story of Akiyuki Nosaka, the film follows two siblings, Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and his young sister Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi). They are orphaned due to the bombing and struggle to survive in the aftermath. The movie opens with young Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) dying alone in a train station.

Isao Takahata used his own childhood experiences of World War II in crafting this heartbreaking masterpiece.

9. The Killers (1946)

This classic crime thriller is based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway. Unlike popular noir narratives, The Killers kills its protagonist almost immediately. Ole ‘Swede’ Anderson (Burt Lancaster) accepts his fate at the hands of two hitmen with pistols, leaving his story to be revealed via flashbacks as an insurance investigator searches for Anderson’s beneficiary.

Expanding beyond what Hemingway wrote, the film weaves a web of classic noir and mystery. Moreover, the pair of killers in the movie would go on to influence a bunch of noir characters, such as Vincent and Jules in Pulp Fiction, or Ray and Ken in In Bruges.

Conclusion

These kinds of narratives take the audience by surprise right from the first frame and entertain them till the very last as the mystery reveals itself bit by bit. Moreover, we are emotionally invested in the protagonist’s story since we see them dead in the opening. In these films, Death is only the beginning.

Let me know your thoughts on it.