Any death that happened outside the audience’s view is considered an off-screen death. We can get confirmation of the death through the image of a corpse, a character’s pain and tears, a fade to black, or verbal confirmation, all without seeing the moment of death. Sometimes off-screen deaths are the only choice after we lose an actor that the filmmakers don’t want to replace. Other times, the off-screen death was the most moving way to crush our souls at the loss of a favorite character.
Filmmakers choose an off-screen approach for many different reasons. They might want to soften the blow, shield us from a disturbing image, portray a complex emotion, or find a unique way to devastate audiences. While it may not be the most common approach to a death scene, there are some unforgettable off-screen deaths that were so powerful we don’t even remember that we never saw the moment the light left a favorite character’s eyes. These off-screen deaths hurt no matter how much we did or didn’t see and left viewers with feelings of shock, anger, confusion, sorrow, and even fear.
10 Fred Weasley
Warner Bros.
Fred Weasley from the Harry Potter series was a beloved character who died off-screen during the Battle of Hogwarts. As one half of a prank-pulling twin duo, it hurts all the more to know that his twin, George, and the rest of the Weasley family, have to live on without him. Seeing Fred among the dead in the Great Hall of Hogwarts was a devastating moment for many a Potter fan. J.K. Rowling herself has said that Fred’s death was one of the hardest for her to write, and it was heartbreaking for fans to lose such a beloved character.
9 Bambi’s Mother
Walt Disney Productions
How many Disney fans can say they were traumatized by the death of Bambi’s mother in this classic animated film? The moment was shocking as the joy of fresh spring grass turned to the horror of a chase as Bambi and his mom tried to escape the human hunter on their tail. We don’t see Bambi’s mom get felled, but we hear the gunshot as Bambi flees. Next, our hearts break as Bambi gets lost in the dark woods and calls for a mother who can no answer him. This was one of the first times an animated movie dealt with the death of a parent so directly.
8 The Governor
AMC
It’s rare that a villain’s death tugs at the heartstrings, but the Governor, also known as Philip Blake, was a complex and fascinating villain in The Walking Dead. He was known for his signature eye patch, ruthless leadership style, and ability to manipulate those around him. There was a touch of sadness and tragedy to his character with a few glimpses of the vulnerable human beneath the persona of The Governor, so for some fans of The Walking Dead, his demise at the hands of the main characters was a bittersweet one.
There are some villains we love to hate, and many people were sad to see him go. His death was unusual for a show known for its gruesome details. The camera cuts away right before the Governor’s final killing blow, making this another off-screen yet moving death.
7 Tracy, the Mother
20th Century Fox
This tragic off-screen death from How I Met Your Mother was a controversial decision that didn’t satisfy all fans, but there’s no doubt it made an impact. After years of Ted telling his children the story of how he met their mother, the show revealed that she had died just a few years before him explaining how they met. Tracy McConnell’s identity wasn’t revealed until the Season 8 finale, only for the audience to find out in the final season that she passed away due to an illness presumed to be cancer. While not all fans agree with this tragic twist, the creators of the show say the story is about love and loss with a focus on Ted’s search for love rather than the identity of the titular “Mother.”
6 Mr. Hooper
Sesame Workshop
Mr. Hooper was a beloved Sesame Street character who had been on the show for over 20 years. Sadly, the actor Will Lee passed away in 1982, leaving the popular children’s show with the choice to write him off or recast him. After careful consideration, the Sesame Street team decided it would be fitting to make a tribute episode acknowledging his death. The episode Goodbye Mr. Hooper moved children and parents alike as they watched characters say farewall to one of their favorite neighbors on Sesame Street. Sesame Street doesn’t shy away from tough topics and handled this subject with grace and many touching tributes.
5 Georgie Denbrough
New Line Cinema
Sometimes what you don’t see is scarier than a graphic blood-spattered murder. The death of Georgie Denbrough in Stephen King’s It is a classic example. This iconic scene is recognizable even to people who have never seen the film. When we see an image of a boy in a raincoat holding a red balloon, we know that the sewer grate is game over for him. In the 2017 film, audiences watched in shock as Georgie lost his arm in his struggle against Pennywise before getting sucked into the sewer. We don’t know what happened to him down there, but we can assume the worst and can’t help but shed a tear for poor Georgie.
4 Cinna
Lionsgate
Cinna serves as Katniss Everdeen’s bold and colorful stylist in The Hunger Games series. Cinna was one of Katniss’ first allies in the Capitol and was immediately on board with preparing her to be the hero the rebels were waiting for. In the film Mockingjay Part 1, Cinna’s sendoff is subtle. When Katniss receives the designs for her dress from Cinna, she asks, “He’s dead, isn’t he?” Effie breaks the news that he is but has a small note from Cinna that says, “I’m still betting on you.” Many fans may think that Cinna deserved better, but this note and the impact of his dress on Katniss underscore how important he was to both the heroine and the story.
3 Beth March
Sony Pictures Releasing
There have been many movie and television adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women. The gentle and innocent middle sister, Beth March, falls victim to Scarlet fever in the story, and watching her family cope with her loss is nothing short of heartbreaking. Not every version opts to show Beth’s death. In fact, Greta Gerwig’s smash hit 2019 Little Women film did just that, and Beth’s loss hurt nonetheless for it. We feel the March family’s pain, and watching the lovable Beth succumb to her illness might have been too much for our hearts to take.
2 Ned Stark
HBO
Eddard Stark, also known as Ned, was an honorable and beloved King of the North in Game of Thrones. He was known for his strong sense of justice and unwavering loyalty to his family. He was honest, perhaps to a fault, since his political enemies made sure his head ended up on the literal chopping block. Ned’s execution happened off-screen, leaving fans shocked and heartbroken. Nevertheless, it was a dramatic moment, mostly experienced through the eyes of his daughter, fan-favorite Arya. Just like Arya, we look away from the horror of the moment the sword strikes, instead focusing on the sky and the terrible clanging of bells.
1 Augustus Waters
The Fault in Our Stars, based on John Green’s novel, is known for being a tearjerker which makes this off-screen death that much more impressive. The audience and heroine, Hazel, know for much of the movie that the charming Augustus Waters has cancer that could return at any time. After he receives the worst news, we prepare for the inevitable, shedding tears with all of the characters. But when his death comes, we don’t see it. Instead, we watch in sorrow as the phone rings late at night, and Hazel knows exactly what’s coming. She tells us the exact hour that she lost Augustus in her voiceover narration, and we watch her painful grief as she falls into her mother’s arms. The off-screen death is an interesting choice that illustrates the distance that makes loss so devastating.
