[Music]
they had one foot in the grave and the
other on a banana peel
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
movie characters who were supposed to
die but didn’t this is Ripley last
survivor of the Nostromo for this list
we’ve selected characters who survived
all the way through to the ends of their
respective films but weren’t so lucky
in earlier drafts of the script or the
novel upon which the story was based
nope there they got a one-way ticket to
the afterlife I’m out of it for a little
while everybody gets delusions of
grandeur since we’ll be revealing how
our entries danced with death a formal
spoiler alert is required well I’ve been
pretty scared about this whole thing
number 10 deputy sheriff Dwight Dewey
Riley scream it is there a problem on
campus no everything’s under control
after gaining fame for his a Nightmare
on Elm Street series director Wes Craven
turned the horror genre on it’s severed
head with this self-aware slasher flick
a film that ironically mocked many
classic horror conventions while
following them anyway looks like we’ve
got a serial killer on our hands
serial killers not really accurate I got
a knock up a couple more to get that
title originally Dewey was written as
the character that fulfilled the
bumbling police officer cliche who was
to meet his end during the plots climax
however actor David Arquette made the
character much more likable than was
originally planned Sidney
test audiences loved the deputy sheriff
and responded negatively to his death
luckily as a precaution Craven had shot
a scene where the character survives
[Music]
the lovable cop was saved and made it to
the sequel where he was stabbed again
number 9 Dante Hicks clerks not even
supposed to be here today he wasn’t even
supposed to be there that day the lead
character of Kevin Smith’s directorial
debut just can’t catch a break you think
you get stupid questions you should hear
the barrage of stupid questions I get
not only is he called in to work on his
day off
he’s also blindsided by life’s bigger
issues like death and romance things
happen today all right things I probably
ruined my chances with Caitlin the
cashiers relatability as an everyman is
what one viewers over and helped the
film garner a cult following so it’s
easy to see how shocked initial
audiences were after viewing the
original ending which showed Dante
getting shot and killed by a common
thief would you forget something I’m
sorry we’re closed the Bleak conclusion
was immediately panned and several of
Smith’s mentors persuaded the rookie
filmmaker to change it luckily so as the
happy ending spawned the entire view
askew naver’s you know the real tragedy
about all this is I’m not even supposed
to be here today number 8
Clarence Worley true romance hello hello
baby baby one thing that’s true about
this romantic crime flick is the
parallel between its main character
Clarence Worley and the film
screenwriter Quentin Tarantino so that
envelope right there for my peace of
mind my peace of mind
it’s not one penny more despite calling
it his most autobiographical film
Tarantino remained faithful to his
trademark style of black comedy in his
original version of the script killing
off his fictional counterpart in a
botched money for drugs exchange
[Music]
however director Tony Scott became so
attached to the explosive love between
Clarence and Alabama that he couldn’t
bear to separate them the leading man
was spared and the star-crossed lovers
lived happily ever after
and sometimes Clarence asked me what I
would have done if he had died if that
bullet had been 2 inches more to the
left to this I always smiled as if I’m
not going to satisfy him with response
but I always do Tarantino later admitted
that Scott’s decision was the right one
for the tome the director brought to the
film as it transformed true romance into
a genuine modern fairy tale did I do my
part okay Pamela you perfect Megan music
like a ninja number 7 Poe Dameron Star
Wars Episode 7 the force awakens you
have to hide just imagine how the
original trilogy would have turned out
if Han Solo hadn’t made it past a new
hope well that was almost going to be
the fate of this generation
scruffy-looking nerf-herder
the ace pilot poe dameron was not
supposed to survive the crash landing on
jakku after helping fin escape the first
order but actor Oscar Isaac had
different plans wearisome
terminated by you the Guatemalan
thespian talked director JJ Abrams into
keeping Dameron around as well as
keeping himself employed Oh Cameron
you’re alive
boy the change has already paid off as
Poe is now a fan favorite in a promising
young Star Wars cast now hopefully he
can avoid his predecessors mistake and
steer clear of frozen Carbonite oh
really you’re cold
number 6 Matt Hooper jaws that’s it
fire I’m not gonna waste my time arguing
with a man who’s lining up to be a hot
lunch I’m gonna see you later despite
what many think the books not always
better at least that was the case for
this marine biologist in Steven
Spielberg’s oceanic thriller that’s
right the Hooper and Peter Benchley’s
original novel is a stuck-up know-it-all
he further fulfills the requirements of
the resident jerk by having an affair
with Brody’s wife so in a satisfying
turn of events the book has Matt getting
devoured by the shark while in an
underwater cage
however the characters original fate
didn’t gel with the natural charm of
actor Richard Dreyfuss it’s called
territoriality just theory that I happen
to agree with Spielberg therefore
switched up the plot letting Hooper live
but still allowing the shark hating
Quint to meet his maker on the high seas
albeit in a very different way than
Benchley had written this is not a boat
accident number 5 Martin Riggs lethal
weapon to diplomatic immunity
we all know the phrase diplomatic
immunity just been revoked
this piece of legal armor worn by the
film’s main villain added a layer of
difficulty to the LAPD duo’s task of
protecting Leo Getz
also known as the most annoying witness
ever so this me Leo Getz whatever you
need Leo Getz yet it however Arjun Reds
immunity was also supposed to play a
part in officer Riggs untimely death I’m
sorry that’s very honorable in writer
Shane Black’s original script the cop
was shot to death by Rudd at the movies
climax
however Warner Brothers wanted more
sequels
forced a rewrite to keep Mel Gibson’s
character alive he’s not dead until I
tell you black ultimately left the
series without finishing the script but
he still considers his tense and
emotional first draft to be the best
thing he’s ever written good where are
they they all gone bad guys you hit him
number four dr. Ian Malcolm Jurassic
Park when you gotta go you go after
previously saving Richard Dreyfuss his
character and jaws because of his charm
Steven Spielberg wasted no time doing
the same for Jeff Goldblum Kane right
all the time in Michael Crichton’s novel
dr. Ian Malcolm spends the majority of
his time doped up on morphine slowly
fading until he ultimately dies at the
end
but Goldblum was so sarcastically
endearing as Malcolm that his planned
death at the hands of the t-rex was
scrapped to keep audiences happy
well they got in their King Kong in fact
Malcolm’s massive popularity met the
scientists became an important character
in the film sequel if you want to leave
your name on something fine but stop
putting it on other people’s headstone
Oh doctor Ian’s fame even crossed into
the literary world as Crichton was
pressured into retracting the characters
death to keep him around and to keep
people buying so what are you thinking
we’re out of a job don’t you mean
extinct
number three John Rambo first blood they
drew first blood not me say what you
will about his one-liners
but Sylvester Stallone knows how to
orchestrate a successful franchise while
Rocky’s planned death in a street fight
in Rocky five would have been a
controversial end for the beloved
character first Bloods misunderstood
hero was set to get the axe before the
series even got going so why are you
pushing you haven’t done it insane to
you David morels 1972 novel had Rambo
killed by Sam Troutman and early
versions of the screenplay went further
by having the mentally war-torn veteran
commit suicide after his climactic
rampage who later protests me huh
who are they unless they bid me a bid
there I know what the hell they yelling
about while sticking to the script would
have been a profound conclusion slide
through it to the wayside in favor of
sparking another profitable series the
final version had Rambo making it to the
end credits setting the stage for three
sequels it’s over
nothing is over nothing number two Han
Solo Star Wars Episode six Return of the
Jedi
gonna die here
being we’ve already covered how killing
off solos millennial reincarnation in
the force awakens would have been a bad
move now imagine if the original
wisecracking smuggler hadn’t made it out
of the original trilogy’s conclusion
alive hey I don’t know funny you should
say that
Harrison Ford requested that his
character martyr himself not only to up
the emotional stakes for the rebel
forces but also to show some real
development in Han oh great but even
before that George Lucas had planned for
him to die somewhere in the middle of
Return of the Jedi and I thought that
the best utility of the character would
be for him to sacrifice himself to a
high ideal and give a little bottom
little gravitas to the enterprise so why
didn’t he well toy sales Han Solo was
just too darn popular that bad huh but
you won’t hear us complaining as the
smuggler lived to once again steal the
show in the force awakens Chewie
[Music]
we’re home before we unveil our number
one pick here are some honorable
mentions Caesar I’m sorry is it my fault
this has to stop this isn’t the way this
is not the time for this get out get out
hello this is for head of security what
yeah look I got a real job what do you
want I’m working I got something going
on here what harassing interns well know
if you’ve got to have a busted leg ah
this is a way to do it
number one Ellen Ripley alien what was
your special order you read it what it
was Claire
Ridley Scott’s masterpiece was widely
praised for reversing the gender roles
that dominated the sci-fi genre however
the film wouldn’t have become the
subversive classic that it is today if
things had gone as planned we’re gonna
blow up the ship we’ll take our chances
in the shuttle
Scott originally intended for Ripley to
be decapitated by the xenomorph who
would then replicate her voice to make a
final note in Ripley’s log and to give
us a chilling closing sound bite
producers didn’t like the idea of a
morbid ending to an already dark film
and vetoed the curtain closer allowing
Ripley to return to fight another day
the icon of film feminism would live to
see the sequel where she delivered one
of the most kick-ass lines in cinema
history get away from her you bitch
do you agree with our list who do you
think are the best characters that were
supposed to die for more death dodging
top 10s published every day be sure to
subscribe to watchmojo.com
[Music]
you
they had one foot in the grave and the
other on a banana peel
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
movie characters who were supposed to
die but didn’t this is Ripley last
survivor of the Nostromo for this list
we’ve selected characters who survived
all the way through to the ends of their
respective films but weren’t so lucky
in earlier drafts of the script or the
novel upon which the story was based
nope there they got a one-way ticket to
the afterlife I’m out of it for a little
while everybody gets delusions of
grandeur since we’ll be revealing how
our entries danced with death a formal
spoiler alert is required well I’ve been
pretty scared about this whole thing
number 10 deputy sheriff Dwight Dewey
Riley scream it is there a problem on
campus no everything’s under control
after gaining fame for his a Nightmare
on Elm Street series director Wes Craven
turned the horror genre on it’s severed
head with this self-aware slasher flick
a film that ironically mocked many
classic horror conventions while
following them anyway looks like we’ve
got a serial killer on our hands
serial killers not really accurate I got
a knock up a couple more to get that
title originally Dewey was written as
the character that fulfilled the
bumbling police officer cliche who was
to meet his end during the plots climax
however actor David Arquette made the
character much more likable than was
originally planned Sidney
test audiences loved the deputy sheriff
and responded negatively to his death
luckily as a precaution Craven had shot
a scene where the character survives
[Music]
the lovable cop was saved and made it to
the sequel where he was stabbed again
number 9 Dante Hicks clerks not even
supposed to be here today he wasn’t even
supposed to be there that day the lead
character of Kevin Smith’s directorial
debut just can’t catch a break you think
you get stupid questions you should hear
the barrage of stupid questions I get
not only is he called in to work on his
day off
he’s also blindsided by life’s bigger
issues like death and romance things
happen today all right things I probably
ruined my chances with Caitlin the
cashiers relatability as an everyman is
what one viewers over and helped the
film garner a cult following so it’s
easy to see how shocked initial
audiences were after viewing the
original ending which showed Dante
getting shot and killed by a common
thief would you forget something I’m
sorry we’re closed the Bleak conclusion
was immediately panned and several of
Smith’s mentors persuaded the rookie
filmmaker to change it luckily so as the
happy ending spawned the entire view
askew naver’s you know the real tragedy
about all this is I’m not even supposed
to be here today number 8
Clarence Worley true romance hello hello
baby baby one thing that’s true about
this romantic crime flick is the
parallel between its main character
Clarence Worley and the film
screenwriter Quentin Tarantino so that
envelope right there for my peace of
mind my peace of mind
it’s not one penny more despite calling
it his most autobiographical film
Tarantino remained faithful to his
trademark style of black comedy in his
original version of the script killing
off his fictional counterpart in a
botched money for drugs exchange
[Music]
however director Tony Scott became so
attached to the explosive love between
Clarence and Alabama that he couldn’t
bear to separate them the leading man
was spared and the star-crossed lovers
lived happily ever after
and sometimes Clarence asked me what I
would have done if he had died if that
bullet had been 2 inches more to the
left to this I always smiled as if I’m
not going to satisfy him with response
but I always do Tarantino later admitted
that Scott’s decision was the right one
for the tome the director brought to the
film as it transformed true romance into
a genuine modern fairy tale did I do my
part okay Pamela you perfect Megan music
like a ninja number 7 Poe Dameron Star
Wars Episode 7 the force awakens you
have to hide just imagine how the
original trilogy would have turned out
if Han Solo hadn’t made it past a new
hope well that was almost going to be
the fate of this generation
scruffy-looking nerf-herder
the ace pilot poe dameron was not
supposed to survive the crash landing on
jakku after helping fin escape the first
order but actor Oscar Isaac had
different plans wearisome
terminated by you the Guatemalan
thespian talked director JJ Abrams into
keeping Dameron around as well as
keeping himself employed Oh Cameron
you’re alive
boy the change has already paid off as
Poe is now a fan favorite in a promising
young Star Wars cast now hopefully he
can avoid his predecessors mistake and
steer clear of frozen Carbonite oh
really you’re cold
number 6 Matt Hooper jaws that’s it
fire I’m not gonna waste my time arguing
with a man who’s lining up to be a hot
lunch I’m gonna see you later despite
what many think the books not always
better at least that was the case for
this marine biologist in Steven
Spielberg’s oceanic thriller that’s
right the Hooper and Peter Benchley’s
original novel is a stuck-up know-it-all
he further fulfills the requirements of
the resident jerk by having an affair
with Brody’s wife so in a satisfying
turn of events the book has Matt getting
devoured by the shark while in an
underwater cage
however the characters original fate
didn’t gel with the natural charm of
actor Richard Dreyfuss it’s called
territoriality just theory that I happen
to agree with Spielberg therefore
switched up the plot letting Hooper live
but still allowing the shark hating
Quint to meet his maker on the high seas
albeit in a very different way than
Benchley had written this is not a boat
accident number 5 Martin Riggs lethal
weapon to diplomatic immunity
we all know the phrase diplomatic
immunity just been revoked
this piece of legal armor worn by the
film’s main villain added a layer of
difficulty to the LAPD duo’s task of
protecting Leo Getz
also known as the most annoying witness
ever so this me Leo Getz whatever you
need Leo Getz yet it however Arjun Reds
immunity was also supposed to play a
part in officer Riggs untimely death I’m
sorry that’s very honorable in writer
Shane Black’s original script the cop
was shot to death by Rudd at the movies
climax
however Warner Brothers wanted more
sequels
forced a rewrite to keep Mel Gibson’s
character alive he’s not dead until I
tell you black ultimately left the
series without finishing the script but
he still considers his tense and
emotional first draft to be the best
thing he’s ever written good where are
they they all gone bad guys you hit him
number four dr. Ian Malcolm Jurassic
Park when you gotta go you go after
previously saving Richard Dreyfuss his
character and jaws because of his charm
Steven Spielberg wasted no time doing
the same for Jeff Goldblum Kane right
all the time in Michael Crichton’s novel
dr. Ian Malcolm spends the majority of
his time doped up on morphine slowly
fading until he ultimately dies at the
end
but Goldblum was so sarcastically
endearing as Malcolm that his planned
death at the hands of the t-rex was
scrapped to keep audiences happy
well they got in their King Kong in fact
Malcolm’s massive popularity met the
scientists became an important character
in the film sequel if you want to leave
your name on something fine but stop
putting it on other people’s headstone
Oh doctor Ian’s fame even crossed into
the literary world as Crichton was
pressured into retracting the characters
death to keep him around and to keep
people buying so what are you thinking
we’re out of a job don’t you mean
extinct
number three John Rambo first blood they
drew first blood not me say what you
will about his one-liners
but Sylvester Stallone knows how to
orchestrate a successful franchise while
Rocky’s planned death in a street fight
in Rocky five would have been a
controversial end for the beloved
character first Bloods misunderstood
hero was set to get the axe before the
series even got going so why are you
pushing you haven’t done it insane to
you David morels 1972 novel had Rambo
killed by Sam Troutman and early
versions of the screenplay went further
by having the mentally war-torn veteran
commit suicide after his climactic
rampage who later protests me huh
who are they unless they bid me a bid
there I know what the hell they yelling
about while sticking to the script would
have been a profound conclusion slide
through it to the wayside in favor of
sparking another profitable series the
final version had Rambo making it to the
end credits setting the stage for three
sequels it’s over
nothing is over nothing number two Han
Solo Star Wars Episode six Return of the
Jedi
gonna die here
being we’ve already covered how killing
off solos millennial reincarnation in
the force awakens would have been a bad
move now imagine if the original
wisecracking smuggler hadn’t made it out
of the original trilogy’s conclusion
alive hey I don’t know funny you should
say that
Harrison Ford requested that his
character martyr himself not only to up
the emotional stakes for the rebel
forces but also to show some real
development in Han oh great but even
before that George Lucas had planned for
him to die somewhere in the middle of
Return of the Jedi and I thought that
the best utility of the character would
be for him to sacrifice himself to a
high ideal and give a little bottom
little gravitas to the enterprise so why
didn’t he well toy sales Han Solo was
just too darn popular that bad huh but
you won’t hear us complaining as the
smuggler lived to once again steal the
show in the force awakens Chewie
[Music]
we’re home before we unveil our number
one pick here are some honorable
mentions Caesar I’m sorry is it my fault
this has to stop this isn’t the way this
is not the time for this get out get out
hello this is for head of security what
yeah look I got a real job what do you
want I’m working I got something going
on here what harassing interns well know
if you’ve got to have a busted leg ah
this is a way to do it
number one Ellen Ripley alien what was
your special order you read it what it
was Claire
Ridley Scott’s masterpiece was widely
praised for reversing the gender roles
that dominated the sci-fi genre however
the film wouldn’t have become the
subversive classic that it is today if
things had gone as planned we’re gonna
blow up the ship we’ll take our chances
in the shuttle
Scott originally intended for Ripley to
be decapitated by the xenomorph who
would then replicate her voice to make a
final note in Ripley’s log and to give
us a chilling closing sound bite
producers didn’t like the idea of a
morbid ending to an already dark film
and vetoed the curtain closer allowing
Ripley to return to fight another day
the icon of film feminism would live to
see the sequel where she delivered one
of the most kick-ass lines in cinema
history get away from her you bitch
do you agree with our list who do you
think are the best characters that were
supposed to die for more death dodging
top 10s published every day be sure to
subscribe to watchmojo.com
[Music]
you
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