Last words are a funny thing. They become our epitaph, a final cry that rings out into the night long after we are gone. Much the same can be said about character deaths in movies and TV.
Below are 10+ characters who had the best dying lines ever. Good or bad, these memorable moments have become forever ingrained in our pop culture, our minds as well as our hearts.
Obi-Wan Kenobi in *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope*.
“You can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.”
You can feel the assertion in his voice as he says it, almost as if he’s daring Vader to do it.
Roy Batty in *Blade Runner*.
“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”
There’s just something about that line that sends shivers up and down my spine. It’s nothing short of poetic.
Alfred Borden in *The Prestige*.
“Abracadabra.”
Alfred whispers his final magic word just moments before he’s hanged. The floor drops out and we watch as Alfred drops with a sickening snap.
It sets the stage for one of the greatest twists in the history of film.
The T-800 in *Terminator 2: Judgment Day*.
“I know now why you cry. But it’s something I can never do.”
Que the waterworks! I never thought it was possible to cry in an action movie before I watched T2 .
This scene is a glowing testament to Arnold Schwarzennegger’s performance in the film.
Gny. Sgt. Hartman in *Full Metal Jacket*.
“What is your major malfunction, numbnuts? Didn’t mommy and daddy show you enough attention when you were a child?”
Hartman put Pyle through living hell. In this case, I guess you reap what you sow.
Hodor in *Game Of Throne*.
“Hold the door!”
Game of Thrones didn’t tackle the topic of time travel very often. But they did use it in order to show exactly how Hodor, the gentle giant, got his namesake.
His sacrifice will never be forgotten!
Jack Pearson in *This Is Us*.
“Hey, Beck…you’re in front of the TV.”
I’ve said before that I find This Is Us to be emotionally manipulative. I stand by that statement. However, I still wept and sobbed uncontrollably during this scene.
I just couldn’t believe that Jack was actually gone!
HAL-9000 in *2001: A Space Odyssey*.
“I’m afraid. I’m afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I’m a…fraid.”
Anyone else crying? No? Just me? Okay.
John Coffey in *The Green Mile*.
“Please, Boss, don’t put that thing over my face. Don’t put me in the dark. I’s a-scared of the dark.”
The sheer powerlessness conveyed through this scene is earth-shattering. The guards know full-well that John didn’t do anything, yet still, they have to carry out the sentence.
Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue in *Forrest Gump*.
“I wanna go home.”
Bubba’s last lament is something that should hit hard for all of us.
Every time I watch this scene, I immediately have to call both of my parents and tell them how much I love them.
Mama Longneck in *The Land Before Time*.
“Little Foot, let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen closely…”
Well, there I go! Weepy eyed as can be. I was obsessed with The Land Before Time when I was a kid, but I always hated this part…
Noah Calhoun in *The Notebook*.
“Goodnight. I’ll be seeing ya…”
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This entire movie just makes me think of my grandparents. We should all be so lucky to leave this world while embracing the person we love most.
David Aames in *Vanilla Sky*.
“I’ll see you in another life. When we are both cats.”
Vanilla Sky is all about taking that leap of faith. About understanding the consequences of our decisions, both good and bad.
Mostly, it’s about embracing the unknown with open arms.
Glenn Rhee in *The Walking Dead*.
“Maggie…I’ll find you.”
I can hardly even think about this scene without welling-up.
With one crack of the bat, Negan destroyed the best character of the series. It was all downhill from here for The Walking Dead .
William Wallace in *Braveheart*.
“Freedom!”
This one-word sums up the entire plot of Braveheart .
The desire for freedom, the innate longing to be the master of your own destiny, and the complete and utter refusal to bend the knee to any foreign power.
