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Death is a touchy subject in most scenarios, so most will treat the concept with respect. Some film directors, however, tend to poke fun at the idea by incorporating ridiculous death scenes into their films. There are plenty of absurd deaths in cinema, but some are more bizarre than others.
7 Brick Tamland – Anchorman 2
Brick was perhaps the most charming character in the original Anchorman, making his death in Anchorman 2 feel even more heartbreaking. While attending his funeral, Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell, learns that Brick was lost at sea a year prior after swimming out to sea to pet a bird.
His friends stay for the rest of the funeral and collectively mourn Brick, that is until he takes center stage to read a eulogy. Brick is known for these sorts of antics, but his reaction to learning he never died reveals a new side to his character. Though he didn’t actually die, dying at sea while swimming out to pet a bird would be an absurd way to go.
6 The Henchman – Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery
The Austin Powers series is renowned for featuring some of the most ridiculous antics to grace cinema. Each movie is a rollercoaster from start to finish, but the original features one of the most hilarious death scenes in cinematic history.
In an attempt to stop Mr. Evil from starting a war, Austin Powers and Vanessa Kensington devote themselves to foiling his plans. Mr. Evil is their main target, but that doesn’t stop Austin from rolling over one of his henchmen while driving a steamroller. It’s a gruesome death, but the way the henchman reacts to the oncoming steamroller is truly ridiculous.
5 Derek Zoolander’s Friends – Zoolander
Derek Zoolander is a model who has dedicated his whole life to the fashion industry. He achieved great success thanks to his “Blue Steel” pose and feels he is untouchable, that is until his arch nemesis is crowned Male Model of the Year instead of him.
The premise of Zoolander is already absurd, but some of Derek’s pastimes take the cake. He engages in multiple activities while driving around New York City with his friends, with his trip to a gas station posing the most danger out of them all. Upon pulling up, Derek’s friends begin dousing each other in gasoline. They see no problem in doing so, until one of them lights a cigarette, causing a massive explosion that kills them all.
4 Christopher Danson & P.K. Highsmith – The Other Guys
The Other Guys follows the lives of Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two unlikely detectives who start off as enemies but slowly form a strong bond. They are regarded as laughingstocks by their colleagues, but this does not deter them from doing their jobs.
Danson and Highsmith are highly renowned as the best police officers in New York City. It is because of their actions that countless criminals have been brought to justice, but their fearless natures eventually catch up to them. Danson and Highsmith decide to leap from the top of a building during a pursuit. They believe that the shrubbery below will cushion their fall but, as expected, they both die upon impact.
3 Marvin – Pulp Fiction
Marvin isn’t the most memorable character in Pulp Fiction, but his death marks one of the most absurd instances in Quentin Tarantino’s filmography. Marvin decides to join Jules and Vincent after witnessing them assassinate two people in the hope of saving his skin.
The two hitmen then task Marvin with acting as an informant, a role he reluctantly accepts to ensure his safety. This new comradery is cut surprisingly short, however, when Vincent accidentally shoots Marvin in the head, killing him. Most deaths like this aren’t really absurd, but the fact Vincent didn’t mean to kill Marvin makes the situation feel ludicrous.
2 The Unprepared Swordsman – Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
While fleeing from a group of Mola Ram’s henchmen, Indiana Jones finds himself navigating a marketplace. When the dust settles, a lone pursuer steps forth from the crowd and challenges Jones to a sword fight. It’s initially presented as a tense scene, but Jones’s next move quickly ends the confrontation.
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Instead of honoring the man’s wishes, Jones draws his pistol and shoots his opponent dead. The crowd cheers for his heroic actions, but it’s hard to ignore how absurd the swordsman’s death was, especially after the performance he made before Jones drew his gun.
Getting shot isn’t an overly absurd way to meet one’s end, but the swordsman’s willingness to trust that his enemy would engage in physical combat made his sudden death feel bizarre. What’s even more comical about this ending is the fact that it was only included because Harrison Ford wasn’t feeling well, resulting in a much more humorous finale.
1 Billy Bickle – Seven Psychopaths
Marty Faranan is in search of something to change his life. He wants to write a movie, but the only thing he has come up with so far is a title. His writer’s block is severe, that is until he becomes wrapped in a world of crime thanks to his friends Billy Bickle and Hans Kieslowski.
Billy and Hans earn their living by kidnapping dogs owned by wealthy people and holding them for ransom. Things take a turn, however, when they steal the pet of a notorious gangster. Billy dies from a gunshot to the head during the climax of the movie but takes a moment before he passes to ask the kidnapped dog to give him the paw.
Most movie characters who are shot in the head will die immediately, but Billy refuses to fall into this category. He remains alive for several moments before accepting his fate, defying the laws of nature.
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