15 Shocking Deaths in Movies and TV Shows You Never Saw Coming

15. Ned Stark from Game of Thrones

Ned Stark was a respected war hero with strong alliances and even hidden knowledge about the Targaryen claim, making him a powerful force in the Seven Kingdoms. But the Lannisters saw him as too dangerous, so they made sure he never lived to challenge their rule. | © HBO

14. Marion Crane from Psycho

Marion Crane’s death in Psycho comes out of nowhere, completely defying our expectations. As we follow her inner struggles and moral choices, her sudden end hits hard, leaving viewers deeply unsettled. | © Paramount Pictures

13. Shireen Baratheon from Game of Thrones

Shireen Baratheon, a gentle young girl who had already suffered so much, is shockingly burned alive as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. This brutal episode leaves viewers in tears, as a bright future is abruptly snuffed out in one of Westeros' most heartbreaking moments. | © HBO

12. Llewelyn Moss in No Country for Old Men

Llewelyn Moss meets a quiet, almost surreal end in a motel room that leaves you wondering if it happened. His sudden death, after risking it all for $2 million, breaks the heart of his wife, Carla Jean, and stands as one of those movie exits you never saw coming. | © Paramount Pictures

11. Zoe Barnes from House Of Cards

Zoe Barnes meets a sudden end in the very first episode of season two when she’s shoved under a train at a dark subway station. Despite her key role in season one and a tense meeting planned with Frank Underwood, her unexpected death leaves viewers shocked by how quickly she was swept aside. | © Netflix

10. Billy Costigan in The Departed

Billy Costigan’s end in The Departed comes as a total shock during an elevator scene where his true identity is suddenly exposed. As soon as the doors open, backup officers open fire, leaving everyone, even Colin Sullivan, utterly stunned by this twist. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

9. Rita Morgan from Dexter

In a gut-wrenching twist on Dexter, the Trinity Killer dominates over Dexter by leaving his wife lifeless in a bathtub filled with her blood. Dexter’s growing arrogance and selfish choices led to this tragedy, but the show barely explored the fallout, leaving fans wanting more. | © Showtime Networks

8. Russell Franklin from Deep Blue Sea

Russell Franklin gets unexpectedly chomped by a killer shark right in the middle of a rousing speech about harvesting shark brain tissue in Deep Blue Sea. His sudden death stands out as one of the most shocking and oddly funny moments in the movie. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

7. Marvin from Pulp Fiction

Marvin's sudden death in Pulp Fiction comes when Vincent accidentally points his gun at him during a chat, and one careless trigger pull changes everything. The shock of his bloody death, delivered with a famous "Oh man, I shot Marvin in the face", catches everyone off guard. | © Miramax Films

6. Opie from Sons of Anarchy

Opie's life had been a rough ride from the start, and even though he stayed loyal to his best friend Jax, his fate was sealed in that brutal moment. When a lead pipe struck him on the head, it shocked everyone and left a deep void in Sons of Anarchy that fans still feel. | © FX

5. Tommy DeVito from Goodfellas

Joe Pesci’s Tommy gets killed out of the blue in Goodfellas, leaving everyone in shock. James even breaks down in tears before his anger takes over. It turns out the hit was revenge for Billy Batts, and that sudden loss turns a familiar moment into one of the most iconic moments in the movie. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

4. Hank Schrader from Breaking Bad

Hank Schrader got caught in a desert showdown that no one saw coming, and his sudden death hit hard. Even though he was tough at first, fans grew to love him, making his loss one of the saddest moments in Breaking Bad. | © Sony Pictures Releasing

3. Thanos from Avengers: Endgame

Thanos meets an unexpected death in the first 15 minutes of Endgame when Thor beheads him in a swift, shocking moment. This left viewers pretty shocked and wondering how the movie would proceed (without any Marvel forum spoilers back then). | © Marvel Studios

2. Howard Ratner from Uncut Gems

With all his gambling debts and poor decisions, Howard Ratner had the death coming to him, but nobody expected him to die like that. In a stunning mirror-shot moment by the Safdie Brothers, his unexpected death leaves viewers reeling from the shock. | © A24

1. Grace Shelby from Peaky Blinders

Grace Shelby’s death in Peaky Blinders came as a shock when a hit on Tommy went horribly wrong, ending the episode with a stray bullet that took the life of such a complex character. The show barely explained the tragedy, leaving viewers stunned by the sudden loss and the lack of a proper farewell. | © BBC