Although films generally only last around 90 to 120 minutes, we can become so attached to the characters at this time that they can feel like friends or family. In all genres of film, death is common and will frequently happen to the characters that we have become so attached to. Often these passings are poetic, and audiences around the world are still coming to terms with their departures. Be warned, even the toughest of watchers will find themselves reaching for the tissues after sitting through these films.
12. Severus Snape (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2)
J.K. Rowling started axing characters left, right and center towards the end of the Harry Potter story, but it is the passing of Severus Snape that was the most tragic. Throughout all of the installments, Snape is an intriguing character who fills the role of an antagonist. In this final installment, we learn that all along, he was working with Dumbledore to protect Harry from Voldermort and that Dumbledore’s passing was planned between the two of them. It turns out that Snape was in love with Harry’s mother, Lily, and wanted to protect her son. This is a particularly tragic demise because we do not learn that he wasn’t an antagonist until after he has passed. Throughout the different installments, his role had been ambiguous. When this is combined with the passing of Sirius Black, Dumbledore, Fred Weasley, Dobby, and others, it makes for a tearful ending.
Source: Screenshot via Warner Bros. Pictures