10 Saddest Character Deaths In Movie History

10. Mufasa - The Lion King

Disney first proved they had a knack for manipulating the emotions of audiences and transforming everyone in the theatre into a blubbering wreck when they killed Bambi's mother (off-screen) way back in 1942, and have led the way when it comes to cinematic sentimentality ever since.

With Bambi's mother dead, fifty years later they turned to another anthropomorphic animal's parent to kill off, as king of the lions Mufasa (voiced by the inimitable James Earl Jones) is flung from a cliff to his death at the bottom of a deep chasm by his treacherous brother. Unaware of the betrayal which has just taken place, all Simba can do is nuzzle at his body, desperate to undo the circle of life and bring him back to life as clouds of mist shroud the canyon floor.

The reaction of outrage from millions of people around the world to the shooting of Cedric the Lion was almost certainly enhanced by the influence The Lion King has had on modern culture - our compassion for our furry friends might not have developed so strongly were it not for Mufasa's fictional sacrifice.