10 Ballsy Movies That Kill Off A Major Star In The First Act

We've discussed the admirers and imitators, so now let's get to the innovator. The original scream queen, Janet Leigh, was also involved in one of the first shock killings in the history of moving pictures.

Leigh was as hot as could be at the time Psycho was released, having just bulldozed the entire 1950s into the ground with numerous starring roles in high-profile films.

And it seemed she was ready to continue that bludgeoning in the 60s, with her supposed starring role in Alfred Hitchock's newest thriller. Hitchock had become one of the most prominent directors of the era, and his collaboration with Leigh seemed to signal another ace in the hole for Leigh.

And while Psycho did, in fact, become one of Leigh's most famous roles, her screen time was not exactly befitting of her iconic status. She was simply a decoy, a way to lure audiences into the sick and twisted world of Norman Bates.

And if we're being honest here, this was absolutely the best case scenario for this movie. Without her initial involvement, would that famous shower scene still be so...well, famous? Her star power only made the expertly-shot death scene that much more memorable.