10 Great Movie Characters Who Die At The Beginning
2. Ellie - Up
Pixar's 2009 film Up swept audiences away with its opening scene. In it, we meet two children, Carl and Ellie, who make plans to go to South America, which Ellie describes as "America but South." It's an adorable introduction to the film and its eventual leading man.
Then, audiences are treated to the one of the greatest sequences in Pixar history. Carl and Ellie get married, start a life together, build a house, spend time together in love, prepare to become parents, learn that they cannot have children, and grow old together.
Unfortunately, Ellie becomes sick and passes away, leaving Carl to sit alone at her funeral as the scene comes to a close. The montage contains no dialogue, but Michael Giacchino's score packs a heavy emotional punch. Throughout the film, Carl tries to make it to South America in Ellie's honour.
Ellie's spunk, charm, and passing are a large part of why Up is so fondly remembered. Though the rest of the film is wonderful, it never comes close to the sheer beauty of the opening scene with Ellie.