10 More Greatest 'I'm Dead And I Know It' Moments In Movie History
2. Hans Gruber Takes A Fall - Die Hard
Villain death scenes don't get much better than Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) in the original Die Hard.
After proving himself such an intelligent and resourceful antagonist, Gruber meets a violent end as he clings desperately to Holly's (Bonnie Bedelia) watch while dangling out the side of the Nakatomi Plaza.
After a struggle, John McClane (Bruce Willis) manages to unclasp the watch from her wrist, allowingt the laws of gravity to do the rest.
Gruber's death is iconic for one reason above all others - John McTiernan's superb decision to shoot the scene in slow-motion, allowing audiences to linger on Gruber's realisation that he's about to fall several hundred feet to the unforgiving concrete below.
It's a death scene made even better by the fact that Rickman's terrified expression was kinda-sorta real.
While shooting the scene against a blue-screen backdrop, Rickman was told he'd be dropped onto an airbag on the count of three, but McTiernan decided to have him dropped on the count of one instead, ensuring Gruber's final "Oh s**t!" expression is informed by the actor's very real fear and surprise.