10 War Movie Cliches That Annoy EVERYONE
2. Don't You Die On Me!
Battlefields breed death and deformity, with armed combat presenting the potential for physical injuries of such severity that there's no chance of recovery for the wounded. Hardened soldiers are painfully aware of this status quo, begging the question as to why the "Don't you die on me!" cliche is so prevalent throughout a multitude of high-profile war films.
It's a trope that has been seen on countless occasions. A soldier will tearfully plead with his mortally wounded companion to pull through their injury, insisting that the wound they've been dealt is survivable. This ritual can be seen throughout war films, despite the stricken soldier in question missing the bottom half of their torso or possessing a similarly delightful affliction.
There's nothing inherently wrong with using the "Don't you die on me!" cliche in a war movie. In many cases, the trope can be used to effectively highlight the heartbreaking losses that take place on the battlefield. It's just a cliche that has been played out to the point that simply hearing a phrase to a similar effect is likely to evoke a collective eye roll from the audience.