8 Movies That Failed Because They Didn't Kill The Main Character

1. The Dark Knight Rises

RIP: Bruce Wayne

The marketing for The Dark Knight Rises was heavily influenced by the fact that it was the definitive end of the trilogy. Though most filmmakers leave the door open for future films, Christopher Nolan made it clear from the beginning that this was "the end of the Dark Knight legend." Fans wondered if Nolan would have the guts to do the impossible, and kill the Batman, and at the end of the film it appeared that he did. Bruce Wayne stopped a nuclear bomb from destroying Gotham by attaching it to his plane and flying it over the ocean, supposedly sacrificing himself to do so.

The film then jumps into epilogue mode, showing what happens to all of the characters after Bruce's death. It's all beautifully filmed and wraps things up rather nicely. Batman becomes the symbol Bruce always wanted, Wayne Manor is donated to the city as an orphanage, and former detective Robin "John" Blake inherits the Batcave. A satisfying ending to the greatest superhero trilogy of all time. But wait! Is that Alfred in that cafe in Florence? And... BRUCE IS ALIVE! NO WAY! The booming Hans Zimmer score begins, and the credits roll.

I can't help but feel a little bummed that Bruce makes it out alive. Look, I get it. The guy deserves some happiness, and has finally moved on from the death of his parents and put his need of donning the cape and cowl behind him. He's succeeded in his mission of making Batman a symbol for hope and justice in Gotham, and he even got the girl. But... seriously? Not only has the final shot of Bruce garnered an incredible amount of debate amongst fans ("Nolan's pulling a trick! It's all in Alfred's mind!"), but it makes its audience feel foolish for balling their eyes out for five minutes. As hard as it is to see Batman blow up, him sacrificing himself for Gotham just felt right. It was sad, heartbreaking even, but Nolan truly earned that moment. Though Bruce deserves his happy ending, the final twist that he's miraculously made it out alive feels a bit too much like a Hollywood happy ending.

Plus, Nolan ended up putting himself into a corner by keeping Bruce alive, sparking endless debates and speculation about his future return in a Justice League film (no matter how much both he and Christian Bale insist that it'll never happen).

So, what films do you think should have killed off the main character? And what did you think about the films on this list? Sound off in the comments below!