Great movies without either deaths or explosions?

[Prowler]

Thought this would be a fun idea.

I think we can automatically exclude a ton of movies for kids and a ton of romantic comedies. After all, who expects deaths in those kinds of movies? Explosions probably exist in a lot of kids movies but no one dies or gets seriously injured from them.

First movie to spring to my mind is Rocky. I've only seen the first two Rocky films, but there were no deaths nor explosions in them.

I'm sure there are more, but I don't watch as many movies as a lot of you probably do. So go easy on me, please.

[frank_one]

Without explosions? A lot of names come to mind. Without any death? This is harder than I thought, there's always at least ONE person killed in every movie!

Here are a few that I don't think have people dying:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Raging Bull (1980)
8½ (1963)
Umberto D. (1952)
El ángel exterminador (1962)
L'Atalante (1934)

[neatoman]

It can't be done, blood sacrifice is required to make a good movie, it's the first rule of film making.

But in all seriousness, all stories require conflict and resolution to work. Provided that the stakes are low enough and the conflict isn't too serious, you can make a functioning narrative without death or any kind of action scene. There are probably a few comedies and drama movies like that which are considered great. Though I assume it's unlikely that you'll find many good action or horror movies without death or explosions.

[Andrew NDB]

Nobody died in Wonder Woman 1984. It wasn't, however, a very good movie.

[Leo656]

I'm more flabbergasted by the fact that Prowler never saw Rocky III. That's the one with Hogan in it!

...Also Mr. T, but... yeah. Hogan. :lol:

And I think the initial post pretty much answers the question. The first two Rocky movies, and that's about it. It is almost impossible to make a movie without killing someone off or blowing something up. Not totally impossible, but almost.

[Andrew NDB]

Did anyone die in "Brazil"? If not, then that. All I remember is Robert DeNiro's character "dying," but his character wasn't even real. There was probably explosions, though...

What about "The Mosquito Coast"?

Michael Caine in "The Magus," for sure.

[ssjup81]

Napoleon Dynamite
The Bad News Bears (1976)
The Breakfast Club
Sixteen Candles
Coming to America
Home Alone 2
North
Clueless
A Raisin in the Sun
E.T.

Those are some that come to mind off the top of my head.

Edit: Just noticed that the thread said "great movies"...I was just thinking of films that didn't have killing and explosions. Well, "great" can be subjective anyway. What may be great to one person might be so-so to another. People love Pulp Fiction...I personally don't like it.

[Prowler]

I'm more flabbergasted by the fact that Prowler never saw Rocky III. That's the one with Hogan in it!

...Also Mr. T, but... yeah. Hogan. :lol:

And I think the initial post pretty much answers the question. The first two Rocky movies, and that's about it. It is almost impossible to make a movie without killing someone off or blowing something up. Not totally impossible, but almost.
I'll get on to it someday.

But yeah, even Clerks had a funeral/woke and it was hilarious :lol:

Napoleon Dynamite
The Bad News Bears (1976)
The Breakfast Club
Sixteen Candles
Coming to America
Home Alone 2
North
Clueless
A Raisin in the Sun

Those are some that come to mind off the top of my head.

Edit: Just noticed that the thread said "great movies"...I was just thinking of films that didn't have killing and explosions.
The Breakfast Club qualifies as a good movie to me. So that's a good shout.

Home Alone 2 sure, but that's a movie for kids. You can't expect most of those kind of movies to have deaths. Explosions though are fine as long as no one gets hurt.

Haven't seen the others you've listed.

I'm sure a ton of kids movies and romantic movies have neither deaths or explosions in them, but it's not like they're the kinds of movies where you expect to find them.

Several months ago I saw Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. It had no deaths nor explosions in it. It was a very praised movie by critics and all, but it's not like I loved it. Sure, solid movie but some parts of it dragged a lot. So I wouldn't include it.

As for romantic comedies and chick flicks in general... well I doubt they're the kinds of movies I'd enjoy. And the lack of deaths and explosions in them, whole not being the only reason, definitely play a part in that. :lol:

[Andrew NDB]

Several months ago I saw Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. It had no deaths nor explosions in it. It was a very praised movie by critics and all, but it's not like I loved it.

Well made but I'd rather watch "Monster Hunter" a second time than that again. It is a movie that sets out to make you as miserable as the main characters... and generally succeeds. And no, there's not even a happy ending to offset things.

[Leo656]

"Clueless " Is pretty great, but Dead Mommy is a plot point, so I'unno, kinda creeps close to the line. I guess we can count that one, sure.

[Jester]

I've always really liked Mrs. Doubtfire.

[Andrew NDB]

Nobody dies in the Ocean's movies, but I don't particularly like those or think they're "great."

"The Wolf of Wall Street," no?

"The Karate Kid"?

[Jester]

What about Matilda?

[Andrew NDB]

What about Matilda?

The sequel to "The Professional" we never got (but should have)? People would have died in it for sure. ;)

[Prowler]

Well made but I'd rather watch "Monster Hunter" a second time than that again. It is a movie that sets out to make you as miserable as the main characters... and generally succeeds. And no, there's not even a happy ending to offset things.

It was also a little way too long. It was what, nearly 3 hours long? Pretty odd for a movie of that kind to be so long.

It wasn't depressing but hardly uplifting either. The highlight of it was the nasty argument between Adam Driver and ScarJo.

As for The Karate Kid, it's been ages since I saw it, so I barely remember it, but sure, I don't recall any deaths or explosions in it.

[IMJ]

The Great Outdoors.
The Quiet Man.
Beerfest - I guess there's a death in that one

I'd have to pour through my DVD collection on this one, I think.

Ponyo - there's a hurricane but I don't think anything blows up.

Does anyone die in 9 1/2 Weeks?
Arrival
Couples Retreat
Empire Records (GREAT MOVIE)

Oh oh... Moon. Great, great flick.

[TMNTFanatic4Life]

Nobody dies in the Ocean's movies, but I don't particularly like those or think they're "great."

"The Wolf of Wall Street," no?

"The Karate Kid"?

Crane Kick kills!

Lol kidding but yeah, Karate Kid is a great movie and would fit in with the no deaths, no explosions, great movie criteria

[sgtfbomb]

Poltergeist (1982). It has ghosts but none of the flesh and blood characters die in the film.

[Wesley]

Smiley Face
Meet the Parents
Office Space

Teen movies such as Mean Girls, Easy A and Superbad.

[IMJ]

Poltergeist (1982). It has ghosts but none of the flesh and blood characters die in the film.

There's an explosion in that one.... one or two.

[sgtfbomb]

There's an explosion in that one.... one or two.

A couple of instances with ethereal shockwave things towards the end, sure, but I don't recall any traditional explosions.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Home Alone 2

Didn't home alone have some fireworks explosions?

[Andrew NDB]

And also, while nobody died in the Home Alone injuries... those burglars suffered enough mortal injuries to kill them many times over.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

And also, while nobody died in the Home Alone injuries... those burglars suffered enough mortal injuries to kill them many times over.

Home Alone seems to rely on the same physics as Tomy and Jerry. (people can get hit with dangerous items all the time, without dying or not even ending up in wheelchair for the rest of their lives)

[Hamato Yoshi]

Sophia Loren films (Two Women , Madame sans Gene , Ghosts italian style , Too bad shes bad.....perhaps not great but entertaining imo)

[Andrew NDB]

"Vicki Cristina Barcelona" was pretty great. No deaths. No explosions.

B-RdUcXAKiw

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Would The Others count? Technically no "deaths", as the main family already are dead

[IMJ]

Revenge of the Nerds!

[NeonTurtledude]

I don't recall Drop Dead Fred having any explosions or deaths

maybe Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service?

[triplexxx]

The Buddy Holly Story (not counting message at the end since event happened technically after the endpoint of the movie)

[triplexxx]

Is that the one Gary Busey? That's a great (albeit unexpected) addition to the list.Yep, that's the one. He really does have a great singing voice.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Hmm, A Walk in the Clouds, Mermaids, The Three Amigos (nobody ever actually dies, though a couple should have), I mean, depending on your genre, there are literally tons of great movies that had neither deaths nor explosions. You just have to get out of the "guy movies" box.