Great movies without either deaths or explosions?

*Prowler* · 02-22-2021, 01:22 PM

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* · 02-22-2021, 02:22 PM

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* · 02-22-2021, 03:46 PM

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* · 02-22-2021, 03:55 PM

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

~~Leo656~~ · 02-22-2021, 08:06 PM

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.

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* · 02-22-2021, 08:49 PM

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* · 02-22-2021, 08:57 PM

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* · 02-22-2021, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.

*Andrew NDB* · 02-22-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prowler

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~~ · 02-22-2021, 09:20 PM

"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** · 02-22-2021, 09:25 PM

I've always really liked Mrs. Doubtfire.

*Andrew NDB* · 02-22-2021, 09:35 PM

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** · 02-22-2021, 09:40 PM

What about Matilda?

*Andrew NDB* · 02-22-2021, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

What about Matilda?

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

*Prowler* · 02-22-2021, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

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* · 02-22-2021, 10:49 PM

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 · 02-23-2021, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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"?

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 · 02-23-2021, 12:32 PM

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

*Wesley* · 02-23-2021, 12:51 PM

Smiley Face
Meet the Parents
Office Space

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

*IMJ* · 02-23-2021, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtfbomb

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.

02-22-2021, 01:22 PM	#1
Prowler Emperor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,999	Great movies without either deaths or explosions? 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.

02-22-2021, 03:55 PM	#4
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,574	Nobody died in Wonder Woman 1984. It wasn't, however, a very good movie. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

02-22-2021, 08:49 PM	#6
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,574	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. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

02-22-2021, 09:25 PM	#11
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	I've always really liked Mrs. Doubtfire. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

02-22-2021, 09:35 PM	#12
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,574	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"? __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

02-22-2021, 02:22 PM	#2
frank_one Mad Scientist Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Southern Europe Posts: 2,254	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)

02-22-2021, 08:06 PM	#5
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	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. 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.

02-22-2021, 08:57 PM	#7
ssjup81 Foot Elite Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Central Virginia (Back in the US) Posts: 4,734	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.

02-22-2021, 09:20 PM	#10
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	"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.

02-22-2021, 09:40 PM	#13
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	What about Matilda? __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

02-22-2021, 10:49 PM	#16
IMJ Emperor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Midwest, U.S.A. Posts: 8,895	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. __________________ Wave 1 Collectibles Online Market Watch Blog Collection Photography

02-23-2021, 12:32 PM	#18
sgtfbomb Stone Warrior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Internet Posts: 830	Poltergeist (1982). It has ghosts but none of the flesh and blood characters die in the film.

02-23-2021, 12:51 PM	#19
Wesley Mad Scientist Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Republic of Ireland Posts: 1,597	Smiley Face Meet the Parents Office Space Teen movies such as Mean Girls, Easy A and Superbad. __________________ Donatello: The tracker! It might work. Donatello goes to the back of the Turtle Van Raphael: Shrewd move, Donatello. If we ignore the problem, it might go away by itself. (from The Mean Machines)