The movies set in DC’s universe have a distinctive feel, characterized by both hope and an undercurrent of despair. Before Superman makes his grand appearance on the big screen in 2025, let’s revisit some of the saddest and tense conclusions for characters inspired by DC Comics. Given the wealth of films from the DCEU and earlier, there are numerous options to explore.
In the DC universe, you’ll find deity-like heroes and monstrous beings, which makes the settings of these films grand and capable of evoking both triumphs and tragedies. The protagonists are extraordinary, willing to risk everything for the greater good, while the antagonists are ruthless, determined to reshape reality according to their twisted visions. These tales are deep, expansive, and potent. However, some characters endure fates worse than death, with their stories culminating in an endless cycle of sorrow, loss, and agony.
9. Silas Stone Blast Himself With A Mother Box
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
As a devoted fan, let me share my perspective: I was once just an ordinary kid, much like Victor Stone. My father, Silas Stone, a brilliant scientist and researcher at S.T.A.R. Labs, transformed my life after a devastating car accident claimed the lives of my mother and left me critically injured. In his relentless pursuit to save me, he made a choice that would alter our lives forever. This act of love gave Victor Stone, the powerful computer-enhanced hero who later joined the Justice League, a chance at life, but it came at a great personal cost.
As a passionate cinephile, let me rephrase that scene: I, being a father who’d do anything for my kid, utilized the enigmatic Mother Box to save my son, but in doing so, I was irrevocably altered into a Cyborg. Yet, when the ominous Steppenwolf came to claim Earth’s Mother Box, I couldn’t stand idly by. Determined to atone for my actions and safeguard both my child and our planet, I made the heart-wrenching decision to make the ultimate sacrifice: I gave up my life to annihilate the Mother Box, thereby aiding the Justice League in their noble quest.
8. Starro Is Tortured For Years & Then Eaten By Rats
The Suicide Squad
In The Suicide Squad, there’s a significant amount of intense and grisly violence, which is characteristic of James Gunn’s style. This violence serves to make the story more vivid and suspenseful. However, the main antagonist that the band of unconventional villains have to confront is an enormous alien being named Starro. Despite their objective of defeating this adversary, their success comes at a harsh cost: Starro’s pain and death are depicted as needlessly cruel.
The alien had no desire for conflict with humans and was happily exploring space. However, when human astronauts discovered it, they captured and tormented the creature for many years. Once the U.S. government finished using the creature, they ordered the Suicide Squad to eliminate it. In its final moments, Starro was overwhelmed by rats who ultimately consumed it. The life of this alien was marked by endless tragedy.
7. New York Is Decimated By A Nuclear Explosion
Watchmen
Unlike many superhero tales that conclude on an optimistic stance, Watchmen is far from a standard hero film. Instead, it presents an alternate universe where those gifted with powers often misuse their abilities and exhibit fundamentally human flaws. In this narrative, one “hero” contemplates a drastic change and devises a plan to detonate a nuclear bomb over New York City, aiming to establish himself as Earth’s sole surviving hero by eliminating everyone in the city.
Indeed, it turns out that Ozymandias’ scheme to claim the praise and acclaim for his humanitarian efforts falls apart when his involvement is unmasked. Regrettably, by then, New York City had already suffered catastrophic damage, leaving the world in sorrow as they mourn its destruction.
6. Steve Trevor Dies Tragically Twice
Wonder Woman & Wonder Woman 1984
Steve Trevor was an officer in the Air Service during World War I who developed a romantic bond with Diana Prince (also known as Wonder Woman). Despite lacking supernatural abilities like his companion, Steve’s valor and courage were unparalleled. As he fought alongside his beloved Diana, he made the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. Yet, his tale didn’t conclude there. Instead, it continued…
1984 saw the revival of Steve Trevor, who had long been deceased, thanks to a mystical stone capable of granting wishes. This miracle allowed Diana to reunite with her cherished lost love. For a while, they shared a tender romance, but soon another peril emerged, and once more, Steve gave his life selflessly to protect others. Convincing Diana to relinquish her wish and regain her power, Steve again proved instrumental in saving the world.
5. Selina Kyle Died Time After Time
Batman Returns
In the movie “Batman Returns,” Michelle Pfeiffer offers a captivating and intense portrayal of Selina Kyle that stands out among other screen versions. As a beleaguered secretary working for Max Schreck, Selina was repeatedly humiliated and belittled. Eventually, her boss ended up murdering her to conceal his questionable business activities. However, it seems Selina has been granted multiple lives due to her past encounters with some helpful felines.
In a new lease of life, adopting the identity of Catwoman, Selina transforms into an exceptional yet defiant thief, unwilling to abide by anyone else’s laws. As she navigates through Gotham, she continuously confronts various hurdles that seem to erode her existence. To begin with, Selina was precariously unbalanced; however, as her life disintegrates piece by piece, things take a turn for the bizarre and chaotic for this unfortunate woman.
4. Harvey Dent Became Everything He Hated Most
The Dark Knight
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, Harvey Dent, or Two-Face as he later becomes, played a pivotal role in “The Dark Knight.” He stood as the polar opposite of Batman, earning the nickname ‘The White Knight’ due to his strict anti-crime stance and knack for apprehending criminals within the confines of the law. The city held him in high regard, yet when the Joker seized both Dent and his beloved, Rachel Dawes, it seemed their fate was sealed. Miraculously, Dent was rescued moments before succumbing to a gruesome demise.
Tragically, after losing his partner and suffering a disfiguration, Dent succumbed to insanity, reminiscent of the Joker. He chose to follow the criminal rulebook and started carrying out killings based on destiny and luck. In time, he transformed into everything he abhorred about Gotham, and his reign of terror didn’t last long.
3. Arthur Fleck Is Stabbed By A Joker Disciple
Joker 2
In the first movie, Arthur Fleck was initially portrayed as the original Joker. However, in the sequel, the storyline takes a radical turn. At this point, Fleck stands trial, and his defense hinges on whether the Joker was a separate personality that took over, or if Fleck had control all along. Yet, even as the film delves into this intricate issue, it adds another layer of complexity when Fleck is brutally murdered within Arkham Asylum.
A shadowy captive draws near, shares a humorous remark, and then thrusts a knife into Arthur’s abdomen, causing him to lose vital fluids and perish. It appears this individual shared some kind of connection with Fleck’s Joker identity, as he deliberately inflicts wounds on himself to mimic the character. However, for Fleck, his wretched existence concludes in a pool of blood, leaving behind no trace of the past events that unfolded.
2. Barbara Gordon Is Abused And Paralyzed By The Joker
Batman: The Killing Joke
In the comic books and animated movies, Barbara Gordon has been a reliable partner to Batman for quite some time. She plays a crucial part in the storyline of “Batman: The Killing Joke“, where her younger counterpart quits crime-fighting following an incident that came close to pushing boundaries too far. Regrettably, even after leaving vigilante work behind, she becomes a target for the Joker, who wounds her in the spine, causing permanent paralysis. Additionally, he obtains sexually explicit photographs of Barbara with the intention of causing more distress not only to her but also to her loved ones.
Although this appalling deed is abhorrent and loathsome, Barbara proves strong. Eventually, she transforms into Oracle, a valiant hero confined to a wheelchair, who lends assistance to the Bat Family. However, her life is indelibly marked by the malice and brutality inflicted by the Joker.
1. Batman Lost All His Hope
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
In the cinematic experience of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” a substantial layer of the narrative is rooted in the rich lore of the comic books. For example, during the film, Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman gazes upon a battered and desecrated Batsuit that once belonged to his trusted ally, Robin. This suit bears the telltale markings of the Joker, hinting at a tragic turn of events: Robin met his end at the hands of Batman’s most formidable adversary.
However, this death doesn’t just make Batman sad; it strips him of his optimism. After witnessing the chaos caused by unchecked threats, Batman chooses to eliminate Earth’s most powerful hero, Superman, due to the potential danger he poses to the planet. This portrayal of a hero takes a darker turn and exhibits a level of violence and peril never before seen in DC films.
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2025-04-23 18:40