7 movie characters who deserved better than what they were served

Cinema has often presented us with heroes we can cheer on, villains we can loathe, and stories we want to think about long after the last credit has rolled. However, often, in films that may have a multitude of complicated story arcs, plot twists, and characters, there are those characters created with so much potential, passion, and depth, who are then given endings or narratives that feel throwaway.

Whether it’s a rushed conclusion, unexplored trauma, or being sidelined in their own story, these characters deserve far more than what the script allowed. Here’s a look at seven movie characters who were wronged by their narratives—characters who deserved not just better endings, but better storytelling altogether.

This article reflects the author's opinions. Readers' discretion is advised.

1) Severus Snape - Harry Potter

Suffering was a constant in the Harry Potter franchise. Throughout the series, we come across the tragic pasts of so many characters- be it Sirius, Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, or Harry himself, but none of their sorrows could ever live up to the tragedy that Severus Snape lived with.

Snape never had a good life. Born to neglectful parents who were anything but present, his days at Hogwarts were also tarnished with bullying at the hands of the Marauders and ultimately, losing the only person he had ever loved- Lily.

After that, he lived a life of dangerous choices, torn between loyalty to Voldemort and his deep-rooted love for Lily Potter, which he could never truly move past.

Choosing the latter was granting himself an impending death wish as he died at the hands of the Dark Lord while saving the last remaining hope for the wizarding world- Harry Potter.

2) Jack Dawson - Titanic

Jack Dawson's death made Titanic a hundred times sadder. Throughout the movie, Jack's character is defined by his love for Rose and his free spirit. He offered some level of hope and a glimpse into some variation of a life of promise and potential.

Not only did he sacrifice his life for the sake of Rose's safety, but he never got the opportunity to live for himself and have his own life, as he went under the waves of the Atlantic.

Although his death held some level of heroism, Jack was robbed of a future that held a chance of possible love and success. And let's be honest, there was room for two people on that lifeboat.

3) Sebastian Wilder - La La Land

Ryan Gosling sure is known for his plethora of sad roles, but his fate as Sebastian Wilder doesn't come close to any other character he has played. One might argue that Seb had a happy fate as he got to achieve his dream and open the jazz club he always wanted, but on the deeper side, he lost the love of his life to someone who had achieved her dreams and also went on to find love.

Meanwhile, Seb stayed in the shade of his loneliness, playing the piano and reminiscing about the life he could have had.

4) Amy March - Little Women

Among the four March sisters, Amy was often the overlooked one. Living under Jo's shadow and always being the second best must have hit her hard, as she also wrestled with inadequacies.

Amy's goals and desires for acclaim were seldom taken seriously by her sisters, including Jo, who was vocal, true to herself, and dominated the narrative. Her love story with Laurie is also overshadowed by his dynamic with Jo, as Amy talks about being the one he settles for just because he cannot have Jo.

In hindsight, Amy should have gained more recognition for dealing with her tenacity and for trying to find her own path despite her limits, but her credits often get lost somewhere in Jo's spotlight

5) Theodore Finch - All the Bright Places

One of the saddest deaths we've probably witnessed on screen was when Theodore Finch succumbed to the water after struggling with bipolar disorder for years.

Throughout the novel, his character shapes up to be something larger than life as he tirelessly works hard to give Violet the life she deserves, even as he slips away from his own reality, little by little.

Finch dies without ever truly being happy, with his quiet struggles and a mask he engraved so deeply that it never truly came off in front of anyone. He spends his limited time in the story filling up Violet's cup and emptying his own, and constantly trying to be everything to Violet while failing to save himself.

6) Sirius Black - Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling, we need to talk. The Harry Potter franchise is filled with unchecked potential and what-could-have-beens, but hardly anyone (except Severus) suffered the kind of tragic death as Sirius did.

After spending a decade in Azkaban, falsely accused of murder while he mourns his best friend, he finally gets out, and even then, he isn't able to live a free life because of the Ministry's lack of faith.

Even then, as he does his best to be there for Harry and be the parent Harry always wanted, he still lives a life of a captive man, stuck in Grimmauld Place.

His death is heartbreaking and pangs sharply as he dies without getting to live life any longer after twelve years of torture and soul-crushing nightmares. He dies without ever getting the chance to fulfill the promises he makes to Harry, or filling all the empty gaps he wanted to step in, in Harry's life, that were left by Lily and James' absence.

7) Neil Perry - Dead Poets Society

Neil Perry's death in Dead Poets Society is one of the most haunting deaths in cinema. A talented, gifted young man with brimming dreams and a heart full of visions of the stage and a mind full of stories, taking a step down to run away from a life lived without passion.

Throughout the film, Neil easily becomes your favorite as his love for the arts shines through every scene, his energy is contagious, and his dedication is undeniable.

The weight of his loyalty to what he loves and his defiance against his father's choices for him make up to be a deadly symphony as he falls under the burden and chooses not to live than live in a world devoid of his true calling.

His story is one of lost potential, of a soul too pure for a world that couldn’t understand its depth. Neil Perry deserved more. More time, more chances, and above all, the freedom to live his truth without fear.