Movies Where the Black Character Isn’t the First to Die

For decades, horror and action movies relied on the tired trope of killing off the Black character first. This cliché became so prevalent that audiences often expected it the moment a diverse cast appeared on screen. Filmmakers eventually began to subvert these expectations by writing Black characters who not only survive the opening act but often make it to the end credits. The following films showcase stories where Black characters defy the odds and outlive the early victims.

‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)

Director George A. Romero cast Duane Jones as Ben and made him the capable hero of this zombie classic. Ben takes charge of the farmhouse and barricades the survivors against the undead horde while others succumb to panic. The first character to die is actually Johnny who falls victim to a ghoul in the cemetery during the opening scene. Ben survives the entire night of terror only to meet a tragic fate at the hands of a living posse. His survival until the final moments challenged the racial dynamics of cinema at the time.

‘Alien’ (1979)

This sci-fi horror masterpiece features an ensemble cast trapped on the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo. The engineer Parker is a vital member of the crew who fights hard to survive the xenomorph alongside Ripley. It is Kane who dies first after a chestburster erupts from his body during a crew meal. Parker survives until the climax of the film before sacrificing himself in an attempt to gather supplies. His bravery allows Ripley the time she needs to initiate the self-destruct sequence.

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Keith David plays Childs in John Carpenter’s paranoia-filled film about a shape-shifting alien in Antarctica. The creature picks off the research team members one by one in a series of gruesome encounters. Childs remains skeptical of everyone but manages to avoid assimilation throughout the chaos. The first deaths occur among the Norwegian team and the kennel dogs before the American crew members start dying. The film ends with Childs and MacReady staring at each other in the freezing cold with their fates left ambiguous.

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ (1987)

Roland Kincaid is a tough teenager institutionalized at Westin Hills Psychiatric Hospital for his recurring nightmares. He bands together with other patients to fight Freddy Krueger within the dream world using his super-strength ability. Several other characters fall victim to Freddy before the final showdown takes place. Kincaid survives the events of the movie along with Joey and Kristen. His character proved that a Black supporting character could endure a slasher film without becoming early cannon fodder.

‘Predator’ (1987)

Carl Weathers plays Dillon in this high-octane action film about a rescue team encountering an alien hunter in the jungle. The first soldier to be killed is Hawkins who is snatched away by the invisible creature. Dillon survives long enough to realize the true nature of their enemy and teams up with Dutch to set a trap. He eventually dies in a heroic stand that buys his allies time to escape the area. His death comes much later in the film after significant character development.

‘The People Under the Stairs’ (1991)

Wes Craven directed this social satire horror film where a young boy named Fool breaks into the home of a deranged couple. Fool discovers captive children in the basement and navigates the house’s deadly traps to survive. He is the central protagonist and outsmarts the villains at every turn. Many other characters perish or are revealed to be long dead before Fool makes his escape. He not only survives but returns to liberate the other captives and reclaim the neighborhood.

‘Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight’ (1995)

Jada Pinkett Smith stars as Jeryline in this horror comedy about a boarding house under siege by demonic forces. The Collector picks off the residents as he searches for a powerful ancient key. Jeryline begins as a worker at the boarding house but evolves into the hero of the story. She survives the night and ultimately defeats the demon to become the new guardian of the key. Her character arc transforms her from a cynical employee into a supernatural protector.

‘Se7en’ (1995)

Morgan Freeman plays Detective Somerset in this dark thriller about a serial killer utilizing the seven deadly sins. The first victim discovered is a man forced to eat himself to death representing Gluttony. Somerset investigates the gruesome crime scenes alongside his younger partner Mills. While the film is full of death and despair Somerset survives the entire ordeal. He remains the weary moral center of the story as he witnesses the horrific conclusion of the case.

‘Anaconda’ (1997)

Ice Cube plays Danny Rich in this creature feature about a documentary crew hunted by a giant snake in the Amazon. The film features several deaths including the antagonist Sarone and other crew members. Danny fights alongside Jennifer Lopez’s character to destroy the massive reptile. He survives the harrowing river journey and makes it back to civilization. His character breaks the mold by being a cameraman who outlives the dangers of the jungle.

‘Event Horizon’ (1997)

The rescue vessel Lewis and Clark is sent to investigate a starship that has returned from a hellish dimension. Richard T. Jones plays Cooper who serves as the rescue technician for the mission. He is blown into space during an explosion but manages to use his suit thrusters to return to the ship. Several crew members die gruesome deaths before Cooper makes his return. He survives the destruction of the ship and enters stasis with the other remaining survivors.

‘Scream 2’ (1997)

Duane Martin plays Joel the cameraman who works with Gale Weathers to cover the new Woodsboro murders. The opening scene claims the lives of two students in a movie theater. Joel quickly realizes the danger of the situation after reading about the fate of the previous cameraman. He decides to pack up his equipment and leave town before the killer can get to him. Joel returns at the very end of the movie to resume his job alive and well.

‘Sphere’ (1998)

Samuel L. Jackson plays mathematician Harry Adams in this sci-fi psychological thriller set on the ocean floor. The team investigates a mysterious spacecraft that manifests their fears into reality. Several crew members are killed by jellyfish and other hazards created by their own minds. Harry survives the underwater ordeal along with two other scientists. They decide to use the power of the sphere to forget the events and keep the world safe.

‘Halloween H20: 20 Years Later’ (1998)

LL Cool J plays Ronny the security guard at a private boarding school targeted by Michael Myers. He spends his time writing romantic fiction while monitoring the campus gate. Michael Myers kills several teenagers and friends of the protagonist before encountering Ronny. Ronny is accidentally shot by another character but survives the wound and the night. He appears at the end of the film to greet the paramedics.

‘Blade’ (1998)

Wesley Snipes stars as the titular vampire hunter who protects humanity from the undead. The movie opens with a scene in a blood club where vampires attack unsuspecting humans. Blade is the hunter rather than the hunted and systematically destroys his enemies. He defeats the villain Deacon Frost and survives to continue his war in the sequels. The film established a Black lead character as an unstoppable force in the horror-action genre.

‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1998)

Brandy Norwood plays Karla Wilson who wins a trip to the Bahamas with her friends. The vacation turns into a nightmare when the fisherman killer arrives to stalk them during a storm. Several hotel staff and friends are murdered with hooks and other weapons. Karla sustains injuries during a fall and a chase scene but manages to survive until rescue arrives. She is one of the few characters to make it off the island alive.

‘Deep Blue Sea’ (1999)

LL Cool J appears as Preacher the chef at an underwater research facility besieged by intelligent sharks. The sharks cause a helicopter crash and eat several scientists throughout the film. Preacher hides in his oven and uses his cooking equipment to fight back against the predators. He survives the sinking facility and kills the final shark with a harpoon. His survival is a highlight of the film as he makes it to the surface with the other lead.

‘House on Haunted Hill’ (1999)

Taye Diggs plays Eddie Baker in this remake about strangers invited to survive a night in a haunted asylum. The group is locked inside and tormented by the ghosts of former patients and staff. The first character to die is a reporter who is dragged into the darkness. Eddie works together with the other survivors to find an exit. He survives the night and is one of only two people to walk away with the prize money.

‘Pitch Black’ (2000)

Keith David plays the Imam in this sci-fi horror about a transport ship crashing on a planet filled with light-sensitive monsters. The crash itself kills several passengers including the captain. The survivors must trek across the alien landscape in darkness while being hunted. Imam relies on his faith and the protection of Riddick to navigate the danger. He survives the night and escapes the planet on a shuttle.

‘Ghosts of Mars’ (2001)

Ice Cube stars as Desolation Williams in another John Carpenter film set on a colonized Mars. A police unit arrives to transport him but finds the mining colony possessed by ancient Martian spirits. The possessed miners slaughter many of the officers and civilians. Desolation teams up with the surviving police commander to fight their way to the train. He survives the onslaught and prepares to fight the spreading infection at the end of the movie.

‘Thir13en Ghosts’ (2001)

Rah Digga plays Maggie giving a comedic yet resilient performance as the family nanny. She becomes trapped in a glass house designed to contain twelve angry spirits. A lawyer is the first person to be killed when a glass wall slices him in half. Maggie spends the movie protecting the children and navigating the shifting labyrinth. She survives the destruction of the house and leaves safely with the family.

’28 Days Later’ (2002)

Naomie Harris plays Selena in this post-apocalyptic film about a rage virus sweeping across Great Britain. She saves the protagonist Jim from infected attackers and teaches him how to survive. The narrative sees many survivors perish including Jim’s parents and travel companion Mark. Selena remains pragmatic and lethal with her machete throughout the journey. She survives the infected and the rogue military unit to be rescued by a jet pilot.

‘Halloween: Resurrection’ (2002)

Busta Rhymes plays Freddie Harris who produces a reality show inside the Myers childhood home. The contestants are picked off one by one by the real Michael Myers who crashes the production. Freddie uses his martial arts knowledge to confront the killer in the burning garage. He survives the encounter and delivers a memorable line to the camera as the ambulance arrives. His character provides both comic relief and genuine action hero moments.

‘Gothika’ (2003)

Halle Berry stars as Miranda Grey in this supernatural psychological thriller set in a penitentiary. She wakes up as an inmate accused of a murder she does not remember committing. The first death is her husband who is killed under mysterious circumstances. Miranda investigates the haunting of a vengeful spirit while trying to prove her sanity. She solves the mystery and survives to walk free at the end of the film.

‘Dawn of the Dead’ (2004)

Ving Rhames plays Kenneth in Zack Snyder’s fast-paced remake of the zombie classic. He is a police officer who leads a group of survivors to safety inside a shopping mall. The group suffers many casualties as they attempt to fortify their position against the undead. Kenneth forms a friendship with a man in a gun shop across the street. He survives the final escape to the marina and boards a boat with the remaining survivors.

‘AVP: Alien vs. Predator’ (2004)

Sanaa Lathan plays Alexa Woods who leads an expedition to a mysterious pyramid beneath the ice in Antarctica. The team finds themselves caught in a war between Aliens and Predators. Most of the team is wiped out quickly by the hunting rituals of the Predators. Alexa proves herself a warrior and earns the respect of the last surviving Predator. She survives the destruction of the pyramid and is the sole human to make it out alive.

‘Snakes on a Plane’ (2006)

Samuel L. Jackson plays Neville Flynn in this action thriller about deadly snakes released on a commercial flight. The snakes kill numerous passengers and crew members in a variety of creative ways. Flynn takes command of the situation and organizes the passengers to fight back. He utilizes a taser and his firearm to protect the witness he is transporting. Flynn survives the emergency landing and successfully delivers his witness to trial.

‘Attack the Block’ (2011)

John Boyega plays Moses in this sci-fi comedy about a street gang defending their neighborhood from aliens. The creatures crash land in South London and immediately start attacking the residents. Moses leads his friends in a battle against the beasts using fireworks and improvised weapons. Several members of his crew are killed during the night. Moses survives a massive explosion in his apartment block and is arrested as a local hero.

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Daniel Kaluuya stars as Chris Washington in this psychological horror film about a visit to a girlfriend’s family estate. Chris slowly uncovers a disturbing conspiracy where Black bodies are being hijacked by elderly white people. The film subverts expectations by having Chris use his wits and strength to escape the trap. He kills his captors in self-defense and survives the night. The flashing lights at the end turn out to be his friend Rod coming to the rescue.

‘Us’ (2019)

Lupita Nyong’o plays both the protagonist Adelaide and her terrifying doppelgänger Red. The Wilson family is attacked by their scissor-wielding doubles during a vacation in Santa Cruz. Neighbors and friends are killed quickly by their own tethers. The Wilsons fight back as a unit and manage to kill their attackers one by one. The entire family survives the initial assault and escapes in an ambulance.

‘Nope’ (2022)

Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood who run a horse ranch in California. They discover a UFO hiding in the clouds that has been devouring horses and people. The entity kills a neighboring theme park owner and his entire audience in a single event. OJ and Emerald devise a plan to capture the creature on film. Both siblings survive the final confrontation and succeed in getting the evidence they needed.

Which of these survivors is your absolute favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!