Does a parent die?

Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where a parent dies.
The death of a parent, leading to profound emotional trauma and life changes.
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Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
519
No
3
33
ElizFoster
Double homicide of both main characters parents
TV Show • 2016 Report
Yes
413
No
16
16
user15268
A character named Bob who's introduced in the second season dies in episode 8 of the same season. He was dating Joyce, so he acted as a pseudo-father for Will and Jonathon. The death is graphically shown on screen.
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
353
No
1
34
Anonymous
a grandmother dies naturally in the beginning and it isn't shown, only her funeral. both parents die in brutal fashion
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
316
No
8
16
Oilux
Father dies at the beginning of the show. Mother has two instances, one where Diego has to shut her off when her programming starts to go, and another when the building started to collapse and couldn't leave.
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
295
No
6
13
zoebird0406
The dad of one of the bullies is murdered.
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
256
No
7
15
flamegrove
Ned Stark is beheaded in front of his daughters, Tywin Lannister is shot with a crossbow by his son, Catelyn Stark is killed leaving her living children orphans, Lyanna Stark dies in childbirth leaving her son Jon an orphan, Walder Frey is killed by Arya Stark, Roose Bolton is killed by his son.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
225
No
2
26
Renjuro
**with as few spoilers as possible**

An adult charcters’ parent dies in a mysterious way early on. They mourn the death throughout the film.

A crowd of people, including parents and children, are killed in a disturbing way.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
215
No
7
9
SierraDooley
Parents die and the main characters mother dies early on same with their father later
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
214
No
6
17
RidleyMathers
Rues dad dies
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
195
No
0
24
pinklemonade
Many of the "players" that die were parents and at the end Gi-Hoon's mother dies from diabetes.
Sae-Byeok mentions that her dad died while scaping North Korea.
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
193
No
0
26
Anonymous
John Krasinski (the dad) dies, he calls the monsters to himself to save his kids.
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
190
No
6
6
rowangorstgaudie
A child is taken away from their parent as they are killed off-screen.
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
187
No
3
33
Steven S.
Rose Quartz, the main character's mother, died in childbirth before the events of the show, and her death is discussed often.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
187
No
1
9
Anonymous
Maggie pierce's mom dies. Meredith's mom dies. Alex Karev's dad dies.
TV Show • 2014 Report
Yes
178
No
5
12
series_of_unfortunate_events
S1E5: Diane learns her dad has died. He is shown discolored and sitting limply in an armchair. S1E11: BoJack stands at his mom's grave in a hallucination. S4E5: There's a flashback to the drive to the funeral of BoJack's dad. S4E11: A brief still of Beatrice at her dad's funeral. S5E5: Princess Carolyn thinks and talks about her dead mom. S5E6: BoJack speaks at his mom's funeral. S5E7: Mr. Peanutbutter realizes his parents did not really go off to a farm when they got old.
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
177
No
1
19
Twizzler787
Basically the concept of the entire movie--the death is shown on screen, as well as the aftermath being shown multiple times throughout
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
173
No
0
12
Anonymous
A big plot point revolves around a child's mother taking her own life
Yes
170
No
6
8
mad_melody
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), there are multiple discussions and mentions of Harry's parents being dead. There is a flashback to Harry's mother being murdered on-screen.
Yes
169
No
0
21
ValiantChan
(Major story spoilers) The first scene of the game is a man being killed in a space ship. Near the end of the game, it is revealed that this man was the father of one of the central characters.
Book Report
Yes
168
No
2
14
Anonymous
Nearly all the parents and guardian figures die at various points throughout the series. The trolls' lusii (animal caretakers, serving in a parental role) are all implied to have died prior to the trolls entering the game, and it is further implied that the sprites which were prototyped with their lusii later vanished or died at some point during the trolls' session.
Exactly one parent (Dad Crocker) makes it through to the end alive.

While the series does treat death lightly, these deaths are all taken quite seriously and they are perceived as understandably traumatic for the children; discovering her mother's death is the tipping point for Rose, who becomes temporarily corrupted by eldritch creatures taking advantage of her being overwhelmed by her grief and distress. The majority of these deaths happen off-screen and the exact details are only implied, but the bodies are shown afterwards.
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
165
No
13
6
HelloItsMe
The mother of two kids gets eaten by walkers after one of her kids also gets eaten. The father was killed earlier because he was crazy and abusive.
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
155
No
1
17
therealgoldbug
A father is stabbed to death at his son's birthday party during a chaotic violent scene.
TV Show • 2018 Report
Yes
153
No
1
18
Mammoth_fluency
[SPOILER] One of the main characters loses a parent that plays an important role in the show during season 3
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
152
No
1
24
McKayla
(Non-spoiler version) a character whose relationship with their young child is prominently featured dies at the end of the movie, and the funeral aftermath is shown.
Movie • 1996 Report
Yes
151
No
8
14
MicahRuiz
The murder of the main character’s mother the year prior is mentioned and important to the plot. Nothing is shown onscreen, but it is heavily referenced throughout the film.
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
151
No
15
13
keysmashing
At the very beginning of episode 1 two children see their biological parents die. While the deaths are not explicitly shown, we do see a body. SPOILERS AHEAD: The same children later see their adoptive parents die as well, at the end of episode 3 and episode 9.
TV Show • 2018 Report
Yes
150
No
1
12
invadermac
Mom & Dad both die in the course of the series
Video Game • 2015 Report
Yes
148
No
2
17
EmilyMuscolina
The parents of Asriel Dreamer, Toriel and Asgore, can be killed by the protagonist. When they are killed, they have slashes across themselves and turn into dust. However it is your choice if they die or not.
Movie • 2014 Report
Yes
148
No
4
15
Rachel Smith
The dad is dead since before the film started, and the main character hallucinates about him several times, including a scene where his head gets sliced in two.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
147
No
0
14
LuckyFox
The opening scene has the child's parents die in a car accident.