Death has played many roles on the silver screen – from philosophical games of chess in the Middle Ages to romantic dramas and animated family adventures with talking animals. Here’s a selection of films and series where Death itself sets the mood with laughter, tears, and chills.
Familyfilm
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
(Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)
When Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has burned through eight of his nine lives, he launches an epic journey to restore them by finding the mythical Last Wish.
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Drama
The Seventh Seal (1957)
A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
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Death Takes a Holiday (1934)
(Death Takes a Holiday)
The Grim Reaper takes the form of a Prince in an attempt to relate to humans and, along the way, also learns what it is to love.
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Meet Joe Black (1998)
(Meet Joe Black)
Death, who takes the form of a young man killed in an accident, asks a media mogul to act as his guide to teach him about life on Earth and, in the process, he falls in love with the mogul's daughter.
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Comedy
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)
(Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life)
The comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way.
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Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
(Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey)
A tyrant from the future creates evil android doubles of Bill and Ted and sends them back to eliminate the originals.
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Family Guy (1999 – )
In a small Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one wacky scenario to another.
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A list of episodes featuring Death can be found HERE
Horrorcomedy
The Frighteners (1996)
After a tragic car accident that kills his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead, and he uses that gift to con people. However, when a demonic spirit in the form of the Grim Reaper appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead.
Find out more on IMDb
Horror
The Final Destination Series (2000–2025)
Final Destination (2000)
After getting a premonition about a plane crash on his school trip, Alex, a student, saves a few of his classmates. However, their situation gets complicated when death starts chasing them.
Do you have any tips for movies where Death plays a character?
A short story with Quinley & Herrow
Who are Quinley and Herrow?
In Coffinfolk Café’s stand alone short stories, you’ll meet two most unlikely friends:
Quinley – Coffinfolk’s café host. A young woman who loves life just as much as she loves exploring the cultural heritage of death and sharing advice, information, and insights that can help people – whether they are facing their own encounter with Death or living with grief.
Herrow – Death himself. He may look frightening in his black cloak, but beneath the bones is a kind soul who enjoys a cup of coffee and sharing experiences gathered from every corner of time.
You can find a longer introduction + a short story about their first meeting HERE
“Starring the Grim Reaper”
Narrated by Quinley
The rain still pattered against the window as the film’s end credits began to roll.
This gray autumn evening was made for a movie marathon. We started with the classic ‘The Seventh Seal’, moved on to the romantic drama ‘Meet Joe Black’, and finished with the comedy ‘Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life'.
I was still laughing so hard that tears streamed down my cheeks as I set the nearly empty popcorn bowl back on the table. The Grim Reaper, Herrow, sat beside me on the couch, laughing so much that his bones rattled inside his black cloak. I cleared my throat while wiping my face with the back of my hand. A small crease formed between my brows when I looked up at Herrow.
“What? Do I have popcorn in my teeth?”
I shook my head.
“No. I was just thinking… don’t you ever get tired or frustrated about how you’re portrayed in movies?”
Herrow tilted his head. The TV’s light made his hollow eye sockets look even darker.
“I mean, you almost always get cast as the villain—or the punchline.”
“No, I don’t take offense—quite the opposite. Villains are often the ones audiences end up loving, just look at Disney’s characters. You humans can laugh at me all you like—it’s still me who gets the last laugh, isn’t it?” He chuckled and nudged me with his bony elbow. “Jokes aside, I think it’s healthy to laugh at yourself. My work is full of seriousness—so a little humor is always welcome.”
I gathered up the DVDs scattered across the table. My eyes landed on the cover of ‘Meet Joe Black’, with Brad Pitt on the cover.
“So, will I have changed shape into a handsome movie star next time we meet?”
“Haha, no! A classic never goes out of style, Herrow. It’s fun to see Death in other forms, but the Grim Reaper will always be the original for me.” I stretched, my joints popping. Herrow copied me, and his spine clattered like a macabre xylophone as his vertebrae fell back into place. I gave him a crooked smile. “Would you like people to see you as someone… well, more attractive?”
Herrow let out a dry laugh. He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.
“As it is now, people need some convincing to come along with me. But if I looked like that—” he tapped Brad Pitt’s face on the cover “—people would never want to let go of me! Haha! No, I’d rather stick with what I’ve got now.” He gestured down at his lanky frame. “Not much eye candy, but unbeatable low-maintenance.”
We kept chatting while I got ready for bed.
“If you could choose freely, who would you want to play Death in a movie?”
“Hm… someone with the right bone structure, of course.” Herrow tapped his jaw thoughtfully while I brushed my teeth.
“I vote for Peter Stormare. Talented, can be both sweet and terrifying. Great voice,” I mumbled around the toothbrush.
“Mhm, good choice. A promising candidate.”
“Right? Now we just need a script and a hefty production budget!”
I crawled under the blanket while Herrow sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I hope there’ll be more films where you can just be…you. Not evil, not scary, but more of a comforting presence.” His bony fingers stroked gently through my hair.
“I don’t mind being cast as the bad guy, —or even a romantic heartbreaker—if it helps people start to come to terms with their own mortality. Everyone has to start somewhere.” His hand kept combing through my hair. My eyelids grew heavier with every stroke. “Sleep well, Quinley.”
“Say it.” I gave him a sleepy smile. “Please…?” Herrow shook his head with a soft, raspy laugh.
“Rest in peace, my friend.”
I drifted off and was swept into a dream where Herrow directed the next big film with Death in the spotlight. Starring Peter Stormare, it followed the daily life of Death from his own perspective. Meetings, conversations, and endless cups of coffee—often in the company of his life-loving and death-curious sidekick Quinley.
Coming soon: “Life as Death” – a film by the Grim Reaper himself. With Peter Stormare, coffee in abundance, and more dry dad jokes than life has days.