History Main / HowWouldYouLikeToDie

** In ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad'', the genie asks Abu how he wishes to die, but Abu outsmarts him and gets the conventional three wishes instead.

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "The Obsolete Man": the titular character is given this option of execution by any method for the crime of being "[[GoodIsOldFashioned Obsolete]]" (read: having a profession or belief that is no longer required or held by the fascist government). He chooses death by televised detonation of a bomb in his apartment. Why? Turns out it was a {{plan}} to get his executioner to accidentally lock himself in the room and ask, on national state run television, "For the love of God, let me out." The convicted does so, for the love of God, with just enough time for only the executioner to get out. Its okay, because [[TakingYouWithMe the executioner is sentenced to die]] by a method of his choice... for the crime of being obsolete.

->'''niSSh''': "How do you like to be eaten? Baked? Boiled? Shish-kabobed?"
-->-- ''Film/EllaEnchanted''

-->'''niSSh''': "How do you like to be eaten? Baked? Boiled? Shish-kabobed?"
--->-''Film/EllaEnchanted''

** In the ''EnchantedForestChronicles'', when presented with this choice, Princess Cimorene immediately chooses "old age". The genie admits that this is a clever response, but refuses to accept it until [[spoiler: Cimorene figures out that he hasn't been trapped long enough to qualify, under the standard fairytale rules that operate in the Enchanted Forest, for the "death instead of wishes" option. Rather than get in trouble for trying to break the rules, the genie agrees to go back into his bottle until he has accumulated enough time -- by which time, in all likelihood, Cimorene ''will'' be dead of old age.]]

--->''Film/EllaEnchanted''

* ''ComicBook/{{Papyrus}}'': the titular character has just been captured by a tribe of pygmy, whose law demands they kill him. Since he saved the chief's son, however, he is given this a variant of this trope as a reward, in that the next thing he'll say will define how he'll die: if he tells the truth, he will be drowned, while if he lies, he will be thrown to the crocodiles. Papyrus gets around the sentence by stating he will be eaten by crocodiles: seeing how this means him drowning will make it a lie and him being eaten by crocodiles will make it the truth, the Pygmies are forced to spare him.

* ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'' has a condemned criminal "allowed to choose his own method of execution". He chooses to be chased off a cliff by topless women on rollerskates.

* In ''Film/TheHobbitDesolationOfSmaug'', Smaug asks Bilbo how he chooses to die before attacking him.

* In ''Videogame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'', the Demon Lord [[AntiVillain Agrael]] captures a rival demon, Erasial, then offers him a choice: Co-operate with an interrogation and Agrael will make sure Erasial's death is quick and relatively painless, resist and he'll be handed over to Agrael's [[HornyDevil succubus]] comrade, [[TheSadist Biara]].

* ''Series/DoctorWho''. At the start of "The Doctor Falls", the Doctor wakes up strapped to a wheelchair with his enemies musing how they should kill him.

-->'''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trotsky#Assassination Leon Trotsky]]''': "I do not know. [[IncrediblyLamePun Take your pick]]."

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "The Obsolete Man": the titular character is given this option of execution by any method for the crime of being "[[GoodIsOldFashioned Obsolete]]" (read: having a profession or belief that is no longer required or held by the fascist government). He chooses death by televised detonation of a bomb in his apartment. Why? Turns out it was a {{plan}} to get his executioner to accidentally lock himself in the room and ask, on national state run television, "For the love of God, let me out." The convicted does so, for the love of God, with just enough time for only the executioner to get out. Its okay, because the executioner is sentenced to die by a method of his choice... for the crime of being obsolete.

* ''ComicBook/Papyrus'': the titular character has just been captured by a tribe of pygmy, whose law demands they kill him. Since he saved the chief's son, however, he is given this a variant of this trope as a reward, in that the next thing he'll say will define how he'll die: if he tells the truth, he will be drowned, while if he lies, he will be thrown to the crocodiles. Papyrus gets around the sentence by stating he will be eaten by crocodiles: seeing how this means him drowning will make it a lie and him being eaten by crocodiles will make it the truth, the Pygmies are forced to spare him.

* Slight averted in ''Manga/OnePiece''. Although he doesn't kill people with this technique (usually), Kuma always asks, "If you were to go on a trip, where would you want to go?" And then, in three days, you coming crashing to where you wanted. Or, depending on how he feels about you, where he wanted you to be - as was actually in most cases it did happen. [[spoiler:Good thing that he wanted the Straw Hats to become stronger and so sent them to just the places for that.]]

* The RobertSheckley novel ''Time Killer'' has suicide booths.

* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'': Whenever Gozer is released to destroy the world, she asks whoever happens to be nearby to "Choose the form of the Destructor!" Whatever that person is thinking about is the form that the Destructor takes. While the other Ghostbusters try to clear their thoughts, Ray tries to think of something harmless, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Gozer obliges by manifesting the Marshmallow Man... and making him [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever 50-feet tall]].

* At the end of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' episode 24, Vegeta is furious that he doesn't have immortality.
-->'''Vegeta:''' If it didn't grant my wish, then I'm not immortal, and Freeza's going to...g-going to...
-->''(Team Three Star and Dende look up to see Freeza glaring down at them. Cue the MassOhCrap.)''
-->'''Freeza:''' No, don't mind me. By all means...'''give me some ideas.'''

* ''{{Doug}}'': "How would you like to die, stoolpigeon? Quick or slow?"

* ''BattleAngelAlita'' had suicide booths.
* Slight averted in ''OnePiece''. Although he doesn't kill people with this technique (usually), Kuma always asks, "If you were to go on a trip, where would you want to go?" And then, in three days, you coming crashing to where you wanted. Or, depending on how he feels about you, where he wanted you to be - as was actually in most cases it did happen. [[spoiler:Good thing that he wanted the Straw Hats to become stronger and so sent them to just the places for that.]]

* The protagonist of ''{{Barbarella}}'' encounters a walk-in suicide booth.
* ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' (1962). Humbert asks Quilty if he wants to get shot standing up or sitting down. Quilty (who is drunk and mocking the entire business) puts on boxing gloves and says he wants to die like a champion.
* ''RomancingTheStone'' uses the trope twice, first in an excerpt from one of Joan Wilder's novels and played for comedy:

* ''{{Frasier}}'': Roz once claimed her ideal way to go is on her hundredth birthday, at her place in Hawaii, and her husband is so distraught he drops out of college.