History ThouShaltNotKill / LiveActionFilms

* Surprisingly averted in ''Film/TheAdventuresOfCaptainMarvel'', where the titular hero kills no less than 3 people over the course of the 12 chapter film serial. Given this take on Cap was more of a two fisted pulp adventurer than a traditional superhero it makes sense, and he does spare the lives of most of the villains he faces.
* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}''. Arthur doesn't like killing and mainly just beats the crap out of the Atlantean soldiers rather outright murdering them [[spoiler: and spares his brother Orm the BigBad in the climax]], but he refuses to SaveTheVillain when Black Manta's father Jesse Kane is trapped underneath a torpedo despite the former's pleading. Although given Kane [[UngratefulBastard had just tried to kill Arthur]] even after he'd shown mercy and had killed many innocent people up to that point (as Arthur also points out) he had it coming.
-->'''Aquaman''': Ask the sea for mercy.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': the film adaptations generally [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psVIG7YvdjM avert this,]] with some caveats.
** The Creator/TimBurton[=/=]Creator/JoelSchumacher ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' movies have been a bit more flexible with this trope than the comic book version. Burton's Batman completely disregards the "one rule" by casually and remorselessly killing both his main villains and their henchmen in every film, whether it be by dropping them off buildings, blowing them up with bombs and rockets, or setting them on fire. In ''Film/BatmanReturns'', he [[GrenadeTag gives a circus strongman a bomb]], then '''''smiles sadistically''''' before knocking him down into the sewer to be blown to pieces. He ''enjoys'' killing in Burton's films.
*** In ''Batman Forever'', he's back to not killing anyone and even explains to Robin that he shouldn't kill Two-Face in revenge. That said, he kills Two-Face himself when there's no other option to save the day and doesn't go out of his way to save mooks from their own actions, e.g. dodging a rocket that then hits a car full of thugs behind him or dodging out of the way of cars in a high speed chase in such a way that they then collide with each other and explode. PlayedStraight ironically in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' of all the films as this Batman doesn't kill any mooks or villains in the film (Robin and Batgirl do kill Bane though). This makes this incarnation of the only cinematic Batman to uphold ThouShallNotKill until the [[Film/TheBatman2022 2022 version]] of Batman below.
** The Creator/ChristopherNolan [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy movies]], however, have been a bit closer to this trope, with Bruce Wayne's refusal to kill being a key element of his motivation. ("That's why it's so important. [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim It separates us from them]].") Notably he only develops that philosophy a good way through the first movie - he didn't have a problem killing a ton of ninjas by lighting a building on fire. However, in ''Batman Begins'', he informs [[spoiler:Ra's Al Ghul]] that "I won't kill you... but ''I don't have to save you''.", before flying off, leaving [[spoiler: Ra's]] in a train car that soon after [[HoistByHisOwnPetard crashes and explodes]], killing him. The distinction's a bit blurry since he's the one who incapacitated Ra's while leaving him on said crashing train. The film [[JustifiedTrope justifies]] this (or at least tries to) because the last time he saved [[spoiler:Ra's]] he came back and continued his KnightTemplar plan [[UngratefulBastard despite that]]. It's even lampshaded:
---->'''Bruce:''' "I saved your life."
---->'''[[spoiler:Ra's]]:''' "I warned you about compassion."
*** By ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' his moral philosophy appears to have evolved somewhat, as towards the end [[spoiler:he goes out of his way to save ComicBook/TheJoker's life. On the other hand, the Joker ''was'' trying to drive Batman to murder, so this looked like the only way to beat him. When Batman ''does'' kill at the end of the movie, it's to save a life -- namely, the life of Gordon's son from a tragically maddened and vengeance-crazed Harvey Dent/Two-Face]].
*** He also has another justification besides personal philosophy: he's a HeroWithBadPublicity in the Nolan films, so he knows acting as judge, jury, and executioner isn't going to help his reputation.
*** Another fact to consider is that Batman ''personally threw'' the Joker off the building. If he didn't catch the Joker, then he explicitly killed him. But with [[spoiler:Ra's]], he willingly put himself on the train with the knowledge that Batman would try his absolute hardest to stop him. [[spoiler:Ra's]] taught Batman everything he knows and remembers that one time that Bruce unintentionally burnt down an entire fortress to avoid killing one innocent. [[spoiler:Ra's]] obviously understood the potential risk of going against Batman, and one could reasonably assume that he would have some sort of way to escape. Nolanverse's Batman follows the code that he will never intentionally kill a person, but if the bad guy puts himself into a position where s/he will be killed by collateral damage in the act of Batman saving Gotham / the innocent, and there is no way to save them, then there is nothing that can be done. [[spoiler:Ra's]] had no way of saving himself on the mountain, but Bruce could save him, and so he did. On the train, Batman had reason to believe that [[spoiler:Ra's]] could save himself, and the only choices were Batman and Gordon destroy the train, '''''or every living thing in Gotham dies.''''' The same exact problem comes up in Film/TheDarkKnightRises, when [[spoiler: the nuke will go off in less than ten minutes, the tanks are actively trying to kill Batman and Catwoman, they can't force the truck to go back to the generator, and all warning shots have failed to get the truck to stop. Either the truck and tanks are stopped with force, '''''or literally everything in Gotham is wiped off the face of the earth and the rest of the US gets hit by the fallout.''''']]
*** In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' Batman explicitly tells [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] "No guns, no killing.". She is less than enamored with the idea, responding, "Where's the fun in that?!" [[spoiler:Selina later saves Bruce's life by shooting Bane dead right as he is about to kill the hero, and jokingly states that she doesn't feel too strongly about the whole no-kill thing.]] Though he implied he would kill Bane after beating information out of him and in the climax of the same film, [[spoiler:the GodzillaThreshold is crossed and Batman fires his plane-mounted guns with lethal intent, when intimidation with them failed. He kills both Talia al Ghul and her driver to stop them from detonating a WMD in Gotham City.]]
** Averted for Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse Batman as one would [[AuthorAppeal expect]] for a DarkerAndEdgier director like Creator/ZackSnyder, the Dark Knight in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' is shown both killing mooks indiscriminately and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking even using firearms]]. There is some level of justification as this Batman in particular is jaded past the point of a DespairEventHorizon after the death of Robin and Wayne manor getting burned down. DCEU Batman only plays this straight in regards to Superman as Clark's words about Martha put an end to his determination to murder Supes and Batman also spares Lex Luthor at the end, although there's FridgeLogic with the latter as DCEU Batman has no qualms [[WhatMeasureIsAMook about killing henchmen]] just doing their jobs and yet shows mercy to Lex as well as Joker who are both unrepentant psychopaths. Then again you can argue it is pretty justified given the henchmen Batman kills in this movie are all heavily-armed international mercenaries who are in the business of doing things like massacring entire villages - in both threat level and repugnance they're quite a few steps above Gotham's street criminals.
** This is all in comparison to ''Film/BatmanTheMovie''. When Batman was trying to find a safe place to dispose of a bomb he refused to throw it where anybody could get hurt. Including at ducks. Later in the movie when he and Robin accidently kill some mooks they do mourn for them as they weren't expecting them to [[ItMakesSenseInContext combust]].
** While the version of Batman from ''Film/TheBatman2022'' is more brutal than the other cinematic incarnations of the character, murder is a line that he will not cross, and he adamantly refuses to kill anyone. [[spoiler:He tries to impart this philosophy to Selina as well, stopping her from killing Falcone as revenge for Annika's death.]]

* Deconstructed[[note]]Along with [[DeconstructorFleet many other tropes, superhero-based or otherwise]][[/note]] in ''Film/ManOfSteel'', where Superman is placed in an impossible situation where, [[spoiler:General Zod, enraged beyond reason, has sworn he will ''never stop killing'' humans in an effort to hurt Kal-El for preventing the rebirth of Krypton. There is no super prison, no gateway left to the PhantomZone -- just Kal, Zod, and a family of four about to be incinerated by Zod's rampage...so he ''breaks Zod's neck''.]] This is not an action he undertakes lightly however, as the following scene shows. Expanding on this, WordOfGod says that in the ''Man of Steel'' continuity, [[spoiler:this incident is ''why'' Superman swears never to kill anyone: he knows first-hand what a terrible, traumatic thing it is to take a life.]]
** Also averted in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' [[spoiler: where Supes kills Doomsday as part of his HeroicSacrifice, though like the Zod example there was admittedly little choice in the matter with Doomsday being a massive and nigh-unstoppable threat to Earth. Also in all fairness Superman killed Doomsday in the comic as well, the only difference being it wasn't permanent in the comics due to Doomsday having ResurrectiveImmortality.]]
** Played straight in ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' as Superman, while he does beat the piss out of Steppenwolf as a change of pace he doesn't kill him, with Steppenwolf Boom Tubing away with the Parademons. In ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' meanwhile, Supes may not kill Steppenwolf himself, but he does certainly [[CombinationAttack contribute]] [[spoiler: to Aquaman and Wonder Woman putting him down.]]

* PlayedStraight in ''Film/Shazam2019'' unlike other DCEU films and the aforementioned original Captain Marvel film as Billy [[spoiler:and the rest his siblings]] show mercy to the BigBad Doctor Sivana and after depowering him, Billy saves his life as he falls from the sky and he goes to jail rather then ending up dead.
* In both the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' and ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'' franchise, Peter Parker will always try to reason with his enemies instead of killing them. However in ''Film/SpiderMan1'', Peter killed one of Uncle Ben's muggers [[HoistByHisOwnPetard and arguably killed the Green Goblin by inaction]] but when he appears in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'', he makes it clear that [[RevengeIsNotJustice he deeply regrets both of these]]. [[spoiler: He even steps in personally to [[SaveTheVillain prevent]] MCU Spidey from killing the Goblin in revenge for his murder of Aunt May, showing he knows full well with great power comes great responsibility.]]

* Averted in ''Film/SupermanII'', where Superman smiles as he throws a powerless Zod down a pit to his death. However there's a DeletedScene in the spirit of this trope where the authorites turn up to the Fortress of Solitude and arrest the now human Zod, Ursa and Non along with Lex Luthor (which would also explain why he's in jail in the [[Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace fourth movie]]) but it was cut.

* Averted in ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' where the titular heroine with single exception of Doctor Poison is shown killing many German soldiers, Ludendorff [[spoiler: and Ares]]. This likely due to taking ques from the modern DarkerAndEdgier incarnations of Diana whom ever since murdering Maxwell Lord has been depicted as a superhero unafraid to use lethal force. In ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' she not only kills the black clad criminals (whose leader admittedly was about to shoot a bunch of children) [[spoiler: but beheads Steppenwolf herself with the help of Superman and Aquaman.]]
** PlayedStraight in the LighterAndSofter ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' as Wondy doesn't have her sword and notable doesn't kill either of the villains (albeit Cheetah ''almost'' getting drowned and electrocuted in the climax). Although a few of henchmen driving trucks in the Egypt convoy ChaseFight [[WhatMeasureIsAMook aren't so lucky]] and are killed by Diana.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
** This is the hallmark of Professor X for most of the X-Men hexalogy;[[note]]the original trilogy and the First Class trilogy[[/note]] he detests violence and firmly objects to the notion that deadly force is required to subdue evildoers. A grey area occurs in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', where Magneto's insatiable desire for revenge corners Charles into a moral bind -- [[spoiler:if he releases Sebastian Shaw from his psychic grip, then Shaw will eliminate Erik, but if he maintains the mental hold, then Magneto will kill their target, and Xavier becomes an accessory to murder; Charles opts for the latter]]. In ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', he breaks his one inviolable rule when his own life, the lives of his team and billions of others are at stake: [[spoiler:he's unable to take down Apocalypse on his lonesome, so he commands Jean Grey to immolate his adversary with her Phoenix Force]].
** Nightcrawler in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', given his religiousness. Averted in ''Film/XMenDarkPhoenix'' though where Kurt [[MookHorrorShow butchers a bunch of mooks]] during the climax.
** Most of the movies have the characters perfectly okay with using lethal force, but this is a specific plot point in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. It's stated that the young version of Mystique never killed anyone (even the people she used her {{Shapeshifter}} powers to impersonate), but [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope Jumped Off The Slippery Slope]] when she decided to kill Bolivar Trask. Her decision to kill Trask set off a chain of events resulting in a BadFuture, which is the main reason Wolverine travels back in time to stop her.

** Averted for Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse Batman as one would [[AuthorAppeal expect]] for a DarkerAndEdgier director like Creator/ZackSnyder, the Dark Knight in ''Film/BatmanVsSuperman'' is shown both killing mooks indiscriminately and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking even using firearms]]. There is some level of justification as this Batman in particular is jaded past the point of a DespairEventHorizon after the death of Robin and Wayne manor getting burned down. DCEU Batman only plays this straight in regards to Superman as Clark’s words about Martha put an end to his determination to murder Supes and Batman also spares Lex Luthor at the end, although there’s FridgeLogic with the latter as DCEU Batman has no qualms [[WhatMeasureIsAMook about killing henchmen]] just doing their jobs and yet shows mercy to Lex as well as Joker who are both unrepentant psychopaths. Then again you can argue it is pretty justified given the henchmen Batman kills in this movie are all heavily-armed international mercenaries who are in the business of doing things like massacring entire villages - in both threat level and repugnance they're quite a few steps above Gotham's street criminals.

* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Aquaman}}''. Arthur doesn't like killing and mainly just beats the crap out of the Atlantean soldiers rather outright murdering them [[spoiler: and spares his brother Orm the BigBad in the climax]], but he refuses to SaveTheVillain when Black Manta's father Jesse Kane is trapped underneath a torpedo despite the former's pleading. Although given Kane [[UngratefulBastard had just tried to kill Arthur]] even after he'd shown mercy and had killed many innocent people up to that point (as Arthur also points out) he had it coming.

** Played straight in ''Film/JusticeLeague'' as Superman, while he does beat the piss out of Steppenwolf as a change of pace he doesn’t kill him, with Steppenwolf Boom Tubing away with the Parademons. In ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' meanwhile, Supes may not kill Steppenwolf himself, but he does certainly [[CombinationAttack contribute]] [[spoiler: to Aquaman and Wonder Woman putting him down.]]

** Averted for Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse Batman as one would [[AuthorAppeal expect]] for a DarkerAndEdgier director like Creator/ZackSnyder, the Dark Knight in ''Film/BatmanVsSuperman'' is shown both killing mooks indiscriminately and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking even using firearms]]. There is some level of justification as this Batman in particular is jaded past the point of a DespairEventHorizon after the death of Robin and Wayne manor getting burned down. DCEU Batman only plays this straight in regards to Superman as Clark’s words about Martha put an end to his determination to murder Supes and Batman also spares Lex Luthor at the end, although there’s FridgeLogic with the latter as DCEU Batman has no qualms [[WhatMeasureIsAMook about killing henchmen]] just doing their jobs and yet shows mercy to Lex as well as Joker who are both unrepentant psychopaths. It's also slightly justified because the people Batman kills in this movie are all heavily-armed international mercenaries who are in the business of doing things like massacring entire villages - in both threat level and repugnance they're quite a few steps above Gotham's street criminals.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** The Creator/TimBurton[=/=]Creator/JoelSchumacher ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' movies have been a bit more flexible with this trope than the comic book version, with Batman demonstrating that he's not especially concerned if his enemies end up dead on numerous occasions.
*** In ''Film/BatmanReturns'', he [[GrenadeTag gives a circus strongman a bomb]], then '''''smiles sadistically''''' before knocking him down into the sewer to be blown to pieces. He ''enjoys'' killing in Burton's films.
*** PlayedStraight ironically in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' of all the films as this Batman doesn’t kill any mooks or villains in the film (Robin and Batgirl do kill Bane though). This makes this incarnation of the only cinematic Batman to uphold ThouShallNotKill until the [[Film/TheBatman2022 2022 version]] of Batman below.
** The Creator/ChristopherNolan [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy movies]], however, have been a bit closer to this trope, with Bruce Wayne's refusal to kill being a key element of his motivation. ("That's why it's so important. [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim It separates us from them]].") However, in ''Batman Begins'', he informs [[spoiler:Ra's Al Ghul]] that "I won't kill you... but ''I don't have to save you''.", before flying off, leaving [[spoiler: Ra's]] in a train car that soon after [[HoistByHisOwnPetard crashes and explodes]], [[NeverFoundTheBody presumably killing him]]. Anyone who knows [[spoiler:Ra's]] from the comics knows it's a case of [[spoiler:ImmortalLifeIsCheap]], even if Batman doesn't.
*** The Nolan Film [[JustifiedTrope Justifies]] this (or at least tries to) because the last time he saved [[spoiler:Ra's]] he came back and continued his KnightTemplar plan [[UngratefulBastard despite that]]. It's even lampshaded:

*** Another fact to consider is that Batman ''personally threw'' the Joker off the building. If he didn't catch the Joker, then he explicitly killed him. But with [[spoiler:Ra's]], he willingly put himself on the train with the knowledge that Batman would try his absolute hardest to stop him. [[spoiler:Ra's]] taught Batman everything he knows and remembers that one time that Bruce unintentionally burnt down an entire fortress to avoid killing. [[spoiler:Ra's]] obviously understood the potential risk of going against Batman, and one could reasonably assume that he would have some sort of way to escape. Nolanverse's Batman follows the code that he will never intentionally kill a person, but if the bad guy puts himself into a position where s/he will be killed by collateral damage in the act of Batman saving Gotham / the innocent, and there is no way to save them, then there is nothing that can be done. [[spoiler:Ra's]] had no way of saving himself on the mountain, but Bruce could save him, and so he did. On the train, Batman had reason to believe that [[spoiler:Ra's]] could save himself, and the only choices were Batman and Gordon destroy the train, '''''or every living thing in Gotham dies.''''' The same exact problem comes up in Film/TheDarkKnightRises, when [[spoiler: the nuke will go off in less than ten minutes, the tanks are actively trying to kill Batman and Catwoman, they can't force the truck to go back to the generator, and all warning shots have failed to get the truck to stop. Either the truck and tanks are stopped with force, '''''or literally everything in Gotham is wiped off the face of the earth and the rest of the US gets hit by the fallout.''''']]
*** In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' Batman explicitly tells [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] "No guns, no killing.". She is less than enamored with the idea, responding, "Where's the fun in that?!" [[spoiler:Selina later saves Bruce's life by shooting Bane dead right as he is about to kill the hero, and jokingly states that she doesn't feel too strongly about the whole no-kill thing.]]
*** Later in the film, [[spoiler:the GodzillaThreshold is crossed and Batman fires his weapons with lethal intent, when intimidation with them failed.]]
** Averted for Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse Batman as one would [[AuthorAppeal expect]] for a DarkerAndEdgier director like Creator/ZackSnyder, the Dark Knight in ''Film/BatmanVsSuperman'' is shown both killing mooks indiscriminately and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking even using firearms]]. There is some level of justification as this Batman in particular is jaded past the point of a DespairEventHorizon after the death of Robin and Wayne manor getting burned down. DCEU Batman only plays this straight in regards to Superman as Clark’s words about Martha put an end to his determination to murder Supes and Batman also spares Lex Luthor at the end, although there’s FridgeLogic with the latter as DCEU Batman has no qualms [[WhatMeasureIsAMook about killing henchmen]] just doing their jobs and yet shows mercy to Lex as well as Joker who are both unrepentant psychopaths.

** Also averted in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' [[spoiler: where Supes kills Doomsday as part of his HeroicSacrifice, though like the Zod example there was admittedly little choice in the matter with Doomsday being a massive and nigh-unstoppable threat to Earth. Also in all fairness Superman killed Doomsday in the comic as well, the only difference being it wasn’t permanent in the comics due to Doomsday having ResurrectionBasedImmortality.]]

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'' Aragon makes sure EvilChancellor Grima Wormtongue is spared when the recently uncursed King Theodan is out for his blood, as TheGoodKing Aragon believes human life not matter how lowly and despicable should be shown in mercy compared to the true forces of evil. In the [[ReCut extended edition]] Aragon even offers a kindly hand to Wormtoungue -- [[UngratefulBastard who spits on it in reponse]]. In book Theodan was the one who invoked ThouShallNotKill despite the many reasons to slay Grima, him creeping on his niece Éowyn being just one, although he makes clear he if had met Grima on the battlefield there be no mercy then.

* Played for HypocriticalHumor in ''Film/District9''. As Christopher and Wikus are breaking into MNU headquarters, a guard opens fire on them and Wikus's instinctive response is to [[NoKillLikeOverkill splatter the guard over the wall]] with his alien weaponry.

* Played for HypocriticalHumor in ''Film/District9''. As Christopher and Wikus are breaking into MNU headquarters, a guard opens fire on them and Wikus's instinctive response is to splatter the guard over the wall with his alien weaponry.

*** By ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' his moral philosophy appears to have evolved somewhat, as towards the end [[spoiler:he goes out of his way to save ComicBook/TheJoker's life. On the other hand, the Joker ''was'' trying to drive Batman to murder, so this looked like the only way to beat him. When Batman ''does'' kill at the very end of the movie, it's to save a life -- namely, the life of Gordon's son from a tragically maddened and vengeance-crazed Harvey Dent/Two-Face]].

** The Creator/ChristopherNolan [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy movies]], however, have been a bit closer to this trope, with Bruce Wayne's refusal to kill being a key element of his motivation. ("That's why it's so important. [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim It separates us from them]].") However, in ''Batman Begins'', he informs [[spoiler:Ra's Al Ghul]] that "I won't kill you... but ''I don't have to save you''.", before flying off, leaving [[spoiler: Ra]]'s in a train car that soon after [[HoistByHisOwnPetard crashes and explodes]], [[NeverFoundTheBody presumably killing him]]. Anyone who knows [[spoiler:Ra]]'s from the comics knows it's a case of [[spoiler:ImmortalLifeIsCheap]], even if Batman doesn't.
*** The Nolan Film [[JustifiedTrope Justifies]] this (or at least tries to) because the last time he saved [[spoiler:Ra]]'s he came back and continued his KnightTemplar plan [[UngratefulBastard despite that]]. It's even lampshaded:

---->'''[[spoiler:Ra]]'s:''' "I warned you about compassion."
*** By ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' his moral philosophy appears to have evolved somewhat, as towards the end [[spoiler:he goes out of his way to save ComicBook/TheJoker's life. On the other hand, the Joker ''was'' trying to drive Batman to murder, so this looked like the only way to beat him. When Batman ''does'' kill at the end of the movie, it's to save a life -- namely, the life of Gordon's son from a tragically maddened and vengeance-crazed Harvey Dent/Two-Face]].