History Main / SelfImmolation

* The Trial of Kings in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'', where would-be kings of the High Elves emulate the first Phoenix King, Aenarion, by ritually sacrificing themselves by walking into the sacred fire of Asuryan. Those who are judged worthy by Asuryan are allowed to pass through the flames unharmed and are proclaimed Phoenix Kings. Those who are not worthy (say, by trying to become king by KlingonPromotion)... Aren't left unharmed.
** In addition, the Phoenix King Morvael the Impetuous is noted to [[DrivenToSuicide have committed suicide]] by willingly walking into the sacred fire a second time, intending to be judged unworthy (which he was).

* ''Series/BetterCallSaul'': A combination of being publicly humiliated in court, permanently having his reputation and career destroyed, driving away his brother [[spoiler: Jimmy,]] and the realization that he will never overcome his illness causes [[spoiler: Chuck [=McGill=]]] to decide to light his house on fire with him in it.

* ''Series/BetterCallSaul'': A combination of being publicly humiliated in court, permanently having his reputation and career destroyed, driving away his brother [[spoiler: Jimmy,]] and the realization that he will never overcome his illness causes [[spoiler: Chuck McGill]] to decide to light his house on fire with him in it.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'', Jolyne sets herself on fire with Emporio's lighter in order to counter an enemy Stand who had the ability to drain the body heat from its victims.

* ''Series/TheBoys2019''. Lamplighter uses his [[PlayingWithFire superpower]] to commit suicide after breaking into Vought Industries and discovering that the statue of him standing with [[SuperheroTeam The Seven]] has been replaced.

Subtrope of DrivenToSuicide. Compare ManOnFire, MurderByCremation and WreathedInFlames.

* A really cruel variation comes from ''Manga/DeathNote'', where [[spoiler: Light Yagami uses the titular DN to ''[[PsychicAssistedSuicide force]]'' his ex-girlfriend Kiyomi Takada to burn herself to death.]]

* Parodied (of course) in ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', where Ted's boring stories cause people to want to kill themselves. A turbaned man douses himself with some flammable liquid and lights a match, but just then Ted finishes the story as he was being called to the cockpit and leaves. The man puts out the match, sighs in relief... and ''Whooomph!''.
* In the movie ''Film/AngelsAndDemons'', [[spoiler: Carlo Ventresca]], after it's discovered that he murdered the Pope, planted the bomb, and murdered the three Cardinals, runs St. Peter's basillica, pours candle oil on himself and lights it.

* Denethor in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. "Bring wood and oil." In the original book, he burns in the tomb where he's built his pyre, but in Creator/PeterJackson's film version he runs out of the tomb and across the courtyard while still burning so that he can throw himself off the front of the rock prow overlooking the battlefield. Director's commentary made note of the distance but admitted [[RuleOfCool he really wanted the shot of Denethor falling from the pinnacle.]]

* Once on ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Klinger threatened to do this to himself unless he was given a Section 8, going so far as to douse himself with gas (aka petrol). Potter called Klinger into his office, at which time he and Radar noticed that the "gasoline" was really water. After Potter didn't give in to Klinger's demands, Klinger went back out and doused himself some more, this time (unbeknownst to him) with real gas.

* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': "[[Recap/CSINYS05E08 My Name Is Mac Taylor]]" had a guy who threatened this because he was despondent over the hit and run death of his girlfriend. He'd been hunting for the driver, causing trouble because he only knew the person's name was Mac Taylor and had killed two other Macs in the process. Fortunately, he was prevented from succeeding. [[note]]At least temporarily. His fate is actually ambiguous due to the ep ending with him having just been taken to the hospital in critical condition.[[/note]]

* The second season of ''Series/Trapped2015'' begins with a financially-troubled farmer and far-right-wing activist attempting to assassinate the Minister for Industry (who is also his sister) by burning both of them alive in the street outside her office. He dies and she survives.

* The Trial of Kings in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'', where would-be kings of the High Elves emulate the first Phoenix King, Aenarion, by ritually sacrificing themselves through walking into the sacred fire of Asuryan. Those who are judged worthy by Asuryan are allowed to pass through the flames unharmed and are proclaimed Phoenix Kings. Those who are not worthy (say, by trying to become king by KlingonPromotion)... Aren't left unharmed.

* While fire is [[{{CrossesTheLineTwice}} just another suicide]] on ''VideoGame/SpaceStation13'', there is a gene that allows you to set yourself on fire at will. While this has no practical use on it's own (ya know, other than the obvious), combining with genes that [[NoSell prevent heat damage]] can make you a lethal thing for [[ExploitedImmunity any poor bastard dumb enough to come at you in melee combat]].

* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'' has [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled self-slaying]] Hara Kiri moves for each character. As a Shaolin monk, Liu Kang covers himself in magical fire as a morbid nod to other Asian monks that have immolated themselves. A bit unique in that his magical fire causes his body parts to fall off, rather than [[StrippedToTheBone being reduced to a skeleton]] as in most fire based deaths in this series.

* Inspired by Palach, Sándor Bauer, a 17-year old Hungarian car mechanic apprentice set himself on fire in 1969 to protest the Soviet occuptation of Hungary.

* [[https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/25/politics/man-sets-himself-on-fire-israeli-embassy-washington-dc/index.html Aaron Bushnell]], a 25-year-old US Air Force seviceman, set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in February 2024 to protest the Israel/Gaza War and the US government's unconditional support of Israel.