Both Films
- The scene where Mattie looks over her father's belongings that were collected for her. The original has her hold a couple of them close to her and outright cry before a Fade to Black. The remake while she remains fairly stoic has her look to be on the verge of tears and holding and looking at the gun specifically.
- Moon's death.
1969 Film
- Poor young Moon's death in the original film, stabbed to death by his own partner Quincy. Rooster shoots Quincy, but it's sadly to late to save Moon. Rooster and Mattie do try to at least comfort Moon before he dies.
- LaBoeuf's death in the original film. Worst of all Rooster had to simply leave him there without a proper burial due to having to rush Mattie to a doctor to save her life. Mattie also has that brief moment of mourning when she strokes the side of his head too.
- Mattie's horse Blackie dies soon after when Rooster works him to death getting Mattie help.
2010 Film
- The entire ending sequence in the 2010 version. When Rooster is forced to mercy kill Little Blackie is where it starts to sink in. That's when you start to think back on all the other dead bodies that he and Mattie have left in their wake. Then you realize why 90% of the score has been Christian hymnal music. Then the hopelessness of it all finally dawns on you and you just lose it.
- The scene where Rooster and Mattie ride back through the canyon and there are those long, lingering shots of the Lucky Ned Pepper gang lying dead on the ground, and then when Mattie pleads with Rooster not to kill her horse... It's a wonder if one can even listen to the soundtrack without getting even the slightest bit sentimental.
- Moreover, Mattie screaming for Rooster not to shoot her horse, despite the fact that he's clearly done for. This from a girl who has only shown calm and poise in the face of numerous difficult obstacles. And then the scene afterward, where he tries to pick her up and she fights against him. Guaranteed to break your heart.
- Just the entire last 10 minutes of the film.Time just gets away from us.
- One of Rooster's last lines in the film, if not the last after he falls to his knees in front of the trading post after having run a significant distance overland carrying Mattie after he mercy-killed Little Blackie.Rooster: I've grown old.
- The jump to when Mattie is 40 reveals she lost her arm due to the snake bite—meaning even with the success of taking Chaney out, a heavy price was still paid that will continue to affect her forever.
- Cogburn's death, especially with it happening while Mattie was traveling to go see him and being unable to reach him in time.
- Mattie in her narration reveals she never got married as she didn't take the time to see if she could find someone and when she brings up and considers seeking out LaBeouf to see if he's still alive, she figures not only is he gonna be in his 70s now, he's probably not the same guy he was before either.
