Watched a couple of films recently where the lead was in danger early in the story, which should be tense, but I just thought there's no way they're going to kill off the main guy five minutes in. Sort of a limitation of the form maybe.

Can't think of any good examples right now. I remember Gosling disappeared like halfway into The Place Beyond The Pines, though arguably that was probably a two-pronged thing with Cooper.

Any examples? Or where the main person only comes in more than halfway through? (novels etc. too I guess)