History Main / ClimacticElevatorRide

* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' shows the main character taking heading to the final showdown by riding an elevator to the penthouse of the tallest skyscraper in Dubai.

It needn't be before the actual climax. A good semi-climax will do, so long as it's dramatic and looks like it might be the real thing.

See also RoofTopConfrontation, which often follows. Not to be confused with ClimbingClimax or ElevatorActionSequence, since the action doesn't actually happen on the elevator.

* ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and [[VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 its sequel]] features one near the end of ''every chapter'' except for the latter's final.

** ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}} also has one, though not right before the final boss. It takes place when the main characters are escaping from the castle's basement after [[spoiler: Susie's fight with Lancer, which results in her finally deciding to follow Kris' instructions instead of attacking every enemy she encounters]].

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* The 2014 version of [[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] has one where the turtles are singing and beatboxing on their way to face shredder. Then the elevator pings and they all run out [[ScreamingWarrior with a roar]].
* ''Film/TotalRecall1990''. Quaid takes an elevator ride up to his final showdown with Cohaagen over the fate of Mars.

* Happens in ''Film/VanillaSky'' as well. Tom Cruise's character meets with [[spoiler:"Tech Support"]], who proceeds to explain what exactly's been happening to him throughout the film. To drive it home, the elevator ride is [[spoiler:impossibly long, making it clear that Cruise is in a dreamworld]].

* The movie ''The Brave'', written and directed by Creator/JohnnyDepp, ends with him taking an elevator ride up to meet the SnuffFilm makers with whom he has a debt.

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* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' has Gordon and Alyx ride up an elevator before the final battle. Alyx takes this time to say a few things.
** Lets not forget Gordon's Epic and Long (Long!) ride up the tower in the prison unit. That should count as an elevator ride.

* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' shows the main character taking heading to the final showdown by riding an elevator to the penthouse of the tallest skyscraper in Dubai.
* ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis'' - Right before the final boss battle, Wild Dog takes Rachel hostage in an elevator. Richard has to take the other elevator to catch up.

* ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'' - Reaching the final levels objective an elevator ride shows how the player raises beyond all the rest of the city's rooftops where the player has been running all game long.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' has two at the climax: An elevator ride, and a long series of catwalks, both containing quotes by various characters echoing in Snake's head as he moves ever closer to a likely death and the end of his mission.
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' has this in the final mission of the Vice Kings storyline, where the Protagonist, Johnny Gat, and Benjamin King have to ride an elevator to get to the penthouse where Tanya is. It's notable for being one of the four times in the game that the normally SilentProtagonist speaks.

* There is one final elevator at the end of ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' when you get back to the asylum.
--> '''Sebastian:''' If I get out of this alive, I'm never riding in an elevator again.
* ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and [[VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 its sequel]] features one near the end of ''every chapter'' except for the latter's final.
* Happens a few times in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'':
** You get an elevator from the Core to New Home that takes longer than the other elevators in the game. There's even a track on the OST called "Long Elevator" that consists of the elevator sound effect used in the game. There is another elevator in New Home, but it acts as more of a shortcut so you don't have to walk all the way back should you want to backtrack.
** In the Pacifist ending, Alphys leaves a note in her lab revealing that her "Bathroom" is actually an elevator that leads to a truth she's been hiding but is now ready to reveal. Unlike most examples, the elevator actually goes down, but it's still a tense moment, especially when [[spoiler: it malfunctions and crashes due to a sudden power outage, leaving you trapped down there until you find all the necessary items to restore power]].
** After the above event, you go into another elevator and get a call from an unknown person, who ends their dialogue with "See you soon." Immediately after, the doors close and the elevator rapidly ascends to New Home, [[PointOfNoReturn and is then blocked as soon as you get out]], leaving you with no choice but to face the final boss.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/{{Flashback}}'', Conrad takes an elevator down for the final battle with the Master Brain.

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* ''AgentOfSHIELD'': the episode "The Real Deal" has a variant, as we don't know the elevator ride is a big deal until after everyone gets off. Coulson and Fitz chat briefly in the elevator, before Coulson points out that Fitz looks nervous, and that the elevator stopped a minute ago. They exit the elevator, [[ItMakesSenseInContext entering a forest]], where the rest of the team are waiting for them, and Simmons is wearing a white dress and holding a small bouquet, leading to Fitz and Simmons [[TheyDo getting married]].

Both John and the T-800 in ''Ride/Terminator23DBattleAcrossTime'' at Ride/UniversalStudios go up in an elevator before reaching the climatic scene in Skynet's central core.

* ''Film/{{Runaway}}''. The police officer protagonist has to take a robots-only elevator with NoOSHACompliance up a building site to confront the villain for a HostageForMacGuffin trade, despite his fear of heights.
* ''Film/ThorRagnarok''. Thor and Loki have a conversation in the elevator on their way up before Thor [[spoiler:escapes Sakaar]]. It starts on a serious note and ends with a GilliganCut when the elevator's doors open.

* ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' and [[VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 its sequel]] features one near the end of ''every chapter'' except for the latter's final.

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' has this in the final mission of the Vice Kings storyline, where the Protagonist, Johnny Gat, and Benjamin King have to ride an elevator to get to the penthouse where Tanya is.

* Just before the final battle of [[Anime/CowboyBebop Cowboy Bebop: The Movie]], Spike takes an elevator up to the top of the tower to fight [[BigBad Vincent Volaju]] where he is initiating his terrorist attack on the Halloween parade.
* Before their final fight with [[spoiler: the gone-insane General Ulube]], the [[MobileFighterGGundam Shuffle Alliance]] ride a huge freight elevator in their Gundams and discuss how they will defeat [[spoiler: the Dark/Devil Gundam merged with the Japan Colony]].

* The movie ''The Brave'', written and directed by JohnnyDepp, ends with him taking an elevator ride up to meet the SnuffFilm makers with whom he has a debt.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Invader Zim}}'' episode "Game Slave 2" plays with this trope; [[JerkAss Iggins]] is rushing to [[ItMakesSenseInContext get batteries on a high floor of a skyscraper, while simultaneously trying to escape Gaz]]. However, in his hysteria, he slams on the same button several times and breaks the elevator, sending him flying up to the roof. There, Gaz climbs in with him before he can get the door to close. After he refuses to give her the Game Slave, she punches the control panel and sends the elevator plummeting downward; finally, he gives her the game, and she miraculously stops the elevator at the floor with the batteries. Then she cuts the cord and [[BlackComedy lets Iggins fall to his death anyway]].
--> ''Gaz'': The rightful order has been restored.

* Just before the final battle of CowboyBebop: TheMovie, Spike takes an elevator up to the top of the tower to fight [[BigBad Vincent Volaju]] where he is initiating his terrorist attack on the Halloween parade.

* ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'' has Gordon and Alyx ride up an elevator before the final battle. Alyx takes this time to say a few things.

* ''SpecOpsTheLine'' shows the main character taking heading to the final showdown by riding an elevator to the penthouse of the tallest skyscraper in Dubai.

* ''EliteBeatAgents'' - In the "Just A Peanut Matter" (song: "I'm a Survivor") stage, the main character takes the freight elevator to the top of the peanut warehouse where the evil alien queen is.

* ''ModernWarfare 3'' has one halfway through the last level, when Price and Yuri ride an elevator to the final battle with Makarov and his goons.
* ''MirrorsEdge'' - Reaching the final levels objective an elevator ride shows how the player raises beyond all the rest of the city's rooftops where the player has been running all game long.
* ''MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' gives us two at the climax: An elevator ride, and a long series of catwalks, both containing quotes by various characters echoing in Snake's head as he moves ever closer to a likely death and the end of his mission.

* The final level, and indeed the final boss in ''MarvelUltimateAlliance 2'' takes place on a gigantic elevator leading to nowhere.