History Main / PostClimaxConfrontation

* Firstly, the major threat of the day MUST be resolved. The BigBad is defeated, or there is at least no sign that he survived just yet, there is no sign of TheManBehindTheMan, no other hidden enemies waiting somewhere nearby to ambush the heroes. Examples of this trope are rarely the BigBad, though all four of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' Quadrilogy examples are famous exceptions and are instead typically an independent force.

* The conflict of the ''Endwalker'' expansion in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' and the MythArc involving the [[TheManBehindTheMan Ascians]] is effectively concluded after [[spoiler:[[BigBad The Endsinger]]]] is defeated. Before the [[PlayerCharacter Warrior of Light]] returns home to their friends however, [[spoiler:[[ArchEnemy Zenos]]]] asks them to indulge in one last fight to the death, not as a hero but simply as someone who enjoys the thrill of combat. Even though he says he will not stop the Warrior if they choose to simply leave, [[ButThouMust he must be fought]] regardless of whether the Warrior agrees with his NotSoDifferent claim or just wants him dead.

* In the Japan-exclusive RPG ''Anime/DragonBallZ: Super Saiya Densetsu'', if the player makes Goku go Super Saiyan during the final battle against Frieza and keeps him and Vegeta alive throughout the end of the game, then after the credits roll, Goku will encounter the BonusBoss: Super Saiyan Vegeta.

* Overlapping with BonusBoss, ''VideoGame/TheBouncer'' has Sion or Kou face a [[DuelBoss Duel Boss]] after resolving the plot, depending on [[GuideDangIt how you used them throughout the game]]; If it's Sion, then you fight [[OldMaster Wong Leung]] in a flashback, and if it's Kou, then he faces [[ActionGirl Leann Cadwell]] [[spoiler: to prove to LUKIS that he can [[TheMole continue keeping tabs on Dominique.]]]] Rather annoyingly, you only have one shot at defeating them, so [[TryNotToDie try not to die]] if you want to [[SecretCharacter unlock]] them.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In ''Anime/AttackOnTitan'', [[spoiler:Both Eren and the Source of All Life attempt to reunite to restart the Rumbling, with Eren taking on a Colossal Titan form and the Source titanizing nearly everyone, including Jean and Connie. Mikasa stops them both by entering Eren’s mouth and severing Eren’s human head from his spine, killing him.]]
* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', this is how the Cell Arc ends. Cell has been destroyed and the world has been saved; all that's left to do for Future Trunks is to return to his own time and dispose of Future Androids 17 and 18 and Future Imperfect Cell. Having spent a good year training with his father to the point where they could both dominate Semi-Perfect Cell, Trunks wipes the floor with them all.

* ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'' ends on this note, with Dio, reduced to a head after Jonathan beat him in their initial battle, coming after him to exact his revenge. [[spoiler: Which he unfortunately succeeds in doing by killing Jonathan but not his wife. Even when Jonathan attempts a TakingYouWithMe, this only delays Dio's plans as he eventually takes Johnathan's body as his own and returns to menace the Joestars' descendants again in ''Stardust Crusaders''.]]
** ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Blood Run]]'', in the many parallels it shares with Part 1, has one of these as well. When the BigBad is defeated, [[spoiler:walking (weakly) regained, and best friend and mentor killed after imparting his final lesson onto him,]] Johnny still has one last leg of the eponymous race to finish, [[spoiler:which he fails to, thanks to the final battle of the part being against [[DiabolusExNihilo Diego Brando from another universe]], complete with ''THE WORLD,'' Valentine summoned to [[DragonTheirFeet complete his plans should he fail]].]]

* This has become somewhat common in recent seasons of ''Anime/PrettyCure'' where one final MonsterOfTheWeek shows up after the BigBad is taken out and the Cures must defeat it. Usually, this also results in an EarlyBirdCameo from next season’s leading Cure.

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'': Snake completes his mission, and is now on his way back to America with EVA; suddenly, they are assaulted by Ocelot. Cue a one-on-one close-quarters fight aboard the WIG, and finally an old school pistol duel between Snake and Ocelot.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', the final battle with Liquid Ocelot happens ''after'' [[spoiler: Snake stops him from destroying JD and, in the process, ends up wiping out the ''entire'' Patriot Network instead, destroying the true Big Bads of the series. Though of course, [[MagnificentBastard that was Ocelot's plan the entire time]].]]

* In ''Videogame/PokemonXAndY'' after you beat the Elite Four and the Champion of the region, you receive a big parade for saving it from Lysandre and Team Flare. In the middle of it [[spoiler: the former king AZ challenges you to a Pokémon fight.]]
** This seems to have started somewhat of a tradition, as in [[Videogame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]], after defeating Steven and becoming Champion of Hoenn, the player must fight [[spoiler: either [[TheRival May or Brendan]], who will Mega Evolve their now fully-evolved starter]], and in [[Videogame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]], after defeating the Elite Four and [[spoiler: Kukui]] and becoming Alola's first Champion, during the festival to commemorate the event, the player character and Lillie [[spoiler: sneak off to the Ruins of Conflict and the player finally engages [[OlympusMons Tapu Koko]], who must be either defeated or caught.]]

* ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' ends with the Shroob leader [[spoiler: and her older sister]] defeated, and their invasion thwarted for good. [[spoiler: Not really. As the Toadsworths take the Mario brothers to see a KO'd Bowser, the remains of the Elder Princess Shroob (which had been taken from the final battle) are consumed by him. The result is Shrowser, who the brothers must defeat using only counter-attacks.]]

* Sometimes employed in ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}'' games. Specifically, [[spoiler: the "real" final boss of Metroid Prime 2 is Emperor Ing. During the EscapeSequence, you get ambushed by Dark Samus one last time, whom you must quickly defeat within the time limit. In Metroid Fusion, you fight an Omega Metroid under nearly identical circumstances. Both fights are short and mainly just to avert WhatHappenedToTheMouse and showcase Samus regaining her normal power, respectively.]]
* In the UsefulNotes/GameGear game ''Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse'', Mickey defeats the BigBad, restores everything, plays a BonusStage, and returns to his home kingdom... but then King Pete (who wasn't heard from since the game's first level was completed) shows up and a boss battle commences.

* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', after defeating Legate Lanius in the final battle in one way or another, the game is pretty much over. However, if the player takes the [[TheChessmaster Mr. House]] or the WildCard path they will then have to deal with General Oliver and the NCR, who will not accept Vegas as an independent city-state. You'll then have to convince them in some way, or just kill them all.
* Even better, in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', after you complete the game by siding with the Minutemen and [[spoiler:destroying the Institute, you can work on an entirely optional mission where the Minutemen go to war with the Brotherhood of Steel and generally teach them a well-deserved lesson. Namely, by shelling their CoolAirship out of the sky and then holding the Castle against the remnants of the Brotherhood's army.]] And it is ''awesome''.

* At the end of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' after Xemnas is apparently beaten he traps Sora and Riku into a final, 3-part fight with him before they can return home.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', the killer has been caught, the fog has been lifted from Inaba, and the protagonist is bids all his friends a fond farewell before leaving. However, [[spoiler: if the player visits the Junes food court instead of returning home after saying his goodbyes, he'll meet up with the rest of the Investigation Team, who all realize that there are still loose plot threads left (such as how the Protagonist and the killer got their Personas) and that there might be someone else behind the entire incident. This sets the player on the path towards the TrueFinalBoss and the GoldenEnding.]]

* PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie''. Banjo and Kazooie rescue Tooty as Grunty escapes, and their friends throw a party to celebrate. The credits roll, and it seems like the game's finished... only for the gang to realize that Grunty still needs to be defeated! Banjo and Kazooie run right back to where they rescued Tooty for the final showdown against Grunty.

* Hwoarang's story in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} 4'' has him beat Heihachi and win the King of Iron Fist Tournament in the match before the last one, where he goes to the Parking Garage stage and fights Jin Kazama. However, this is only semi-canon (Hwoarang didn't win the tournament and he never fought Jin but according to ''5'' he did go to the garage and get ambushed by the Korean military for his desertion that kicks off ''4'').

** ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Blood Run]]'', in the many parallels it shares with Part 1, has one of these as well. When the BigBad is defeated, [[spoiler:walking (weakly) regained, and best friend and mentor killed after imparting his final lesson onto him,]] Johnny still one last leg of the eponymous race to finish, [[spoiler:which he fails to, thanks to the final battle of the part being against [[DiabolusExNihilo Diego Brando from another universe]], complete with ''THE WORLD,'' Valentine summoned to [[DragonTheirFeet complete his plans should he fail]].]]

* Used in the finale of ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': the villains' plans are in ruins, the damsel saved, the major threat is destroyed and TheDragon arrested... when Emperor Gruum (who had suffered a DisneyVillainDeath earlier) crawls out of the rubble to challenge Commander Cruger to one last fight.

[[quoteright:306:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/images_826.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:306:[[SarcasmMode "They probably should've seen one final Velociraptor attack coming from a mile away."]]]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

** ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'': After defeating Red Grant and supposedly home free, Rosa Klebb turns up for some shoe fighting action and forces the BondGirl to decide where her loyalties lie.

[[folder:Live-Action Television]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}: Bender's Big Score'', after the climactic space battle against the scammer aliens (which ended with their ship being destroyed by a doomsday device), their leader Nudar comes back, having survived thanks to a [[AppliedPhlebotinum doom-proof platinum vest]] to make a last attempt to gain the [[TimeTravel time code]]. Lars [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices himself]] to kill Nudar.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', the film that also even provides the main page quote seen above, when Springfield has been saved and everything seems to be fine again, Russ Cargill comes out of nowhere with a shotgun and attempts to kill Homer and Bart. Maggie knocks out Russ with a large boulder, luckily.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', the very film that also provides the main page image seen above, after Alan and Paul successfully scare off the [[SavageSpinosaurs Spinosaurus]] for good by lighting their boat's fuel on fire, the very next day, just as the group is about to escape, several [[RaptorAttack Velociraptors]] confront them regarding their stolen eggs until Alan confuses them using a fossilized ''Velociraptor'' resonating chamber and as Amanda also finally surrenders the stolen eggs in question back to them.

** In ''Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'', this trope actually gets subverted within the ''exact same manner'' as in the ''Film/{{AVP Alien Vs Predator}}'' example mentioned above in that Godzilla eventually comes and confronts the lead human protagonists one final time shortly following his devestating attack on [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Tokyo]], only for his [[BreathWeapon Atomic Breath]] to shoot out of his ''shoulder'' instead of his mouth, seemingly killing him off once that happens, but the subversion part of this example comes once his disembodied beating heart's shown during the film's very last shot before the end-credits, meaning that the central conflict surrounding him hasn't yet been resolved at all.
** In ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'', this trope gets the subversion treatment again in that just as it seems that the other Titans are getting ready to battle Godzilla one final time just following King Ghidorah's final death, all that actually happens then is that the other Titans in question simply bow down to Godzilla during the film's very last several shots before the end-credits with Godzilla also [[VictoryRoar roaring in victory]] on top of that.

** In ''Film/GodzillaVsKingGhidorah'', this trope is soon played straight again in that following King Ghidorah's supposed death, he soon gets brought back as "Mecha-King Ghidorah" and subsequently drops both himself and Godzilla down into the ocean, resolving that particular installment's central conflict afterwards, even though the latter {{Kaiju}} soon eventually returns during the events of ''Film/GodzillaVsMothraTheBattleForEarth''.

** In ''Film/GodzillaMothraAndKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'', this trope actually gets subverted within the ''exact same manner'' as in the ''Film/{{AVP Alien Vs Predator}}'' example mentioned above in that Godzilla eventually comes and confronts the lead human protagonists one final time shortly following his devestating attack on [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Tokyo]], only for his [[BreathWeapon Atomic Breath]] to shoot out of his ''shoulder'' instead of his mouth, seemingly killing him off once that happens, but the subversion part of this example comes once his disembodied beating heart's shown during the film's very last shot before the end-credits, meaning that the central conflict surrounding him hasn't yet been resolved at all.

** In ''Film/GodzillaMothraAndKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'', this trope actually gets subverted within the ''exact same manner'' as in the ''Film/{{AVP Alien Vs Pradator}}'' example mentioned above in that Godzilla eventually comes and confronts the lead human protagonists one final time shortly following his devestating attack on [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Tokyo]], only for his [[BreathWeapon Atomic Breath]] to shoot out of his ''shoulder'' instead of his mouth, seemingly killing him off once that happens, but the subversion part of this example comes once his disembodied beating heart's shown during the film's very last shot before the end-credits, meaning that the central conflict surrounding him hasn't yet been resolved at all.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', when Springfield has been saved and everything seems to be fine again, Russ Cargill comes out of nowhere with a shotgun and attempts to kill Homer and Bart. Maggie knocks out Russ with a large boulder, luckily.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', the very film that also provides the main page image, after Alan and Paul successfully scare off the [[SavageSpinosaurs Spinosaurus]] for good by lighting their boat's fuel on fire, the very next day, just as the group is about to escape, several [[RaptorAttack Velociraptors]] confront them regarding their stolen eggs until Alan confuses them using a fossilized ''Velociraptor'' resonating chamber and as Amanda also finally surrenders the stolen eggs in question back to them.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', the very film that also provides the main page image, after Alan and Paul successfully scare off the [[SavageSpinosaurus Spinosaurus]] for good by lighting their boat's fuel on fire, the very next day, just as the group is about to escape, several [[RaptorAttack Velociraptors]] confront them regarding their stolen eggs until Alan confuses them using a fossilized ''Velociraptor'' resonating chamber and as Amanda also finally surrenders the stolen eggs in question back to them.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', After Alan and Paul successfully scare off the ''Spinosaurus'' for good by lighting their boat's fuel on fire, the very next day, just as the group is about to escape, several ''Velociraptors'' confront them regarding their stolen eggs until Alan confuses them using a fossilized ''Velociraptor'' resonating chamber and as Amanda also finally surrenders the stolen eggs in question back to them.

[[caption-width-right:306:[[SarcasmMode "They probably should've seen one final RaptorAttack coming from a mile away."]]]]

* ''Anime/SailorMoon S''. After the defeat of the Death Busters and the destruction of [[GreaterScopeVillain Pharaoh 90]], the day is seemingly saved. After a tearful farewell, Chibiusa departs to the future, leaving Usagi and co. Unbeknownst to them, one last [[MonsterOfTheWeek Daimon pod]] survived in the burning remains of Mujin Academy, the villains' headquarters. It crawled into the Daimon oven and combined with it into Rangy. The Daimon immediately went into a pure heart collecting rampage. During the battle with the Sailor Senshi, it proved to be too powerful for them.[[spoiler:It took the intervention of a returning Chibiusa and a distraction by Tuxedo Mask to tip the scales and allow Sailor Moon to destroy the Daimon for good.]]

* ''Film/DieHard'': Karl manages to survive being strangled(!), and attempts to kill John [=McClane=] one last time after Hans Gruber is killed, but is quickly shot before he can do anything.
* The botched execution of Jack Sparrow (and his subsequent escape) in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' occur after Barbossa is killed.

* The last scene of Disney's ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1993''. After the heroes defeat Cardinal Richelieu and Rochefort and save the King and Queen, they're confronted by a group of thugs who started pursuing D'Artagnan at the beginning of the movie. It's been so long since the audience saw them that their appearance is a surprise.

* Ash Williams in ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'', after coming back from the medieval age, must blow away a random deadite who attacks his workplace.
-->'''Ash''': Hail to the king, baby.
* In ''Film/HotFuzz'', after the final, massive shootout against the NWA and the defeat of DevilInPlainSight Simon Skinner and the BigBad Police Chief, everything seems like it's all wrapped up and the cops are all finishing up their paperwork, when suddenly the one NWA member they forgot about bursts into the police station and starts shooting.
* The penultimate scene in ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' is a variation in which nothing actually comes of the confrontation. Having been spared by Mal in their earlier confrontation and subsequently ordered his men to provide medical attention for Mal and his crew, The Operative concedes defeat and walks away; he only kills for his cause, which is now lost. Mal tells him that if he ever sees him again, he might kill him. The Operative replies "you won't".
* In ''Film/RedDawn2012'', after the Wolverines defeat [[BigBad Captain Cho]] and the North Koreans as well as recover the suitcase, [[LastBreathBullet the North Koreans suddenly attack the Wolverines]] and [[TheHeroDies kill Jed Eckert]], but the remaining Wolverines manage to escape.
* In ''Film/OBrotherWhereArtThou'' the main characters have already secured their fortune and Everett has defeated TheRival when his wife forces them to return to her old house to get a wedding ring, where they run afoul of the Sheriff (and possible Devil) who has been hunting them throughout the film.
* In ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'', Austin and Vanessa are celebrating their honeymoon three months after stopping Dr. Evil's plan, when Random Task, the [[ImprobableWeaponUser shoe-throwing assassin]] reappears to kill them. They stop him using the [[ChekhovsGun penis enlargement pump]].

* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'': The climactic battle against Electro is over, the villain is gone, the city is saved from certain doom and it seems everything is just fine — then suddenly Green Goblin appears, as one final challenge before the day is done.
* The baseball game in ''[[Film/ThreeNinjas 3 Ninjas Kick Back]]'', which is, of course, followed by a PostGameRetaliation.
* In the Creator/LiamNeeson movie ''Film/RunAllNight'', after Jimmy Conlon [[StormingTheCastle invaded the pub]] and killed [[BigBad Shawn Maguire]] and his men in a shootout, he returns to his son Mike and his family, only to be fatally wounded by [[PsychoForHire Mr. Price]], a professional assassin hired by Maguire earlier and whom Jimmy spared in a BattleAmongstTheFlames. Jimmy eventually kills Mr. Price via BoomHeadshot before succumbing to his wounds.
* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', After Alan and Paul successfully scare off the ''Spinosaurus'' for good by lighting their boat's fuel on fire, the very next day, just as the group is about to escape, several ''Velociraptors'' confront them regarding their stolen eggs until Alan confuses them using a fossilized ''Velociraptor'' resonating chamber and as Amanda also finally surrenders the stolen eggs in question back to them.

* At the end of ''Film/{{Rush Hour 2}},'' Lee and Carter are catching their breath after defeating Ricky Tan, only for TheDragon Hu Li to come in with a bomb that's about to blow.
* ''{{Film/Avatar}}'': After the humans' assault on the Home Tree fails, Colonel Quaritch suits up in an AMP mech to battle Jake Sully personally.
* After Will, Elizabeth, Jack, Norrington, and the Royal Navy defeat the cursed crew of the Black Pearl in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'', the next scene is the Port Royal gallows, where Jack Sparrow is to be hanged for piracy (and a whole bunch of other crimes). Will shows up to interrupt the hanging, and he and Jack end up fighting the Royal Navy one last time.

** In ''Film/{{AVPAlienVsPredator}}'', it at first glance at the very least appears that this trope's gonna be played straight by having the Antarctic Queen breach the icy surface for one last battle round against both Scar the Yautja and Alexa Woods and also by having her eventually get stranded right down at the bottom of the ocean, but shortly thereafter, Scar's body then gets taken right on back aboard his original starship, allowing "Chet" the Predalien to be later born aboard it and likewise ultimately set up the whole entire plot of the immediately following film mentioned below, thusly making this example a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]].
** In ''Film/{{AliensVsPredatorRequiem}}'', a rare outright [[AvertedTrope aversion]] for the franchise as a whole occurs with the main human survivors being rescued by still surviving soldiers just following a tactical nuclear strike against Gunnison, Colorado that results in the deaths of both Wolf the Yautja and "Chet" the Predalien.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesKuroNoKiseki II'', [[spoiler:the main conflict of the story ends in
Chapter 3 with defeat of Garden-Master, aka Auguste, and the retrieval of the 8th, and final, Genesis unit. The Final Chapter, meanwhile, spends most of its time showing the cast enjoying Aramis High School's festival, until Van suddenly decides to head to Trion Tower to settle things for good with [[DragonTheirFeet Grendel-Zolga]].]]