Line #187 Main/SilentCredits


1	%% A note for non-fans of Doctor Who: Adric's death [[ItWasHisSled isn't a spoiler anymore]].
2	%%
3	->''"Sometimes you have to show some depth." \
4	"Do you think we should do that? [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E6Earthshock Kill off Adric, roll the credits over silence?]]" \
5	"It would certainly stop that bastard saying what the next programme is." \
6	"No, it wouldn't. Nothing would stop that bastard. And even if it stopped the bastard on BBC Two, it'd never stop the bastard on Dave. He doesn't give a shit. As soon as he gets to the poppy bit of ''[[Series/{{Blackadder}} Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', he's already split the screen and he's showing highlights of Creator/FrankieBoyle's nan-pussy set. In Memory of the Fallen(!)"''
7	-->-- ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''
8
9	Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]][[note]]especially if it's a VerySpecialEpisode dealing with an issue that has no easy resolution to it, like racial prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, gang violence, mental health issues, dealing with abuse [mostly physical child abuse, but domestic abuse and any episode centered on rape, sexual assault, or child molestation also apply], or coping with death. Usually when that happens, there's also a black screen with the name, number, and website of a crisis center dealing with those issues[[/note]] or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well. Silent credits can also be applied when it ends in a bittersweet note.
10
11	This is ruined whenever a CreditsPushback happens, so as a result tends to be more effective on DVD releases.
12
13	Compare to SuddenSoundtrackStop.
14
15	!!As this can be the sign of an {{Ending Trope\|s}}, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers abound]]. [[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned Beware]].
16	----
17	!!Examples
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
22	* The last episode of ''Anime/AngelLinks'', with the silence beginning just beforehand when the feather lands on Meifon. The ending theme, which usually begins playing right before the credits, starts but cuts out completely to indicate [[spoiler:Meifon's death.]]
23	* The next episode preview of the eighteenth episode of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' season two, [[spoiler:at the end of which the entire Tokyo settlement and presumably Nunnally was nuked by Suzaku,]] contains no voiceover, which is even further offset by the title of the next episode being "Betrayal."
24	* ''Franchise/FullmetalAlchemist'':
25	** ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' has an episode in which a character dies, and the closing animation is replaced by credits on cards, with a military funeral march. There is also a silent next episode preview for the final episode [[spoiler:following Ed's death]], up until the very end, when [[spoiler:Al yells out "BROTHER!"]].
26	** An EyeCatch version of this was done with ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'': usually a man's voice will say "[[TitleDrop Fullmetal Alchemist!]]" in various tones over it. However, when [[spoiler:Envy is killed off for good in episode 54]], the Eye Catch has no voice over. This happens several other times with the Eye Catch as well late in the series; [[spoiler:Fuu and Buccaneer are two other examples]].
27	* The first episode of ''Anime/GaReiZero'' ended with [[spoiler: the entire cast for that episode dying.]] The credits roll with only the crackling of a fire.
28	* ''Anime/GunXSword'' has one of these right after [[spoiler: Ray's death]], with only the sound of wind chimes playing in the background.
29	* An Eyecatch variant for ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind''. After [[spoiler:[[KillTheCutie Narancia's death]]]], the typical ''Golden Wind'' theme cannot be heard when Silver Chariot's Stand stats are shown. Instead, the slow sounds of dripping water are heard.
30	* A variant appears in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', after [[spoiler: The Third Hokage's death]]; the end theme plays just the same as normal, but the preview for the next episode is utterly silent, except for Itachi's narration.
31	* A variant appears in episode 24 of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': after [[spoiler:Kaworu is killed by Shinji]], the credits roll with music alright... but this time, the vocals are missing. And this is the only credits sequence in the entire series without vocals.
32	** One version of ''The End of Evangelion'' had the credits song removed from the end of the English voicetrack, resulting in the final credits after Asuka's "how disgusting" line rolling in complete silence. '''[[NothingIsScarier Creepy as hell.]]'''
33	* Variation with the GrandFinale of ''Manga/SoulEater'', in which the title sequence is omitted entirely, with the opening credits silently playing over the opening moments of the FinalBattle. The end credits are retained however, with a touching LastEpisodeThemeReprise added in.
34	* ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' had the episode where [[spoiler: Vash is forced to kill Legato]] and the next episode preview omits the usual music, featuring only a voiceover of Vash begging Rem to forgive him for what happened.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
38	* While ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'' usually has no opening or closing credits, in the 1990 re-release, end credits were added showing footage of the intermission with altered sound (this was used to make it look like the show was over). After the curtains close (also have no sound effect), the credits continue rolling with no music or sound effects and eventually leads to a black screen (though some versions show the Walt Disney Pictures [[VanityPlate logo]] before blacking out).
39	* The credits of the short film ''WesternAnimation/LeMans1955'' are completely silent, not even having the sound of the cars rushing past anymore. This makes sense, as it's a short film dramatizing the 1955 Le Mans disaster, where driver Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators were killed in a crash.
40	* The end credits of the 1977 ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' film begin with a card stating that Yamato returned to Earth in 2199 and Earth was restored to its original Beauty. It also states the number of crewmembers who died in action. The only background heard during the credits is Yamato's signature engine sound. This is repeated for ''Yamato: The New Voyage'', although [[spoiler:despite the loss of Starsha and Mamoru]], it isn't a total downer ending either, [[spoiler:as they gain baby Sasha, their daughter]]. However, the spoken narration prior to the end credits states that the Dark Nebula Empire may have been beaten this time, but [[TheWarHasJustBegun the rest of them are still out there and planning their next move, though our heroes don't quite know it yet]] (they will find out in ''Be Forever Yamato''). ''Final Yamato'' also has silent end credits, but if one listens carefully, early into the credits, the ''Yamato'' theme song can be heard -- however, the majority of the credits are silent except for the sounds of waves.
41	* A variant of this trope: one of Creator/{{Lionsgate}} Home Entertainment's predecessors, International Video Entertainment, ended their tapes with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRumh1QTJ0 this logo]], featuring a catchy SynthPop ditty. There is a silent variant of the logo, which very fittingly capped off the company's release of ''ComicBook/WhenTheWindBlows''.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
45	* ''Film/AllTheTroublesOfTheWorld'': During most of the closing credits {{Montage}}, Multivac is saying "I want to die" while electronic background music creates a creepy sound. When [[ComputerEqualsTapedrive the tapedrives stop]], all sound stops with it, implying Mutivac's death as the last credit appears and the screen [[FadeToBlack fades to black]]. Like most examples of this trope, none of the actors are given nominal credit for their role.
46	* ''Film/AmericanSniper'': The first half of the credits consists of an epilogue followed by [[RealPersonEpilogue footage of the actual Chris Kyle's 2013 funeral service]] set to a "Taps"-like trumpet piece by Ennio Morricone. After this, the main portion of the credits play in complete silence.
47	* ''Film/AnnieHall'' is probably one of the earliest (and best known) films to have silent credits.
48	* Originally, the second half of the ending credits of ''Film/LaBamba'' were shown in silence. later editions added a cover of "Come on, Let's Go".
49	* ''Film/BeauIsAfraid'' ends with the sounds of the ocean [[spoiler: and people leaving the outdoor arena after Beau's trial ends with him drowning.]]
50	* ''Film/BlackChristmas1974'' ends like this, with no music at all playing over the credits rolling through the screen, save for the sound of wind and [[spoiler:the phone still ringing inside the house]], making the credits effectively eerie.
51	* ''Film/BrightStar'' ends with Ben Whishaw reciting Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" over the end credits, with no music minus the chirping of the birds, the choir and some few notes from a violin.
52	* The credits to the film adaptation of ''Film/{{Cabaret}}'' feature no music.
53	* ''Film/TheChinaSyndrome'' actually had an original score composed for it by Michael Small, but in post-production director James Bridges dropped more and more of it until he finally decided the movie played better with no music at all. Hence no music over the credits.
54	* This [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have been]] the case if the original ending of ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' had been kept. In that ending, which can be seen on the 10th anniversary DVD, [[spoiler: Dante is shot and presumably killed by a holdup man just as he is finishing up the day's paperwork.]] The credits then roll silently with the exception of the beeping sounds of a cash register ... which, with the added context, become surprisingly chilling.
55	* Partially done in ''Film/{{Cloverfield}}''. The credits roll silently for 30 seconds in, which then gives way to stomping sounds that gradually grow into the beginning of a large orchestrated piece title "Roar (Cloverfield Overture)".
56	* This happens in the second half of the end credits of ''Film/DoctorSleep'', a sequel to ''Film/TheShining'', where after the song "Midnight, the Stars and You", there remains only silence except a howling wind.
57	* ''Music/{{Evita}}'' had no music over the end credits. However, later releases have added music.
58	* The 1964 nuclear thriller ''Film/FailSafe'' featured no music. Credits rolled to the blended sounds of the engines of the Vindicator bombers and the crowd at the bullfight in Gen. Black's dream. These are gradually replaced with [[spoiler: the sound of Ambassador Lentov's phone melting as New York City is destroyed]].
59	* ''Film/{{Get Carter\|1971}}'': This 1970s gangster flick ends with [[spoiler:Jack Carter himself getting shot on a remote beach by an assassin after Jack got his revenge on his brother's killer]], followed by ending credits with the only sounds being the waves crashing on the shoreline.
60	* ''Film/LaHaine'' has a DownerEnding and the subsequent credits rolling in silence.
61	* Creator/MichaelHaneke likes this trope:
62	** ''Caché'' (AKA ''Hidden'') has no musical score at all. The opening credits are a big block of text over a still scene (it's not until several ''minutes'' after they've ended that we get our first clue that this ''isn't'' a freeze-frame), and the end credits roll over a silent shot of [[spoiler:Pierrot meeting Majid's son]].
63	** The opening and closing credits of ''Film/CodeUnknown'' run in complete silence. In fact, there is [[RealityHasNoSoundtrack no score in the entire film]] apart from drumming and flute play in-universe.
64	** ''Film/TheWhiteRibbon'' has no music or other sounds during the closing credits.
65	* ''Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers1978'' ends with [[spoiler: Matthew revealed to have been converted into a pod and pointing out the still-unconverted Nancy with the shrill [[HellIsThatNoise pod scream]].]] The camera then zooms into the darkness of Matthew's mouth, and silence plays over the credits.
66	* The film adaptation of ''Music/JesusChristSuperstar'', like fellow Creator/AndrewLloydWebber creation ''Evita'' above, features no music in the credits.
67	* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
68	** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' has a more somber and quiet credits sequence compared to the rest of the MCU. No flashy effects. Just white-on-black credits as a mournful song plays. When the TitleDrop is seen, it's faded into a somber piano rendition of the Avengers theme... as the title crumbles away into dust.
69	** ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'' features an opening logo variant: released two years after the [[Film/BlackPanther2018 first film]]'s star Creator/ChadwickBoseman passed away and starting with a DownerBeginning where [[spoiler:[[TheCharacterDiedWithHim his character T'Challa also dies]]]], the Marvel Studios logo displays only footage and images of him while the usual fanfare is replaced with complete silence.
70	* The credits for ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'' initially appear to be silent with only ambient noise, but said noise gradually evolves into a [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic superbly chilling]] piece by Carter Burwell.
71	* ''Film/{{Noise}}'' has this. It's really a jarring silence as the whole film's always has noise, even the "quiet" bits of the film aren't quiet, yet the credits are cut to black and complete silence.
72	* ''Path to 9/11'' had no music to its credits on either night of its original TV airing.
73	* ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'':
74	** ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968'' has one of the most famous silent end credits (except for the sound of waves crashing on the shore) as [[EarthAllAlong Taylor realizes he's been on Earth all along.]]
75	** ''Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- after Taylor detonates the nuke, Creator/PaulFrees narrates as the screen goes white: "In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet green and insignificant planet]], is now dead." The screen then fades to black, and the credits roll in silence.
76	** ''Film/ConquestOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- The credits roll in silence, except for the apes screeching fading.
77	* After the track "Lux Aeterna", which started near the end of the movie, finishes, the credits of ''Film/RequiemForADream'' have no background music for the rest of their duration. Instead, there is a two-minute track of seaside sound effects. Interestingly enough, said "music" is also on the soundtrack.
78	* The infamous 1963 Coleman Francis film ''Film/TheSkydivers'', right after the DownerEnding has a rather grim end credits sequence with film footage of the various cast members set to complete silence. Is lampshaded by Crow ("Silently, dismally, the credits roll on.") in the show's [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K episode]].
79	* ''Film/{{Targets}}'' has no musical score at all, and so the credits are an example of this, running over a shot of [[spoiler: the murderer Thompson's car sitting abandoned in the otherwise empty drive-in theater parking lot.]]
80	* ''Film/TheseFinalHours'' ends with the end of the world. There is no music playing over the entire length of the end credits.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
84	* ''Series/Adam12'': The 1970 episode "Elegy for a Pig," which recounted the life of a police officer killed in action, ended with silent credits in lieu of the usual booming theme song. (The sound effects associated with the "Mark VII Limited" and Universal Studios {{vanity plate}}s were kept intact.)
85	* Adric's death in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E6Earthshock Earthshock]]" - the traditional starfield sequence of that time was replaced with [[DeadHatShot a picture of his broken Mathematics badge]] (which was used to kill a Cyberman), with the credits scrolling in silence. One reviewer said that he never noticed the credits were silent - he was too busy laughing at the death of his [[TheScrappy most hated character]]. However, many others have commented that it made the episode [[AlasPoorScrappy more moving]], and in recent years the closing of the episode has taken on "Rains of Castamere" significance among Whovians.
86	* ''Series/GrangeHill'':
87	** The death of Anthony Karamanopolis.
88	** And that of Judi Jeffreys (well, not quite silent but with the fading sound of the fire alarm instead of the theme music).
89	* The UK children's magazine programme ''Series/BluePeter'' did this whenever the studio pet cat or dog died, as well as when someone associated with the programme died, such as Percy Thrower in 1988.
90	* The DownerEnding of ''Series/BlakesSeven'''s final episode "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS4E13Blake Blake]]" initially concludes this way, although the music fades up halfway through.
91	* ''Series/TwentyFour'' emphasizes its RealTime "RaceAgainstTheClock" {{Thriller}} nature by starting and ending every act with a digital clock, complete with beeping sound effects and a HeartbeatSoundtrack. However, when an especially tragic moment occurs or an especially important character meets their Character Deaths, the show will mute the beeping, instead running a "silent clock" with muted sound effects or music in the background. Only 14 silent clocks occurred ever occurred across 192 episodes (and ten uses of said clock per episode).
92	* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', after the apparent deaths of the two lead characters in the Season 4 finale (and, it was believed at the time, the end of the entire series).
93	* For a non death-related example, one season finale of ''Series/{{House}}'' had the music cut off just as House downed another pill. Cut to credits.
94	* Also unrelated to character death, credits roll free of music (with ambient sound effects) in season 2, episode 7 of ''Series/QueerAsFolkUS'' after Michael realizes he can't handle [[spoiler: Ben's HIV-positive status]].
95	** And again in season 5, episode 10 after [[spoiler:Babylon is blown up.]]
96	* The final episode of ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Goes Forth'' concluded with the deaths of the entire main cast, followed by no credits at all, just the series' logo, Creator/TheBBC logo and year (dated in Roman numerals) on the bottom of the screen, after the agreement of everyone involved to forgo credit in order to preserve the effect of the ending.
97	* ''Series/TheSopranos'' did this for [[spoiler:Adrianna's death]] and again [[spoiler:in the finale, which ended with a cut to black and silence in the middle of a scene.]]
98	* ''Series/SixFeetUnder'', when David survives the carjacking and after Nate's death.
99	* Although nobody died, silent credits were used to great effect in the ''{{Series/Roundhouse}}'' episode dealing with gang violence. Billy Anykid, trying to avoid a confrontation, calls out "Reprise the theme song and roll the credits" only to have everybody walk away from him in disgust, and the credits roll silently as Billy looks around the now empty set. Rather than a happy, dancing and singing finish, probably due to the seriousness of the subject matter, there was only a silent text crawl:
100	--->There were over 3,000 gang-related fatalities in the U.S. in 1992 alone. After auto accidents, guns are the 2nd leading cause of death among teenagers.\
101	In the U.S. today, there are approximately 5,000 gangs, with over 500,000 members.\
102	Gang violence is no joke.
103	* Every episode of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' ends with the show's title accompanied by a percussive sound. However, for some sad endings, such as [[spoiler:Sun crying at Jin's grave in "Ji Yeon"]], the sound is omitted.
104	** The GrandFinale omitted the usual percussive sound and ominous end credits music. The network was even smart enough to ''not'' play ads or run a voiceover, instead showing images of the plane wreckage and playing the sound of waves lapping at the shore. Which some people interpreted to mean that [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory everyone was dead the whole time]], despite repeated [[{{Jossed}} Jossings]] to the contrary.
105	* Mike Baldwin's death in ''Series/CoronationStreet'' was meant to be this, except the {{continuity announce\|ment}}r talked over it. Until a few years ago, any episode of ''Corrie'' which ended with a death would have silent credits. This is no longer possible now that the broadcasters insist on shrinking the credit sequence into a corner of the screen and having the continuity announcer prattle on about what's coming next (sometimes averted on CBC broadcasts).
106	* ''Series/EastEnders'' did this after the [[TraumaCongaLine fittingly]] [[CosmicPlaything tragic]] deaths of [[spoiler:Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell]] on New Years' Day 2017.
107	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
108	** The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "The Thaw" has one of the most artfully produced Silent Credits sequences you'll ever see: the surviving members of a civilization are hooked to an adaptive computer life-support system, which manifests their fears in the form of a sadistic and violent Clown. When Janeway finds a way to access the system without actually entering the simulation, the Clown's reality (and the background audio) starts to fade as the hostages are disconnected one by one. The final exchange of words is beautiful in its simplicity, with the Clown uttering two memorable words: 'I'm afraid'. Janeway's sole response is a haunting, softly-whispered 'I know'. And then the Clown mutters "Drat." as it fades to black.
109	** ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' has this at the end of the episode "Project Daedalus" after [[spoiler: the corrupted cyborg Airiam was sacrificed in an attempt to stop the evil AI Control]]. The credits do not feature music, but instead have the sound of crashing waves, in reference to [[spoiler: Airiam's memory of being on a beach with her husband, back when she was fully human. In the episode, Ensign Tilly sends this memory to Airiam in order to break through her corruption by Control]].
110	* On the final episode of the original version of ''Series/FamilyFeud'', after host Richard Dawson gave a famously touching farewell address, the closing credits, had no music, just the sound of the audience applauding, and announcer Gene Wood ending the show with "Thank you Richard, and Thank you America!"
111	* A rare documentary example occurs in Jacob Bronowski's series ''The Ascent of Man''. In episode 11, with some visual assistance from a fellow Pole, Bronowski contrasts the scientific assertion that knowledge can never be certain with the chilling certainities of political and religious dogma. At the end he gives a moving piece to camera while standing in the preserved Auschwitz concentration camp. The picture then dissolves to the Polish man, then to an earlier photo of the same man - his Auschwitz ID photo. The credits roll in silence.
112	* ''Series/CanadasWorstDriver'' had SilentCredits when Tom Stagno, brother-in-law to contestant Crystal, was killed in a car crash. Crystal was sent home out of sympathy.
113	* The ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' episode "[[Recap/AllInTheFamilyS3E19ArchieIsBranded Archie Is Branded]]", where a man from the Hebrew Defense League is blown up in his car ends this way.
114	* The final episode of the second revival of ''Series/{{Crossroads}}'' was intended to have SilentCredits, and like the ''Series/CoronationStreet'' example above, would have had it not been for the continuity announcer.
115	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' has these in the episode "The Rains of Castamere," after [[spoiler: the [[GutPunch deaths of Robb, Talisa and Cat Stark]] at [[WhamEpisode the Red Wedding.]]]] Other episodes occasionally have silence for the first several seconds of the credits, in order to emphasize the ending, most notably following the [[spoiler:White Walker attack]] in "Hardhome".
116	* ''Series/TheNewsroom'' did this in the second season episode "News Night with Will [=McAvoy=]", after [[spoiler: Will tells Mac that his father has died]] before airing the Trayvon Martin correction.
117	* Like the 1964 film version, the 2000 MadeForTVMovie of ''Fail Safe'' has no music at all from beginning to end.
118	* Creator/TheBBC docudrama ''Film/{{Threads}}'', which ends with nearly all the main characters dead from the immediate or long-term effects of nuclear war. More than this, the show features teletype-style captions, accompanied by a characteristic sound. After the bombs fall, [[PaintingTheMedium knocking out virtually all electronics, the teletype captions are silent]].
119	* Although the MadeForTVMovie ''The UFO Incident'' does have music, it doesn't play over the end credits.
120	* Some episodes of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' use either silent credits, or a slower and more emotional piece of music instead of the usual theme, for episodes that feature major deaths and/or emotional developments. Examples include season 2, episode 11 "Judge, Jury, Executioner", following [[spoiler: Dale's death]]; season 3, episode 4 "Killer Within", after [[spoiler: the death of Lori, and to an extent, T-Dog]]; season 4, episode 8 "Too Far Gone", after [[spoiler: the deaths of Hershel, The Governor, and [[NeverFoundTheBody seemingly]] [[NotQuiteDead baby Judith]], and the fall of the prison]]; season 5, episode 9 "What Happened And What's Going On" after [[spoiler: Tyrese's death, with the sound of him being buried playing over the credits]]; and season 6, episode 16 "Last Day on Earth", where Negan bludgeons one of Rick's group members to death, whose identity is left ambiguous for a {{Cliffhanger}}.
121	* ''Series/{{Glee}}''[='=]s "Shooting Star," in which William [=McKinley=] High is disrupted by a gun going off, features silent end credits (following a montage of cellphone recordings of the tearful and scared students) rather than the usual perky glee singing. [[spoiler: However, [[EverybodyLives no one gets killed]] in the episode.]]
122	** "The Quarterback" does this as well, since Cory Monteith's death had an overbearing on the plot and his character [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim was formally retired]] in the episode.
123	* Since it has no credits per se, an episode of ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' that aired on May 16, 1990 had the Creator/{{Paramount}} VanityPlate at the end run without its music out of respect for Music/SammyDavisJr and Creator/JimHenson, who both died that day.
124	* ''Series/TopGear''[='s=] final episode featuring Clarkson, Hammond and May ended with the credits lacking any music at all.
125	** This specific example was then parodied in ''Series/MockTheWeek'', with Creator/DaraOBriain remarking that if he'd known this trope existed, he would have insisted on it being used when he was fired from ''[[Series/TheApprentice Celebrity Apprentice]]''. Dara then invoked the trope at the end of the episode, solemnly declaring that "we won't be back until next week". The credits weren't entirely silent: there was a few seconds of laughter at the start, when the audience realized what was happening.
126	* Several ''Access Hollywood'' episodes end with a silent version of the credits and NBC Universal logo, usually when they announce the death of a celebrity. The episode concerning Billy Bush's retirement from the show also ended with silence. On certain other death announcements, such as those of Rene Angelil (Music/CelineDion's husband) and later UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli, the episode will end on a LonelyPianoPiece.
127	* ''Series/TheLeftovers'''s "The Garveys At Their Best," which relates the events leading up to the Departure, ends with [[spoiler: Laurie staring at the sonogram machine which was showing her unborn child... until the child vanished in front of her eyes]]. Not only do the credits run in complete silence, but so does the Warner Bros. Television logo, with sound only returning for the "screen switching off" version of the HBO Entertainment logo.
128	* The November 14, 1965 episode of ''Series/WhatsMyLine'' was the first one following long-time panelist Dorothy Kilgallen's death. After John Daly's sign-off, the usual credits roll was skipped in favor of just showing a title card in silence, followed by [[Creator/{{CBS}} the network's]] "the preceding program was pre-recorded" disclaimer (intended for CBS affiliates that broadcast delayed the program).
129	* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'', the least likely scripted TV series not called ''Glee'' to ever have SilentCredits, has these at the end of "[[Recap/CrazyExGirlfriendS3E5INeverWantToSeeJoshAgain I Never Want To See Josh Again]]," [[spoiler:when Rebecca is flying to Los Angeles after visiting her mother - and [[DrivenToSuicide overdoses]]. But she manages to alert a flight attendant while slipping in and out of consciousness... cut to the credits, minus the instrumental reprise of the Season 3 opening theme. It is even followed by a message for suicidal prevention lines.]]
130	* Used in the series finale of Series/TheManInTheHighCastle where it also acts as a FinaleCredits.
131	* ''Series/ForAllMankind'' always has a contemporary song playing during the credits, except in "Rupture" when astronaut Ed Baldwin is told his son has been rendered brain-dead in a road accident while he is on the Moon.
132	* ''Series/TheExpanse''. A variation in "Remember the Cant" [[{{Cliffhanger}} after Havelock is attacked and left for dead]] (though he survives). There's just the murmur of the crowd and a [[CannedOrdersOverLoudspeaker voice announcing over and over]]: "This is a Star Helix security directive. Curfew is now in effect on Medina Level. Unauthorised personnel be detained or arrested on sight."
133	* ''Series/TheMentalist'' - not the ending credits, but the opening teaser of "Brown Eyed Girls" has Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon discover a badly injured woman. Patrick Jane tells her to stay with him, but she passes away just before the brief opening logo sequence that displays that the show was "created by Bruno Heller."
134	-->'''Lisbon''': Jane, she's gone.
135	-->'''Jane''': Yeah, I know, I know. (''intro, sans the normal jazzy music'')
136	* ''Series/MrRobot'' did this after [[spoiler: Elliot was forced to find out that his dad raped him.]]
137	* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'': The June 7, 2020 episode dedicates the entire episode to a single topic[[note]]rare for the series, as it usually opens with a brief segment discussing headlines before transitioning to the main topic[[/note]] - [[InherentInTheSystem systemic racism]] in American police forces. Due to the subject matter, the episode ends with a somber [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness "That's our show. Thanks for watching. Goodnight"]] from John, followed by silent white-text-on-black-background credits, as opposed to the usual black-text-on-white-background credits set to the show's InstrumentalThemeTune.
138	* An example with a series that has no ending credits - episodes of ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' (and most other ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series in the Heisei and Reiwa eras) typically close on an ending screen displaying a number of {{Transformation Trinket}}s before proceeding to the OnTheNext preview. Episode 32, in which [[spoiler:TheHeroDies]], ends on a screen displaying nothing but the series' "R" logo in shades of gray and no trinkets. Conversely, episode 33, in which [[spoiler:he CameBackStrong]], foregoes the ending screen and skips straight from the final scene to the next episode preview.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Video Games]]
142	* In ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}''[='s=] final ending, [[spoiler:after defeating the CosmicHorror, the camera shows a shot of Caim and Red, when a missile suddenly appears from the left side of the screen and [[RocksFallEveryoneDies obliterates them both]]]]. Cue Silent Credits on grey sky.
143	* ''VIdeoGame/{{Halflight}}'' ends with the player character and his brother, having escaped from the underworld (or not, [[AmbiguousEnding it could be a vision]] but the game isn't clear about it) walking down the streets of downtown Taiwan while credits rolls past. It's completely silent and devoid of sound, not even footsteps.
144	* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''[='s=] [[GainaxEnding ending]], known as the End Poem (which only plays after defeating the Ender Dragon), didn't play any ending music at all, especially in the game's 1.0 release. The poem was composed by Julian Gough, and all that is shown in the ending was a philosophical text-based dialogue scrolling in a dirt background at a very slow speed, illustrating all the accomplishments of the player while it mirrors real life. The player can then see the silent credits roll after reading the End Poem before going back to their normal world. However, in the 1.12.2 update, music finally plays during the credits.
145	* ''VideoGame/NieR'': Partially done at the end of [[MultipleEndings Ending D]], with the ending song replaced with a [[OminousMusicBoxTune Music Box]] cover, before fading away to the very feint, ambient sounds of wind through trees and singing birds.
146	* ''VideoGame/Persona4'' pulls a different version. During the [[MultipleEndings bad ending]], instead of the full credits set to Never More, with a showcase of various game cutscenes, the game shows a sparse white-on-black partial credits roll, set to Corridor, a far quieter, more somber tune.
147	* Done in ''VideoGame/BitTrip FLUX'', the [[GrandFinale final game of the series]].
148	* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' ends on a really bad note, after Conker comes to terms that he's now king of a country he doesn't want, surrounded by people he despises, and [[spoiler:his girlfriend Berri is dead.]] The credits are silent save for a few melodramatic keys.
149	* Partially done at the end of ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'': after [[spoiler:Jack fulfilled his pointless vengeance]], the credits roll normally with a melancholic song. After the song ends, they just go on, completely silently.
150	* ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' GameMod ''Project Kate'' by Jimmy has a silent title screen and intermission, the mapset was a tribute to a fallen member of the ''Doom'' modding community who was a personal friend of the author.
151	* Done in the SNES version of ''VideoGame/ToyStory''. Averted in the Genesis version, however.
152	* Done in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' after completing a Neutral route (of the other two routes, one ''does'' play music over the credits and the other has no credits at all), with only the noise being the sound that plays when the game's title appears. Although the Neutral endings aren't necessarily sad as is common for this trope, they are bittersweet at best.
153	* The credits to ''VideoGame/Gamer2'' play while Hailey is released from the virtual reality machine she was trapped in. The soft ambiance noise of the real world laboratory provides stark contrast to the music-filled game world she escaped.
154	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' has a variation of this at the end of Mission 19, before the final mission. After [[spoiler:Nero finally gets his Devil Trigger]], a silent (excluding the bonus Style Points and Bonus Red Orbs cards appearing with a click) mission summary screen with statistics on the bottom right corner replaces the traditional variant (with a "cinematic" showing flying shattered glass).
155	* The Neutral endings of ''VideoGame/{{Omori}}'', in which [[spoiler:Basil is DrivenToSuicide]], play nothing but the sound of either police sirens (if [[spoiler:Sunny pulled a ScrewThisImOuttaHere]]) or a ringing telephone (if [[spoiler:Sunny killed himself as well]]) over the credits. Both the Bad and Good endings avert this by having proper music: "My Time" and "Good Morning", respectively.
156	[[/folder]]
157
158	[[folder:Web Animation]]
159	* Usually after a massive {{Cliffhanger}} following a dark lore moment, [[WebAnimation/SuperMarioGlitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]] ends up causing the credits to become silent, or in some cases, receive ambient noises instead (the noise of typing in “Mario Delves Into Anti-Piracy Screens...” and “[=MAR10=] Day”, TV static in “Ready To Ride?...”). This is also usually accompanied with the outro itself to become desaturated (or in the case of “Mario And The Waluigi Apocalypse”, purple with Waluigi’s signature upside-down L constantly repeating in the background).
160	* The first season finale of ''WebAnimation/WackyGameJokez4Kidz'' ends with this.
161	* The entire ending credits of Studio Moonchalk's UsefulNotes/RPGMaker machinima, ''{{WebAnimation/Distortion}}''.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Web Original]]
165	* ''WebVideo/ClassicAlice'' Well trained Classic Alice fans know that when the credits go quiet, bad things are happening. When the end cards have no characteristically peppy music, it's because there is trouble afoot.
166	* In ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', the credits start with utter silence, which is followed by a quiet rendition of Penny's theme... which is then drowned out under a rising Dr. Horrible's theme.
167	* ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzgsNB-LQ1M did have a credits sequence after the first season had ended]]. And fittingly for such series, [[HellIsThatNoise it's safe to assume that the series doesn't have a proper ending theme]].
168	* Molotov Mitchel's "For The Record" did this on the August 3 episode.
169	* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'' tribute video to Creator/RogerEbert, which was uploaded on the day of his passing, has silent credits for the first time in any NC video. This was also done in the tribute to former ''TGWTG'' contributor [[WebVideo/YouCanPlayThis Justin Carmical]]. Considering the more somber tone, this is very much justified.
170	* Used in Episode 87 of ''WebVideo/TheLizzieBennetDiaries'', because the usual upbeat theme music would have seemed utterly inappropriate coming right on the heels of an extremely emotional moment.
171	* ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'':
172	** The season six finale, "There Will Be Rain Tonight", is a WhamEpisode which features [[spoiler:the Red Panda's plane being shot down en route to Europe and all but two members of the Home Team of superheroes working on the Canadian home front being assassinated]]. The normally bombastic "This concludes another adventure of the Red Panda" ending monologue by Steven Burley is delivered in a much more serious and somber tone.
173	** The season nine finale, "The Gadget", ends on [[spoiler:the Red Ensign taking recurring foe Friedrich von Schlitz to his final doom at the A-Bomb testing site]] in Trinity, New Mexico. In this case, the "this concludes" monologue is omitted entirely, going straight to the reading of the cast list while an explosion is heard in the background.
174	** "The Final Problem" is the ''Red Panda Adventures'' chronological GrandFinale. It trades the "This concludes" monologue in favor of an announcement by series creator and voice of the Red Panda Gregg Taylor announcing that, while this is the final episode chronologically, they will still be releasing new episodes that simply take place at varying points in the Red Panda's and Flying Squirrel's careers.
175	* ''WebVideo/MusicalHell'': On the "Know the Score" episode for ''Film/{{Cabaret}}'', Diva closes out on the [[spoiler:WhamShot of the Emcee [[KarmicDeath bow]][[DownerEnding ing]] to the Nazis]] from the film and transitions to Silent Credits which slowly fades into and closes out on a drum roll from the musical's finale.
176	* The credits for the series finale of ''WebVideo/StarTrekContinues'' features no music, using the classic ambient bridge noises of the ''Enterprise'' instead.
177	* Due to the suicide of the game's namesake, {{WebVideo/Caddicarus}} ended his review of ''VideoGame/DaveMirraFreestyleBMX'' without his usual subscribe jingle, and with no music playing over the Patreon shout-outs, only his narration giving plugs to suicide hotlines, and his thanks to the top-tier supporters.
178	* ''Series/TheCryOfMann'': There's usually at least some noise being made during the credits, often a scene that runs straight to the end, often where viewers can still call and talk until the last second. At the end of episode 4, however, the scene is notably silent, just featuring Ghost Lady silently eating popcorn, emphasizing the drama that was Jack's disastrous art show. PH
179	* WebVideo/{{Phelous}}'s review of ''Film/JacobsLadder'' has a silent credits roll following the revelation that his whole review series after the [[Film/MacAndMe first episode]] was a DyingDream.
180	* ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'': Episode 17 ends on this note, where instead of the usual ending theme sequence, we are left with [[spoiler:Kazuto standing outside Suguha's bedroom door, despondent after his sister [[AnguishedOutburst angrily and tearfully]] explained exactly what he did to ruin their sibling bond, before slamming the door in his face when he admits just how blind to her pain he's been]].
181	* WebVideo/TheRealJims's review of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Bart The Lover", which also served as a tribute to Creator/MarciaWallace, who played Mrs. Krabappel, ends with silent credits instead of "Coconut Milk" playing over the end credits as usual.
182	[[/folder]]
183
184	[[folder:Western Animation]]
185	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'':
186	** The standard end credits sequence for Season 3 consists of a quirky, fast-paced song and visuals. As this would be far too jarring with the latter episode's DownerEnding of [[spoiler:Marcy getting forcibly possessed by the Core]], "Spider-Sprig/Olivia & Yunan" instead plays its credits over a solid black background soundtracked by very quiet and otherworldly wailing.
187	** Similarly, as an another episode where the second of the TwoShorts is a WhamEpisode, "The Root of Evil/The Core & the King" plays no music over its credits. The background here is a [[LeaveTheCameraRunning static shot]] of [[spoiler:the slashed portrait of young King Andrias with [[WeUsedToBeFriends former friends]] Leif and Barrel after Andrias left it to burn in his fireplace, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire and a brief creaking from the portrait slightly shifting position]].
188	* ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' has silent credits on "No Hope for Courtney" in honor of Kathleen Freeman, the late voice of Mrs. Gordon (this was Freeman's final episode before her death from cancer, [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim and her character was killed off]]).
189	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' had the episode "Michael Korvac", which is dedicated to writer/director Boyd Kirkland who died of a lung infection.
190	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bluey}}'': "Ghostbasket" ends with a WhamShot of a "For Sale" sign put up in front of the Heelers' house, as the credits begin to roll with no music.
191	* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Brian and Stewie" is a two-hander episode with no music at all. This extended to the credits, though it was cut out when originally aired on FOX. When it re-aired on Creator/AdultSwim a week later, it was left intact.
192	* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] on ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''--most episodes play with a short scene containing a gag, but two {{Wham Episode}}s are decidedly more sedate:
193	** "Not What He Seems" ends with TheReveal of [[WalkingSpoiler the Author]], and simply shows two young boys who resemble Stan and Ford Pines on a swing-set, staring off over the ocean, with the only sounds being the swings and the tide. The WholeEpisodeFlashback in the next episode confirms them to be actually be [[spoiler:[[TheBarnum Stan]] and his twin brother, [[ScienceHero Ford]]]].
194	** "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future" just shows the twins' birthday flyer lying on the ground, ruffled by the wind. However, the lighting and background noises make it clear that [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt something unsettling]] is happening off-screen.
195	* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'' got grounded in "The Beast of Cauldron Island", they replaced the catchy mystery/adventure theme with silence over the credits to mark the fact that Hilda isn't allowed to go on adventures with David and Frida or go exploring around Trolberg.
196	* ''WesternAnimation/KidCosmic'': "Kid Cosmic and The Epic Fail" still has the vinyl record playing in the end credits, but instead of a rock tune, it's only playing the static at the end of the song, due to [[spoiler:Kid's actions causing the Rings of Power to fall into the hands of the US Government after a NearVillainVictory.]]
197	** "Kid Cosmic and the Fallen Hero" does the same thing after [[spoiler:Fantos attacks the diner with Flo and Queen Xhan in it]] at the end of the episode.
198	* This happened in the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', which is also the FinaleCredits showing an exit door in an empty animation department room, likely where the show is made, except that the only noise you can hear is some faint sounds of an air conditioner with people speaking and laughing, probably from a wrap party (or [[TearJerker aural memories of the animation crew laughing and having fun while working]]).
199	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'':
200	** The first season normally has an ending sequence of Luz walking around. The episode [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E18AgonyOfAWitch "Agony of a Witch"]] ends on a massive cliffhanger, so the credits are rolled over a slow-panning shot of Emperor Belos' castle with the only sound being the flames surrounding it, and a [[HeartbeatSoundtrack heartbeat]].
201	** The end credits sequence for most of the second season is a series of paintings depicting important characters. Two-part season finale episodes "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS2E20CloudsOnTheHorizon Clouds on the Horizon]]" and "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS2E21KingsTide King's Tide]]" diverge from this -- "Clouds" by [[LeaveTheCameraRunning lingering on]] the very last shot of [[spoiler: Luz being sent back to the Emperor's castle]] as the ending theme is replaced by very quiet sounds of wind howling, and "Tide" by focusing on another static shot of [[spoiler:the Earth-based half of the Portal Door]] during a rainstorm. The only sounds are those of rainfall, thunder, dripping, and [[spoiler:the door closing]].
202	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePJs'' lacked an ending theme, meaning this happened at the end of every episode (you [[CreditsPushback wouldn't know it]] from the original network airings). This also carried over the [[VanityPlate logos]], even that of Touchstone Television's (which has music on other shows). Some syndicated airings seemed to notice the eeriness of this and pasted the opening theme onto the credits (it ironically fits the usual credits timeframe perfectly).
203	* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': This happens with the season 1 finale, which involves [[spoiler:the Foot Clan finally reviving [[BigBad The Shredder]]]], leaving no music on the credits except a sound of wind.
204	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
205	** The episode "Free Willzyx" ended with the credits rolling over a shot of the eponymous dead orca whale on the moon and no music at all.
206	** The episode "201" also features credits with no music at all. The scene is the same as above, except [[spoiler:a dead Tom Cruise can also be seen lying next to the same orca whale.]]
207	*** The DVD release oddly adds the regular credits music and cuts back to the regular black background after a while.
208	** In the episode "You're Getting Old", the credits are played briefly with silence.
209	** In the episode "'The Hobbit", after Wendy [[spoiler:tearfully photoshops a photo of her and sends it in a mass e-mail]], the credits roll in the empty computer lab without any music.
210	* The ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' episode "Sharrock", created to honor the deceased musician Sonny Sharrock, is an interesting case. While the credits play to music - the "Ghost Planet National Anthem", to be specific - with the occasional cut to the cast dancing over them, the "Contact Ghost Planet" message and Cartoon Network & Ghost Planet Industries vanity plates play in silence.
211	* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'''s second season finale "[[WhamEpisode Starcrushed]]" replaces the regular closing credits song/sequence with ambient noise over a scene of the Diaz house at night [[spoiler:because Star has returned to Mewni in the wake of [[ArcVillain Toffee]]'s return.]]
212	* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' - "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS4E08JediNight Jedi Night]]" has this to mark [[spoiler:Kanan Jarrus's HeroicSacrifice]].
213
214	[[/folder]]

Context Main / SilentCredits