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3%%
4[[quoteright:235:[[Webcomic/SandraAndWoo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/s-eye-icp3_725.jpg]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:235:[[MomentKiller "Incoming!"]]]]
6
7->'''Leela:''' A black hole!\
8'''Fry:''' Talk about a mood killer.
9-->-- ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''
10
11It just may be the cruelest, most frustrating thing a writer could ever pull. Two characters are finally about to bring all their [[{{Shipping}} shippers']] dreams to fruition. They're about to resolve all the {{UST}} and cross the JustFriends line, at last. They're [[HeldGaze staring mesmerized]] into each others' eyes, inching forward ever so slowly, less than a millimeter away from lip-to-lip contact. ''This is it,'' the fans scream in their minds. ''They're finally going to kiss!'' And then...
12
13[[YankTheDogsChain They don't.]]
14
15Were they interrupted by a knock on the door or falling meteor? Did one of them remember the dead TemporaryLoveInterest they promised never to forget? Was the thought of a RelationshipUpgrade suddenly just too scary? Well, for some reason, no doubt connected to StatusQuoIsGod, they can't or won't go through with it. They may be giggling afterwards, or they may be crying a river.
16
17The sad thing is, the Almost Kiss says as much ''as'' a kiss, anyway, since we can see they both want it. But this way, the tension and dreams of shippers remain for the writers to continue to take advantage of.
18
19Sometimes referred to as a "near-miss kiss".
20
21Study the MomentKiller for a larger concept. Contrast the successful BigDamnKiss.
22
23In shows aimed at a younger audience where a kiss is a big deal, there is usually a big relationship-sealing kiss saved for the finale, preceded by several "almost" moments during the earlier episodes.
24
25This is a genre standard in UsefulNotes/{{Bollywood}} films. Kissing in movies was censored in India and it is still seen as racy, so filmmakers perfected the art of showing the leads caressing with lips oh-so-close to each other. Unlike in other instances of this trope, an actual kiss (or more) is usually implied to have taken place.
26
27A similar variant can be found in non-Indian media where the two non-kissers are [[ButNotTooGay of the same sex]]. The depiction of same-sex kisses was [[CensorshipBureau banned in the Western media industry]] until a few decades ago, and, while LGBT+ activism has challenged and often overpowered the stigma, an explicit kiss is still considered too spicy in genres targeted towards social conservatives (like ActionGenre works). Unlike in the Bollywood variant, these scenes don't ''usually'' indicate a kiss has taken place, and tend to revolve more around DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything imagery intended to create a charged, homoerotic atmosphere for those willing and able to see it. Because of this "deniability", it can be considered a form of {{Queerbaiting}}.
28
29[[noreallife]]
30----
31!!Examples
32
33[[foldercontrol]]
34
35[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
36* A running gag of sorts in ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'', given that the relationship between Keichii and Belldandy always teeters on the brink of romantic action but never crosses the threshold, making these inevitable.
37* Happens a few times in ''Manga/AiKora''. In chapter 77, for example, Yukari (in disguise, and under her gaming alias Fantazma) orders Maeda to give her a kiss as penalty for losing her gaming challenge, but the two are stopped by a horde of jealous fanboys.
38* In chapter 50 of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' it appears as though Mikasa might be leaning in to kiss Eren in a sort of AnguishedDeclarationOfLove, until he snaps out of his funk and returns to "kill all titans" mode.
39* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'':
40** An ayakashi in a haunted houses ends up making Suzu and Matsuri reenact the lives of the couple who used to lived there, which they don't really resist even as it's about to make them kiss. They're stopped, and freed from its control, by [[spoiler:Suzu's inner ayakashi medium, who's displeased they would accept such "false happiness"]].
41** Suzu tries to kiss Matsuri twice in a row [[spoiler:after they confess love for each other]], but he dodges the first and Shirogane smacks her in the head for the second.
42** After losing a keepsake of Matsuri, Suzu asks him for a kiss as condolence. He obliges, but is cut off when Une reveals she found the lost object. Suzu then grabs Matsuri while begging to continue, but he refuses.
43* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Orihime is this close to kiss Ichigo while [[DudeShesLikeInAComa he's asleep]]. She finds that, since he's unconscious, she just can't go through with it.
44* Occurs in ''Manga/BokuraNoKiseki'' between leads Harusumi and Takao in chapter [[spoiler:12]]. Harusumi chickens out because he's not sure if Takao's feelings for him are actually romantic or not. (It's [[{{Reincarnation}} complicated]].)
45* Both episodes 41 and 42 of ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', Sakura and Syaoran being interrupted both times by the highly inopportune appearance of a Clow Card.
46* ''Manga/CaseClosed'':
47** Takagi and Sato, so many times. The first time, when both were in emotional moods after a case where Takagi almost dies and Sato is reminded of ThatOneCase involving her FirstLove but are accidentally interrupted by their boss Megure. The second, after a case where Takagi stopped a culprit from committing suicide after a disagreement he had with Satou, but [[MomentKiller Kogoro reminds them]] that ''Takagi is driving'' and they could crash if they kiss. The third, when Sato directly asks Takagi to give her a kiss as a part of a FakeOutMakeOut plot to try catching a SerialKiller, but Conan catches them having correctly deduced the circumstances and gets caught in a noogie by a furious Sonoko for it. [[spoiler:Finally resolved when Takagi is in the hospital after having been AloneWithThePsycho and injured within an inch of his life, and Satou kisses him on the lips [[TheBigDamnKiss rather epically]] once he wakes up from post-surgery anesthesia. And not before he openly lampshades the trope via mentioning how many times they couldn't kiss and hoping this won't be another one.]]
48** [[http://trixiee-neechan.tumblr.com/post/107381263861/almost#notes Not to be outdone,]] [[spoiler:Ran and temporarily re-aged-up Shinichi]] also get one of these during a SchoolPlay where [[LadyAndKnight she's playing a princess and he's playing her knight]].
49* In the manga ''Manga/CherryJuice'', this happens quite often between the NotBloodRelated [[BrotherSisterIncest Brother/Sister]] pair of Minami and Otome.
50* ''Manga/{{Chobits}}'': After Hideki finally finds Chii, she walks over to him, glad that he's back with her again and attempts to kiss him. She is instantly interrupted by becoming unconscious.
51* ''Anime/CodeGeass" Taken to ridiculous degree between the two Tsundere Kallen and Lelouch where almost all of their interactions end up either in a moment of UnresolvedSexualTension or with an AlmostKiss that never happens because of different type of interruptions. They eventually tie the knot and share a BigDamnKiss that will not stop them of standing on the opposite side of the battlefield so maybe almost kissing was better.
52* ''Manga/DNAngel'':
53** Occurs between Daisuke and Riku at the end of the "Second Hand of Time" arc, as Daisuke confesses that he's practicing painting so that he can do her portrait one day. We realize that this has happened as Riku opens her eyes, confused at what's taking Daisuke so long... to find that he has fled the room after his nervousness led to his [[MomentKiller turning into Dark]].
54** In chapter 9 this occurs between [[FoeRomanceSubtext Dark and Satoshi]] when he was DisguisedInDrag.
55* RunningGag in ''Anime/EurekaSeven''. The only times Renton gets to actually kiss Eureka are [[spoiler:in the final episode]]. Not that he isn't often tempted or doesn't try...
56* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
57** [[spoiler:Jellal and Erza]] after the TimeSkip. The tension lasts three whole pages, coupled with a sunrise and [[ItMakesSenseInContext symbolic plants]]. They even get TheBigDamnKiss action shot... and then [[spoiler:Jellal]] mentions his [[BlatantLies fiancée]]. Granted, he was ''trying'' to ruin the moment, but c'mon! The writer actually states that maybe they ''did'' kiss for a short moment -- it's open for the reader's interpretation.
58** Natsu and Lucy nearly kiss in an omake (at Asuka's "request"), but Lucy [[LuminescentBlush freaks out]] and puts Happy in the way at the last second.
59* Occurs twice in Episode 7 of ''Anime/ExcelSaga'': once, to Watanabe when he tries to kiss Hyatt (he kisses a Puchuu instead), and later, to Iwata when he tries to give Misaki CPR.
60* In ''Manga/FutureDiary'', [[spoiler:Nishijima and Minene]] share an almost kiss but are interrupted by a Walkie-Talkie. Kinda sad once you realize that [[spoiler:Minene and the 2nd world's Nishijima]] never get another chance.
61* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl''
62** In Chapter 38, Petra does a leap onto a balcony where her handler Sandro is fighting with an attacker. SuggestiveCollision ensues, and for a moment their faces are quite close...until Sandro shoves her off him as she's really heavy thanks to her cyborg body.
63** Before the assault on the bell tower in Chapter 61, it looks like Triela is standing up on her toes to give Hilshire a [[AnywhereButTheirLips peck on the cheek]] before a couple of GIS troopers barge in on them.
64* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'': [[spoiler:Ippo and Kumi]] in chapters 850 and 1011.
65* A late chapter of ''Manga/HanaKimi'' [[spoiler:actually {{subvert|edTrope}}s this. Sano and Mizuki have finally admitted their feelings for each other and they're ''this'' close to kissing... when [[MomentKiller Noe knocks on the door]]. Mizuki turns away to answer it, but Sano basically refuses to let the moment be ruined and spins her around and kisses her anyway, initiating the most intense make-out in the entire manga. It's amazingly satisfying after twenty-two volumes of UnresolvedSexualTension between the two]].
66* ''Manga/HanaukyoMaidTeam'':
67** Episode 10. When Mariel is washing Taro's back after a long day he turns to her and their faces move together...then Ikuyo Suzuki runs in yelling to [[MomentKiller break it up]].
68** ''La Vérité''
69*** Episode 2. Taro almost kisses Mariel, but it turns out to be a dream.
70*** Episode 7. After Taro accidentally falls on Mariel, she cups his face in her hands and pulls him toward her. They almost kiss, but Taro pulls away from her.
71* ''Anime/HungryHeartWildStriker'': Happens a couple times between Kyosuke and Miki. One notable instance was when Kyosuke was injured and Miki was trying to help him study, the two are alone and they almost kiss, if it wasn't [[MomentKiller because Kyosuke's teammates chose that very moment to enter the room]].
72* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': Very early on in the story, Inu-Yasha almost kisses Kagome because [[YouRemindMeOfX he's thinking]] of [[TheLostLenore Kikyô]]. Kagome pushes him away, though, and due to the circumstances, it doesn't represent a mutual acknowledgement of their feelings. ''Much'' later in their relationship, they have a more traditional Almost Kiss, but [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling Souta]] [[MomentKiller walks in on them]] before anything can happen.
73* ''Manga/IWantYourMotherToBeWithMe'':
74** In Chapter 24, Ryo and Yuzuki almost kiss, only to be interrupted by his family coming back home.
75** In Chapter 30, it looks like they're about to kiss, when Asahi (who's asleep on Ryo's lap) wakes up.
76* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' actually uses this as a plot point in chapter 78. Shirogane nearly ends up kissing Kaguya when they're [[LockedInARoom locked in a storage shed]], only for Miko to open the door right before anything can happen. It ends up throwing Kaguya's feelings into overdrive, to the point that she ends up fainting due to love sickness in the following chapter. This would directly lead to her developing her [[CharacterTics routine]] to keep her nerves under control.
77%%* ''Manga/MaidSama'': So many times...
78* In ''Manga/KitsuneNoYomeiri'', the main characters [[UnluckyEverydude Ousuke]] and [[AsianFoxSpirit Kyouka]] almost have their first kiss during the TestOfCourage chapter but are interrupted when Kyouka is kidnapped by a giant octopus.
79* In ''Manga/KonohanaKitan'', Rin is pinned to the wall by [[spoiler:a ghost pretending to be]] Natsume, who proceeds to try to kiss her. Their lips almost touch before Rin shoves Natsume away because a guest comes out her room.
80* ''Manga/LoveHina'': Naru and Keitaro have several of these, always interrupted by their friends.
81* ''Manga/KomiCantCommunicate'': [[spoiler: Komi's mother barges into her room just as she and her [[RelationshipUpgrade now boyfriend]] Tadano are about to have their FirstKiss to ask the latter if he wished to stay for dinner. After assessing the situation, then, she ''asks them to proceed'' as if she wasn't there, joking about how she too was interrupted by her future mother-in-law. Given the extremely embarrassing situation, they don't]].
82* In ''Manga/LoveSoLife'', Shiharu and Seiji come close to this very early on, but are interrupted by the twins' antics.
83* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Kouji and Sayaka do this in the ''Mazinger-Z vs Great General of Darkness'', right when Kouji is going to sortie with Mazinger-Z to fight a battle he knows he cannot win, and thinking he'll die. Sayaka stops him to give him his little brother's birthday gift, and both stare into each other's eyes for a long while... and then Kouji turns around and leaves. Cue millions of fans groaning in exasperation. (In the manga version of that moment, though, they DO kiss.)
84* Miia and Kimihito have one of these in the aquarium during their date in ''Manga/MonsterMusume'' accidentally (...maybe) interrupted by Mero. It's worth noting that this is the only time in the series he has tried intentionally to kiss one of the girls.
85* ''Manga/MyDressUpDarling'': The scene in the love hotel between Marin and Gojo gets a ''huge'' dose of AdaptationExpansion in the anime. For starters, when Gojo grabs Marin's waist, she accidentally tosses her cellphone away, and it hits a switch that turns the room's lights off. Then the two stare at each other in silence while only their heavy breathing is heard, so they start getting into a more comfortable position before leaning forward to kiss, and only ''then'' does the phone ring to interrupt the moment.
86* ''Anime/MyHime'':
87** Mai and Reito, until Yuuichi comes along with his date and [[SayMyName calls Mai's name out loud]].
88** She has another near-miss kiss with Yuuichi in a later episode, except ''she'' stops because she has realized it's all part of Yukariko's LotusEaterMachine, and thus just wishful thinking.
89** In the last episode, Mai and Yuuichi are about to kiss when Mai stops, having noticed that [[ClingyJealousGirl Shiho]] and several of Mai's friends are watching them.
90** In ''Anime/MyOtomeZwei'', Akane and Kazuya are about to kiss when Mahya pops up and tells them they are not to be within three meters of each other.
91* Happens in one of the earlier ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' episodes between Naruto and Sakura (while Naruto is disguised as Sasuke). Sakura is leaning in for the kiss, when suddenly Naruto's stomach acts up due to drinking expired milk that very morning.
92* Konoka and Setsuna in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' have one of these when Setsuna found her resolve to kiss the girl through a (admittedly questionable) {{Confessional}}. Maybe a subversion since it was a pactio, of which the (somewhat) unromantic nature of was partially the cause of Setsuna's resolve and the fact that there was no actual build-up since we're shown this from Asuna's (the interrupter) perspective. The author then goes for several volumes to facilitate a ''proper'' pactio for the two in order to satisfy the legions of [=KonoSetsu=] [[{{Shipping}} shippers]]. Until chapter 252.
93* Yayori and Minoru at the end of Chapter 4 of ''Manga/NekoDeGomen.''
94* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
95** Shinji almost kisses Asuka when she {{sleepwalk|ing}}s right into his bed, but [[DudeShesLikeInAComa stops himself]] when she whimpers in her sleep about her mother.
96--->'''Asuka:''' I know you tried to kiss me while I was sleeping!\
97'''Shinji:''' You cheat! You were awake?!\
98'''Asuka:''' Oh, my gosh, I was just kidding! Did you really kiss me?!\
99'''Shinji:''' I didn't! I stopped!\
100'''Asuka:''' Pervert! Fiend! Idiot! I can't believe this!
101** In [[Manga/NeonGenesisEvangelion the manga]], Asuka and Shinji are about to FirstKiss in a blacked-out NERV headquarters when the power suddenly comes on, causing an elevator to open right next to them, revealing [[NotWhatItLooksLike Misato and Kaji collapsed on top of each other]].
102--->'''Asuka:''' Wh-What are you guys doing?!\
103'''Kaji:''' Heh, same to you!
104* In ''Anime/OkusamaWaMahouShoujo'', considering what will happen if a MagicalGirl ever kisses someone, this happens on several occasions.
105* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/OnePiece'' regarding [[FoeRomanceSubtext Sanji and Zoro]] in the filler episodes. The first time was when both of them were sleeping side by side and a dreaming Sanji, thinking he saw Nami, puckered his lips for a kiss. Zoro's reaction was unforgettable. The second time was Zoro and Sanji were hit by Foxy's Noro Noro beam while Sanji was jumping towards Zoro (for knocking Nami out of the way) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REVKgyYM2Tc hilarity ensues]].
106* ''Manga/PetShopOfHorrors'': [[HoYay Count D loves getting a bit too close to Leon's face]].
107* ''Manga/{{Planetes}}'': [[spoiler:Just as Hachimaki is about to kiss Tanabe on the beach at sunset his brother and Yuri launch a moderately large rocket. It swerves as it starts to break, flying erratically to the point where it nearly hits Hachimaki and Tanabe, forcing dive out of the way just before they kiss. The moment is certainly ranks among the more interesting and dangerous almost kisses.]]
108* ''Anime/PrettyCure'':
109** [[GenkiGirl Nozomi]] and [[HotForStudent Coco]] in ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' were interrupted by [[BrattyHalfPint Milk's]] sudden appearance.
110** Later, in the most infuriating event in ''Pretty Cure'' history, their real FirstKiss would be interrupted by... [[DancingTheme Ganbalance de Dance]].
111* Any chance for Ranma and Akane in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' to explore their feelings for each other with a kiss is interrupted by someone (or several someones) -- very often their over-eager fathers who want them to marry ''right now,'' or bystanders and/or rivals [[MomentKiller who go out of their way to interrupt and completely ruin the mood]]. It. Happens. All. The. Time.
112** One story has Shampoo cursed by Maomolin and would turn into a cat forever if she can't be kissed from the guy she loves. Ranma accepts, but when they start to kiss, they are interrupted by an angry Akane because they were "too serious". [[spoiler:At the end, the curse is broken when Shampoo kisses him while she is in her cat-form.]]
113* In ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'', this is a RunningGag. Usually "interrupted" due to Moka suddenly biting Tsukune in the neck, or by Kurumu pushing Moka before she gets a chance to bite him.
114* In ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal's'' Act 1 ColdOpen, Usagi's DreamingOfTimesGoneBy is interrupted by a wakeful FadeToWhite and her alarm clock, right as the music swells and the dream prince and princess lean in for a [[KIssingDiscretionShot kiss]].
115* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'':
116** Seiya and Saori after jumping off a cliff together to escape from Shaina and Jamian. Saori nearly kiss an unconscious Seiya, but is interrupted by an [[ClingyJealousGirl angry Shaina]].
117** Seiya and Miho, but they're interrupted [[MomentKiller by the orphan kids]].
118* In the finale of ''Manga/SpecialA,'' [[CuteMute Megumi]] and former BigBad Yahiro's kiss is interrupted by Tadashi zipping by on his bike. Yahiro lampshades this, shouting at Tadashi for ruining the atmosphere.
119* Lawrence and Holo in 1x04 of ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf.'' It was interrupted by Holo herself because that wasn't her reason for getting into his bed.
120* A RunningGag in ''Manga/StrawberryOneHundredPercent'': most of the times Junpei is going to kiss one of the girls (usually Tojo), someone interrupts.
121* Many in ''Literature/StrawberryPanic '' between Shizuma and Nagisa, [[spoiler:until the UnderwaterKiss in Episode 12]].
122* One episode of ''Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}'' has Himespetchi daydream that she and her crush Mametchi are getting married. When Kuchipatchi (whom Himespetchi imagines as the priest officiating the wedding) says that Mametchi may now kiss his bride, Himespetchi and her imaginary husband lean in for a kiss... and then Himespetchi snaps out of the daydream before she actually makes the kiss.
123* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'':
124** From the main OVA’s show-within-a-show, Popoko-ko and her chief: "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but we have news to report..." "Aw!"
125** In the spinoff ''Anime/PrettySammy'', Tenchi and Ryoko nearly kiss, only to be interrupted by [[TheOjou Ayeka]].
126* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' only showed us the two kisses Yoko gave out before their respective recipients died shortly afterwards but ''Lagann-hen'' gave us one instance of this trope: when Nia accepts Simon's proposal of marriage, the two of them almost kiss but are interrupted by Nia switching to [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Anti-Spiral]] [[FaceHeelTurn mode]].
127* In the ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'' movie Syaoran and Sakura accidentally lean on each other extremely close while hiding in a barrels. In the manga, Sakura performs a charm in Syaoran which requires her to connect their foreheads but are interrupted by Mokona. The two downright deny any romantic implication but Mokona is sure "It's love!"
128* In ''Manga/VampireKnight'', after waking up from a nightmare, Zero was relieved to see Yuuki unharmed and tried to kiss her, but [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy ultimately stopped himself]].
129* [[spoiler:Hamel and Flute]] in a late chapter of ''Manga/ViolinistOfHameln''. They're ''finally'' about to kiss when [[BigBad Chestra]], MomentKiller extraordinaire, sets off an extremely untimely earthquake.
130* In the five-part miniseries ''Wasted Minds'' by Creator/RumikoTakahashi, Tamuro asks Yura which country's trash she wants to teleport to (he has the power of teleportation but [[BlessedWithSuck can only teleport from trash pile to trash pile]]). She tells him "France" and they lean in to kiss each other, only to be interrupted by Mr. Sekoi calling out:
131-->I brought some bread and milk!
132* There's at least three of these between Sachie and Rakuto in every volume of ''Manga/WildOnes''. It gets frustrating after a bit.
133[[/folder]]
134
135[[folder:Asian Animation]]
136* In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf: Joys of Seasons'' episode 92, Wolnie dances with Wolffy while they have Sparky sitting in their cauldron, ready to be cooked. Wolffy and Wolnie try to kiss each other after they dance, but Sparky shouts at them angrily, interrupting the kiss.
137[[/folder]]
138
139[[folder:Comic Books]]
140* In the first issue of ''ComicBook/AvengersTheChildrensCrusade'', Wiccan and Hulkling are about to make out when Speed interrupts them. The two have been dating since day one, so it's probably safe to assume that they've kissed before, but never on-panel.
141* ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey'': A violent example. When Super-villain Killer Shark brainwashes Lady Blackhawk into thinking she is Queen Killer Shark, she leads him to his grandfather's treasure. This causes Killer Shark to cry and to reveal that he had originally intended to kill her after he got his treasure, but has changed his mind. As he leans in for a kiss, Zinda subconsciously punches him, breaking his teeth.
142* Subverted in the ''ComicBook/BlueMonday'' Valentine's special, Lovecats. The {{UST}} between [[spoiler:Clover and Victor]] finally climaxes in their first kiss, but their attraction goes straight back into the closet when their friends show up.
143* ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac ''was'' going to kiss [[LoveInterest Devi]] in a [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment completely out of character moment]]... but realized how happy he was and snuck off to go back to his usual [[AxCrazy Crazy Kill Mode]]. Luckily, Devi beat the crap out of him before he could succeed, and to this day fans of the ship cannot read the scene without massive FacePalm.
144* ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMysteryGillen'': Kid Loki and Leah have one near the end of ''Everything Burns,'' as [[NowOrNeverKiss they're both about to be violently killed by Surtur]]. They get interrupted by [[BigDamnHeroes Thor and his army]], complete with a lampshade from Loki about how perfect the timing was. [[spoiler:Sadly, it's one of the last moments Leah and Loki have together before everything turns to shit, which would have made this both their FirstKiss and LastKiss, had they actually been allowed to do it. While it's obvious they care deeply for each other, this Almost Kiss is the closest they get to expressing it.]]
145* ComicBook/RedRobin and ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2009}} ''nearly'' kiss during their team up when Ra's al Ghul tries to take out multiple members of the Batfamily at once. While they both very clearly still have feelings for each other Steph doesn't think she's ready to jump back into a relationship with Tim, and she points out that he understandably is still learning to trust her again after she let him believe she'd been murdered for two years and then betrayed his trust on Bruce's orders right after she got back.
146* At one point in ''[[ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}} Day of Vengeance]]'', Ragman and Enchantress are talking away from the others. They discover they have some things in common and then they fall silent. Then Ragman moves in, and Enchantress pulls away and asks him what he thinks he's doing. She than completes his embarrassment by announcing this to the others.
147-->'''Enchantress:''' Rory tried to ''kiss'' me! He thought we were having a "moment"!
148* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}: In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl1972 Supergirl Vol 2]] #8'', Linda Danvers -the eponymous heroine- and her date are about to kiss when Supergirl's hears someone is in trouble and she has to leave the guy alone.
149* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'':
150** Peter and MJ share an Almost Kiss early in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' after Peter tells her he's Spider-Man, before they get interrupted by Aunt May. May suspected that they were about to do the... other thing.
151** ''ComicBook/UltimateDaredevilAndElektra'': Matt and Elektra are fighting, and get close to each other. Matt was about to make her hear to reason and kiss her, but she interrupted the moment.
152* Several scenes in ''ComicBook/{{Whiteout}}'', playing with the tendency of UnresolvedSexualTension to crop up in [[HoYay buddy cop stories]], according to the [[Creator/GregRucka writer]].
153[[/folder]]
154
155[[folder:Fan Works]]
156* In ''Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars'', Steve Rogers and Aayla Secura get interrupted by Karen asking all Avengers to rendezvous for the return of the team that went to Mortis, just AFTER battle of Ultron Citadel in chapter 77. [[spoiler:They did kiss in chapter 85. ]]
157* Naruto and Hinata get interrupted twice in ''Fanfic/AGrowingAffection'', once by Sakura in Chapter 12 and by Hiashi in Chapter 26.
158* ''Fanfic/FateOfTheClans'': Cú Chulainn trips and falls on Mikoto, knocking him down, and their faces are only an inch apart. Cú Chulainn is trying his best to resist kissing Mikoto in that moment, but resists the urge, getting up and helping Mikoto to his feet.
159* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4825005/14/Trophy Trophy]]'' Harry and Draco are about to kiss when a passerby trips and falls on their table, knocking their food into their laps.
160* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5019333/5/The-Assistant The Assistant]]'' Harry and Hermione are about to kiss when Sirius knocks on Hermione's hotel room door.
161* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5793289/3/Borrowed-Heaven Borrowed Heaven]]'' Harry and Hermione are about to kiss when Neville runs in to show them that he turned his toad Trevor purple.
162* Happens twice in the ''Friendship is Magic'' fanfic, ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/106068/ Intimacy]]'' by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 Kalash93.]] It sets up for TheBigDamnKiss later.
163* ''Fanfic/APossibleEncounterForAPhantom'': A recurring gag, whenever Danny and Kim start to grow interested and are about to kiss, something interrupts them and they move away from each other.
164* In ''Fanfic/CharacterChampionshipWrestling'', [[RedemptionQuest after redeeming himself in the eyes of the fans and May herself]], Dan leans in for a kiss to top off the night...and then is subsequently cashed in mid-lean and loses the Universal Title. Talk about a [[MomentKiller cock-block]].
165* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': In chapter 36 of the sequel, Harry and Carol are caught in a moment where they almost kiss... then Harry opts to kiss Carol's brow instead, because CourtlyLove.
166* ''Fanfic/DannyPhantomStranded'': In the ''Trapped'' sequel, after Danny compliments her art skills and encourages her to take pride in them instead of listening to her so-called popular friends, Star begins to find herself drawn to Danny and almost kisses him on the lips. A ghost attack puts an end to that moment.
167* In ''Fanfic/TheDelinquentAndHisLover'', Akira and Makoto's first kiss at the fireworks festival is interrupted by a sudden rainstorm, much to Akira's disappointment. Subverted when Makoto sees how dejected he is and pulls him in for a kiss anyway.
168* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsMarvelUniverse'': Downplayed; when Flash brings Sci-Twi home at the end of their first date the two share their FirstKiss together uninterrupted. As they are leaning in for a second one though, Shining Armor purposely interrupts them, telling them to break it up and for his sister to go inside. Sci-Twi gives Flash a quick goodbye kiss before going inside anyway just to spite her brother.
169* In the ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', while Danny and Sam are usually MakeOutKids, in their first scene of the first story, they are millimeters away from kissing just when Danny's Ghost Sense goes off.
170* In ''Fanfic/TheFlashSentryChronicles'':
171** After Soarin mends Rainbow's clipped wing and they chat for awhile the two slowly start to lean in closer to each other, before they are interrupted by the medic coming through the door and they jolt away. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in their second attempt, where they are uninterrupted.]]
172** When Flash and Twilight are forced to spend time together alone on a ship, they slowly start to reminisce over how much their lives have changed and how it all started the day they met. The two slowly begin to lean their faces closer to each other, only to be interrupted when the ship they are on crashes into a reef.
173* ''Fanfic/TheFlowerPrincessAndTheAlchemist'': Edward and Orihime have an Almost Kiss. Unfortunately for Ed, it turns out to be a [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn I Didn't Mean to Turn You on]] moment.
174* ''Fanfic/ForumOfThrones'': This happens between Jaron and Harpy several times during their talk, as they are interrupted by their own awkwardness and Abbas al-Yunkari. It ends when a frustrated Jaron just kisses her, resulting in TheBigDamnKiss.
175* ''Fanfic/{{Foxfire|RaharMoonfire}}'': Jet tries to kiss Li after accepting him as a firebender. But Li backs away, feeling unready.
176* ''[[Fanfic/FriendshipIsMagicTheAdventuresOfSpike Friendship is Magic: The Adventures of Spike]]'' has one between Fluttershy and Spike at the end of their NotADate, which gets interrupted by Shining Armor.
177* ''Fanfic/HangingTenSaga'': Ben and Lo almost had their first kiss together after their recent surf and growing ever closer, before it was interrupted by Reef and Fin’s competitive moment, another after they were thought to be stranded on a island when once again Reef and Fin spoiled the moment to tell them that they were just a few feet from the hotel.
178* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': Japan ''tried'' to kiss Italy at one point only for Germany to intervene. Subverted later on once Italy kisses both Germany ''and'' Japan ''simultaneously''.
179* Occurs in the [[Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers America x England]] fanfic ''You Can't Take the Sky from Me,'' when [[BelligerentSexualTension America and England]] are in England's cabin... Then [[DeadpanSnarker Prussia]] walks in and [[MomentKiller ruins the moment]]. ([[ShipperOnDeck Although he later wishes he hadn't...]])
180* ''Fanfic/KingdomHeartsCodysStory'': Bridgette and Cody have one in the Hundred Acre Wood that gets interrupted by Tigger.
181* ''Fanfic/LivingInAFrogWorld'': [[spoiler:In Chapter 17, which is a retelling of "Wally and Anne", after Frank tells Anne about his life in prison and how she came back to him, the two lean close to each other as if they are about to kiss, but get startled by the campfire's crackle.]]
182* In ''Fanfic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', this happens to Mega and Kalinka in Episode 10... twice.
183* ''Webcomic/NaruHinaChronicles'':
184** The fourth chapter has Naruto and Hinata almost kissing each other, only for the latter to remember she has to return home for a clan meeting.
185** At the hospital, Sasuke and Sakura almost kiss each other, but they are interrupted by the arrival of a messenger.
186** Sasuke and Sakura are travelling alongside Naruto, Hinata, Kiba, and several other nameless characters to some place for a mission. The former two have a discussion which ends with Sakura telling Sasuke he can tell her anything. They're about to kiss, only to be interrupted, much to their annoyance, by Naruto [[GetARoom telling them to get a room]].
187** In Chapter 126, [[spoiler:Minato and Kushina]] almost end up kissing each other. However, before they could do so, [[spoiler:Kushina]] suggests to not do that in front of Naruto and Hinata.
188* ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'': Shinji and Asuka were about to kiss in the Eva cages before the Final Battle, but their guardian Misato ruined the moment.
189* ''Fanfic/RWBYReckoning'' showed Darrel and Yang about to make out in their dorm in Chapter 22. But right as the moment comes... Ruby, Weiss, and Blake walk in.
190** And it happens again in Chapter 27, only this time, [[TheMentor Kimba]] kills the mood. Yang is not happy about it.
191--->'''Yang:''' [[RunningGag Are you kidding me?!]] [[LampshadeHanging The same thing?!]]
192* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton:'' Right when Shinji and Asuka are about to kiss, Kaji shows up and ruins the moment.
193* ''Webcomic/SparklingShimmer'': Twilight and Sunset nearly have a kiss in page 14 of Chapter 3, only for the moment to be ruined by Rarity.
194* ''Manga/SpyXFamily'': In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt6Rknnab4Y&t=195s this fandubbed comic]], originally by [[https://twitter.com/wakaruhello?s=20&t=XsfBX03YDRcDtieiVoOe_A wakaruhello]], Anya invites Damian ([[AgeLift both in their teens]]) into her home so he can take a warm bath, since he loaned her his jacket when it began to snow on their date. Damian refused the bath because he didn't think it was proper for them to be alone in her apartment, beside Bond. However, [[GreenEyedMonster Bond got jealous and attacked Damian for trying to steal Anya]], and Damian ends up taking the bath when Bond tackled him and got wet when they knocked down a flower base. After his bath, Anya gives Damian some of Loid's clothes that he uses for his costumes, and when Anya checks his temperature, Damian gets exited and pins Anya to the couch. As they move in for a kiss, Yor arrives, and they move to oposite sides of the couch.
195* ''Fanfic/TotalDramaBattleOfTheGenerations'': Harold and Leshawna, interrupted by Chris when [[spoiler:Harold is eliminated and kicked off the plane.]]
196* In the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/32567947 The Storms of War]]'', Steve and Sharon are about to kiss when Sam and Wanda walk in. Steve jumps and ends up smacking his head into Sharon's nose. He is incredibly embarrassed about what just happened and Sam wastes no time in teasing Steve about while Wanda tends to Sharon's injury.
197* ''Fanfic/{{Wake}}'': When Shinji is feeling upset about Misato's absence, Asuka tries to comfort him by kissing him. However, Shinji mistakes her warmth for hostility and jumps backwards.
198* The massage session in ''Fanfic/{{Weightless|MassEffect}}'' could have led to something else. But of course, there is no way Shepard and Garrus could have get together that easily so Joker had to be their MomentKiller.
199* In ''Fanfic/YoungJusticeDarknessFalls'', M'gann and Connor almost lock lips on their first rebound date. Sadly, Beast Boy needed their help, and they had to break off.
200[[/folder]]
201
202[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
203* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin and Jasmine almost kiss in his hideaway before they're interrupted by the palace guards. This happens a lot for these two; in the first movie alone their lips almost connect more times than they actually do!
204* In ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven2,'' after Charlie and Sasha sing "[[AwardBaitSong I Will Always Be with You]]," they're about to kiss, but unfortunately the sun sets and the collar Red gave Charlie wears off (the collar allowed the wearer to be visible until sunset on the next day), and Charlie becomes a ghost again.
205* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'', Dmitri almost kisses Anya at the end of their DanceOfRomance, but he pulls away for some unfathomable reason. They almost do it again after the climactic battle, but are interrupted by Pooka the dog. They finally do kiss in the end.
206* In ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'', during a [[SlapSlapKiss training battle between]] [[UnresolvedSexualTension Jue and Thaddeus]], they [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h5YmbhpI5c#t=2m40s lean forward to kiss,]] only for [[MomentKiller an alarm to sound,]] alerting them that Sentinels are arriving.
207* Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndMisterFreezeSubZero'', though in this case it wouldn't have been their first kiss.
208* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'', after Manolo serenades Maria, they both start to lean in for a kiss before she decides it would be more fun to tease him instead.
209* Happens between Lightning [=McQueen=] and Sally at the end of ''WesternAnimation/Cars1''. They are interrupted by Mater flying in on the Dinoco helicopter, and Lightning even notes on it ("Great timing, Mater!").
210* Played for laughs with the cats Danny and Sawyer at the end of ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance''. At the end of their glorious impromptu stage debut, Danny extends his right hand at Sawyer, who takes it with her left. They close their eyes, move their heads closer, pucker up and kiss. But not each other: director Flanigan put his head between them to start gushing about the performance. Danny can't push his tongue far enough out of his mouth, and poor Sawyer almost whooped her cookies.
211* ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'' has this as a running gag, largely because the animators couldn't figure out how to make two chickens kiss. For the big kiss at the end, their heads were strategically placed so the beak-action was hidden and therefore didn't have to be animated.
212* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'':
213** The first movie has Cinderella and the Prince leaning forward for a kiss after their DanceOfRomance, only for the bell to ring for midnight, signaling to her that she had to leave before the spell breaks.
214** When ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaIIIATwistInTime'' has Lady Tremaine use a stolen magic wand to undo Cinderella's and Prince Charming's wedding, one of the magical visions shows the original film's closing scene of the couple heading towards their honeymoon, but pulls them away before they can [[SealedWithAKiss seal the story with a kiss]].
215* ''WesternAnimation/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'': "Flint, you have a call, Flint, you have a call!"
216* ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'' has it after Grey and Aki discuss her mission... being interrupted by Grey's superiors reminding him of his.
217* ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'': [[spoiler:Anna, [[PainfulTransformation cursed to die by freezing from the inside out]], requires an act of true love to break the curse. She interprets this as meaning TrueLovesKiss, and proceeds to initiate one with Prince Hans.]] In what has to be one of the cruelest examples of this, [[spoiler:[[TheReveal he stops inches from her face]] and coldly says "[[WhamLine Oh Anna... if only there was someone out there who loved you.]]", before proceeding to [[HeroicBSOD break her psychologically]].]]
218* Happens repeatedly in ''WesternAnimation/GnomeoAndJuliet'' between the two titular characters.
219* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'':
220** Hercules and Megara are about to kiss, when Phil on Pegasus, impersonating a police helicopter, drags him away to punish him for sneaking off to hang out with Meg.
221** They get interrupted by Zeus near the end as well.
222* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie2TheSecondPart'': Seems to be played with in regards to Batman and Watevra. They gush at each other on three separate occasions while bringing their faces within inches of each other, causing Ice Cream Cone to step between them every time in disgust.
223* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': Multiple:
224** Ariel has to achieve a TrueLovesKiss with the prince in order to win her bet with Ursula and not get turned into Ursula's prisoner. Ariel and the prince have a very romantic ride on a boat, and are about to kiss... When the two eels who are working for Ursula overturn the boat, so as to keep Ariel from winning the bet.
225** And when Ariel is reunited with him on the third day, she and Eric are just about to kiss when the sun sets -- which was the time limit Ursula had decreed, so the smooch is interrupted by her changing back into a mermaid...
226* In ''WesternAnimation/MuneGuardianOfTheMoon,'' when Mune and Glim go to the dream world together, they enjoy flying around in the dream together. Their enjoyment almost manifests as a kiss... until they find themselves back in reality.
227* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsLegendOfEverfree'': During the Crystal Ball in the end, the human world Twilight Sparkle has a romantic moment with Timber Spruce which culminates in the two leaning in for the very first onscreen kiss in the ''Equestria Girls'' franchise, but then Gloriosa Daisy pulls Timber away last-minute.
228* In ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', just after Santa leaves to fix Christmas, Jack turns to Sally and asks her why she risked helping him, she CannotSpitItOut. Jack, who had before considered her [[JustFriends just a friend]], leans in for a kiss and ''that's'' when the rest of the Halloweentown find them.
229* Another Disney example can be found in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', where Naveen and Tiana almost kiss... Then Tiana pulls away when she remembers Naveen is supposed to marry her best friend.
230* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}},'' following a DanceOfRomance, Blu and Jewel almost kiss, until they are interrupted by invading marmosets. The film repeats the trope for the human couple, whose almost-kiss is also interrupted - a movie twofer.
231* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheWitchsGhost'' when Daphne asks Fred why he always asks her to go with him when they search for clues, he tries to tell her how he feels about her while she leans over to kiss him, she is then prevented from doing so when he spots The Hex Girls whom the gang suspects are witches.
232* Done humorously at the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'' between Shrek and Fiona; they are pulled away by their ridiculously uncomfortable royalty clothes.
233* In the last two minutes in ''WesternAnimation/SurfsUp'', Cody and Lani were about to kiss when Arnold (one of the little kids that the crew interviews) interrupted them. Turns out, in "Arnold's Zurfinary" (a four-minute video on the DVD that teaches you surfer slang), [[spoiler:that he has a crush on Lani.]]
234* The first time Flynn and Rapunzel nearly kiss in ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}},'' Flynn gets distracted by seeing [[spoiler:his former partners in crime]] out of the corner of his eye and pulls away. The second time was when Flynn [[spoiler:was dying]] and in order to save Rapunzel from Mother Gothel, he [[spoiler:pulled her close enough for him to [[TraumaticHairCut cut her magical hair]].]]
235* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'' when Cale and Akima are now on The New Earth, they're about to kiss when Gune and Stith come flying in to wave goodbye to them.
236[[/folder]]
237
238[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
239* The film adaptation of ''Film/AutopsyRoomFour'' by Creator/StephenKing. Two doctors about to do an autopsy lean in to kiss, only for their plastic face shields to bang into each other.
240* Parodied in ''Film/BamBamAndCeleste''. [[OneSceneWonder Jane Lynch's]] ButchLesbian character has been flirting with Celeste (Creator/MargaretCho) non-stop. Finally, Celeste looks as if she's wet her panties and is trembling as she leans in to say goodbye to her. Lynch just says goodbye, and turns around to leave.
241* In ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'', [[HappilyMarried Gomez and Morticia]] lean to each other to kiss, but Abigail interrupts them, telling them to knock it off.
242* Twice in the movie ''Film/AdeleHasntHadHerDinnerYet'' do Nick and Kvetuska's lips come very close, only for the Professor (Kvetuska's grandfather) to interrupt the two lovebirds.
243* In ''Film/Aquaman2018'', Arthur and Mera lean in to kiss after discovering the last clue pointing to the location of the Trench. Then Black Manta and the Atlantean commando team he leads open fire and show up.
244* ''Film/AttackOfTheKillerDonuts'': [[TheProtagonist John]] and Michelle lean in close to kiss in the car, but it's interrupted by Howard asking for a lift.
245* ''Film/TheAvengers1998'': While Steed is helping Emma Peel on with her boots, they are close to kissing when Father breaks in and arrests Mrs. Peel.
246* In ''Film/BackToTheFuture1'', there are three instances when Marty and Jennifer are about to kiss only to be interrupted. First, Marty is about to kiss Jennifer, when someone interrupts them for donations for the clock tower, and second when [[HonkingArrivingCar Jennifer's father honks the horn of his car]]. At the end of the movie, Marty is about to kiss Jennifer again but is interrupted by the sonic booms that precede entry of the time machine. Towards the end of ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'', Marty and Jennifer finally kiss on the veranda of her family's house.
247* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'': Poison Ivy tries to kiss Robin multiple times with her [[PoisonousPerson poisonous lips]] but is interrupted the first two times -- the first time by Bane attacking, the second time by Batman shouting at Robin to not kiss her -- until the third attempt where she succeeds but [[spoiler:Robin reveals that he put on rubber lips beforehand which prevented him from being poisoned by her kiss]].
248* ''Film/BeautyAndTheBeast2014'': After the Beast chases Belle across an icy lake, he crouches over her. Their faces come very close, and she actually seems to lean up to kiss him... [[spoiler:and then she falls through the ice]].
249* In ''Film/Belle2013'', Dido and Mr. Lavinier get very close to kissing in Vauxhall Gardens but break away at the last second.
250* ''Film/TheBrothersGrimm'' has an interesting variation. Jacob uses TrueLovesKiss to wake Angelika and break the spell. When he sees that his brother Will hasn't woken up, he assumes that he needs to do the same to him. He gets ''very'' close and apparently would have actually kissed him if Will hadn't said, "Not. You."
251* ''Film/CainHill'': Richard and Mary almost kiss in the pub, but Mary decides otherwise when they're a hair's breadth away.
252* ''Film/Constantine2005'':
253** This occurs three times between the title character and Angela Dodson. (1) When he's putting the protective amulet around her neck, (2) When he pulls the knife out of the floor after rescuing her, and (3) during the rooftop meeting while handing her the Spear of Destiny. ''Notably'' enraging because even after the tension has become thick enough to cut with a chainsaw, they never actually kiss.
254** This one may not completely count but it comes very close: When Angela is about to take her first plunge into hell, she asks Constantine if she must take off any more clothes and he just stares, which leads to this exchange.
255--->'''Angela:''' ''[in her shirt and pants]'' So should I take off the rest of my clothes, or can I keep this on?\
256''[Constantine stares]''\
257'''Angela:''' John?\
258'''Constantine:''' [[ImThinkingItOver I'm thinking]].\
259''[{{Beat}}]''\
260'''Angela:''' ''[blushing]'' John?\
261'''Constantine:''' On is fine.
262* In ''Film/CoolAsIce'' the eponymous Ice and random chick are about to kiss/straight up have sex when the little brother walks through the unlocked door and interrupts.
263* ''Film/DantesPeak'' contains a rather silly example: Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are about to kiss, when suddenly some random extra drives by and shouts "Hey, you two!" One scene later, another kiss is prevented by Linda Hamilton's daughter complaining that she's thirsty, although that turns out to be a plot point, because that's when they find out that all the tapwater is discolored.
264* ''Film/{{DEBS}}'': While Lucy Diamond and Amy are in a BadGuyBar, they get to know each other and become intimate. Then they lean in and are about to kiss before Janet barges over with Scud, effectively ''murdering'' the moment.
265* ''Film/DoctorInLove'': Before Dr. Hare can kiss Dr. Barrington, he is interrupted by Mrs. Mimps ringing the doorbell.
266* This appens in ''Film/{{Dragnet}}'' twice with Joe Friday and Connie Swail.
267* In ''Film/DragonBallEvolution'', Bulma and Yamcha almost kiss in a bar as they talk about how the world is about to end. The moment is ruined by a loud guy nearby and both nervously laugh it off.
268* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'': Although Han and Leia actually ''do'' kiss, they are immediately [[MomentKiller interrupted by C-3PO]] before things can go any further.
269* In ''Film/FreakyFriday2003'', Anna in her mother's body stops the mother's fianceé from kissing her by pretending to have a cold sore.
270* In the ending scene of ''Film/GeekCharming'', Josh and Dylan lean over to kiss only to notice that they are on camera. Josh then puts his jacket over the camera lens so they can kiss privately.
271* ''Film/AGirlWalksHomeAloneAtNight'': When the Girl takes Arash home, she gets very close to kissing him, but doesn't. Then she looks like she's about to bite him, but doesn't do that either.
272* ''Film/TheGoonies''. While the protagonists are exploring a building, Brandon and Andrea ("Andy") are thrown together on a couch. As they hug each other and lean in to kiss, one of the other Goonies makes a comment and breaks the mood.
273* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' has one with Gamora and Peter. Gamora cuts it short by holding a knife to Peter's throat and yelling furiously at him, much to Peter's complete consternation.
274* ''Film/HarryPotter''
275** Harry and Ginny have an almost-kiss in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', interrupted by a Death Eater attack.
276** ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''. After Ron walks out on them, Harry tries to cheer Hermione up with a dance that ends with a moment of sexual tension... then Hermione guiltily turns away. Harry's LikeBrotherAndSister comment from the book is noticeably missing from the scene after Ron destroys the Horcrux (which had been taunting him with illusions of Hermione loving Harry).
277* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'': Troy and Gabriella in the ending of the first film before the CrowdSong, and throughout the entire second movie.
278* A RunningGag between Troy and Gabriella in ''Film/HighSchoolMusical 2'', to the frustration of preteens everywhere. They made sure to make up for it later, though.
279* In the film adaption of ''Film/{{Hitman}}'', After Agent 47 has killed the man he's going to impersonate later and taken Nika back to their hotel, Nika, who is pretty drunk begins to seduce 47, going as far as undoing his pants and straddling him on the bed. Just when they get close enough to kiss, Agent 47 jabs her in the neck with a sedative.
280* Seen in the gag reel of ''Film/HotFuzz''. Spoofing their buddy cop HoYay, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost almost kiss repeatedly before eventually pretending to snog passionately in the graveyard scene.
281* ''Film/HudsonHawk'': After their date, Eddie and Anna go back to her apartment, where she gives him a backrub. He says he needs to whisper something to her, their faces come together and Eddie tries to kiss her. She pulls away, breaking the moment.
282* Occurs in ''Film/ImagineMeAndYou'' after Luce and Rachel get back from their "date". They're at Rachel's apartment, and Rachel is barely an inch from Luce's face when a car loudly speeds by.
283* After Indiana Jones and Marion survive a DeathTrap in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', they lean on each other for a reunion kiss (all the danger and "They weren't you" compensating the "abandoning her at the altar")... and Mutt comes out of the water putting a random corpse in Indy's arms.
284* Twice in ''Film/INowPronounceYouChuckAndLarry''. At the beginning of the film, Chuck tries to make a [[{{Twincest}} pair of twins]] [[GirlOnGirlIsHot kiss each other]], but they're interrupted by the fire station bell going off. The second time, Chuck and Larry are about to kiss during the deposition when the Fire Captain bursts into the room.
285* Happens in ''Film/InterviewWithTheVampire'', between Louis and Armand.
286* In ''Film/IronMan1'', Tony and Pepper share a nervously awkward dance, leading to getting some air on the roof, leading to... this. And then it led to Pepper's stammering request for a drink right after that freeze of realization.
287* In the 2011 ''Film/{{Jane Eyre|2011}}'', Rochester is "thanking" Jane for saving his life but Jane pulls away before their lips could meet.
288* A hilarious one in ''Film/JohnnyEnglish''. Johnny accidentally hits the seat ejector button and launches Agent Lorna Campbell out of the car while trying to kiss her.
289* Done in ''Film/KabhiKushiKabhieGham'' during the number "Yeh Ladka Hai Allah".
290* ''Film/TheLovedOnes'': Between Lola and her father. They get inadvertently interrupted by Brent.
291* In ''Literature/TheLovelyBones'': Ray and Susie are about to kiss when they are interrupted by the principal. They get to finally kiss in Susie's afterlife, though.
292* Happens ''three times'' between Gaby and Ilya in ''Film/TheManFromUncle''. The first time Gaby passes out because she had drunken about three quarters of a bottle of vodka before the sequence of events that led to the Almost Kiss, the second time Solo walks in on them, and the third time a hotel bellhop walks in on them.
293* Tina and Stanley twice in ''Film/TheMask''. The police were the spoilsports each time.
294** Tina almost kisses Stanley while visiting him on jail, then the guards say "Your time is up, lady!"
295** Right after Stanley frees Tina they're about to kiss when the police arrive.
296* Near the beginning of the second movie of the ''[[Film/TheMightyDucks Mighty Ducks]]'' trilogy is a PuttingTheBandBackTogether montage to round up the Ducks players who returned for the sequel. Among them is Connie and Guy, who are found by their lonesome near a dam about to be MakeOutKids when they are interrupted by Charlie calling them with a duck call. Guy is disappointed.
297--->"I was ''this close''!"
298* In ''Film/MissFisherAndTheCryptOfTears'', Phryne and Jack almost kiss when Phryne is standing in the rain outside the warehouse, having just lost the killer. Jack comes up to her and reveals that he still has the amulet the killer was searching for. They start to lean in towards each other, but are interrupted by the arrival of Professor Linnaeus, who grumpily tells them that he has put out the fire.
299* ''Film/TheMummy1999'' has a number of these, most notably when Evie, inebriated, leans forwards to kiss Rick, and just as they're about to kiss, she faints.
300* Played straight in ''Film/MyNameIsBruce'' between Bruce and love interest Kelly. Bruce gets frustrated at the constant interruptions.
301-->'''Bruce:''' For the love of god man, I can smell her ''chapstick''.
302* In ''Film/NowYouSeeMe'', Dylan and Alma were sitting very close to each other after discussing the history of magic, leaning forward before both of them backed off, nervously laughing.
303* ''Series/ThePretender'' movie "Island of the Haunted" has an especially frustrating example of this where Ocee (a blind old woman) interrupts a special moment between Jarod and Miss Parker. Fans were not pleased.
304* In ''Film/{{Rags}}'', Charlie and Kadee almost kiss on the bus when a bump pushes them close together, but are suddenly interrupted by a bystander who happens to recognize Kadee.
305* ''Film/RoyalRendezvous'':
306** While Rory and Cat and working on Edwina's car, they end up getting close and both start reaching for a kiss... but then they're suddenly [[MomentKiller interrupted by Finn and Cillian talking loudly]].
307** When Rory and Cat are in the kitchen talking about the banquet, the mood suddenly turns romantic and they both reach in for a kiss... until [[MomentKiller Perry comes into the kitchen and interrupts them]].
308* Spoofed in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', when Vespa and Lone Starr are interrupted by Dot's Virgin-alarm.
309-->'''Dot Matrix:''' It's programmed to go off before you do!
310* In ''Film/SpeedRacer'', Speed and Trixie nearly kiss while relaxing in Speed's car. They're interrupted when they hear Sprittle making gagging noises in the trunk.
311* ''Film/StarshipTroopers''. There's one between Carmen and Zander on the bridge of the ''Rodger Young'' just before the asteroid is detected.
312* ''Film/StreetAngel'': After Gino shows Angela her portrait, they lean to each other to kiss, but Mascetto interrupts them, telling her to go on stage.
313* Happens in Christopher Reeve's ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' near the end. Oh, that wacky, mood-killing Jimmy Olsen!
314* ''Film/{{Suspect}}'': Between Kathleen and Eddie as she is patching up his stab wound.
315* Subverted in ''Film/TwoThousandTwelve'': Dr. Heimsley and Laura are about to kiss when they are interrupted by a broadcast. They ignore it and continue their business.
316* ''Film/ValerianAndTheCityOfAThousandPlanets'': [[RescueRomance After they save each other's life in succession]], Valerian leans forward to kiss [[IceQueen Laureline]], who stops him with a FingerMuzzle, then wordlessly points out [[MomentKiller the horde of angry aliens charging towards them with edged weaponry]].
317* ''Film/WerewolvesWithin'': [[TheProtagonist Finn]] and Cecily almost kiss in The Axe Den, only for it to be interrupted by Finn's phone ringing from his likely-ex-girlfriend calling him. This gets Cecily quite miffed at him.
318* ''[[Film/WheresPappa Where's Poppa?]]'': Gordon and Louise lock eyes, and as Gordon gets closer and closer, he softly sings a verse of a romantic song to her, but as the moment comes to kiss, he sings another verse... and then another verse... and [[OverlyLongGag then another verse]], causing Louise to get increasingly flustered. When their noses are actually touching, Gordon's secretary interrupts to tell him that he's due in court.
319* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Happens twice between Dolores and Eddie, while in the movie theater and toward the end of the movie after reading the will; both times Roger intervenes.
320* ''Film/TheXFilesFightTheFuture'':
321** [[Series/TheXFiles Mulder and Scully]] almost, almost kiss in a hallway, but Scully gets stung by a bee just before it happens.
322** In the DVD commentary, Creator/ChrisCarter tries to peddle the idea that the emotions from the almost kiss in the hallway plus the CPR scene later in the movie equals a kiss. Not surprisingly, nobody buys that.
323* Between Hank and Raven in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''. [[MomentKiller Erik walks in and kills the mood]].
324* In ''[[Film/{{Zenon}} Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century]]'', Zenon and Greg are sitting side-by-side, facing the same direction, with awkward silence. Zenon tells Greg if he wants to kiss her he should get over it and just kiss her. After a pause, they both turn towards each other at the same time -- and accidentally smash their faces into each other.
325* In ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'', Wichita and Columbus are slow-dancing and about to kiss... and then the otherwise-awesome Tallahassee barges into the room to ask for their help in building a furniture fort.
326* ''Film/Zombies2018''
327** In the first film, Zed and Addison almost kiss in the zombie light garden but are rudely interrupted by the zombie patrol catching him skipping curfew.
328** In ''2'', another occurs between Zed and Addison before they get interrupted by an earthquake which guides them to the moonstone.
329[[/folder]]
330
331[[folder:Literature]]
332* In Malinda Lo's ''{{Literature/Adaptation}}'', Reese and David almost kiss several times.
333* ''Literature/BeyondThirty'': While hiding from lions in the bushes, Turck and Victory's lips brush each other, exciting Turck.
334* ''Literature/DontLookBack'': Sam and Carson nearly kiss in the backyard treehouse after he reminisces to her about their childhoods and the time that they shared a first kiss when they were ten. He stops it from actually happening when he reminds her that she isn't his to kiss, as she's still technically a couple with [[JerkJock Del]].
335* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'':
336** Kaname helps Sousuke out of a pond he was just pushed into. Upon realizing he's about to literally stumble into an AccidentalKiss with her, puckers up, she closes her eyes, leans into it, and... finds herself sorely disappointed when Sousuke simply stables himself on his own and cluelessly asks why she's making that face.
337** Kaname almost kisses Sôsuke while he is asleep (after she finishes cutting his hair), and she has a hard time resisting planting one on him. However, she restrains herself [[DudeShesLikeInAComa knowing it would be wrong to take advantage of him in his sleep]], and instead [[{{Tsundere}} dunks his head in water]].
338* In ''Literature/LifeAndDeathTwilightReimagined'', Beau describes Edythe as a magnet and himself as a helpless piece of metal. Several times, he unthinkingly leans in to kiss her, but Edythe backs away every time.
339* In ''Literature/{{Maoyu}}'', the Demon Queen asks the Hero to [[LapPillow rest his head on her lap]] so she can caress his hair. Shortly after she's leaning in to kiss him, but then a horse's neigh at the stable interrupts them, and the Hero runs of to see what's going on. The Demon Queen is naturally dismayed.
340* Happens several times in ''Literature/{{Renegades}}'' between Adrian and Nova, either because the rest of their team walks in on them or they suddenly get shy. It takes them locking themselves up in Adrian's basement and spending a whole day together for the kiss to finally succeed.
341* ''Literature/SomethingToTalkAbout'': Emma almost kisses Jo. As a result, Emma at last realizes she finds Jo attractive.
342* ''Literature/{{Underground}}'': Andrew has Robyn pinned against the wall, both of them staring at each other's lips, when Mike's motorcycle starts up and shocks them out of the moment.
343* In ''Literature/WolfHall'', Mary Boleyn finds Thomas Cromwell after Henry and Anne hold an unofficial marriage ceremony in Calais. She tries to kiss him, saying that they've earned their own recreation after all the work it took to get Henry and Anne together. Cromwell is initially hesitant, since Mary has been looking for just about any husband to get away from her family, but decides to anyway. Then a ''third'' figure appears in the dark courtyard and he instantly has a knife to the man's throat. (It turns out to be William Stafford, arriving late enough that Mary thought she was stood up. They end up getting married--and tossed out of court--anyhow.)
344[[/folder]]
345
346[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
347* The "Bollywood" ident from [[Creator/TheBBC BBC 1's]] "Rhythm and Movement" series (used 2002–2006) references this trope as used in Bollywood movies.
348* Parodied in the pilot of ''Series/AngieTribeca''. The title police officer and her partner stop short of kissing for no obvious reason, then repeat the process two more times, before switching to cleaning the condensation from their now-fogged-up car.
349* Played with in ''Series/AnneFrankTheWholeStory''. Anne does kiss Peter, but it's a very light mouth kiss and she quickly backs off.
350* Also seen in ''Series/AshesToAshes2008'' many ''many'' times between Gene Hunt and Alex Drake, with the same resolution. Arguably, one party was unconscious for three of these.
351* ''Series/AustinAndAlly'''s titular couple. They were first going to kiss while working on a song but decided against it. They tried again three times UnderTheMistletoe.
352* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', Captain Sheridan and Delenn have an almost kiss moment -- before being interrupted by a message from Ivanova, showing her usual bad timing.
353* Obnoxiously overused in ''Series/{{Beauty and the Beast|1987}}''. In practically every episode Vincent and Catherine start to engage in a kiss, but at the last moment they always wince and just hug each other instead. After a while, it didn't feel like "the characters always come to the realization that their love is not possible," so much as [[ExecutiveMeddling "the producers were afraid of outcries of bestiality."]] When he finally did kiss her, [[spoiler:''it was after she was dead'']]. Arrgghhh!
354* ''Series/{{Bones}}'' does this many times before TheBigDamnKiss.
355* ''Series/{{Bridgerton}}'': Season 2's romantic leads, Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, often engage into this over the course of the series ever since the bee sting incident in episode 3.
356* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
357** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E1WhenSheWasBad When She Was Bad]]", Willow and Xander share a sweet and believable exchange, before a sexually tense Almost Kiss. It's interrupted when they are attacked by a vampire.
358** Averted when Mr. Giles and Ms. Calendar have a sweet romantic talk right before class. They're about to kiss, only to be interrupted by the school bell -- but they don't let that stop them.
359** At the beginning of "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E10Hush Hush]]" Buffy and Riley are about to kiss when a nervous Buffy does a MomentKiller by babbling about something inconsequential. Fortunately the MonsterOfTheWeek steals the voices of everyone in Sunnydale, so the two communicate [[FirstKiss the only way they can]].
360* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' does run on this trope, as far as romantic tension is concerned.
361* In the [[Recap/CornerGasS1E13ILoveLacey first season finale]] of ''Series/CornerGas'', after a series of mishaps while trying to get to Regina to watch the [[UsefulNotes/CanadianFootballLeague Grey Cup]], Brent and Lacey almost kiss while waiting for a farmer to bring them gas for Brent's car. Of course the farmer shows up just before they kiss, ruining the moment.
362* Made into a RunningGag in the two-part season 4 finale of ''Series/CougarTown''. Travis and Laurie's FirstKiss keeps getting interrupted: by his roommates, by a phone call about [[spoiler:his grandfather having Alzheimer's]], by his sleeve catching fire, etc.
363* ''Series/{{Coupling}}'''s walking relationship-dictionary Jeff Murdoch gives us the self-explanatory phrase "Nose Avoidance Tilting". The scene in question has Jeff and his new boss Julia almost kissing during an awkward moment in the stationary cupboard, but both of them choose not to after imagining worst-case-scenarios of what would happen if they did: Julia imagines him criticising her for various reasons (e.g, bad breath), Jeff imagines her getting him arrested and his mother emasculating him with a miniature guillotine.
364* ''Series/Doona2023'': In episode 2, a drunken Doo-na nearly kisses Won-jun on the roof, but she stops at the last minute and beseeches him to "turn away next time".
365* In ''Series/DowntonAbbey'', Sybil and Branson many times through season 2, possibly in the last episode of season 1, too. Mr. Bates and Anna quite a few times towards the end of the first season, as well.
366* In ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' Aeryn and John spend a lot of scenes face-to-face, body pressed to panting body... ''and they don't kiss''. Also notable in that, when they ''do'' kiss, it could sort of still count as an Almost Kiss because they are always either interrupted or Aeryn freaks out.
367* ''Series/{{Firefly}}''
368** in the episode "Objects in Space": It's taken [[TheStoic Simon]] and [[GenkiGirl Kaylee]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey the whole series]] to reach that moment. They're having a heart-to-heart. They're [[HeldGaze staring]] into each other's eyes. They're inching closer. His hand starts to reach out to caress her cheek. They lean in for the kiss. [[MomentKiller And then Book walks into them]].
369-->'''[[DVDCommentary Joss Whedon]]:''' Oh, thank you very much, Book. Way to ruin the kiss!
370** Then there’s Mal and Zoe in “War Stories” although they were doing it to tease Wash, who spent the episode jealous of Mal. Wash gets up, grabs Zoe and says “[[IllBeInMyBunk We’ll be in our bunk]]” as a CallBack to the TropeNamer quote earlier in the episode.
371* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'':
372** In the episode "Daphne Hates Sherry", there's a brilliant almost have sex scenario with Niles and Daphne, three years before their actual hookup. Filled with Tennessee Williams references in the title cards and elsewhere. The MomentKiller is particularly cruel, as Frasier points out to Niles at the end of the episode that if his brain had been in gear (for obvious reasons, it wasn't), it could have been completely avoided. In similar episodes such as "Moon Dance", "Mixed Doubles" and "First Date", Daphne is as oblivious as ever, but in this one, she seems completely ready to jump in. The whole thing is forgotten completely by the next episode.
373** The episode "Hot Pursuit" has Frasier and Roz forced to share a hotel room together and they both get quite drunk and flirty and just as they're about to kiss, Kenny comes in and asks to share their room as well. Like Niles and Daphne, Frasier and Roz do eventually end up in bed together, though it almost destroys their friendship.
374* A RunningGag in SM:TV Live's ''Series/{{Friends}}'' parody "Chums": Dec and Cat are always interrupted when they are about to kiss by the doorbell.
375* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'': Peter and Olivia. Later, Peter displays some surprising maturity for a fictional character by approaching Olivia to discuss it, hoping to assuage her discomfort (although her recent awkwardness around him had nothing to do with the near kiss. But hey, he tried).
376* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
377** During her instruction in the art of lovemaking, Daenerys flips Doreah onto her back and starts to lean in before panicking and backing off.
378** Margaery nearly kisses Tommen on the lips in "Oathkeeper" before deciding a sisterly one on the cheek will be more effective.
379* ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': Daemon Targaryen is moments away from kissing the bride (his niece Rhaenyra) in the middle of a hall full of people at ''her own wedding feast'', but is interrupted by a surging crowd and the murder of Joffrey Lonmouth by Ser Criston Cole.
380* ''Series/GeneralHospital'''s Sonny and Carly's first non-hate kiss after the incredibly awkward sex talk with Emily and Juan. They get this close and Sonny's phone rings.
381* ''Series/GetSmart'': The first few episodes after 99 joins the show use this with 86 and 99.
382* Happens repeatedly on ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'' with Teddy and Spencer.
383* Many, MANY times on ''Series/HouseOfAnubis''. Pretty much every pairing had this happen to them before.
384* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'':
385** Watch the gag reel; if anyone forgets their line and ends up just staring, they will start leaning in.
386** There's also an interesting variation in-universe. [[spoiler:Robin and Barney]] are talking about an Almost Kiss they had in the rain when her [[MomentKiller cell phone rang and ruined the moment]]. While they're laughing about what a bad idea that would have been, they end up actually kissing--among other things.
387** The almost kiss is a running gag with Barney and Robin--they nearly kiss during Punchy's wedding, and again during "Splitsville," interrupted by a badly timed phone call each time.
388** Invoked by Victoria in the episode "Drumroll Please," where she, during her first encounter with Ted at a wedding, insists they ''intentionally'' stop short of the kiss, as the lead up to the kiss (the "drumroll") is the most romantic part, and the kiss itself could be disappointing.
389** After her breakup with Don, a drunk and heartbroken Robin is consoled by Ted. This leads to an awkward moment when Robin tries to kiss him, but his cap gets in the way. When Robin removes it, she sees Ted's new blond hair and they both laugh.
390--->'''Narrator:''' And that's the story of how dying my hair blond kept us from doing something we both would have regretted that night.
391* ''Series/{{iCarly}}'': Twice between Carly and Shane in "iSaw Him First".
392* ''Series/{{Jessie}}'': In "Green-Eyed Monsters", Jessie and Tony try to kiss and are interrupted by Officer Petey.
393* [[UnresolvedSexualTension Michael and Bonnie]] have a moment of this after defeating KARR in the classic ''Series/KnightRider'' episode "Trust Doesn't Rust."
394* In ''Series/KyleXY'', Kyle is FINALLY about to kiss Amanda at the dance when Jessie blows a fuse... literally!! The ensuing light show throws them off their first kiss at the very last nanosecond. [[YourHeadASplode Audience's heads assplode.]]
395* Sam Tyler and Annie Cartwright have at least one of these in just about every other episode of ''Series/{{Life On Mars|2006}}'' -- if someone ''doesn't'' barge in or start yelling, one of them (usually Annie) will think better of it at the very last minute. No lip contact is made until the last five minutes of the ''series finale''.
396* ''Series/LivAndMaddie'':
397** There was a RunningGag where whenever Maddie and Diggie were about to kiss, her brother Joey, who believes he's Diggie's best friend, would interrupt them.
398** Happens between Liv and Holden in "Triangle-A-Rooney"; they are interrupted by Willow walking in on them, who saw everything.
399* In the pilot of ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'', Bronwyn and Arondir were about to kiss or at least get intimate when Waldreg interrupted them out of spite.
400* In one of the last episodes of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', Mary and Lou attempt to kiss, but both dissolve into hopeless giggling.
401* ''Series/MyBabysittersAVampire'': In "Bewitched", Ethan and Sarah are turned into Dusk lovers and are about to kiss. However, the spell breaks at the last second and they return normal hilariously subverting the KissingUnderTheInfluence.
402* Sadie and Ben in the Canadian show, ''Series/NaturallySadie'', had a total of eleven almost kisses, and when they finally did kiss, it is one of two possible scenarios and it is never made clear which one happened.
403* Lee and Lucy almost kiss in ''Series/NotGoingOut''.
404* Parodied in the "Diwali" episode of ''Series/{{The Office|US}}'', when [[WrongGenreSavvy Michael]] tries to bond with Pam over them both being [[spoiler:"victims of broken engagements"]] and then moves in to kiss her, only for her to move back and reject his kiss. Rather than showing them as mutual love interests, it humorously shows Michael's belief that life is like a television show and that his coworkers are much closer to him than they actually are.
405* ''Series/Pitch2016'': Ginny and Mike nearly kiss once before she backs away.
406* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' is ''notorious'' for this. Aside from Tommy and Kimberly in the earlier seasons, almost none of the established couples get to kiss on-screen. Examples include:
407** ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wBIgwvybaY Wes and Jen.]] "Damn phone", indeed.
408** ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ttQq3REsCE Dillon and Summer.]] Twice in the same scene, even!
409** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leoPfjsZKgI Tyler and Shelby.]] Koda's only bad moment.
410** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR1oDsg928k Ollie and Amelia.]] "What'cha dooooin'?"
411* Variation in ''Series/{{Psych}}'', where Shawn and Jules instead end up... talking, very close. Almost lip to lip. And then discuss the fact that their lips are not quite touching.
412* The first episode of ''Series/PushingDaisies'' has an unusual one, where Ned decides to kiss Chuck one last time, as the touch that will re-kill her... but can't bring himself to actually do it, and ends up keeping her alive.
413* ''Series/QueenForSevenDays'': Chae-gyeong and Lee Yeok lean towards each other, staring into each other's eyes... and then Seo No interrupts.
414* Played darkly and subtlety in ''Series/RobinHood''. Guy of Gisborne has just proposed to Marian and been accepted. He moves in for a kiss, but she looks tearful and uncertain, and both turn their heads away fractionally. (Reasons being that he's just threatened her with execution after accusing her of being in cahoots with Robin over a missing necklace. She proves him wrong by producing it – Robin has just passed it to her through the window, and is privy to everything that goes on inside the room).
415* ''Series/ScarecrowAndMrsKing'': This entire series hung on the Almost Kiss. The number of times they were given husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend cover identities only increased the tension.
416* ''Series/{{Scorpion}}'': Toby and Happy have one when Happy gives in to their mutual feelings for each other (she [[IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship didn't want to jeopardize their being best friends]]). They are interrupted by a schoolteacher shouting about discovering the fireworks going off right outside the school.
417* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
418** J.D. and Elliot closing in for a kiss as he was about to have a child and she was about to get married was a ''season finale cliffhanger''. First minute of the next season? It's an Almost Kiss.
419** Another unique variation had Dr. Cox and his ex-wife's brother Ben Sullivan almost kiss, with Cox breaking away with less than an inch to spare, Ben declaring "I am the king of gay chicken!"
420* In the Series 5 finale episode of ''Series/{{Skins}}'', Franky and Mini share a moment alone, and as they lean into kiss, a car horn blares and they break apart. Mini shows increasing signs of a crush on Franky through this episode, yet this moment is never mentioned again.
421* Quite a few in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
422** Clark and Chloe, a lot of times.
423*** At the school dance, much to the frustration of fans as this has been building up for literally the whole show up to that point (okay, it's only the end of the first season) before they're interrupted by a tornado warning.
424*** ''Bound'': Chloe pushing Clark [[ItMakesSenseInContext up an elevator wall to investigate the murder of Lex's one nightstand]]. A woman and her two children serve as the MomentKiller.
425** Clark and [[TemporaryLoveInterest Kyla]] when he lies on top of her to shield her from falling rocks.
426** There is a romantic moment where Clark and Lois almost kiss while dancing at [[spoiler:Chloe's wedding]], but they are interrupted by the reappearance of Clark's ex-girlfriend, Lana.
427* In the British comedy ''Series/{{Spaced}}'', Tim and Daisy have one of these during a conversation about how things "happen when you least expect it" after getting locked out of their flat. They are interrupted by their dog who has just happened to have found Tim's keys lying on the curb and drops them at his feet.
428* Subverted in ''Series/SportsNight'': The fans almost start pulling their collective hair out after an Almost Kiss between Casey and Dana, and then Casey does a one-eighty, grabs Dana, kisses her seductively, and walks away with fists raised in triumph.
429* In the final episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Worf and Troi are about to kiss before they're interrupted by an agitated Captain Picard, who's convinced he's moving back and forth in time. Later Picard kisses Beverly Crusher and you'd expect one of these time jumps to interrupt events, but this doesn't happen because it's meant as foreshadowing; when Picard jumps into the future, it's revealed he married (and later divorced) Beverly, whereas Worf never got together with Troi because her previous relationship with Riker got in the way.
430* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''.
431** While possessed by a male BodySurf alien, Kes is about to kiss a female follower ("his" wife) when they're interrupted by a messenger.
432** [[AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder Stranded on the far side of the galaxy from her fiancé]], Captain Janeway finds herself tempted by the advances of a [[KissMeImVirtual holodeck character]]. As he leans in to kiss her, Janeway turns off his program at the last second.
433* ''Series/TheStrangeCalls'': In the final episode, Kath and Banks lean in for a kiss, only to be interrupted by Gregor's groaning with their faces about a inch from each other. Banks breaks away to go attend to him.
434* Which makes it all the more strange how much it's played straight in ''Series/Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip'': Matt and Harriet seemed to have these like, OncePerEpisode... okay, that's an exaggeration, but still.
435* Happens comically in the ''Series/SydneyToTheMax'' episode "When Harry Met Sydney". Sydney attempts to have a romantic moment with her longtime friend who's moved back, but he leans in to pick up the remote, and she ends up ''kissing the floor.''
436* Also used in ''Series/The10thKingdom'' when they get to the appropriately named Kissingtown, where [[LoveIsInTheAir love is literally in the air in the form of CGI butterflies]]. The first time at Snow White's coffin, then later on the balcony, but thanks to the RuleOfThree Wolf finally gets one the third time.
437* In ''Series/TheTimeInBetween'', Marcus and Sira often come close to a kiss but keep getting interrupted by other characters or by time constraints.
438* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'':
439** This happens in the episode "Captain Jack Harkness". Jack and [[spoiler:the real Jack Harkness]] almost kiss, but stop when the rift suddenly opens. However, subverted when [[spoiler:Jack runs back and kisses the real Jack anyway]].
440** Jack gets another almost-kiss in "Fragments". He falls on Ianto, they laugh, roll around, and share an intense moment where their faces get really close... and then Ianto stands up and starts walking away.
441** Jack and Gwen have an Almost Kiss in "Something Borrowed", but the [[MomentKiller moment is killed]] when Jack [[spoiler:sprouts fangs and claws; it's not really Jack, it's the shape-shifting nostrovite.]]
442* ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls'': Max is helping Johnny, a guy she has a crush on, with his billboard while they are both wearing funny rat and bunny masks respectively. The project starts to turn into a date and Max moves in for a kiss, but Johnny stops the moment [[spoiler:because he already has a girlfriend]] and Max is heartbroken.
443* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': In "Tori Goes Platinum", after several seasons of [[ShipTease ship teasing]], it looks like Beck and Tori are going to kiss. However, Tori's mom walks into the room, interrupting them.
444* ''Series/{{Willow|2022}}'': In Episode 5, "Wildwood", Jade and Kit were about to kiss after finally coming clean on their feelings for each other. Then a troll came out of nowhere, grabbed Kit and took off with her right before their lips could meet.
445* Tony and Carol from ''Series/WireInTheBlood'' come close to kissing not once but twice in the episode "Justice Painted Blind". The first comes when Carol abandons dinner with her boyfriend in favour of discussing possible motives for the murders with Tony, the second when the pair are lying on their stomachs in Tony's living room discussing dominance and submission. Both moments are broken when neither of the two can seem to gather the courage to take their relationship that extra step.
446* '' Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'': Occurs repeatedly between Justin and Miranda in "First Kiss", with thanks to Alex reversing time so they can succeed eventually.
447* In the third episode of ''Series/WolfHall'', Mary Boleyn tries to kiss Thomas Cromwell in a dark courtyard, now that Henry and Anne have made an unofficial marriage in Calais. After initially hesitating he leans in--then immediately pulls a knife on a third person, who turns out to be Mary's ''actual'' date, William Stafford, not having stood her up after all.
448* ''Series/WonderWoman1975'': In "The Man Who Could Move the World", the titular man Takeo Ishida, puts both Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor into mortal peril by forcing Wonder Woman, via amplified telekinesis, to step on a bomb. [[spoiler:Wonder Woman just barely manages to overpower the mental commands by overloading the amplifier.]] She and Steve share a long moment touching each other's arms and staring into each other's eyes before finally breaking away from each other.
449* Apart from TheMovie example (see above), one episode of ''Series/TheXFiles'' has Scully being seduced by a shapeshifting guy who has turned into Mulder. They're in her apartment, just about to kiss, when the real Mulder bursts in, [[MomentKiller spoiling the mood]]. Probably the only example where the kiss is technically interrupted by one of the participants. Also probably one of the only examples where the MomentKiller was appreciated by shippers!
450* In ''Series/YoungSheldon'', the hapless and ineffectual Pastor Jeff has the misfortune of being spiritual advisor to the Cooper family and is on the point of adultery with Robin, a policewoman who is enamoured of him. They are just about to kiss... and at that point Missy Cooper phones for spiritual guidance to avoid ending up in Hell (because he'd called a moment ago to talk to Mary, who wasn't home, and when Jeff asked what Missy was doing, she lied and said she was watching TV when in reality she was playing with a Ouiji board. She felt so bad about lying to a pastor, that she called back and confessed). Pastor Jeff believes Missy's call to be a sign from God and stops himself from pursuing a physical relationship with Robin.
451[[/folder]]
452
453[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
454* In the WWF in 2001, Spike Dudley and Molly Holly had a number of Almost Kisses. The funniest had a brain-damaged Perry Saturn popping his head up between them.
455[[/folder]]
456
457[[folder:Radio]]
458* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Magic Christmas Tree", Miss Brooks and Mr. Boynton almost kiss under the mistletoe. Unfortunately, Mr. Boynton [[IllTimedSneeze sneezes]], as he's allergic to mistletoe. Later, Mr. Boynton kisses Miss Brooks under the influence of [[ItMakesSenseInContext the magic christmas tree]]. [[spoiler:However, it turns out both the Almost Kiss and the kiss were AllJustADream. TheBigDamnKiss doesn't take place under midway through TheMovie GrandFinale, although Miss Brooks would steal a few minor kisses over the course of the series.]]
459[[/folder]]
460
461[[folder:Roleplay]]
462* During the FinalBattle in ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'':
463** Rotor and Cabin: shot down and stuck in an abandoned house with a few other people, got one such moment where they started to get intimate and almost kissed only to be interrupted by Mac on current events.
464** Amanda and Rex had a number of Almost Kisses during their WartimeWedding, with each kiss being interrupted by an attacking dinosaur. Fortunately, after these Almost Kisses, they finally got TheBigDamnKiss.
465[[/folder]]
466
467[[folder:Theatre]]
468* In the Takarazuka Revue musical ''[[Theatre/CompanyTakarazukaRevue Company]]'', Takano and Aoyagi, while Takano is showing Aoyagi his idea for a new, gay production of Swan Lake, before Aoyagi pulls away at the last second.
469* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'': At the end of "Stay Alive," Hamilton and Laurens, who were probably lovers according to the study that was Miranda's primary source, approach one another in a way that usually precedes a kiss, before breaking off for Laurens to approach Lee in "Ten Duel Commandments."
470* ''Theatre/MarieAntoinetteMusical'': Marie and Fersen have several, before [[spoiler:finally getting to kiss in their last meeting, when they have to say goodbye to one another.]]
471* The 1996 Broadway revival of ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'' (starring Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips) added this between Anna and the King following "Shall We Dance?", just before the MoodWhiplash of Tuptim's capture.
472[[/folder]]
473
474[[folder:Video Games]]
475* In ''VideoGame/DemonGaze'', this happens between the PlayerCharacter and Fran at the fairy hideout if you choose a certain choice. She will eventually kiss you later [[spoiler:after saving you from Lulu and after you slept together near the end.]]
476* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
477** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', immediately after battling Lady, Dante leans in, Lady stares into his eyes... and turns her head away at the last second. Given Dante and Lady only knew each other for a grand total of 10–15 minutes in that game (and this is being generous), them not kissing was probably for the best.
478** Even more frustrating in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' with Nero and Kyrie. The BigBad has been defeated, the world is at peace, Nero saves the girl he loves... what better mood to lean in and go for it? Unfortunately just a few millimeters away, Nero pulls a gun at a swarm of demon baddies determined to interrupt, and ends up telling Kyrie that kiss is going to have to wait. You never see it. If one protects her competently during the credits, it's strongly implied that they go through with it.
479* ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim'' [[spoiler:has Princess-What's-Her-Name get crushed by the cow that Jim launched in New Junk City just as she is about to kiss Jim.]]
480* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXVI'' after the event at Drake's Breath during a visit to the infirmary Clive unintentionally places his hand on Jill's, which has them both start leaning in towards one another... only to be stopped with their lips less than an inch from each other when [[spoiler:Gav's races into the infirmary]].
481* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'':
482** Daxter does this to Jak in both ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy'' and ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade''. One was on purpose, the other, not so much.
483** Jak gets back at Daxter by [[spoiler:interrupting his kiss with Tess]] at the end of ''VideoGame/Jak3''.
484** Subverted at the end of ''Jak X'' when Daxter interrupts Jak [[spoiler:and Keira yet again, only to continue, "Will ya kiss her already! Sheesh!"]]
485* A version sort of happens in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' as although they were never going to kiss, to the player it looks like they will. Near the start of the game after Link has [[spoiler:won the Annual Bird Flight Ceremomy and has been given the sailcloth]], Zelda says that, in what seems like an embarrased way, that there is "something else that they are supposed to do at the end of the ceremony...". Link's expression at this, and the options the player is given on how to reply ("Nope.", "Sort of...", "Uh-oh...") it's extremely heavily implied they are going to kiss. [[spoiler:Just before it looks like Zelda is going to kiss Link, she instead turns him around and pushes him off the edge of the statue they are standing on as part of the final test of the ceremony.]]
486* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': A RunningGag has Joe and Amelia being interrupted before they can kiss, although they do manage to actually kiss several times.
487** When Joe reveals to Amelia that he canceled his second date with another woman and broke up with her because of his rekindled feelings for Amelia, they almost share a kiss, only for Edwina to burst into the kitchen.
488** After Joe proves that [[spoiler:he was innocent of the fire by showing Amelia the picture his mom took of him and his dad at another restaurant that night]], they nearly kiss, only for the pie in Amelia's oven to catch fire and set off the sprinklers.
489** On their first date, Joe leans in on Amelia for a kiss, [[spoiler:just when the real Joe comes home from his baker's retreat. He and Amelia are shocked by [[TwinSwitch his twin brother Sam pretending to be him to seduce her.]]]]
490** Joe and Amelia almost kiss after installing the toilet before they are interrupted by Yuka and Eve, who make fun of them for almost kissing in the bathroom.
491** After hanging pictures in the "romantic date room", Joe and Amelia almost kiss before they are interrupted by Esme and Kate.
492--->'''Kate:''' Eww, Mommy, were you going to KISS Joe?!
493* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
494** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', this happens toward the end of the game between Shepard and his/her love interest when [[spoiler:Udina locks out the ''Normandy'']]. The interrupter in this case is Joker, who lampshades the whole thing.
495** [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 The second game]] has [[spoiler:the attempted romance with [[KnightTemplar Samara]]. You actually get pretty far along in the romance, but when the time comes, she turns away. She makes it clear that though she feels attraction to Shepard as well, she's too [[MarriedToTheJob dedicated to being a Justicar]] to get involved. Another character mentions how upset she gets after the incident.]]
496** During the paragon dialogue path with [[DefrostingIceQueen Miranda]], she requests more time to think before Shepard gets around to kissing her. [[SlapSlapKiss The Renegade path is funnier.]]
497** A lot of femShep/Garrus shippers were not happy that just when you think they're about to kiss... [[HeadbuttOfLove they don't]] (even though it's been made clear for two games that a human kissing a turian would cause both of them to go into anaphylactic shock).
498*** Then averted in [[VideoGame/MassEffect3 the third game]], where they have at least two [[TheBigDamnKiss big damn kisses]].
499* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
500** The remake of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', ''The Twin Snakes'', has Meryl and Snake almost kiss after the fight with Liquid; unfortunately they were interrupted by a codec call from Otacon. This isn't present in the original Platform/PlayStation game.
501** Naomi and Otacon do some Bollywood-esque non-kissing in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', after which they hook up.
502** Not infrequently used for DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything between male characters, for whom having them ''actually'' kiss would [[ButNotTooGay enrage too many players]]:
503*** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', Otacon, who has been berating Snake for smoking for most of the game and previous entries, lights Snake's cigarette before his final mission in an intimate shot that resembles a kiss.
504*** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV'' has several scenes where Kaz gets his face right up to Snake's in closeup - so many that Kojima actually had to push for some of the shots against the wishes of his dev team, who found them too suggestive. There's also a scene where Ocelot lights Snake's cigar, with the dialogue and camera angle indicating it's a stand-in for a friendly goodbye kiss between two established lovers.
505* ''VideoGame/NamcoHigh'': During Mr. Driller's route, he and Cousin almost kiss on the roof after Cousin gives them a RousingSpeech. VideoGame/PacMan interrupts the kiss by telling the two to get a room.
506* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Knuckles and Rouge share one after he saved her from falling to a lava pit followed by Rouge [[UngratefulBastard expressing ingratitude for the echidna's rescue]], thus continuing their argument.
507* A "deleted scenes" example here: At the end of ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', Krystal, the love interest of Fox [=McCloud=] comes aboard the team's ship. Originally, Fox would have offered her a place on the team, with her replying she would only do so if he would kiss her. The rumored reason for this scene not happening is that Rare's animators couldn't convincingly portray the kiss (this is somewhat similar to the ''Chicken Run'' example). [[http://files.krystalarchive.com/ka/audio/adventuresVoice/55-KP1_5-IfYoullKissMe.mp3 Unused audio of this scene can be found here.]]
508* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', Artemis refuses to let the party see the moon spirit Luna, with whom they want to form a summon contract with, until Arche kisses Cless. As they are just about to do it, Mint pushes the two apart claiming it's "not right" to do this. Then Luna's voice interrupts further by telling Artemis to stop his prank and allow them to see her already.
509* ''VideoGame/UnchartedDrakesFortune'':
510** At the end, Nate and Elena lean in suggestively towards one another, and are suddenly interrupted by Sully who disrupts the romantic moment. Nice going, Sully. He [[{{Jerkass}} seems to do it on purpose]] here.
511** It finally happens for real in ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves Among Thieves]]'', though.
512* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', this happens between [[spoiler:Undyne and Alphys]] in the True Pacifist ending before [[spoiler:Toriel]] interrups them and said to not do this [[NotInFrontOfTheKid in front of the Fallen Child]].
513[[/folder]]
514
515[[folder:Visual Novels]]
516* ''VisualNovel/EverAfterAcademy'': The Female MC and Nora almost have their first kiss in her route on a broomstick ride until the broom goes out of control.
517* In ''VisualNovel/EveryDaysDifferent'' on Yoko's route she and the protagonist come close to cofirming [[ChildhoodFriendRomance their mutual feelings]] a few times, held back from actually kissing by their equally mutual nervousness.
518* ''VisualNovel/IkemenSengoku'':
519** In Yukimura's route, Yukimura and the female main character almost kiss at one point but [[MomentKiller the moment is killed]] by the kid they were looking after waking up and happily shouting at them, "Smooch!"
520** In Hideyoshi's route, a friendly moment between Hideyoshi and the MC becomes heated when Hideyoshi [[LoveEpiphany realizes]] that he loves her and that he's standing awfully close to her and can't stop staring at her lips... before he pulls away and tries to go back to treating the MC [[LikeBrotherAndSister like a sister]], much to her disappointment and frustration.
521* ''VisualNovel/LuckyDog1'': Gian and Ivan almost share one after an intimate scene, until Gian inadvertently [[MomentKiller ruins the moment]] by saying the wrong thing.
522* ''VisualNovel/OurLifeBeginningsAndAlways'': While on vacation with their families in Roadtrip (Step 2), the MC can invite Cove up to the RV's loft at night. If they're crushing on him, the MC can attempt to kiss Cove; but at the last minute, he [[spoiler:becomes so flustered that he jumps up, banging his head on the roof and waking up everyone else in the RV]].
523* ''VisualNovel/{{Serre}}'': In Chapter 3, during a tender moment, the player is given three options that are all variations of [[spoiler:"kiss Oaxa"]].The two lean in... only for [[spoiler:Oaxa to give Arlette a BearHug, while Arlette mentally berates herself for forgetting that of course Oaxa doesn't understand what a kiss is, lacking a mouth]].
524* Happens several times in ''VisualNovel/{{Shuffle}}''
525** The first is with Rin and [[spoiler:Sia]]: When they get separated from their friends during the BeachEpisode, they act like they've crossed into another world where they're alone and go for the kiss. Hilarious in that Primula walks behind them looking for seashells; both parties ignore each other's presence.
526** The second instance is when Rin walks [[spoiler:Asa]] home after the latter twisted her ankle. Both are sitting on her bed, and Rin is getting teased. When the poor girl stands up, she trips and falls on Rin, pinning him to the bed. She leans in for the kiss, but her mother comes home and goes up to the room; when she opens the door, we see the two separated, with Rin sitting at the desk (as is, of course, proper for a gentleman).
527* ''VisualNovel/SummerRoseCourt'': [[spoiler:During Blake's [[RelationshipValues Loyalty Mission]], if the romance option is taken, Blake will almost kiss Ruby before they're interrupted by the fire.]]
528* ''VisualNovel/SweetElite'': After the power goes out, Scholar and their LI are stuck in the chalet's basement while the situation is sorted out. While they're waiting, they have a conversation that leads to them leaning into each other for a kiss. They're abruptly interrupted by Raquel (if you're on Ellie's route) or Ellie (if you're on anyone else's) before they can lock lips.
529* ''VisualNovel/VillainousNights'': At the end of Lorelei season 2 episode 6, she and Monarch lean toward each other for what would have been their first kiss; the next episode, [[MomentKiller they're interrupted]] by [[spoiler:Juliette walking in on them]].
530* In ''VisualNovel/YearningAGayStory'', if you get left alone in the movie theater with Carlos as Adam gets snacks, Carlos will come close to kissing you until he realizes what he's doing. Since you're playing as a male character and Carlos is [[ArmouredClosetGay very deep in the closet]], this almost-kiss causes him to panic and act very awkwardly around you for a while afterwards.
531[[/folder]]
532
533[[folder:Webcomics]]
534* ''Webcomic/AlfdisAndGunnora'': The title characters have an entire page where they almost kiss.
535* ''Webcomic/FlightTheTaleOfTwoSisters'' has one between Lilac and Parsley. They ''are'' cats, and it would be difficult to show what that would look like. [[AlternateAnimalAffection They hold tails afterward.]]
536* ''Webcomic/ErikaAndThePrincesInDistress'':
537** During the Floating Island story arc, [[spoiler:Prince Egg-White is turned into a tree after eating a poisoned apple, and Erika is told the only way to turn him back is to kiss his face now etched into the trunk. She is hesitant to do so, as it would be [[SacredFirstKiss her first time kissing someone]], but before their lips actually touch, an enormous apple grows from the tree and falls, breaking open and revealing Egg-White inside.]]
538** During the Terapia story arc, [[spoiler:Prince Aurel must breathe the perfume of a flower that'll put him in a deep slumber, so that he is rid of his terrible breath, allowing Erika to kiss him and rid him of the curse placed on him. However, right before she is able to go through with it, Morphine reveals herself and steals Aurel's body right under her nose.]]
539%%* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'': Due to intervention by a [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1200/fv01165.htm one-off character]] whom some then want to shoot.
540* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
541** Damn you, Merlot! The strip is even called [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090511 "Smoochus Interruptus"]] in the archive...
542** Really, too many of these between [[HeIsNotMyBoyfriend Agatha and Gil]] to link them all. It finally ends with TheBigDamnKiss, though.
543%%* A couple of times between Hatsune and Tom in ''Webcomic/MayonakaDensha''
544* In ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'', Ash and Em have their Almost Kiss moment right at the end of [[http://www.misfile.com/misfile/2004-11-26 book one.]] Unfortunately for the [[{{Shipping}} shippers]] Rumisiel plays the MomentKiller and the aftermath is pure BelligerentSexualTension syndrome.
545%%* ''Webcomic/MissingMonday'': [[http://www.missingmondaycomic.com/index.php?id=47 While cooking]], just a few days after meeting for the first time.
546* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', [[https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=185 Marten and Faye almost kiss before she passes out on him, head butts him in the crotch, and then pukes on him.]]
547* ''Webcomic/ReBootCodeOfHonor'': Bob and Dot almost share a kiss before Bob goes to confront the BigBad, but Lens interrupts them.
548%%* Played ''agonizingly'' straight in ''Webcomic/RedString'' between Eiji and Reika.
549* Used multiple times in ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'' between Sandra and Cloud, first [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/05/17/0165-kissus-interruptus/ here]] (although it may be better to see the whole sequence [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/05/10/0163-the-question-of-all-questions starting here]]), then [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/12/13/0226-bulls-eye-i here]] (again, it may be better to start reading [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/12/02/0222-plucking-daisies-i from here]]) before they finally get their big moment [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2011/07/11/0289-moment-kisser right after this.]]
550* After all the teasing and shipping and angst that led up to it, Mecha-Maid and the eponymous Webcomic/{{Spinnerette}} ''finally'' work things out, ''finally'' realize they've both been going about it all wrong, ''finally'' get a proper date set up, and ''finally'' go in for the kiss... Or not -- [[http://www.spinnyverse.com/comic/04-13-2012 Friday cliffhanger and the last page of the chapter!]] AARGH!
551[[/folder]]
552
553[[folder:Web Original]]
554* ''WebAnimation/AstroLOLogy'': In "Bumper to Bumper", Aries interrupts a kiss between Cancer and Leo as they are riding bumper cars.
555* ''WebAnimation/DrHavocsDiary'': Between Kim and Darren in the 1996 flashback of Episode 18, twice. The first time, they're interrupted by a ringing phone; the second time, they're cut off by Kim's shitty boss.
556* In ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'''s review of ''Princess Diaries II'', he and kidnapper Hyper get two, the second one confirmed by Doug as Critic getting stockholmed.
557* Lampshaded by Thalia in ''Literature/ThaliasMusings'' as it happens to her and Apollo.
558-->''"The Almost Kiss. Such a classic trope in romantic comedy. The concept I am about to reveal to you may be beyond your mortal comprehension, so listen carefully: ''Romantic Comedy'' is what happens when my domain and [[MomentKiller Aphrodite’s]] intersect. The fact that she and I have never gotten along terribly well is the reason works in this genre so often fail at being either romantic or comical."'' [[http://thaliasmusingsnovels.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/1-7-please-be-seated/ A link.]]
559[[/folder]]
560
561[[folder:Web Video]]
562* In ''WebVideo/TheAutobiographyOfJaneEyre'' (episode "The King of Hearts"), Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester are flirting and being cute together. He's trying to record her and snap a few photos. Jane gets close and they end up looking into each other's eyes very intensely. They almost kiss, but Jane pulls herself back. Edward has to take a few breaths to recover from the moment.
563* ''WebVideo/ClassicAlice'':
564** Between Alice & Andrew, too many to count. From episode 6 on it was ONE BIG TEASE. They dance around kissing when they fight in episode 6, on the couch after the ball when he takes off her shoe, when she's hurt in a car accident, after Thanksgiving, after Halloween, just AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. So close. SOOOO CLOOOOSE.
565* ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog''. Penny and Billy are in the laundromat, looking deep into each other's eyes. It looks as though she and Billy are drawing closer, and closerrrr... and then she brings up Captain Hammer. Ouch.
566* In one ''WebVideo/DubbedByStrangers'' video, Finn is about to make [[WesternAnimation/TheMrMenShow Mr. Rude and Mr. Stubborn]] kiss, when Korri comes in asking what he's doing it. UHHHH-
567* It's [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the ''WebVideo/TheGuild'' music video by Creator/FeliciaDay, "Game On" -- lyrics: "Level up/Feel the bliss/Forward-slash/Almost kiss..." For those not familiar with MMORPG terminology, forward slashes are used for emotes (especially in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', which is The Guild's main source of parody). So /kiss would cause your character to blow a kiss to his or her target. Naturally, in the music video, they perform an Almost Kiss immediately after the line.
568* ''WebVideo/LovelyLittleLosers''. In [[spoiler:"STAY"/"PUNISHMENT"]], [[spoiler:Peter]] tries to kiss [[spoiler:Balth]], who rejects him at the last moment, leaving [[spoiler:Peter]] visibly devastated.
569[[/folder]]
570
571[[folder:Western Animation]]
572* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'':
573** During the TV movie ''Win, Lose, Kaboom!'' where Jimmy and Cindy are just about to kiss, this gigantic meteor-warp-mail rock hits the parking lot of the building they're in. But, to make things ''fair'', it wasn't a ''kiss'', it was the "Gorlockon Seal of Trust".
574** Also in the episode "Out, Darn Spotlight", Jimmy and Betty are finally about to do a stage kiss for "''Theatre/MacBeth In Space''", when a weather machine built by Jimmy malfunctions and begins to send the school through a tornado. Also happens with Nick and Betty who are about to kiss during rehearsal until Jimmy intentionally interrupts them by using said machine to create a dark cloud their way, which rains on them just before the kiss happens.
575* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': Despite the fact that it was his plan, Jake panics every time he and Rose are about to kiss while practicing for the SchoolPlay, and if his neurosis doesn't stop them, the sudden appearance of the magic beetle they're both searching for does.
576* In ''WesternAnimation/AngelsFriends'', [[spoiler:Sulfus tries to kiss Raf in the Caves of Obscurity but Raf stops him and reminds him of their rivalry.]]
577* ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs2020'': When a heartbroken Pinky's crying at the end of "Bride of Pinky," Brain, awkwardly trying to comfort him, (clearly and unambiguously) starts to kiss him but turns away at the last second. Pinky notices, smiles, and moves to do the same, but Brain tells him, "Don't."
578* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
579** Possibly Aang and Katara in "The Cave of Two Lovers". However, [[KissingDiscretionShot the lights go out as they're moving in]], and to this day, it's a mystery if there was an Almost Kiss or a FirstKiss. [[WordOfGod The producers say]] [[spoiler:that it was a first kiss]].
580** And another, ''far'' less ambiguous one when they dance together in "The Headband", ending with both of them [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything panting and sweating heavily]].
581** In "The Serpent's Pass", Sokka and Suki also share an Almost Kiss-moment on a moonlit night, which is exactly why Sokka can't go through with it (his last girlfriend died and became the Moon Spirit). He makes up for by the end of the episode with two {{Shut Up Kiss}}es.
582* There's one in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}}'' cartoon, of all things. In one episode, Beetlejuice presents Lydia with a spider brooch, celebrating the anniversary of the day they first met. She's thrilled with the present and declares, "I could kiss you!" and almost does... until the sight of bugs in his teeth puts her off, and she hugs him instead.
583* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'':
584** Gwen and Kevin have an Almost Kiss in the episode "Darkstar Rising", interruped by the Highbreed Commander busting through the wall.
585** [[RunningGag Well, that happened a lot of times already...]] Two of the many Almost Kiss moments happened in "The Transmogrification of Eunice" (Ben and Eunice, of course) and "Revenge of the Swarm" (Ben and Elena).
586* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': In episode "Routine", Yumi's and Ulrich's FirstKiss after Ulrich saves her from falling into the Digital Sea is interrupted when Aelita resets time.
587* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': In "Operation: L.O.V.E.", Numbuh 3 and the Delightful Children's characters in the play are about to kiss until a jealous Numbuh 4 bursts through the backdrop to stop them.
588* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCrumpets'' episode "Pity The Prize", Pfff and his StalkerWithACrush Cassandra (who is being disguised as the weather reporter whom Pfff loves) almost kiss at the end. [[spoiler:Due to her strong similarity with the real weather girl, Cassie gets snatched suddenly by a weather employee to the van, while the real weather girl was thrown to the moon by Pfff's mother.]]
589* It was a RunningGag of this happening to DK and Candy in ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry'', enough that the ClipShow had a montage of all the times it happened.
590* An entire episode of Nickelodeon's ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' revolved around this. Not only did Doug not even know if he and Patty were on a date, near the end of the episode this trope finally happens -- and she stops and this is never referenced again (during the Nickelodeon incarnation anyway...)
591* ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'' has one tragic example. Callum asked Claudia to a date to the Moon Nexus at night, and it seemed to be going rather well up to the moment where they were going in for a kiss. However, Claudia's conscience couldn't let her seal the deal without admitting that she and her brother have been witholding the news that Callum's stepfather was killed in combat. Suffice to say, he wasn't in the mood for a kiss anymore.
592* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' "Wishology" trilogy, a running gag in Part III is Timmy and Trixie trying to follow up their [[NowOrNeverKiss first kiss]] with a second one, but a different MomentKiller interrupts them each time.
593* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' does this between Fry and Leela in two different episodes. DVD commentaries of the episodes in question make it clear the creators are fully aware of just how frustrating some people find this.
594* ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'': One between Rex and Circe, [[spoiler:another between Agent Six and Doc Holiday, which starts off their status as an OfficialCouple]].
595* ''WesternAnimation/GetAce'': Happens to Ace every time he gets close to kissing a girl. A particularly amusing one is when he thinks he and Tatiana are about to kiss, only for her to dodge it at the last second, resulting in Ace getting a mouthful of shrub.
596* A running gag in ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'' in which it involves Trina Rffin and Nick Mallory.
597* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'', Icarus almost kisses his beloved Cassandra while both are brainwashed... until she realizes there's a huge saliva drop and snaps out of it.
598* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'':
599** Happens once to both frustrate the fans and for pure comedy. When everyone in Miseryville falls asleep Jimmy's the only one awake, so when he gets to Heloise's house and finds her asleep like Cinderella, he finds a book next to her that says that tells of the wake-up kiss. He appears to consider it, but dismisses it and chucks the book away.
600-->'''Jimmy:''' Well, well, well... according to this book, if you kiss the sleeping princess she wakes up. ''(looks at Heloise only to chuck the book away)'' Can't believe everything you read.
601** Nearly happens again when Heloise has Jimmy under the influence of a [[LovePotion love sweater]], only to be [[MoodKiller interrupted]] by Beezy who, under the influence of a fear sweater, [[UnwantedRescue "rescues"]] Jimmy from her.
602* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': John Stewart and Hawkgirl were interrupted by Batman.
603-->'''Batman:''' [[LampshadeHanging Glad I caught you before you did something stupid.]]
604* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': Way too many times in Season 4 when Kim and Ron are about to kiss. Wade, Monique, and Bonnie are just a few of the people who interrupt would-be kisses between Kim and Ron. The WordOfGod admitted it is an intriguing gag. It wasn't as frustrating as most Almost Kiss scenes are, because it isn't used to delay or step back from a RelationshipUpgrade.
605* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda1989'': The main running gag of the show is Link trying to get a kiss from Zelda, and they frequently come pretty dang close, but are ''always'' interrupted.
606* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'':
607** Lori and Bobby almost kiss in "Save the Date" but they are interrupted by Clyde.
608** Between Luan and Benny repeatedly in "Stage Plight".
609* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'':
610** In "Horrificator", Marinette says one line and leans in to kiss Adrien, but gets interrupted at the last minute by a pissed off Chloé.
611** Between Alya and Nino in "Stormy Weather 2".
612** In "The Puppeteer 2", thinking he was just a statue, Marinette almost kisses Adrien.
613** In "Truth", Marinette and Luka come close to kissing on their movie date when Mr. Pigeon causes a moment killer.
614** In "Lies", this happens two times between Kagami and Adrien, first during fencing practice and when the two finish school, in their cars, respectively.
615** In "Dark Cupid", Ladybug tries several times, in vain, to kiss a for once reluctant Cat Noir (under the influence of a HatePlague), until she manage to gave him the TrueLovesKiss that cures him.
616** In "Ladybug", Cat Noir almost kiss [[EvilKnockoff Sentibug]], thinking it is the real one, until the actual Ladybug shows up and pull them apart.
617* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' episode "Enchanted Grom Fright", Skara and her date were about to kiss until Gus opens the arena under the gymnasium for Luz to fight Grometheus and both of them get excited and rip off their tuxedo jackets to reveal their Grom jersey.
618* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' episode "The Falcon and the Snow Job", Skipper, after defeating the other falcon who wanted to eat King Julien, has an Almost Kiss with Kitka. Julien ruins the moment by mocking the fact that they're both birds and would have to "love peck" instead of kiss, due to their lack of lips. Instant MomentKiller.
619* Hilariously zigzagged in the ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'' cartoon "Nurse to Meet Ya." Popeye and Bluto vie to get near Olive Oyl, who is a hospital nurse. When Olive tells them that they can get into a hospital if they were seriously injured, the boys shimmy up to kiss her, but Olive ducks and...well, [[HoYay you can guess what happens.]]
620* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'':
621** Dot and Bob suffer from this on several occasions. Once by the appearance of Rocky the Rabid Raccoon, and once by the appearance of a second Bob!
622** Another occurrence is in the first season episode "Talent Night", where Dot nearly kisses a very shocked Bob in front of the entire city. Of course, she ends that one herself by putting a hand on his face and pushing him to the ground.
623** In the "Daemon Rising" arc the brainwashed [=AndrAIa=] explains how important love is to the innocent-looking virus Daemon... who [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace leans in very close]], as if she was trying to get a kiss from the game sprite.
624* Mordecai and Margaret from ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'', three times:
625** "Death Bear": Before they are interrupted by a vicious bear in an abandoned zoo park.
626-->'''Margaret:''' So, you still wish you were at home watching a movie?\
627'''Mordecai:''' No, it was pretty fun. I mean, I got to hang out with you, so that's all that matters.\
628'''Margaret giggles. They exchange looks and Mordecai leans in.'''\
629'''Margaret:''' Uhh, Mordecai?\
630'''Mordecai:''' Yeeeeah?\
631'''Margaret:''' What is that?!\
632''[Cue Death Bear making his entrance.]''
633** "Bad Kiss": There is an actual kiss when Mordecai goes back to the car looking for his wallet and Margaret follows him. Unfortunately, due to Mordecai's bad breath he gets pushed away, instantly freaks out and escapes from the scene. When talking to Rigby, [[spoiler:he finds out that he is in possession of a time machine, so they try to go back in time and fix the ordeal... repeatedly. Eventually, after failed attempts to prevent past!Mordecai from eating a chili dog that day, make him brush his teeth, eat a mint and et cetera, Mordecai settles on making the kiss not happen. He reaches for his lost wallet just as Margaret is about to kiss him.]]
634** "Do or Diaper": Due to having so many failed attempts to kiss Margaret, Mordecai agrees to a bet with Muscle Man, which states that if he can kiss Margaret until Friday midnight, Muscle Man will have to wear a diaper for a week and if he cannot, he will have to wear the diaper. He asks Margaret out, but her only free evening is Friday. Their date goes well, [[spoiler:until Margaret finds out Muscle Man and Rigby have been following them the entire time and Mordecai is forced to tell her about the bet. Obviously, she's not happy to hear about it. Mordecai apologizes and tries to help her understand his actions -- that he had only agreed to the bet to help him get the extra confidence to go through with the kiss. She asks him what time is it and after he replies "11:59", she approaches him, embraces him and leans in -- right before [[{{Troll}} she whispers to his ear "Have a nice week, diaper boy."]]]]
635* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'', this happens to Shaggy and Velma in episode 2, then to Fred and Daphne in episode 13 before Fred is distracted by his dad.
636* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the episode "The Devil Wears Nada", this happens twice between Marge and Ned Flanders when spending dinner with each other without the kids and Homer(who is with Carl in Paris).
637* Mahad and Dahlia in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Skyland}}'' episode "Eye of the Storm".
638* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Truth or Square" during [=SpongeBob=] and Sandy's "wedding", [=SpongeBob=] and Sandy are about to kiss following the final pronunciation but are interrupted by [=SpongeBob=] getting hit in the head by Sandy's air helmet.
639* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': At the end of the promotional short "The Machine in the Ghost", it appears as though Hera and Kanan are about to kiss before they are interrupted by Chopper.
640* At the end of the 24th ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode, Steven and Connie almost kiss. Connie stops midway due to a headache. [[spoiler:She shared a juice box with Steven and his healing saliva, curing her poor eyesight.]]
641* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'':
642** Rapunzel and Eugene are interrupted quite a few times before getting a moment all to themselves in the pilot movie.
643** Cass also gets one with charming hipster Andrew in "Under Raps," when their kiss is interrupted by their hot air balloon hitting the ground. [[spoiler:This was probably a quite welcome interruption for Cass, seeing as how she was actually luring him into a trap the whole time and had no actual romantic interest in him whatsoever.]]
644** King Frederic and Queen Arianna in the episode, "The King and Queen of Hearts".
645* Occurs in the second season of the 2003 ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'' series during April and Casey's [[NotADate un-date]], before they're interrupted by a rampaging Nano.
646* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'' has several:
647** Beast Boy and Terra are interrupted on a date by Slade.
648** Cyborg has two with Sarasim in one episode: first, they're interrupted by a monster-army attack, and then, he pulls away saying, "I'm really sorry," because he just feels they're too different for it to work out.
649** Starfire and Robin pass up numerous perfect moments, but most noticeably before Robin leaves in "The End" to help Slade find Raven, and a few times in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo''.
650* In the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' episode "Matched", Beast Boy spends the whole episode trying to get Raven to be his girlfriend. After breaking his heart, Raven gives in and Beast Boy proposes to her in which she gladly accepts. At their marriage, they are just about to kiss when Cyborg interrupts the whole thing and says they aren't meant to be together and Beast Boy should instead date a scratching post. (ItMakesSenseInContext... [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext sort of]].)
651* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': It's a hallmark of the series that (especially first) kisses almost always get postponed.
652** With the exception of ''World Tour'', every intro sequence ends with a couple going in for (ostensibly) a kiss and being interrupted in some manner. In ''Island'', Gwen and Trent lean in close at the campfire when Cody, Gwen unwanted suitor, shows up. In ''Action'', Geoff and Bridgette are about to kiss at the set of the 'Aftermath'' when they realize the camera is already rolling. In ''Revenge of the Island'', Zoey and Mike lean in close at the campfire when Chef shows up with the Marshmallow of Toxic Loserdom. In ''All-Stars'', Zoey and Mike more blatantly go in for a kiss at the campfire when Sierra ruins the moment by taking a photo for her fansites. And in ''Pahkitew Island'', Shawn and Jasmine lean in close at the campfire when Chris decides to dress up as a zombie and scare Shawn away.
653** When Bridgette is eliminated, Geoff tries to give her a farewell kiss, but backs off at the last second when the stench from the skunks that sprayed her earlier overwhelms him.
654* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'': Noah and Emma nearly share their first kiss in "[[Recap/RidonculousRaceMaoriOrLess Maori or Less]]" when they're suddenly shoved aside by the Geoff and Brody as they pass through. Noah promises that if he ever catches the surfers kissing, he'll make it a point to interrupt them the same way.
655* Blackarachnia and Optimus Prime do this several times in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated''. Sadly, it's usually a feint by BA to distract him.
656* In ''WesternAnimation/WildCATS1994'', Zealot and Grifter spend most of the thirteen episodes doing the {{UST}} dance; when they finally admit their feelings, they lean in... and then an emergency warning starts blaring.
657-->'''Grifter:''' Couldn't have waited ''thirty seconds''?
658* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'': Twice in "The Wizards Attack", first between Brandon and Stella[[note]]in her Believix form[[/note]] and second between Bloom and Sky at the very end.
659* Miss Martian and Superboy in the episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Young Justice|2010}}'', "Bereft".
660[[/folder]]

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