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1[[quoteright:350:[[Film/SpiderMan2 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spiderman_113.jpg]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:Awkward... [[note]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHuRJXZ718 It's even longer in the deleted cut.]][[/note]]]]
3
4(''For the proper reading experience, play the music from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urXvUmhd05k this video]] while reading this page.'')
5
6[[TruthInTelevision In several European cultures, there is an unspoken code of behavior that applies inside elevators,]] and also sometimes on trains and other modes of public transportation: when someone enters an elevator, the custom is to face the front and stand in silence whilst absentmindedly watching the floor numbers change. If there ''is'' any conversation, it amounts only to [[TalkAboutTheWeather small talk]]. An individual who breaks with this custom, for example facing the other passengers, is often a source of considerable unease to the other individuals in the elevator with you.
7
8The protocol does vary a lot between cultures, even between neighboring countries; for example, the UK has the elevator protocol, while almost none of Europe does. Depending on where you are, you might be expected to greet the other people in the elevator and/or make light conversation, or to completely ignore them. [[JustifiedTrope This is apparently a part of basic animal behavior, too]]: primates in small enclosed spaces instinctively avoid drawing attention to themselves. The cultural differences in elevator protocol reflect differences in what behaviour is inconspicuous. And yes, primates -- monkeys go quiet too, but rats tend to [[ElevatorActionSequence fight]].
9
10Particularly in visual fiction, the Western "protocol" is often milked to generate ironic, uncomfortable silences from characters inside the elevator, when some other reaction might well be expected or justified. In short: an Uncomfortable Elevator Moment.
11
12Uncomfortable Elevator Moments traditionally take place inside TheElevatorFromIpanema. The elevator "music" itself often forms part of the humor and/or tension in the scene, but will get cut off abruptly when the scene ends. It can also take the form of a MidBattleTeaBreak in a fight.
13
14For added discomfort, cue the [[ToiletHumor fart]], with an elevator filled with many, many people.
15
16If it becomes [[OverlyLongGag overly long]], it may overlap with LeaveTheCameraRunning.
17
18----
19!!Examples:
20
21[[foldercontrol]]
22
23[[folder:Advertising]]
24* Subverted in a Hallmark commercial. It starts with several apartment tenants standing in an elevator minding their own business, staring straight ahead -- then the elevator breaks down. A short time skip later, they're bonding about old friendships and asking the bewildered repairman to let them have another minute.
25%%Weblinks are not examples.
26%%* Subverted differently in [[http://youtu.be/08jjzrtZuIU this]] ad for an insurance company that seems to now be defunct.
27%%* Seen in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UOK4LqIKNI McDonald's commercial.]]
28%%Weblinks are not examples.
29* Kate Spade New York has produced a series of online-video ads called Miss Adventures. A variant on this trope happens in the episode "To the Top," where [[MuppetCameo Miss Piggy guest-stars]], riding with Creator/ZosiaMamet in an elevator on the way to a party they're attending at the top of the Empire State Building. Miss Piggy, though, is in a snit because it turns out that [[DressesTheSame she and Zosia are wearing the same outfit]]. The snit escalates into an argument, growing more and more heated. At one point, Leandra Medine boards the elevator, ''wearing the exact same coat''.
30-->'''Leandra:''' Oh, hi! Look at that, we're wearing the same coat!\
31''[Miss Piggy and Zosia, oblivious to Leandra's presence, continue their quarrel.]''\
32'''Leandra:''' ''[after a few seconds of listening to the fight]'' I'm gonna take the stairs, then. ''[she exits the elevator]''
33* A Creator/{{Netflix}} promo for ''Series/{{FUBAR}}'' and ''Film/Extraction2'' features both Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger and Creator/ChrisHemsworth sharing an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz28P5rbEzY awkward elevator ride.]] Especially since, after Arnold gives some cringy one-liner suggestions, Chris cannot help himself citing some of Arnold's most memetic quotes.
34[[/folder]]
35
36[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
37* ''Manga/FutariEcchi'' features such a moment that is crossing the line with ElevatorGoingDown. It happens when Makoto is sharing a ride with the Kubotas, a young couple of InsatiableNewlyweds who recently moved in the building. As they start getting fresh right in the elevator, not minding their neighbor at all, Makoto is nearly dying of embarrassment.
38* The first episode of ''Manga/FutureDiary'' when [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]] pulls an ElevatorSnare on Yuki and gives him a [[ForcefulKiss Forceful]] FirstKiss certainly qualifies. On Yuki's part, anyway.
39%%* ''Literature/MirageOfBlaze'': More so for Kagetora than Naoe.
40* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' had several of these, the most famous of which [[LeaveTheCameraRunning was stretched out just about as far as it could be]] (about a ''minute'') for [[NoBudget budget reasons]]. The [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion remake movies]] included a near ShotForShotRemake of that scene as a MythologyGag, which was much shorter but no less awkward.
41* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has the Doflamingo Pirates mooks board an elevator while roaring for battle. Once they're inside, they calmly and orderly stand perfectly still while waiting to reach their floor. A reader even commented on their elevator etiquette.
42[[/folder]]
43
44[[folder:Comedy]]
45* From Creator/GeorgeCarlin:
46-->"Two guys in an elevator... one guy farts, everybody knows who did it."
47* Creator/LesInconnus have a short sketch based on this: a dozen people enter an elevator with the music and filming style evoking a suspense or horror setting. Each person solemnly announces which floor they're going to, with the appropriate dramatic close-up.... [[MoodWhiplash Then we hear a farting sound]], and everybody's now going to the second floor.
48* Dara O'Briain built a whole bit about the phenomenon into one of his shows. The video is sadly no longer available online, but he suggests not walking into your usual spot at the back, but instead standing with your back to the doors, just ''staring'' into the lift at everyone else in it. He also recommends the handrails as a means of indulging your Olympic-Gymnast daydreams.
49[[/folder]]
50
51[[folder:Comic Books]]
52* There was one of these in a ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comic: a small, nebbishly kind of fellow gets onto the elevator complaining audibly about his lot in life. [[GalacticConqueror Darkseid]] is impassively standing inside. The civilian rambles on for a few more seconds until he realizes who he's actually in the lift with, at which point an Uncomfortable Elevator Moment comes about.
53* Never get on an elevator with ''WesternAnimation/TheTick''. For one, he takes half the elevator due to sheer size. He also hums along with the elevator music.
54* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': Ultimate Elektra (who is [[{{Stripperiffic}} not wearing much]]) escorts Spider-Man (a teenager) up ComicBook/TheKingpin's private elevator.
55-->''[{{beat panel}}]''\
56'''Spider-Man:''' What was your name again?\
57'''Elektra:''' [[MyEyesAreUpHere Stop staring at them.]]\
58''[another beat panel]''
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:Comic Strips]]
62* ''ComicStrip/TomTheDancingBug'': "Elevator Trip of the Damned", where two characters engage in painfully awkward conversation on a (sometimes literally) endless elevator journey, is a regular feature of Ruben Bolling's ''Super-Fun-Pak Comix''.
63[[/folder]]
64
65[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
66* '' WesternAnimation/{{The Lorax|2012}}'': A pretty standard one -- our heroes are speeding through a city center on a motorcycle, end up driving onto an elevator, and we see a few moments of the cramped, awkward silence you get when a motorcycle is shoved in.
67* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'': Roxanne and Megamind (disguised as "Bernard") share an elevator in the [[AlliterativeName Metro Man Museum]]... just before it's going to blow up, thanks to the latter's actions.
68* ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'': When some Disney characters try to take the elevator down for the big group photo, [[WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}} Flash]] asks them to hold it open for him. Of course, [[SluggishSloths he takes his sweet time getting there]], with poor WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck barely keeping it together. And ''then'', [[WesternAnimation/BigHero6 Baymax]] suddenly arrives to squeeze his giant, inflatable self in.
69-->'''Donald:''' [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe OH, COME ON!!]] ''(angry quacking)''
70* ''Anime/SpiritedAway'': That moment when Chihiro is on the elevator with the Radish Spirit. ''Awkward''.
71* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': WALL•E and EVE happen to be on the run at the time and the two see a [[WantedPoster "wanted" picture]] of them on the screen in the elevator. WALL•E is excited. [[TriggerHappy EVE]]... [[ShootTheTelevision isn't]].
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
75* Parodied for all it is worth in the movie ''Film/AsterixAndObelixMissionCleopatra''. Otis has conceived a primitive lift (powered by the enslaved Pirates) for the new Palace, and when Caesar, Cleopatra and Edifis try it for the first time, they instinctively follow the modern protocol despite the complete anachronism of it.[[note]]"Otis" is the brand of a major present-day elevator manufacturer. Look around the lift next time you're having an Uncomfortable Elevator Moment. Even more than that, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Otis Elisha Otis]] made lifts carrying people practical.[[/note]]
76* In the movie version of ''Film/BeingThere'', a RunningGag takes place in the elevator at the Rand mansion. Chance, wheelchair-bound at the time due to a minor leg injury, has never been in an elevator, and his attendant is at first confused by his comments/questions about it ("Does it have a television?"). Following the RuleOfThree, the third time around the attendant just breaks out laughing during the ride, explaining that he expected Chance to make another joke about the elevator. Beyond the gag, later in the film, Chance and Eve are going to their respective rooms after a party and Eve tries to explain how she feels about him, while both face the door; as he responds, they turn to each other.
77* Inverted for ''Film/BigAssSpider'', where Alex and Jose use the ride to psych themselves up for the coming fight.
78* ''Film/BigBullet'' have a scene where the protagonist, Police Sergeant Bill, and a team of his detectives transports a powerful criminal mastermind called The Professor on an elevator. The Professor may be handcuffed, but Bill and his colleagues are well-aware they're escorting a dangerous killing machine who had murdered dozens of people without batting an eye.
79* ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'': After an awesome heroic speech, the good guys are all readied-up and hop in the elevator that will take them to confront the BigBad... but instead of the movie [[LawOfConservationOfDetail instantly cutting to the finale]], we get a nearly [[OverlyLongGag minute-long]] shot of them all [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome crammed together uncomfortably in the small elevator, awkwardly waiting for it to reach its destination]] and trying to keep the hype going, with mixed success.
80-->'''Jack Burton:''' [[HoYay Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?]]
81* Played for serious NightmareFuel in ''Film/{{Blade}}''. Karen Jensen gets into a lift with two sinister-looking types. When she averts the protocol, turning to look directly at one of the two, his response is a chilling but polite "How ya doin'."
82* ''Film/{{Borat}}'' plays this trope to a tee when Borat [[BerserkButton discovers Azamat masturbating to his picture of Pamela Anderson]] and chases Azamat around the hotel naked -- while threatening him with an enormous dildo and shouting in [[BiLingualBonus Hebrew]]. Both men, still naked, one of whom is still holding a large rubber penis, enter an elevator. [[MoodWhiplash Cue the]] [[TheElevatorFromIpanema elevator music]] as Borat and Azamat stare directly ahead in perfect silence, until the elevator stops -- then it's back to running and screaming.
83* ''Film/BridgetJonesDiary'' contains one of these... although Daniel Cleaver takes advantage of the protocol to deliver what is implied as a ''less'' than Uncomfortable Elevator Moment to Bridget Jones, by squeezing her bottom.
84* [[spoiler:After the zombies get into the mall]] in the 2004 remake of ''Film/{{Dawn of the Dead|2004}}'', the survivors are stuck in one of these on the way to the garage. Not helped by C.J.
85-->'''C.J.:''' Hey, I like this song.
86* ''Film/TheDeparted'' has a [[MoodWhiplash hilariously]] awkward elevator ride with Costigan and Sullivan as the former is bringing the latter in at the end of the movie. Of course, [[spoiler: massive MoodWhiplash ensues]].
87* In ''Film/{{Devil}}'', things are uncomfortable in the elevator ''before'' the Devil starts murdering people. Once that happens...
88* In a DeletedScene from ''Film/TheDevilWearsPrada'', Miranda allows Andy to ride in the elevator with her, something she does not typically allow. Andy tries to break the ice by chatting awkwardly, before almost immediately realizing that ''this'' is why Miranda doesn't like to share the elevator with anyone.
89* ''Film/DieHard'':
90** In the first movie, when Hans Gruber compliments Takagi's choice of suit whilst they are riding up in an elevator together.
91** Subverted in ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance''. [=McClane=] gets into an elevator to go down to the Federal Reserve's vault with three security guards and Detective "Otto", and just at the point where uncomfortable silence begins, [=McClane=] catches a reflection of Otto's badge and the number "6991", allowing him to suddenly deduce that Otto killed NYPD detective Ricky Walsh and stole his badge, [[OhCrap and he's surrounded by a group of Simon's men]]. Also, he notices that one of them [[SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay accidentally calls the elevator a "lift"]]. The answer: [=McClane=] makes some petty small talk about the lottery, [[ElevatorActionSequence and then]] when he says he's got the "tickets", a gunfight ensues that ends with Otto [[BoomHeadshot getting his head blown off]].
92* In ''Film/DOADeadOrAlive'', [[InNameOnly Christie]] gets into an elevator wearing nothing except a bra, panties, and high heels, unsettling the poor old guy already in the elevator. Then the moment is interrupted when she ties him up, ''stuffs him into his own briefcase'', and steals his trenchcoat.
93* From ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', as Bartleby and Loki enter an elevator:
94-->'''Loki:''' Last four days on Earth. [[OurAngelsAreDifferent If I had a dick I'd go get laid]].\
95''[no response from other elevator passengers, bar a silent, irritated look from a woman holding a coffee]''\
96'''Loki:''' We can do the next best thing.\
97'''Bartleby:''' What's that?\
98'''Loki:''' ''[as doors of elevator close]'' Let's kill people.\
99''[the woman [[SpitTake sprays her coffee everywhere]]]''\
100'''Loki:''' ''[cheerily]'' No, not ''you!''
101* ''Film/{{Dredd}}'': As Judge Dredd and Anderson take a perp down an elevator:
102-->'''Anderson:''' ''[the telepath]'' He's thinking of making a move on your gun.\
103'''Dredd:''' ''[who's {{seen it all}}]'' Yep.\
104'''Anderson:''' He just changed his mind.\
105'''Dredd:''' Yeee-up.
106* ''Film/EdWood'': Ed listening to Bela fixing himself a heroin snack in his kitchen.
107* Invoked in ''Film/{{Fantozzi}} goes to Heaven'': after being informed that he has only a week left to live, Fantozzi decides to indulge into all the things he really wanted to do before dying. One of them was "willingfully make a clamorous fart in a crowded elevator" (included squicked out people looking at him and him nodding in respons as if to say "yeah, it was me, so what?")
108* ''Film/FearAndLoathingInLasVegas'':
109** [[HeroicComedicSociopath Doctor Gonzo]] threatens someone with a ''nine-inch blade'' in an elevator, in a haze of drug-fueled paranoia. (Everyone else tries to ignore him.) Comes complete with the doors opening, a horrified couple staring at the knife-wielding Gonzo, and the doors closing again.
110** Happens a second time as Duke's leaving Vegas: He gets in an elevator full of cops (there was anti-drug convention at the time). As Duke is in trouble with the law, he burrows himself into a corner of the elevator. When the cops look at him, he turns into the corner away from them.
111* In ''Film/FlorenceFosterJenkins'', Florence's accompanist Cosme [=McMoon=] has just come from his first rehearsal with the GiftedlyBad singer and bravely managed to keep his composure. Once he makes his escape into the elevator, however, he [[{{Corpsing}} cracks up into hysterical giggles]], prompting awkward looks from everyone else in the elevator.
112* In the beginning of ''Film/{{Ghost|1990}}'', Carl and Sam pull what's clearly an often-practiced joke where they discuss what communicable diseases they've picked up, whilst in a crowded elevator.
113* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters|1984}}'': The hotel elevator scene during their very first outing. Although their dialogue is completely ordinary, their Proton Packs -- backpack-mounted nuclear accelerators -- do the job for them.
114-->'''Ray:''' Going up?\
115'''Hotel Guest:''' I'll take the next one.
116* The Ben Carson movie, ''Film/GiftedHandsTheBenCarsonStory'', has this. On his first day at work, he is the only colored person in the elevator, and the only one to give a cheery good morning to the other doctors. This doesn't stop him from saying good morning the next time, though.
117* This one is awkward in ''Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle'' because Harold really likes Maria but is too shy to talk to her.
118* In ''Film/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'', in contrast with the book (see ''Catching Fire'' below), it's clearly PlayedForLaughs. Johanna (played with BoisterousBruiser gusto) enters the elevator, compliments District 12's clothes while complaining about her own, starts stripping while asking Peeta to [[ZipMeUp zip her down]], and the duo's mentor Haymitch is on the scene as well to get impressed by her. That being said, only Katniss finds it uncomfortable. Peeta and Haymitch seem to enjoy it.
119* ''Film/{{The Killer|2023}}'' has two that {{Book End}}s the Killer's visit to Hodges. A [=FedEx=] worker that let the disguised Killer into the building (disguised as a recycled waste collector) stares awkwardly as he conspicuously puts on rubber gloves. When the Killer is leaving with Hodges' secretary and a recycling bin containing Hodges's body, the two get stuck with two other people in the elevator, one of whom jokes that the bin contains a dead body which causes an awkward moment when Dolores hysterically cackles at this AccidentalTruth.
120* In ''Film/{{Killers}}'', Jen is flustered because Spencer is shirtless.
121* An unconventional one in the opening scene of ''Film/KissOfDeath''. Nick and his gang rob a jewelry store that happens to be on an upper floor of a skyscraper. After binding and gagging the workers, they have to take a slooooooooow ride down the elevator, while hoping they can get down and get away before the store clerks work their way free and sound the alarm.
122* ''Film/LiarLiar'':
123** Fletcher has an awkward moment where he farts in the elevator and can't lie about it. Which is itself part of the protocol.
124** And the scene earlier in the film where he tells a new tenant that she's only popular because of her cup size. (Well, it's Creator/KristaAllen.)
125* ''Film/MarginCall'': Jared Cohen and Sarah Robertson have a tense discussion in the elevator about the coming mass sell-off of the bank's toxic assets with a dispassionate cleaning lady standing in between them.
126* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
127** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' plays with this when Steve is on an elevator at S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ as several STRIKE agents get on. One agent, Brock Rumlow, discusses recent events, and even converses with Steve. However, Steve rapidly realizes that he's being set up for an ambush as more and more STRIKE agents board the elevator and start surrounding him. Steve breaks the uncomfortable tension with a typically polite, "Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" Cue ''the'' ElevatorActionSequence.
128** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' sets up a similar scene, with Steve squeezing onto an elevator packed with HYDRA sleeper agents at Stark Tower in order to snatch Loki's scepter -- and the Mind Stone within -- from them. Things appear to be heading for a repeat of ''Winter Soldier's'' ElevatorActionSequence (as the HYDRA agents are clearly not buying Steve's claim to have orders from the director to take the scepter), when [[spoiler:Cap whispers [[FakeDefector "Hail HYDRA!"]] to an astonished Agent Sitwell]] and calmly steps off the elevator with the scepter.
129** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARXUHxI6BcA such a moment filmed]]. It was a DeletedScene re-added to the extended "More Fun Stuff" cut. Aunt May, Peter Parker, Norman Osborn, Max Dillon, Flint Marko, and Otto Octavius are taking the elevator together to Happy's apartment, making for quite the awkward ride. Especially since Doc Ock, front and center, is still wrapped in his own tentacles, and even ''one tentacle tip'' seems to be following the unspoken protocol.
130** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'': As they are raiding [=OrgoCorp=], Nebula, Quill and Gamora, along with their hostage Ura (that Gamora is holding at gunpoint), take an elevator together. Besides the alien muzak, the awkwardness of the moment is increased by Quill bickering with Gamora over her overuse of violence, leading to Peter starting to pour out about his past relationship with his Gamora, to Ura's rising discomfort. The funniest part is that they follow the unspoken elevator protocol all along, except when the bickering gets too heated and they glance at each others, before snapping back to looking straight ahead.
131* Played with in ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'': Trinity, Neo, and Morpheus have entered an elevator, and another civilian is about to get into the lift. Morpheus gives the individual a meaningful shake of the head, which dissuades him from getting aboard. On the other hand, while they're ''in'' the elevator, the three characters still don't face each other when speaking, and they all follow the protocol despite the seriousness of the conversation.
132* ''Film/MercuryRising'' has an Uncomfortable Elevator MexicanStandoff.
133* ''[[Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'': The eponymous duo are BackToBackBadasses as they fight GunsAkimbo and take down a whole floor of {{Mooks}}. They fight their way into an elevator, and the action comes to an abrupt halt: they stand uncomfortably still and silent while the elevator moves and bland music plays. As soon as the doors open, the shooting resumes.
134* ''Film/TheNiceGuys'' has a scene where after the heroes leave the elevator, there's a guy with its throat slit and another getting shot to death. [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Both immediately return to the lift]], and after [[{{Beat}} a brief moment of uncomfortable silence]], [[DestinationDefenestration another guy is thrown out the window]] from the same floor they just left.
135* ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''. Roger and his mother are on a crowded elevator with two guys who are trying to kill him. Awkward...
136-->'''Clara Thornhill:''' You gentlemen aren't ''really'' trying to kill my son, are you?
137* ''Film/NotOkay'': Danni tries buddying up with two of her coworkers—who despise her and make no effort to hide that fact—while they are stuck in a strangely long elevator ride with her.
138* ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'': ''Film/RevengeOfThePinkPanther'' does this when Clouseau is under cover with The Mob and they're all sizing each other up in the lift. And then the director decided that somebody should break wind. It apparently took 58 takes to get it right.
139* ''Film/TheProducers'': When Max and Leo go to see theater director Roger [=DeBris=], they first have to go up an elevator with his valet Ghia. The three of them can barely fit inside the car; [[CampGay Ghia]] seems to be rather enjoying it.
140* The page image comes from ''Film/SpiderMan2'', when Peter Parker suddenly loses his powers atop a building, so can't get down by web swinging or wall crawling and has to take the elevator while still in full costume. Another man then enters, and depending on which version of the film you're watching, one of two scenes ensues:
141** In the theatrical release, small talk follows, culminating in the man making some observations about the way the suit tends to ride up, since the man assumes Peter is just [[YourCostumeNeedsWork a guy in a Spider-Man costume]].
142** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHuRJXZ718 In the extended cut]], the man is a public relations spokesperson, realizes this is the real-deal Spider-Man, and starts suggesting ways he could improve [[HeroWithBadPublicity his public image]].
143* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In a DeletedScene from ''Film/TheLastJedi'', while infiltrating the ''Supremacy'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTVuo8nCME disguised as First Order officers,]] Finn, Rose and TJ have to take an elevator with a bunch of stormtroopers. It starts with the usual elevator routine, but gets even tenser when one of the stormtroopers (Creator/TomHardy in an uncredited cameo) recognizes Finn. [[spoiler:Except he's unaware of Finn's defection (the First Order covered it up so as to not give other soldiers ideas) and just congratulates Finn for his "promotion".]]
144* Subverted in ''Film/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2014}}''. When the Turtles board an elevator to take them to the top of Eric Sacks's tower, they stare ahead awkwardly at first, but then loosen up when [[https://youtu.be/CTcy51kHDTM?t=38s Mikey starts beatboxing.]]
145* In ''Film/TommyBoy'', near the end of a movie, Tommy is mistaken for bank robber and immediately gets in an elevator with Richard...and Ray Zalinsky, the guy they're about to lose their business to. After a few uncomfortable seconds, Tommy introduces himself and tries to initiate small talk, but is rebuffed (but he keeps trying to plead his case when they get off the elevator).
146* A threefer in ''Film/TrueLies''. Tasker (on a horse) chases a terrorist (on a dirtbike) into the lobby of a hotel. The terrorist rides right into a glass-walled elevator and takes a hostage. Tasker rides into the next elevator, with a well-to-do couple who wind up pressed against the glass with the horse's rear in their face. And the whole ride up, Tasker and the bad guy are glaring daggers at each other. ''Film/SpyHard'' parodied this scene with ToiletHumor, given the horse starts relieving himself.
147* In ''Film/{{Victoria|2015}}'', Sonne mentions this when he and Victoria enter an elevator.
148-->'''Sonne:''' Now you have to be very silent, you know, because nobody talks in Germany in an elevator. It's forbidden.
149* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
150** ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' has this at the very beginning when a black ops group of mutants cram into an elevator. And then the bad guys cut the power. DeadpanSnarker [[ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} Wade Wilson]] makes a comment about it, of course.
151** ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'': Happens between the just-freed [[ComicBook/{{Magneto}} Erik]], [[ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} Peter]], and the duct-taped guard in UsefulNotes/ThePentagon's elevator. Erik feels dizzy as the result of being carried by Peter in his SuperSpeed mode. Then Peter asks Erik whether he's done a serious crime, asks what crime he's done in annoying tone (which after Erik sheepishly answered, Peter expresses his awe to the duct-taped guard who responds in kind with his eyebrows as if he wanted to say "Told ya this guy is a bad news" to Peter), asks whether Erik know karate (which Erik sheepishly responds with [[Music/JamesBrown "I don't know karate but I know crazy"]]), asks whether Erik can control metal, and finally he tells Erik that [[MythologyGag his mom once knew a guy who could control metal]] (which Erik seems to [[OhCrap realize that this annoying boy might be his son]]).
152[[/folder]]
153
154[[folder:Jokes]]
155* In a culture where elevator silence is expected, you walk into a crowded elevator, face the others and say: "You're probably wondering why I gathered you all here." For extra points, wrap up by calling for a group hug.
156[[/folder]]
157
158[[folder:Literature]]
159* In the book version of ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'', Patrick Bateman makes small talk with Creator/TomCruise in an elevator. It even ''reads'' awkwardly in the novel.
160* Defied in the {{Light Novel|s}} version of ''[[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]''. Kyon notes that Haruhi ignores "normal elevator etiquette" by talking to him while they wait. Knowing Haruhi, this is to be expected.
161* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': In ''Catching Fire'', the uninhibited Johanna Mason complains of the heat, [[NakedPeopleAreFunny strips naked]], and gets on an elevator with Peeta and Katniss. It turns out later that she was deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoking]] this trope to make Katniss uncomfortable.
162* There's a whole chapter in ''Literature/ThePaleKing'' devoted to three IRS employees that are stuck in an elevator. Their resulting debates include the future of American society, presidential politics, democracy, tax law, psychology, film, and existential dread.
163[[/folder]]
164
165[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
166* Played for BlackComedy in ''Series/AlteredCarbon''. On leaving the BigBad's SupervillainLair, Takeshi Kovacs finds himself in the elevator with TheDragon, who previously tried to murder his love interest in an elevator.
167* Hilariously played with on the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' "[[Recap/AngelS05E05LifeOfTheParty Life of the Party]]", as (the very drunk) Fred and Wesley need to catch an elevator quickly.
168-->'''Wesley:''' Come on, come on, come on...\
169'''Fred:''' Did you press--\
170'''Wesley:''' Oh. ''[presses call button]''\
171''[uncomfortable waiting]''\
172'''Wesley:''' Come on, come on, come on...
173* There were so many of these scenes on ''Series/BabylonFive'' that some fans thought the elevator should get a screen credit.
174** Londo and G'Kar, ambassadors of two warring alien powers, find themselves waiting for the same lift and begin trading insults in the meantime, to the great discomfort of the human extra caught in between them. They get into such a heated argument that they don't even notice that the elevator's arrived.
175** In "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E02Convictions Convictions]]", Londo decides not to share an elevator with G'Kar at all... until a nearby explosion forces Londo to jump in. The explosion disables the elevator forcing the two to spend several hours together. G'Kar is firmly opposed to acting in any way that would get them rescued, as he [[TakingYouWithMe wants to watch Londo die]], but can't actually kill him himself for fear of reprisals against his family. Awkward.
176--->'''Londo:''' I hate my life.\
177'''G'Kar:''' As do I.
178** Throughout the first season there were several between Talia and Garibaldi. They get more ridiculous when Talia realizes that ''every single time'' she takes the elevator, Garibaldi is already in it. Sinclair thinks that this is just a coincidence, until the elevator arrives and Garibaldi is inside. Talia takes the stairs. Sinclair joins her.
179** There's also one where Sheridan gets on the lift with Lennier after the latter had observed the pleasure ritual between the Captain and Delenn. In a purely religious capacity, of course.
180--->'''Lennier:''' [[CallingYourOrgasms Woo hoo?]]
181** The fifth season LowerDeckEpisode "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS05E04AViewFromTheGallery A View from the Gallery]]" had Garibaldi and Captain Lochley having a heated plot-specific discussion about the episode's conflict, all while lowly technicians Bo and Mack quietly stand in the elevator and try to stay out from between them.
182** G'kar and Vir share an elevator briefly in "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E21ComesTheInquisitor Comes the Inquisitor]]", shortly after the Centauri subjugated the Narn. It starts out incredibly awkward and gets worse when Vir attempts to apologize.
183* ''Series/{{Batwoman|2019}}'': In "[[Recap/Batwoman2019S1E3DownDownDown Down Down Down]]", Kate Kane steps into an elevator in Tommy Elliot's skyscraper to find her step-sister Mary being bodyguarded by her ex-girlfriend Sophie Moore. Stuck in the middle between these two, Mary can only stare at the still-climbing level indicator and gripe about why Tommy needs to live in such a tall tower. Later there is a second one, when she is trapped in an elevator with Sophie and her husband Tyler, with the former still trying to hide the obvious fact that she and Kate were a couple.
184* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': The elevator's been broken for the entire series, so there's an Uncomfortable Stairwell Moment instead. This occurs as an uncomfortably long silence between Penny (who previously dated Leonard, and still lives across the hall from him) and Raj's sister Priya (who is currently dating Leonard, and on her way to see him) once in Season 4.
185* ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', "[[Recap/TheBookOfBobaFettS1E5ReturnOfTheMandalorian Return of the Mandalorian]]": As Din Djarin takes an elevator to reach his employer, an alien sharing the ride gives the wounded Mandalorian -- bristling with weapons and carrying a severed head in a sack -- an awkward glance before promptly looking away.
186* In one episode of ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'', ManChild Eric makes his former mentor Mr. Feeny his ImaginaryFriend to help him with his college work. At one point in the episode he gets in an elevator with a stranger and starts talking to the imaginary Feeny. The other guy is, understandably, very creeped out.
187* In a skit on ''Series/ChappellesShow'' parodying the film ''Film/WhatWomenWant'', a woman enters an elevator full of horny middle-aged men. They don't say anything to her, but she knows exactly what's on their mind (and almost every lewd detail within, since she can read their thoughts). She manages to get away from the situation when the elevator arrives at her floor when a young boy in the elevator thinks to himself, "I'd put a hurtin' on that bitch!"
188* In the season two finale of ''Series/CobraKai'', when Johnny Lawrence and Daniel [=LaRusso=] wind up sharing an elevator after their [[EscalatingWar escalating feud]] has resulted in [[spoiler:a brutal riot breaking out at the high school that's left Miguel in the hospital with a spinal injury, Samantha in the hospital with lacerations and cracked ribs, Robbie on the run from the law, the rest of their students either traumatized or swearing allegiance to [[BigBad John Kreese]], and both their personal lives going down to hell.]] Neither can bring themselves to say ''anything''; they just [[ThousandYardStare stare in front of them]], [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone filled with remorse and clearly realizing that they have no one to blame for the situation but themselves]].
189* Twice in an episode of ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' have recently-hooked-up Angel and Laguerta about to use the elevator alone together when Masuka joins them.
190* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E8TheChase The Chase]]", the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki amusingly have this reaction to being invited into a lift by a Mechanoid, a round robot the size of a garden shed.
191* On ''Series/{{ER}}'', Doug chases after Carol to apologize for showing up drunk at her apartment the previous night, uninvited and unannounced and disrupting her evening with her boyfriend. Carol slyly manipulates things so that he ends up on the elevator with her boyfriend... who proceeds to ''pleasantly'' tell him that he understands that he isn't over Carol. Doug, who was clearly expecting to be verbally, if not physically eviscerated, is left looking completely gobsmacked by this turn of events.
192* ''Series/FatherTed'':
193** There's a scene where, at the Irish selection for a [[{{Expy}} fictional version]] of the Series/EurovisionSongContest, the title character boards a lift while waiting for his turn to perform. On board the lift, the character hears a supposedly obscure B-side to a previous contender. Recognising it as a track he had secretly planned to plagiarise for a backing track, he panics, pressing at least one of the buttons frantically.
194** It's offscreen, but in another episode the bishop claims to have once been stuck in a lift in New York... [[AbsurdPhobia with]] [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes rabbits.]]
195* In the pilot of ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'', a police sniper in full tactical gear steps into a crowded elevator in an office building and asks if someone could press the button for the top floor. The other passengers try their best to ignore him on the ride up.
196* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'':
197** Toyed with in an episode; Daphne and Martin whisper urgently to each other about how no one could recognize her after the plastic surgery, "the woodchuck and his ways" and the best way to get "stuff" through customs, just for the delight of the awkward response from other tenants. Played straight in a few other episodes.
198** Another episode features a neighbor trying to do her laundry, who kept managing to be in the elevator as soon as the plot goes there. By the end of the episode, she is the only one who knows everything that is happening.
199* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. In "The Wars to Come", Jon Snow is visibly uneasy on his way to the top of the Wall with Melisandre. After he breaks the ice, she gives him a hint about her powers and asks him if he's a virgin. After a long pause, Jon replies no, to which she creepily adds a simple "good". Give props to Melisandre for producing an UncomfortableElevatorMoment in a world where lifts are so rare.
200* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' has several elevator scenes, but the one that deserves mention is when Addison, Mer and Derek are riding the elevator together and you could cut the sexual tension with a ''knife''. It's so obvious that Addison later asks Meredith if she's still sleeping with Derek.
201* The 2010 ''Series/HawaiiFive0'' has an example when a couple of tourists with a little boy find themselves in the same elevator as the Five-0 police officers, fully geared in bulletproof vests and guns out, as they are pursuing a wounded suspect hiding in a grand hotel. Complete with Hawaiian elevator music.
202* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'':
203** Sylar is riding in a lift with another individual. Sylar is utterly casual and generally following the elevator protocol; his fellow passenger also does so, but is doing so out of fear more than anything else -- Sylar's clothes are drenched in blood. Sylar asks the other man if there's something wrong, and when he stammers out "No, of course not," his newly obtained LivingLieDetector ability goes off. "Heh, it really ''does'' tingle..."
204** There's also the scene near the end of the first season where Matt, Bennet, Jessica, and D.L. are riding the elevator together. After some awkward silence, [[PsychoForHire Jessica]] says, casually, "Hey, didn't I throw you out a window one time?"
205* ''Series/{{House}}'' usually has at least [[OncePerEpisode one per episode]]. The standard is: House having conversation/catfight with person; *ding* lift arrives; doors open; House finishes with a witty/cutting/[[PoliticallyIncorrectHero entirely inappropriate]] remark and steps into lift -- doors close, with last glimpse of the other passengers eyeing him in alarm. (Because they are now ''trapped with a raving lunatic.'')
206* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': Ted meets one of his dates this way. They have several awkward elevator rides due to working in the same building until he finally breaks the ice -- by spilling his guts about how horrible he still feels after having been left at the altar several months ago.
207* The point of one challenge on ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'': Sal had to make an annoying noise, Q had to ask a pretty woman to pop a pimple on his back, Murr had to act as though he was having a PottyEmergency...
208* Used in ''Series/KyleXY'' by the protagonist, when he enters an elevator for the first time and notes that all the people face forward in silence and evade his gaze when he looks at them. It promptly becomes even ''more'' awkward when Stephen tells a colleague to lie to a client over the phone, causing Kyle to question him over it and prompting looks from the other elevator patrons.
209* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' manages to combine several elevator tropes into one incident, in which Nate, Nate's ex-wife Maggie, and her boyfriend are handcuffed to one wall of an elevator going down while a ticking bomb is just beyond their reach. While Maggie's boyfriend breaks down crying, Maggie and Nate have a NowOrNeverKiss as he watches. Then, out of nowhere, Parker drops down from the ceiling, says hi, grabs the bomb, and climbs back up out of the elevator. Cue an Incredibly Uncomfortable Elevator Moment.
210* ''Series/LondonsBurning'':
211** In one episode, Blue Watch have to rescue a man from being stuck in the middle of one of these after the elevator stops working, trapping him with two of his neighbours who ''really'' don't get along. By the time the firefighters have got the doors open and can pull him out said neighbours have gone from passive-aggressively sniping at one another to a full-blown CatFight.
212** On another occasion it's most of Blue Watch themselves who get stuck in a malfunctioning lift, which they were using to get to the top floor to assist someone who's trapped in the other one, and are left making awkward small-talk while waiting for a backup crew to get them out of this embarrassing predicament. And Kevin being increasingly desperate for the bathroom doesn't help.
213* In an episode of ''Series/MadAboutYou'', as Paul goes to visit Jamie at her office, they end up on the elevator with her handsome co-worker Doug... who Jamie just confessed to kissing the night before. During the ride, Paul brings up this this trope by explicitly stating, "Could anything be more awkward?". The tension genuinely ratchets up when Paul asks Jamie to leave him and Doug alone, then proceeds to tell him off, finishing by asking him, "Did you think I was going to hit you?" When Doug confirms that this was indeed his fear, Paul snaps, "Good."
214* These are sometimes used as office-sexism-scene-setting moments on ''Series/MadMen''.
215** In one of them, Don is on the elevator with a couple of younger guys who start talking in fairly graphic detail about a sexual conquest. The elevator stops and an older woman, presumably a secretary, gets on... and the guys don't stop. Don, ever the ChivalrousPervert, gives them a few sideways glares and finally intervenes by telling the one guy to take his hat off, before reaching over and physically removing it for him, with the obvious overtone of "pay attention to your surroundings, you little prick."
216** Bizarrely subverted by the scene in which Pete Campbell goes about expressing what he (in his upper-crust [=WASPy=] ignorance) thinks are more or less enlightened views on race to the elevator operator (who is of course black in this [[PoliticallyCorrectHistory Politically Incorrect History]]) while actually having rather condescending UnfortunateImplications. Neither he nor most white people--including a lot of white supporters of civil rights--would have recognized it at the time, but the viewers at home were certainly meant to be wincing at least as much as the operator.
217* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
218** ''Series/{{The Defenders|2017}}'':
219*** [[Series/Daredevil2015 Matt Murdock]], [[Series/JessicaJones2015 Jessica Jones]], [[Series/LukeCage2016 Luke Cage]], and [[Series/IronFist2017 Danny Rand]] have just found themselves under attack [[WorkingTheSameCase when their separate investigations into the Hand lead to them all converging on Midland Circle Financial at the same time]]. After [[HallwayFight fighting off Elektra and a bunch of Alexandra's henchmen in the corridors]], they manage to all make it to the elevator to escape. This leads to the elevator teaser, where Matt, Luke and Danny are all catching their breath, while Jessica looks around and quickly smashes the security camera in the ceiling to protect Matt's identity.
220*** A non-elevator variant: later on, Matt, Luke and Jessica are riding the subway to get back to Midland Circle. Jessica grabs a passed out homeless guy's beer and chugs the entire thing down in one gulp while Matt, Luke, and the other passengers on the train give her silent looks of confused amusement.
221---->'''Jessica Jones:''' [[INeedAFreakingDrink ...It's been a long week]].
222** ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'': Kate gets in the elevator to try and stop Yelena, who's been hired to kill Kate's partner/mentor Clint. [[FriendlyEnemy Yelena doesn't want to hurt Kate]] and Kate isn't skilled enough to even be a threat to Yelena, so they end up with a "fight" that consists of awkwardly standing and occasionally slapping at each other.
223** ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'': In season 2 episode "[[Recap/LokiEpisode7Ouroboros Ouroboros]]", Loki keeps time-slipping, which to onlookers is rather gruesome-looking. Loki and Mobius are having a discussion about the phenomenon in an elevator, and Mobius seeks a second opinion from the third occupant. Pan to a horrified woman in the corner.
224* In the pilot of ''Series/TheMentalist'', Patrick Jane takes the liberty of creating one between Van Pelt and Rigsby by mercilessly bringing up their UnresolvedSexualTension beforehand.
225* ''Series/{{Mindhunter}}''. Holden Ford and Bill Tench are given permission to establish a study of serial killers, but because their boss is afraid of the potential controversy they're allocated a storeroom in the basement beneath Behavoiural Sciences. Being a veteran agent, Bill in particular is not happy and turns to give Holden a DisapprovingLook during the long elevator ride down there. The protocol of always facing forward in an elevator had been lampshaded by Holden earlier, so instead of expressing his feelings Bill just picks up his box again and faces forwards. The scene is contrasted to a later episode after their superior chews both them and Dr. Wendy Carr out for discussing their work outside the Bureau, only to reveal that as a result they've been granted over a quarter-million dollars in additional funding. They ride the elevator in silence again, but this time with smiles slowly forming on their faces.
226* A truly uncomfortable elevator scene took place in a later episode of ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}''. Maddie had just suffered a miscarriage and chose to bury her emotions and get back to work, until she and Dave end up stuck in an elevator together. After several minutes of elevator music, Dave rips out the elevator's speaker while Maddie finally breaks down crying. Dave ends up comforting Maddie and by the time the elevator door opens again, they exit singing, "Oh What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
227* In ''Series/{{Nashville}}'', a running gag in one episode has long-time, on again off again lovers Deacon and Rayna continually running into one another in an elevator, with her trying to make chit-chat and him ignoring her. It ends with [[spoiler: Deacon giving Rayna a [[ShutUpKiss surprise kiss]] and saying he's done with talking.]]
228* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'':
229** Gibbs holds a lot of private conversations in the elevator, often hitting the emergency stop switch in order to better use it as an impromptu private conference room. Needless to say, many of these little conferences get distinctly uncomfortable. You'd think building security would, at some point, tell Gibbs to stop setting off alarms just so he can talk to people, but if you're really thinking that, you haven't met Gibbs. Turns out Gibbs learned it from Franks. It is also a subversion; his elevator talks with Fornell are rather cordial.
230** This is apparently a common enough behavior from Gibbs that at one point a character comments upon "finally getting to see Gibb's 'office' in person" after being waylaid for one of those elevator conversations.
231** Despite the frequency with which he does this, at least one person is genuinely surprised, stating, "I thought that move was pure urban legend."
232** Other characters also have their own Uncomfortable Elevator Moments. A humorous example appears in the Season 4 episode "Cover Story" with Tony and Ziva discussing their [[WriteWhoYouKnow counterparts]] in [=McGee's=] novel: "Totally unrealistic." "Would never happen." With both of them looking hilariously awkward the entire time.
233** Not to mention the episode where we see Ziva put a particularly irritating suspect into the elevator, the doors close... then the doors open on the next floor and he's ''dead''. Bet that was awkward as ''Hell''.
234** Later, when there is a massive power outage, [=McGee=] and Ziva are stuck in the elevator all night and a good part of the morning.
235** In the BackDoorPilot for ''Series/NCISNewOrleans'', it's implied this isn't even Gibbs' trick to begin with:
236--->'''Gibbs:''' ''[stops the elevator]''\
237'''Pride:''' You stole that move from me! '''''I''''' used to be the one who stopped elevators!\
238'''Gibbs:''' Stole, my ass!\
239'''Pride:''' I'm honored!
240** Pulled on Gibbs himself by several other characters — even a ''kid'' does this at one point — much to his slight amusement.
241* An episode of ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'' has Del and Rodney stuck in a lift for several hours.
242* ''Series/TheOrville'':
243** When the away team discovers the elevator leading the bridge of a massive colony ship in "[[Recap/TheOrvilleS1E04IfTheStarsShouldAppear If the Stars Should Appear]]", Ed tries to make small talk to pass the time. Kelly can't let it slide.
244--->'''Kelly:''' A thousand light years from Earth, and you're still awkward in the elevator.
245** This is a RunningGag in "[[Recap/TheOrvilleS1E09CupidsDagger Cupid's Dagger]]" in which Ed and Kelly are constantly interrupted in the elevator of the ''Orville'' by the entrance of a low-level crew member who seems bent on some sort of elevator music being installed. It's eventually made his project and towards the end of the episode, when he walks in yet again after the music is now playing, Kelly shouts at him, wondering if he just does nothing but ride the elevator all day.
246* ''Series/ThePractice'': In one episode, a company hires Lindsay to represent them when a potential customer sues them for discriminating against Arabs. Lindsay and the plaintiff find themselves alone in an elevator and remain silent. Justified because she's not supposed to have any conversations with the plaintiff without the latter's lawyer being present.
247* Referenced in an episode of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'', in which Roseanne is [[SweetPollyOliver disguised as a man]] to get into Dan's lodge. She starts chatting with the guy next to her in the urinals, and when he doesn't respond says, "Oh ''I'' get it! It's like when you're in an elevator!"
248* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'': Miranda and Steve share an incredibly awkward elevator ride with Miranda's ex Robert who is also a fellow tenant. Seeing as Steve just moved in, they discuss afterward who gets "custody" of the elevator.
249* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
250** Jimmy and Chloe are alone in an elevator once not long after they broke up. [[spoiler:[[FromBadToWorse Then they find out there is a bomb on Chloe.]] They had a NowOrNeverKiss, though.]]
251** Dinah Lance and Lois Lane gets one in "[[Recap/SmallvilleS07E11Siren Siren]]".
252** [[MythologyGag Lois and Clark]] in "[[Recap/SmallvilleS08E05Committed Committed]]".
253* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
254** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'':
255*** After an AliensMadeThemDoIt episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS3E15BloodFever Blood Fever]]" (which [[AboveTheInfluence fortunately was not consummated]]), the officers concerned (HalfHumanHybrid B'Elanna Torres and HandsomeLech Tom Paris) run into each other in the turbolift. Awkward small talk ensues, until an annoyed Tom stops the lift to give a heartfelt speech on how they have to face up to what happened... plus he wasn't that scared by seeing her [[DestructoNookie aggressive Klingon side]], and wouldn't mind seeing more of it some day. They go the rest of the way in silence, but as B'Elanna exits at her floor, she says, "Be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant."
256*** In "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS4E12WakingMoments Waking Moments]]", all of the crew have had strange nightmares which end with a strange alien watching them. After waking up they all share their dreams, but Tuvok is notably reluctant to share as his dream, shown at the beginning of the episode, was that he went to the bridge, [[NotWearingPantsDream only to realize when the entire crew begin to laugh hysterically that he had neglected to put on any form of clothing]]. Janeway takes a turbolift with Tuvok and takes the opportunity to investigate further. Clearly uncomfortable, Tuvok admits he dreamed he was in the turbolift and the alien seemed to be "scrutinizing his appearance" before following him back to his quarters. His short, evasive answers seem to pique Janeway's interest further.
257---->'''Janeway:''' And then?\
258'''Tuvok:''' He watched me.\
259'''Janeway:''' Doing what?\
260'''Tuvok:''' ... Getting dressed.\
261'''Janeway:''' ''Getting'' dressed? ''[pause]'' I don't suppose I should ask why you were ''un''dressed.\
262'''Tuvok:''' I would prefer that you didn't.\
263''[there follows a very awkward silence and when they leave the turbolift, Janeway sneaks a glance at Tuvok with a barely smothered grin]''
264** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
265*** There's such a moment in "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E06TrialsAndTribbleations Trials and Tribble-ations]]". Time-travelers Bashir and O'Brien try to take a turbolift in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries TOS]]'''s ''Enterprise'', but them being unused to 23[[superscript:rd]] century technology, it doesn't react to their verbal commands. They're about to open a panel and start tampering with the mechanism when a woman steps in and starts the turbolift properly, by holding one of the handles before giving her command. Bashir then whispers to O'Brien, "I won't tell anyone if you won't."
266*** Subverted in "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E24TheDogsOfWar The Dogs of War]]". When Ezri and Bashir have decided they should be JustFriends, they discuss how awkward the ride would be if they hadn't discussed their feelings, with a lot of staring at the feet and awkward mumbling, but now that they'd decided not to act on those feelings, they should be fine. By the time they reach Ops, [[RelationshipUpgrade they're making out]].
267** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'':
268*** In "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E17Lessons Lessons]]", Captain Picard finds himself DuetBonding with a female officer Nella Daren. The relationship turns romantic, and after their first kiss they're in the turbolift discussing their love of music when someone else enters. Picard turns to the front and when Nella tries to continue the conversation, formally addresses Nella by her rank instead of her name, leaving the turbolift at the first opportunity. He apologizes for this afterwards.
269*** In "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E5Phantasms Phantasms]]", Deanna and Data are in the turbolift when [[ItMakesSenseInContext Data hallucinates a mouth on Deanna's shoulder and stabs it]].
270** A ''really'' uncomfortable moment occurs in the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS02E018TheCrossing The Crossing]]" when Malcolm Reed is possessed by an alien wisp. While he's riding a turbolift with a female RedShirt, he comments in a creepy voice about how she's a female and he's a male. She wastes little time in de-boarding when the door opens.
271** The ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDiscoveryS2E01Brother Brother]]" has several people board an elevator which already has a Saurian with a cold -- who then sneezes on one of them.
272--->'''Captain Pike:''' Bless you.
273** The ''Short Treks'' mini-episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDiscoveryShortTreksE05QAndA Q & A]]" is almost entirely made of this, when EnsignNewbie Spock gets trapped in a turbolift with Number One. Lampshaded near the beginning:
274--->'''Number One:''' People don't talk in elevators.\
275'''Spock:''' I have observed that, sir.
276* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Having had their memories wiped, Sam and Dean work regular office jobs but Sam dreams of the truth. When he sees Dean in the elevator, he stares and tells Dean that he looks familiar. [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/HoYay/Supernatural Dean thinks Sam is hitting on him]].
277* ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'' episode "The Tower Is Tall but the Fall Is Short" has an ElevatorActionSequence between Cameron and an unnamed female Terminator that turns ''into'' an Uncomfortable Elevator Moment when a family steps onto the elevator in the middle of their duel. As soon as the family steps off, they resume beating the crap out of each other.
278* A gag in ''Series/TriggerHappyTV'' is to fill an elevator with people in animal suits, taking up all of the room except for the unsuspecting person either already in the elevator, or trying to enter.
279* ''Series/VeronicaMars'': In season two, in the episode best known for its ''Epic Love'' moment, Veronica, Mac, Vincent, Corny, Dick, Madison, Jackie, Wallace and others take a long uncomfortable ride up to the Alterna Prom thrown by Logan.
280-->'''Madison:''' God, longest elevator ride ever.\
281'''Butters:''' Wait for the SpaceElevator. They're designing it now. A huge elevator on a hundred-mile carbon polymer cable that goes all the way to space. That'll be a long elevator ride.\
282'''Mac:''' Still not as long as this one.
283* Josh and Donna share one in season six of ''Series/TheWestWing'' when they end up staying at the same hotel during the primaries. A few episodes earlier she quit her job after being his assistant for eight years and now they're working on different campaigns. It makes the run-in awkward to say the least.
284* ''Series/{{Wings}}''. Joe chases Helen to New York (where she's gone to accept her boyfriend's proposal) and corners her in the elevator to propose to her himself and get her to admit that she still loves him.
285* In Season 5 of ''Series/TheWire'' after Cedric Daniels knows about Jimmy [=McNulty=] [[spoiler: faking the serial murders]], the two men share an elevator. They ride in silence for what seems like forever. The doors open and Daniels exits, turns, and locks eyes with [=McNulty=] and seethes "To be continued."
286[[/folder]]
287
288[[folder:Music]]
289* The music video to Music/{{Radiohead}}'s "Lift" has [[SurrealMusicVideo a uniquely surreal take]] on the concept, with frontman Thom Yorke taking an elevator down and encountering various oddities after another passenger [[ElevatorButtonsMash presses the buttons for all the floors for him]]. Later accompanying passengers include about a group of bald businessmen, [[MythologyGag a man dressed as Robin from the band's "Paranoid Android" video]], two separate janitors mopping the floor and fixing the lights, a quartet of dancers Thom helps take a photo for, and more. [[{{Bizarrchitecture}} The floors themselves the elevator stops by are also strange]], including one directly opening to an elderly couple's dining room, an entirely upside-down floor, and a bedroom viewed from the ceiling.
290[[/folder]]
291
292[[folder:Video Games]]
293* ''VideoGame/DreamfallTheLongestJourney'': While infiltrating the HQ of Wati Corp the company behind all the strange events in the game, Zoe once fitted with a janitors outfit can choose to either knock out an employee by an elevator or go in with her. During this they have one of these.
294* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'': If you choose to take the Elevator during the Shinra HQ, instead of going straight to the 59th floor, they end up makes several stops along the way because, well, because it's Shinra HQ; people work there. The first couple of times it's Shinra MP's on patrol, so the third time it happens the party preps themselves for another fight... only to scare the witts out of some poor OfficeLady. The 4th stop is some guy talking on the phone to his mother, apparently oblivious to the party. Cue a hilarious moment where he continues the conversation, warning her to be on the lookout for more Avalanche[[note]](i.e ''The Main Characters'')[[/note]] attacks [[https://www.ordinaryreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/final-fantasy-7-remake-what-happens-if-use-elevator.jpg while Barret, Cloud, and Tifa stand in the corner]] trying to avoid his attention.
295* In ''VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame'', there is a scene where Ray and the Rookie are in an elevator with a couple of businessmen arguing about staying in for lunch, though rightfully so since the building is being attacked by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
296* Happens in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'', where you're attempting a biking mission. You have to drive through an office and then take the elevator up to one of the top floors. Keep in mind you have to take your motorcycle with you.
297* The elevators in ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'''s Library. "But I Don't Want to Ride the Elevator!"
298* ''VideoGame/HitmanAbsolution'': Fodder for some black humor in "Blackwater Park". As 47 presses the elevator panel to go up, a gasping delivery boy carrying a big tray of sushi dives in the elevator at the last minute. His attempts at small-talk fall flat on the mute Mister 47. When the elevator doors open, he gets shot to pieces by Layla's guards while 47 zips up the emergency hatch unharmed.
299* ''VideoGame/LANoire'' has one in "The Naked City" DLC, where you and your partner are riding up with a woman whose fiancé you just accused of burglary. Your partner finds it funny anyway:
300-->'''Roy Earle:''' Well... Isn't this just awkward.
301* The first map in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' has a quiet elevator sequence, as does Mercy Hospital in ''1'' and the Sugar Mill in ''2''. The first map in ''[=L4D2=]'' is notable and particularly awkward as the survivors have just met and need to introduce themselves. The Mercy Hospital sequence can also get awkward if the Survivors decide to debate on how to classify their foes.
302* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
303** Used during assorted loading screens in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1''. Most of the time the main character and sidekicks just stand there with muzak and news playing over the PA system, but from time to time one of the characters starts making commentary on things that are going on in the game.
304** This gets perhaps the single greatest ShoutOut in a video game ever though, when in the second game, having Tali and Garrus in your team while running up and down ''stairs'' in the Citadel Wards causes Garrus to comment on how he misses the conversations they used to have in the elevators. Tali threatens him with a shotgun. Gets lampshaded by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tAcIGhh5Yo another character]].
305** Most conversations other characters have with [[BloodKnight Wrex]] in the elevator end with an awkward silence.
306** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV6A602QreE The elevator conversations]] during the siege of the ''[[CoolStarship Normandy]]'' in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''[='s=] [[DownloadableContent "Citadel DLC"]] drives the trope even further. Extra points for Tali (if paired with Liara), Garrus and Javik's dialogues...
307* In ''VideoGame/{{OneShot}}'', this happens once Niko fixes the elevator and rides down with the Lamplighter. You have the decision to either tell Niko to strike up a conversation with him, [[LampshadeHanging or continue the awkward silence]].
308* Played with in ''VideoGame/Payday2'' in the "Beneath the Mountain" Heist. Played with because you're in an airlock, not an elevator, but in which you're put in an akward situation where neither you, or the rest of the crew, can really do anything while inside. The only thing you ''can'' do is stock up on ammo, patch up wounds, and wait for the second airlock door to open. Bear in mind that there are SWAT teams on both sides of the airlock doors, so standing in the middle of a Loud heist is a strange thing to endure.
309-->'''Locke:''' Any second now!... ''[beat]'' ...Know any jokes?
310* In ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'', during the finale of the Vice Kings storyline, the [[PlayerCharacter Playa]], [[HeroicComedicSociopath Johnny Gat]], and [[spoiler: Benjamin King]] are riding up the elevator to confront Tanya Winters. At first, they're observing the protocol. Then Gat, who got shot in the leg during the storyline, angrily declares, "I am going to skull-fuck that bitch!" The Playa reacts, [[{{Beat}} shrugs]], [[SuddenlySpeaking then says]], "Hope you like hepatitis."
311* In ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'', James' pocket radio randomly turns on and plays a demonic quiz show while he travels in an elevator with Maria. Moreover, it turns out the contestant is James himself. It ends with Maria commenting, "What was that?" and James shrugging. Then the elevator doors finally open.
312* ''VideoGame/TimeSplittersFuturePerfect'' features an Uncomfortable ''Waiting for the'' Elevator Moment as Cortez and his partner from the time period involved in one of the missions have to wait for the elevator to a corporation's secret lab.
313-->'''Cortez:''' So... Been in the agency long?\
314'''Amy Chen:''' Uh... Yeah... Three years in May.\
315''[beat]''\
316'''Cortez:''' You get dental?\
317'''Amy:''' Yeah... Yeah...\
318'''Cortez:''' That's good...
319* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', where there is one elevator that [=NPCs=] know how to use. If the target they want to attack is on a different floor, they will wait for the elevator, step on it, wait for it to get to the top/bottom and then continue chasing their target. If another player, who they don't like, is also on the elevator they will simply ignore them unless their primary target leaves the dungeon, in which case they will punch your face in.
320[[/folder]]
321
322[[folder:Web Animation]]
323* The most uncomfortable of all elevator moments has to the ''[[WebVideo/{{AFK}} For the Empire]]'' episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVo2z5MFyvk "The Elevator"]], where in an elevator of the second Death Star, a lone stormtrooper finds himself riding with none other than Darth Vader. And worse, the Dark Lord of the Sith has ''a hiccup''.
324-->'''TK-FNG:''' Thank God for the catheter.
325* In the first episode of the Source Film Maker short ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eqW2PFsJCo White Lie]]'', a horde of ravenous zombies charge into an elevator, wait patiently for it to reach the top floor, then resume their snarling rabid rampage after the doors reopen.
326[[/folder]]
327
328[[folder:Webcomics]]
329* ''Webcomic/BlueMilkSpecial'': Inside the Death Star, Chewbacca, Han and Leia infiltrating are using an elevator when a pair of stormtroopers enter... and pointedly ignore them. As they exit on their floor, the stormtroopers swear they didn't see anything because it's way above their pay check.
330* ''Webcomic/BoyMeetsBoy'' features a moment where Harley and Mik are about to get intimate, only for the frame to pan out, revealing they're in the middle of an elevator with a group of uncomfortable passengers.
331* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'' has a couple of superheroes [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1891160/first-things-first/ riding the elevator]] up to the office, while the Muzak is playing [[spoiler:"Did I ever tell you you're my hero?" from the song "Wind Beneath My Wings".]]
332* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Sydney Scoville is a blabbermouth with ADHD, so she tends to not respect the unspoken code. Add in her being intimidated by Vale, who's going for the stoic silence, and Sydney starts first chattering nervously and is soon randomly rambling, [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-409-elevator-predicate/ to the point Vale ends up pressing the elevator button frantically in the hope of shortening the ride.]]
333* ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'' has one, as the group wonders why, despite the state of ruin in the building, [[http://keychain.patternspider.net/archive/koc0023.html the elevator muzak is still running]].
334* ''Webcomic/LetsGetDivorced'': Han-gyeol gets on an apartment elevator with a nosy couple who not only complimented his looks, but are complaining that their daughter didn't tell them she was getting married. When they get off at the same floor, he realizes that these are his fiancee's parents...
335* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' defies its usual practice of having large plot-altering events every hundredth strip by throwing in one of these for [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0600.html comic #600]].
336%%* ''Webcomic/{{Subnormality}}'' illustrates the effect [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page538.html here]].
337* [[{{Tsundere}} Yeon]] from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' causes this when she thinks about Viole too much and freaks out, letting her flames loose. All played for laughs, naturally.
338* ''Webcomic/YumisCells'': Yumi waits in her office for five minutes before getting on the elevator so she can avoid an awkward moment with [[HatesSmallTalk Assistant Manager Shin]]. They end up getting on at the same time anyway, and all of Yumi's attempts to break the silence fail, much to her discomfort. The awkwardness extends to the bus they both take until Yumi gets through to him by noticing he's looking forward to going home.
339[[/folder]]
340
341[[folder:Web Videos]]
342* Played for drama in ''Series/CobraKai'' when Daniel and Johnny wind up sharing a hospital elevator at the end of the second season. For as long as the series has run, these two cannot share the same space without sniping at each other or even outright fighting. This time, given the circumstances, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness they completely ignore each other, too upset and emotionally exhausted to even bother.]]
343* Website/CollegeHumor, "Awkward Rap":
344-->''I'm an elevator ride you want to oppose\
345 I'll say I'm pressing open, but I'll press "door close"\
346 If you make it in, I will devise\
347 A way to look everywhere but in your eyes\
348 Then I'll follow you right out the door\
349 Take a look around, this ain't my floor''
350* In ''Series/FlandersCompany'', episode "Projet Damien", the protagonists are dragging a drugged Dr. Parker in an elevator. They stay silent the whole ride, but when they hear a fart, Caleb points out to the unconscious doctor.
351* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's review of ''Film/{{Devil}}'' starts out like that, with the Critic stuck in an elevator with [[Franchise/PowerRangers Rita Repulsa]], Santa Christ and the Devil, and doing the whole review from there.
352* In the ''WebVideo/TGWTGYearOneBrawl'' between the WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic and WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd, the two keep fighting throughout a hotel, even while the are waiting for an elevator to arrive. When it does they simply stand inside, apparently ignoring each other. The fight continues once they reach their intended floor.
353[[/folder]]
354
355[[folder:Western Animation]]
356* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': The protagonists and generic villains tend to get into elevators together and then just stand there as the elevator descends.
357* Inverted in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' episode "The Man from Jupiter". Sterling Archer and his hero, Burt Reynolds, are in what's deemed the "world's slowest elevator" inside Archer's co-op building. Burt suggests that Archer "get a Batpole" as a joke. Archer, to Burt's surprise, replies "Nine thousand bucks. Lowest quote I got..." indicating that Archer had already looked into it.
358* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Catscratch}}'' has the bear, a recurring character which keeps trying to eat Mr. Blik, take an elevator to the top of a building to get at him and his brothers, [[ItMakesSenseInContext who have been inflated into living balloons]], and a man already in the elevator looks very worried standing next to the perfectly calm and silent bear.
359* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', since reaching the lab room and scanners by elevator is at least an OncePerEpisode event, a few Uncomfortable Elevator Moments are unavoidable. Usually, when two of the heroes are having a dissension and are pointedly ignoring each other. (That is, when it doesn't turn into an ElevatorActionSequence sequence because of XANA's attack.) Such a tense moment happens in episode "Image Problem", when Ulrich and Odd ride with a Yumi impostor, the first clone created by XANA.
360* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
361** A gag on an early episode has Peter step into an elevator with one other occupant. The other guy starts sniffing with a disgusted look on his face. Peter's response?
362--->'''Peter:''' Uh... [[ImplausibleDeniability it was you]].
363** Another one where Stewie chases after his assumed father who looks just like him. He enters an elevator with another guy who is on the phone, who keeps asking the same question to the caller, irritating Stewie. Once Stewie makes it to the upper floor, it's shown he murdered the guy out of annoyance.
364* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'':
365** Done in the season 1 finale:
366--->'''Ratso:''' Too bad about the lost treasure of... y'know, whatcha call it.\
367'''Finn:''' Uh, will this affect our bonuses?\
368'''Ratso:''' You get a bonus?\
369'''Valmont:''' Shut it!
370** A rather inspired one: Jackie and his EvilTwin get into an elevator, and [[TheElevatorFromIpanema the "Theme from a Summer Place" starts playing]]. Good Jackie smiles and enjoys the music. Evil Jackie scowls and waits.
371* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'': When Task Force X are infiltrating the Watchtower, Deadshot and Plastique have an OhCrap when Green Lantern steps into the elevator with them. Deadshot shows his NervesOfSteel by asking if Green Lantern could get Hawkgirl's autograph for him. Green Lantern curtly refuses and leaves (having broken up with Hawkgirl). Once she's overcome her shock, Plastique is impressed.
372* Tonraq (Korra's father) has one such moment in Season 3 of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', when he's on an elevator with Zuko, Eska and Desna, the reason being that the ensuing conversation reveals that he's the only person on that elevator that has ''not'' tried to kill the Avatar at some point.
373-->'''Zuko:''' We built this place secretly with your father to hold a very... special prisoner. She's a powerful firebender named P'li who can create explosions with her mind. Ironically, [[ContinuityNod I hired a guy with a similar ability to kill the Avatar myself once]].\
374''[beat]''\
375'''Zuko:''' Didn't work.\
376''[beat]''\
377'''Eska:''' Don't feel bad. I tried to kill Korra after she ruined my wedding. It happens.
378* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'' as Charles Offdensen escorts two brothers blackmailing them. Bonus points for the fact that [[spoiler: he actually intends to kill them.]]
379-->'''Charles:''' So... where are you gentlemen from?\
380''[beat]''\
381'''Jomfu brother:''' Cleveland.\
382'''Charles:''' Ah, I've been there. They have an amusement park there, don't they?\
383'''Brother:''' Yes, they do.
384* A ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeooQcSd-8g sketch]] has [[WesternAnimation/ThunderCats Snarf]] and [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 Orko]] in the same elevator, thinking about how they can't stand each other. That is, until [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Gleek]] shows up....
385* WesternAnimation/SecretSquirrel takes an elevator in his car to the top floor of a building to rescue Morocco Mole (1993 episode "Hot Rodney"). During the elevator ride, which is accompanied by Muzak, a passenger wonders what the heck is going on.
386* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Homer is stuck in an elevator with Mindy Simmons, a co-worker he finds himself attracted to. He ends the awkwardness by stopping the elevator between floors and getting out... into thin air, sliding down one of the power plant's smokestacks.
387-->'''Homer:''' ''See you tomorrow!''
388* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'', the humongous supervillain Rhino steps into an elevator where a meek-looking man is already inside, and tells the man to take him to the top floor. After a moment of awkward silence, Rhino explains that his fingers are too big to push the buttons.
389* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
390** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS5E16TheLawless The Lawless]]", Obi-Wan, [[DressingAsTheEnemy disguised]] as a Mandalorian warrior, is breaking his not-girlfriend Duchess Satine out of prison. They wind up in the lift with a loyal Death Watch soldier, who asks what's going on. Obi-Wan claims it's a "prisoner transfer". The guy eventually asks for the authorization code, however, so Obi-Wan has to knock him out.
391** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'':
392*** In "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E07StealthStrike Stealth Strike]]", a [[DressingAsTheEnemy disguised]] Kanan and Rex, accompanied by Chopper, wind up on an elevator with an Imperial officer who comments that Rex's armour is looking a little tight on him. Things swiftly get ''quite'' awkward.
393---->'''Officer:''' Your armour's looking a little tight, trooper.\
394'''Rex:''' ''[under his breath]'' I'll tighten your... face... a little... tighter.\
395'''Officer:''' What was that?\
396'''Kanan:''' ''[laughs nervously]'' Possible hyper-sickness. I'm taking 565 here... to the... [[PoliceCodeForEverything 267]].\
397'''Officer:''' ''[derisive snort]'' The commissary? That's the last place he needs.\
398''[the elevator stops and the officer gets off, while Rex grumbles under his breath]''
399*** In "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E03RiseOfTheOldMasters Rise of the Old Masters]]", Zeb and Sabine gripe about Kanan [[IndyPloy changing his plan right when]] they're riding the turbolift inside an Imperial prison. Kanan points out that ImStandingRightHere.
400---->'''Zeb and Sabine:''' We know.
401** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsResistance'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E14TheFirstOrderOccupation The First Order Occupation]]", Kaz and Synara, heading for the underwater escape pods to get her off the Colossus before the First Order can capture her, wind up in an awkward turbolift ride made moreso by cheesy elevator music. Then the janitor gets onboard briefly, complaining about the stormtroopers' confiscation of his cleaning machine, so Kaz and Synara express their sympathy before he leaves.
402* In the ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' episode "Eye of the Storm", Lance hears that the Castle has a pool and goes into an elevator wearing nothing but swimming trunks to get there. Just as the door's about to close, it's stopped by [[UnknownRival Keith]], also wearing swimming trunks, having had the same idea. The two are standing next to each other, agreeing that they will try to stay away from each other as much as they can, when the elevator gets stuck, and the lights go out. The scene ends with [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes two pairs of eyes]] staring up in confusion, before changing to annoyed expressions.
403* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' manages to have such a moment with a {{Magitek}} elevator in "[[Recap/WakfuS2E4TheReturnOfPercedal The Return of Percedal]]" [[spoiler:with a captured Yugo being taken by a [[DemonicPossession Rubilax-possessed Sadlygrove]] deeper into his lair while being surrounded by ghouls, including the recently ghoulified Ruel and Amalia]] -- complete with an elevator music remix [[DiegeticSoundtrackUsage of the opening theme]].
404* In the ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' episode "The Day", when Sylvia attempts to escape Hater's ship with a [[HeavySleeper completely passed-out Wander]]. In a burst of inspiration, she dresses him up as one of Hater's minions and pretends he's leading her to the prison. Everything goes pretty smoothly until she gets to the elevator and finds herself joined by [[TheDragon Commander Peepers]], who starts a conversation with the disguised Wander, forcing her to puppet him like a ventriloquist's dummy.
405[[/folder]]
406
407[[folder:Real Life]]
408* There's a story about how when Paul Wolfowitz was president of the World Bank, he found himself in an elevator with a woman wearing a blue ribbon and asked her what it meant. She told him it was being worn by World Bank employees petitioning for his resignation.
409-->[[Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou "The lift continued in silence."]]
410* Jonah Hill tells a story on ''Series/JimmyKimmelLive'' of partying with P Diddy in Vegas and being in a crowded elevator with his entourage and Jermaine Dupree. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtw9JjZK7Tc Jonah while drunk decided to make a joke.]]
411* In mid-2011, Rebecca Watson, known for writing on the popular science blog Skepchick, had one at an atheist conference in Dublin. A man asked her if she'd like to have coffee with him... in his bedroom. It was four in the morning and they'd never met before. She made [[http://skepchick.org/2011/06/about-mythbusters-robot-eyes-feminism-and-jokes/ a video]] about it, and how uncomfortable she felt. Various people suggested that she was overreacting, and a great deal of backlash occurred as people with opposing viewpoints began clashing over it.
412[[/folder]]

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