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->''"The music box is broken, or is it? It starts to play, and a haunting tune fills the air..."''
-->-- '''Spike Spiegel''', ''Anime/CowboyBebop''

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: For added atmosphere, play the music from one of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b 5 M Cv I0n 48 these ]]
[[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sxYtrDFqVrI tracks]] while reading on.]]

A music box tune that sounds a bit ''off''. It may have an overly cheery or depressing sound to it or the tune just seems to be completely out of place. Either way, the effect is just creepy, and there is something not quite right about it. Something not quite right at ''all''.
Shows up in horror movies and TV shows occasionally. Due to [[TruthInTelevision real dolls often having music boxes]], this trope is often paired with the CreepyDoll.

Compare RousingLullaby, a lullaby that is not meant to be relaxing, along with IronicNurseryTune, CreepyCircusMusic, and CreepyChildrenSinging, where creepy songs and nursery rhymes are played in the background to add tension and fear to a scene. Similar to the UncannyValley, in that the ''tiny'' bit that's "off" is what makes it feel ''very'' wrong. ForDoomTheBellTolls and XylophonesForWalkingBones are about similar instruments used for creepiness, but aren't necessarily associated with lullabies.

For a tune which has the general sound of a music box but isn't actually played on one, see MusicBoxIntervals. Contrast NostalgicMusicBox, which is meant to be sad instead of scary.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* A 2019 Advertising/{{GEICO}} commercial showed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWy2kuGJrRo the Gecko and a homeowner exploring the attic of a newly-purchased house.]] The Gecko opens a music box (calling it a "tiny dancer", since he's British). The owner turns on the light, and they discover [[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment the attic is full of mannequins in varying states of disrepair]] [[LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand while the music box slows to a stop]].
-->'''Gecko:''' Enjoy your new house!\\
'''Homeowner:''' [[NoJustNoReaction Nope. No thank you]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime]]
* ''Webcomic/ShinigamiDeathPunch'': The ending theme of Shinigami Death Punch! features lyrics set to a very ominous music box tune.
* ''Manga/ElfenLied'': [[https://youtu.be/b5zmx_9x2cI Neji,]] [[https://youtu.be/o_SChDmSedM Lilium,]] and especially [[https://youtu.be/flt6JLIglSc Yureai.]] In fact, there's even a physical music box as part of the plot.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': The Crime of Innocence, Rei I, M-4 piano, The passage of emptiness, Jesu: Joy of Man's Desiring (which is played in the DVD menu).
* ''[[https://youtu.be/n39oJXDg_GQ Kabe no Mukou (The Other Side of the Wall)]]'' is played whenever Kaede becomes depressed or slips into insanity, in the anime ''VisualNovel/{{Shuffle}}''.
* ''Manga/VampireKnight'':
** Maria Kurenai's theme.
** One could also count the music box version of "Still Doll" (the ending song)as well.
* ''Manga/DGrayMan'': Road Kamelot's song, which she sings whilst she makes Marshall Yeegar [[MindRape relive his worst memory over and over and over]].
* [[https://youtu.be/TzeWtyar87M "Melodie"]], the musical watch chime from ''Anime/{{Noir}}'', which is both very creepy (hint: it triggers all kinds of ugly flashbacks for two of the three Noir candidates) and very ripped off from ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore.''
* One can be heard at the beginning and ending of episode 11 of ''Anime/GhostStories''.
* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'':
** Whenever England is either trying magic or talking to his supernatural (and invisible to everyone else) friends, one of these is used.
** One is used at the beginning of Russia's character song "[[https://youtu.be/hkpkfkgkySw&feature=related Winter]]."
** One is also used in the anime during Russia and Lithuania's first meeting.
** Russia's theme from the World Series soundtrack, Vodka on a Snowy Night, uses this too.
* The "Julia" theme from ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' is very reminiscent of a music box up until the penultimate episode where it's sung briefly. It's even shown being played on a music box in an episode.
* Lacie from ''Manga/PandoraHearts'' has shades of this. One is also used in episode 10.
* "Waltz for Strain", the BootstrappedTheme of ''Anime/StrainStrategicArmoredInfantry'' and the source of many other pieces of BGM in the series (such as Sara's battle theme), has a music box variation, which is probably the most well-known version (it even plays on the official website). It's actually associated with in-story music boxes, too.
* Averted in ''Anime/AshitaNoNadja'', where the music box's ''[[https://youtu.be/GrTH6SHx5a0 Waltz Number 5]]'' melody is actually a cheerful and sweet song.
* From the official soundtrack of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' we have [[https://youtu.be/VSv72WXL4k8 "Conturbatio"]], Sayaka's first {{Leitmotif}}.
* ''Manga/DNAngel'': Occurs at the end of episode 20 when Mio Hio worriedly watches as Daisuke tries to put his key shaped pendant through Riku's heart shaped pendant so that they'll be bonded forever. Also occurs in episode 26 as Dark and Krad are fighting.
* [[https://youtu.be/IwNlmpy_a2E&t=31s Used in]] ''Manga/FutureDiary'' for [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]] [[AxeCrazy Gasai's]] {{Leitmotif}} fitting her sweet at first ,but in reality creepy as hell nature.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Audio Drama]]
* In the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' CrossThrough ''The Worlds of Doctor Who'', TheConstant is a music box that plays "Ding-Dong-Dell". In the first story it's a beloved possession of MindControl villain Mr Rees, and disconcerts Jago and Litefoot so much they suspect it's the source of his powers. [[spoiler: They're wrong; it's [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas the only thing he has of his late mother's]], and also reminds him of mind-controlling cats (and his father) to jump in a well]]. In the subsequent stories [[spoiler: following his "death", it's become a SoulJar]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShell1995 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'' has an entire sequence set inside a very creepy MindScrew mansion, all accompanied by the world's biggest music box ("The Doll House" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89WWqjxhXrE versions 1]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9m8ZManV_A 2]]). The score composer Kenji Kawai said in an interview that he wanted it to sound like you were ''inside'' said music box -- and he most certainly succeeded. In the Making Of extras on the DVD, it's shown how they did it: they had a company specializing in music boxes make them a huge one to play the tune, and then took it into some empty mine shaft to record it. Sure, they could have just electronically added the echo, [[ShownTheirWork but it just wouldn't have been authentic enough]].
* Suito Kusanagi in ''Anime/TheSkyCrawlers'' has a large stationary music box in her office, that plays the movie's theme tune. It's probably a ShoutOut to the [[Creator/MamoruOshii director's]] previous work, ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShell1995 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'', mentioned above.
* A lot of the songs from the movie adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'': "[[https://youtu.be/71K9-1Jwxfk&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=30 Mechanical Lullaby]]", "[[https://youtu.be/_LLHUQQ9cmM&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=1 Dreaming]]", the song playing during the [[https://youtu.be/J8ry1f_3Lsk&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=0 end credits]], "[[https://youtu.be/gxs2vS2gJ-c&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=2 Exploration]]", "[[https://youtu.be/hpfgFnhgf-8&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=9 The Supper]]", "[[https://youtu.be/qtDH_YlwuWY&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=17 The Mice Circus]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/WXBDMA6Zp08&feature=PlayList&p=DCD67CE98D531DCE&index=26 Cocobeetles]]", to name a few.
* A ''extremely creepy'' one plays from just off screen in the film ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker''. Even more disturbing considering [[spoiler:[[BrainwashedAndCrazy what the Joker did to Tim]], and that he has created a perverse "family" out of himself, Tim, and Harley]]...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The music from a musical box entrances the killer into a homicidal state of mind in Creator/DarioArgento's ''Film/DeepRed''.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5MCw6kNUec The Sandman]] in ''Film/{{Hanna}}''.
* Davey Jones' music box in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest''. It was supposed to be romantic -- because of Davy Jones and [[spoiler:Calypso/Tia Dalma]], but the effect was kind of ruined when they did that [[OminousPipeOrgan crazy-evil organ arrangement]] while the fish-pirates were scrubbing the deck.
** This is also an instance of the planet wide cinematic regulation which says that wistful music-box melodies must slow and eventually stop just ''before'' the final note.
* The above Pirates of the Caribbean example seems like an homage to ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore'', where El Indio (sexy weed-smoking Mexican baddie) is addicted to a musical pocket watch, which plays Morricone music, and he uses it every time he has a duel, or just kills someone. For the duels, he and his opponent draw when the music ends.
** As the flashback sequence in throughout the movie keeps extending, showing us more and more of what happened on that rainy night, you realize just how creepy this is, since El Indio got it from a woman whose husband he killed and whom he then raped, [[DrivenToSuicide driving her to shoot herself]]. One of the two heroes has a matching version because it turns out [[YouKilledMyFather the woman was his sister]].
* Major plot point in ''Film/TuckEverlasting''.
* The main theme from ''Film/JuOn: The Grudge''.
* Charlie Clouser - ''Film/DeadSilence'', main theme.
* Samara's song from ''Film/TheRing''.
* In ''Film/TheConjuring'' the eerie tune is provided in-universe by a circus themed music box.
* The song that plays in the opening ballroom scene of the Disney movie ''Film/TheHauntedMansion2003''. The music box in the movie also has a similar tune.
* ''Film/HarryPotter'' has Hedwig's Theme. Even though it is never heard from a music box, the instrumentation is heavily reminiscent of one.
* The theme from ''Film/{{Candyman}}'' is this.
* ''Film/OneMissedCall'' has this as a cell phone ring tone and a teddy bear that plays it.
* The arrangement of "Mother" in the movie ''Pink Floyd Music/TheWall.''
* Danny Elfman uses this in a lot of his works, for example, in [[https://youtu.be/04q2Ozr-WYA the theme from Edward Scissorhands]] and [[https://youtu.be/rbmuJKmiTDI Jack's Lament]]
* As if there wasn't enough horror motifs in the 1999 remake of ''Film/{{The Haunting| 1999}}'' (it already had CreepyCircusMusic), there was also a music box tune which Eleanor was humming almost from the beginning of the movie ([[FridgeHorror suggesting even then that she was already being drawn to the house]]). She later finds the actual music box in the nursery of Hill House. If it isn't too blasphemous to consider, [[WildMassGuessing one might wonder if this is meant to be the tune for the song "Carpe Diem" from the Shirley Jackson novel.]] [[note]]Actually a poem that Creator/WilliamShakespeare wrote for ''Theatre/TwelfthNight''.[[/note]]
* In ''Film/TimeAfterTime'', Jack the Ripper has a cameo on a chain that contains, along with a mystery woman's photo, a tiny music box as accompaniment to his activities.
* The theme song of ''Film/DeadFriend'' (aka ''The Ghost'').
* The Red Queen's theme from ''Film/ResidentEvil2002'' was written to sound like a sweet child's waltz. As the movie continues, her theme becomes increasingly dark and menacing as she shows her murderous colors to the group.
* Throughout ''Film/TheInnocents'', Flora's music box plays the tune ''O Willow Waly'', the lyrics of which are sung by Flora at the very beginning of the film.
* The first few notes of "Do You Know Where Christmas Trees are Grown" (a cheerful song that played in the background earlier) can be heard in a tense scene after 007 is locked in a cable car machine room in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService.''
* ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' has a scene where Barbra finds a music box and plays it, to this effect.
* The tune in ''Film/TheUntouchables1987'', first heard as Elliot helps a woman struggling with her BabyCarriage up the stairs. The second time we hear it is at the end of the bloody shootout immediately afterward.
* The Lament Configuration in ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}''.
* Throughout ''Film/Reality2012'', this is a main theme in Alexandre Desplat's soundtrack.
* Heard in ''Film/GoodBurger'' [[https://youtu.be/9orKwcYJrfk during the appearance of Heather the Psychopath]] (portrayed by Creator/LindaCardellini).
* ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'': When Barbarella is being attacked by the {{Creepy Doll}}s, the BGM is a slowed down music box version of the movie's eponymous song.
* The Hungarian anti-war psychological drama ''Film/TheFifthSeal'' begins with the off-putting sounds of a large standing music box being wound up (with close-up shots on the internal mechanism, no less), its individual instruments tuning up, before it begins playing a short, unsettling, sometimes off-key bohemian chamber piece. It's practically the only continuous piece of music we hear throughout the movie, [[ShooOutTheClowns and when it stops...]]
* ''Film/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'': When the Baudelaire children (now orphans) were brought to the ashes of their home by Mr. Poe, a creepy music box plays. Bonus points to the filmmakers for having the music be played on a visible music box jutting out of the rubble, presumably one of Violet's projects.
* Played via the NumbersStation is ''Film/BansheeChapter''. TruthInTelevision, the movie actually samples the real-life [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUQUD3IMbb4& Swedish Rhapsody numbers station]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheTaking'' has Molly's collection of music boxes, which play of their own accord when [[EldritchAbomination the Leviathan]] passes overhead. Nothing seems to be unusual about what the music boxes are playing, but the sound of all of them playing at once is described as discordant and unsettling.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* There was a tune like this in the ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'' episode "The Tale of the Dark Music" when the CreepyDoll shows up. There were a more tunes like these in other episodes as well.
* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E3TheSurvivors The Survivors]]", Deanna Troi, TheEmpath of the crew, happens to hear a music box playing during the Away Team's investigation of an elderly couple's home after a mysterious attack on their colony. Her empathic nature briefly brings her into contact with something very powerful that doesn't want to be discovered - the result is that the music box melody starts [[TerribleTicking playing in her mind]] [[EarWorm over and over again]], [[PsychicStatic louder and louder]], until even a medically induced coma can't block it out.
* Used in ''Series/DoctorWho'' in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E8SilenceInTheLibrary Silence in the Library]]" as the theme for the library and the alternate world, doubling the WTF factor and giving the episode Moffat's trademark 'dark fairytale' overtone.
* The final notes of the ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'' InstrumentalThemeTune sound like a music box in minor [[{{Scales}} key]]. Appropriate, given the title.
* The killer in the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS05E01NoCompromises No Compromises]]" uses one.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'' makes use of the ''very'' haunting "Illabye" to great effect on two separate episodes.
* ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' features a haunting tune whenever Dillon (Ranger Series Black) has a flashback of his past prior to the series beginning. The dark lighting in those flashbacks don't help, either.
* Used to a fantastic effect in [[https://youtu.be/xrtQCCT8kpk this advert]] for ''Series/EastEnders''.
* In ''Series/TeenWolf'', season 1 episode 10, Co Captain, near the end, the background music of "Lose Your Soul" by Dead Man's Bones ft. the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir is heard as various characters interact, all in a creepy, chilling way. The music's sinister tones fits the scenes well.
* Used ''very'' effectively in the pre-credits scene of ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth'' Day One.
* ''{{Series/Community}}'' uses it in the flashback sequences in the western-themed episode [[Recap/CommunityS2E23AFistfulOfPaintballs "A Fistful of Paintballs"]], as a reference to the flashbacks and music in ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore''.
* The four-part series ''Nazi Death Squads'' uses it as its opening theme.
* ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}'' has sinister-sounding hurdy-gurdy music that links in between the games. Slightly discordant and rather unsettling.
* Used in ''Series/{{CSI}}'' as the {{Leitmotif}} of the Miniature Killer, being played initially when the Killer's signature ([[CreepyDollhouse miniature replicas]] of future crime scenes of the murders commited by [[spoiler:her]]) was shown, later when the Killer [[spoiler:herself]] appeared on-screen.
* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', James Jesse/Trickster I's {{leitmotif}} is an eerie music box version of his theme from [[Series/TheFlash1990 the '90s series]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* A eerie music box can be heard at the beginning of "Mommy's Little Monsters" by Music/CreatureFeature
* The song "Blue" by Music/TheBirthdayMassacre.
* "Grisly Reminder" by Midnight Syndicate.
* Music/SigurRos:
** [[https://youtu.be/zgEGVKwURKc "Sæglopur,"]] by Music/SigurRos, manages to combine this and some of the most haunting bowed guitar '''ever.'''
** Music/SigurRos uses music boxes quite a lot, actually, especially in Takk and Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do. Most of the time the sound is meant to be pretty rather than ominous, however.
* "Haunted Music Box," Made By Sirfinix.
* "Kid A" and "No Surprises" by Music/{{Radiohead}}.
* Music/EmilieAutumn:
** "Gothic Lolita" starts with a clanky music box tune that jumps notes when you least expect it.
** "What If" ends with one of these.
* Music/{{Lordi}}'s "Blood Red Sandman" starts with one.
* "White Russian" by Music/{{Marillion}} uses this to chilling effect, even [[NothingIsScarier slowing the music box to a halt just before the last note]].
* "Swept Away" by Music/{{Flyleaf}}.
* "Spieluhr" by Music/{{Rammstein}}. The title actually means Music Box.
* Rockabye Baby is a band that does covers of classic rock and alternative songs as instrumental baby music. Their output runs quite a gamut of bands, from the Beach Boys to Bob Marley to Green Day to Music/{{Tool}}, so it occasionally runs into this (especially with the covers of Tool, Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/{{Radiohead}}, and Music/NineInchNails)
* In ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', the music box with the monkey on top plays "Masquerade."
* "Music Box" by Music/{{Eminem}}. As you would expect from Slim Shady, it has some pretty dark lyrics about drug use, satanism, cannibalism and the like.
* "Return To Innocence Lost" by Music/TheRoots uses an eerie music box tune in it's backing music. The effect is meant to be sad rather than scary though; the song is about the child of an abusive drug-addicted father growing up to become an addict himself and eventually dying at a young age from a gunshot wound.
* "Old" by Music/{{Starflyer 59}} begins with the clicking of a music box being wound. The music box plays for the opening stanza before getting drowned out. It can be heard again at the end, after the other instruments stop.
* "Jynweythek Ylow"(Cornish for "electronic music machine") by Music/AphexTwin.
* "The Box Part 1"(album version) by Music/{{Orbital}}.
* Music/DepecheMode's "Blasphemous Rumours" has one come up in the middle of the song right before the central character is fatally wounded in a car wreck.
* ''Creepy Doll'' by Music/JonathanCoulton features one in the opening bars of the song.
* Featured on the opening of Music/{{Helloween}}'s "Still We Go."
* The beginnings of "Bring Me To Life" and "Taking Over Me" by Music/{{Evanescence}}. "Tourniquet" also uses this.
* The {{ambient}} musician Colleen is fond of the music box. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_et_les_Boîtes_à_Musique She has an EP full of them.]]
* Steven Wilson's song "Significant Other" has this at the end.
* Music/PorcupineTree's "Drawing the Line" has one at the start (it's not actually a music box, but still fits the trope).
* Thrice's "Music Box" features an actual recording of a music box, which the band had to wind just so in order to sync it with the heavy guitar rock of the song.
* The Northern Kings' version of the Music/{{Radiohead}} song "Creep" uses a music box to make the song sound incredibly... well, creepy. This is especially noticeable at the beginning and end of the song, creating an eerie and spooky atmosphere.
* Music/HannahFury loves this trope. It's featured in a large number of her songs, most notably "Beware The Touch", "My Next Victim", and "Never Look Back".
* Used in several song outros on Music/KaizersOrchestra's album ''Violeta Violeta Volume I''.
* Music/{{Korn}}'s song "Dead Bodies Everywhere" opens with this.
* Music/AvengedSevenfold's "Nightmare"
* Music/{{Delain}}'s "Frozen" begins with one of these.
* Music/PanicAtTheDisco's Ballad of Mona Lisa
* The Music/{{Vocaloid}} song "Music Box of Time"
* "Dark Side" by Music/{{Kelly Clarkson}}
* [[http://youtu.be/YRFmOcaxcP8 This]] remix of [[Franchise/TouhouProject ZUN's]] ''[[http://youtu.be/VHgxvy68o7Q Mary the Magician]]'', from his ''Touhou'' [[AllThereInTheManual supplementary]] ''Ghostly Field Club''.
* Music/OzzyOsbourne:
** The song "Mr. Tinkertrain" by Music/OzzyOsbourne, which is about a sexual predator who preys on children, opens with a creepy music box tune.
** Also "Bloodbath in Paradise", which is about UsefulNotes/CharlesManson.
* The band [[http://bandcamp.goodluckvarsity.com Good Luck Varsity]] utilizes this at the end of their song "Wretch", which, considering the lyrics, lends some extreme discomfort and creepiness to an already depressing and unsettling song.
* A sample of a music box version of "Rock-A-Bye Baby" is used near the end of the song "Bosnia", by Music/TheCranberries.
* ''Music/NoxArcana'' is fond of all ominous musical tropes, including this one. Examples include ''Living Doll'' and ''Pandora's Music Box'' from the album ''Carnival of Lost Souls'' or ''Music Box'' from ''Darklore Manor''. Eerie children's laughing usually add to the ominous effect.
* Subverted by Umphrey's Mcgee in the intro of 'Mantis'. Once the music box intro is complete, a goofily triumphant guitar-and-drum riff abruptly comes in and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The music box tune is subtly [[CallBack called back]] six or seven minutes later.
* Subverted in ''Taikatalvi'' by Nightwish. It has a music box motif to it, but it is not particularly ominous.
* "Drive" by The Suicide Dolls starts with a distorted, somewhat out of tune music box melody - it's actually a sample of "The Swedish Rhapsody", a radio transmission that was captured on ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conet_project The Conet Project: Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations]]''
* The Frozen Autumn's "Chimney's Hiss Song" has this along with [[ForDoomTheBellTolls church bells]].
* Music/JackOffJill uses one of these at the beginning of the song "Choke."
* "The Colour Of The Sky" by Music/PaleSaints, an already [[NightmareFuel scary spoken-word track in and of itself]], closes with one of these.
* "[[YouAreNumberSix Inmate 4859]]", by Music/{{Sabaton}}, opens with one. Considering how ominous the track is (it's about Witold Pilecki, a soldier who willingly infiltrated Auschwitz to report the atrocities going on, and ultimately [[DownerEnding ended up executed]] [[UngratefulBastard by his own Soviet-controlled government]]), the music box is definitely deserved.
* Lullaby renditions of songs that definitely are '''''not''''' lullabies. You can look up lullaby versions of any heavy, most-likely-not-for-children song on Website/YouTube, and 99% of the time, it will sound creepy as all get out.
* "These Are Our Children" by Music/IMonster starts with a creepy music box melody before turning into CreepyChildrenSinging. The music box melody keeps reappearing during the chorus.
* "Bewildered in other eyes" by Music/TheCaretaker absolutely fits here. Considering the original [[SampledUp sample]] (a song, called, ironically, "The Prettiest Little Song of All") is one of the oldest on an album about ''dementia'', this might be the music box tune with the darkest implications on this entire list.
* "Crystalline" by Music/{{Bjork}} features an instrument that sounds like a music box. It's actually a "gameleste", a custom BizarreInstrument that's a cross between a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan gamelan]] and a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celesta celesta]].
* The end of 'The Well' by Pagan folk band Omnia features a music box rendition of 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.' It's their version of the [[MurderBallad Murder Ballad]] 'The Well below the Valley', a song containing lyrics about incest and infanticide.
* Music/{{Eminem}}:
** The intro skit of ''The Eminem Show'' has one accompanying the rapper going on stage and clearing his throat.
** "Music Box" is a whole song of Eminem rapping along to one, using a bizarre flow bordering on UncommonTime. About [[SlasherMovie murdering people]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]
* Almost any animated Halloween prop of a CreepyDoll or other evil toy will feature a music box in the background of its audio track.
* Creator/DaraOBriain has a bit about this in his standup about "what to do if a burglar is in your house."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* A scary musicbox tune has been playing in the background in the VERY creepy WWE promo videos for the former TNA wrestling Awesome Kong, to be known in WWE as "Kharma."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'', a distorted tune of this nature plays whenever your Shade[[note]]a ghost that appears wherever you are after you died, which you must defeat to reclaim your money and repair your soul reserve[[/note]] is nearby.
* ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9n2A1maBow Alma's music box]].
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' all have this kind of tune: the theme for the Stone Tower Temple, Song of Healing, Twilight Hyrule, etc.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' has a music box in Ikana Canyon, which is used to ward off [[{{Mummy}} Gibdoes]] from a scientist's house when the waterwheel turns. The sound of the strangely cheery sound is strongly contrasted with the drab, dead-looking location filled with undead creatures. The tune eerily fits perfectly when played over a similar piece from the BigBoosHaunt level of ''Videogame/SuperMario64'', another music box-style tune, creating one multi-layered OminousMusicBoxTune.
* In ''VideoGame/LethalCompany'', the Jester is a walking jack-in-the-box which will eventually wind itself, playing "Pop Goes the Weasel." Once it finishes, its giant skull-face head comes out and it will chase down any worker still inside the Facility and kill them, getting ''faster'' as time goes on.
* In ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryIV'', the music box in the old man's house plays a rather [[https://youtu.be/VEDZBoWHeGM mournful tune]] and almost certainly belonged to the man's dead wife, who you later meet as a ghost in the forest.
* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'', the tune that plays in [[ToyTime Frantic]] [[EternalEngine Factory]] opens with a singularly creepy music-box segment, complete with "winding up," and it returns several times throughout the tune.
* Just about the entire soundtrack of ''VideoGame/AmericanMcGeesAlice'' comes off as this.
* ''VideoGame/ArrogationUnlightOfDay'' have the first (of many) JumpScare moments from the game, a musical box in an abandoned house suddenly playing music - before broadcasting an ominous message telling you you're cursed.
* The GameOver music in ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' sounds like a generic, slightly [[SoundtrackDissonance dissonant]] "better luck next game" tune (mostly "ominous" because the player just lost). Early in Ragna's Story (the first most players are likely to try, since it's at the top of the list), it's revealed to be the song from ''Saya's'' music box. [[JigsawPlot Who's Saya, you ask?]] FigureItOutYourself.
* ''VideoGame/{{Meteos}}'' gives us the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5MCvI0n48 theme music]] for Jeljel.
* ''VideoGame/FableII'' has the music from the music box from the beginning playing during [[spoiler: the breakdown of the [[LotusEaterMachine "Perfect World"]] part of the game, including the music becoming more and more disjointed as you run away from the bright, shiny place]].
* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'':
** In the first game, all of the music associated with [[EnfanteTerrible Chauncey]] is played on a music box. This includes the music that plays when you unlock the door to his room, the music in the said room, the music when you are talking to him, and his battle music.
** The remix of the ''Luigi's Mansion'' theme in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' features an Ominous Music Box at the beginning, before the OminousPipeOrgan comes in.
** In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'', there are some jack-in-the-boxes in the Haunted Towers' Rumpus Room that play a music box version of the "Library Piano" music before popping out and doing an EvilLaugh.
* "Baby Bowser's Lullaby" in ''VideoGame/YoshisStory''.
* The music heard in ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'' before boss rooms.
* Before you reach a miniboss in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'', a music box version of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' Underground theme will start to play.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Ib}}'', the themes for Ib herself and Mary are both music boxes (Ib's theme is generally accepted as the main theme). Ib's is very solemn, bordering on sad, whereas Mary's feels very playful but lonely. [[spoiler: You'll see where that goes.]]
* ''VideoGame/MadFather'' uses a [[https://youtu.be/EALVJkJI7h8 curious little piece]] that starts out as one, but introduces more depth to the music as it goes on, until finally stopping at its climax and restarting at the original hollow music box tone. It's used for the title screen, but that's pretty much it. The same track is also used in ''VideoGame/{{Ib}}''.
* The church music box in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''.
** Alexia and Alfred's music box in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica''.
* The music box in the hotel lobby in ''VideoGame/SilentHill2''.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Scratches}}'' there is a music box in the attic whose melody starts off rather prettily but quickly turns creepy. The soundtrack also does this with "R's Theme" in the nursery. [[spoiler: And again, near the end of the game when you examine a teddy bear in a hidden part of the basement.]]
* In ''VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings'', the first of the 8 Melodies is a music box hidden in your sister's formerly possessed naked baby doll.
* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' has "Behave Irrationally" which plays whenever someone dies. [[AnyoneCanDie Naturally,]] you'll hear it quite often throughout the game.
* ''VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers'' has a music-box [[DarkReprise reprise]] of "Day of Summer" after each scenario's end credits. It also features a key scene of the main scenario.
* ''VisualNovel/{{Planetarian}}'' opens with its RobotGirl lead cheerfully greeting planetarium customers, over a music-box arrangement of the hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" [[note]]In case you're wondering what the connection is, in Japan the tune is better known as "World of Stars"[[/note]]... and then, we cut immediately to AfterTheEnd.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', the Music Box song isn't terribly creepy, but the scene that goes with it makes it somewhat depressingly creepy. [[https://youtu.be/sEF7yp2BeT0]] Here is LetsPlay/HCBailly's moment; the music box starts at 4:25
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' has a song called [[https://youtu.be/WAh5-pmz3gM Mag Mell]], which is the theme of a location filled with [[spoiler: sleeping Carbuncles]] that you can only get to [[spoiler:after getting past the unknown element Miasma Stream.]]
* The ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' games have a "music box" version of [[https://youtu.be/a-7XZWTYQeM Dark Whisper]], which plays on the title screen. If nothing else, it's a lot more serene than most of the music one normally hears in the games.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', [[https://youtu.be/Tt5YKcrYgD4 the BGM for N's Room]] is this. Whether it's more creepy or sad is up for debate. ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite2'' uses a very creepy [[https://youtu.be/Fl0c9wApUeg version]] where the music box is now broken, thanks to the destruction of the castle.
** N's regular overworld {{Leitmotif}} comes off as this as well. Subverted in the sequels, where his theme tune begins the same but quickly transitions into something much more upbeat, reflecting the CharacterDevelopment he underwent in the last games.
** The theme from Lavender Town in the original ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' definitely feels... wrong in some intangible manner. Partly due to the chip-tune sounds used, because the same song with different instruments in ''Pokémon [=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' doesn't capture the same sensation.
* The BGM for the Fortune-Teller's room in ''VideoGame/Shivers1995''.
* ''VideoGame/RiseOfNightmares'' for Xbox 360 Kinect features a hand-cranked musical lock that plays an appropriately creepy tune. Just don't crank too fast or slow...just don't.
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' uses this trope [[AwesomeMusic/PaperMario fantastically]] for its final boss fight with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oKi60evkV0 The Ultimate Show]], starting off with a slow music box and having the broken music box sound come back throughout the song. As if fighting [[spoiler:Luigi forcibly turned into a VillainousHarlequin EldritchAbomination]] wasn't creepy enough!
* One of Amy Rose's levels in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' has her evade Eggman's robots in a theme park. A creepy music-box tune will play when she ducks into the hall of mirrors in a funhouse.
* ''The Rake: Hostel'': A music box version of the popular Christmas carol Silent Night begins playing within the first two minutes, stopping right as the Rake makes its first appearance.
* In ''VideoGame/DontStarve'', a pair of shadowy hands will reach towards your campfire at night and [[DarknessEqualsDeath snuff it out]] if your SanityMeter is too low. Said hands are accompanied by spooky music box music.
%%* Cerebrawl of ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies''
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'' feature a level ''[[IncredibleShrinkingMan inside]]'' a music box, with eerie music inside it.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoxSLlGN-60 The arranged version]] of Orochi Chris's {{Leitmotif}} "Mad Fantasy" in ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'' has a recurring music box-sounding medley before the rock guitars kick in. Keep in mind that you'll be listening to it while fighting a [[HatesEveryoneEqually nihilistic and psychopathic]] [[CreepyChild 14-year old]].
* ''VideoGame/{{OFF}}'': [[https://youtu.be/0K_xO8JltXc Not Safe]], the track for the {{Bleak Level}}s. Fitting, as the enemies are demonic spirits that look like baby dolls.
* "Dolls Of Doom" in ''VideoGame/TheSeventhGuest'', [[spoiler: fitting with the scene that reveals dolls which have the souls of children inside of them.]] It loses its luster in its sequel, ''The 11th Hour'', though, due to being played as the intro, ending, and ''every single time'' you access the Gamebook.
* In the Otome game ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'', Iwamane Shuu is the extremely creepy doctor. [[spoiler: He also kills you in two routes, and is responsible for your death in another. And a student, whom he boils and sends to you.]] His theme is Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies.
* [[https://youtu.be/wlk_ACj0ihk "All is Shut Down"]], ''VideoGame/RayCrisis'''s ending theme.
* The ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' series have quite a few, not surprising, since the games mainly take place at children's restaurants.
** Freddy Fazbear's {{Leitmotif}} in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys1'' is a creepy music-box version of "Les Toreadors" from ''Theatre/{{Carmen}}''. [[HellIsThatNoise Players WILL come to dread that sound]].
** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'', the player must keep winding a music box that plays "Grandfather's Clock" in order to keep an animatronic Puppet from moving from its place. Forget to wind it and you'll learn to dread "Pop Goes to Weasel" in a hurry...
** ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3'' has music box renditions for Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and Schubert's "Ständchen/Serenade" for the Golden Freddy and Shadow Bonnie minigames. The [[spoiler: bad ending and Happiest Day minigame]] meanwhile, feature a rendition of one of Brahms' Sixteen Waltzes.
** ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'' has Ballora's theme tune, Crumbling Dreams, though it veers more into NostalgicMusicBox.
** ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSecurityBreach'' has gift boxes which require you to wind them to open them, playing a tune. While nothing bad happens, it can sound out of place in a setting where everything (but Freddy) is out to get you.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' has "[[https://youtu.be/4uKdU19drsw A Lullaby for Mergo]]", which crops up a few times throughout the game: the music box Gascoigne's daughter gives you, the second part of the ending credits, and the fight against Mergo's Wet Nurse.
* Given the eerie nature of the series, a few of the songs ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' are like this: Kikai, Henka, Hayashi, Giwaku, Hyoui, Tatari, the main theme (not the opening song), etc. The [[https://youtu.be/UuofG8a7EEk main theme]] is accompanied by a very distinctive, creepy, subdued sort of wailing, but it may takes one or two times through the series before you notice it's actually [[spoiler: Hanyuu's VerbalTic, with the morbid creepiness turned up]]. No, seriously.
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' has a few as well. The ones that stick out most are "worldend solo" and "Wingless."
* ''VisualNovel/MysticMessenger'' has a very creepy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkluX6sMYZY music box theme]] that plays during eerie moments or bad endings.
* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' has a very unsettling rendition of "Okay, Everyone" that plays during [[spoiler: Sayori's Suicide]]. The melody alternates between a tinny, broken music box and a synthesized OneWomanWail, to emphasize the surreal nature of the scene.
* In Chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', when [[spoiler:[[AloneWithThePsycho confronting Noelle in the hospital]] during the epilogue of a Weird Route playthrough]], the interaction is underscored by a song referred to in the game's files as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs5i__UjTQ "flashback_exerpt.ogg"]], a minor-key music box arpeggio atop a skeletal version of [[spoiler:Noelle's leitmotif]] and a droning synth string version of "THE HOLY".
* ''VideoGame/SongOfHorror'': The plot revolves around a music box that plays a song intimately tied to an EldritchAbomination called "the Presence". Anyone that hears it becomes a target to be spirited away by the Presence, and [[EvilTaintedThePlace locations where it has been played become haunted by its manifestations, even decades afterwards]]. The whole plot centers around finding out about the music box, where it came from, and ultimately, how to get rid of it.
* ''VideoGame/NightOfTheLivingRobot'': A slow music box rendition of "Mr. Sandman" is played over the title screen, which is completely dark save for a moonlit window and a jack-o-lantern.
* ''VideoGame/TinkerQuarry'': The TrueFinalBoss's BattleThemeMusic is a distorted music box arrangement of [[Theatre/TheNutcracker "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"]].
* A music box is one of several {{MacGuffin}}s in ''VideoGame/{{Dredge}}''. In one scene after you collect those macguffins, a sorrowful music box tune plays as [[spoiler:an EldritchAbomination rises from the depths to lay waste on the world]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/SilentHillPromise'' Vanessa finds a music box on the roof of the hotel that plays a tune she recognizes.
* "Clockwork Melody" and "Clockwork Sorrow" from the fifth ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' album are versions of the "Endless Climb" song played that come across as this. "Clockwork Contrivance," too, to a much lesser extent.
** Rose gets one with a mournful violin right [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=005595 after she goes grimdark]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The title theme to Rob Dyke's Website/YouTube series, "Seriously Strange", sounds like it's being played on a music box, just enough off-key to match the bizarre topics discussed in each episode.
* Machinima/CarsonMarenka uses this in several horror shorts, such as "Trainspotting at Night".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* The announcement of the Cell Games in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' is finished off with an incredibly creepy remix of Cell's theme from the Bruce Faulconer soundtrack. Made even more chilling by the fact that it's used to accompany the following line:
-->'''Cell:''' Feel free to pray to your god. But, spoilers: [[AGodAmI I won't be listening]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has this for background music at times.
** Used more prominently (and creepily) in "The Puppetmaster."
** A music box played in the background when Katara showed everyone the picture of "Baby Zuko," but it trailed off when Zuko revealed who it [[AbusiveParents really was.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
** Heard [[https://youtu.be/MQ8IpWuJTFE during]] Patrick's BreakTheCutie moment in the episode "Nature Pants": "If I can't have you as a friend, I'm gonna make you a ''trophy''!"
** Also, [[https://youtu.be/482CpyWqH6U this]] song.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'', when Cyclonis is looking at an old picture of herself, a NostalgicMusicBox is playing, but it shifts to an ominous tune as the camera pans to her sinister-looking grandmother, who is also in the photo.
* One ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'' episode featured Mirage, the incarnation of evil, using a magical music box that put the entire city under a sleep charm. The tune is quite nice, but also creepy at the same time.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaijudo}}'', whenever [[WolverineClaws Razor]][[CreepyDoll kinder]] [[PerversePuppet Puppet]] is summoned, one of these plays.
[[/folder]]
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