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"We then exit the temple, and I swear the Egyptians used the same sound effect for their doors as Doom does."
Ross's Game Dungeon, reviewing Maabus

The sound effect used for doors opening and closing in the game Doom has rapidly become one of the Stock Sound Effects and is one of the few sound effects that non-movie fans will be able to identify right off. The reason for this is quite simple: The sample comes from a sound archive developed by the Canadian-based Sound Ideas, which is a series of stock sounds — explosions, screams and so on — that can be licensed out to filmmakers. Thus, the makers are not ripping off Doom; they just happen to have used the same sound files that were used in that game.

Many films use the same sound effect libraries; the only reason this one is obvious is that gamers of a certain age have heard it thousands of times over...

Mac users of the correct age might likewise recognize Marathon elevators in a lot of media.

Can be listened to right here.

See also: Stock Scream. Do not confuse with Door of Doom.


Examples:

    open/close all folders 

    Advertising 
  • Austar, an Australian television channel, used the Doom Doors sound in one of its promos.

    Anime 

    Films — Live-Action 
  • Used in Blankman, not for a door, but for the Blankmobile when he powers it down so he can hear Kimberly.
  • Doors in the film version of Doom open with a non-doom doors futuristic style sound... until the film shifts to a First-Person style and becomes much more similar to the game, complete with doors now inexplicably opening with the characteristic noise.
  • Several of the doors on the titular Event Horizon make this noise, possibly referencing the fact that the ship's drive opens a gateway to Hell.
  • Galaxy Quest uses this sound effect instead of the usual one heard in Star Trek.
  • In Grandma's Boy, JP's office has doors with this sound effect.
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens features the sound when the engine of Rey's speeder cools down.

    Live-Action TV 
  • Used in the second half of Season three of 24.
  • Also heard in the middle of the Babylon 5 fourth-season episode "Into the Fire", in a space battle scene.
  • In the short lived CW show Birds of Prey (2002), the entrance to Oracle's secret hideout uses this sound.
  • Weirdly enough, a non-door example was used in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in "The Harvest". When Luke is staked by Buffy, the sound effect plays as he disintegrates.
  • The Columbo special "Ashes to Ashes" has a retort with a door that opens and closes to the Door sounds.
  • Doctor Who uses this a couple of times:
  • Some episodes of Good Eats have used the Door sounds...and the dying sounds of some of the demons, too.
  • During the opening sequence, and commercial interstitials, for Modern Marvels, the sound of the doors opening and closing can be heard while the show's logo is being constructed.
  • In the later seasons of Mystery Science Theater 3000, one of the theater doors makes the Doom Doors sound.
    • Possibly a Shout-Out, as certain members of the creative staff (particularly Jim Mallon and Michael J. Nelson) were fans of the game.
  • Used, of course, by the MythBusters in their video games episode, where one of the myths was testing Hyperspace Arsenal as used in first-person shooters like Doom.
  • The doors in the Stargate SG-1 SGC sometimes make this noise.
  • Also turns up in the Torchwood episode "Cyberwoman".

    Music 
  • "Bein' Who We Are", the song which came on the CD bundled with the Bratz: Space Angelz line of dolls, used the Doom door sound effects in the opening to the song. You can hear the song here.
  • The music video for "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys has the sound effect used for the spy's cave. [1]
  • "Mann Gegen Mann" by Rammstein uses a sound effect that sounds suspiciously like Doom Doors. Also note the sound of the Doom shotgun can be heard in Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen Sehen.
    • "Moskau" by Rammstein uses a sound effect which sounds exactly like the Tau Cannon spinning up in Half-Life
  • "Mannequin" by The Kovenant starts with an effect which sounds exactly like the spell charging of PSI-Monks in the MMORPG Neocron

    Video Games 
  • The Steam release of Black Mesa features unique animations when picking up a weapon for the first time. Most notably when Gordon activates the Tau Cannon, it plays the full variation of this sound.
  • BMX XXX uses the effect for the sound of a water pump toppling over and explosively propelling itself across a street into traffic.
  • Descent uses the Doom platform sound (Space Ship Door 02) for the four-part square doors.
  • Doom, of course.
  • Makes an appearance in Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, complete with lampshade.
    Rex: Ooohhh, spooky doors.
  • Small doors in Halo: Combat Evolved also use the lift sound. Given that it was from Bungie who made Marathon.
  • The Journeyman Project Pegasus Prime uses the elevator sound effect for the huge doors in the TSA. Granted, the place is set in the 24th century.
  • The RoboKing in Katamari Forever makes this sound after crashing into a house.
  • Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep uses these very sound effects in the Deep Space world for a glass-cylinder teleporter.
  • Kirby: Canvas Curse uses it for sliding doors in a level.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has robotic enemies that die with this sound.
  • MechWarrior 3 also features the noise but for a 'Mech falling over and getting back up and it's also heard as it's falling over if it's destroyed by normal means.
    • The MechWarrior 2 trilogy of games also features said noise when a 'Mech shuts down.
  • The elevator sound was used in Quake's base levels.
  • Ragnarok Online: Shadow Chaser skill Manhole has this as its sound effect.
  • Resident Evil
    • The elevator/platform sound is used for the vertical sliding doors in the Laboratory in Resident Evil 2, and sliding train doors in Resident Evil 0.
    • Resident Evil 4 also has the "elevator" sound as the door sound in a couple rooms in the fortress, notably shortly before Leon faces the first Regenerator.
  • Early Splinter Cell games use the "thunk" lift stopping sound for the automated gun turrets.
  • Toy Story has the Doom elevator sound for its bonus level, "REALLY Inside the Claw Machine."
  • The high-tech dungeons of Wild ARMs use this sound for doors and elevators.
  • The "Space Door Activate" sounds of the doors in the PlayStation port and Doom 64 are also quite common, being used for the opening of the character select area in Jet Force Gemini, Gohdan's stronger phase in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Homer's office door in The Simpsons Hit & Run, doors in Splatoon 2, etc.

    Western Animation 
  • American Dad!, "The Kidney Stays In The Picture": Both the opening and closing sounds are mixed together for when Stan and Francine are returning from 1996.
  • Archer, "Heart of Archness Part One", when the plane's engine fails while Sterling and Rip are arguing.
  • Jonny Quest, Ezekiel Rage's secret underground base has one.
  • Justice League, The sound plays when Tobias Manning's robotic Pegasus is destroyed and it shuts down.
  • My Life as a Teenage Robot, "Sibling Tsunami": The sound faintly plays when Jenny activates her sisters for the first time right before the screen fades to black.
  • NIMONA (2023): The flying car Nimona and Ballister are getting away in breaks down with the sound.
  • Rugrats, "The Mega Diaper Babies": The sound plays when the robotic Angelica's head is about to explode.
  • Teen Titans Go!, "Staff Meeting", when Cyborg falls unconscious.
  • The Venture Brothers, "Victor Echo November", the sound effect is mixed with another one when the power goes out at the Venture compound.


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