History Main / CryLaughing

* Inverted in the Italian dub of ''Manga/DeathNote''. After [[spoiler:Near exposes him as Kira]], Light sounds like he's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVq8ygJ_Ysc sobbing]], only to break into psychotic laughter.

* ZigZagged at times with [[ComicBook/TheJoker Arthur Fleck]] in ''Film/Joker2019''. Arthur's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudobulbar_affect Pseudobulbar affect]] caused him to laugh compulsively through the film, even when he breaks down in distress. Creator/JoaquinPhoenix does a good job of making his laughs look like they're genuine if you're unfamiliar with Arthur's character, and at the same time conveying that he's under terrible duress if you are. It truly comes to the fore during the asylum scene when he breaks down completely upon discovering that [[spoiler:his mother Penny adopted him and let him go through absolute hell, and that his entire life has been nothing but a lie]].

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', one of the things that makes [[VillainousHarlequin Walpugisnacht]] so terrifying (NighInvulnerability aside) is that she reacts to everything thrown at her with downright-insane laughter that's hard to distinguish from hysterical crying. Given how Witches are born from despair, then [[HopelessBossFight the most powerful Witch of all]] would have to be unfathomably miserable in both the past and present.

** The Wano Country arc shows a dark example of the trope. [[spoiler:When a certain character is executed, the saddened citizens who saw the deed burst out laughing, including the character's own daughter. Zoro, who was present, was appaled and enraged, but another ally explains the truth; no matter how genuinely sad the citizens are, they are physically incapable of showing any emotion other than smiling and laughter, because of the SMILE fruits Kaido brought to Wano]].

* ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain'': When Simon thinks he's [[spoiler:killed Grace]], [[VillainousBreakdown he has total mental breakdown]], crying while [[LaughingMad laughing maniacally]] as [[spoiler:his passenger number rapidly climbs up far enough to completely cover his face.]] The laughter stops ''really'' fast when he realizes [[spoiler:Grace survived]].

* ''Film/RevengeOfThePinkPantherChief''. After Clouseau is [[NotQuiteDead supposedly killed]], his former boss Dreyfus (who has been literally driven mad by Clouseau's antics) has to give the eulogy. While doing so he starts laughing with glee, then has to cover it up by pretending he's shedding ManlyTears. Everyone is so moved by this they start crying as well.

* In ''Film/RevengeOfThePinkPanther'', Dreyfus is giving his eulogy at what appears to be Inspector Clouseau's grave. He cries to cover up his in-universe {{Corpsing}}.

-->'''Mascot:''' Hello, sir! I'm Craterface! I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to confiscate that alcohol!\\
'''Bender:''' Better mascots have tried. [''drinks beer and shoves bottle into mascot's eye'']\\
'''Mascot:''' At least I still have my self-respect! Hahahah...[''breaks into sobbing'']

* In the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "Acts of Sacrifice", G'Kar is reduced to begging for aid from other races. After a negotiation where he ends up getting only a small portion of what he asked for, he breaks down like this. A fan asked on Usenet if G'Kar was laughing or crying, and Creator/JMichaelStraczynski [[WordOfGod replied]]:
--> It's both; laughing at the absurdity, and crying...about as close as we've seen to a nervous breakdown.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Family", Picard visits his childhood home in France where his brother is still living with his own family. During an argument, the two Picards get into a mud brawl. Picard starts laughing over it before he breaks down crying, recounting the MindRape that the Borg put him through in "The Best of Both Worlds."

* Inversion: At the end of the ''WesternAnimtion/DangerMouse'' arc "The Odd Ball Runaround," DM and Penfold have a HeroicBSOD from the mission completed only to receive a mission which made the first a waste of time. Penfold is crying pitifully on DM's chest until DM assures him that "it's only a cartoon." Penfold brightens up and starts laughing.

* Done by Tom at the end of the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' short "Is There a Doctor in the Mouse?" when he faces a [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever giant Jerry]], who was trying to replicate a formula the lets him run at super speed. Instead, he grows some ten times bigger than Tom who starts laughing hysterically then degenerates into pitiful sobbing.

%%* Done by Tom at the end of the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' short "Is There a Doctor in the Mouse?" when he faces a [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever giant Jerry]].