History Main / MeaningfulLook

* ''{{Film/Braveheart}}'' shows us a masterful use of this trope and reminds everyone that, whatever one thinks of Mr. Gibson's views and personal fixations, he understands the language of cinema. At a wedding ceremony, there is a voice over narration that implies that the king's son, Prince Edward, does not have any love for Princess Isabelle, whom he is marrying, but King Edward Longshanks himself longs for her. Meanwhile, Prince Edward's lover, Phillip, is on hand and watching the ceremony. King Edward Longshanks is quite attracted to the princess, is aware of his son's sexuality, has contempt for his son, and absolutely despises Phillip. Isabelle, meanwhile, has no desire to be a part of this and is trapped. All of this is conveyed to the audience with a few meaningful glances, a bit of physical acting, a glare, some unfortunate gay visual coding, and an awkward kiss within a scene that lasts seconds.
* ''Film/MonsterVerse'':
** ''Film/{{Godzilla|2014}}'':
*** As the male MUTO attacks the MONARCH facility in Janjira, Joe Brody and his son Ford exchange a look before Joe falls from an overpass, knowing something bad is about to happen.
*** A skyscraper falls onto Godzilla after he's [[spoiler:killed the male MUTO]] and he locks eyes with Ford. Godzilla gives the awestruck Ford an exhausted but calm look, as if he's thanking Ford for saving his life earlier and acknowledging that they have both been through a lot the past few days.
** ''Film/KongSkullIsland'': After killing the giant Skullcrawler, Kong is leaving the marsh when he turns and looks back at Mason Weaver and James Conrad, recalling the bond he had formed with them. As per WordOfGod, the look is meant to hint at something deeper than the typical [[BeastAndBeauty beauty and the beast]] storyline that's usually associated with King Kong, and symbolize the notion that gods and humans aren't meant to be together and have to remain separate.
* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': When Loki calls himself Odinson before Thanos, he turns to look at Thor, and his eyes say it all - it's an expression of brotherly love, an apology [[spoiler:and a good-bye. He dies shortly after.]]
* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': When Carol is knocked out by Thanos using a Power Stone-powered punch, Iron Man is in position to seize the gauntlet. Dr. Strange is jerked into looking at the scene, and wordlessly, pointedly looks at Iron Man. He obviously looks extremely nervous, finally tightening his resolve as his facial expression hardens and he signals '1' with a raised digit, never ever averting his gaze from Tony. The whole body language means "This is the one chance we'll ever get", and Tony realizes why Dr. Strange couldn't tell him details before this moment: [[spoiler:someone has to pull a HeroicSacrifice for everyone else to win. Tony steps up to the challenge and saves the day at the cost of his life.]]

Compare FaceNodAction.

* ''Literature/ThePendragonAdventure'': In ''The Reality Bug'', Bobby and Aja exchange a look before they head into the gym to get Alex's controller, signifying that they are on the same page. This marks a turning point in their relationship; up till this point, it's largely been one of clashing and disagreement, but now they are ready to work together as fellow Travelers.

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the DeathGlare, DeterminedExpression, DisapprovingLook, EatingTheEyeCandy, HeldGaze, KubrickStare, LongingLook, LongLastLook, RevealingHug and TraitorShot. Compare FaceNodAction.

[[folder: Web Videos]]

* Just after her true identity is revealed and she is overpowered in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', the gagged [[spoiler: Annie]] pointedly makes eye contact with Eren, who looks ''extremely'' distressed when he sees her seemingly helpless. This is even more obvious in the manga, and serves to highlight the respect they hold for each other. See [[http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Mercy_%28Chapter%29 the SnK wiki for the relevant panels]].

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/TheXFiles'', "Grotesque": Agent Mulder is sinking into darkness and madness when he's investigating a particularly difficult case with a copycat serial killer. His supervisor Skinner asks his partner how he deals. She answers just with her look.
-->'''Skinner:''' Are you worried about him, Agent Scully?\\
'''Scully:''' No, sir.\\
'''Skinner:''' Off the record.\\
''[Scully doesn't answer. She just cocks her head and looks extremely sad.]''\\
'''Skinner:''' So am I.

* Many scenes in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' have Willow Rosenberg conveying intense emotion with just her facial expressions, beginning in the series premiere with what Creator/JossWhedon calls "her big hurt eyes".
* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Lily verbally supports the idea of her ex-boyfriend Marshall dating someone else, but simultaneously shoots her friend one of these looks. The look's meaning is entirely lost on her, something which they lampshade later.
-->'''Robin:''' That doesn't seem like a look.\\
'''Lily:''' Yes it is. It means, "I'm upset, call me later."\\
'''Robin:''' You should have pulled me aside and told me what the look meant.\\
'''Lily:''' If I pulled you aside, I wouldn't need the look...

->''"Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her because he disliked her, was still more strange."''

* ''Series/TheXFiles'', "Grotesque": Agent Mulder is sinking into darkness and madness when he's investigating a particularly difficult case with a copycat serial killer. His supervisor Skinner asks his partner how he deals.

** Their Spanish adversaries and prisoners, Senor and Senora Ortega share a look after they were forced to the unconditional surrender. We later find out its meaning. [[spoiler:He wanted her to pull The Vamp and Femme Fatale. She pretended she was interested in having sex and killed one stupid Red Shirt, and the Spanish prisoners took over the ship.]]

->''"[A]s they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of. [...] It was evident that the gentleman, (completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly.''"
-->-- '''Creator/JaneAusten''', ''Literature/{{Persuasion}}''

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the DeathGlare, DeterminedExpression, DisapprovingLook, HeldGaze, KubrickStare, LongingLook, LongLastLook, RevealingHug and TraitorShot. Compare FaceNodAction.

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the DeterminedExpression, KubrickStare, RevealingHug, TraitorShot, DeathGlare, HeldGaze, LongingLook and DisapprovingLook. Compare FaceNodAction.

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the DeterminedExpression, KubrickStare, TraitorShot, DeathGlare, HeldGaze, LongingLook and DisapprovingLook. Compare FaceNodAction.

** During one scene at the court, everybody looks silently at Gunner Hobbs. They believe that his testimony will be crucial and reveal what happens on the ship and who pushed the captain down the hatchway.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. The Klingons actually have their own word for this. Worf is explaining where his loyalty to General Martok comes from.
-->'''Worf:''' You know that I was forced to fight the Jem'Hadar guards in the camp. Each day they would call me to the ring, and each day I would fight. But then there came a day when I... wavered.\\

** Averted in "Sons of Mogh", when Worf is nearly killed by another Klingon armed with a hidden knife, and worries that he's losing his touch because he failed to see the intent to kill [[EyesNeverLie in the man's eyes]].
* Many scenes in Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer have Willow Rosenberg conveying intense emotion with just her facial expressions, beginning in the series premiere with what Creator/JossWhedon calls "her big hurt eyes".

* ''Film/PrideAndPrejudice'' (2005): When Miss Darcy meets Elizabeth for the first time at Pemberley, she gives her and her brother Mr Darcy a knowing look. It's implied that Miss Darcy knows that he's in love with her, and wonders what Elizabeth's feelings are.

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the DeterminedExpression, KubrickStare, TraitorShot, DeathGlare, HeldGaze, LongingLook and DisapprovingLook.

** Averted in "Sons of Mogh", when Worf is nearly killed by another Klingon, and worries that he's losing his touch because he failed to see the decision to kill [[EyesNeverLie in the man's eyes]].

** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': When Loki calls himself Odinson before Thanos, he turns to look at Thor, and his eyes say it all - it's an expression of brotherly love, an apology [[spoiler:and a good-bye. He dies shortly after.]]