History Main / OnlyTheLeadsGetADownerEnding

* ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' kill themselves in the end, but this makes the surviving members of their FeudingFamilies realize how destructive their enmity is and agree to bury the conflict for good, bringing a new era of peace between them.

* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'': At the very end, Conker the title character becomes king against his will, and he's deeply depressed because his girlfriend Berri was killed in front of him. Everyone else, however, can live in peace now that the original ruler, the Panther King, is dead.

* ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Claude Frollo is thrown from Notre Dame by Quasimodo, Esméralda is hanged for the murder of Phoebus (although he never died) and Quasimodo starves himself to death near her body. Other characters, including Phoebus, are more successful: Pierre Gringoire's plays are more successful.

Sometimes, OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding in a story. And other times, it's the opposite; the main characters are the only ones stuck with a DownerEnding while side characters and/or the overall setting gets a happy one.

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--> '''Akira:''' ''"I won... I won because of my mother!"''

* ''Series/Loki2021'': The series ends with [[Characters/MCULokiLaufeysonVariantL1130 Loki]] successfully dissolving the Temporal Loom, saving the branched timelines from the failsafe destruction and allowing all of his friends and loved ones to survive. But by doing so, he is condemned to a life of solitude where he will spend the rest of his days sustaining the branches of time indefinitely.

* ''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody The Suite Life On Deck]]'', and by extension its parent series, ends on a rather downer note for both Zack and Cody. They've both graduated high school, but Maya dumped Zack before heading off to the Peace Corps while Cody was rejected by Yale even though Bailey got in. With all of their friends going off in separate directions, the two of them depart the S.S. Tipton unsure of what their next steps are.

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* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy:'':

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* ''VideoGame/StarcraftIILegacyOfTheVoid'': Amon [[DeaderThanDead died for good]] in the epilogue, his Hybrids no longer exist, and all three races enjoyed a period of relative peace ([[VideoGame/StarcraftIINovaCovertOps until the next conflict]], anyway), with the Zerg being led by the Kerrigan-mentored Zagara, the Terran Dominion being rebuilt under Valerian Mengsk's leadership (which also includes the former Raynor's Raiders), and the Protoss finally united and having returned to their homeworld of Aiur (plus, the Purifiers and the Tal'Darim dissenters having been accepted as part of the Protoss society as a whole). But all of this came at heavy costs: armies aside, Kerrigan used all her life essence to banish Amon from existence, and [[AmbiguousSituation it's implied in the scene at the Mar Sara bar]] that Raynor either [[CessationOfExistence vanished from existence]], AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence or [[DrivenToSuicide committed suicide]]. Either way, it ends with Raynor not being able to be seen again. And that's not counting the many heroes and named characters who died between 1998's ''VideoGame/StarcraftI'' and the epilogue of this game.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXVI'': Despite all the death and chaos, with even more implied to be on the way, the ending has a note of hope with Ultima beaten for good and mankind left to forge their own future. But it comes at the cost of Cid, Dion and ([[UncertainDoom maybe]]) Joshua being dead, and Clive beginning to petrify all alone thanks to overuse of his Dominant powers throughout the game. The only leads left alive are Jill and Torgal, who are shown to be devastated as they seem to realize what happened to Clive, whose final fate is left unknown.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad'': Possibly, in ''The Story of Ichabod Crane''. Ichabod either gets killed by the Headless Horseman or splits town and finds a wife of his own. [[UncertainDoom It's left ambiguous if he survived]], but if you go with the interpretation that he died, Brom Bones (the AntiVillain antagonist) marrying Katrina (Ichabod's crush) could qualify.

* ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'': The MCU version of [[Characters/MCUPeterParker Peter Parker]] ends up with the absolute worst resolution of everybody else in the cast: Despite the events of the film, MJ and Ned get into MIT. Happy loses his apartment and his love, and his job is still at risk because of the government investigating Stark Industries, but there is a chance he will bounce back. Doctor Strange did exactly what he wanted to do, exiling the people who incurred the MCU and only getting a few bruises and annoyance from it (he did show some respect in the end to Peter, but it's peanuts). The villains and the other Spider-Men returned to their respective universes with the implication that they resolved their plights (and for the villains, did not die). Meanwhile, Peter is magically {{Unperson}}ed, Aunt May dies, and he is still despised as Spider-Man [[ShootTheShaggyDog while losing everyone and everything he had over the course of the previous films]]. He doesn’t even want to repair his relationship with MJ and Ned [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies for fear of dragging them back into his own misery]]. By the film’s end, he still soldiers on, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility because with great power...]]

* ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'': The MCU version of [[Characters/MCUPeterParker Peter Parker]] ends up with the absolute worst resolution of everybody else in the cast: Happy lost his apartment, Aunt May and his job is probably at risk because of the government investigating Stark Industries as a result of the events of ''Far From Home'', but there is a chance he will bounce back. Doctor Strange, in a way, did exactly what he wanted to do and exiled the people who incurred the MCU and only got a few bruises and annoyance from it (he did show some respect in the end to Peter, but it's peanuts). The villains and the other Spider-Men returned to their respective universes and the implication is that they got better resolutions to their plights (and for the villains, did not die). MJ and Ned went to MIT. Peter was magically turned into an {{Unperson}}, Aunt May died, he is still despised as Spider-Man by the world, he has lost absolutely everybody and everything he gained over the course of the previous films and he won't make the effort to get them back [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies because he does not want to drag them back into his own misery]]. He still soldiers on, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility because with great power...]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'': [=BoJack=] is sent to prison at the end of the series, and while there are glimmers of hope for him, he'll most likely never fully escape his past demons and self-destructive lifestyle. The rest of the main cast, on the other hand, receive much more hopeful endings, each achieving successful careers and (except for Mr. Peanutbutter) stable, loving relationships, all steadily moving on without the horse in their lives.

* ''Film/KamenRiderZeroOneOthersVulcanValkyrie'': By the end of the film, Isamu and every member of Metsubojinrai end up taking each other down in a [[MutualKill Mutual]] MercyKill; everyone presumed dead thanks to an entirely-avoidable tragedy nobody can get justice for; making this the second time Aruto has had to see his loved ones die. The incident worsens the relations between Human and Humagear to record levels; a now-powerless Yaiba forced to argue with a hostile Defense Minister intent on bringing new anti-AI legislation to the table (implying that the fighting will just continue). Both The Ark and Gai Amatsu sit the entire Kamen Rider Metsubojinrai incident out and get away scot-free with all the suffering they heaped on the heroes during the show as a result; The Ark took refuge in the internet and gathered more data while Gai reformed into an AntiHero and ended up starting his own company ([[KamenRiderZeroOneKamenRiderGenmsThePresidents albeit with complications]]). Everyone other than the heroes is for the better...at least until HistoryRepeats and [[Series/KamenRiderOutsiders another evil AI rears its ugly head.]]

* ''Film/KamenRiderZeroOneOthersVulcanValkyrie'': By the end of the film, both Isamu and every member of Metsubojinrai is presumed dead thanks to an entirely-avoidable tragedy nobody can get justice for, making this the second time Aruto has had to see his loved ones die. The incident hits the ResetButton on everything the franchise accomplished in terms of the co-existence between Human and Humagear; a now-powerless Yaiba forced to argue with a now-hostile Defense Minister intent on bringing new anti-AI legislation to the table. Later post-series content even reveals that both The Ark and Gai Amatsu get away scot-free with all the suffering they heaped on the heroes to get here (the latter becoming an AntiHero) and ''another evil artificial intelligence'' is active by the time of ''Series/KamenRiderOutsiders,'' meaning the villains ultimately won and the entire season was AllForNothing.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': [[TheHeroDies Lelouch vi Britannia]] [[ThanatosGambit orchestrates his own assassination]]. Suzaku Kururugi, who [[FakingTheDead fakes his own death]] to forever take on the identity of [[MyHeroZero Zero]], is the one to kill Lelouch and must now forever remain LonelyAtTheTop. The surviving major characters move on with their lives; Kallen Kozuki gets to finish school without having to hide her identity, Kaname Ohgi and Villetta Nu have BabiesEverAfter (and probably both go back to teaching school after Ohgi's term as prime minister), Shinichiro Tamaki opens a bar, and Empress Nunnally vi Britannia, Chairman Kaguya Sumeragi, and Empress Tianzi Lihua rule over a peaceful world. And C.C. rides off in a cart to who-knows-where.

* ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'': The MCU version of Peter Parker ends up with the absolute worst resolution of everybody else in the cast: Happy lost his apartment, Aunt May and his job is probably at risk because of the government investigating Stark Industries as a result of the events of ''Far From Home'', but there is a chance he will bounce back. Doctor Strange, in a way, did exactly what he wanted to do and exiled the people who incurred the MCU and only got a few bruises and annoyance from it (he did show some respect in the end to Peter, but it's peanuts). The villains and the other Spider-Men returned to their respective universes and the implication is that they got better resolutions to their plights (and for the villains, did not die). MJ and Ned went to MIT. Peter was magically turned into an {{Unperson}}, Aunt May died, he is still despised as Spider-Man by the world, he has lost absolutely everybody and everything he gained over the course of the previous films and he won't make the effort to get them back [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies because he does not want to drag them back into his own misery]]. He still soldiers on, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility because with great power...]]

* ''Series/Loki2021'': The series ends with Loki successfully dissolving the Temporal Loom, saving the branched timelines from the failsafe destruction and allowing all of his friends and loved ones to survive. But by doing so, he is condemned to a life of solitude where he will spend the rest of his days sustaining the branches of time indefinitely.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': Season 3 ends on this note. Everyone was saved, Zaheer was defeated, and a new Air Nation is born. Everything looks bright for everyone--except Korra herself, who is physically and mentally broken from her experiences.

* ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Claude Frollo is thrown from Notre Dame by Quasimodo, Esméralda is hanged for the murder of Phoebus (although he never died) and Quasimodo starves himself to death near his body. Other characters, including Phoebus, are more successful: Pierre Gringoire's plays are more successful.

Sometimes, Only The Leads Get A Happy Ending in a story. And other times, it's the opposite; the main characters are the only ones stuck with a DownerEnding while side characters and/or the overall setting gets a happy one.

* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'': This is how Gamma's story ends. Gamma takes it upon himself to destroy his brothers and free the Flicky birds within them. He immediately adds himself to his log, making it abundantly clear that he's planning on [[SuicideMission killing himself in order to free the Flicky inside him]]. However, before he gets to do that, [[MutualKill Beta fires a beam at him before they both explode]], which releases the Flicky. Everyone else seen in Gamma's story will get a happy ending in some way (Sonic, Amy, Tails, Big, and Knuckles), but Gamma ends up DyingAlone, as almost no one knew him that well, and [[NeverGotToSayGoodbye Amy never sees him again like she wanted to]][[note]]Though in the ''Anime/SonicX'' adaptation, she does get to say goodbye to him[[/note]].

Maybe the BigBad is defeated and the world is saved, but TheHeroDies in the process. Maybe the main characters, in order to defeat the BigBad, have to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice themselves]] so the world can live on. Maybe the story is making a point about our heroes nobly putting the safety and prosperity of the world over their own happiness. Or maybe the main character is a VillainProtagonist who's demise is a happy ending for everyone else.

Sometimes, OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding in a story. And other times, it's the opposite; the main characters are the only ones stuck with a DownerEnding while side characters and/or the overall setting gets a happy one.

* Downplayed in the anime version of ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'', where Hiro and Zero-Two die or [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascend]] after successful defeating the [=VIRMs=] forces in space, which leaves their friends back on Earth to live happy and peaceful lives as they rebuild the Earth, but the two are reincarnated in the DistantFinale and resume their romance.

* ''Anime/{{Raideen}}'': In the GrandFinale, Akira and his friends have finally defeated the [[AliensAreBastards Demon Empire]] and ensured they'll never wreak havoc on Earth or any other planet again...at the cost of Akira's long lost mother, Princess Lemuria, dying and giving her life to ensure a shot at Barao's OneWingedAngel form. As she lays dying in Akira's arms, her cold exterior breaks as she tells him she's proud of him. All the cast can only stare in sadness as the Ancient Ship of Mu picks up her body for the last time.

* ''Fanfic/CharlesMansonVsTheTeletubbies'' opens with the main character, UsefulNotes/CharlesManson, bragging about how he tricked the entire world into thinking he was dead and planning on resuming his crusade. However, he makes the mistake of messing with the Teletubbies, and is killed as he begs for mercy.
* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': By the end of the fanfic, the last two Element Bearers have been found, the Gardens of Equestria, which is designed to purge the land of radiation and taint, has been activated, alicorns are now a viable pony species, and the New Canterlot Republic is a stable government. However, for this to happen, Littlepip, the main character of the fic, had to permanently seal herself into the SPP mainframe, essentially giving up everything she holds dear and placing her in an AndIMustScream situation to ensure the control of the weather. The only alleviation of this bleak ending for Littlepip is that the afterword shows that her friends can occasionally see her, and sealing herself extended her life after it was cut short by her times in the Wasteland.
* ''VideoGame/{{Ribbit}}'': In the "Remains Uncertain" ending, Manos is destroyed and the world is restored, the [=NPCs=] are back to normal, and Noyno is crowned king, with him promising to let go of his JerkassFacade and be a just king. But YOU and Susie, who have grown close over the journey, end up having to fight each other, as Susie, being TheMaster who served Manos and a ghost herself, must be killed to fully rid the world of Manos' influence. The two drag out the fight, wanting a way out but unable to think of one, and the game ends before we see the result. The secret NewGamePlus ending indicates Susie won, but by that point YOU is able to forcibly change the ending to a better one for everyone.

* ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'': The MCU version of Peter Parker ends up with the absolute worst resolution of everybody else in the cast: Happy lost his apartment, Aunt May and his job is probably at risk because of the government investigating Stark Industries as a result of the events of ''Far From Home'', but there is a chance he will bounce back. Doctor Strange, in a way, did exactly what he wanted to do and exiled the people who incurred the MCU and only got a few bruises and annoyance from it (he did showed some respect in the end to Peter, but it's peanuts). The villains and the other Spider-Men returned to their respective universes and the implication is that they got better resolutions to their plights (and for the villains, did not died). MJ and Ned went to MIT. Peter was magically turned into an {{Unperson}}, Aunt May died, he is still despised as Spider-Man by the world, he has lost absolutely everybody and everything he gained over the course of the previous films and he won't make the effort to get them back [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies because he does not wants to drag them back into his own misery]]. He still soldiers on, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility because with great power...]]

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': A TimeSkip reveals a world which is brighter and kinder than is usual for the series, and lead characters who've all but fallen apart. The long-enslaved Hork-Bajir are free and living in Yellowstone, the Yeerks and Taxxons have escaped their bodies and live in other forms, there is peace and trade between humans and Andalites. Eva, Alloran, and other hosts get to live free. But Rachel is dead, Jake is mired in depression and self-hatred, Tobias lives as a hawk in isolation, Ax has gone BloodKnight and recklessly pursues trouble, and Marco keeps himself busy and claims happiness but jumps to throw it all away for a suicide mission. Cassie calls herself and Marco the "only two survivors" among the Animorphs, but she's the only one who's managed to move on and make a new life and find love. The last several books in the series feature these characters looking at their options and choosing again and again to work for that world above their own personal interests, so perhaps it's not surprising.
* ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Claude Frollo is thrown from Notre Dame by Quasimodo, Esméralda is hanged for the murder of Phoebus (although he never died) and Quasimodo starves himself to death near his body. Other characters, including Phoebus, are more succesful: Pierre Gringoire's plays are more succesful.
* ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'': This happens with the main characters Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. After ruling Narnia for many years, leaving it as a wonderfully happy place, and becoming young adults themselves, they accidentally go back through the wardrobe, finding themselves as children in ordinary clothes in the mundane reality of their own world. They realise that the wardrobe will never take them to Narnia again, but they are given the hope that they might return to Narnia one day.
* At the end of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Middle Earth is saved from Sauron (and his [[SoulJar One Ring]] destroyed so he will never be back), the Shire is saved from Saruman, but Frodo has been damaged in the process of the distruction of the One Ring, and goes off to the Grey Havens while leaving Sam behind.
* ''Literature/TheMetamorphosis'': The protagonist Gregor undergoes a transformation where he becomes an insect-like being. At the end, after overhearing his neglectful family state that they'd be better off without him, he [[SuicideForOthersHappiness opts to starve to death so that they can live in peace]]. Though his mother and sister Grete are shaken by this at first ([[LackOfEmpathy his father certainly isn't]]), they move on with their lives and [[YoungestChildWins Grete becomes more successful]].

* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': At the end of "Terra Prime", the conference that will eventually lead to the formation of the United Federation of Planets has been established, making it a happy ending for society as a whole. On the other hand, the ending is far from happy for the crew of the ''Enterprise'', since [[DeathOfAChild a baby named Elizabeth is dead]]. This is particularly sad for Trip and T'Pol, since Elizabeth was created from their DNA, so they kind of saw her as their daughter.
* ''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody The Suife Life On Deck]]'', and by extension its parent series, ends on a rather downer note for both Zack and Cody. They've both graduated high school, but Maya dumped Zack before heading off to the Peace Corps while Cody was rejected by Yale even though Bailey got in. With all of their friends going off in separate directions, the two of them depart the S.S. Tipton unsure of what their next steps are.

* ''Theatre/OnceOnThisIsland'': Ti Moune doesn’t get to be with Daniel, the boy she loves, and he marries Andrea instead. But the gods are moved by the strength of her love for Daniel, and instead of simply letting her die, they turn her into a tree. It breaks open the gates of the Hotel Beauxhomme, allowing the peasants and the rich to mingle together and become one. A young peasant girl and Daniel’s son play in the branches of Ti Moune’s tree, hinting that they will fall in love and live happily ever after, and that it was her sacrifice that made such a thing possible.

* ''VideoGame/BlazblueCentralFiction:'' The game ends with Ragna [[RetGone erasing himself from existence and everyone's memory]] so that life can move on, because he realizes he is the titular "Central Fiction" that the [[DeusEstMachina Master Unit Amaterasu]] keeps "dreaming" of, and keeps resetting the world for the sake of. The game ends with a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue where most of the cast (especially Ragna's siblings) live their lives happily.

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!Note: since this is an inversion of OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding, I will be taking examples from there.
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