History Main / RaysFromHeaven

* ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': When [[Characters/MonsterVerseKaiju Mothra]] is arriving at Castle Bravo in the wake of Ghidorah's global Armageddon, one of the first signs of her presence is a golden shaft of light piercing through the dark stormclouds overhead that are being spread by Ghidorah. Then the stormclouds break apart under a blast of divine golden light and wind, unveiling the angelic Queen of the Monsters hovering in the sky. It helps that Mothra was made to look like an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]] and that this moment signifies [[HopeBringer the return of hope]] for the cast.

* Clouds part to let streams of sunshine through onto the cub Simba when Rafiki holds him in the air during the opening of ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing''.

* In Creator/{{Michelangelo}}'s ''The Conversion of Saul, UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} aggressively shoots a beam of heavenly light into Paul's face to let him know that A) He's legit about the whole {{God}} thing and B) he messed up with the whole killing the Christians thing.

* Both the "We Are Overwatch" and "Zero Hour" trailers for ''{{VideoGame/Overwatch}}'' and ''Overwatch 2'' feature Mercy's arrival accompanied by one of these. Appropriate, as both times, she is [[HopeBringer arriving to help injured people.]]

* Music/{{Rush}}'s song "Jacob's Ladder" from ''Permanent Waves'' has this phenomenon as its subject.

* Played straight in the [[DuelingMovies dueling movie]] ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd'' where the rays of light is the ascension unto Heaven during the Rapture.
* Used during "Over the Rainbow" in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', where a shot of these rays through the thick clouds is inserted in the middle of the song to emphasise the sky idea and the height of Dorothy's happiness.
* After "What Have I Done?" in ''Film/{{Les Miserables|2012}}'', sunlight shines down on Valjean as he stands on the mountain and throws his papers into the air. It comes after him singing during the night and shows that he has decided to change his ways and become a good man with the help of God.
* After Katniss [[spoiler: proved to be willing to sacrifice her life to defeat the evil]] in ''Film/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'' in a scene during night, a small but strong ray of sunlight from directly above illuminates Katniss' body, followed by her being [[spoiler: lifted up into the sky]] in a [[CrucifiedHeroShot crucified hero pose]]. This strongly symbolizes Katniss being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture taken away]] [[spoiler: into heaven]].

* Flipped exactly on its head by the ending of ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'' (part 3 of Creator/EdgarWright's "Film/BloodAndIceCreamTrilogy"): rays from above represent the aliens who have been preparing humanity for entry into the galactic civilisation. [[spoiler:Rejected by the protagonists, who feel that the aliens have been interfering far too much; leading to the film's DownerEnding.]]

* The Cataclysm in ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' has been described as rays of light falling from the sky. In a much more severe variation of this trope, the rays of light ravaged the lands and heralded a near-apocalypse.

-->'''Soos:''' My grandma was right, I am the world's most perfect man!

* ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline'': "Guardian's Light" from the Celestial Powerset is a healing power that involves the player calling forth a beam of light from the sky.

* ''VideoGame/DcUniverseOnline'': "Guardian's Light" from the Celestial Powerset is a healing power that has the player call forth a beam of light from the sky.

* Happens in ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings The Return of the King]]'' when Gandalf the White arrives at Minas Tirith and incidentally rescues Faramir from a dark Nazgul attack. It's especially symbolic because the clouds were literally sent from {{Mordor}} to aid the forces of darkness.

* Clouds part to let streams of sunshine through onto the cub Simba when Rafiki holds him in the air during the opening of ''Disney/TheLionKing''.

* In ''Disney/{{Fantasia 2000}}'', crepuscular rays can be seen at both the beginning and the end of the "Pomp and Circumstance March" segment. (There is also a rainbow at the end.)

* Occurs whenever Wart/Arthur grabs the eponymous sword in ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone''.

[[folder:Arts]]

* In the Creator/{{Michelangelo}}'s ''The Conversion of Saul, UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} aggressively shoots a beam of heavenly light into Paul's face to let him know that A) He's legit about the whole {{God}} thing and B) he messed up with the whole killing the Christians thing.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* At the climax of ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E6TheVampiresOfVenice "The Vampires of Venice"]], the clouds are roiling and storming and getting darker every minute as the end of humanity draws near. When the Doctor shuts off the storm controller to save the world once again, the clouds dissipate and sunbeams burst through as people celebrate.

[[folder:Theater]]

* Both the "We Are Overwatch" and "Zero Hour" trailers for ''VideoGame/Overwatch'' and ''Overwatch 2'' feature Mercy's arrival accompanied by one of these. Appropriate, as both times, she is [[HopeBringer arriving to help injured people.]]

** And on his daughter at the end of the movie, and on her child at the end of the sequel...

* ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler:'' There's a subtle one when Tack the Cobbler is seen the first time, shining on him. It's used to signify his pure nature. Particularly {{egregious}} as is seems to come through the ''ceiling''.

In fiction, this shows glory at the AwesomeMomentOfCrowning, beauty in ThePromisedLand, and hope shining during the DarkestHour. This is a very common device in religious artwork since it can show the glory of a god or a heaven without having to draw them, which might be forbidden, impossible, or simply hard to pull off. It can overlap with CueTheSun.

* In PokemonEmerald, such rays appear when Rayquaza comes to Sootopolis City to pacify Groudon and Kyogre.