History Main / SilenceIsGolden

* ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': After Anakin's [[FallenHero fall]], his more disturbing actions (leading the sack of the Jedi Temple, [[WouldHurtAChild murdering the younglings]], [[KickTheSonOfABitch slaughtering the Separatist Council]]) are done without dialogue. Well without ''him'' saying anything anyway, several of his victims beg.
* Rey's EstablishingCharacterMoment in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' has no dialogue at all until the very end, as we watch her scavenge from a wrecked Star Destroyer, sell the parts for food, and return home to eat dinner all alone, the same as she's been doing for her entire adult life. Without a word from Daisy Ridley, [[ShowDontTell we learn]] her loneliness, independence, desperation to be part of something greater, and feeling of insignificance against a vast and dangerous universe, shown visually when she puts on a salvaged Rebel flight helmet and watches the stars while sitting in [[RuleOfSymbolism the shadow of the destroyed AT-AT]] in which she makes her home.
* ''Film/StarWarsReturnOfTheJedi'': The speederbike chase scene has about one line of dialogue and, unusually for the series, no music; only the sound effects.
* ''Film/StarWarsTheLastJedi'' has both sound and score cut out completely during a moment when [[spoiler:Vice Admiral Holdo [[RammingAlwaysWorks rams her cruiser]] into First Order MileLongShip ''Supremacy'' '''at lightspeed''', cleaving it in two and shredding the First Order's fleet]]. Though intended to underscore the drama, the silence actually unnerved some moviegoers, to the point that some theaters [[https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-last-jedi-silent-scene-not-glitch-amc-warn/ had to post a disclaimer]] about the moment being intentional.

* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': "Quiet Please" becomes unsurprisingly light on dialogue throughout the middle of the episode, upon the Greens getting a warning from the librarian to not make one noise, even talking and whispering, otherwise they'll be banned. It is to the point Tilly suggests the Greens communicate through the use of American Sign Language whenever they need to deliver a message, with almost all of their dialogue coming from their thoughts. The part where Cricket tries to evade the librarian after screaming from stepping on a toy block is two and a half minutes of no dialogue, and if you count the part where they go up the stairs, it would be four to five minutes of no verbal speaking, not counting their thoughts. Even the part between when Tilly teaches sign language and when Bill and Cricket talk at the water fountain is about two to two and a half minutes of no talking, save for grunts, laughs, screams, and sighing. It all goes back to verbal communication when they leave the library in the end.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': The first eight minutes of the movie were completely free of any dialogue, and the only vocalizations we get are the ape and leopard noises from Kala and Sabor, the baby Tarzan's coos and cries, and the "Two Worlds" number in the first scene.

* ''WebAnimation/FreshGuacamole'' has no dialogue at all, though considering the minimalist story, it's not like it's needed.

* ''Webanimation/{{TETRISD}}'': There is no dialogue or even sound effects, only just a remix of the ''Videogame/{{Tetris}}'' theme for BackgroundMusic.

* Despite its usually heavy amount of dialogue, [[https://www.viruscomix.com/page566.html one comic]] of ''WebComic/{{Subnormality}}'' is completely silent save the final panel, choosing it to illustrate how comfortable Sphynx and her human friend feel spending an entire quiet day together.

* Despite its usually heavy amount of dialogue, [[https://www.viruscomix.com/page566.html one comic]] of Webcomic/Subnormality is completely silent save the final panel, choosing it to illustrate how comfortable Sphynx and her human friend feel spending an entire quiet day together.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Each episode plays a short clip over the credits to wrap things up or get in another quick gag before it's over. The episode "Not What He Seems" just shows [[spoiler: two young boys quietly sitting on a swing set, with but the quiet beach breeze for company]]. Especially effective because of [[WhamEpisode what immediately preceded it.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' episode where Timmy wishes for quiet, there is no in-universe sound at all, but [[MickeyMousing music accompanies every single moment of the "silence".]] Actually extremely well done.

* In Kim Ki-Duk's ''Film/ThreeIron (Bin-Jip)'', the two protagonists have only two lines of dialogue, spoken at the very end of the film.

Although, it should be noted that silent films were ''never'' actually silent, they were always accompanied with live music in theatres and this music scored every scene and emotional point of the film, often against the director's intentions for a patch of sound-free action (no dialogue or no music and effects). Creator/JosefVonSternberg, director of silent classics and a great deal of important sound films, noted that [[RealityIsUnrealistic it was only with sound]] that he was able to put long stretches into his films without dialogue and music. The real reason directors and other technicians were hesitant to try sound, aside from an instinctive refusal to change their routine, is the fact that the arrival of sound led to film craftsmanship taking a step back. By the end of the silent era, films like ''Film/{{Sunrise}}'' and ''Film/TheCrowd'' as well as comedies by Creator/BusterKeaton showed amazing technical facility in cutting, editing, and camera techniques, benefiting greatly from the lightweight cameras that prevailed at the end of the '20s. The arrival of sound and theater talent as well as the primitive recording equipment led many early films to be what Creator/AlfredHitchcock once dismissed as "pictures of people talking" or filmed theatre with little in way of inventive camera techniques or creative lighting used to tell a story cinematically. Sound equipment also led to heavier cameras which made it harder, for some time, to achieve the TrackingShot and other impressive technical feats. Though, many film-makers adapted quickly and worked hard to achieve solutions.

* The two ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'' movies, also by Oshii, have very little dialog as well. Most fight scenes don't have any spoken lines at all and instead show in great detail what the characters are doing and seeing, leaving it to the audience to assume what they might be thinking.

* ''Anime/{{Interstella 5555}}: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem'', set to the songs of the Music/DaftPunk album ''Discovery'', has no need for dialogue either (other than the song lyrics and a brief introduction by Creator/LeijiMatsumoto). Even the sound effects are minimal.

* The first episode of ''Anime/{{Texhnolyze}}'' has approximately ten lines of dialogue, all in a couple of scenes coming near the end of the episode after 11 minutes of near-silence. While the rest of the series is more talkative, it's not uncommon to have several minutes without spoken dialogue in many episodes. The main protagonist Ichise is an extremely quiet man, who often lets others, including Ran, a girl only slightly less silent than him talk in his stead.

* ''Anime/SerialExperimentsLain'' is another series that makes pretty good use of this trope. While no episode uses it quite to the same extent as the first episode of ''Anime/{{Texhnolyze}}'', which was also made by ''Creator/YoshitoshiABe'', throughout its 13-episode run, there are at least several points where they go up to several minutes with little to no dialogue. This includes montages of Lain simply walking to school or around her house, and to increase the effect, the former are only accompanied by the sound of humming power lines.

* A 2013 Franchise/{{Batman}} comic book was like this to portray the grief of Bruce Wayne over [[spoiler:his son and then Robin Damian's death]].
* A short story focusing on ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} protecting her neighbourhood from the violence of a Gotham Mischief Night was largely free of dialogue, likely to express the bleakness of the situation. The last and only lines were Catwoman [[spoiler:sombrely singing "Happy Birthday" to herself]] as the sun rose.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFPtIvXzyUo This amateur film]], consisting of no sound other than BackgroundMusic.
* The WebVideo/HitlerRants [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sruLxzPlivM video]] where Hitler is informed of nothing and says nothing.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIMafROjyo&list=PLMceQMPovGmoNhTTQx5nkoEX4CoJx7fpR&index=9 The Gift]] is an excellent example. It tells the view a time, place, and plot with only one (arguably unnecessary) snippet of dialogue.
* KLOMP! Animation cartoons, such as ''WebAnimation/BadDays'', often keep spoken dialogue to a minimum.
* The web animation series [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io9r9Xgo2Uo Porkchop 'n Flatscreen!]] Besides the title cards, and some songs, it has no spoken dialogue at all. It has [[PictorialSpeechBubble pictorial speech bubbles]] and silent movie dialogue cards instead.
** Also from the same creator, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSXpWrVmPxM Chubby Mermaid.]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE2V9hanhE8 Little Boat.]] It only takes 4 minutes to tell its story.
* ''WebAnimation/SimonsCat'' has a cat but it doesn't talk. Popular with cat lovers and owners.
* The creator of the series ''WebVideo/PrimitiveTechnology'' disliked the explanation parts of videos and simply skipped to where the project being worked on was actually done. He's taken the same approach to his own videos, and his own voice is never heard. The only explanation of what he's doing is done through closed captions, and the only sound are those of the environment and what he's doing.
* Priscila's application video for ''WebVideo/FuturoExPorta'' was praised by the judges for conveying sarcasm and humor despite her not saying a single word in it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Creator/GenndyTartakovsky is so fond of practicing this that, if it wasn't for [[WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania his theatrical work]] lacking it, it would unquestionably be his SignatureStyle. [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory All]] [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack of his]] [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars television]] [[WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan series]] feature several extended dialogue-less sequences driven only by music, if not just sound effects and ambient noise. Entire {{No Dialogue Episode}}s also aren't uncommon; his ''WesternAnimation/Primal2019'' miniseries is the pinnacle of this, not featuring a single piece of talking outside animalistic grunts and yells over its 110-minute runtime.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'' only features two simple lines of dialogue in its final non-musical scene - the ArcWords “It is time” from Rafiki, and “Remember” from Mufasa. Originally Zazu would’ve greeted Simba as “your majesty”, but the filmmakers agreed the scene worked best with minimal if any dialogue, and cut the line.[[note]]It was cut so late, however, that Zazu’s mouth still visibly mouths the line in the final product[[/note]]. There was also no dialogue during Simba's presentation (aside from the "Circle of Life" number).

* Jan Å vankmajer's 1996 ''Film/ConspiratorsOfPleasure'' features no dialogue.

* ''Film/CODA2021'': At the choir recital, there is a sequence during Ruby’s solos that is played without sound, showing the perspectives of Ruby’s family. The prolonged scene poignantly illustrates how Jackie, Frank, and Leo cannot hear how good Ruby is or the audience’s enthusiastic reactions.

SisterTrope of DeliberatelyMonochrome. Frequently used in surrealist films, and is sometimes combined with filmmaking techniques from the silent era for {{Retraux}} effect. NoDialogueEpisode is a popular form of FormulaBreakingEpisode. See also MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon. Sometimes leads to FillingTheSilence in adaptations. When used for horror, it overlaps with NothingIsScarier. When used temporarily to add poignancy to a dramatic scene, it's a MomentOfSilence. When the BackgroundMusic goes quiet to add emphasis or weight, see SuddenSoundtrackStop. See also MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon for animated works that feature little or no spoken dialogue.

* ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}''. The one means of communication and interaction available is "singing" a near-melodic tone, and the only text is in the title, the pause screen, and the credits.
* ''VideoGame/{{Abzu}}'': The SpiritualSuccessor of the previously mentioned ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' -- it was created by the same art director and scored by the same composer -- follows the same rule. As you explore the ocean, the player is never given any written word or dialogue, the story is told through the scenery and the few images that the player finds.