History Main / SilentCredits

* The next episode preview of the eighteenth episode of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' season two, [[spoiler:at the end of which the entire Tokyo settlement and presumably Nunnally was nuked by Suzaku,]] contains no voiceover, which is even further offset by the title of the next episode being "Betrayal."

* The last episode of ''Anime/AngelLinks'', with the silence beginning just beforehand when the feather lands on Meifon. The ending theme, which usually begins playing right before the credits, starts but cuts out completely to indicate [[spoiler:Meifon's death.]]

* ''Anime/GunXSword'' has one of these right after [[spoiler: Ray's death]], with only the sound of wind chimes playing in the background.

* An Eyecatch variant for ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind''. After [[spoiler:[[KillTheCutie Narancia's death]]]], the typical ''Golden Wind'' theme cannot be heard when Silver Chariot's Stand stats are shown. Instead, the slow sounds of dripping water are heard.

* "Film/AllTheTroublesOfTheWorld": During most of the closing credits {{Montage}}, Multivac is saying "I want to die" while electronic background music creates a creepy sound. When [[ComputerEqualsTapedrive the tapedrives stop]], all sound stops with it, implying Mutivac's death as the last credit appears and the screen [[FadeToBlack fades to black]]. Like most examples of this trope, none of the actors are given nominal credit for their role.

** ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'' features an opening logo variant: released two years after the [[Film/BlackPanther first film]]'s star Creator/ChadwickBoseman passed away and starting with a DownerBeginning where [[spoiler:[[TheCharacterDiedWithHim T'Challa also dies]]]], the Marvel Studios logo displays only footage and images of him with the usual fanfare replaced with complete silence.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
** The episode "Free Willzyx" ended with the credits rolling over a shot of the eponymous dead orca whale on the moon and no music at all.
** The episode "201" also features credits with no music at all. The scene is the same as above, except [[spoiler:a dead Tom Cruise can also be seen lying next to the same orca whale.]]
*** The DVD release oddly adds the regular credits music and cuts back to the regular black background after a while.
** In the episode "You're Getting Old", the credits are played briefly with silence.
** In the episode "'The Hobbit", after Wendy [[spoiler:tearfully photoshops a photo of her and sends it in a mass e-mail]], the credits roll in the empty computer lab without any music.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePJs'' lacked an ending theme, meaning this happened at the end of every episode (you [[CreditsPushback wouldn't know it]] from the original network airings). This also carried over the [[VanityPlate logos]], even that of Touchstone Television's (which has music on other shows). Some syndicated airings seemed to notice the eeriness of this and pasted the opening theme onto the credits (it ironically fits the usual credits timeframe perfectly).

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' episode "Sharrock", created to honor the deceased musician Sonny Sharrock, is an interesting case. While the credits play to music - the "Ghost Planet National Anthem", to be specific - with the occasional cut to the cast dancing over them, the "Contact Ghost Planet" message and Cartoon Network & Ghost Planet Industries vanity plates play in silence.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' had the episode "Michael Korvac", which is dedicated to writer/director Boyd Kirkland who died of a lung infection.
* ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' has silent credits on "No Hope for Courtney" in honor of Kathleen Freeman, the late voice of Mrs. Gordon (this was Freeman's final episode before her death from cancer, [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim and her character was killed off]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'''s second season finale "[[WhamEpisode Starcrushed]]" replaces the regular closing credits song/sequence with ambient noise over a scene of the Diaz house at night [[spoiler:because Star has returned to Mewni in the wake of [[ArcVillain Toffee]]'s return.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' normally has an ending sequence of Luz walking around. The episode [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E18AgonyOfAWitch "Agony of a Witch"]] ends on a massive cliffhanger, so the credits are rolled over a slow-panning shot of Emperor Belos' castle with the only sound being the flames surrounding it, and a [[HeartbeatSoundtrack heartbeat]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' - "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS4E08JediNight Jedi Night]]" has this to mark [[spoiler:Kanan Jarrus's HeroicSacrifice]].
* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': This happens with the season 1 finale, which involves [[spoiler:the Foot Clan finally reviving [[BigBad The Shredder]]]], leaving no music on the credits except a sound of wind.
* This happened in the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', which is also the FinaleCredits showing an exit door in an empty animation department room, likely where the show is made, except that the only noise you can hear is some faint sounds of an air conditioner with people speaking and laughing, probably from a wrap party (or [[TearJerker aural memories of the animation crew laughing and having fun while working]]).

* The infamous 1963 Coleman Francis film ''Film/TheSkydivers'', right after the DownerEnding has a rather grim end credits sequence with film footage of the various cast members set to complete silence. Is lampshaded by Crow ("Silently, dismally, the credits roll on.") in the show's [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K episode]].
* ''Path to 9/11'' had no music to its credits on either night of its original TV airing.

* Same with ''Music/JesusChristSuperstar'', also by Creator/AndrewLloydWebber.
* After the track "Lux Aeterna", which started near the end of the movie, finishes, the credits of ''Film/RequiemForADream'' have no background music for the rest of their duration. Instead, there is a two-minute track of seaside sound effects. Interestingly enough, said "music" is also on the soundtrack.
* This [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have been]] the case if the original ending of ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' had been kept. In that ending, which can be seen on the 10th anniversary DVD, [[spoiler: Dante is shot and presumably killed by a holdup man just as he is finishing up the day's paperwork.]] The credits then roll silently with the exception of the beeping sounds of a cash register ... which, with the added context, become surprisingly chilling.
* The 1964 nuclear thriller ''Film/FailSafe'' featured no music. Credits rolled to the blended sounds of the engines of the Vindicator bombers and the crowd at the bullfight in Gen. Black's dream. These are gradually replaced with [[spoiler: the sound of Ambassador Lentov's phone melting as New York City is destroyed]]. .
* ''Film/BrightStar'' ends with Ben Whishaw reciting Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" over the end credits, with no music minus the chirping of the birds,the choir and some few notes from a violin.
* ''Film/{{Noise}}'' has this. It's really a jarring silence as the whole film's always has noise, even the "quiet" bits of the film aren't quiet, yet the credits are cut to black and complete silence.
* ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'':
** ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968'' has one of the most famous silent end credits (except for the sound of waves crashing on the shore) as [[EarthAllAlong Taylor realizes he's been on Earth all along.]]
** ''Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- after Taylor detonates the nuke, Creator/PaulFrees narrates as the screen goes white: "In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet green and insignificant planet]], is now dead." The screen then fades to black, and the credits roll in silence.
** ''Film/ConquestOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- The credits roll in silence, except for the apes screeching fading.

* ''Film/AnnieHall'' is probably one of the earliest (and best known) films to have silent credits.
* The end of the film adaptation to ''Film/{{Cabaret}}'' features this.
* ''Film/TheChinaSyndrome'' actually had an original score composed for it by Michael Small, but in post-production director James Bridges dropped more and more of it until he finally decided the movie played better with no music at all. Hence no music over the credits.

* ''Film/LaHaine'' has a DownerEnding and the subsequent credits rolling in silence.
* ''Film/TheseFinalHours'' ends with the end of the world. There is no music playing over the entire length of the end credits.
* ''Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers1978'' ends with [[spoiler: Matthew revealed to have been converted into a pod and pointing out the still-unconverted Nancy with the shrill [[HellIsThatNoise pod scream]].]] The camera then zooms into the darkness of Matthew's mouth, and silence plays over the credits.
* ''Film/{{Get Carter|1971}}'': This 1970s gangster flick ends with [[spoiler:Jack Carter himself getting shot on a remote beach by an assassin after Jack got his revenge on his brother's killer]], followed by ending credits with the only sounds being the waves crashing on the shoreline.
* ''Film/AmericanSniper'': The first half of the credits consists of an epilogue followed by [[RealPersonEpilogue footage of the actual Chris Kyle's 2013 funeral service]] set to a "Taps"-like trumpet piece by Ennio Morricone. After this, the main portion of the credits play in complete silence.
* "Film/AllTheTroublesOfTheWorld": During most of the closing credits {{Montage}}, Multivac is saying "I want to die" while electronic background music creates a creepy sound. When [[ComputerEqualsTapedrive the tapedrives stop]], all sound stops with it, implying Mutivac's death as the last credit appears and the screen [[FadeToBlack fades to black]]. Like most examples of this trope, none of the actors are given nominal credit for their role.
* ''Film/BlackChristmas1974'' ends like this, with no music at all playing over the credits rolling through the screen, save for the sound of wind and [[spoiler:the phone still ringing inside the house]], making the credits effectively eery.
* This happens in the second half of the end credits of ''Film/DoctorSleep'', a sequel to ''Film/TheShining'', where after the song "Midnight, the Stars and You", there remains only silence except a howling wind.
* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' has a more somber and quiet credits sequence compared to the rest of the MCU. No flashy effects. Just white-on-black credits as a mournful song plays. When the TitleDrop is seen, it's faded into a somber piano rendition of the Avengers theme... as the title crumbles away into dust.
* ''Film/BeauIsAfraid'' ends with the sounds of the ocean [[spoiler: and people leaving the outdoor arena after Beau's trial ends with him drowning.]]

* The entire ending credits of Studio Moonchalk's UsefulNotes/RPGMaker machinima, {{WebAnimation/Distortion}}.

* ''Film/GetCarter'': This 1970s gangster flick ends with [[spoiler:Jack Carter himself getting shot on a remote beach by an assassin after Jack got his revenge on his brother's killer]], followed by ending credits with the only sounds being the waves crashing on the shoreline.

%% A note for non-fans of Doctor Who: Adric's death isn't a spoiler anymore.

* Due to the suicide of the game's namesake, {{WebVideo/Caddicarus}} ended his review of ''Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX'' without his usual subscribe jingle, and with no music playing over the Patreon shout-outs, only his narration giving plugs to suicide hotlines, and his thanks to the top-tier supporters.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' episode "Sharrock" had the credits (even the Williams Street logo) play in silence to honor the deceased musician Sonny Sharrock.

* The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' had an episode where a character died, and the closing animation was replaced by credits on cards, with a military funeral march.
** An EyeCatch version of this was done with ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'': usually a man's voice will say "[[TitleDrop Fullmetal Alchemist!]]" in various tones over it. However, when [[spoiler:Envy is killed off for good in episode 54]], the Eye Catch has no voice over.
** This happens several other times with the Eye Catch as well late in the series; [[spoiler:Fuu and Buccaneer are two other examples.]]
** The 2003 anime had a silent next episode preview for the final episode [[spoiler: following Ed's death]], up until the very end, when [[spoiler: Al yells out "BROTHER!"]]

* Variation with the GrandFinale of ''Anime/SoulEater'', where the title sequence is omitted entirely, with the opening credits silently playing over the opening moments of the FinalBattle. The end credits are retained however, with a touching LastEpisodeThemeReprise added in.
* The 1977 ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' film: The end credits begin with a card stating that Yamato returned to Earth in 2199 and Earth was restored to its original Beauty. It also states the number of crewmembers who died in action. The only background heard during the credits was Yamato's signature engine sound. This was repeated for ''Yamato: The New Voyage'', although [[spoiler: despite the loss of Starsha and Mamoru]] that wasn't a total downwer ending either [[spoiler: as they gained baby Sasha, their daughter]]. But the spoken narration prior to the end credits stated that the Dark Nebula Empire may have been beaten this time, but [[TheWarHasJustBegun the rest of them are still out there and planning their next move, though our heroes don't quite know it yet]] (They will find out in Be Forever Yamato). Final Yamato also has end credits but if one listens carefully, early into the credits, the Yamato theme song can be heard. But the majority of the credits are silent except for the sounds of waves.

* The DownerEnding of ''Series/BlakesSeven'' initially concludes this way, although the music fades up halfway through.

** "Not What He Seems" ends with TheReveal of [[WalkingSpoiler the Author]], and simply shows two young boys on a swing-set, staring off over the ocean, with the only sounds being the swings and the tide. The WholeEpisodeFlashback in the next episode confirms them to be [[spoiler:[[TheBarnum Stan]] and his twin brother, [[ScienceHero Ford]]]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''[='s=] [[GainaxEnding ending]], known as the End Poem (which only plays after defeating the Ender Dragon), didn't play any ending music at all, especially in the game's 1.0 release. The poem was composed by Julian Gough, and all that is shown in the ending was a philosophical text-based dialogue scrolling in a dirt background at a very slow speed, illustrating all the accomplishments of the player while it mirrors real life. The player can then see the silent credits roll after reading the End Poem before going back to their normal world. However in the 1.12.2 update, music finally plays during the credits.
* ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}'': Partially done at the end of [[MultipleEndings Ending D]], with the ending song replaced with a [[OminousMusicBoxTune Music Box]] cover, before fading away to the very feint, ambient sounds of wind through trees and singing birds.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' pulls a different version. During the BadEnding, instead of the full credits set to Never More, with a showcase of various game cutscenes, the game shows a sparse white-on-black partial credits roll, set to Corridor, a far quieter, more somber tune.

* ''{{VideoGame/Doom}}'' GameMod ''Project Kate'' by Jimmy has a silent title screen and intermission, the mapset was a tribute to a fallen member of the ''Doom'' modding community who was a personal friend of the author.

** "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future" just shows the twins' birthday flyer lying on the ground, ruffled by the wind. However, the lighting and background noises make it clear that [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt something unsettling]] is happening off-screen.

* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'' got grounded in "The Beast of Cauldron Island", they replaced the catchy mystery/adventure theme and replaced it with silence over the credits to mark the fact that Hilda isn't allowed to go on adventures with David and Frida or go exploring around Trolberg.

* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''- It happens with the season 1 finale endgame where it involves [[spoiler:the Foot Clan finally reviving [[BigBad The Shredder]]]] leaving no music on the credits except a sound of wind.
* This happened in the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', which is also the FinaleCredits showing an exit door in an empty animation department room, likely where the show is made, except that the only noise you can hear is some faint sounds of an air conditioner with people speaking and laughing, probably from a wrap party (or [[{{Tearjerker}} aural memories of the animation crew laughing and having fun while working]])
* ''WesternAnimation/KidCosmic'': "Kid Cosmic and The Epic Fail" still has the vinyl record playing in the end credits, but instead of a rock tune, it’s only playing the static at the end of the song, due to [[spoiler:Kid’s actions causing the Rings of Power to fall into the hands of the US Government after a NearVillainVictory.]]

** ''Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- after Taylor [[KillEmAll detonates the nuke]], Creator/PaulFrees narrates as the screen goes white: "In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet green and insignificant planet]], is now dead." The screen then fades to black, and the credits roll in silence.

* ''Series/AdamTwelve'': The 1970 episode "Elegy for a Pig," which recounted the life of a police officer killed in action, ended with silent credits in lieu of the usual booming theme song. (The sound effects associated with the "Mark VII Limited" and Universal Studios {{vanity plate}}s were kept intact.)

* Some episodes of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' use either silent credits, or a slower and more emotional piece of music instead of the usual theme, for episodes that feature major deaths and/or emotional developments. Examples include season 2, episode 11 "Judge, Jury, Executioner", following [[spoiler: Dale's death]]; season 3, episode 4 "Killer Within", after [[spoiler: the death of Lori, and to an extent, T-Dog]]; season 4, episode 8 "Too Far Gone", after [[spoiler: the deaths of Hershel, The Governor, and [[NeverFoundTheBody seemingly]] [[NotQuiteDead baby Judith]], and the fall of the prison]]; and season 5, episode 9 "What Happened And What's Going On" after [[spoiler: Tyrese's death, with the sound of him being buried playing over the credits]].

* ''Series/TheExpanse''. A variation in "Remember the Cant" after [[spoiler:Havelock]] is murdered; there's just the murmur of the crowd and a [[CannedOrdersOverLoudspeaker voice announcing over and over]]: "This is a Star Helix security directive. Curfew is now in effect on Medina Level. Unauthorised personnel be detained or arrested on sight."

* Adric's death in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E6Earthshock Earthshock]]" - the traditional starfield sequence of that time was replaced with a picture of his broken Mathematics badge (which was used to kill a Cyberman), with the credits scrolling in silence. One reviewer said that he never noticed the credits were silent - he was too busy laughing at the death of his [[TheScrappy most hated character]]. However, many others have commented that it made the episode [[AlasPoorScrappy more moving]], and in recent years the closing of the episode has taken on "Rains of Castamere" significance among Whovians.

** One version of ''The End of Evangelion'' had the credits song removed from the end of the English voicetrack, resulting in the final credits after Asuka's "how disgusting" line rolling in complete silence. '''Creepy as hell.'''

* The credits of the short film ''Film/LeMans1955'' are completely silent, not even having the sound of the cars rushing past anymore. This makes sense, as it's a short film dramatizing the 1955 Le Mans disaster, where driver Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators were killed in a crash.

* Also unrelated to character death, credits roll free of music (with ambient sound effects) in season 2, episode 7 of ''Series/QueerAsFolk'' after Michael realizes he can't handle [[spoiler: Ben's HIV-positive status]].

* ''WesternAnimation/KidCosmic'': "Kid Cosmic and The Epic Fail" still has the vinyl record playing in the end credits, but instead of a rock tune, it’s only playing the static at the end of the song, due to [[spoiler:Kid’s actions causing the Rings of Power to fall into the hands of the US Government after a NearVillianVictory.]]

** "Not What He Seems" ends with TheReveal of [[WalkingSpoiler the Author]], and simply shows two young boys on a swing-set, staring off over the ocean. The WholeEpisodeFlashback in the next episode confirms them to be [[spoiler:[[TheBarnum Stan]] and his twin brother, [[ScienceHero Ford]]]].

* An Eyecatch variant for ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo''. After [[spoiler:[[KillTheCutie Narancia's death]]]], the typical ''Golden Wind'' theme cannot be heard when Silver Chariot's Stand stats are shown. Instead, the slow sounds of dripping water are heard.

* ''Series/TheCryOfMann'': There's usually at least some noise being made during the credits, often a scene that runs straight to the end, often where viewers can still call and talk until the last second. At the end of episode 4, however, the scene is notably silent, just featuring Ghost Lady silently eating popcorn, emphasizing the drama that was Jack's disastrous art show.

* ''Series/TwentyFour'' emphasizes its RealTime "RaceAgainstTheClock" {{Thriller}} nature by starting and ending every act with a digital clock, complete with beeping sound effects and a HeartbeatSoundtrack. However, when an especially tragic moment occurs or an especially important character meets their CharacterDeath, the show will mute the beeping, instead running a "silent clock" with muted sound effects or music in the background. Only 14 silent clocks occurred ever occurred across 192 episodes (and ten uses of said clock per episode).