History Main / StoppedDeadInTheirTracks

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': During his fight with Rogue, Gajeel concludes that he's too weak and decides to leave him be. He stops walking away when Rogue goads him by stating [[BerserkButton he's not as strong as Natsu]], after which Gajeel changes his mind and beats him up offscreen.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': During his fight with Rogue, Gajeel decides he's too weak and decides to leave him be. He stops walking away when Rogue goads him by stating [[BerserkButton he's not as strong as Natsu]], after which Gajeel changes his mind and beats him up offscreen.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2R6Oops Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what ''[[DevastatingRemark resilience'' and ''talent]]'' gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Response 6.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2R6Oops Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what [[DevastatingRemark '''resilience''' and '''talent''']] gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Response 6.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2R6Oops Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what [[DevastatingRemark '''resilience''' and '''talent''']] gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Type 6.]]

* ''Literature/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'': After Naofumi unveils the [[DeadlyUpgrade Wrath Shield]] during his fight with the Soul Eater, King Aultcray summons him for an audience and demands that he explain where he got such power from. Naofumi doesn't feel like explaining squat after Aultcray has been constantly hindering his efforts since day one, and decides that he can just leave and kill anyone who tries to stop him. Aultcray becomes incensed at Naofumi's disrespect and threatens to target [[TrueCompanions Raphtalia and Filo]] in his place; Naofumi immediately turns around, [[DeathGlare glares daggers at Aultcray]] and [[TranquilFury calmly]] lets him know how following through with that particular threat [[IllKillYou will be his last mistake.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': Miles, as Spider-Man, speaks to his dad, who begins opening up about his struggles with Miles. Not wanting to blow his cover, Miles begins walking away. His father laments on how smart Miles is, before saying with a sharp tone that he does things that are so ''stupid''. This causes Miles to stop dead in his tracks with an angry expression. He walks back and retaliates that he should "get off the kid's ass", prompting an [[OhCrap angry dad's]] "I'm sorry, [[BigWhat WHAT?!"]]. Needless to say, he demonstrates his dad's point.

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': Commander Dot Pixis tactfully defuses an escalating riot among the soldiers, who rather understandably are too terrified to go back into Trost to fight the [[IAmAHumanitarian Titans]], his plan to use Eren's allegedly experimental Titan powers to seal the breach be damned, by simply allowing them to leave if they really want to. When several soldiers prepare to leave, Pixix adds that "those who are fine with [[AndYourLittleDogToo letting their friends and family experience that same terror]] are ''also'' free to leave". All the soldiers that were about to leave ''immediately freeze in place'', before turning around once the weight of Pixis's words sinks in. ''Not a single soldier leaves''.

# It induces a state of TranquilFury and may or may not result in a fight right there and then.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2E6Oops Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what [[DevastatingRemark '''resilience''' and '''talent''']] gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Type 6.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2E6{{Oops}} Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what [[DevastatingRemark '''resilience''' and '''talent''']] gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Type 6.]]

This trope is commonly PlayedForDrama or [[PlayedForHorror horror]] but can be PlayedForLaughs too. An ArmorPiercingQuestion and/or WhamLine can result in a stunned stop, their back turned away from the character, the audience grasping their reaction from their StunnedSilence. [[ReactionShot Sometimes the camera will focus on their shocked face to really seal the impact.]] It may also involve a DramaticPause and/or {{Beat}} before a subsequent reaction.

* ''Film/TellNoOne'': Detective Levkowitch, who's been pursuing Alexandre for murder, approaches Helene, Alexandre's GayBestFriend. She blows him off until he tells her he doesn't think Eric is guilty, at which point she stops.

* TenSecondFlashlight: A set of crappy NightVisionGoggles that lasts exactly 50 seconds, and an angle-head flashlight that dies after 100 seconds (one minute and forty seconds) of use.

* ''Film/ViolentNight'': Santa does this when he's about to leave the Lightstone Estate on foot after his reindeer abandon him, but upon noticing Trudy is among the hostages, he stops and looks at the Santa cookie she made him before affirming himself to stay and help.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'': Kiara, in tears, says that Simba will never be like Mufasa, causing Simba to stop his ranting and look back in shock to see her running away.

* ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'': When the ''Enterprise'' crew travel back through time to 1986 San Francisco to retrieve humpback whales to communicate with a dangerous alien probe, Kirk and Spock find some at a marine institute. Spock foolishly jumps into the whale tank and performs a mind-meld on Gracie, one of the whales. Later, when Gillian Taylor, the assistant director of the institute, gives the two a ride back to San Francisco Proper, Spock unexpressively blurts out a line that shocks Gillian and makes her slam on the brakes of her pickup truck:
-->'''Spock:''' [[WhamLine Gracie is pregnant.]]

** Also parodied in "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidOnStrikeSandySpongeBobAndTheWorm Sandy, Spongebob, and the Worm]]", where Sandy declares there is nothing Spongebob can say that will stop her from going after the titular Alaskan Bull Worm. Spongebob mutters some nonsense words, and Sandy pauses, saying "I got to admit, that slowed me down".

** In ''[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E8HurricaneNeddy Hurricane Neddy]]'', the people of Springfield volunteer to rebuild the Flanders' home after it got destroyed by a hurricane. However, [[TheAllegedHouse they do such a terrible job that it immediately collapses from a slight touch]]. As Ned tries to step away and wipe his glasses, one lens slips out and shatters, and Ned stops in his tracks and says:

** Also parodied in [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidOnStrikeSandySpongeBobAndTheWorm 'Sandy, Spongebob, and the Worm']], where Sandy declares there is nothing Spongebob can say that will stop her from going after the titular Alaskan Bull Worm. Spongebob mutters some nonsense words, and Sandy pauses, saying "I got to admit, that slowed me down".

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Recap/TheAdventuresofBatman&RobinE5HouseAndGarden 'House and Garden']] had Pamela "Poison" Ivy rehabilitated and married to her doctor, Prof. Steven Carlyle, to help him raise his two sons. Batman suspects Ivy is still up to something when wealthy bachelors are being afflicted by a toxin, but all his leads lead to nothing. That is, until while driving back to the Batcave, Robin tells Batman that Prof. Carlyle had twin ''girls.'' '''''SCREEEEEEECHHHH!!!'''''

** In "Hurricane Neddy", the people of Springfield volunteer to rebuild the Flanders' home after it got destroyed by a hurricane. However, [[TheAllegedHouse they do such a terrible job that it immediately collapses from a slight touch]]. As Ned tries to step away and wipe his glasses, one lens slips out and shatters, and Ned stops in his tracks and says:

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': "House And Garden" had Pamela "Poison" Ivy rehabilitated and married to her doctor, Prof. Steven Carlyle, to help him raise his two sons. Batman suspects Ivy is still up to something when wealthy bachelors are being afflicted by a toxin, but all his leads lead to nothing. That is, until while driving back to the Batcave, Robin tells Batman that Prof. Carlyle had twin ''girls.'' '''''SCREEEEEEECHHHH!!!'''''

** Also parodied in "Spongebob, Sandy, and the Worm", where Sandy declares there is nothing Spongebob can say that will stop her from going after the titular Alaskan Bull Worm. Spongebob mutters some nonsense words, and Sandy pauses, saying "I got to admit, that slowed me down".
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "A Distant Echo", Anakin secretly communicates with his wife Padme via hologram in the clones' bunker while Rex stands outside to serve as his lookout. Just as Obi-Wan arrives, Rex tries to stall him while Anakin wraps up his call. After Anakin emerges with the [[BlatantLies excuse that he was cleaning Rex's helmet]], he and Rex begin to leave when Obi-Wan mentions that he hopes Anakin told Padme that he said "hello". This stops Anakin, whose face flashes with anger. He turns to face Obi-Wan for a few moments before leaving for his mission.

* ''SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': Miles, as Spider-Man, speaks to his dad, who begins opening up about his struggles with Miles. Not wanting to blow his cover, Miles begins walking away. His father laments on how smart Miles is, before saying with a sharp tone that he does things that are so ''stupid''. This causes Miles to stop dead in his tracks with an angry expression. He walks back and retaliates that he should "get off the kid's ass", prompting an [[OhCrap angry dad's]] "I'm sorry, [[BigWhat what?!"]]. Needless to say, he demonstrates his dad's point.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'': Bob, disregarding his boss ordering him not to leave his office to aid a mugged man, makes his way towards the door to help and grabs the door handle, before he is threatened with being fired, stopping him in his tracks. Needless to say, [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom his reaction to this isn't so subtle]].

This trope is commonly PlayedForDrama or [[PlayedForHorror horror]] but can be PlayedForLaughs too. An ArmorPiercingQuestion and/or WhamLine can result in a stunned stop, their back turned away from the character, the audience grasping their reaction from their StunnedSilence. [[ReactionShot Sometimes the camera will focus on their shocked face to really seal the impact.]] It may also involve a DramaticPause and/or Beat before a subsequent reaction.