History Main / TheExitIsThatWay

See also YourOtherLeft, HouseAmnesia, DoorFocus, CrossingTheBurntBridge. Often used as a tool of providing a FailedAttemptAtDrama.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHjIb6trxBI This]] spectacular George Bush fail.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': Happens twice with Donut in the first season. The first time, he is asked to [[SnipeHunt go to the "store"]] and instead heads for the back wall of the Red Base, before being pointed in the direction of the open field. The second time, Donut is told by Grif to take the Blue flag back to base. Donut runs off, before Grif clarifies to bring the flag to RED base. Both times, Donut gives the same reply:

* ''Anime/{{Spriggan}}''. Inverted in the first episode when the door Yu accidentally walks through is in fact the exit...which is embarrassing because he did an EnterStageWindow and the men standing guard outside the door didn't know he was in there.

* ''Anime/{{Spriggan}}''. Inverted in the first episode when Yu does walk through the exit door, which is embarrassing because he did an EnterStageWindow and the men standing guard outside the door didn't know he was in there.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'', "Ground State": Angel, Gunn, and Fred are breaking into an auction house. Fred has just explained the plan in detail. The men boldly head off, one to the left and one to the right... at which point Fred shouts "Guys!" Embarrassed, they switch directions.

* Inverted in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/15299694 Born Of The Same Impulse,]]'' where Tony visits Stephen and wears out his welcome after [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OpenMouthInsertFoot making one too many insensitive remarks.]] Stephen sends out his guest by saying, "You know where the door is." In response, Tony deliberately goes towards the opposite direction of the exit, and begins packing Stephen's stuffs to bring him out of the house.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode, "Pickles", Spongebob starts struggling in making krabby patties, so Mr. Krabs tells his to go home and get some rest. Spongebob immediately has trouble finding the door out of the Krusty Krab... [[EpicFail which was right next to him]]. He also has to ask which way his home is.

* * In ''Film/TheMedallion'' [[ButtMonkey Watson]], infuriated at the prospect that Li may be replacing him, storms out of the room. There is a pause, before an exasperated Hammerstock-Smythe informs him that [[FailedAttemptAtDrama he is in the filing cabinet]].

* * In ''Film/TheMedallion'' [[Butt Monkey Watson]], infuriated at the prospect that Li may be replacing him, storms out of the room. There is a pause, before an exasperated Hammerstock-Smythe informs him Watson that [[FailedAttemptAtDrama he is in the filing cabinet]].

** Done again by Rimmer when AppliedPhlebotinum creates a ''TyrannosaurusRex''.

** [[http://garfield.com/comic/2014-09-18 Jon opens a door]].

** [[http://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1995/01/01 Jon is excited about the new year and tries to get out of his house, only to mistakenly open the closet door]].

* Inverted in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/15299694 Born Of The Same Impulse]]'', where Tony visits Stephen and wears out his welcome after [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OpenMouthInsertFoot making one too many insensitive remarks]]. Stephen sends out his guest by saying, "You know where the door is." In response, Tony deliberately goes towards the opposite direction of the exit, and begins packing Stephen's stuffs to bring him out of the house.

** Dorothy tries to walk out on a boyfriend [[spoiler:who just revealed that he's married]] to her. Semi-justified since they're in a hotel room.

%%* Happens to Misaki in ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer''.

-->'''Jenny:''' Fine, if you won't help me ... I'll make my own ears!\\

'''Mrs. Wakeman:''' Uh... closet.\\

* Variation in TheMovie of ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''. Dexter uses a time machine to go into the future, only to discover that his house is very different in the future, and runs into random rooms trying to find the front door. Unable to find it and frustrated, he uses a secret escape hatch underneath a lamp, which apparently was never changed.

** Inverted in ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'', when Rincewind is told he's needed for a dangerous quest, and immediately starts running like hell. The quest-issuing creature follows; when Rincewind shouts that he's not going to stop for anything, he's told he's already running in the ''right'' direction.
** Played with in ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'', when two rival fishermen grab their sons and rush for the beaches, frantic to sail back to their home cities and lay claim to a newly-discovered island. Each man reaches the shore, realizes they grabbed the wrong boy, then rushes back to exchange sons while accusing the other of kidnapping.

* In the Extended Edition of Creator/PeterJackson's ''Film/TheFellowshipOfTheRing'', Gandalf tells Frodo to lead the Fellowship out of Rivendell. When he gets to the gate, Frodo whispers to Gandalf: "Mordor, Gandalf - is it left or right?" Gandalf, of course, gives him the right answer: [[spoiler:left..]].

* In ''Disney/{{Bolt}}'', Rhino sets off after Bolt with a long monologue beginning with "If Bolt's taught me anything, it's that you never abandon a friend in a time of need!", but he sets off in the wrong direction.

* In Disney's ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'', Hades frees the [[SealedEvilInACan Titans]] with mighty fanfare as they all march forth to destroy Zeus. Hades interrupts their cries of "Destroy Zeus!" with the comment, "Uh, guys? Olympus would be ''that'' way.", pointing a thumb in the opposite direction to where they're going.

* ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids'': In "The Stranger", Fat Albert and the gang are backing away from Donald's cousin Betty but back themselves into the janitor's closet instead of their classroom: not even noticing till they shut door and all of the brooms and mops fall on them.

* ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosyKids'': In "The Stranger", Fat Albert and the gang are backing away from Donald's cousin Betty but back themselves into the janitor's closet instead of their classroom: not even noticing till they shut door and all of the brooms and mops fall on them.