History Main / ThemeMusicWithholding

* At first, it seems ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'' had done away with the original game's opening theme, "Burn My Dread", as it had been replaced with a new opening song, "Full Moon, Full Life", albeit the original song is still referenced within it. However, it's not until the very end of the game at the PostFinalBoss against Nyx Core that the song makes its return with "Burn My Dread -Last Battle Reload-", with a new set of melancholy yet heartfelt and defiant lyrics that reflect [[spoiler:the protagonist's perspective of his oncoming sacrifice for his friends in the face of death]].

[[folder:Anime]]

[[folder:Film]]

** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow'' features an area called the Silenced Ruin that appear past the halfway pint. It is a throwback to the first level room the first ''Castlevania'' game, complete with a remix of that level's theme "Vampire Killer."

* ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'':
** The Film/JamesBond theme plays in full over the ending and credits. In previous Bond films, a snippet of the theme was played in the famous "[[BondGunBarrel gunbarrel]]" opening sequence, then usually at least once in the movie itself during an action sequence. As ''Casino Royale'' was a reboot, it was decided to withhold the use of the theme until the very end. This is done again in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' and ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'', which also restore the full gunbarrel sequence, though only at the end of the films. ''Film/{{Spectre}}'' brings both back to the film's opening.

* ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'': The Film/JamesBond theme plays in full over the ending and credits. In previous Bond films, a snippet of the theme was played in the famous "[[BondGunBarrel gunbarrel]]" opening sequence, then usually at least once in the movie itself during an action sequence. As ''Casino Royale'' was a reboot, it was decided to withhold the use of the theme until the very end. This is done again in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' and ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'', which also restore the full gunbarrel sequence, though only at the end of the films. ''Film/{{Spectre}}'' brings both back to the film's opening.

* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence'' only features the classic theme "Vampire Killer" during the end credits.

* ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'': Brad Fiedel's theme is heard only in the end credits.

You're worried they would pull some ThemeMusicAbandonment, and it made you mad. You're resigned to the fact that TheyChangedItNowItSucks, but then the theme comes roaring back at just the right moment. Sometimes it's just PanderingToTheBase, but usually it's withheld to create a massive SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome at just the right moment.
The practice of holding back some familiar theme music is often done in reboots or somewhat distant sequels. The familiar theme music once commonplace is played now only at the end.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' offered a small sample of it in the overworld theme, then interweaved it with the main ''Twilight Princess'' theme in a brief jingle after Link [[LegacyOfTheChosen inherits]] the [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Master Sword]]. A triumphant, full reprisal of it would appear in the end credits.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' likewise withholds the series' main theme until it is revealed that the "Song of the Hero" that you are compiling from the dragons is a variation of it once it is complete. Furthermore, Zelda's Lullaby doesn't get used for Zelda's scenes until a late-game cutscene involving her.

* ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'': When you download [[DownloadableContent the Delicious Last Course]], the title theme changes from "Don't Deal With the Devil" to "Overture (The Delicious Last Course)". However, the former song gets a TriumphantReprise and new lyrics at the start of the DLC's credits theme, "The Key Ingredients".

* The 2005 ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' movie swapped out the traditional "[[Music/{{Eagles}} Journey of the Sorcerer]]" with a new, original song based around the dolphins leaving Earth for the credits ("So Long and Thanks for All the Fish"). "Sorcerer", however, is used as fanfare to lead into the narrator introducing the Guide itself in a sequence that could be considered a second opening for the film.