History Main / ThemeMusicWithholding

* In the penultimate episode of ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'', "Bloody Tears" (the most well-known song from the original games) starts playing when the trio of heroes show up to the titular castle and have an incredible fight with the vampire generals.

* ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/RogueOne'': A full-blown and triumphant reprise of the Vader/Empire theme is saved for the very end of the FinalBattle, when Darth Vader sees the Rebel ship that carries the plans of the Death Star escaping right under his nose. It's swiftly followed by the Force theme when Princess Leia makes her cameo, which leads into the end credits with their classic music playing in full.

** The use of the film's opening titles song as an instrumental secondary theme is withheld in ''Skyfall'' and ''Spectre'', where the theme is only played once. Music/{{Adele}}'s "Skyfall" can be heard when Bond is entering the Macau casino, while Music/{{Sam Smith}}'s "Writing's on the Wall" is heard when Bond and Madeleine kiss on the train.

* ''[[{{HalloweenII2009}} Halloween II]]'', the sequel to [[Film/{{Halloween 2007}} the remake]]: The theme is heard only in the end, and only in the theatrical cut.

* The Champion theme in ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' takes its opening riff from the opening of the original opening theme of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', as a nod to the franchise's 20th anniversary. Made all the more powerful when [[spoiler:you realise exactly whose theme it is...]]

* In the penultimate episode of ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'' The famous song "Bloody Tears" starts playing when the trio of heroes show up to the titular castle and have an incredible fight with the vampire generals.

** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou!'''s first episode used one of the show's most-well known leitmotifs (the title card music) and Shaggy's voice intoning "Scooby-Doo, where are you?" for its opening sequence. The now familiar theme song by Ben Raleigh and Ralph Mook wouldn't make its appearance for another two episodes.

* The classic intro theme for Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers can be finally heard for a few seconds at the start of the climax of [[Film/PowerRangers2017 the 2017 film adaptation]], when the Rangers start using their Zords.

* ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/RogueOne'': A full-blown and triumphant reprise of the Vader/Empire theme is saved for the very end of the FinalBattle, when Darth Vader sees the Rebel ship that carries the plans of the Death Star escaping right under his nose.

* The final episode of ''Manga/LuckyStar'' lacks the intro song and dance, before it turns out that the characters [[ThemeTuneCameo do the dance in-universe]] as their final performance at the school.

* Ostensibly due to plagiarism, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqqq8uqSDnk Theme to Metal Gear Solid]] (and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'') was not present at the start of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''. However, it comes back [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKlNdzpICW0#t=3m30s gloriously orchestrated]] for the TwistEnding, right at the most powerful part.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy V, VI, VII,'' and ''VIII'' all save the eponymous theme of the series until after the final boss.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' has the iconic ''Fire Emblem'' Main Theme only featured at the final battle results, after the end credits.

* ''VideoGame/PerfectDarkZero'' pays homage to its 64-bit roots with a triumphant return of the Carrington Institute/Perfect Dark Theme in the final boss battle against [=dataDyne=] founder Zhang Li as heard ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su7-8XEAkJg here]]). The theme can heard making a brief appearance at the beginning of the tune at 0:04 seconds, only to reappear in its full glory at 1:50.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' withheld the [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda series']] theme for thirteen years. It only appears in the end credits of the [[VideoGameRemake 3DS remake]].
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' did likewise - offering a small sample of it in the overworld theme, then interweaving it with the main ''Twilight Princess'' theme in a brief jingle after Link [[LegacyOfTheChosen inherits]] the [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Master Sword]], and finally putting a triumphant full reprisal of it 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/MassEffect3'': The main theme of the first game only appears once during the final mission, and it is epic.
* Just before the TrueFinalBoss battle in ''[[VideoGame/{{Raiden}} Raiden IV]]'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJcWFqLxKJ0 a remix of the second game's first stage theme]] plays.
* The Champion theme in ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' takes its opening riff from the opening of the original opening theme of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. Given that Sun and Moon are the 20th anniversary game, it's extremely powerful. [[spoiler:Especially when you realise exactly whose theme it is...]]

* The iconic theme from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' (outside of a moment in a flashback) didn't show up until [[spoiler: Korra unlocked the Avatar State]] in the first season finale of ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra''.
* As more TV series become available on DVD, fans are discovering how their favorite themes often were not present in pilot episodes or even entire early seasons. Even today, pilot/premiere episodes often do not feature familiar themes that are usually introduced in the second episode. ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'', for its DVD release, has had its original opening credits restored for Seasons 1 and 2, the result being the famous "Meet the Flintstones" song now isn't heard until Season 3.
* When ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou!'' first premiered in 1969, the very first episode -- "What A Night For A Knight" -- used a leitmotif over the opening sequences which contained Shaggy's voice intoning "Scooby-Doo, where are you?" twice and a laugh track. (This can still be heard on Boomerang replays by using the SAP option on remote controls, albeit Shaggy's voice is in Spanish.) Two episodes later, it was replaced by the now familiar theme song by Ben Raleigh and Ralph Mook.

* In the Penultimate episode of ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'' The famous song "Bloody Tears" starts playing when the trio of heroes show up to the titular castle and have an incredible fight with the vampire generals.

* For Marvel Studios, ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' were all scored by Creator/AlanSilvestri, while ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' was scored by Creator/BrianTyler and Creator/DannyElfman, and ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' was scored by Creator/HenryJackman. Despite including nearly all the Avengers and having its plot centered around the Avengers as a team splintering, the music in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' doesn't contain the ''Avengers'' theme, and ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has it rejigged, but not included in its original arrangement until the end credits. It wasn't until ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' that it was heard in its full glory during the actual film.

* The first Sam Raimi ''Film/SpiderMan1'' film uses [[WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967 the old 1960s animated TV show]] theme song in the end credits. ''Film/SpiderMan2'' does the same with a modern cover of the song. ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' goes one step farther and averts the trope by having a fully orchestrated version of the theme play over the Marvel Studios logo at the beginning.
* sticking with Marvel, ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' were all scored by Alan Silvestri, while ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' was scored by Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman, and ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' was scored by Henry Jackman. Despite including nearly all the Avengers and having its plot centred around the Avengers as a team splintering, the music in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' doesn't contain the Avengers theme, and ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has it rejigged, but not included in its original arrangement. It wasn't until ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' that it was heard properly in its full glory.

* sticking with Marvel, ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' were all scored by Alan Silvestri, while ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' was scored by Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman, and ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' was scored by Henry Jackman. Despite including nearly all the Avengers and having its plot centred around the Avengers as a team splintering, the music in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' doesn't contain the Avengers theme, and ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has it rejigged, but not included in its original arrangement. It wasn't until Infinity War that it was heard properly in its full glory.

* sticking with Marvel, ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' were all scored by Alan Silvestri, while ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' was scored by Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman, and ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' was scored by Henry Jackman. Despite including nearly all the Avengers and having its plot centred around the Avengers as a team splintering, the music doesn't contain the Avengers theme, and AoU has it rejigged, but not included in it's original arrangement. It wasn't until Infinity War that it was heard properly in it's full glory.

* ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': A significant number of episodes skip the standard opening sequence and instead save the theme song at dramatically appropriate moments, usually near the end of the episode; this lead to fans jokingly declaring "''Ex-Aid'' has no opening."

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem: [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Path of Radiance]]'' has the iconic ''Fire Emblem'' Main Theme only featured at the final battle results, after the end credits.

* When ''ScoobyDoo, Where Are You!'' first premiered in 1969, the very first episode -- "What A Night For A Knight" -- used a leitmotif over the opening sequences which contained Shaggy's voice intoning "Scooby-Doo, where are you?" twice and a laugh track. (This can still be heard on Boomerang replays by using the SAP option on remote controls, albeit Shaggy's voice is in Spanish.) Two episodes later, it was replaced by the now familiar theme song by Ben Raleigh and Ralph Mook.

* ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/RogueOne'': A full-blown and triumphant reprise of the Vader/Empire theme is saved for the very end of the FinalBattle, when Darth Vader sees the Rebel ship that carries the plans escaping right under his nose.

* In the Penultimate episode of ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania'' The famous song "Bloody Tears" starts playing when the trio of heroes show up to the titular castle and have an incredible fight with the vampire generals.

** The use of the film's opening titles song as an instrumental secondary theme is withheld in ''Skyfall'' and ''Spectre'', where the theme is only played once. ''Music/{{Adele}}'' 's "Skyfall" can be heard when Bond is entering the Macau casino, while ''Music/{{Sam Smith}}'' 's "Writing's on the Wall" is heard when Bond and Madeleine kiss on the train.

* ''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 back both to the film's opening.
** The use of the film's opening titles song as an instrumental secondary theme is withheld in Skyfall and Spectre, where the theme is only played once. ''Music/{{Adele}}'' 's Skyfall can be heard when Bond is entering the Macau casino, while ''Music/{{Sam Smith}}'' 's Writing's on the Wall is heard when Bond and Madeleine kiss on the train.

* The final ''Film/HarryPotter'' film takes its time in introducing the iconic theme. Drawn out, minor chord snippets appear here and there, showcasing how DarkerAndEdgier the film is. The full, normal version is finally played in all its glory when [[spoiler:Headmaster Snape]] is thwarted, and all of Hogwarts bands together to stand against the Death Eaters. The torches in the previously unlt main hall were also lit at that time, to give a sense of hope to the scene.

* The Jurassic Park theme song is played in full glory only during the ending credits [[JurassicWorldFallenKingdom]]. Throughout the movie only two brief cues are heard referencing the theme.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' did likewise, offering only a small sample of it in the overworld theme, but then putting a triumphant full reprisal of it in the end credits.

* ''Film/StarTrek'': A souped-up version of Alexander Courage's theme, courtesy of Creator/MichaelGiacchino, plays in full over the final sequence and in the ending credits. This is repeated in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' and ''Film/StarTrekBeyond'', with subtle variations in the instrumentation used.