History TheNostalgiaCritic / TropesAToC

* {{Crossover}}: Quite a lot.[[note]]Note that this list only includes crossover episodes that are hosted under The Nostalgia Critic channel other than anniversary specials. The show has done several other crossovers counted as episodes of the other shows, such as ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries: Baby Doll'' with CR, ''The Chipmunk Adventure'' with The Nostalgia Chick, two ''Film/ChildsPlay'' sequels with Phelous, and Count Chocula with [[WebVideo/VampireReviews Maven Of The Eventide]].[[/note]]

** ''Film/ChildsPlay'': WebVideo/{{Phelous}}

** ''[[Franchise/{{Digimon}} Digimon the Movie]]'': WebVideo/JesuOtaku

%% ** In ''Film/TheMatrix'', he says he likes the scene with the spoon, but because he's bound by comedy show rules, shows WesternAnimation/TheTick's CatchPhrase.

* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "(Hello,) I'm the Nostalgia Critic, I remember it so you don't have to!" At the end of ''Why Do We Holiday So Early'', he stumbles over the "nost-" part, and giggles that he's never screwed that up before.
** "They did it! They actually did it!" when the film does something bad he thought wouldn't happen.
** "Why [[TopTenList top 11]]? Because I like to go one step beyond." Lampshaded and changed sometimes, depending on the circumstances.
** "BUT WAIT!! BUT ''WAIT''!! WAIT A MINUTE!!"
** (Witnessing a disturbing, morally awkward or offensive scene or line) "...really? You're gonna (description)?" shrugs "All right..."
** "Which makes the previous scene, ENTIRELY POINTLESS.", complete with a point of the index finger and a ding.
*** "This has been another... POINTLESS MOMENT."
** "Are you even trying?"
** "An abomination of ASSNESS!"
** "It's X the fucking Y!" seems to be becoming one, for whenever a movie tries way too hard for its subject matter, like, say, ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCatTheMovie''.
** "BOOBS, you like BOOBS!" whenever he's trying to snap himself out of [[StupidSexyFlanders getting distracted by his man-crushes.]]
** "You see?"
** Dinosaur Rob's [[CaptainObvious "I'm a dinosaur."]]
** "By the way, that's [actor name] as [character]."
** (Any time [[DemographicallyInappropriateHumour something inappropriate comes up in a family film]]) "[[SarcasmMode You know, for kids!]]"
*** Alternately he might say [[SarcasmMode " A family picture!"]]
** (Any time something that everyone already knows about appears in one of his countdowns) "Yeah, yeah, you all knew THIS was coming!"
** "Pretty lame", as a punchline to a highly underwhelming scene in a movie.
** "Hey?! You know that (person or thing) that (attribute or action of said person or thing)....Well; They made a (movie or thing), now...."
--->'''*About Tommy Wiseau in Film/{{The Room|2003}}*:''' "You know that creepy guy who always looks at you funny on the subway? Yeah, he made a movie, apparently."
--->'''*About "Chia Pets" in the first ''Commercials'' special*:''' "You know how they say something is so boring, that they'd rather watch grass grow? Well, now they made a toy out of it!"
** Hyper Fangirl's was "Don't ask why!" in "Old Vs New Spider-Man" and on her Facebook page for a long while. It came back twice in her Q&A video.
* CatchphraseInterruptus: In several introductions, he fails to get through his {{catchphrase}} before breaking down in rage, weeping, or laughter (See ThisIsGonnaSuck).

** At the end of the ''Full House'' review, his attempts to sign off with his {{Catchphrase}} get interrupted by [[ItMakesSenseInContext demonic mutant alien Olsen Twins]], causing him to wake up from a CatapultNightmare each time. After going through this several times, he just looks at the camera and says, "You know what I do, and you know why I do it."

* ChekhovsGun: The big monkey toy was actually first seen in the ''Film/{{Transformers}} III'' Bum/Critic review, but only started getting used as a trauma cure attempt as of ''Film/PatchAdams''.

** “Nostalgia Critic Talks Transformers 4”, which is less of a review, and more the critic ranting for twelve minutes about the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movies and the people who watch them.

* CloningBlues: Poor clone Critic in That Sci-Fi Guy's “The Sixth Day” review either has to be TSFG's maid or original Critic's SexSlave.

* ClarkKenting: Mocked by the Critic in his "Top 11 Dumbest ''Film/{{Superman}}'' Moments".

*** “The review must go on” wording gets mentioned twice, and Critic ends up on the floor like Donnie did (only much less afraid and sad). Plus there's an indulgent [[invoked]] TalkingToHimself moment of one Critic being a LoveMartyr abuse victim of another version of him.

** For his ''Film/MilkMoney'' review, he believes that Frank was traumatized by the experiences of the movie, grew up in complete social awkwardness, changed his name, moved to San Francisco and became Denny from ''Film/TheRoom''.

** ''Film/TheRoom'', after Lisa asks if Johnny is dead. He then goes into the "[[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus Dead Parrot]]" sketch.

** At the end of the Fourth Commercial special, he got [[spoiler:Greg Sestero from ''Film/TheRoom'' to take part in a partial reenactment.]]

** In his review of Film/TheRoom, after Johnny [[spoiler:[[AteHisGun kills himself]]]], Lisa's CaptainObvious moment leads to the Critic [[spoiler:paraphrasing the "Dead Parrot" sketch from ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' to describe Johnny's current state.]]

--->'''*About Tommy Wiseau in TheRoom*:''' "You know that creepy guy who always looks at you funny on the subway? Yeah, he made a movie, apparently."

* CloseEnoughTimeline: After returning from reviewing ''Film/TheRoom'' in the future, the Critic discovers that everything is exactly the same except his walls are a different color and he somehow has a tail.

-->'''Doug:''' Yes, it’s such an achievement to have people all over the world say, [[SelfDeprecation “Who is this bald freak, and why is there always a GIF of him on my computer?”]]

* AscendedMeme: When ''Film/TheBatman2022'' came out, many people joked about how the white-faced gang leader looked like Doug Walker. This would later become the entire plot of the film's review, with Critic and "Comissioner" Malcolm investigating the mysterious look-alike. It even ends with Doug putting on the makeup and costume himself (and yes, the resemblance is uncanny).

* AnAesop: There's a few genuine ones scattered around, like "darkness should have a point", "kids shouldn't be mistreated or their intelligence underestimated" and most importantly "everyone's allowed to have their own opinions on movies". The Hyper storyline also brings us "just because you like someone's work doesn't mean you know/are in love with them" and the ever classic no means no.

** "When Are Critics Wrong" is about how there's no wrong way to enjoy a piece of media.

** His 2020 “Spider-Man” review has “you can be an adult and still love things (fun campy movies in this case)”.

* BareYourMidriff:
** The Critic likes WesternAnimation/{{Be|autyAndTheBeast}}lle, but the fact that she didn't show her navel left her off his list of hot animated women. On the other hand [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Jasmine]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ariel]] were shoe-ins because of this.
** He points out when [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda1989 Zelda]] does it in the ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' crossover episode.

** Tamara's gored, sizzling hands in the ''Film/GhostRider'' review.

** The ''Film/GhostRider'' title card has one of Critic's psychotic faces from ''Film/TheShining'' review.

** One would assume from the ''Film/TheShining'' CallBack title card that ''Film/GhostRider'' would be a heavy episode. It isn't, understandably so given ''Film/TheWickerMan2006'' being so dark and story-based.

** Both ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' and ''Film/TheCatInTheHat'' have a ''lot'' of speeches given to strawly corrupt executives about how pandering doesn't work and the books are timeless.

** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' behind the scenes, Doug makes such a point of making Hyper look as messy and unwashed as possible that even Rob and Malcolm call him out on it. Fixed in ''Film/FreddyvsJason'' where she's still evil but boyfriend Devil Boner thinks she's stunning.

* BeneathTheMask: Beneath the preaching, ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' did this for both Black Willy Wonka and Critic. For all his hate of the film and speechifying against pandering, Critic still wants all the money for himself and isn't happy to realize that he's designed as nerd-girl bait like the Onceler is, and for all Willy Wonka's aesops, he's still a killer who made a bad movie.

** The "fad is just one letter away from fade" speech from ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' review has the Critic arguing that content creators shouldn't follow trends or base their material around pop culture jokes and references, and instead should focus on "timeless" content. It's a great message... which is undercut by the fact that the Critic has been basing a good chunk of his material around pop culture jokes since his show started - in ''The Lorax'' review alone he makes references to ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'', [[Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]], and [[Film/TheMuppets2011 the 2011 Muppet film]].

** TheReveal of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'''s Once-ler induces an acceleratingly rapid-fire cluster of "Fuck you!" repetitions from him.

** In ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera2004'', there is a ''lot'' of nods to previous Hyper>Critic episodes; clips are shown from ''Princess Diaries II'' and ''Christmas Story II'' when Hyper is singing about [[spoiler: refusing to give up on Critic]], he's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uftck3AuXYI still]] showing some leg in order for worse things not to happen, and the [[spoiler: Hyper/Devil Boner ship from Fury Road is still going on]]. Hyper's statement of only being happy when she's got Critic as a CaptiveDate gets looked at again too, plus ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' analysts using her.

** After the ClusterFBomb over the initial [[TheReveal reveal]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'''s Once-ler, his hope that he will at least be a relateable {{Everyman}} becoming dashed by footage of his YoungerAndHipper personality produces an extended, restrained AtomicFBomb during a massive FreakOut.

** In his ''Film/InspectorGadget'' review, the Critic pondered when Inspector Gadget would ever need bubbles. Cuts to a clip from his second "Commercials" special where he said "Fucking bubbles!"

** Parodied on multiple occasions such as the [[Film/HomeAlone Home Alone 2]] and WesternAnimation/ScaryGodmother reviews, where we see the trope invoked from another person's point of view.

** The "fad is just one letter away from fade" speech from ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' review has the Critic arguing that content creators shouldn't follow trends or base their material around pop culture jokes and references, and instead should focus on "timeless" content. It's a great message... which is undercut by the fact that the Critic has been basing a good chunk of his material around pop culture jokes since his show started - in ''The Lorax'' review alone he makes references to ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'', [[Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]], and [[Film/TheMuppets the 2011 Muppet film]].

* CriticalResearchFailure: In-universe during his review of his home movies, as he says 12 year old kids having fun is how Nazi Germany got started, but then wonders if he just went to a really bad school.

** In ''Film/TheCatInTheHat'', the speech about how kid's entertainment should be treated with respect rings hollow since the once-PapaWolf character had been treating Evilina abusively all episode.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Starting from ''Film/TheHaunting1999'', he'd get hit offscreen or from the audience when he turns into a sexist horndog. You eventually started to wonder if he's [[AggressiveSubmissive doing it on purpose]].

* ArmorPiercingStatement: In The Nutcracker 3D, when Critic's complaining at Rachel for bad taste/shock value, she hits on an old insecurity, telling him he's being hypocritical as he's the one "who people only pay attention to cos he shouts a lot".

** The Critic notes that the Rock Biter's sitcom antics in ''Film/TheNeverendingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'' wasn't enough. It gets worse.

** In his review of ''Film/TheNeverendingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'', the Critic asks to be taken to Fantasia. The camera zooms in and out on him, repeatedly hitting him. As he's shouting in agony, he calls back to his review of ''Literature/{{It}}'' as he yells "WHY IS IT SO MEAN?!"

** Also "fuck" was heard a lot in one part of his ''Film/TheNeverendingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'' review, especially in his comparisons of Rock Biter and his family to a sitcom.

** ''Film/TheNeverEndingStory 3'' causes the Nostalgia Critic to go LaughingMad, go to the hardware store and buy a hammer, and smash the [=DVD=] in a fit of rage.

** He also can't seem to pronounce [[Creator/ElleFanning]]'s name right, recurringly calling her either Ellie or Ella.

** "Why [[TopTenList top 11]]? Because I like to go [[UpToEleven one step beyond]]." Lampshaded and changed sometimes, depending on the circumstances.

* AllWomenAreDomsAllMenAreSubs: Doug's admitted that submissive men and dominant women are AuthorAppeal to him, but he's played with it a few times. Examples:
** While Critic is still probably the subbiest guy on the site who has it bad for any psychotic woman who'll top him, as most people want him to stay, he and Tamara switch between dominant and submissive, she being hired to hurt him for the views and him trying his best to break her through infantalizing outfits. This is after him completely overriding Rachel in a straightly inverted version of the trope, though she was still naturally dommy with Malcolm.
** They also referenced and inverted the most infamous [[Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey subverted example]] at a con, comparing Hyper Fangirl to Christian Grey and Critic to Ana Steele.
** At the end of ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'', Devil Boner is actually interested in Hyper back (unlike Critic, who is relieved that she moved on to Tom Hardy) and is more than happy to let her take charge. In ''Cinderella Old vs New'', he's the HenpeckedHusband but in a healthy, loving, both-are-AxCrazy-violent way. And if their cameo in "Freddy vs Jason" is any indication, she also tops.