History Main / JacobMarleyWarning

-->-- [[FamousLastWords Last words]] of '''Ace Hardlight''', ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked''

** It's also played (not quite) straight at the end of the episode with Cartman. The Future Cartman is a handsome and successful businessman who says that this is the big turning point in his life, and encourages his younger self to stay on the straight and narrow. Cartman, convinced that the guy is just another actor, resolves to be even ''more'' of a selfish jerk than he normally is. After he walks off, the Future Cartman changes into a fat slob. So basically, future-Cartman screwed ''himself'' over because he absolutely ''had'' to tell his younger self where he'd end up, even though it was presumably unnecessary in the first place... WhatAnIdiot.

* ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'': It's the eponymous robot's raison d'etre to stop Nobita from becoming a FutureLoser, but occasionally, Future Nobita himself appears to whip his younger self into studying diligently. These are some of the most unsettling episodes, since Future Nobita knows his past-self's tricks and possess Doraemon's future gadgets.

* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse comics had an arc where the Emperor Reborn had Luke fall to the Dark Side and join him, apparently to try and limit what he could do, and indeed, the Emperor Reborn dressed Luke like his father, as seen in the pic for InTheBlood. And then Leia redeemed him, he tried and failed to kill the Emperor Reborn, and two volumes later finally managed it.

* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''[='=]s sequel series, ''Series/GirlMeetsWorld'' sees Cory's former bully, Harley Keiner, working as a janitor as UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams Middle School and regretting his actions as a bully, warning Billy when he's picking on Farkle and being willing to protect the latter.

* Done in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' where Xander meets his future self who tells him he will be unhappy [[spoiler:marrying Anya. Subverted when it turns out future Xander is actually one of Anya's victims pretending to be Xander.]]

->''"Who better to warn about the dangers of I-want-to-share-my-love-with-you postprom sex than the thirty-two-year-old mother of a sixteen-year-old? (Do the math)"''
-->--'''Charles J. Sykes''', ''50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in Schools''

* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''[='=]s sequel series, ''Series/GirlMeetsWorld'' sees Cory's former bully, Harley Keiner, working as a janitor as UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams Middle School and regretting his actions as a {{bully}}, warning Billy when he's picking on Farkle and being willing to protect the latter.

* Done with Neo Nazism in ''Film/AmericanHistoryX'' with the character of Derek Vinyard, a violent Neo-Nazi who was sent to prison following a vicious hate crime and has reformed, and now seeks to keep a kid named Danny from going down his road.

* Done with Neo Nazism in ''Film/AmericanHistoryX''.

* Assassin'sCreedRogue reveals that Achilles's warning to Connor to "in your haste to save the world don't destroy it" in the third game was this; in Rogue Achilles was reckless and indifferent to the suffering his actions caused in the arrogant certainty his cause was just. His warning to Connor is thus an attempt to keep Connor from making the same mistakes.

* The 1972 film version of ''[[Film/ECComics Tales From The Crypt]]'' has a rather grim subversion of this. The Crypt-Keeper shows a group of strangers visions of the hideous fates awaiting each of them as a result of various wicked actions; at the end of the film, he reveals that these visions are not warnings of what might happen, but records of what has ''already'' happened; they're already dead, and destined for Hell.

For when the warning goes opposite way, see FlingALightIntoTheFuture.

* In the manga adaptation for ''Manga/KingdomHeartsII'', a derezzing Sark warns Tron to stop believing in the users, since Sora and his friends would one day betray him, [[spoiler: much like how Ansem betrayed them both, which lead to Sark's FaceHeelTurn]]. Tron retains his belief in the users, and Sora, who [[AlasPoorVillain felt sorry for Sark]], reassures him that they will always be friends.

* [[ComicBook/XMen Sabertooth to Wolverine]]. During the arc following Wolverine's full recovery of his memory, he has a flashback to one of his earliest encounters with his evil rival. In an uncharacteristically intellectual moment, Sabertooth tells him (in Latin) "I am what you you will become". In this case it's not a warning ''or'' encouragement, it's a prediction; Sabertooth believes Wolverine will eventually give in to his animal side (instead of fighting it) and become just like him: a savage, remorseless killer who delights in indulging his violent instincts. This is basically one of Wolverine's greatest fears and Sabertooth just ''loves'' taunting him with it.

** In the "Dead-End Kids" arc, it could be argued that Klara - meek, submissive, and increasingly isolated from everyone except her spouse - represents what Karolina fears she is becoming in her relationship with Xavin. After Xavin dismisses Klara's plight as unimportant, Karolina decides that she will have to start standing up for herself.

%%* Done with Neo Nazism in ''American History X''.

* In ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}'', Victor serves as a warning to Walton, who is in danger of becoming as obsessed with his exploration as Victor was with the science that led to the creation of his monster. Though inverted in that he blasts Walton's crew for not having the balls to carry on on Walton's journey. Victor might represent what Walton could become, but unlike other examples he doesn't realize this, or regard it as a bad thing. He blames the Creature for all his ills but [[NeverMyFault doesn't take responsibility]] for the hell he put the Creature through ForScience.

* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', Dean gets this warning from [[spoiler:[[FutureMeScaresMe the post-apocalyptic version of himself]]]], who implores him not to resist the angels' plan for him. Essentially, he's given the choice of either [[spoiler:becoming Michael's vessel or killing Sam before Sam becomes Lucifer's vessel. [[ScrewDestiny Predictably]], he tries [[TakeAThirdOption taking the third option]] of patching things up with his brother so that Sam'll be able to resist Lucifer]].

* In the [[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel according to Luke]], UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} gives the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (not to be confused with [[BackFromTheDead the other Lazarus]]). The rich man goes to hell and then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to act as the Jacob Marley Warning to his brothers. [[SubvertedTrope Abraham tells him it would do no good]], "If they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not listen even to a man come back from the dead."

* Done in ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'', of course. Worth mentioning because A) they give Jacob a brother, Robert, so they can give the role of Marley to both JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf, which allows them to B) sing a cool little song about it all. And C) [[StealthPun you get "Music/BobMarley"]]. (''Groan'')

* [[ByronicHero Anders]] of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' delivers a nightmarish warning to [[TheIngenue Merrill]], telling her that if she continues to use BloodMagic, she will become [[DemonicPossession possessed]] like him - trapped in a body controlled by another being, unable even to scream. Merrill retorts that whatever risks she's taken with magic, she's always known what the consequences could be, which is more than can be said for Anders when he merged with Justice.

* Duke Edmun Dragonsbane from ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' turns out to be this. He initially comes over as a man who has everything he wanted, in the form of fame, power, riches and a beautiful wife. But he is soon revealed to abuse his wife, nearly killing her and is frequently reliving losing his past beloved. [[spoiler: When the PlayerCharacter confronts the titular Dragon, they are given a SadisticChoice. Either sacrifice their beloved, which will make the Dragon leave, giving the PlayerCharacter the fame and fortune as an alleged Dragonslayer, or face the Dragon in combat, which will almost certainly result in death.]] It turns out the duke experienced the ultimatum and chose the former, resulting in him being mad with guilt. This point is hammered in further, because making the former choice yourself shows you[[spoiler: the PlayerCharacter having replaced Edmun Dragonsbane as duke, but living a lonely and maddening existence.]]

--> "If you were just more like me, this is what could happen to you!" [[spoiler: he is then ground into powder by a giant coral-crusher he didn't see coming up on him.]]
* After you defeat him in ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'', Ace Hardlight provides the page quote by telling [[TheHero Ratchet]] no to let [[BigBad Gleeman Vox]] do to him what he did to Ace.
* Even more recently ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'''s centralman is another representation of what Luke (and potentially Leia) would have been like if raised by Darth Vader.

->''"Ratchet... [[IncurableCoughOfDeath (*cough*)]] Don't let [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Vox]] do to you [[CreatorsPet what he did to me...]] (*gasp*) [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt You're the hero now.]]"''