History Main / NothingCanStopUsNow

'''Evil Blah:''' ... what the hell are you doing here?\\

A form of TemptingFate. Compare NothingCanSaveUsNow and {{Retirony}}. Also see NearVillainVictory and the DarkestHour, the point at which the villain is most likely to say this.

[[caption-width-right:204:"See, [[BobAndGeorge George?]] This is why I don't use [[LampshadeHanging that kind of language]]. [[BigDamnHeroes It attracts heroes.]]"]]

-> '''Evil Blah''': I have defeated Super Blah! Now nothing can stop me! I will TakeOverTheWorld! I am invincible! [[EvilLaugh Ahahahahahaha]]... [[AndThenWhat I can, umm...]]
-> ''*View zooms out such that [[CartoonBomb Zeeky H. Bomb]] is visible.*''
-> '''Evil Blah''': ... what the hell are you doing here?
-> '''Zeeky H. Bomb''': [[CatchPhrase Zeeky boogy doog]]!
-> *Cut to [[StuffBlowingUp crudely drawn explosion]].*
-->-- ''TheDementedCartoonMovie''

** Lampshaded in "The Satan Pit":
-->'''The Doctor:''' "'No turning back'? That's as bad as 'Nothing can possibly go wrong'!"

** The Doctor's "I'm the Doctor" speech from "Voyage Of The Damned" falls under this trope, given how spectacularly he fails.
*** Except for the bit where he manages to save all six billion people on Earth.
** One from the new series, "Journey's End":
--->'''[[spoiler:Davros]]''': Nothing can stop the detonation! [[LargeHam NOTHING...AND NO ONE]]!!!!
** To be fair, he DID stop every backup plan, which is impressive for a villain.
** In "Parting of the Ways":
-->'''Dalek Emperor:''' I will not die! I CANNOT DIE!!
** [[Recap/{{Doctor Who NSS 4 E 16 The Waters Of Mars}} The Waters Of Mars]]:
-->'''The Doctor''': There are laws of time. Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realise the laws of time are mine! '''And they will obey me'''!
* In the British automotive series ''TopGear'', the team of presenters is frequently given an automotive related challenge of some kind (e.g., each one is to purchase a used vehicle, convert it to be amphibious, and then sail it across the English Channel). Usually, on being given the task, presenter Jeremy Clarkson launches into it asking the enthusiastic rhetorical question, "How hard can it be?" Answer: usually very (e.g., ''both'' times the ''TopGear'' presenters were challenged to convert vehicles into cat-boats, Richard Hammond's conversion sank).
** This has been [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in several episodes. In the first episode of the series' 9th season, (the episode in which Hammond returned after recovering from a serious brain injury sustained in a dragster crash), Clarkson ended his introduction to a challenge with the fateful words
--->'''Jeremy Clarkson:''' ... How hard can it be?
--->'''Richard Hammond:''' [''dramatically''] Oh, how I've missed the pang of dread every time you say the words "''How hard can it be?''"
** And in another episode later that season:
--->'''Jeremy Clarkson:''' How hard can it be?
--->'''Richard Hammond:''' ''Don't'' say that!

* ''MazingerZ'': Curiously, [[TheDragon Baron Ashura]] tends to utters that sentence in two types of situation: when BigBad Dr. Hell is showing another of his {{Robeast}}s to [[{{TwoFaced}} him/her/it]] (cue Mazinger Z obliterating the Mechanical Beast twenty minutes later); or when one of his/her/its schemes succeeds or is about of succeeding. Examples of the second use are when a Mechanical Beast has utterly trashed Mazinger Z, when he managed to steal a sample of Alloy Z...
** On the other hand, [[TheDragon Great Marshall of Hell]] from ''GreatMazinger'' was more careful about using it. Seemingly he learnt his lesson [[spoiler:since he was a resurrected Dr. Hell]]
* It is ''disturbingly'' frequently used by [[TheDragon Prince Garuda]] from ''CombattlerV''. When he [[spoiler:blew [[TheHero Hyoma's]] arms off]], when he blackmailed the Japanese Government in blowing up the Nanbara Connection -the HQ of the heroes-, when he deceiving the Japanese police to get the Combattler team under arrest... Some would think he would learn NOT tempting fate after the first time.

* ''PokemonZoroarkMasterOfIllusions'': Grings Kodai finally [[spoiler: absorbs the Time Ripple he's been searching after his EvilPlan seems to go off flawlessly.]] Having a massive ego, he just can't help going into one of these rants in front of Ash, telling him that he'll get away with it and there's nothing anyone can do. [[spoiler: Turns out [[SpannerInTheWorks Zorua destroyed his illusion canceler]], something [[MasterOfIllusion Zoroark]] took full advantage of and the Time Ripple he just absorbed was a fake and [[EngineeredPublicConfession Karl caught his entire EvilGloating session on tape and plays it to the entire town the next morning, including the cops]].]] While Kodai would've been defeated even if he hadn't gone into his speech, it was the final nail in the coffin [[spoiler: as it had him admit to causing a massive disaster 20 years ago and being perfectly willing to do it again]], ensuring his arrest.

* Subverted in ''Film/ABridgeTooFar'': it is a ''Nazi'' officer who says in horror "Nothing can stop them now", the 'them' being the Allied tanks crossing the bridge he has just failed to blow up. As it happens they are in fact stopped later and we get a {{downer ending}}.

* ''Film/TheLoveBug'' features the villain's henchman telling him "You can't lose, sir! You can't possibly lo...", trailing off as he sees that Herbie (half of him anyway) is passing them right before the finish line. Later the villain tells him "Couldn't lose, I think you said."

* In ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean: At World's End'' as Mercer tells Cutler Beckett: "There's nothing that can stand against the armada, not with the Flying Dutchman at the lead." Beckett quickly replies: [[GenreSavvy "Nothing we ''know'' of."]] They did not know of [[spoiler: Calypso.]] Nor did they know [[spoiler:that the Dutchman would be turned against them]].

** Queen Chrysalis gives a similar speech during the second season finale when she manages to [[spoiler: defeat the Mane Six and Celestia]] and is posed to take over all of Equestria. [[spoiler: Minutes later, she's defeated by the same [[ThePowerOfLove Power of Love]] [[HoistByHisOwnPetard she's been siphoning for the last two episodes]].]]

** During the Russian campaign he had proclaimed victory after conquering Moscow, only for the Russians to burn down the town to deprive his army from shelter and Kutuzov (the same one who had seen through his plan at Austerlitz) blocking the only way to food, forcing him to retreat. The following year, Napoleon declared he had practically won the War of the Sixth Coalition upon hearing that Kutuzov had died of old age, and the trope seemed subverted as Napoleon was winning... Cue the Sixth Coalition to summon [[TheStrategist Von Clausewitz and Radetzky]], who found the weakness of Napoleon's armies and put in place the strategy that allowed for Napoleon's decisive defeat at Lutzen.

** They forgot to say ''which'' Christmas....

* NineInchNails album ''The Downward Spiral'' uses the line 'Nothing can stop me now' in the songs Piggy, Ruiner and Big Man With A Gun. Fitting into the trope is that the concept album ends with the character's suicide.
** Both instances of the line also mark the two distinctive stages of the character's descent into insanity: Piggy's ending marks the beginning of his God-complex, and Ruiner's ending marks the beginning of his purely nihilistic side taking control. Adding even more irony to the situation is the fact that the line is cut short at the end of Ruiner.
** The recurrence of this phrase spills over in the next Album, The Fragile. The Penultimate track on the first disc, La Mer contains the phrase, but this time in Creole French. ''Rien peut m'arr?r maintenant.''
** The Fragile's "We're In This Together Now" also features the phrase "None of them can stop us now".

** The exact phrase "Nothing Can Stop Us Now" can also be found in the song Sunspots, from With Teeth.

* Quoth Moby: ''People they come together/People they fall apart/No one can stop us now/'Cause we are all made of stars''.

-->-- '''''TheDementedCartoonMovie'''''

* All ''Literature/TheLorax'' and adaptions, the Once-Ler, fed up with the Lorax's complaints and warnings, tells him flat-out that nothing will stop him from cutting down truffula trees and making thneeds. Unfortunately, that's when the last chop is heard...

* George W. Bush' infamous "Mission Accomplished" statement. The war drags on for more than a decade, and the neocons' dream of the war paying for itself via oil revenue remains a pipe dream.

*** Wouldn't the example be an actual subversion, considering that Clarkson in each of these boat challenges, is the only one to actually make a seaworthy vehicle? (and I still think he capsized the "Toyboata" on purpose to allow him to use a more refined design in the next iteration, but I digress...)

* In ''{{Halo}} 2'' after Tartarus had brought him the Index, the Prophet of Truth proclaimed nothing, not even the Flood can stop them. Accordingly, A Spartan-II materialized right in front of him.
** Semi-justified, since the appearance of said Spartan did not actually have any eventual effect on whether the Great Journey occurred or not.
** But the Arbiter appearing at the same time near the control room sure did.
*** Both appearances orchestrated by the Flood, appropriately.

* ''SuperFriends'' 1973/74 episode "The Androids". Dr. Rebos and his assistant Loco are in their laboratory toasting their mission to stop the U.S. space program. Dr. Rebos says "No one can stop it!" He then does a SpitTake as he looks up and sees the Super Friends, who have just entered the room.

-> '''Evil Blah''': I have defeated Super Blah! Now nothing can stop me! I will TakeOverTheWorld! I am invincible! [[EvilLaugh Ahahahahahaha]]... I can, umm...

* In ''[[Literature/ArtemisFowl Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident]]'', the main villain Briar Cudgeon states "And nobody can get in here to stop me." the narration remarks [[LampshadeHanging "Of course, you should never say something like that, especially when you're an arch villain. It's just asking for trouble."]] Predictably, the author is correct; shortly thereafter the main character's butler/bodyguard-who-happens-to-be-the-third-best-martial-artist-in-the-world/cook shoulders his way through a supposedly secure door; then the other archvillain learns that Cudgeon has betrayed her and kills him with plasma that he himself had activated.

* ''Film/StarWars'': Though it takes a little longer (probably because it's in a secure conference room) for the full backlash, [[SmugSnake admiral Motti]] announces that the Death Star "[[TemptingFate is now the ultimate power in the universe!]]" He is nearly choked by Vader moments later, for scoffing at the power of the Force, and we all know what happened to the Death Star...
** Of course, proving that karma often works faster in movies than it does in real life, the Death Star's destruction is heralded by Grand Moff Tarkin's refusal to abandon the station in their "moment of triumph".

** Also when the Emperor says how secure the shield base is on Endor, guarded by a full legion of his best stormtroopers.
*** ... [[FridgeLogic who were outwitted by teddy bears]].
** Hey! Don't underestimate the power of the bears.

* In ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean: At World's End'' as Mercer tells Cutler Beckett: "There's nothing that can stand against the armada, not with the Flying Dutchman at the lead." Beckett quickly replies: [[GenreSavvy "Nothing we ''know'' of."]]
** [[spoiler: They did not know of Calypso.]]
*** Nor did they know [[spoiler:that the Dutchman would be turned against them]].

[[folder: Film]]
* ''Film/JamesBond'' movies

* ''GundamWing'' has an example in Tsubarov's demise, where Tsubarov is laughing and claiming that his mobile dolls couldn't possibly be defeated. His last words were "I am invincible." The difference is that his mobile dolls had just been destroyed by Wufei Chang and the room he was in was crumbling and ''clearly about to blow up'' due to Wufei's berserk attack on the base.

* ''MonstersVsAliens'' had a lot of these.
** Immediately after the BigBad says "That force field is impenetrable." Ginormica rips through it and punches him in the face.
*** In the chase scene that followed this, Ginormica easily rammed through several blast doors without even slowing down.
** "You can't crush a cockroach!"
** The [[spoiler: AI system of the Alien's ship has a security system that functions just like DDR.]] After the AI declares her security code unbreakable, [[spoiler: Dr. Cockroach busts out the moves and unlocks the system.]]

* In ''{{Pirates of the Caribbean}}: At World's End'' as Mercer tells Cutler Beckett: "There's nothing that can stand against the armada, not with the Flying Dutchman at the lead." Beckett quickly replies: [[GenreSavvy "Nothing we ''know'' of."]]

* ''{{Westworld}}'': Welcome to Westworld, [[TemptingFate where nothing can go wrong]]... go wrong... go wrong...
* ''TheLastStarfighter''. Xur, the resident BigBad, receives an incomplete transmission from Earth saying simply "The last Starfighter...". He automatically completes the sentence himself: "...is dead. The last Starfighter is dead. NothingCanStopUsNow!" No prizes for guessing how that worked out for him.
* Uttered by Professor Z, TheDragon of ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}} 2''. Cue Finn [=McMissile=]'s arrival.
* The big song of ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' is a heroic example.

* ''[[{{Disney/Aladdin}} Aladdin: The Return of Jafar]]'': "Give it up, boy. You can never have my lamp, and there is no one here to save you this time." Cue [[HeelFaceTurn Iago.]]

* Perhaps one of the most iconic examples..."[[MyLittlePonyTheMovie Nothing can stop the Smooze!]]"

* Subverted in the animated movie ''CatsDontDance'', where the good guys literally ''sing'' "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", in a big dance routine, at the movie's climax, and though the EnfanteTerrible BigBad makes the obligatory over-the-top attempt to put the lie to their lyrics, she succeeds only in playing right into their hands.

* In ''Film/BatmanTheMovie'' (1966), Catwoman says it as {{Batman}} is pursuing the submarine in which the villains are escaping.

* Perhaps one of the most iconic examples..."[[MyLittlPonyTheMovie Nothing can stop the Smooze!]]"

* The villain at the end of Terry Moore's run on ''{{Runaways}}'' reached the conclusion of his villainous plot, monologued about being unstoppable after having grabbed Nico's Staff Of One (in direct violation of [[EvilOverlordList Evil Overlord rule 89]]), and ''immediately'' gets eaten by a [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere giant dragon that pops out of the staff]].

* George W. Bush' infamous "Mission Accomplished" statement. The war drags on for more than a decade, and the neocons' dream of oil remains a pipe dream.

* NapoleonBonaparte had the following proclamation to the Belgians and the inhabitants of the (German) left bank of the Rhine printed after crossing the French border in 1815. The entire print run was captured by the pursuing allies after the battle of Waterloo (which took place on June 18 several miles ''south'' of Brussels and Laeken):

** Napoleon had already done it once, declaring that a certain decisive battle was as good as won. Said battle being Austerlitz, [[SubvertedTrope he was right]], and made that statement when he had been told that general Kutuzov, the experienced and capable commander of the Russian army, had been replaced by the Austrian general Weyrother (much less experienced and excessively aggressive, and already trounced once by the French, specifically Moreau) as commander of the Russo-Austrian army (Kutuzov saw through Napoleon's plan and placed his troops exactly where Napoleon needed to place his artillery, but Weyrother and the Tzar fell for it and made him move, allowing for what was being an hard struggle to become an utter CurbStompBattle).
** Napoleon was also a serial offender. During the Russian campaign he had proclaimed victory after conquering Moscow, only for the Russians to burn down the town to deprive his army from shelter and Kutuzov (the same one who had seen through his plan at Austerlitz) blocking the only way to food, forcing him to retreat. The following year, Napoleon declared he had practically won the War of the Sixth Coalition upon hearing that Kutuzov had died of old age, and the trope seemed subverted as Napoleon was winning... Cue the Sixth Coalition to summon [[TheStrategist Von Clausewitz and Radetzky]], who found the weakness of Napoleon's armies and put in place the strategy that allowed for Napoleon's decisive defeat at Lutzen.