History Main / NowOrNeverKiss

* Both played and subverted in the same scene of ''Film/TheMatrix''. Trinity gives Neo a kiss as it appears the Machines have triumphed, only for him to revive from her kiss. At the same time, it's subverted because Trinity knows that they're not going to die just yet.

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanet'': In "[[Recap/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteersS2E5ThePredator The Predator]]", thinking they're about to drown after Bleak sinks the Geo-Cruiser, Wheeler asks [[{{Tsundere}} Linka]] for a [[LastKiss goodbye kiss]]. Despite teasing him about having only one thing on his mind, [[ShipTease she leans in to do so]]...until Kwame brings up that once the water pressure equalizes, they can get out.
* Similar to the Simpsons example above, an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' has the town thinking the world is going to end. Shriek takes the opportunity to kiss Dog (who seems kind of perturbed by it). After they live, she threatens him.
* The ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' GrandFinale ''WesternAnimation/PhantomPlanet'': With the possibility that he may not come back from the Ghost Zone let alone execute the last plan to stop an asteroid from colliding the Earth, Danny delivers a kiss to Sam (but not before she first triggered it with a kiss on the cheek).
* In the finale of ''{{WesternAnimation/Detentionaire}}'', Tina rushes to Lee[[spoiler: , who had just barely escaped death by asphyxiation via Finnwich attempting to take both Lee and himself to stop a doomsday prophecy]] to give him one [[spoiler: just before His Eminence could retake control of the situation]].
-->'''Lee''': Wow, that was almost ''too'' close.
-->'''Tina''': *Pounding on Lee's chest* You're telling me! ''Ugh!'' *Grabs Lee's shirt* Okay! That's it! No more "almosts"! *Kisses Lee on the lips*
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' "WesternAnimation/{{Wishology}}" trilogy, Timmy shares a kiss with Trixie [[spoiler:just before sacrificing himself to the Darkness]]. Naturally, he recovers, but attempts at a RelationshipUpgrade [[AlmostKiss have other problems]].
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Neil uses the threat of impending death to get a LastKiss from Meg, which turns into this trope when they're rescued by Hugh Downs. It hits the fan when he plays a tape of the kiss on local TV.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''[[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS3E10FarFromHome Far From Home]]'', [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] kisses Brainiac 5 before going into battle against the entire [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes plus Franchise/GreenLantern which is foretold to lead to her death.

* ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrange'': Can potentially be invoked twice between Max and Warren during the diner scene in episode 5, assuming the player has [[RelationshipValues chosen to have Max pursue him]]. Warren will attempt to finally confess his feelings for her, only to have Max gently interject that she's known all along. She'll then be given the chance to kiss him. If she does and immediately examines him afterward, she'll admit to herself that she did it so he'd know the feeling was mutual. After time jumping through the photo he gives her, Max further elaborates in her journal:

* Han and Leia's kiss in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', right before he was lowered into the carbonite freezing chamber and an uncertain fate.
** [[spoiler:Leia's mother]] did the same thing! Padmé and Anakin kiss in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' right before they are led into an execution arena.

* ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Part 2'' has [[spoiler:Harry and Ginny immediately going for the kiss after Neville announces that he's going to tell Luna he likes her, because "we'll probably both be dead by dawn."]]

* Will and Elizabeth get a now-or-never ''marriage'' in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd''. In the midst of the big climatic battle, on board a ship in a whirlpool, they get Captian Barbosa to marry them as they recite their vows between sword blows and fending off opponents. They then manage a long kiss, while somehow managing not to be attacked by anyone. Even other crew members stop to stare.

** In the ''same film'' Elizabeth was given a now-or-never kiss by her one-time fiancé James Norrington, as he helped her with an escape then refused to follow, presumably parting from her forever. [[spoiler:He was- he gets fatally stabbed a few seconds later.]]

* ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' - Sydney Carton gets one from a seamstress [[spoiler: as they go to the guillotine]]. Maybe it's not true love, but considering the circumstances, one could do much worse.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': Felicity Smoak, who has become somewhat estranged from Oliver Queen, gives him a BigDamnKiss in the season 5 finale "Lian Yu".

* Carter and Abby share one on ''Series/{{ER}}'', FINALLY, in the eighth season finale "Lockdown," when it seems that there might be a smallpox breakout in the hospital. [[spoiler:There isn't. And then he [[ShipSinking leaves for the Congo.]]]]

* In ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' [[spoiler: Helen kisses Nikola just before sending him away while she stays behind to fight the bad guys and blow up the Sanctuary.]]

** PlayedForLaughs in the ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' episode "Duet". Before the dangerous separation is attempted, Lieutenant Cadman (a woman) in [=McKay=]'s male body kisses Dr. Beckett (also male) "Just in case it doesn't work."

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' "Wishology" trilogy, Timmy shares a kiss with Trixie [[spoiler:just before sacrificing himself to the Darkness]]. Naturally, he recovers, but attempts at a RelationshipUpgrade [[AlmostKiss has other problems]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''Far From Home'', [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] kisses Brainiac 5 before going into battle against the entire [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes plus Franchise/GreenLantern which is foretold to lead to her death.

* ''Anime/AkameGaKill'': While [[spoiler:Mine]] is dying, she confesses her love for [[spoiler: Tatsumi]] and kisses him.

* ''Manga/AkameGaKill'': While [[spoiler:Mine]] is dying she confesses her love for [[spoiler: Tatsumi]] and kisses him.

* ''Manga/{{Akira}}'': Kaneda kisses Kei in the manga before he goes off to kill Tetsuo, taking her place.
* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', C.C. kisses Lelouch on Kamine Island before they split up: him to rescue his sister from the clutches of an unknown new enemy, her to drag the other Knightmare Frame to the bottom of the sea and get both mecha crushed. Considering the overall state of affairs, they might never have seen each other again.
* In ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'', when Miroku's curse finally threatens to kill him at any moment, the only way to save him is by killing the BigBad, so before Sango leaves to fight him, she kisses an unconscious Miroku goodbye.

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Rogue kissed Gambit when the universe was seemingly about to be destroyed.

* ComicBook/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/WonderWoman share one kiss on what they thought would be their last battle.

* Subverted in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6051938/1/The_Sealed_Kunai The Sealed Kunai]]''. Right before they go out to fight [[{{Immortality}} Hidan]] and [[NighInvulnerable Kakuzu]], Yugito Nii kisses Naruto, then firmly tells him that it was ''not'' any sort of last act, and they ''were'' both going to survive.
* Implied in ''Fanfic/TheImmortalGame'' between [[spoiler:Applejack and Rarity]] during the climactic battle/storm; while it's interrupted before the actual kiss, they are described as moving closer after very brief (lip-read and unexplained to the reader) dialogue, then are very startled when the storm clears up and show embarrassment around each other for most of the rest of the story.

* Jason and Kelly in ''Film/MysteryTeam''.

* Averted in ''Film/{{Serenity}}''. As the final fight is approaching, Simon gives a solemn confession to Kaylee (that he regretted never having sex with her), which seems like it would lead to one last kiss. Rather than responding with a kiss, she cocks her gun and excitedly declares "To Hell with this! I'm gonna live!"

* Han and Leia's kiss in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', right before he was lowered into the carbonite freezing chamber and an uncertain fate.
** [[spoiler:Leia's mother]] did the same thing! Padmé and Anakin kiss in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' right before they are led into an execution arena.
--->'''Anakin:''' I thought that we had decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie, and that it would destroy our lives.\\
'''Padmé:''' I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. I truly, deeply love you, and before we die I want you to know.\\
''(cue passionate kiss and dramatic swell in the soundtrack.)''

* There's an element of this in Ron and Hermione's first kiss in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' after Ron suddenly thinks that no one's warned the house elves in the kitchens and Hermione instantly goes to snog him.
-->'''Harry:''' OI! There's a war going on here!
-->'''Ron:''' I know, mate. So it's now or never, isn't it?
* In ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', Paithan and Reaga are finally able to admit their feelings to each other when the tytans come for them.
* In Elizabeth Peters' novel, ''Crocodile on the Sandbank'' (which launches her long series of ''Literature/AmeliaPeabody'' books), Radcliff Emerson, the dashing Egyptologist whom Amelia thinks merely respects and grudgingly admires her, realizes that either or both of them could be killed within minutes by the villain, and refuses to die without having at least kissed her -- passionately and at length, right on the floor of the tomb where they're hiding.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/ColdDays'' has TheBigDamnKiss between [[spoiler: Harry]] and [[spoiler: Murphy]] based at least partly on this reasoning, though it was less the prospect of imminent death that brought it about ([[EverythingTryingToKillYou which they deal with on a practically daily basis]],) and more a determination not to miss out on a possible RelationshipUpgrade a second time.
* ''Literature/TheLicaniusTrilogy'' frequently invokes this in its romantic subplots, as imminent danger usually acts as a MomentKiller for characters who are able to get some time alone.
* ''Literature/TheScholomance'': When faced with an onrushing wall of vaguely malevolent mana-and-flesh devouring Mortal Flame he was helpless to dispel or defend against, [[HunterOfMonsters Orion Lake]] gave the fellow student he had been falling in love with a kiss. [[ApocalypseMaiden El Higgins]], being capable of conjuring enough Mortal Flame for a firebreak, responded by [[GroinAttack dropping him with a solid knee to the bollocks]] so she could do so.

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Chloe does this twice, the first time on the fifth season, when she gives Clark a goodbye kiss before he goes [[spoiler:to face Zod]], and the second in the seventh season, [[spoiler:when she is stuck in the Daily Planet's elevator with Jimmy Olsen and a bomb.]]
** Clark too gets in on this once more with Lois: [[spoiler:Season Nine ending, right before facing Zod and sending the Kandorians away in a a method that may result in him being banished to New Krypton with them. Lois asks 'the Blur' if he can ever forgive her for mistaking Zod for him and gets kissed, resulting in her figuring it out.]]

* Subverted in ''Series/StargateSG1'' when Jack takes advantage of a GroundhogDayLoop situation to kiss Sam just before time resets. No-one else remembers, but he does; fondly.
* In ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' [[spoiler: Helen kisses Nikola just before sending him away while she stays behind to fight the bad guys and blow up the Sanctuary.]]
* In ''Series/RobinHood'', Will and Djaq share their first kiss just before the gang faces an enormous army of mercenaries.
* Nick and Claudia during episode 5 of ''Series/{{Primeval}}''.
* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'':
** In the episode "[[Recap/TorchwoodS1E4Cyberwoman Cyberwoman]]", this is how Owen justifies kissing Gwen.
--->'''Owen:''' Last kiss for the condemned man. Embarrassing given that we haven't been killed.
** Also, Jack and Ianto have a desperate and passionate kiss in Day 1 of ''[[Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth Children of Earth]]'' just before the Hub explodes.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': In "[[Recap/TheXFilesS06E03Triangle Triangle]]", Mulder goes back in time to 1939 and encounters a past version of Scully. As he's about to depart for the present day he grabs her for a passionate kiss "just in case we never see each other again." Scully being Scully, (past or present) she responds by punching him.
* Averted in ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''; [[spoiler: Dean]] wants to do this with [[spoiler: Jo]], who stays deadpan until leaving him hanging at the last second. [[spoiler: Not to worry, he gets to [[LastKiss kiss her]] [[DownerEnding the next day!]]]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Jo]]:''' Sweetheart, if this is our last night on Earth I'm going to spend it with a little thing I like to call "self-respect"!
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'':
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS4E3DayOfHonor Day of Honor]]", it looks like Tom and B'elanna are trying to, but the fact that they're in closed-face space suits [[AlmostOutOfOxygen running out of oxygen]] sort of ruins it. Their first kiss ends up being a ShutUpKiss instead.
** Tom's proposal in Season 7 begins as this as well, although once they survive the catastrophe, he makes it clear that he was very much serious and absolutely does not withdraw the question.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS5E10Counterpoint Counterpoint]]", when Kashyk volunteers to make a HeroicSacrifice, Captain Janeway snogs him [[CelibateHero like she hasn't kissed a man in five years]].

* PlayedForLaughs in the ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' episode "Duet". Before the dangerous separation is attempted, Lieutenant Cadman (a woman) in [=McKay=]'s male body kisses Dr. Beckett (also male) "Just in case it doesn't work."

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E8LoversWalk Lovers Walk]]", although it isn't their first kiss, Willow and Xander start kissing after they're kidnapped by the vampire Spike and think they're going to die. At that moment Oz and Cordelia bust in on them intent on rescue, only to find their significant others kissing ([[NotHelpingYourCase on a bed, no less]]).

* In ''Series/MurdochMysteries'', Inspector Brackenreid convinces George Crabtree to "check his med kit" with Emily Grace before going out on a potentially fatal mission. Cue the kissing.
* In the season 2 finale of ''Series/{{Superstore}}'', Amy kisses Jonah thinking they're about to die in a tornado.

* ''Series/{{Mash}}:'' Not an example with death immediately looming, but this is how Hawkeye and Hotlips say goodbye (at length) in the series finale, since it's very likely they'll never see each other again.

* In ''Literature/SailorNothing'', Himei and Seiki have this happen ''thrice''.
* Linkara [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this during his ''WebVideo/HistoryOfPowerRangers'' series, when ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' ''averts'' this. Andros and Ashley talk, with heavy emphasis that Andros will try to save his sister from the clutches of evil and might not come back and they stare at each other... Linkara flashes the words '''Kiss her, you idiot''' on screen.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''Far From Home'', [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] kisses Brainiac 5 before going into battle against the entire [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes plus Franchise/GreenLantern which is foretold to lead to her death.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': When Springfield thought it was TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, Smithers declares "Oh, what the hell!" and kisses the love of his life... Mr. Burns.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' "Wishology" trilogy, Timmy shares a kiss with Trixie [[spoiler:just before sacrificing himself to the Darkness]]. Naturally, he recovers, but attempts at a RelationshipUpgrade [[AlmostKiss has other problems]].

* Similar to the Simpsons example above, an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' has the town thinking the world is going to end. Shriek takes the opportunity to kiss Dog (who seems kind of perturbed by it). After they live, she threatens him.
* In the finale of {{WesternAnimation/Detentionaire}}, Tina rushes to Lee[[spoiler: , who had just barely escaped death by asphyxiation via Finnwich attempting to take both Lee and himself to stop a doomsday prophecy]] to give him one [[spoiler: just before His Eminence could retake control of the situation]].
-->'''Lee''': Wow, that was almost ''too'' close.
-->'''Tina''': *Pounding on Lee's chest* You're telling me! ''Ugh!'' *Grabs Lee's shirt* Okay! That's it! No more "almosts"! *Kisses Lee on the lips*

The LastKiss, except [[{{Dissimile}} it's not the last]]. But the characters don't know that. Death appears imminent -- [[SaunaOfDeath the temperature is rising]], [[DrowningPit the room is filling up with water]], the plane is about to hit the ground, the rope they're dangling from is about to break and drop them off the cliff, the room is on fire and the door's locked, [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the world is coming to an end]]... The point is, this is no place for {{UST}}. The [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend Not-A-Couple]] don't want to go out without revealing how they really feel. It's now or never. They kiss.

** In ''ComicBook/GirlPower'', Kara decides she'll confront ComicBook/LexLuthor alone... but before leaving she impulsively kisses ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} "because if half of what they've told me about Luthor is true... I might not be able to do it later..."

* In ''Franchise/TeenTitans'', Raven did this to Beast Boy.

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* In ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', Jacuzzi gives one to Nice before they [[LetsSplitUpGang split up]] to take on the various train hijackers aboard the Flying Pussyfoot. They were officially "together" at the time, but neither of them had bothered to take it even to first base beforehand even after ''7 years''!
* In ''LightNovel/CatPlanetCuties'', right before what they believe to be a suicide mission, Aoi kisses Kio, which prompts Manami to give him one. Elis, the catgirl, gets a bit jealous, and kisses him as well.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Felicity Smoak, who has become somewhat estranged from Oliver Queen, gives him a BigDamnKiss in the season 5 finale "Lian Yu".
-->'''Oliver:''' ''(handing Felicity a computer pad)'' Detailed satellite imagery of the island, [[IfIDoNotReturn just in case.]] ''(she kisses him)'' What was that for?
-->'''Felicity:''' ''(whispering)'' [[IronicEcho Just in case.]]
-->'''Oliver:''' We're going to make it through this.
-->'''Felicity:''' You can't know that for sure. I didn't want to regret not kissing you. When it comes to the two of us I regret too much as it is.

* In the ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' "Cyberwoman", this is how Owen justifies kissing Gwen.
-->'''Owen:''' "Last kiss for the condemned man. Embarrassing given that we haven't been killed."
** Also, Jack and Ianto have a desperate and passionate kiss in Day 1 of ''Children of Earth'' just before the Hub explodes.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Lodger", this is actually used to save the day.
-->'''The Doctor''' "No, not now, not again Craig, the planet’s about to burn, for god’s sake [[ThePowerOfLove Kiss The Girl]]!"
* ''Series/TheXFiles''. Mulder goes back in time to 1939 and encounters a past version of Scully. As he's about to depart for the present day he grabs her for a passionate kiss "just in case we never see each other again." Scully being Scully (past or present) she responds by punching him.

-->'''[[spoiler: Jo]]:''' Sweetheart, if this is our last night on Earth I'm going to spend it with a little thing I like to call "self-respect" !
* In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', it looked like Tom and B'elanna were trying to, but the fact that they were in closed-face space suits running out of oxygen sort of ruined it. Their first kiss ended up being a ShutUpKiss instead.

** In "Counterpoint", when Kashyk volunteers to make a HeroicSacrifice, Captain Janeway snogs him [[CelibateHero like she hasn't kissed a man in five years]].

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' ("Lovers Walk"). Although it isn't their first kiss, Willow and Xander start kissing after they're kidnapped by the vampire Spike and think they're going to die. At that moment Oz and Cordelia bust in on them intent on rescue, only to find their significant others kissing ([[NotHelpingYourCase on a bed, no less]]).
* In ''Series/TheNanny'' Max and Fran kiss when they think the plane they're on is going to crash. Max immediately takes it back once the danger passes. HilarityEnsues.

* A familial variant occurs in ''Film/SuperMarioBros'' when Luigi is about to leap into the unknown to go after Daisy across a chasm that would kill him otherwise; he gives Mario a kiss before taking the leap.

* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', Steve and Peggy kiss just before he goes to stop the Red Skull. This is also their LastKiss, since, while neither actually dies in the aftermath, the next time they see each other Peggy will be a grandmother in her nineties.
** Amusingly, after doing so he turns and looks at Colonel Phillips:
--->'''Phillips:''' I'm not kissing you!

* In the ''Manga/AkameGaKill'' anime, while [[spoiler:Mine]] is dying she confesses her love for [[spoiler: Tatsumi]] and kisses him.

* Kaneda kisses Kei in the ''Manga/{{Akira}}'' manga before he goes off to kill Tetsuo, taking her place.

* In ''Manga/InuYasha'', when Miroku's curse finally threatens to kill him at any moment, the only way to save him is by killing the BigBad, so before Sango leaves to fight him, she kisses an unconscious Miroku goodbye.

* In ''Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd'', Mikaela Hyakuya is on the verge of death. Having been just decapitated by Ferid, with Yuu escaping and the bodies of his family around him, it looks like his time is over....but [[https://weheartit.com/entry/221184709 then THIS happens]]

* In Franchise/XMen, Rogue kissed Gambit when the universe was seemingly about to be destroyed.
* In ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'', Wonder Woman kisses Franchise/{{Superman}} before leaving to fight an army of rogue, violent super-humans.
* In ''Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', Sonic gives Sally a kiss before leaving on a suicide run to shut down a weapon. [[NotQuiteDead He isn't dead]], [[HesJustHiding he's just]] [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE]]!

** In ''ComicBook/Supergirl2005'' issue #3, Kara decides she'll confront ComicBook/LexLuthor alone... but before leaving she impulsively kisses ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} "because if half of what they've told me about Luthor is true... I might not be able to do it later..."

* Franchise/{{Batman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman share one kiss on what they thought would be their last battle.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', in the Forward Operations Base on Earth, if you romanced Kaidan he will grab Shepard for one of these. It's a rare case of a kiss being a TearJerker, since [[MultipleEndings in most cases]], it's their last.
** Also applies to Ashley, whose goodbye plays out very similarly to Kaidan's, as well as Liara and Garrus in their respective scenes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' "Wishology" trilogy, Timmy shares a kiss with Trixie [[spoiler: just before sacrificing himself to the Darkness]]. Naturally, he recovers, but attempts at a RelationshipUpgrade [[AlmostKiss has other problems]].

* There's an element of this in Ron and Hermione's first kiss in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''