History Main / OffscreenBreakup

** In fact, most post-series ''[=ATLA=]'' shipping fanfics that have Sokka starting a relationship with another character have Sokka talk about how he and Suki broke up (amicably or otherwise) prior to the start of the story. Always because of the long-distance issue as well, with some adding Suki cheating on him on top of that.

* Benson and Audrey in ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow.'' This was even lampshaded when Benson talked about how everybody in the park helped him get over her, but they didn't remember. To date, the reason behind this breakup is still unknown.

** In fact, most post-series ''[=ATLA=]'' shipping fanfics that have Sokka starting a relationship with another character have Sokka talk about how he and Suki broke up (amicably or otherwise) prior to the start of the story. Almost always because of the long-distance issue as well.

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' gives us two odd examples, in the form of Davesprite and Jade, and Vriska and a doomed timeline John. What makes them unusual is that due to the TimeSkip, the same conversations that establishes they broke up also reveals ''they were in relationships to begin with'', simultaneously inverting and playing this trope straight at once.
** ''Everyone'' in Homestuck ends up doing this. Besides the aforementioned, there is also, at various points of the three-year timeskip, Karkat and Terezi, Dave and Terezi, [[FoeYay Gamzee and Terezi]], [[MoralityPet Karkat and Gamzee]], and Jake and Dirk. Just about the only couple that is still together is Rose and Kanaya.

* ''Film/StreetsOfFire'': Tom Cody and Ellen Aim do this when Tom leaves town for some sort of war for 2 years.

* ''Film/JamesBond''. All part of the formula.
* Hilariously subverted in the ''Film/AustinPowers'' series, where Austin and love interest Vanessa get married in the first movie. At the beginning of the second movie, Vanessa is revealed to be [[spoiler:a kamikaze exploding fembot sent by Dr. Evil]], thus making room for Felicity Shagwell.
* ''Film/TheKarateKidPartII'' used this to explain the disappearance of the first film's love interest character. It was even in a needlessly cruel way; not only did she unceremoniously dump him, but she wrecked his car. One really has to wonder if the actress pissed some people off.
* In ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'', Sam's previous girlfriend from the first two films, Mikaela Banes is given a simple mention early on, that she broke up with Sam at some point between the second and third film.
* At the end of the live action ''Film/InspectorGadget'' movie, Gadget has hooked up with HotScientist Brenda. When the second movie rolls around, not only is the Inspector single again, but a new scientist called Baxter takes Brenda's techie role, and a new LoveInterest in the form of G2 appears.
* Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale between ''Film/Batman1989'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''. The former alludes that she couldn't handle his double life as Batman.

* At the end of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' things seem to be going very well between Leia and Han. By the time of ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' however, [[spoiler:their relationship is largely over. Han has returned to smuggling and Leia is still in a leadership position in the Rebellion/Resistance. The relationship did produce at least one child (whose turning to evil is indicated to be the cause of the breakup). They still seem to be on friendly terms, and Leia is ''heartbroken'' when Han dies.]]
* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', it's revealed [[spoiler:Tony Stark and Pepper Potts have broken up.]]
** Inverted in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', when a scene at the end reveals that [[spoiler: Tony and Pepper got back together off-screen.]]

* Unexpectedly averted in ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'', as his RescueSex with Princess Tilde of Sweden actually turned in a long-term relationship [[spoiler: and eventually they get married]].

* It's very common on [[SoapOpera soaps]] to send a SuperCouple RidingIntoTheSunset, only to have one member return to town several years later and reveal that the marriage/relationship has ended.

* ''Series/AshesToAshes'': Chris and Shaz between seasons two and three.

* [[Comicbook/AllNewXMen O5 Angel]] and Comicbook/{{X 23}} are currently in Schrödinger's Relationship. After the end of ''All-New X-Men Vol. 2'' and the conclusion of the "Enemy of the State II" arc of ''Comicbook/AllNewWolverine'' they haven't appeared in a book together, yet no mention of their relationship status has been made in either ''Series/XMenBlue'' or subsequent issues of ''Wolverine''. Although Warren has hit on a number of women (including a cop and Firestar) in ''Blue'', suggesting they ''may'' be over.

* Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale between ''Film/{{Batman}}'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''. The former alludes that she couldn't handle his double life as Batman.

* ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' ends with Thor and Jane Foster kissing dramatically and vowing their eternal love despite their MayflyDecemberRomance. The next movie, ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', mentions in a very brief, casual aside that Jane dumped Thor between movies. ("Well, I dumped her actually").

* In the final episode of ''Anime/KashimashiGirlMeetsGirl'', Hazumu and Yasuna begin dating. Come the OVA and suddenly they're broken up for some vague reason involving Yasuna wanting to not lean on Hazumu anymore. The real, meta reason is because the OVA pairs up Hazumu and ''Tomari''.

* Superman and Wonder Woman date each other throughout the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies from ''WesternAnimation/TheThroneOfAtlantis''. However, by the time of ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'', they've broken up and he's started dating Lois Lane.

* Superman and Wonder Woman date each other throughout the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies. However, by the time of ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'', they've broken up and he's started dating Lois Lane.

* [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Sokka and Suki]] in ''Webcocmic/HowIBecameYours''. Early on, Sokka compares the way Katara feels about Zuko to the way he ''used to'' feel about Suki. At the party in Chapter 2, Ty Lee mentions in passing that it's a shame they broke up, and Katara mentions that "long distance relationships never work out."

[[folder: Anime ]]

* From ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Leonard and Pryia and Leonard and Dr. Stephanie.
** Also, Bernadette and Howard.
*** Although it's worth noting TheBusCameBack and as of the season five finale [[spoiler:they're married]].

* Guybrush and Elaine during the TimeSkip between ''VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland'' and ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge''.
** And then they mysteriously are back to being in love at ''VideoGame/TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland''...

* Andy and Erin in TheOffice.

* [[Comicbook/AllNewXMen O5 Angel]] and Comicbook/{{X 23}} are currently in Schrödinger's Relationship. After the end of ''All-New X-Men Vol. 2'' and the conclusion of the "Enemy of the State II" arc of ''Comicbook/AllNewWolverine'' they haven't appeared in a book together, yet no mention of their relationship status has been made in either ''[[Comicbook/XMenGoldAndBlue X-Men Blue]]'' or subsequent issues of ''Wolverine''. Although Warren has hit on a number of women (including a cop and Firestar) in ''Blue'', suggesting they ''may'' be over.

* ''Film/ThorRagnarok'': After spending the [[Film/{{Thor}} first]] [[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld two]] films developing Thor and Jane's relationship, the third film mentions in a very brief, casual aside that Jane dumped Thor between movies. ("Well, I dumped her actually"). This is especially abrupt since the last movie ended with the pair kissing dramatically and vowing their eternal love despite their MayflyDecemberRomance.

* ''Film/ThorRagnarok'': After spending the [[Film/{{Thor}} first]]
[[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld two]] films developing Thor and Jane's relationship, the third film mentions in a very brief, casual aside that Jane dumped Thor between movies. ("Well, I dumped her actually"). This is especially abrupt since the last movie ended with the pair kissing dramatically and vowing their eternal love despite their MayflyDecemberRomance.

This is more than a little jarring because it is just freeing up Bob to be in a new relationship (or to be single), without actually showing how the last one ended. Often done to prevent ShippingBedDeath, or because [[TrueLoveIsBoring the writers simply don't want to deal with writing out the mundaneness of an actual relationship]].

* [[Comicbook/AllNewXMen O5 Angel]] and Comicbook/{{X 23}} are currently in Schrödinger's Relationship. After the end of ''All-New X-Men Vol. 2'' and the conclusion of the "Enemy of the State II" arc of ''ComicbookAllNewWolverine'' they haven't appeared in a book together, yet no mention of their relationship status has been made in either ''[[Comicbook/XMenGoldAndBlue X-Men Blue]]'' or subsequent issues of ''Wolverine''. Although Warren has hit on a number of women (including a cop and Firestar) in ''Blue'', suggesting they ''may'' be over.

* ''Film/MenInBlack''. Linda Fiorentino is (kinda) WillSmith's love interest; come the next movie, she's outta there! (Because she apparently ''wanted'' to go back to normal life...)
** It's also implied that WillSmith has been doing it to all of his partners since Kay left in order to prevent them dedicating their lives to the job.