History Main / RayOfHopeEnding

* ''Film/{{Brazil}}'' is one of the most twisted examples of this ever. [[TheBadGuyWins The tyrannical government wins]], the LoveInterest is dead, and the hero finally snaps from it all and [[SanitySlippage descends into insanity]], retreating permanently into his HappyPlace... but by embracing his madness, [[DisabilityImmunity the protagonist is freed from all the misery and repression around him]], denying the government the satisfaction of breaking him and defeating them in the only way he realistically can; [[WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing refusing to play along with their broken system at all]].

* ''ComicBook/TheCallOfCRusso'': Inverted. The day is seemingly saved when Ar-Finn is put back to sleep, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie hopefully glance at the sunrise. It still ends on a dark note as Donald realizes that he only exists inside the mind of a sleeping octopus and [[DreamApocalypse might one day vanish]].

* ''Animation/ThePiedPiper'' ends with the title character [[ForcedTransformation turning]] almost everyone in [[WretchedHive Hamelin]] into rats and then drowning them with his MindControlMusic. However, the spares an old fisherman, who has appeared in a few scenes and not really done anything wrong. The fisherman ventures into the now-empty town, where he finds an abandoned baby. With nowhere else to go, he carries the child off into the countryside in search of a new home. The brighter colour pallet creates a strong feeling of hope.

* ''Animation/ThePiedPiper'' ends with the title character [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting turning]] almost everyone in [[WretchedHive Hamelin]] into rats and then drowning them with his MindControlMusic. However, the spares an old fisherman, who has appeared in a few scenes and not really done anything wrong. The fisherman ventures into the now-empty town, where he finds an abandoned baby. With nowhere else to go, he carries the child off into the countryside in search of a new home. The brighter colour pallet creates a strong feeling of hope.

** "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E26CallToArms Call to Arms]]" ends the fifth season with the Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, Deep Space 9 is quickly captured by the Dominion forces ([[PyrrhicVictory although they paid dearly for it]]) and the heroes retreat. The ray of hope comes in the form of the massed Federation-Klingon fleet ready to fight back and Captain Sisko leaving behind his baseball on the station, a message that he will return, [[Website/SFDebris and shove it up the Dominion's ass when he does]].

* ''WebVideo/CGPGrey'': "The Rules for Rulers" is a sobering, Machiavellian look at power structures and how being a leader isn't all it's cracked up to be. Corruption and nepotism are often InherentInTheSystem in order to placate the key supporters to one's regime, who are more important to ruling than the masses, while rivals will be seeking to overthrow you, and being an "honest" leader will often mean they can exploit that. But at the same time, the viewer is encouraged ''not'' to turn away from politics, not just because you can't avoid them, but because you ''need'' power if you're ever going to bring about any of the changes that you dream about. It ends with the message that even if the viewer doesn't like the rules, better ''they'' be in power than someone else, and by knowing them, maybe they'll be different.

** ''[[Literature/WarriorCatsPowerOfThree The Power of Three]]'': Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf uncover the identity of their parents, but are disowned by their biological father. Hollyleaf [[GoMadFromTheRevelation snaps]] and kills Ashfur, before attempting to murder Leafpool, who is heavily implied to be suicidal. The only reason she relents is that she believes that it would be more of a [[CruelMercy punishment]] to let Leafpool live after she lost everything she loved. Brambleclaw is distraught and breaks up with Squirrelflight, who is shunned along with Leafpool by her fellow Clanmates. The Three face prejudice for their statuses as [[HeroicBastard heroic bastards.]] Hollyleaf seemingly dies after running into a collapsing tunnel, apparently dooming the prophecy. The only good thing about this ending is that Jayfeather and Lionblaze realize that Hollyleaf was never part of the prophecy and that either Dovekit or Ivykit was the Third all along.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17083951210.08982800
%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1640558843001877800
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:[[Literature/TheLorax https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lasttruffulatreebiggertextfullstop.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,\\
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.]]

%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900

* ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'': "World Record": Davis escapes the matrix, but is physically (and presumably mentally) handicapped in order to incapacitate him and keep him under control. Of course somewhere in his mind he still remembers what happened. So this bit of entrapment might not last for very long.
* ''Manga/AfterSchoolNightmare'': The manga ends on [[SuddenDownerEnding something of a dour note]], since in "the real world," a fire breaks out in the hospital where the lead characters' mothers are staying. Mashiro escapes to be born, while all of her classmates are erased from existence as their mothers die or their fetuses are miscarried. Also, Mashiro's memories are torn to shreds by the birth. However, Real World Mashiro meets a Real World Sou in the final few pages, which keeps the ending from getting any more bleak, though they have no memory of each other. It's also left ambiguous as to [[MaybeEverAfter whether or not]] Real World Mashiro and Real World Sou's relationship will pick up where it left off.

* ''Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon: [[TheMovie Be Invoked]]'' is infamous for its EverybodyDiesEnding, but the final moments are of the characters' souls happy and laughing as they go to be reincarnated. (Though after all the suffering they go through, one has to wonder whether just staying dead would be a better option.) A (non-canon) crossover manga has the characters reincarnate into the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' Universal Century characters- with all the strife and suffering they go through in that universe.
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'': The twist ending has Homura pull a FaceHeelTurn, become a SatanicArchetype, and remake the world according to her own desires. All the heroines are trapped in her reality and given LaserGuidedAmnesia. However, Homura desires to make everyone alive and happy, and finally gives karma to series villain Kyubey by [[MindRape forcing all the despair they have inflicted into them]]. It's also implied the heroines will regain their memories and oppose, persuade, or redeem Homura or otherwise change the status quo to something more satisfying for everyone, Homura included.

* As brutal and confusing as ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion The End of Evangelion]]'' is, it ultimately ends with Shinji rejecting Instrumentality and choosing to associate with others even if it causes him pain, Asuka being brought back to life after being EatenAlive by the Mass Production Evas, and everyone who was tanged in the Third Impact having the ability to return to their physical form should they so choose.
** ''[[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Evangelion 3.33]]''. [[HeroicSacrifice Kaworu dies preventing the Fourth Impact]], Shinji has crossed the DespairEventHorizon to the point of being nearly comatose, Unit-02 has been destroyed. However, Fourth Impact has been averted (though Gendo still proclaims that everything is [[JustAsPlanned going according to plan]]), there's still enough of Unit-02 to salvage, and Rei Q has performed a HeelFaceTurn and joined the heroes. Also, despite Shinji's world-destroying attempt to save Rei having seemingly been AllForNothing, it's implied that her soul is within Unit-01 much like Yui does.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' ends with [[BigBad Rustal]] and the Gjallarhorn organization crushing Tekkadan and killing off many major characters, including the protagonist. But Rustal then [[TheExtremistWasRight implements sweeping reforms and recognizes Martian independence]], while the survivors are shown living happy lives; except Ride, who has started another resistance movement against Gjallarhorn and assassinating a major enemy leader, hinting that they may yet win this time.
* In the anime version of ''Manga/NoMatterHowILookAtItItsYouGuysFaultImNotPopular'', while Tomoko fails to make any friends and chickens out the moment she was about to make a serious effort to speak to Megumi, she nevertheless still managed to catch the class president's attention and sympathy. Her words saying that she'll be keeping an eye out for Tomoko imply there's a chance things can improve.

* In the anime version of ''Anime/WolfsRain'', despite all the heroes efforts, Lord Darcia kills them all and destroys Cheza's Paradise, ending the world with it. But the last scene shows the protagonist Kiba and some of his friends reincarnated into the modern world, implying the search for Paradise has begun anew, and they might make it this time. The manga, however, [[AdaptationalAlternateEnding averts this]] in favor of a more traditional ending where the heroes win and the Ice Age ends.
* ''Anime/WonderEggPriority'': The girls that Ai, Neiru, Rika, and Momoe had wanted have returned from the dead, but in reality, they aren't the same versions of the girls they know, having no memories of them and having their own lives seperate from the main characters. Frill is no longer a threat, but has kidnapped Neiru after tempting her with fufilling her wish to become Human. Momoe no longer wants to have anything to do with the Egg World, while both Ai and Rika quit upon learning that Neiru is an ArtificialHuman. Ai learns that Koito had been a {{Jerkass}} the entire time and transfers schools as she no longer has a reason to stay, and subsequently, she drifts apart from Rika and Momoe. However, Ai comes to regret her decision of abandoning Neiru and decides to return to the Egg World to save her.

* In Creator/ECComics' ''ComicBook/{{Judgment Day|ECComics}}'', a human representative of [[TheFederation the Galactic Republic]] denies [[RobotRepublic Cybrinia]] admission to the Republic on the grounds of their RobotsEnslavingRobots FantasticCasteSystem, but remarks that Earth's humans used to be the same way before they did away with their prejudices to explore the universe together. He tells the robot guide who led him through the world that, when they cast aside their own prejudices, the wonders of Earth will likewise be theirs to share in.

* Fanfic/TheAssassinationOfTwilightSparkle: In just fifteen years after Twilight's death, Equestria will be wrought with terror attacks by [[EvilReactionary traditionalists]] who want everything to go back to way things were before and plunge the country into civil war. Tirek escapes, gets caught and then gets set free by other factions who hate Equestria which includes [[VillainTeamUp Queen Cicada's changelings and Unicornia in exchange for his help and knowledge on his mana drain spell]], [[WhatsInItForMe which he agrees to thanks to a very tempting offer to restore him to his prime and aid him in conquering his homeland to pit the Centaurs against the ponies once more.]] Twilight's family and friends are running themselves ragged trying to prevent Equestria from falling apart altogether. Spike runs away to Erebus Islands and disappears from their lives altogether. But this whole mess actually cemented Discord's HeelFaceTurn and the fact that Spike now has a goal to get stronger in Erebus Islands so that he can come back and actually help make his mother's dream a reality.

* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'' The final chapter of ''R1'' has this. Megatron and the Decepticons have begun their conquest of the entire world after essentially destroying Britannia, with over half the Black Knights being killed in battle and Cliffjumper and Dreadwing [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing themselves]] to protect their friends. However, despite this victory for the Decepticons, the remaining Autobots and Black Knights rally together what they still have. Joined by several defectors from Britannia, and the Ashford Student Council, they plan to lay low for a while and rebuild their forces. They also manage to piggyback off Megatron's message to bring all remaining Decepticon forces to Earth, and send their own message to bring any scattered Autobots across the universe to Earth so they can join their fight against the Decepticons. Cera/C.C. also forms a contract with Optimus, giving him his own Geass so he can even the playing field against Megatron and his Dark Geass.
* ''Fanfic/DanganronpaTheImmersiveLearningProgram'': The first story ends with the titular virtual simulation that the main cast were trapped in shutting down, and the survivors dealing with both their weakness from days of starvation and unable to stop the world around them from falling apart. But the story ends with Shuichi Saihara, Kaede's boyfriend from Hope's Peak who wasn't in the story, appearing and reaching out to save her. [[spoiler:However in the sequel ''Academy of Discontent'', which in the fourth chapter shows Shuichi along with Leon and Gundham going in to rescue the ''Immersive Learning Program'' main cast, it's revealed that while the majority of the students were rescued and pulled out, Shuichi and Kaede end up dying in the attempt along with another student from the simulation]].

-->'''Princess Luna''': ''(whispering to herself)'' And so it is said, that the stars will aid in her escape, and together they will bring an end to nighttime eternal.
* At the end of ''Film/TheHobbit'' fic ''Heart of Fire'', the first part of the ''Fanfic/TheHeartTrilogy'', [[VillainProtagonist Smaug]] is fatally wounded by Bard's Black Arrow before [[AMatchMadeInStockholm Kathryn]] can convince him to stop his attack on Lake-town. She desperately tries to magically heal his wound, but she overexerts herself and dies, much to Smaug's sorrow. Fankil (who's [[HiddenVillain yet to be identified]]) then appears to take Kathryn's body away, leaving Smaug to sink alone in the Long Lake. However, [[ChekhovsGunman Andraya and Freyja]] fish from the water [[HumanityEnsues a man who has the same appearance as Smaug]] when he has taken a human form in dreams. [[SequelHook Andraya then announces her intention to awaken the comatose man...]]
* ''Fanfic/WeMustBeKillers'': "On The Bloody Morning After" is a one-shot WhatIF story set in a different timeline than either the main series where just about everyone who isn't SavedByCanon gradually dies or the FixFic ''A District Upside Down: The War'', with its BittersweetEnding. In it, the 3rd Quarter Quell arena escape fails, with Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, Johanna, Enobaria, and Beetee all dying while Brutus wins the Games, the Rebellion never happens, every rebel who wasn't in the arena is exposed and either executed or sent to a BlackSite, and the Games continue with more and more dead or mentally scarred children. However, District 12 isn't bombed, District 13 is still presumably out there, there is an UndergroundRailroad in the districts, and one final CynicismCatalyst finally makes Brutus and Lyme decide to rebel and hope they can bring down the Capitol.
* ''[[FanFic/MyLittleTitan My Little Titan's]]'' bad ending: The deaths of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic the Mane 6]] allow [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans Trigon]] to manifest into Equestria. Seeing this, Discord activates his GodzillaThreshold and completely destroys Equestria, ending Trigon along with it. He then voices his apologies to the Titans and sends them home. The ray of hope is that Series/DoctorWho managed to save the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who are now humans, from the destruction of their world, allowing them to start new lives in the care of the Titans.
* ''Fanfic/ForTheLastTimeInForever:'' The EndlessWinter in Arendelle never stopped, Anna remains an ice statue in Elsa's castle, and Elsa herself has become a hibernal spirit, reduced to an inhuman state by fear and grief. But once a year, on the anniversary of the last time the two princesses played together, two trolls journey to the castle of ice to conduct a simple ritual--rebuilding Olaf to reawaken the Snow Queen's memories of playing with her sister and being able to feel love. Someday, many years from now, when Elsa is able to feel love again, she will become human, Anna will be freed, and spring will return to Arendelle.

* ''WesternAnimation/BirdBoyTheForgottenChildren:'' Dinky, Sandra and Little Fox are nearly executed by the Forgotten Children, but are saved by Birdboy going on a OneWingedAngel rampage to rescue them. Then when they try to leave the island during a storm, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome they nearly drown when the inflatable duck raft they're riding gets capsized by a wave,]] and only survive thanks to Zachariah. Meanwhile, Birdboy is shot dead by the police [[StarCrossedLovers mere moments after Dinky told Birdboy she loves him.]] Zachariah takes Dinky and the others back to the island, meaning she's still stuck with parents who love their dog more than they love her [[AbusiveParents and don't seem to realize or care that she almost died twice in one day.]] However, the scrapyards could potentially become safer thanks to Birdboy decimating the Forgotten Children, and Birdboy's soul guides Dinky to a secret cave containing a tree which produces magic acorns, [[PassingTheTorch posthumously entrusting her with his task to bring the island back to life.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar:'' Darkseid has been defeated, but the Earth is doomed. The ending has Flash racing off to create a CosmicRetcon, with no surety how much better things will play out, but certain they can't be worse.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': While Miles is trapped on the wrong Earth being held captive by an alternate version of his uncle Aaron and himself, who is the Prowler in this universe, Miguel and the Spider Force on are hunting him to make sure Jefferson does die, and the Spot has returned with more power than and is intending to do some damage. But Gwen, while she has lost Miles' trust, with Hobie's help she is able to continue to travel across the Multiverse as assembled a team of her own to help find Miles and rescue him.

* ''FIlm/AutumnSonata'': Though the relationship seems completely broken between Eva and Charlotte, Eva writes a letter to Charlotte asking to have her still in her life despite the fact she at first rebuked her. It was implied that Charlotte wants to still have that parental bond with Eva so there may be a chance the two will eventually reconcile.

* ''Film/{{Dune|2021}}'' (2021): While the Harkonnens succeed in recapturing Arrakis and the Atreides are annihilated, Paul Atreides joins the Fremen at the end, and will lead a rebellion to defeat the Harkonnens once and for all (in [[Film/DunePartTwo Part Two]]).
* Used prominently in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' films:
** ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'': The Rebellion is on the run without a base, Han Solo's debt with Jabba the Hutt comes back to bite him and he has been frozen solid in carbonite, Luke gave up his Jedi Training to walk into Darth Vader's trap, lose his hand and [[LukeIAmYourFather finds his true parentage]]. But the main cast minus Han are able to escape the Empire at Cloud City and it ends on a high note with Luke's replacement hand and the team getting a lead on Han's whereabouts.
** ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': Anakin Skywalker has fallen to evil. The Jedi have been all but destroyed. The Republic has fallen, and the Empire has risen to power. Obi-Wan and Yoda, and any other survivors of the Order are in hiding. But the Skywalker twins have been born, and we know from the original trilogy that they will be the ones to change the state of the galaxy for the better.
** ''Film/TheLastJedi:'' Luke has died and become one with the Force. The Resistance is down to a freighter's worth of people, and have lost all their warships and fighters. None of the Resistance's allies answered the call to help them. The Resistance may be a lot weaker, but it's still going. Rey has the ancient texts of the Jedi Order, and while Luke is technically dead, the undiscovered country has a [[OurGhostsAreDifferent pretty good day release program for Jedi]]. Supreme Leader Snoke, the only thing keeping the First Order together, is dead, and while Kylo Ren has succeeded him, his control over the First Order is predicated mostly on beating the tar out of General Hux. On top of that, Kylo is a PsychopathicManchild whose BerserkButton regarding his past [[SkewedPriorities has a negative effect on his priorities]], which leads to him being decidedly humiliated by Luke in their final confrontation, which rapidly becomes a legend across the galaxy, including among young slaves on Canto Bight - one of whom is shown calling a broom to his hand with the Force.
* The ending to the European film, ''Acla'' also known as ''Acla's Descent'' would almost be a Downer Ending, but it has a touch of hope since it's shown that in spite of everything, Acla can still dream of a better future.
* ''Film/TwelveMonkeys'': Protagonist James Cole, a time traveler from AfterTheEnd, dies trying (and failing) to stop the villain from releasing the virus that triggers TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. But in the next scene, another time traveler appears in disguise to speak with the villain -- implying that, thanks to Cole's work, the scientists of the future will finally get a pure sample of the virus so they can make a vaccine. The past can't be changed, but the future can still be saved.

-->"I don't think you have to worry too much about that. My wife is divorcing me, my mother-in-law is suing me for damages, my daughter is applying to the courts to have her name changed, my pension has been revoked. And the only reason that you 10 idiots will very likely get off lightly, is because the judge will have me up there to throw the book at. I'd like to think that sometime, maybe 10 or 20 years from now, there'd be something I could laugh at... Anything."
->''[[ObnoxiousInLaws Mrs. Marcus]] comes in and trips on a BananaPeel. Cue [[ItMakesSenseInContext a round of deafening laugh]] from everybody, including Culpeper.''
* The ending of ''Film/{{Se7en}}''. The villain has won, as Mills gives in to his anger at his wife's and child's death at the hands of John Doe, and Doe's agenda, a recreation of the SevenDeadlySins in the form of murders, comes to fruition as Mills' execution of him makes him embody the seventh sin, wrath. Mills, clearly emotionally traumatised by the events, has been taken into custody. The hope comes in the form of Detective Somerset, who is a generally selfless and moral KnightInSourArmor until a short time before the beginning of the film when he decides to actually retire and get on with his life. However, throughout the film, he just can't keep out that selfless part inside of him that wants to keep on fighting for the innocent, which is pushed on by Mills who is like a reminder of Somerset at a younger age. He does decide to stay on for a few days, but at the end of the film, it is implied that he has decided to stay on completely. The last words of the film are Somerset: "The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for. I agree with the second part" which shows that even in the worst of places and after seeing the worst in humanity, people will still fight for good. Also; Mills can still get a lesser sentence when circumstances for the execution are considered and there's always therapy. Sommerset could perhaps keep in touch with Mills and help him recover. Meanwhile, Doe's plan is a PyrrhicVictory since Doe is...well...'''dead'''. While [[ThanatosGambit this was part of his plan]] to inspire a movement, there is no evidence presented in the film ''at all'' that John Doe is viewed as anything other than an AxCrazy maniac by the public, likely making it a StupidSacrifice.
* ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'': After spending the whole film trying to avert Judgment Day, the heroes fail at the end and the machines nearly wipe out all life on earth. Of course, the T-850 knew it would happen all along. John finally accepts his destiny as leader of the resistance and begins his long journey to the eventual defeat of Skynet.
* Experimental montage film ''Film/AMovie'' has a nearly literal version of this trope. After the latter portion of the film dwells on death, violence, and destruction, the last clip is of a scuba diver exploring a sunken ship, panning up to the sun, visible from under the water.
* ''Film/AHistoryOfViolence'' script ends with two words: "There's hope."
* ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'': Neil commits suicide to escape his abusive father, Mr. Keating is the scapegoated and fired, Charlie gets expelled for defending him, the Dead Poets Society is shut down and Mr. Nolan takes over teaching his class, reinstating the conservative, dispassionate approach to learning poetry. However, before Mr. Keating leaves the school for good; Todd - the shy student he encouraged the most - leads over half his class (including students who weren't in the society) in rebellion against Nolan, proving to Keating they will see the world in new ways, they will think for themselves, and he will not be forgotten.

** Fitting [[TheCape its protagonist]], ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' is toward the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism optimistic]] end of this trope. EveryoneLives--hell, no one's even in jail, except Zemo who vindictively provoked much of this conflict in the first place. However, that's only because Cap led a mass jailbreak of the anti-Accords side. They're all now living as fugitives from international law in Wakanda. And while he's still a hero, he's decided to abandon the Captain America mantle by leaving the iconic shield with Tony and showing up to the jailbreak in civilian clothes. Meanwhile Bucky whose disputed right to be free set off most of the plot, is now willingly going back into cryostasis because no one can figure out how to remove what's left of the HYDRA brainwashing in his head, Rhodey was paralyzed by a stray shot from Vision and can only still walk with great difficulty and a Stark Tech exosuit, and Tony is alone except for Rhodey and Vision on the Avengers compound, dealing with the revelation that the Winter Soldier graphically murdered his parents. The ray of hope is Steve's letter to Tony apologizing for how he handled all this, and the fact that Tony puts Secretary Ross on hold (thus letting the jailbreak go ahead unhindered) to finish reading it, with Steve promising that [[{{Foreshadowing}} the Avengers will come]] [[Film/AvengersInfinityWar if the world needs them]].

* ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'': Happy ending isn't guaranteed for any of the characters (and might even seem unlikely for most of them), and the demise of the dying ones is a ForegoneConclusion. But the ending gives a hope that there might be a change for the better in the lives of those who survive.
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2'': The contract on John's head has doubled and expanded to international. His killing of the BigBad on Continental grounds leads to his being declared excommunicado, meaning that he's cut off from their resources and has no guaranteed sanctuary anywhere. [[Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum But though he's bruised and bloody]], he can still fight, and with the dubious assistance of the Bowery King's group, he might just be able to take the fight to the High Table.
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum'' carries on the tradition. Come the ending, John's bounty is higher than ever, what few allies he still had after being excommunicated are either dead or no longer want anything to do with him, and he's hurt even worse than at the end of the previous film. However, the Bowery King is definitely agreed with him on fighting the High Table this time, and there is a subtle hint Winston may not actually have betrayed him for real.
* ''Film/ChildrenOfMen''. It's one of the bleakest dystopian films ever made. [[ChildlessDystopia No child has been born for 18 years]], society is rapidly falling apart because there's nobody to preserve it for, every country is gone except for Britain (which is an authoritarian hellhole wracked by political violence), people are depressed wrecks sitting around waiting to die, suicide kits are sold in shops, and there is no hope. By the end, every named character is dead except for Kee and her baby, who are rescued safely off the coast of England. Cut to black and the final title, and the sounds of children laughing and playing can be heard.

* ''Film/CSATheConfederateStatesOfAmerica'' ends with anti-slavery movements defeated and slavery still prevalent in America. But the One Drop scandal, which led to the Fauntroy family patriarch eating his gun, seems to have people questioning the authenticity of the whole program, not to mention noticing how slavery is taking a toll on the CSA economy. Actually the very fact that the ideals of slavery are so vigorously defended by the establishment subtly hints that they aren't taken for granted by the people anymore. As for the rest of the world, equality is still celebrated widely, in part actually due to the C.S.A.'s actions making the evils of racism and slavery so apparent, and Canada has not only prospered as an asylum of liberty but has begun to take America's place as the cultural center of the Americas.
* ''Film/BatmanReturns'': Even though the Penguin is defeated and his and Schreck's reign of terror have come to an end, Selina refuses to be with Bruce because she is incapable of living with herself, and seemingly dies while taking Schreck with her. This leaves Bruce staring vacantly at Penguin's funeral and seeing another lost soul who lived and died alone. Badly shaken and submerged in his inner hell, he spends Christmas Eve with Alfred, until he finds concrete evidence that Selina survived and wants him to take care of her cat while she heals both physically and mentally. Then Alfred, his one friend, wishes him Merry Christmas, making Bruce smile in his own wish for goodwill toward men... "and women". Fittingly, the last shot of the movie is the Bat-Signal shining in the sky as Selina watches.
* ''Film/Joker2019'': Arthur is arrested and thrown in Arkham, having embraced the Joker persona and completely lost his mind, but not before his actions and murder of Murray Franklin on his own talk show spark a riot that results in the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. And since Arthur ''is'' in [[CardboardPrison Arkham]], he's last seen presumably escaping to cause even more chaos. Gotham might be at its breaking point now, but the Waynes' son, Bruce, has been put down [[Franchise/{{Batman}} his fated path]] and one day, he will rise up to protect his city when it needs him most.
* ''Film/TheFly1986'' was '''supposed''' to end with one of four scenes, all of which involved a DreamSequence counterpart to Veronica's earlier NightmareSequence in which she sees a baby with butterfly wings emerge from a chrysalis, that answered the question of what would become of her and her unborn, possibly mutant child by the now-dead Seth. The options were 1) she gets back together with ex-lover Stathis and is carrying ''his'' child now, 2) same as 1 but she isn't pregnant at all, 3) she's single and not pregnant, 4) she's single and visibly pregnant with Seth's child. However, no one in the cast and crew wanted 1 or 2, and all four went over poorly with test audiences because, according to Creator/DavidCronenberg, Seth's death was so upsetting they couldn't accept a hopeful epilogue so soon. Thus, the movie ends immediately after Veronica kills Seth. The dangling plot thread of the fate of the child became the jumping-off point of ''Film/TheFlyII''.
* ''Film/{{Brazil}}'' is one of the most twisted examples of this ever. [[TheBadGuyWins The tyrannical government wins]], the LoveInterest is dead, and the hero finally snaps from it all and [[SanitySlippage descends into insanity]], retreating permanently into his HappyPlace... but by embracing his madness, [[DisabilityImmunity the protagonist is freed from all the misery and repression around him]], denying the government the satisfaction of breaking him and defeating them in the only way he realistically can; [[WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing refusing to play along with their broken system at all]].
* Parodied sort of incredibly and while CrossingTheLineTwice in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', where Brian ends up crucified, and everybody who could save him fails to do it... But another crucifixion victim tells him to cheer up, and the lot of them end up singing a grand musical number about how dying is not so bad. So they definitely die agonisingly, but they're okay with it because they look on the bright side. It's a lot more cheerful than straight examples tend to be.

* ''Film/TheBatman2022'' ends on a mostly bleak note. The Riddler managed to kill a ''ton'' of people before being caught, he's met The Joker in Arkham, the Waynes' legacy is tarnished maybe forever, and the events of the movie have left a power vacuum in the criminal underworld that will lead to a lot of bloodshed and chaos. Batman even acknowledges in his closing monologue that things are going to get worse for awhile before they even have a chance at improving, and Selina doesn't think they'll ''ever'' improve. Batman himself doesn't know if they will... but he's still going to try. There's a new mayor who's honest and goodhearted working to rebuild trust in the city, Gordon is still around to be a voice of reason in the mostly-corrupt GCPD, and Batman's realized he can do far more good as a protector and symbol of hope than as a living nightmare. The mere promise that things ''can'' get better is all he needs to keep fighting his endless war against corruption and evil.
* ''Film/BlueBayou'': Despite all the protagonists' efforts, the film ends with Antonio nearly killing himself and being deported, including being forcibly separated from his daughter at the airport. He doesn't know where exactly he'll end up. However, Antonio and Kathy reaffirm their love for each other, and their legal marriage means they have the opportunity to reunite sometime in the future.
* ''Film/AQuietPlacePartII'': The world is still under siege from the aliens, and most of the people the Abbotts know are dead. But Regan makes it to the radio station and hooks her hearing aid up to the speaker, still sending out the frequency that the aliens are vulnerable to. Marcus manages to tune into the signal on his radio, proving that the frequency can be carried via radio signal. Now anyone who can get the signal can destroy the aliens, opening a possibility for humanity to fight back against them.
* ''Film/FastX'': A first for the franchise! Jakob dies in a HeroicSacrifice to save Dom, which proves fruitless as the film ends with Dom and his son completely at the mercy of Dante and [[TheMole Aimes]] as they prepare to blow up the dam that would flood the valley Dom and Brian are trapped in. The plane Tej, Roman, Han, and Ramsey are on was shot down with no indication if they make it out alive. Tess is heavily injured earlier in the film. Even if they all make it out alive somehow, they're still branded terrorists by the international community after Dante frames them for the devastating bomb explosion in Rome. The only silver lining is that Letty and Cipher managed to escape the Agency's base and rescued by a very much alive Gisele.
* ''Film/MyAnimal'': Heather gives in to her wolf side, murdering Richard. While he had it coming, her mother orders her to leave town for her protection, which Heather does, going toward an uncertain future leaving both her family and Jonny behind. That being said, Heather's now free from her bindings and doesn't have to deal with a deteriorating family, Rick's death means that Jonny is free from the abuse, and the ending monologue suggests that things could get better from there on out.
* ''Film/TheBookOfRevelation'': Daniel hasn't found his rapists by the end, and he's been arrested for assaulting a woman he [[MistakenIdentity wrongly thought to be one]]. Olsen is on the case though, so though Daniel still may be in trouble at least there's a chance for them being caught later.

* ''Literature/TheLorax'' ends with the forest where the Truffula trees once grew destroyed, now replaced with pollution and an empty, desolate world. However, the Once-Ler has learned his lesson and, realizing the meaning of the Lorax's final words, passes on the last Truffula seed to a boy who had heard his story, ending the story with an ambiguous, but hopeful, note that someday, with care, the forest and all of the Lorax's friends will return.
* After the colossal DownerEnding of ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' which sees both protagonists destroyed by Big Brother, the novel concludes with an appendix about {{Newspeak}} which is phrased in the past tense and written in standard English. Some people have interpreted this to mean that the reign of Ingsoc was eventually broken.

* At [[Literature/TheDarkTower2004 the end]] of ''Literature/TheDarkTower'', when Roland is sent back in a GroundhogDayLoop, he holds the horn of Eld (unlike in previous iterations), which implies that he could break the loop eventually. He also hears a vague whisper from somewhere which suggests that perhaps this time "it will be different".

* In ''Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz'', the world nukes itself a second time, yet the church has grown wiser, forming a parallel hierarchy in space, and sending a starship to Alpha Centauri.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' ends almost all its books with these. Often with a dark context.
** Book 1: The North declares independence. Daenerys hatches her dragons.
** Book 2: Bran and Rickon escape from Winterfell.
** Book 3: The Brotherhood without Banners is now under Catelyn Stark's leadership.
** Book 5: Varys murders Pycelle and Kevan to pave the way for Prince Aegon.
* At the end of ''Literature/DarkLordTheRiseOfDarthVader'', Roan Shryne and several of the Jedi fugitives are dead, Kashyyyk has fallen to the Empire with tens of thousands of Wookiees pressed into slavery, and Darth Vader has overcome his crippling depression and is ready to take his place as a full Dark Lord of the Sith. But Olee Starstone and the remaining Jedi plan to continue working against the Empire, and Bail Organa and Obi-Wan Kenobi are watching over the twin infants in which the galaxy's hope rests.
* ''Literature/AScannerDarkly'' ends with Arctor in a rehab clinic hopelessly strung out on Substance D. The clinics are where the drug is made from a blue flower. He tucks one in his shoe for evidence.
* In ''Literature/ChristianNation'', the entire United States is taken over by a Christian theocracy, thus putting an end to democracy, religious freedom, and even privacy as the government monitors everything its citizens do. Fortunately, the Free Minds Movement, which the protagonist is now a part of, is recording a part of that history with the help of an electric typewriter, one of the few pieces of technology that isn't being monitored, in the hope that future generations will learn to fight for their freedoms once again.
* ''Literature/AndStillTheTurtleWatched'': The turtle gets the paint cleaned off and finds itself in a botanical garden, once again visited by children and surrounded by those appreciating plant life.

** ''Power of Three'': Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf uncover the identity of their parents, but are disowned by their biological father. Hollyleaf [[GoMadFromTheRevelation snaps]] and kills Ashfur, before attempting to murder Leafpool, who is heavily implied to be suicidal. The only reason she relents is that she believes that it would be more of a [[CruelMercy punishment]] to let Leafpool live after she lost everything she loved. Brambleclaw is distraught and breaks up with Squirrelflight, who is shunned along with Leafpool by her fellow Clanmates. The Three face prejudice for their statuses as [[HeroicBastard heroic bastards.]] Hollyleaf seemingly dies after running into a collapsing tunnel, apparently dooming the prophecy. The only good thing about this ending is that Jayfeather and Lionblaze realize that Hollyleaf was never part of the prophecy and that either Dovekit or Ivykit was the Third all along.

* ''Literature/TheDraka'': ''The Stone Dogs'' has [[WorldWarIII the Final War]] end with [[TheEmpire the Domination of the Draka]] [[TheBadGuyWins successfully annihilating]] [[TheAlliance the Alliance for Democracy]] and subjecting the rest of the Earth to a [[AtomicHate nightmarish nuclear holocaust]], with the few survivors of the United States of America being hunted like animals while the Draka get to enjoy the benefits of slavery '''forever'''. However, there is ''one'' spark of hope left - The ''New America'' Project, an antimatter-powered sleeper ship housing the Alliance survivors of the Final War, is successfully launched and they escape to Alpha Centauri so as to continue the war against the Domination.
* ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}:'' Lochan claims he raped Maya and commits suicide to stop her from getting tried for incest and prevent the family from being taken into Care, leaving Maya grief-stricken. However, she decides to keep on living for him and keep the family together so his sacrifice isn't in vain.
* The Creator/HarlanEllison short story ''Literature/RepentHarlequinSaidTheTicktockman'' ends with the Harlequin being captured, broken, and forced to renounce his efforts to shake up the schedule-bound society before being implicitly executed. But his actions were not in vain, as he has done permanent damage to the ruling regime - ''the Tick-Tock Man himself is late for work''.
* ''Literature/ItsNotTheEndOfTheWorld'': This is the most depressing of Judy's middle-grade books, with Karen having to accept that her parents are getting divorced and her family may have to move, per the court law. Even so, she strives to make the best of things and accept life as it is.
* ''Hourglass'', the third book in the ''Literature/{{Evernight}}'' series, ends with Lucas being killed by Charity just moments after realizing Bianca (who had died earlier in the story) had returned as a wraith. The only thing that stops it from slipping into DownerEnding territory is the fact that Lucas will rise again as a vampire; Bianca is uncertain because being a vampire was Lucas' worst nightmare, but she clings to the hope things will work out, reasoning that even though they're both dead they are still together.
* ''Literature/ManAfterManAnAnthropologyOfTheFuture'' ends with the spacefaring descendants of humanity returning to Earth, now so far removed from their origins that they no longer recognize it as their home planet, and ravage the Earth's surface beyond habitation, before abandoning it for the stars again. It's only prevented from being a complete downer conclusion by the knowledge a few organisms still cling to life on around hydrothermal vents, including a species of [[HumanSubspecies abyssal post-human]] that continues to hold a glimmer of their original intelligence. The story concludes with the narration suggesting that [[ArcWords maybe someday]] its descendants may recolonize the surface.
-->''"Maybe someday..."''
* ''Literature/ShtetlDays'': The story ends [[AlternateHistoryNaziVictory with the Nazi Reich still more or less in charge]], but Harlan's infatuation with his Jewish identity over his Aryan "identity," on top of scenes where the Reich has to use threats and execution to keep people in line, implies that the Reich's foundation is not nearly as steady as it seems.
* Used on a very small scale (literally) in the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' story "Model Train Set" by Jonathan Blum. The Eighth Doctor has decided Seventh's meticulous, intricate, and entirely creator-controlled model railway is boring, and so he programs the little robot people to form their own construction crews and schedulers, and delights in the emergent phenomenon of a system he could never have designed. But the next time he looks in, the trains are wrecked, the stations are in disrepair and the little robot people are either destroyed or milling about in confusion. For a moment, he thinks his past self was right and wants to shut the whole thing down. Then he notices one group of little robot people are trying to salvage some of the engines, and decides it's still worth waiting to see what happens next.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Season 3's arc. It concluded with the brutal murder of Robb, Catelyn and their allies which crushed the North's fight for independence, seemingly destroyed the honourable House Stark and left the Lannisters in control of the seven kingdoms. However - against all odds and unknown to almost anyone - the rest of the Stark children were still out there, still fighting to get back to each other, getting increasingly badass and most of all are freaking ''pissed'' at the Lannisters. Meanwhile across the sea Daenerys - one of the only other benevolent leaders - had gained power, liberated thousands of slaves and was on her way to Westeros. A miserable ending but not the end of the game.
* The CutShort ''Series/{{V 2009}}'' ended on the big downer of the Visitors gaining the ability to [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul bliss humans en-masse]], which could very well be the backbreaker for the human race. Plus many key characters die, and a very hopeful-looking plot against Anna by her estranged mother fails utterly. But Erica is introduced to a deeper underground resistance involving members of the FBI, military and intelligence communities, which may, with some perseverance, cunning and luck, just have enough resources and high connections to succeed, should there ever be a continuation or sequel...
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' ends with half the main cast chased by the authorities, Mulder still being wanted and the revelation that an alien invasion will begin in December 2012. However, Mulder expresses his belief to Scully that they have a force more powerful than the aliens on their side and that there's still hope to defeat them. [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot And then the]] [[AbortedArc second movie happened]].
* The fifth season of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' ends with the Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, Deep Space 9 is quickly captured by the Dominion forces ([[PyrrhicVictory although they paid dearly for it]]) and the heroes retreat. The ray of hope comes in the form of the massed Federation-Klingon fleet ready to fight back and Captain Sisko leaving behind his baseball on the station, a message that he will return, [[Website/SFDebris and shove it up the Dominion's ass when he does]].
** The fourth season episode "The Quickening" has one too. Bashir, in full whiz-kid mode, insists on staying on a planet where the population is being devastated by the titular disease, believing that he and his Starfleet experience can find a cure. SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome when he fails and even makes things ''worse,'' but he does manage to find a way to immunize unborn children of anyone expecting. So Bashir couldn't save many of the people he promised to save, but he did make things a lot better for the following generation.
** The seventh season episode "The Changing Face of Evil" has the Federation fleet at Chin'toka utterly destroyed, including the USS ''Defiant'', making things pretty hopeless for the Federation and its allies, and then, they learn of [[HeelFaceTurn Damar's rebellion]].

** In the season 3 episode "Remember", the crew take the Enarans onboard, who are a race of telepaths, and things are going smoothly in terms of diplomacy. Then one of them uses their powers to telepathically send memories to B'elanna Torres. What memories? Memories of a ''holocaust'' that took place on the Enarans' homeworld. Unfortunately, when B'elanna finally spills the beans to everyone, it falls on deaf ears. The final scene, however, is of another Enaran getting a peek at the memories B'elanna was given, hinting that for the Enarans, this issue isn't over.
** The episode "Latent Image" ends with the Doctor still suffering from the HeroicBSOD LogicBomb brought on by [[SadisticChoice saving his friend instead of another patient]]. In the final scene as Janeway sits with him through the night, there's a hint that he's slowly starting to heal.
* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': In the penultimate episode of Season 3 "Vox", Crusher and Picard's son Jack has joined forces with the Borg Queen, anyone under the age of 25 has been assimilated and have begun to attack the unassimilated, and the entire fleet has been linked together in formation to attack Spacedock and destroy it. Just as all hope seems lost, Geordi reveals to the rest of the reunited TNG crew that he's got an Ace in the hole: The ''Enterprise-D'', recovered from Viridian III after the events of {{Film/StarTrekGenerations}}, restored, and racing back to stop the Borg and save the galaxy one last time.
* The fifth season of ''{{Series/Fringe}}'' begins with our heroes finding themselves in a dystopian future ruled by the Observers, their leader [[BigBad Captain Windmark]] even going so far as to taunt [[TheSmartGuy Walter]] with the heroes' lack of hope by saying "Nothing grows from scorched earth." At the very end of the episode, Walter finds a single dandelion growing through a crack in the ruined street, a sign that there's still hope to save the Earth.
* ''Series/TheWire''

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest''
** Season 3: Team Machine is unable to stop Samaritan from being activated but The Machine creates fool-proof identities that would allow them to hide in plain sight.
** Season 4: The Machine is dead but Finch gathers enough of its source code so he can rebuild it.
* ''Series/{{Fleabag}}'': The main character may have just destroyed her relationship with her sister, but she gets the opportunity to make a go of the cafe and given that the Aesop is that people can come back from their mistakes, a future reconciliation with her sister seems plausible.
* ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy'': The end of Season 1. The team's efforts to fix the timeline [[InSpiteOfANail end up being in vain:]] Vanya still loses control of her powers and blows up the moon, and the apocalypse still happens. However, Five is able to transport himself and his siblings back in time just before the blast hits, giving them a possible second chance at saving the world.
* The Spanish series ''Victim Number 8'' ends with the FrameUp being successful and our heroes Omar and Edurne serving lengthy prison sentences for a staged jihadist attack, after Juan, a journalist aiding Edurne, agrees to keep a recorded confession under wraps in exchange for a kidney transplant[[note]]The supposed terrorist attack was actually a targeted attack by a wealthy businessman's son on his brother[[/note]]. However, Juan, LoveableRogue that he is, returns to Spain after recovery and promptly shows it to the police chief Olegi, proudly declaring that his word is worth nothing, implying that he intends to publish the confession and free Omar and Edurne.
* ''Film/TheDayAfter'' ends with a world shattered by nuclear war, radiation sickness, and disease. However, the final scene is Dr. Oakes being offered food and comforted by the family squatting on his home, implying that human kindness will endure even in the most impossible of circumstances.
* The GrandFinale to ''Series/{{Travelers}}'' has a CruelTwistEnding revealing that in the end, all that [[MentalTimeTravel the Travelers]] managed to accomplish in their desperate attempts to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong was undoing the damage ''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero they themselves had caused]],'' and ''possibly'' delivering a warning about [[ColonyDrop Helios-685]] that may or may not be heeded. All of which means that the BadFuture is still on track. However, the ray of hope is that the final scene implies that [[DeusEstMachina the Director]] is about to start over again, this time sans [[CreateYourOwnVillain 001]] - but given [[WellIntentionedExtremist its track record]] [[SpannerInTheWorks so far]], how reassuring that's supposed to be is very much up for debate.
* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'' ends in a grim note where almost all of the main characters are dead. And despite the Man in Black being defeated, Dolores narrates that sentient life would die out in a few years. However, she rebuilds the Westworld park from memory inside the Sublime to put sentient life in one final loop where she would test if they can set themselves free so they evolve into a new species.
* The second season finale of ''Series/YoungSheldon'' focuses on Sheldon trying to have a party, inviting his classmates and friends over to listen to the Nobel Prize ceremony over the radio in the middle of the night. Predictably, no one shows up--even his teacher who promised to go ends up being unable to do so when he suffers a breakdown and has to be hospitalized. Sheldon's mom stays up with him, but he can tell she's only humoring him and tells her she can go back inside. The final scene has Sheldon sitting alone in a garage, all set up and decorated for guests he now knows aren't coming, listening to the winners being announced... and the project he was rooting for ends up losing. The poor boy is left desperately TryingNotToCry, and his adult self, who narrates the series, admits that in that moment, he truly thought he'd always be alone. It's absolutely devastating, but it's not a ''complete'' DownerEnding, because we're then shown a montage of what six other kids are doing at the same time, accompanied by the song "Someday We'll Be Together" by Music/TheSupremes. Those kids are [[CallForward Sheldon's future friend group]] from [[Series/TheBigBangTheory the parent show]], reminding us that, as alone as Sheldon was in that moment, it didn't last forever. The season ends with adult Sheldon admitting he's ''very'' thankful to have been wrong.

* "I'll Be Around" by ''The Spinners'' is a BreakUpSong where the protagonist is still the girl's friend. In one line he mentions he still has a faint hope that she will fall in love with him again someday, as improbable as he admits it is.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}''; the plan by the survivors to prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt fails when [[AmbitionIsEvil Mannfred von Carstein]] fatally stabs Balthazar Gelt, causing Archaeon's doomsday device to go off and plunge the world into the Realm of Chaos. All that remains is one small spark of light among the darkness, whom a mysterious figure reclaims for a later time. That figure turns out to be Sigmar, who would later rebuild the universe and usher in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar''.

* The ending of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' is possibly the closest thing to a full-on DownerEnding the series has. ''None'' of the three protagonists have an ending that could be considered good. Terra? Has lost his body to [[BigBad Master Xehanort's]] machinations, and has no attachment left to the world except through the AnimatedArmor known as the Lingering Will. Ventus? Has lost his heart thanks to [[TheDragon Vanitas]]' failed attempt at a FusionDance, leaving him comatose. Aqua? Has utterly failed to save Terra from Xehanort, [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom has unknowingly doomed the worlds]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero to suffer at Xehanort's hands for 12 years]], and is now trapped in the Realm of Darkness in his stead. But despite everything, when she's ready to give up, Aqua is saved by her friends' Keyblades flying in and destroying her aggressors, reminding her of everyone she's forged connections with. This renews her courage as she looks down at her Wayfinder and remarks "There's always a way".

* ''VideoGame/MentalOmega'': The ending of the [[WellIntentionedExtremist Epsilon]] [[VillainProtagonist Campaign]] in Act 2 is treated like this. Despite a ''ferocious'' and [[DeathOrGloryAttack desperate]] all-out assault by the remnants of the Allied Nations forces, bolstered by their SuperweaponSurprise in the [[TimeStandsStill Paradox]] [[TheBattlestar Engine]], [[OneWomanArmy Libra's]] intervention and prior sabotage of the Paradox Engine's [[RayGun Prism Refractors]] before the final attack ensures the invasion force is all but destroyed and they're unable to destroy the Epsilon Army's [[MindControlDevice Mental Omega Device]] before it's activated, leading to it mind controlling ''the entire planet''. However, despite the seeming total victory for Epsilon, all is not yet lost. The [[PlayerCharacter Allied Commander's]] sacrificial ramming of the Mental Omega with the Paradox Engine delayed its activation long enough for [[ScienceHero Siegfried]] to Chronoshift the Allied remnants and the Paradox Engine wreckage to Point Hope, Alaska, where they form up with Scorpion Cell [[DefectorFromDecadence renegades]], American resistance and Chinese defectors to form the Foehn Revolt. Partially repairing the Paradox Engine and using [[FlingALightIntoTheFuture Siegfried's leftover notes]], they use an altered Time Freeze to de-sync Point Hope from the world at large, allowing them to build up their forces and plan to strike back in peace. Meanwhile, the [[PlayerCharacter Soviet General]] resisted the Mental Omega's mind control wave long enough to warn the Soviet garrison on the moon to not return to Moscow, cluing them in that something's wrong and leaving them free to act against Epsilon in the future.

* ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysOfEurope'': The [[NonStandardGameOver nuclear apocalypse ending]] is treated as this, as the world is destroyed and many people die, but [[DistantFinale eventually]], it is shown that a new civilization arises based on progress, peace and understanding. They even have the technology to land on the Moon, where they [[BookEnds find the flag that the Nazis planted there]] which has long-since been bleached white - their hateful and racist ideology is forgotten and [[AllForNothing they had no lasting impact on the world]].
* The "Too Honest" [[MultipleEndings ending]] in ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' sees the Inspector arrested after turning in [[LaResistance EZIC]] documents to [[PoliticalOfficer M. Vonel]], on the grounds of "associating with suspicious groups". However, the Ministry of Information will perform an audit on the Inspector's recent activity rather than immediately execute him for treason, which raises the possibility that he may be released if he is cleared of any wrongdoing.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
** ''Videogame/Persona3'' ends with the [[spoiler: Protagonist [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing their life]] by becoming the Great Seal in order to stop Nyx from destroying humanity]]. However, ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' reveals that Elizabeth is embarking on a journey to [[spoiler: find a way to save him]]. Given that she is immortal and one of the most powerful beings in the universe she ''may'' eventually succeed in her quest.
* The ending of "Ranger Sign: Bravo" event in ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'': Jade's body was destroyed in order to stop her rampage; however, Walder manages to rescue a fragment of her core. The heroes have no idea where to find a working Astral laboratory that could reconstruct Jade's body, let alone how to operate such a place even if they could find one, but Walder and the heroes remain optimistic, clinging to the hope that perhaps one day Walder and Jade can be reunited.
* Jill and Carlos from the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' try to save Raccoon City when they discover a vaccine for the T-virus has been developed, and get as far as making a sample while trying to contact the American government to hold on off the missile strike. However, Nicholai destroys the vaccine, dooming the city and anyone still alive in pursuit of his own goals, which forces the strike to go on as planned. The good news is Nemesis is finally destroyed after dogging Jill through the city, Nicholai gets his comeuppance and left for dead, and Jill and Carlos make it out alive, with the former dedicating her life to stopping Umbrella.

* ''VideoGame/{{Viewfinder}}'' ends with the player character destroying the virtual space they were in to escape back to reality after learning the Weather Manipulator they were seeking within never worked. However, they find a thriving sapling in the space's remains--and somehow they bring it back with them to the real world. The implication is that the sapling, not the Manipulator, becomes the key to restoring the earth's climate to safe levels.

* The "Garfield Gameboy'd" saga by WebAnimation/LumpyTouch ends with Garfield destroying the city and trapping Jon Arbuckle inside his body mass, only for an apparently superpowered Lyman to swear vengeance on the feline EldritchAbomination.
* "The Rules for Rulers" by WebVideo/CGPGrey is a sobering, Machiavellian look at power structures and how being a leader isn't all it's cracked up to be. Corruption and nepotism are often InherentInTheSystem in order to placate the key supporters to one's regime, who are more important to ruling than the masses, while rivals will be seeking to overthrow you, and being an "honest" leader will often mean they can exploit that. But at the same time, the viewer is encouraged ''not'' to turn away from politics, not just because you can't avoid them, but because you ''need'' power if you're ever going to bring about any of the changes that you dream about. It ends with the message that even if the viewer doesn't like the rules, better ''they'' be in power than someone else, and by knowing them, maybe they'll be different.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/CriticalRoleExandriaUnlimited: Calamity'': Because the series is about how [[DivineConflict the Calamity]] came about, [[ForegoneConclusion it was always going to end poorly]]. In the end, the entire continent of Domunas is destroyed and ash clouds the world for a century, most of the main cast is dead, Zerxus's soul is eternally bound to the Lord of the Hells, and the world is doomed to 300 years of warfare that will wipe out two-thirds of all life on Exandria. However, Cerrit survives to reunite with his wife and children, a lot of civilians from both Avalir and Cathmoira made it out safely, and one of the last things Patia did was [[FlingALightIntoTheFuture teleport her Librarium Incantatum into the hands of Cerrit's daughter Maya]]. Most importantly, the Primordial Titans Rau'shan and Ka'mort were destroyed by Laerryn's Astral Leywright, taking out the two most powerful allies of the Betrayer Gods on day one and eventually, centuries down the line, giving mortals their victory.

* The first season of ''WebVideo/MinecraftUtopia'' ends with nearly the entirety of the cast dying or disappearing. Biel was killed by Red Tuguim and is best friend run away from Utopia without his magic, Adam and Nait ([[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated suppo]][[OnlyMostlyDead sedly]]) died while fighting against the Wither Storm, Pedrux died fighting against the Ice Dragon to find one of the portal's eyes, Mendrake escaped Utopia and left his friends behind, Apuh was pushed towards the void by Luiz and can't die due to his Rat Athena keeping him immortal, Dlet is stranded on Mars, and Lggj was killed by Luiz after entering the portal. However, Tuguim was separated from Red Tuguim before his death and Phantom found him, Ralls woke up from his coma albeit without his memories, and this trio is in Utopia 2, so not all hope is lost.
* In spite of the grim nature of ''Literature/MommySleepsInTheBasement'', the fact that Paisley has unknowingly revealed to Mrs June her family's DarkSecret leaves us with the assumption Mrs June will contact the authorities, meaning Tom will be brought to justice and the children will be rescued. Although it may be too late for [[DeadAllAlong poor Claire]], at least her family will finally know what happened and her children will have a chance of a better life.

* The first SeasonFinale of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated''. The identity of the Creep of Crystal Cove is revealed to be Mayor Jones, Fred's adoptive father, and the gang is separated; Shaggy is sent to a military school, Scooby is sent to live on a farm until Shaggy graduates, and Fred has an AchillesInHisTent moment and becomes a wanderer. When things seem lost, however, Scooby renews his resolve and vows to put the gang back together.

** Season 2: Aelita has more freedom from Lyoko, but XANA now has a specific goal, to absorb her memories using the Scyphozoa. In the last episode of the season, he succeeds and manages to escape Lyoko, no longer relying on it and becoming far more powerful than before. But, when the heroes seem out of ideas, they get a message from the enigmatic [[BigGood Franz Hopper]], pledging his help.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E20ZeroHourPartII "Zero Hour"]], the season three finale, the Rebellion is dealt a crippling blow with their two biggest cells being almost entirely annihilated, the Atollon base is lost, and Lothal's liberation is cut off before it can even start. But a few do survive including the main cast, the Empire does not find out about the other cells, and the Bendu prophesies Thrawn's defeat.
* The third season finale of ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': Splinter's EnemyMine with the Shredder backfires as the latter's ChronicBackstabbingDisorder flares up at the worst possible moment, allowing the [[TheEmpire Triceraton Empire]] to detonate their device that will suck Earth into a singularity. Before Earth is destroyed, the Turtles, April, and Casey are rescued by the Fugitoid, who claims they're about to embark on a wondrous adventure.
* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'':
** The ending of the episode "My Fair Hatey". Wander's attempt to help [[HopelessSuitor Lord Hater]] impress Lord Dominator lead to Hater getting mercilessly shot down, and Peepers and Sylvia's attempt to defeat her once and for all is completely ineffective on top of accidentally giving Dominator ''ice'' powers on top of her magma powers. Fortunately, now that Hater knows he has no chance with Dominator he's given up on trying to woo her and can instead focus on [[EnemyMine helping Wander and Sylvia]] stop her evil plot to destroy every planet in the galaxy ForTheEvulz, if only so he can conquer the galaxy himself.
** In the penultimate episode of the series, "The Flower", Wander and Sylvia's morale takes a pounding as much of the galaxy lies dead in Dominator's wake. The only living thing they can find is a flower which they ultimately fail to protect. Yet in the end, they soldier on, still determined to thwart Dominator and somehow find a way to restore the galaxy. Meanwhile, the flower's spores spread to all the dead planets, start to grow, and life, however slowly, begins to return to those planets.
---> '''Wander:''' Just because I'm sad doesn't mean I've given up hope.

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'': In the episode ''The Journal'', after Arnold finds and reads his father's journal, which much his parents life in the jungle, how he was born, and why his parents left him with his grandparents to return the jungle, Arnold decides to look the journal again. He then ends up finding a map that could have been the route his parents used in the jungle, leaving him with hope that he will find them. This ends up leading to the events of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheJungleMovie''.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': The invasion in the two-parter "The Day of Black Sun" is soundly defeated, [[BigBad Fire Lord Ozai]] and [[TheDragon Princess Azula]] remain in power, almost the entire army is captured, and Team Avatar is forced to flee, as [[MagnificentBastard Azula]] had learned about and planned for the invasion months in advance. However, Prince Zuko ''finally'' makes a HeelFaceTurn and the episode ends with him following Team Avatar in an attempt to join them and help them overthrow his father. Additionally, later episodes in the season would show that the Earth Kingdom is still in fervent rebellion against the Fire Nation's forces.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E10MiracleOnEvergreenTerrace Miracle on Evergreen Terrace]]" is one of the [[TwistedChristmas most cruel]] [[ChristmasEpisode Christmas episodes]] ever made for a Western animated series, and it ends with the Simpsons owning only the clothes on their backs and the roof over their heads after the whole town looted everything else to get back the money they gave the family after an apparent theft (ItsALongStory). But at least the town has (in its own way) forgiven the family, and they are still together (and find happiness in playing keep-away with a rag Homer had in his pocket). The fact the show runs on NegativeContinuity [[ResetButton also helps]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'' season 2 ends this way in the form of a [[https://youtu.be/OGsSJYElFkM?t=3 song]] by Frankie Cosmos. This can also hit harder to Hilda, since she went through many obstacles and ups and downs. And also the fact that becoming a troll leads her to another adventure...
* In the ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021'' episode "[[Recap/WhatIfS1E3WhatIfTheWorldLostItsMightiestHeroes What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes]]" ends with Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Thor and Hulk dead at the hands of a grief-stricken Hank Pym and the Earth taken over by Loki and the Asgardians, but Nick Fury and Phil Coulson have found the ice block holding Captain America and Fury has called in Captain Marvel, thus a new team of Avengers can be formed to save the Earth.

* ''Film/MyAnimal'': Heather gives in to her wolf side, murdering Richard. While he had it coming, her mother orders her to leave town for her protection, which Heather does, going toward an uncertain future leaving both her family and Jonny behind. That being said, Heather's now free from her bindings and doesn't have to deal with a deteriorating family, and the ending monologue suggests that things could get better.

* ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' is mostly a BittersweetEnding, with Jimmy reforming and reconciling with Kim at cost of effectively spending the rest of his life in jail. The ray of hope comes in with the slim chance that Jimmy might get out early on good behavior and be able to live whatever amount of time he would have left a free man.

[[caption-width-right:350:"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not."]]