History Main / SilentCredits

* ''Series/TwentyFour'' has its silent clock ticks, mostly done when a major character dies. Most of these however have other sounds over them; for example, there is a train whistle on the silent clock for [[spoiler: Ryan Chappelle's death]]. Only one of these however was completely silent (which didn't stop the producers from using the lack of complete silence as a justification for bringing back [[spoiler:Tony Almeida]] after he'd been given a silent clock), the one done during the death of [[spoiler: Edgar Stiles]]. Four of them were accompanied by music, which usually made it a TearJerker.

* ''WesternAnimation/KidCosmic'': "Kid Cosmic and The Big Fail" still has the vinyl record playing in the end credits, but instead of a rock tune, it’s only playing the static at the end of the song, due to [[spoiler:Kid’s actions causing the Rings of Power to fall into the hands of the US Government after a NearVillianVictory.]]

* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'' got grounded in "The Beast of Cauldron Island", in some Netflix streaming services outside the US, they replaced the catchy mystery/adventure theme and replaced it with silence over the credits to mark the fact that Hilda isn't allowed to go on adventures with David and Frida or go exploring around Trolberg.

* An example with a series that has no ending credits - episodes of ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' (and most other ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series in the Heisei and Reiwa eras) typically close on an ending screen displaying a number of {{Transformation Trinket}}s before proceeding to the OnTheNext preview. Episode 32, in which [[spoiler:TheHeroeDies]], ends on a screen displaying nothing but the series' "R" logo in shades of gray and no trinkets. Conversely, episode 33, in which [[spoiler:he CameBackStrong]], foregoes the ending screen and skips straight from the final scene to the next episode preview.

* An example with a series that has no ending credits - episodes of ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' (and most other ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series in the Heisei and Showa eras) typically close on an ending screen displaying a number of {{Transformation Trinket}}s before proceeding to the OnTheNext preview. Episode 32, in which [[spoiler:TheHeroeDies]], ends on a screen displaying nothing but the series' "R" logo in shades of gray and no trinkets. Conversely, episode 33, in which [[spoiler:he CameBackStrong]], foregoes the ending screen and skips straight from the final scene to the next episode preview.

%% A note for non-Whovians: Adric's death isn't a spoiler anymore.

* This happens in the second half of the end credits of ''Film/DoctorSleep'', a sequel to ''Film/TheShining'', where after the song "Midnight, the Stars and You",There remains only silence except a howling wind.

* ''Series/AdamTwelve'': The 1970 episode "Elegy for a Pig," which recounted the life of a police officer killed in action, ended with silent credits in lieu of the usual booming theme song. (The sound effects associated with the "Mark VII Limited" and Universal Studios vanity logos were kept intact.)
* [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E6Earthshock Adric's death]] in ''Series/DoctorWho'' - the traditional starfield sequence of that time was replaced with a picture of his broken Mathematics badge (which was used to kill a Cyberman), with the credits scrolling in silence. One reviewer said that he never noticed the credits were silent - he was too busy laughing at the death of his [[TheScrappy most hated character]]. However, many others have commented that it made the episode [[AlasPoorScrappy more moving]], and in recent years the closing of the episode has taken on "Rains of Castamere" significance among Whovians.

* The final episode of ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Goes Forth'' concluded with the deaths of the entire main cast, followed by no credits at all, just the series' logo, the BBC logo and year (dated in Roman numerals) on the bottom of the screen, after the agreement of everyone involved to forgo credit in order to preserve the effect of the ending.

* Although nobody died, silent credits were used to great effect in ''{{Series/Roundhouse}}''. Billy Anykid, when trying to avoid a confrontation calls out [[CatchPhrase "Reprise the theme song and roll the credits"]] only to have everybody walk away from him in disgust, and the credits roll silently as Billy looks around the now empty set.
** This was done on the episode dealing with gang violence. Rather than a happy, dancing and singing finish, probably due to the seriousness of the subject matter, there was only a silent text crawl:

* The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "The Thaw" has one of the most artfully produced Silent Credits sequences you'll ever see: the surviving members of a civilization are hooked to an adaptive computer life-support system, which manifests their fears in the form of a sadistic and violent Clown. When Janeway finds a way to access the system without actually entering the simulation, the Clown's reality (and the background audio) starts to fade as the hostages are disconnected one by one. The final exchange of words is beautiful in its simplicity, with the Clown uttering two memorable words: 'I'm afraid'. Janeway's sole response is a haunting, softly-whispered 'I know'.
** And then the Clown mutters "Drat." as it fades to black.
* ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' has this at the end of the episode "Project Daedalus" after [[spoiler: the corrupted cyborg Airiam was sacrificed in an attempt to stop the evil AI Control]]. The credits do not feature music, but instead have the sound of crashing waves, in reference to [[spoiler: Airiam's memory of being on a beach with her husband, back when she was fully human. In the episode, Ensign Tilly sends this memory to Airiam in order to break through her corruption by Control]].

* Since it has no credits per se, an episode of ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' that aired on May 16, 1990 had the Creator/{{Paramount}} logo at the end run without its music out of respect for Music/SammyDavisJr and Creator/JimHenson, who both died that day.

* Creator/TheBBC docudrama ''Series/{{Threads}}'', which ends with nearly all the main characters dead from the immediate or long-term effects of nuclear war. More than this, the show features teletype-style captions, accompanied by a characteristic sound. After the bombs fall, [[PaintingTheMedium knocking out virtually all electronics, the teletype captions are silent]].

Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]][[note]]especially if it's a VerySpecialEpisode dealing with an issue that has no easy resolution to it, like racial prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, gang violence, mental health issues, dealing with abuse [mostly physical child abuse, but domestic abuse and any episode centered on rape, sexual assault, or child molestation also apply], or coping with death. Usually when that happens, there's also a black screen with the name, number, and website of a crisis center dealing with those issues[[/note]] or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' has a variation of this at the end of Mission 19, before the final mission. After [[spoiler:Nero finally gets his Devil Trigger]], a silent (excluding the bonus Style Points and Bonus Red Orbs cards appearing with a click) mission summary screen with statistics on the bottom right corner replaces the traditional varaint (with a "cinematic" showing flying shattered glass).

* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}} got grounded in "The Beast of Cauldron Island", in some Netflix streaming services outside the US, they replaced the catchy mystery/adventure theme and replaced it with silence over the credits to mark the fact that Hilda isn't allowed to go on adventures with David and Frida or go exploring around Trolberg.

* Because [[''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}} Hilda]] got grounded in "The Beast of Cauldron Island", in some Netflix streaming services outside the US, they replaced the catchy mystery/adventure theme and replaced it with silence over the credits to mark the fact that Hilda isn't allowed to go on adventures with David and Frida or go exploring around Trolberg.

** This was done on the episode dealing with gang violence. Rather than a happy, dancing and singing finish, probably due to the seriousness of the subject matter, a text crawl silently said this:
-->There were over 3,000 gang-related fatalities in the U.S. in 1992 alone. After auto accidents, guns are the 2nd leading cause of death among teenagers.\\

** ''Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes'' -- after Taylor [[KillEmAll detonates the nuke]], Creator/PaulFrees narrates as the screen goes white: "In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a green and [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet insignificant planet]], is now dead." The screen then fades to black, and the credits roll in silence.

Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]][[note]]especially if it's a VerySpecialEpisode dealing with an issue that has no easy resolution to it, like racial prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, gang violence, mental health issues, dealing with abuse [mostly child abuse, but abusive relationships and the more serious cases of someone being raped or sexually assaulted also apply], or coping with death. Usually when that happens, there's also a black screen with the name, number, and website of a crisis center dealing with those issues[[/note]] or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well.

* This happened in the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', which is also the FinaleCredits showing an exit door in an empty animation department room, likely where the show is made, except that the only noise you can hear is some faint sounds of an air conditioner with people speaking and laughing, probably from a wrap party.

Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]] (especially if it's a VerySpecialEpisode dealing with an issue that has no easy resolution to it, like racial prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, gang violence, mental health issues, dealing with abuse, or coping with death) or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well.

Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]] (especially if it's a VerySpecialEpisode or a CerberusRetcon episode dealing with an issue that has no easy resolution to it, like prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, mental health issues, dealing with abuse, or coping with death) or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well.

Sometimes, if an episode [[DownerEnding ends on a sad note]] or a major character is killed off (especially if [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim the actor also died]]), the credits will roll without any music. In most cases, this means [[MomentOfSilence complete and utter silence]], but this trope can extend to credits that use ambient noise as well.

* Originally, the second half of the ending credits of ''Film/LaBamba'' were shown in silence. later editions added a cover of "Come on, Let's Go"

* The April 1988 Geraldo Rivera special ''Murder on Death Row'' interview with UsefulNotes/CharlesManson. But this was not due to any deep emotional or artistic reasons. It was because [[YouKeepTellingYourselfThat Manson just kept on talking]] even as the guards escorted him out of the room back to his cell.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' normally has an ending sequence of Luz walking around. Because of the episode [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E18AgonyOfAWitch "Agony of a Witch"]] ends on a massive cliffhanger, the credits are rolled over a slow-panning shot of Emperor Belos' castle with the only sound being the flames surrounding it, and a [[HeartbeatSoundtrack heartbeat]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' played it straight after [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E18AgonyOfAWitch Agony of a Witch]]. No joke. Luz is definitely not in the mood for an afternoon stroll. Because of the episode ending on a massive cliffhanger, the credits are rolled over a shot of Emperor Belos' castle with the only sound being the sound of the flames surrounding it, and a [[HeartbeatSoundtrack heartbeat]].