History Main / ThatsAnOrder

* Wrestling/SgtSlaughter snarled this out as his JustForFun/{{egregious}}ly used CatchPhrase: "Annnd that's...an order!" Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin would [[PlayedforLaughs play this trope for laughs]] and use it against Slaughter on the September 8, 1997 edition of ''[[Wrestling/{{WWERAW}} RAW]]''.

* Inverted in ''ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith''. Tarkin transmits a request to Vader to leave hunting the Jedi to his Inquisitors while he captures King Lee-Char to [[DecapitatedArmy end resistance on Mon Cala.]] Vader points out he's working under the personal authority of Emperor Palpatine, not Tarkin. Tarkin says this is why he's making it a request not an order, making it clear that it's a [[YouOweMe personal favor that Vader can collect on later]].

Can be TruthInTelevision in the military, but somewhat rare. This is because technically, ''anything'' a lower ranking person is told to do is considered an order, and both people know it.

%%* ''Film/TheManchurianCandidate''

* On ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', this phrase was often used by Dick or whoever else happened to be in command. The other aliens were [[MildlyMilitary only mildly more inclined to obey when the phrase was spoken]]. Sometimes, they grudgingly obeyed, but not without insubordinate sarcasm.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': In "War Without End Part I", Sheridan tells Garibaldi this when the latter wants to follow them to B4.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In "Bad Girls" Giles has been replaced as Buffy's Watcher by the condescending Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, who discovers that teenage California girls with superpowers don't get the whole obeying orders thing.

** In "[[Recap/CSINYS02E24 Charge of This Post]]," he convinces a mentally unstable man who believes he's a Marine to secure his rifle. Mac plays into the man's delusion and pretends to be the guy's superior giving him a direct order to "Secure. Your. Weapon!"

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit "The Satan Pit"]], when science officer Ida is hesitant about coming up from the underground ruins, acting captain Zach retorts "Okay, that was an order."
%%** Used in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E4TheTwoDoctors "The Two Doctors"]].
%%** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]]:

** In "Out of Gas", ''Serenity'' is damaged and Mal needs his pilot Wash on the bridge. Wash's wife Zoe was seriously hurt in the accident and Wash wants to be with her. Unfortunately, the ship is dead and if Wash and Kaylee don’t figure out why, they could all die.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones''

** "Henry, Please Come Home"

--->'''Margaret''': Frank, give them a direct order!\\
'''Hawkeye''': Oh, do, Frank; we've never ignored one of those before.

--->'''Potter''': That was an order, Pierce!\\
'''Hawkeye''': Oh, waiter! Take this man's order.

--->'''Gibbs''': Go. That's an order. Now leave.\\
'''[=McGee=]''': It's an order I'm disobeying.

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': Played for laughs, after Rimmer demonstrates his suggestion for a new Space Corps salute to Kochanski.
-->'''Kochanski:''' Rimmer, [[YouNeedToGetLaid have sex with someone]], that's an order.\\
'''Rimmer:''' ... Yes, ma'am.\\

* ''Series/{{Rome}}''. Vorenus orders Pullo to return the stolen Roman treasury to Caesar. Pullo is established from his first scene as reckless, brave, undisciplined and impulse driven, so of course he starts bitching again.

''(Pullo stands to attention, terrified)''

-->'''Gen. Hammond''': If you'll step out that door, the Airman outside will show you to your quarters.\\
'''Col. Maybourne''': I think I'd prefer to remain here until my mission's complete.\\
'''Gen. Hammond''': ''[with barely constrained fury]'' That wasn't a suggestion. That was an order, ''Colonel''!
%%* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' had this phrase in [[http://tinyurl.com/4x2juwb 13 different episodes]].

** In "The Siege", Major Kira is wounded after a crashlanding and [[IWillOnlySlowYouDown orders Jadzia Dax to leave her behind]]. Dax replies that as Starfleet has temporarily pulled out of Bajor, Kira's no longer her superior officer and so she doesn't have to obey her orders.
** In the episode "In the Pale Moonlight"

** Sisko also does this to Nog in "Paradise Lost". Let's just say that he can put the fear of God into any subordinate when he needs to.
--->'''Sisko:''' Cadet, you seem to be under the mistaken impression that I am asking you for a favor. I want a name, and I want it now, and ''that'' is an ''order''! Understood, Mr. Nog?

** Archer and T'Pol are held in a forest prison. When they are given food while bound, Archer digs in, but T'Pol does not. He tells her once to eat something, but she remains still. Archer then uses this trope to make her eat.
%% If anyone can get the episode this one occurred in, I'd be thankful if they added it and deleted this comment. -MugenKagemaru
** "[[Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS3E8Twilight Twilight]]" has Archer tell T'Pol to evacuate the Enterprise, which he is about to self-destruct to cure his chronic short-term amnesia via a TrickedOutTime ResetButton. T'Pol doesn't, and when Archer gives her this trope, she reminds him [[labelnote:a second time]](She'd already reminded him once already that day.)[[/labelnote]] that he's long since been relieved of command, even if he has forgotten it actually happening.

** "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E24TheMindsEye The Mind's Eye]]" has a memorable one. The audience knows Data has an excellent reason for this, but Worf doesn't:
-->'''Data:''' Take [[ManchurianAgent Commander La Forge]] into custody immediately.\\

** Averted in "The Enemy". A Romulan soldier is dying on the Enterprise, and Worf is the only compatible blood donor. However the Romulans and Klingons are hereditary enemies, and Worf refuses to donate his blood. Worf makes it clear to Picard that he would give his blood without question if Picard just ordered him to, but Picard can't bring himself to violate Worf's personal beliefs, even if it's Worf himself giving him the option.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''
** In "Parallax", B'Elanna Torres is in trouble for breaking the nose of Lieutenant Carey. Chakotay orders Tuvok to drop the charges against B'Elanna as he intends to handle it off-the-record. Tuvok obeys the order, but makes it clear he will note the full details in his security log.
** Played with in "Displaced" with Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres, who were both lieutenants at the time.
--->'''Paris:''' On your feet, that's an order!\\
'''Torres:''' You can't give me orders, we're the same rank.\\
'''Paris:''' I'm a bridge officer, and I have seniority.\\
'''Torres:''' Yeah, by about two days!
** B'Elanna gets her revenge when Tom is busted down a rank in "Thirty Days".
--->'''Torres:''' Rumor has it you're free for dinner.\\
'''Paris:''' Gee, I don't know. Are you sure you want to be seen associating with an ex-con?\\
'''Torres:''' My quarters, 0700. That's an order...''Ensign''.
** {{Discussed}} between Paris and Neelix when they're [[TeethClenchedTeamwork forced to go on an away mission together]] in "Parturition".

** Which ends up happening after they crash and Paris tells Neelix that they're ditching the shuttle.
--->'''Neelix:''' Is that a suggestion or an order?\\

** But averted in "Coda" where Captain Janeway is experiencing TheManyDeathsOfYou. Janeway has been infected with an incurable BodyHorror disease, so the Doctor decides to MercyKill her using a DeadlyGas.

'''Computer:''' [[DoctorsOrders That code is not recognised.]]
** In "The Killing Game", the crew think they're characters in a holodeck simulation of World War 2. Captain Janeway (who's aware of the real situation) is amused when Captain Miller (actually her NumberTwo Chakotay) uses this trope on her. As her character is a civilian, Janeway just points out that she doesn't have to take his orders.
%%* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' used the phrase in episodes "Acquisition", "Desert Crossing", "Minefield" and "Shuttlepod One"
* Disney's ''The Swamp Fox'' had one of these, with Marion trying to prevent his girlfriend's house being burned down by ordering some of the group, who were members of his militia, to stand down and leave.

%%* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' episodes "Captain Jack Harkness", "Meat"
* Skinner tries (and often fails) to do this in ''Series/TheXFiles''. Actually lampshaded in the episode "Triangle", in which Skinner orders Mulder to rest after being pulled from the sea. One of Mulder's friends laughs, "Not that he takes orders."
%%* ''Series/TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles'' episode "German East Africa, December 1916"
* ''Series/ForAllMankind''
** The Apollo 11 lunar module has apparently suffered a fatal crashlanding, but the lone astronaut orbiting above in the command module refuses to return to Earth. Wernher von Braun insists they make it an order, but it's pointed out they've no means of enforcing that order on a man who is 200,000 miles away. This is shown in a later episode when Apollo 24 is [[ColdEquation ordered not to rescue their commander]] who is [[DramaticSpaceDrifting adrift in space]], but do so anyway even though they risk being stranded in space themselves.
** Used more effectively when Edward Baldwin [[HonorBeforeReason insists on staying at the Jamestown Base]], instead of returning to Earth and leaving astronaut Ellen Wilson, the only surviving member of his relief team, alone up there. Knowing Ed is a navy pilot, Ellen successfully invokes this trope, as she is now the commander of Jamestown Base and has just relieved Ed of his duties.

* Mac uses this in ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' twice:
** The first is to convince a mentally unstable man who believed he was a Marine to secure his rifle. Mac played into the man's delusion and pretended to be the guy's superior giving him an order to "Secure. Your. Weapon!"
** In a later episode, he orders Danny to stay outside during an arrest because Danny didn’t have a bulletproof vest. Danny disobeys and goees in anyway. He’s able,to talk the suspect, who’s a former coroner and colleague, to surrender, but Mac still isn’t happy that he didn’t listen.

* In the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' episode "Snow Way Out", Ash forces his Pokemon, including the established claustrophobe Pikachu, into their Pokeballs so that they don't freeze. They ignore him and try to keep him warm.

* At the end of Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' event, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica tells the anti-regs to "Stand down...That's an order."

* Sergeant Slaughter snarled this out as his JustForFun/{{Egregious}}ly used CatchPhrase: "Annnd that's...an order!"

* ''Anime/FullMetalPanic''. In "The Second Raid", Tessa tells Sousake he won't be guarding [[BodyguardCrush Kaname]] any more, as he's needed for an experimental mecha that only he can pilot. When Sousake starts being difficult, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness normally mild Tessa loses control]] and denounces him for his selfish attitude.
-->'''Tessa:''' Sagara-san, please understand...
-->'''Sousake:''' Is that an order?
-->'''Tessa:''' Yes it is. If that's what you'll accept, I'll make it an order, or whatever. Even if it means separating you from Kaname-san. ''(getting angry)'' You can just take the easy way out, all right? Blame it on me, alright? But I am responsible for the safety of my subordinates! You do realise the enemy's power, don't you? The next time Melissa may die, or Weber-san! [[TheChainsOfCommanding Do you know how it feels to be in the captain's chair every time?]]

* Mac uses this in ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' to convince a mentally unstable man who believed he was a Marine to secure his rifle. Mac played into the man's delusion and pretended to be the guy's superior giving him an order to "Secure. Your. Weapon!"

** In "Out of Gas", ''Serenity'' is damaged and Mal needs his pilot Wash on the bridge. Wash's wife Zoe was seriously hurt in the accident and Wash wants to be with her.

[[folder:Film - Animation]]
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/{{WALLE}} WALL-E]]'', this is how [=McCrea=] is able to get AUTO to crack and tell him the classified Directive A113.

'''AUTO:''' ''(Reaching for the plant while [=McCrea=] keeps it away)'' Give me the plant.\\

'''AUTO:''' ''[[TranquilFury The plant.]]''\\
'''[=McCrea=]:''' ''(Pushes AUTO away)'' Tell me AUTO, that's an order\\
''({{Beat}} as the two of them stare down each other)''\\
'''AUTO:'''...Aye-aye sir.

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/FullMetalJacket''. Said by Cowboy to Animal Mother when Cowboy tells him to wait for the tank and not to try recovering the wounded Marines shot by the sniper, to which Animal Mother responds with a big "fuck you".

--> '''Daniel:''' Tell me about the girls teaching you French kissing.
--> '''Bridget:''' It wasn't French kissing.
--> '''Daniel:''' I don't care, make it up. That's a order, Jones.

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': The captain of the ''Axiom'' finds out about the classified order A-113 to not return to earth by using this phrase.

* "[[Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS3E8Twilight Twilight]]" has Archer tell T'Pol to evacuate the Enterprise, which he is about to self-destruct to cure his chronic short-term amnesia via a TrickedOutTime ResetButton. T'Pol doesn't, and when Archer gives her this trope, she reminds him [[labelnote:a second time]](She'd already reminded him once already that day.)[[/labelnote]] that he's long since been relieved of command, even if he has forgotten it actually happening.

** "[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS3E8Twilight Twilight]]" has Archer tell T'Pol to evacuate the Enterprise, which he is about to self-destruct to cure his chronic short-term amnesia via a TrickedOutTime ResetButton. T'Pol doesn't, and when Archer gives her this trope, she reminds him [[labelnote:a second time]](She'd already reminded him once already that day.)[[/labelnote]] that he's long since been relieved of command, even if he has forgotten it actually happening.

* ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. Scotty refuses to sign for the [[SecretWeapon classified Starfleet torpedoes]] being loaded onto the Enterprise because, given that he doesn't know what's inside them, they might endanger the ship. Eventually Captain Kirk loses his temper and gives this trope. Scotty responds by threatening to resign. Unfortunately Kirk is not willing to give way and neither is Scotty, so he has to accept his Chief Engineer's resignation.

** Played with in "Displaced", when it's Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres (both Lieutenants):

'''Torres:''' You can't give me orders -- we're the same rank.\\

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Used in the episodes "Displaced", "Relativity", "Scorpion: Part 1", "Unimatrix Zero" and "Year of Hell: Part 2".

** {{Discussed}} between Paris and Neelix when they're [[LockedInARoom forced to go on an away mission together]] in "Parturition".

->''"Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an Order!"''

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/FreeFall https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/order_9.png]] ]]

* ''VideoGame/GodsEaterBurst'': Used a few times by [[TheMentor Lindow Amamiya]] to cement his rule of "Don't die." [[spoiler: Later used by him, after transforming into [[EldritchAbomination Corrosive Hannibal]], telling his comrades to run away so that he can end his own life. The (normally) silent protagonist then throws it back in his face before Dual Wielding Lindow's God Arc along with his/her own and ripping the Corrosive Hannibal's mouth open.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': The only reason Zapp Brannigan's BeleagueredAssistant Kif does anything Zapp says is because of this trope. It is so heavily ingrained that in the episode where they both lose their jobs, Kif still obeys him out of habit.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Birdman}}'' episode "Vulturo, Prince of Darkness". After Birdman has been defeated by Vulturo he orders his eagle {{Sidekick}} Avenger to leave him and try to save some people nearby. When Avenger is reluctant to abandon him, Birdman makes it an order.

** A silent version occurs in Season One. King Robert's son has been bitten by a pet direwolf belonging to one of Ned Stark's daughters. The direwolf flees, so Robert orders the direwolf belonging to his other daughter killed in surrogate retaliation. Because Ned and Robert are FireForgedFriends, Ned blurts out "Is this your command?" Robert just turns and looks at Ned coldly, before walking out.

** Bashir responds with the followup listed in the TruthInTelevision folder, by requesting that Sisko put the orders in writing and appending his own official protest. Sisko also knows how this works, since he already ''has'' his orders in writing on a PADD, which he immediately hands over.