History Main / TheDayOfReckoning

A specific type of story [[TheClimax Climax]]. See also DarkestHour.

* In the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'' film, Nero describes his attacks on Vulcan and Earth as the Federation's "Day of Reckoning".

* The new ''Series/DoctorWho'' series had a Day of Reckoning at the end of every season. The Doctor refers to them as "Volcano Days". Of particular note are the episodes "The Sound of Drums"/"The Last of the Time Lords", "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End", and "The End of Time".

* In ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'' the [[EldritchAbomination Septentriones]] are prophesied to descend on Earth, one at a time, for a week, while literally [[spoiler: [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt deleting the whole world]]]], after which [[spoiler: [[MakeAWish Polaris will grant the wish of the survivors in the method to reconstruct the world.]]]] Alternatively, you may either decide to [[spoiler: [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu defeat Polaris yourself]]]] or [[spoiler: [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu assist Alcor to ascend the heavenly throne.]]]]

* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', we have the episodes ''All Hell Breaks Loose'' where the brothers finally take out Azazel, the demon that killed their parents... but are too late to stop him unleashing his demonic army into the world; ''No Rest For The Wicked'' where the brothers attempt to take out the demon's new leader, Lilith, before she can claim Dean's soul and drag him to hell... and they fail, with Dean suffering a particularly nasty death; ''Lucifer Rising'', where the brothers attempt to stop Lilith from freeing Lucifer... and it ends badly, with Sam accidentally freeing Lucifer himself. Then there's the big one, ''Swan Song'', where the brothers have to re-imprison Lucifer before he can fight Micheal, ending the world... they succeed! (Although Sam is sealed in Hell along with a very pissed-off Lucifer and Michael)...

** ''Masks of Nyarlathotep'' - The opening of a Gate that will allow CthulhuMythos entities to enter our world.

* In ''TransformersTheMovie'', the coming of Unicron.

%%* The Frabjous Day in ''Film/AliceInWonderland''.

* StarWars: The day Emperor Palpatine takes over the Republic, beginning with the murder of all the Jedi, at the end of ''Revenge of the Sith''.

* Gozer's arrival on Earth in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' would almost certainly have been this. Judgment Day is even referred to by name and place in the Bible.

* The Final Day from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask''.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' series had this with the invasion of the Burning Legion, though they've tried and failed three times already. Rumor has it, though, that they're at it again.
** In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the climaxes of both ''Wrath of the Lich King'' and ''Cataclysm'' in the Icecrown Citadel and Dragon Soul raids respectively. It isn't so much that the villains are planning anything specific at that particular time, but with so many of the allied forces on the line, they'll be home free if the heroes fail.
* The ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series has one of these at the end of each game: in the first game, it is the defense of the Citadel and in the second, quite predictably, the Suicide Mission (see the opening quote). The entire third game is more or less an extended one of these, and the assault on Reaper-held Earth serves as an internal example within that.

* The two-parter Second Season finale of ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' is actually titled "Day of Reckoning." It involves the iconic Franchise/{{X-Men}} figure of a Sentinel being let loose in the city and attacking all mutants and them having to defend themselves, leading to their existence being revealed on national television.

* Ragnarok, the prophesied final battle between the gods and Jotun in NorseMythology.

There are tons of dark prophecies of doomsdays and master plans that take a long time to put into action. TheDayOfReckoning is the day that all the prophecies speak of... the day that the EvilOverlord wins, goodness and mercy are overthrown, and a new Dark Age arises on Earth...

* The new ''Series/DoctorWho'' series had a DayOfReckoning at the end of every season. The Doctor refers to them as "Volcano Days". Of particular note are the episodes "The Sound of Drums"/"The Last of the Time Lords", "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End", and "The End of Time".

And nope, this trope has nothing to do with ''Film/UniversalSoldier: Day of Reckoning'' despite its title.

* {{Dollhouse}} is notable in that it's day of reckoning goes ahead despite ([[NiceJobBreakingItHero or possibly because of]]) the heroes intervention. Other than that, it plays this trope to a T.

--'''Riley Finn, ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''

* The ''{{Warcraft}}'' series had this with the invasion of the Burning Legion, though they've tried and failed three times already. Rumor has it, though, that they're at it again.

->''"It's been a long journey and no one is coming out without scars. But it all comes down to this moment. We win or lose it all in the next few minutes. Make me proud. Make ''yourselves'' proud."''\\
--'''Commander Shepard''', ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''

* The Frabjous Day in ''Film/AliceInWonderland''.

* In ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' the ''first'' thing villain Black Doom says upon [[AlienInvasion the arrival of himself and his forces is the promise of such a day:

* In ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' the ''first'' thing villain Black Doom says upon the arrival of himself and his forces is the promise of such a day of reckoning:

* This is practically Black Doom's catchphrase in ''ShadowTheHedgehog''.

* The two-parter Second Season finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{X-Men Evolution}}'' is actually titled "Day of Reckoning." It involves the iconic Franchise/{{X-Men}} figure of a Sentinel being let loose in the city and attacking all mutants and them having to defend themselves, leading to their existence being revealed on national television.

* At the end of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', this pretty much happens when Father takes the lives of everyone in Amestris, only to have Ed and everyone else fol his plans, and he was eventually defeated.

* The ''MassEffect'' series has one of these at the end of each game: in the first game, it is the defense of the Citadel and in the second, quite predictably, the Suicide Mission (see the opening quote). The entire third game is more or less an extended one of these, and the assault on Reaper-held Earth serves as an internal example within that.