History Main / UncomfortableElevatorMoment

* A Creator/{{Netflix}} promo for ''Series/{{FUBAR}}'' and ''Film/Extraction2'' features both Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger and Creator/ChrisHemsworth sharing an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz28P5rbEzY awkward elevator ride.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': WALL•E and EVE have one happen to be on the run at the time and the two see a [[WantedPoster "wanted" picture]] of them on the screen in the elevator. WALL•E is excited. [[TriggerHappy EVE]]... [[ShootTheTelevision isn't]].

* In the beginning of ''Film/Ghost1990'', Carl and Sam pull what's clearly an often-practiced joke where they discuss what communicable diseases they've picked up, whilst in a crowded elevator.

** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARXUHxI6BcA such a moment filmed]]. It was a DeletedScene readded to the extended "More Fun Stuff" cut. Aunt May, Peter Parker, Norman Osborn, Max Dillon, Flint Marko, and Otto Octavius are taking the elevator together to Happy's apartment, making for quite the awkward ride. Especially since Doc Ock, front and center, is still wrapped in his own tentacles, and even ''one tentacle tip'' seems to be following the unspoken protocol.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In a DeletedScene from ''Film/TheLastJedi'', while infiltrating the ''Supremacy'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTVuo8nCME disguised as First Order officers,]] Finn, Rose and TJ have to take an elevator with a bunch of Stormtroopers. It starts with the usual elevator routine, but gets even tenser when one of the Stormtroopers (Creator/TomHardy in an uncredited cameo) recognizes Finn. [[spoiler:Except he's unaware of Finn's defection (the First Order covered it up so as to not give other soldiers ideas) and just congratulates Finn for his "promotion".]]

* ''Webcomic/BlueMilkSpecial'': Inside the Death Star, Chewbacca, Han and Leia infiltrating are using an elevator when a pair of Stormtroopers enter... and pointedly ignore them. As they exit on their floor, the Stormtroopers swear they didn't see anything because it's way above their pay check.

* ''Film/BridgetJonesDiary'' contains one of these... although Daniel Cleever takes advantage of the protocol to deliver what is implied as a ''less'' than Uncomfortable Elevator Moment to Bridget Jones.

* A Creator/{{Netflix}} for ''Series/{{FUBAR}}'' and ''Film/Extraction2'' features both Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger and Creator/ChrisHemsworth sharing an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz28P5rbEzY awkward elevator ride.]]

'''Leandra:''' ''[after a few seconds of listening to the fight]'' I'm gonna take the stairs, then. ''[She exits the elevator.]''
* Seen in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UOK4LqIKNI McDonald's commercial.]]
* Subverted in a Hallmark commercial. It starts with several apartment tenants standing in an elevator minding their own business, staring straight ahead -- then the elevator breaks down. A short time skip later, they're bonding about old friendships and asking the bewildered repairman to let them have another minute.
* Subverted differently in [[http://youtu.be/08jjzrtZuIU this]] ad for an insurance company that seems to now be defunct.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{WALLE}}'': WALL-E and EVE have one happen to be on the run at the time and the two see a [[WantedPoster "wanted" picture]] of them on the screen in the elevator. WALL•E is excited. [[TriggerHappy EVE]]... [[ShootTheTelevision isn't]].

* ''Film/TheKiller2023'' has two that {{Book End}}s the Killer's visit to Hodges. A [=FedEx=] worker that let the disguised Killer into the building (disguised as a recycled waste collector) stares awkwardly as he conspicuously puts on rubber gloves. When the Killer is leaving with Hodges' secretary and a recycling bin containing Hodges's body, the two get stuck with two other people in the elevator, one of whom jokes that the bin contains a dead body which causes an awkward moment when Dolores hysterically cackles at this AccidentalTruth.

* The 2012 version of '' WesternAnimation/{{The Lorax|2012}}'' has a pretty standard one -- our heroes are speeding through a city center on a motorcycle, end up driving onto an elevator, and we see a few moments of the cramped, awkward silence you get when a motorcycle is shoved in.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', Roxanne and Megamind (disguised as Bernard) share an elevator in the [[AlliterativeName Metro Man Museum]]... just before it's going to blow up, thanks to actions by the latter of the pair.
* The moment in ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' when Chihiro is on the elevator with the Radish Spirit. ''Awkward''.
* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' has one between the title character and EVE. They happen to be on the run at the time and the two see a [[WantedPoster "wanted" picture]] of them on the screen in the elevator. WALL•E is excited. [[TriggerHappy EVE]]... [[ShootTheTelevision isn't]].

* ''Film/TheKiller2023'' has two that {{Book End}}s the Killer's visit to Hodges. A FedEx worker that let the disguised Killer into the building (disguised as a recycled waste collector) stares awkwardly as he conspicuously puts on rubber gloves. When the Killer is leaving with Hodges' secretary and a recycling bin containing Hodges's body, the two get stuck with two other people in the elevator, one of whom jokes that the bin contains a dead body which causes an awkward moment when Dolores hysterically cackles at this AccidentalTruth.

* ''Series/Batwoman2019'': In "[[Recap/Batwoman2019S1E3DownDownDown Down Down Down]]", Kate Kane steps into an elevator in Tommy Elliot's skyscraper to find her step-sister Mary being bodyguarded by her ex-girlfriend Sophie Moore. Stuck in the middle between these two, Mary can only stare at the still-climbing level indicator and gripe about why Tommy needs to live in such a tall tower. Later there is a second one, when she is trapped in an elevator with Sophie and her husband Tyler, with the former still trying to hide the obvious fact that she and Kate were a couple.

* ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', "[[Recap/TheBookOfBobaFettS1E5ReturnOfTheMandalorian Return of the Mandalorian]]": As Din Djarin takes an elevator to reach his employer, an alien sharing the ride gives the wounded Mandalorian--bristling with weapons and carrying a severed head in a sack--an awkward glance before promptly looking away.

---> '''Captain Pike:''' Bless you.

* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Sidney Scoville is a blabbermouth with ADHD, so she tends to not respect the unspoken code. Add in her being intimidated by Vale, who's going for the stoic silence, and Sidney starts first chattering nervously and is soon randomly rambling, [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-409-elevator-predicate/ to the point Vale ends up pressing the elevator button frantically in the hope of shortening the ride.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Subnormality}}'' illustrates the effect [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page538.html here]].

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': In ''Catching Fire'', the uninhibited Johanna Mason complains of the heat, [[NakedOnArrival strips]] [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked]], and gets on an elevator with Peeta and Katniss. It turns out later that she was deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoking]] this trope to make Katniss uncomfortable.

** ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'': Kate gets in the elevator to try and stop Yelena, whose been hired to kill Kate's partner/mentor Clint. [[FriendlyEnemy Yelena doesn't want to hurt Kate]] and Kate isn't skilled enough to even be a threat to Yelena, so they end up with a "fight" that consists of awkwardly standing and occasionally slapping at each other.

%%* ''LightNovel/MirageOfBlaze'': More so for Kagetora than Naoe.

* Defied in the LightNovel version of ''[[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]''. Kyon notes that Haruhi ignores "normal elevator etiquette" by talking to him while they wait. Knowing Haruhi, this is to be expected.

* Played for BlackComedy in ''Series/AlteredCarbon''. On leaving the BigBad's SupervillainLair, Takeshi Kovacs finds himself in the elevator with TheDragon, who previously tried to murder his LoveInterest in an elevator.

** In "Convictions", Londo decides not to share an elevator with G'Kar at all... until a nearby explosion forces Londo to jump in. The explosion disables the elevator forcing the two to spend several hours together. G'Kar is firmly opposed to acting in any way that would get them rescued, as he [[TakingYouWithMe wants to watch Londo die]], but can't actually kill him himself for fear of reprisals against his family. Awkward.

** The fifth season episode "[[LowerDeckEpisode A View from the Gallery]]" had Garibaldi and Captain Lochley having a heated plot-specific discussion about the episode's conflict, all while lowly technicians Bo and Mack quietly stand in the elevator and try to stay out from between them.
** G'kar and Vir share an elevator briefly in "Comes the Inquisitor", shortly after the Centauri subjugated the Narn. It starts out incredibly awkward and gets worse when Vir attempts to apologize.
* ''Series/{{Batwoman|2019}}''. In "Down Down Down", Kate Kane steps into an elevator in Tommy Elliot's skyscraper to find her step-sister Mary being bodyguarded by her ex-girlfriend Sophie Moore. Stuck in the middle between these two, Mary can only stare at the still-climbing level indicator and gripe about why Tommy needs to live in such a tall tower. Later there is a second one, when she is trapped in an elevator with Sophie and her husband Tyler, with the former still trying to hide the obvious fact that she and Kate were a couple.

** When the away team discovers the elevator leading the bridge of a massive colony ship in "If The Stars Should Appear", Ed tries to make small talk to pass the time. Kelly can't let it slide.

** This is a RunningGag in "Cupid's Dagger" in which Ed and Kelly are constantly interrupted in the elevator of the ''Orville'' by the entrance of a low-level crew member who seems bent on some sort of elevator music being installed. It's eventually made his project and towards the end of the episode, when he walks in yet again after the music is now playing, Kelly shouts at him, wondering if he just does nothing but ride the elevator all day.

** Dinah Lance and Lois Lane gets one in "Siren".
** [[MythologyGag Lois & Clark]] in "Committed".

*** After an AliensMadeThemDoIt episode (which [[AboveTheInfluence fortunately was not consummated]]), the officers concerned (HalfHumanHybrid B'Elanna Torres and HandsomeLech Tom Paris) run into each other in the turbolift. Awkward small talk ensues, until an annoyed Tom stops the lift to give a heartfelt speech on how they have to face up to what happened... plus he wasn't that scared by seeing her [[DestructoNookie aggressive Klingon side]], and wouldn't mind seeing more of it some day. They go the rest of the way in silence, but as B'Elanna exits at her floor, she says, "Be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant."
*** In "Waking Moments", all of the crew have had strange nightmares which end with a strange alien watching them. After waking up they all share their dreams, but Tuvok is notably reluctant to share as his dream, shown at the beginning of the episode, was that he went to the bridge, [[NotWearingPantsDream only to realize when the entire crew begin to laugh hysterically that he had neglected to put on any form of clothing]]. Janeway takes a turbolift with Tuvok and takes the opportunity to investigate further. Clearly uncomfortable, Tuvok admits he dreamed he was in the turbolift and the alien seemed to be "scrutinizing his appearance" before following him back to his quarters. His short, evasive answers seem to pique Janeway's interest further.

*** There's such a moment in "Trials and Tribble-ations". Time-travelers Bashir and O'Brien try to take a turbolift in [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries TOS's]] ''Enterprise'', but them being unused to 23[[superscript:rd]] century technology, it doesn't react to their verbal commands. They're about to open a panel and start tampering with the mechanism when a woman steps in and starts the turbolift properly, by holding one of the handles before giving her command. Bashir then whispers to O'Brien, "I won't tell anyone if you won't."
*** Subverted in "The Dogs of War". When Ezri and Bashir have decided they should be JustFriends, they discuss how awkward the ride would be if they hadn't discussed their feelings, with a lot of staring at the feet and awkward mumbling, but now that they'd decided not to act on those feelings, they should be fine. By the time they reach Ops, [[RelationshipUpgrade they're making out]].

*** In "Lessons", Captain Picard finds himself DuetBonding with a female officer Nella Daren. The relationship turns romantic, and after their first kiss they're in the turbolift discussing their love of music when someone else enters. Picard turns to the front and when Nella tries to continue the conversation, formally addresses Nella by her rank instead of her name, leaving the turbolift at the first opportunity. He apologises for this afterwards.
*** In "Phantasms," Deanna and Data are in the turbolift when [[ItMakesSenseInContext Data hallucinates a mouth on Deanna's shoulder and stabs it]].
** A ''really'' uncomfortable moment occurs in the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "The Crossing" when Malcolm Reed is possessed by an alien wisp. While he's riding a turbolift with a female RedShirt, he comments in a creepy voice about how she's a female and he's a male. She wastes little time in de-boarding when the door opens.
** The ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' episode "Brother" has several people board an elevator which already has a Saurian with a cold -- who then sneezes on one of them.

** The ''Short Treks'' mini-episode "Q & A" is almost entirely made of this, when EnsignNewbie Spock gets trapped in a turbolift with Number One. Lampshaded near the beginning:

* ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', "[[Recap/TheBookOfBobaFettS1E5ReturnOfTheMandalorian Return of the Mandalorian]]": As Din Djarin takes an elevator to reach his employer, an alien sharing the ride gives the wounded Mandalorian--bristling with weapons and carrying a severed head in a sack--an awkward glance before promptly looking away.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARXUHxI6BcA such a moment filmed,]] but it ended up as a DeletedScene. Aunt May, Peter Parker, Norman Osborn, Max Dillon, Flint Marko, and Otto Octavius are taking the elevator together to Happy's apartment, making for quite the awkward ride. Especially since Doc Ock, front and center, is still wrapped in his own tentacles, and even ''one tentacle tip'' seems to be following the unspoken protocol.

* Kate Spade New York has produced a series of online-video ads called Miss Adventures. [[MuppetCameo Miss Piggy guest-stars]] in the episode "To the Top," riding with Creator/ZosiaMamet in an elevator on the way to a party they're attending at the top of the Empire State Building. Miss Piggy, though, is in a snit because it turns out that [[DressesTheSame she and Zosia are wearing the same outfit]]. The snit escalates into an argument, growing more and more heated. At one point, Leandra Medine boards the elevator, ''wearing the exact same coat''.

* ''Manga/FutariEcchi'' features an Uncomfortable Elevator Moment that is crossing the line with ElevatorGoingDown. It happens when Makoto is sharing a ride with the Kubotas, a young couple of InsatiableNewlyweds who recently moved in the building. As they start getting fresh right in the elevator, not minding their neighbor at all, Makoto is nearly dying of embarrassment.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In a DeletedScene from ''Film/TheLastJedi'', while infiltrating the ''Supremacy'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTVuo8nCME disguised as First Order officers,]] Finn, Rose and TJ have to take an elevator with a bunch of Stormtroopers. It starts with the usual elevator routine, but gets even tenser when one of the Stormtroopers (Creator/TomHardy in an uncredited cameo) recognizes Finn. [[spoiler:Except he's unaware of Finn's defection (the First Order covered it up to not give other soldiers ideas) and just congratulates Finn for his "promotion".]]

* ''Webcomic/BlueMilkSpecial'': Inside the Death Star, Chewbacca, Han and Leia infiltrating are using an elevator when a pair of Stormtroopers enter... and pointedly ignore them. As they exit on their floor, the Stormtrroopers swear they didn't see anything because it's way above their pay check.

* WebSite/CollegeHumor, "Awkward Rap":

* A gag on an early episode of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' has Peter step into an elevator with one other occupant. The other guy starts sniffing with a disgusted look on his face. Peter's response?
-->'''Peter:''' Uh... [[ImplausibleDeniability it was you]].

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited''. When Task Force X are infiltrating the Watchtower, Deadshot and Plastique have an OhCrap when Green Lantern steps into the elevator with them. Deadshot shows his NervesOfSteel by asking if Green Lantern could get Hawkgirl's autograph for him. Green Lantern curtly refuses and leaves (having broken up with Hawkgirl). Once she's overcome her shock, Plastique is impressed.

** ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E07StealthStrike Stealth Strike]]", a [[DressingAsTheEnemy disguised]] Kanan and Rex, accompanied by Chopper, wind up on an elevator with an Imperial officer who comments that Rex's armour is looking a little tight on him. Things swiftly get ''quite'' awkward.
--->'''Officer:''' Your armour's looking a little tight, trooper.\\

--->'''Zeb and Sabine:''' We know.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' manages to have such a moment with a {{Magitek}} elevator in Season 2 Episode 4 [[spoiler:with a captured Yugo being taken by a [[DemonicPossession Rubilax-possessed Sadlygrove]] deeper into his lair while being surrounded by ghouls, including the recently ghoulified Ruel and Amalia]] -- complete with an elevator music remix [[DiegeticSoundtrackUsage of the opening theme]].

[[TruthInTelevision In several European cultures, there is an unspoken code of behavior that applies inside elevators,]] and also sometimes on trains and other modes of public transportation: when someone enters an elevator, the custom is to face the front and stand in silence whilst absentmindedly watching the floor numbers change. If there ''is'' any conversation, it amounts only to [[TalkAboutTheWeather small talk]]. An individual who breaks with this custom, for example facing the other passengers, is often a source of considerable unease to the other individuals in the elevator with you. The protocol does vary a lot between cultures, even between neighboring countries; for example, the UK has the elevator protocol, while almost none of Europe does. Depending on where you are, you might be expected to greet the other people in the elevator and/or make light conversation, or to completely ignore them. [[JustifiedTrope This is apparently a part of basic animal behavior, too]]: primates in small enclosed spaces instinctively avoid drawing attention to themselves. The cultural differences in elevator protocol reflect differences in what behaviour is inconspicuous. And yes, primates -- monkeys go quiet too, but rats tend to [[ElevatorActionSequence fight]].

* ''Series/BabylonFive'':

* The 2012 version of '' WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' has a pretty standard one -- our heroes are speeding through a city center on a motorcycle, end up driving onto an elevator, and we see a few moments of the cramped, awkward silence you get when a motorcycle is shoved in.

* ''Film/NotOkay'': Danni tries buddying up with two of her coworkers—who despise her—while they are stuck in a strangely long elevator ride with her.

* Played with in ''VideoGame/Payday2'' in the "Beneath the Mountain" Heist. Played with because you're in an airlock, '''not''' an elevator, but in which you're put in an akward situation where neither you, or the rest of the crew, can really do anything while inside. The only thing you '''can do''' is stock up on ammo and Patch up wounds and wait for the second airlock door to open. Bear in mind that there are SWAT teams on both sides of the airlock doors, so standing in the middle of a Loud heist is a strange thing to endure.

*** In "Waking Moments", all of the crew have had strange nightmares which end with a strange alien watching them. After waking up they all share their dreams, but Tuvok is notably reluctant to share as his dream, shown at the beginning of the episode, was that he went to the bridge, only to realize when the entire crew begin to laugh hysterically that he had neglected to put on any form of clothing. Janeway takes a turbolift with Tuvok and takes the opportunity to investigate further. Clearly uncomfortable, Tuvok admits he dreamed he was in the turbolift and the alien seemed to be "scrutinizing his appearance" before following him back to his quarters. His short, evasive answers seem to pique Janeway's interest further.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', "[[Recap/TheBookOfBobaFettS1E5ReturnOfTheMandalorian Return of the Mandalorian]]": As Din Djarin takes an elevator to reach his employer, an alien sharing the ride gives the wounded Mandalorian, bristling with weapons and carrying a severed head, an awkward glance before promptly looking away.