History Main / NeckSnap

** ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'': This is the final fate of [[spoiler:Yoshikage Kira]] from an [[DeathByAmbulance ambulance]]. As it backs up the driver doesn't stop in time and the tire grips [[spoiler:Kira's]] head and spins it in full view with a SickeningCrunch. If that wasn't enough [[FacialHorror half of his face was ripped off]] as well, preventing anyone from identifying him. This is in contrast with the original manga where [[spoiler:Kira]] dies from having his [[HeadCrushing head crushed]] by the tire.

** ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'': This is the final fate of [[spoiler:Yoshikage Kira]] from an [[DeathByAmbulance ambulance]]. As it backs up the driver doesn't stop in time and the tire grips [[spoiler:Kira's]] head and spins it in full view with a SickeningCrunch. If that wasn't enough [{FacialHorror half of his face was ripped off]] as well, preventing anyone from identifying him. This is in contrast with the original manga where [[spoiler:Kira]] dies from having his [[HeadCrushing head crushed]] by the tire.

** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': Toward the end of the fight with Vanilla Ice, Polnareff stabs him through the forehead with Silver Chariot's sword and then twists his head around until his neck snaps. [[spoiler:The fact that [{NooneCouldSurviveThat he survives this]] is what tips Polnareff off to the fact that Ice is a vampire, something Ice himself doesn't realize until seconds before Polnareff [[WeakenedByTheLight shoves him into the sunlight]]]].

** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': Toward the end of the fight with Vanilla Ice, Polnareff stabs him through the forehead with Silver Chariot's sword and then twists his head around until his neck snaps. [[spoiler: The fact that he survives this is what tips Polnareff off to the fact that Ice is a vampire, something Ice himself doesn't realize until seconds before Polnareff shoves him into the sunlight]].
** ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'': This is the final fate of [[spoiler:Yoshikage Kira]] from an [[DeathByAmbulance ambulance]]. As it backs up the diver doesn't stop in time and the tire grips [[spoiler:Kira's]] head and spins it in full view with a SickeningCrunch. If that wasn't enough half of his face was ripped off as well. This is in contrast with the original manga where [[spoiler:Kira]] dies from having [[spoiler:his]] [[HeadCrushing head crushed]] by the tire.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Invincible|2021}}'': Omni-Man does this to War Woman, twisting her neck around 180 degrees.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': Performing a [[BackStab Stealth Attack]] with certain weapon types (staffs, [[DeadlyDisc glaives]], nunchaku, blade-and-whips, and fists) may have your Warframe break the enemy's neck from behind. [[CombatHandFan Warfans]], meanwhile, accomplish a similar effect by having you stab the enemy, then do a series of flips that slam the enemy's skull into the ground, breaking their neck from the impact.
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* ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'':
** In ''Literature/DanganronpaZero'', [[spoiler:Yuto]]'s neck is snapped by his head being turned all the way around.
** In ''Anime/Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool'', this is how [[spoiler:the real Miaya]] died, complete with her head being twisted 180 degrees. Monaca claims to be responsible, though since she was refusing to disclose who she was working with (combined with the implication that she never left Towa City), it's left unclear how true this is.
** In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'': [[spoiler:Kaede Akamatsu]] suffers this very violently as the mastermind sets her up for the first murder and is wrongfully executed.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': The killer used this method of killing in the season 2 episode "Red Cell". Gibbs demonstrated it on [=DiNozzo=] to show how it was done, and incidentally prove that the killer had military hand-to-hand combat training. In a later episode, Gibbs demonstrated it on [=McGee=] as well.

Also note that in RealLife nothing dies instantly from a fractured neck unless it sends vertebrae fragments into, or contorts, the brain-stem in such a way as to shut down all lower brain functions. A broken neck is no guarantee of a "silent kill" either as, if the aforementioned brain-stem damage is not inflicted, all you are left with is a quadriplegic victim, severely injured but not dead, and still able to speak and scream. There's also a good chance that the attacker fails to break the victim's neck ''or'' paralyse them at all, instead inflicting just a temporary pain that will pass... leaving the target thoroughly ''pissed off'' if they haven't used the opportunity to escape. In addition, as mentioned above it takes a lot of strength to pull this off - fail to incapacitate the target, and you've given yourself away in a seriously vulnerable situation. Furthermore, if the spinal cord is not damaged at all, a cervical fracture can heal with proper treatment. This can lead to a lot of HesJustHiding sentiment toward characters who suffer such injuries.

* Walter and Phyllis kill her husband Herbert this way in ''Film/DoubleIndemnity''. Since UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode was in place at the time, it is not shown on-screen in the film.

* ''Series/EastEnders'': Gray Atkins apparently killed [[spoiler:Tina Carter]] with this method: if the BBC's official UsefulNotes/AudioDescription of the scene is to be believed.

* ''Fanfic/OniGaShikuSeries'': During the first battle trials at UA, [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia Izuku]] uses [[VideoGame/LikeADragon Majima]]'s neck snap technique on Bakugou to knock him out. However, everybody watching, including All Might, thinks that Izuku [[MistakenForMurder murdered Bakugou]], and it takes Izuku kicking Katsuki to the point be groans to convince them he's alive. He is fine by the end of the class. Later, Aizawa tells Izuku that he needs to work on that hold because civilians will panic if they hear a hero snapped someone's neck, and there may be lawsuits too. And in the next days the entire school has heads what Izuku did, and they sll think he's a psycho.

!!As this is a DeathTrope, expect unmarked spoilers.

* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Sette's First Silver enhanced haunted pymaric snaps a soldier's neck while he's trying to rape Ilia.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers''