History Main / GracefulLandingClumsyLanding

-->'''Dracula''': Renfield, I meant for you to use the drain pipe. ''I'' fly, ''you'' don't!
-->'''Renfield''': Oh yes, of course! He flies, I don't... He flies, I don't...

* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': Combined with RuleOfThree in a FastRoping accident in the [[https://youtu.be/KPX1U-Ero8E?t=34 outtakes]]; two of the agents rope through the window without incident and the third smacks into the glass.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'': After falling several meters down from the bowl where Bowser and his son were battling them, Mario and Peach land onto a small island next to Isle Delfino. Mario plummets straight into the sand, while Peach elegantly and slowly descends with her parachute.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'': After falling several meters down from the bowl where Bowser and his son were battling them, Mario and Peach land onto a small island next to Isle Delfino. But Mario plummets straight into the sand while Peach elegantly and slowly descends with her parachute.

* ''VideoGame/StarFox'':

* ''WesternAnimation/Luck2022'': One of the [[https://twitter.com/AppleTVPlus/status/1555284311779074050?lang=en promos]] starts with [[BornUnlucky Sam]] landing clumsily while Bob lands perfectly on his feet. It also happens in the film where Bob (due to being a lucky black cat) will have perfect landings while Sam doesn't. Later in the film, [[spoiler:(when both go to Bad Luck to get the last bit of good luck left) it happens the other way around. Sam manages to land on her feet while Bob (who is actually an unlucky black cat) doesn't.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': After escaping the dragon's tower, Fiona slides down a hill and skips away, while Shrek and Donkey tumble down the hill.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bionicle}} 3: Web of Shadows'': When the six Rahaga are introduced to the Toa, the first five make a graceful landing from flight but Iruni lands on his rear and skids across the floor.

** In the original Kanto series episode featuring Hypno, Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket parachute in. Jessie and Meowth land properly and gracefully on their feet, while poor James bounces on his butt three times and crashes offscreen. Meowth sarcastically remarks "Nice three-point landing."

** ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY]]'': When Ash and friends join their friend Sanpei in Ninja Village, a trip down an emergency tunnel has Ash and Sanpei land successfully with their Frogadier and Greninja respectfully. On the other hand, Clemont first faceplants on the floor, and Serena lands squarely on his back.

** In ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'', after a grueling FreeFallFight, Bayonetta lands gracefully on dry floor, while her KidSidekick Loki lands on his butt in a puddle, prompting him to complain.

* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':

** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'': In "[[FreakyFridayFlip Sensei Switcheroo]]", Sensei Watanabe switches bodies with Shane and later Dustin. He shows himself to be a far more skilled and agile fighter than either Ranger in both their bodies. In the second battle with [[MonsterOfTheWeek Footzilla]], he uses an anti-gravity weapon to make all the Rangers float in the air. Shane is able to neutralize him, allowing the other Rangers to drop to the ground; while Watanabe lands expertly on his feet, the others drop to the ground on their backs or stomachs.

* ''WesternAnimation/Luck2022'': One of the promos starts with [[BornUnlucky Sam]] landing clumsily while Bob lands perfectly on his feet. It also happens several times in the film where Bob (due to being a lucky black cat) will have perfect landings while Sam doesn't. Later in the film, [[spoiler:(when both go to Bad Luck to get the last bit of good luck left) it happens the other way around. Sam manages to land on her feet while Bob (who is actually an unlucky black cat) doesn't.]]

* ''VideoGame/Bayonetta3'': Bayonetta, Viola, and Cheshire arrive on the island of Thule by dropping from the sky. Bayonetta lands gracefully as expected while Viola drops down on her stomach onto Cheshire's paw.

* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'': A RunningGag is for the "Ryu Brothers" ([[Anime/GaoGaiGarFinal and later Sisters]]) to be catapulted onto the scene or use flight packs, with [=HyoRyu=], [=FuuRyu=], and [=KouRyu=] landing without incident, while [=Enryu=], [=RaiRyu=], and [=AnRyu=] land flat on their faces.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' A CouchGag has Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie safely parachute onto the couch while Homer crashes on his face due to his parachute failing to open.

* ''WesternAnimation/Luck2022'': One of the promos starts with [[BornUnlucky Sam]] landing clumsily while Bob lands perfectly on his feet. It also happens several times in the film where Bob (thanks to his good luck) will have perfect landings while Sam doesn't. Later in the film, [[spoiler:(when both go to Bad Luck to get the last bit of good luck left) it happens the other way around. Sam manages to land on her feet while Bob (who is actually an unlucky black cat) doesn't.]]

** In the original Kanto series featuring Hypno, Jesse, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket parachute in, Jesse and Meowth land properly and gracefully on their feet, while poor James bounces on his butt three times and crashes offscreen, Meowth sarcastically remarks "Nice three-point landing."

* ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt'': Played for laughs, as is typical of a [[Creator/{{Mel Brooks}} Mel Brooks]] film. Midway through the film, a wall of garlic blocks [[Main/{{Dracula}} Dracula]] from his chosen victim, so he summons his mortal servant [[Main/TheRenfield Renfield]] to remove this obstacle for him. Renfield is currently imprisoned in the second floor of an insane asylum, but Dracula easily bends the bars of his cell window. After gracefully flying back down to the ground, Dracula turns to see Renfield [[Main/TheDitz hurl himself through the window head-first]] and [[Main/TheLoad crash to the ground in a heap at Dracula's feet.]]

This trope is often played for comedy to contrast a skilled badass with a less impressive character (usually a sidekick or less competent rival). In can also be done in training session to show the difference between an expert and a novice.

While usually PlayedForLaughs, this trope can be done [[PlayedForDrama dramatically]] if the flopped landing results in a death.

* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': In "Adu Du Attacks!", [=BoBoiBoy=] Earth attacks Mega Probe to unleash Yaya, Ying and Gopal from his clutches. The first two land on their feet, but Gopal screams as he crashes with a thud off screen.

** ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasDorabianNights'': Doraemon and the boys jumps off Sinbad's FlyingCarpet, a few feet of the ground, to confront Abdil. Everyone lands on their feet, except Nobita (who else?), who lands on his face.
** The joke is recycled in the opening credits of ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasChronicleOfTheMoonExploration'', which have Gian, Suneo, Shizuka and Nobita jumping down a hole. Everyone lands on their feet ''except'' Nobita.

** In the original Kanto series featuring Hypno, Jesse, James and Meowth of Team Rocket parachute in, Jesse and Meowth land properly and gracefully on their feet, while poor James bounces on his butt three times and crashes offscreen, Meowth sarcastically remarks "Nice three-point landing."

* ''ComicBook/{{Slingers}}'': In issue #0, the team goes through an "initiation" in which they jump from one rooftop to another. Prodigy, Ricochet and Hornet make the jump thanks to them having powers and equipment that allow them to land safely. Dusk is not so lucky and takes a fatal fall, [[BackFromTheDead though she gets better.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'': As the RLS ''Legacy'' begins to depart from Montressor spaceport different crew members start to float off of the deck due to the artificial gravity not being engaged. When it is turned on a few moments later, Amelia and Mr. Arrow calmly land on their feet, Jim lands in a ThreePointLanding despite the gravity flipping him over, and [[ButtMonkey Doctor Doppler]] falls right on his face[[note]]This is justified as Amelia is a catlike alien and James has displayed impressive reflexes in the movie's earlier SkySurfing sequence. Doppler on the other hand is wearing a heavy suit[[/note]]. This is extended a moment later as the ship hits full-speed and Amelia, Arrow, and Jim have no reaction as the ship blasts forward, while Doppler is sent flying back into the stern of the ship.

* ''Film/{{Hop}}'': The three Pink Berets are Fluffy, Patch and Bit. Fluffy and Patch stick the landing after using the secret bunny tunnels to arrive in Los Angeles, while Bit pratfalls. Later, Fluffy and Patch enter the mansion where E.B. is staying via an AirVentPassageway, immediately ready for melee combat. Bit once again tumbles to the floor, and must right herself.

** ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'': In "Uniquely Trip", Jen performs a move which involves her running up a wall, backflipping off it and landing with a kick on her opponent. Trip tries to duplicate the same move in a later fight but fails to stick the landing.

* ''VideoGame/Bayonetta3'': Bayonetta, Viola and Cheshire arrive on the island of Thule by dropping from the sky. Bayonetta lands gracefully as expected while Viola drops down on her stomach onto Cheshire's paw.

* ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'': Played with in "Fleeing the Complex". During the "Ghost Inmate" pathway, there are three locations where Henry will jump down from a higher point, and the way he lands depends on the player; by default he will land flat on his face, unless the player clicks the landing point in time, which will have Henry land gracefully on his legs instead. Doing this for all three points earns you the "nailed it" achievement.

** ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'': In a scene exclusive to the Persona 4 team's side of the story, the guys in the Investigation Team shrink themselves in order to go through a small door to get a key on the other side. They form a HumanLadder to reach it, but just as they manage to get it loose, they topple over. Yu, again manages to land gracefully, but Teddie ends up squashed flat under the key while Yosuke falls on top of Kanji, leading to an AccidentalKiss between them as they fall unconscious. Yu decides not to mention this to anyone.

** In ''King of Cards'', the animation for King Knight entering a level is chosen at random. In some cases he is lowered into the level with a Rat Rope, in some cases he lands on his feet and dramatically flourishes his cape, and in some cases he falls on his face before standing up and adjusting his crown.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'': Dr. Eggman lures Sonic, Tails and Knuckles into a trap and flings them into the future, where the trio arrive in an abandoned building several feet above the ground. While Sonic lands gracefully, Tails lands on his butt and Knuckles lands on his head.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': In "Susie vs. Angelica", one of the challenges the two face off in is seeing who can land the farthest from a swing. While Susie gracefully lands on her feet, Angelica lands face first on the ground. However Angelica wins since she landed farther than Susie.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' A CouchGag has Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie safely parachute onto the couch while Homer crashes on his face due to his parachute failing to open.

** When the team is leaping through a hole to escape a [[IndyEscape rolling boulder]], everyone makes it through the hole fine except for Finn, who smacks his head on the top of the hole as he passes through.

** ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasDorabianNights'': Doraemon and the boys jumps off Sinbad's FlyingCarpet, a few feet of the ground, to confront Abdil. Everyone landed on their feet, except Nobita (who else?) who lands on his face.

* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': In one episode, the pilots have to use AirVentPassageway to reach NERV HQ due to a power outage. When they finally meet up with Misato, they do so by dropping through a ceiling grate. Shinji and Asuka both land clumsily, with Rei landing gracefully a second later[[note]]a bit of trivia: she lands the exact same way Nadia does after jumping over the Grandis Gang in the first episode of ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater''[[/note]].

* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'': [[ComicallyInvincibleHero Saitama]], is so overpowered he can kill any monster with a single punch. When he confronts the alien warlord Lord Boros, Saitama delivers just such a punch, pulverizing his armor and launching him across his throne room to slam into a supporting pillar. Boros falls from the impact crater and lands on his feet, revealing that he's strong enough to take Saitama's punches, the first enemy he's ever faced to do so, and raising his hopes that [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction he's finally found a challenging fight.]]