History Main / HumanShield

* A three-battle in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' at one point features Optimus and Megatron fighting as BackToBackBadasses until Megatron grabs Optimus and pulls this against a hail of fire power.

* In ''{{Drakengard 2}}'', during one scene, TheHero, Nowe, is about to stab the BigBad, when he pulls Eris, TheHero's UnluckyChildhoodFriend, directly into the path of TheHero's attack, [[PlayerPunch causing him to kill her instead]]. (However, considering her name, and who makes the game, [[Videogame/FinalFantasyVII it was expected that poor little Eris would die...]])

* In Creator/StephenKing's novel, ''TheDeadZone'', the protagonist tries to assassinate an evil politican, Greg Stillson. He fails, because Stillson uses [[ChildrenAreInnocent a child]] as a human shield; however, a photographer makes a picture of this, and publishes it, ending Stillson's career.
** In ''TheGreenMile'', psychopathic prisoner William Wharton plays drugged during an interprison transfer until his new guards fail to pay attention. At which point he jumps up and starts beating the crap out of them. The guard captain draws his service pistol, so Wharton uses a guard as a human shield while continuing to wreak havoc. The stalemate is broken when [[spoiler: an additional guard appears on the scene and ambushes Wharton from behind with a baton to the head. Extra balls points to Brutal Howell for advancing into his boss's gun.]]

* In Creator/StephenKing's novel, ''The Dead Zone'', the protagonist tries to assassinate an evil politican, Greg Stillson. He fails, because Stillson uses [[ChildrenAreInnocent a child]] as a human shield; however, a photographer makes a picture of this, and publishes it, ending Stillson's career.

Don't let the power go to your head though. The [[AntiHero Anti-Hero]] might just be tempted to [[ShootTheHostage shoot you anyway, even if it means a little collateral damage]]. And if TheHero is [[ImprobableAimingSkills skilled enough or a good enough shot]], they might just be able [[ShootTheHostageTaker to take you out]] without harming your hostage. And if things go wrong you might have to deal with some [[DeadSidekick unfortunate]] repercussions. Also keep in mind that you "shield" is actually a living and usually hostile being, eager to bite you in the back of the hand or kick you in the groin the moment you lower your guard.

* In ''RoboCopTheSeries'', the titular hero has a great targeting system to deal with this kind of situation. For instance in the first film when a male assailant is using a woman as human shield, Robocop carefully shoots the crook between the hostages' legs in a successful gamble to [[GroinAttack hit his groin]] with just enough clearance with female human anatomy to miss her. The second film has him dealing with the similar situation by arranging a ricochet shot to hit the assailant from behind.

* From ''[[{{Deryni}} Deryni Checkmate]]'': While fighting his way out of St. Torin's shrine to rescue Morgan, Duncam grabs Gorony, holds him at swordpoint and demands Warin unlock the door. Warin refuses, so Duncan [[spoiler: uses his Deryni powers on the lock]], and he and Morgan take Gorony with them, leaving Warin and his remaining men locked inside.

* In the ''Film/{{Robocop}}'' series, the titular hero has a great targeting system to deal with this kind of situation. For instance in the first film when a male assailant is using a woman as human shield, Robocop carefully shoots the crook between the hostages' legs in a successful gamble to [[GroinAttack hit his groin]] with just enough clearance with female human anatomy to miss her. The second film has him dealing with the similar situation by arranging a ricochet shot to hit the assailant from behind.

Don't let the power go to your head though. The [[AntiHero Anti-Hero]] might just be tempted to [[ShootTheHostage shoot you anyway, even if it means a little collateral damage]]. And if TheHero is [[ImprobableAimingSkills skilled enough or a good enough shot]], they might just be able [[ShootTheHostageTaker to take you out]] without harming your hostage. And if things go wrong you might have to deal with some [[DeadSidekick unfortunate]] repercussions. Also keep in mind that you "shield" is actually a living and usually hostile being, eager to bite you in the hand of back-kick you in the groin the moment you lower your guard.

* The Westboro Baptist Church employs these, usually [[ProtectedByAChild]], because they know vigilantes can and will try to kill them whenever they demonstrate. Innocents tend to get caught in the crossfire, anyways. Many of the documentaries about them point out this only victimizes the civilians, not demonizes the attackers.

** Megatron does this in ''VideoGame/TransformersPrimeTheGame'', using Starscream to take full force of an energy blast.

* In the Kurt Russell movie ''{{Soldier}}'', someone tries to use a woman as a shield, but the titular, emotionless soldier empties his machine gun into both of them, then moves on.

* ''TheGreenMile'' - a well done adaptation from its entry in 'literature', below. It features Tom Hanks as the guard captain (who also receives a GroinAttack to ensure his aim is spoiled) and David Morse as "Brutal" Howell.

* In ''{{Heat}}'', Michael Cheritto attempts this as a means of last resort during a chase. [[spoiler:Lt. Hanna shoots him anyway.]]

* In ''DistrictNine'', Wikus grabs a scientist [[spoiler:who was about to eviscerate him]] around the neck and keeps him there under the threat of [[EyeScream cutting out his eyes with a scalpel]]. The guns that are trained on him are put down.

* Evil candidate Stillson in ''TheDeadZone'' does this by holding a ''baby'' in front of himself to stop Johnny from assassinating him (in an attempt to save humanity, as Stillson was going to start WorldWarThree once in office). This both saves and dooms him, with an iconic photo of the incident appearing on the cover of Newsweek under the headline "No Future for Stillson", leading him to commit suicide.

* In the ''ReservoirDogs'' video game (based on the film) You can take human shields and hit or threaten them to disarm cops. An even more notable example is when you are confronted by multiple cops and your [[ManaMeter adrenaline meter]] is full you can preform a special torture (offscreen of course) called a "Signature Move" (which range from PistolWhipping the hostage to cutting off the hostage's ear) that is so brutal that it will cause every cop in the area to [[PutDownYourGunAndStepAway drop their weapons and surrender.]]
* In ''[[{{Drakengard}} Drakengard 2]]'', during one scene, TheHero, Nowe, is about to stab the BigBad, when he pulls Eris, TheHero's UnluckyChildhoodFriend, directly into the path of TheHero's attack, [[PlayerPunch causing him to kill her instead]]. (However, considering her name, and who makes the game, [[Videogame/FinalFantasyVII it was expected that poor little Eris would die...]])

* ''Film/TheFugitive''. While the U.S. Marshals are searching a house for one of the fugitive prisoners, the prisoner grabs one of them and uses him to prevent Gerard from shooting him. Gerard uses his ImprobableAimingSkills to shoot the escapee in the head, narrowly missing the captive Marshal.

* In the {{FPS}} version of ''XIII'', the titular character will use human shields without missing a beat.

* ''Call Of Duty 4'' has the last terrorist grab the anonymous [=VIP=] as a shield at the end of ''Mile High Club''. The player has a few seconds to shoot one of his exposed body parts as he jerks around, and '[[NintendoHard Veterans Only Get Headshots]]'.

* In the Comicbook/{{Batman}} story arc ''Lovers and Madmen'', Jack, a new and upcoming criminal, and his gang are robbing a fundraiser when Batman arrives. Jack rushes to find a human shield, taking care to choose. By complete coincidence, the person he finally chooses is Bruce Wayne's current LoveInterest. [[spoiler: Batman backs off, but Jack stabs her anyway, then flees. Batman doesn't give chase, instead rushing to the injured woman's side, but, in a fit of rage, he uses a Batarang to give Jack a large GlasgowSmile. Guess which well-known villain Jack soon becomes?]]

* Played straight and subverted in the ''AstroCity'' "Confessor" story arc. Kevin, the protagonist, is working as a busboy when a C-rate villain attacks and grabs him as a HumanShield. The patrons (who are all superheroes in civilian guise) hesitate to attack, but Kevin breaks free and knocks out the crook with a roundhouse kick.