History Main / InertialImpalement

* Happens to an AssholeVictim in ''Manga/DetectiveConan'', who is thrown off a balcony by his killer and ends up impaled on a statue. (See RealLife below.) [[spoiler: It actually was a coincidence, as a strong wind was blowing when he was dumped off said balcony and made him hit the pole instead of the ground. Conan used this detail to find out ''which'' balcony he fell off, thus guessing who killed him as well.]]

* Porcupines, upon being threatened, will roll up and stick up its thorns, harming anything that comes to harm it. Same happens with porcupine puffer fish.

* In ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfTheGuardiansTheOwlsOfGaHoole'', happens at the climax of the final battle: Soren gets knocked onto the ground, his [[KillItWithFire flaming stick]] nearby. As Metalbeak flies at him, battle claws extended, Soren grabs the stick and points it at Metalbeak, who flies onto it.

* In the film of ''Film/TheHobbit'', a Warg runs at Bilbo and he kills it by holding out his sword, Sting, which goes through its skull.
* Subverted in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'': The Rohirrim cavalry charges down a steep incline where orc pikemen are massing. However, [[DawnAttack the sun rises just in time]] for the orcs to be dazzled, and the charge completely breaks the line apart. Played straight earlier, when Aragorn leads an elven counter-charge. At least one elf is shown impaling himself on an orc pike, while Aragorn swats one aside with his sword just before it happens to him.
* In the film of Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets [[spoiler: this is how Harry kills the Basilisk, by impaling it through the roof of its mouth as it tries to bite him. He ends up being jabbed by one of its poison fangs as a result, and nearly dies, but this is thankfully prevented by Fawkes.]]
* At the climax of ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'', Picard inflicts this on [[BigBad Shinzon]] with a piece of broken-off metal.

* ''Film/FrightNight1985''. A vampirized Evil Ed (in wolf form) is attacking Peter Vincent. A wooden bannister railing is broken and Peter grabs a piece of it. When Evil Ed charges he is impaled on the wooden pole, [[DyingAsYourself returns to human form and apparently dies]].
* In the final battle of ''Film/PacificRim'', Raiju, a LightningBruiser {{Kaiju}} who has already ripped off one of Gipsy Danger's arms, charges at the crippled [[HumongousMecha Jaeger]] with incredible speed. Gipsy, however, deploys the sword in its other arm and pierces it out ''just before'' Raiju hits it. The monster ends up piercing itself on Gipsy's sword ''so hard'' that the kaiju is completely sliced in half, [[AbsurdlySharpBlade from head to tail]].
* In ''Film/TenThousandBC'', this is how D'Leh kills the mammoth. When his spear gets stuck in the ground, he runs away, leading the beast to impale itself. But in this case D'Leh feels ''bad'' because he didn't really kill the mammoth himself, as the one who could kill it would get the White Spear, and more importantly, would be allowed to marry Evolet. He also does it to the terrorbirds, this time intentional.
* In ''Film/{{Snowpiercer}}'', the tall bearded guy is pierced by a metal rod that Yona puts in his way.
* In ''Film/DraculaHasRisenFromTheGrave'', the Count [[spoiler: falls off his castle and is impaled on a large golden cross.]]

* ''No Escape'': The BigBad meets his end impaled on a pole after falling. It was bloody as hell.
* Mr. Han from ''Film/EnterTheDragon'' meets his end when Lee kicks him right into a spear sticking out of a wall, a spear that [[ChekhovsGun Han threw at Lee to try to kill him in the adjoining chamber earlier on in the fight]].
* In ''Film/TheNameOfTheRose'' (though not in the original Eco novel), enraged peasants push Inquisitor Bernardo Guy's wagon off a cliff, and he is impaled on a piece of farm equipment. A harrow to be precise. Yes it was a "[[{{Pun}} harrowing]]" experience for him.
* ''Film/TheRock'': one of the rebel soldiers falls on a stake after being pushed by a rocket ("[[PreMortemOneLiner Well, I only bring it up because, uh, it's you. You're the Rocket Man.]]").

* In ''Film/SuddenImpact'', Mick, leader of the rapists that raped Jennifer, is shot by Film/DirtyHarry in the climax on the roller coaster, falls off and is impaled on a unicorn on a merry-go-round.

* In ''Film/{{Switchback}}'', [[spoiler: Bob the killer]] lands on a sharp log/stump while rolling down a hill falling off of a train. It's satisfying to the point of being funny because [[spoiler: before that he was cackling madly at having escaped the hero]].
* In ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'', Music/SarahBrightman's character Blind Mag falls to her death on a wrought iron fence on a stage, during the titular opera.
* After kicking arse for the Lord in ''Film/{{Braindead}}'', BadassPreacher Father [=McGruder=]'s effort is unfortunately put to an end when he goes to finish off a zombie with a flying kick. The zombie moves out of the way, and he winds up impaled on the hand of a stone [[CrossesTheLineTwice angel statue]] on a tombstone. He becomes a zombie shortly afterwards because after he punted off one's head, the head came back down and bit him in the arm.
* In ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', [[spoiler:Kira]] is casually thrown by the BigBad after a HeelFaceTurn (following a FaceHeelTurn) and ends up getting impaled on a random spike decorating the hall.
* Averted in ''Film/BulletProofMonk'', when the BigBad throws [[TheChosenOne Kar]] at a jagged end of a pipe. The Monk, expecting this, jumps and manages to redirect Kar, so they both end up hitting a wall.

* In the third film of ''Film/TheLibrarian'' series, this is how Flynn kills the BigBad, by holding up a broken off aspen branch, causing the vampire to walk straight into it.
* In the first ''Film/CountYorga'' move, this happens twice. The first time is when one of the hunters, Micheal, reaches the room where Yorga is holding his girlfriend, Donna, and is confronted but by Yorga and one of his vampire brides (who happens to be Donna's now vampirized mother). As Michel holds them at stake point and tries to get Donna to come to him, Yorga throws said bride onto the stake as a distraction so he can escape. Not long after, Yorga charges at Micheal once he exits out of the room, intending to catch him by surprise and choke him to death. However Micheal was holding the remains of said stake that he had broken off when he attempted it, causing Yorga to run right into it and impale himself.
* In the film adaptation of ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', this is how Peter, who at the time had no training with a sword, manages to kill Maugrim the Wolf. Maugrim pounces at him and knocks him over, but when Peter pushes the wolf off of him, he finds that Maugrim has impaled himself.
* ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'': With his last breath mortally wounded Garsiv uses his spear to impale one of the Hassansins who was about to jump onto his brother [[TheHero Dastan]] from above.
* ''The Sack of Rome'' (1992). One young lad brags how he'll fight off the mercenaries besieging the city. [[OhCrap That night he wakes to find them inside his house.]] He jumps out of bed in a panic and charges with his sword raised high, but the experienced mercenary commander just lifts his blade and lets him run onto the end of it.
* In ''Film/ExceptionToTheRule'' the villainous Carla Rainer is killed when she is pushed over a ledge and falls onto a metal sculpture with a (conveniently sharp) upward pointed hand.
* In Dan Curtis' version of ''Film/{{Dracula|1973}}'', a vampirized Johnathan Harker is taken out this way when Seward hits him with a shovel before he can bite Van Helsing, knocking him into a nearby pit of spikes and impaling him.
* In ''Film/MortalKombatTheMovie'', Shang Tsung tries to knock Liu Kang onto some spikes he raised out of the floor, but Liu Kang knocks him onto them instead.
* ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'': In the beginning, this almost happens to Watson. Watson tries to charge the villain Lord Blackwood, but Holmes stops him and reveals Blackwood was holding a blade made of glass so it is almost invisible. If Watson had kept going, he would have been impaled through the eye.
* ''Film/SinbadAndTheEyeOfTheTiger''. In the Arimaspi shrine, Zenobia possesses the body of a sabre-toothed tiger in order to kill Sinbad. During their battle, Sinbad uses the Minaton's long metal pike to fend her off. As they fight on some stairs, Sinbad holds up the pike toward her as she leaps upon him, impaling herself on the pike. She falls to the floor nearby, and he finishes her off with his sword.
* ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves''. After Azeem wrestles the spear from Mortianna and flings her across the room, she charges at him. Azeem holds out the spear and Mortianna impales herself on it.

[[folder:Mythology]]
* In some versions of the Myth/ArthurianLegend, Mordred is killed when he impales himself mid-charge on Arthur's spear or lance, oftentimes ''[[TakingYouWithMe forcing himself up the length of the weapon]]'' post-impalement in order to strike one final, fatal blow.
[[/folder]]

* In some versions of the KingArthur legend, Mordred is killed when he impales himself mid-charge on Arthur's spear or lance, oftentimes ''[[TakingYouWithMe forcing himself up the length of the weapon]]'' post-impalement in order to strike one final, fatal blow.

* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', a move Spiky Shield makes the user protect itself from damage and protrude spikes outside. Should its enemy still try to come in contact with it, said enemy will take damage from spikes.

-->'''Bart:''' OK, but on my way, I'm going to be doing this: ''(windmills arms)'' If you get hit, it's your own fault.
-->'''Lisa:''' OK, then I'm going to start kicking air like this. ''(kicks)'' And if any part of you should fill that air, it's '''your''' own fault.
-->''(they walk towards each other, then start fighting)''
-->'''Marge:''' ''(in the kitchen)'' Oh, I better go check that out. Now Homer, don't you eat this pie!
-->'''Homer:''' OK...''(Marge leaves)'' All right, pie, I'm just going to do this. ''(chomps air)'' And if you get eaten, it's your own fault! ''(walks towards pie, chomping air, and hits head on range hood)'' Ow! Oh, my -- [[NotEvenBotheringWithAnExcuse aw, to hell with this]]. ''(grabs pie, eats it)''

* In the film of [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets]] [[spoiler: this is how Harry kills the [[SinisterSerpent Basilisk]], by impaling it through the roof of its mouth as it tries to bite him. He ends up being jabbed by one of its poison fangs as a result, and nearly dies, but this is thankfully prevented by Fawkes.]]

* ''VideoGame/ForHonor'' features wall spikes among it's environmental hazards. Being pushed into them is an instakill with no revive.

** When Arhiman, who is possessing Illya, is losing against Godou, he decides to throw himself onto Godou's sword Ame no Murakumo out of spite, saying that by killing Illya, he'll at least hurt Shirou. Fortunately, at the last second, Godou has Ame no Murakumo absorb the properties of the Warrior Authority, turning into a sword that cuts the soul and not flesh. So when they get impaled, Arhiman was the only one who was hurt.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'', a move Spiky Shield makes the user protect itself from damage and protrude spikes outside. Should its enemy still try to come in contact with it, said enemy will take damage from spikes.

Sub-trope of ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice, InertiaIsACruelMistress, and when the one impaled is a villain, SelfDisposingVillain. Also a subtrope of DeadlyDodging, for when the dodging results in the enemy impaling himself on something. Compare SpikesOfDoom and TheSpiny. See also BullfightBoss.

* In ''Switchback'', [[spoiler: Bob the killer]] lands on a sharp log/stump while rolling down a hill falling off of a train. It's satisfying to the point of being funny because [[spoiler: before that he was cackling madly at having escaped the hero]].

* In Dan Curtis' version of ''Dracula'', a vampirized Johnathan Harker is taken out this way when Seward hits him with a shovel before he can bite Van Helsing, knocking him into a nearby pit of spikes and impaling him.

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'', this is how [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] is defeated. Mista, confronted with his power to throw bullets back at the shooter, lines him up with a broken metal pole and fires on him. The bullets hit Mista, but at the same time, Newton's Second Law pushes [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] backwards, which runs him straight into a jagged part of the pole. Neck-first. [[spoiler:Ghiaccio temporally manages to save himself by freezing his own blood to support himself, only for Giorno to [[BigDamnHeroes show up at the last second to save Mista]], using a flurry of kicks from his [[FightingSpirit Stand]], Gold Experience, to pierce Ghiaccio's neck all the way through]].

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'', this is how [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] is defeated. Mista, confronted with his power to throw bullets back at the shooter, lines him up with a broken metal pole and fires on him. The bullets hit Mista, but at the same time, Newton's Second Law pushes [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] backwards, which runs him straight into a jagged part of the pole. Neck-first. [[spoiler:Ghiaccio temporally manages to saves himself by freezing his own blood to support himself, only for Giorno to [[BigDamnHeroes show up at the last second to save Mista]], using a flurry of kicks from his [[FightingSpirit Stand]], Gold Experience, to pierce Ghiaccio's neck all the way through]].

* In the ''Vento Aureo'' part of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'', this is how [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] is defeated. Mista, confronted with his power to throw bullets back at the shooter, lines him up with a broken tree and fires on him. The bullets hit Mista, but at the same time, Newton's Second Law pushes [[spoiler:Ghiaccio]] backwards, which runs him straight into a jagged part of the tree. Neck-first.

* In the movie ''Disney/BrotherBear'', Kenai is fighting a bear and gets knocked on the ground. When it charges at him, he grabs his spear. Rather than showing what happens, it shows the mountain from a distance and the viewer hears [[ScreamDiscretionShot the bear roar one last time]], and then it shows that Kenai has survived.

* Olaf in ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' walks straight into a pointy icicle and stabs himself all the way through. However, he's a {{Snowlem}}, and thus NighInvulnerable, so it amuses him more than anything.

* Subverted in ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings The Two Towers]]'': The Rohirrim cavalry charges down a steep incline where orc pikemen are massing. However, [[DawnAttack the sun rises just in time]] for the orcs to be dazzled, and the charge completely breaks the line apart. Played straight earlier, when Aragorn leads an elven counter-charge. At least one elf is shown impaling himself on an orc pike, while Aragorn swats one aside with his sword just before it happens to him.