History Main / Kneecapping

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E20PatriotGames Patriot Games]]", Stewie kneecaps Brian with a ''gun'' during his second NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on the latter. All this over [[DisproportionateRetribution $50 the dog owned him] after he lost a bet]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E20PatriotGames Patriot Games]]", Stewie kneecaps Brian with a ''gun'' during his second NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on the latter. All this over a [[DisproportionateRetribution $50 debt for him]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E20PatriotGames Patriot Games]]", Stewie kneecaps Brian with a ''gun's during his second NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on the latter. All this over a [[DisproportionateRetribution $50 debt for him]].

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', the unique sawed-off shotgun is called "The Kneecapper".
** Also, throughout [[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} the series]], aiming at a leg has always been a viable strategy. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', a ghoul with a crippled leg will have the limb fall off, rendering it unable to move or attack at all, the perfect stationery target, allowing players to kill ghouls many times their own level with ease.

* Can be done in ''[[VideoGame/{{Postal}} Postal 2]]'', most reliably with the SniperRifle. Unlike taking AnArmAndALeg with the machete or hedge clippers, this isn't much more reliable than going for center mass. It's mostly just for the VideoGameCrueltyPotential of leaving {{NPC}}s crawling around. Strangely, some enemies will pull out a pistol while falling, but they never use it.
* Joel from ''Videogame/TheLastOfUs'' does this as part of his JackBauerInterrogationTechnique where he stabs a hunter's kneecap to [[spoiler:find out where they have Ellie]].

* In ''Videogame/CruzBrothers'', Tray has two stun move where he'll shoot his opponent's knee. Trevor has a similar move, where kicks the foe's shin so it breaks.

* It's generally averted in real life, however. All reputable firearms training (civilian, police, and military) teach to aim center-of-mass at the torso, as it's a much larger and easier target to hit, and contains most of the body's vital organs. Even assuming you actually ''hit'' them, shooting someone in the knee may still not be enough to incapacitate them, at least not quickly enough to be of value.

* [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in ''Literature/RainbowSix'' between the bad guys in the conspiracy. They note that the IRA terrorists they are working with at the moment used to kneecap drug dealers as a way of showing they were worthy of community support, and did so by putting a gun at the back of the knee and firing forward. Apparently, the other side of TheTroubles used a power drill instead.

* In ''VideoGame/StarlinkBattleForAtlas'', this is how you defeat Outlaw Battle-Mechs; you shoot both of their knees to immobilize them, which also exposes the weak point on the back.

* In a March 2011 ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'' there's a distant flashback that shows Jin, before she became part of the Chimera, being shot through the back of the knee with an arrow. {{Squick}}.

-->Dank's father: Kicked you out! But...our family's been graduating from Filtch's for generations!
-->Dank: What are you going to do--kneecap the principal?
-->Dank's father: Maybe. Wouldn't be hard.

* In the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series, the player can kneecap the infected/infested/zombies/abominations to pull off kicks and tricks against the enemy although kneecapping is also arguably justified when fighting zombies. This is especially useful in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' where Leon ([[GoodBadBugs and Ashley, in certain ports]]) can [[WrestlerInAllOfUs suplex]] the Ganado after a kneecap shot or [[DoorFu door slam]].

* Gnomes in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', being, well... [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]], tends to set them at about kneecap height, one NPC even does threaten this when you fight her in northrend.
** A post one the roleplaying forums on 'rogue cant' (criminal jargon) suggested gnome rogues can be called "Kneecappers" for the above reason.

** Also, throughout the series aiming at a leg has always been a viable strategy. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', a ghoul with a crippled leg will have the limb fall off, rendering it unable to move or attack at all, the perfect stationery target, allowing players to kill ghouls many times their own level with ease.

* On the other hand, ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'' allows the Sniper to cut an enemy's speed in half with a leg hit, and the effect is permanent until healed by a medic. Most thigh-area shots seem to hit [[GroinAttack the pelvic region]] instead due to HitboxDissonance, so the safest way to cripple an enemy player is a rifle bullet in the knee. This especially infuriates and hamstrings medics and heavy weapons guys.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'': [[spoiler: Happened to both Sokolov's kneecap by Colonel Volgin's handgun.]]
* ''Videogame/MechWarrior'' has a long and rich history of Kneecapping. Depending on which game you're playing, it can either turn enemy [[HumongousMecha BattleMechs]] into limping wrecks (Such as ''[=MechWarrior=] 4'' and its subgames) or [[CriticalExistenceFailure straight out destroy the enemy]] (Such as ''[=MechWarrior=] 3'' and it's expansion). In ''Mechwarrior Living Legends'', kneecapping an enemy mech (or yourself) will cause the mech to [[RagdollPhysics ragdoll]], but leave the pilot completely in control of the torso, weapons, and jumpjets; which can lead to players being killed by a crippled mech propped up against a building, or by a kneecapped mech flailing wildly end-over-end through the sky with its jumpjets on full blast. Kneecapped mechs are irreparable once they've gone ragdoll, though crippled legs (which greatly slow down the mech and prevent it from walking backwards) can be repaired.

* In ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Conviction'', Sam does this to both knees of [[spoiler:[[CorruptPolitician Vice President Samson]]]] when he says he is diplomatically bulletproof.
* Kneecapping is pretty much Raul Menendez's favourite tactic in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII''; he cripples Woods for life by blasting him in both knees with a combat shotgun, and in an infinitely more sadistic instance, does the same to [[spoiler:Hudson]] even though the latter is already restrained, unable to escape, and has just volunteered to die in order to [[HeroicSacrifice save his comrades.]] The [[AllThereInTheManual supplemental story]] "Rightful King" explains that he first learned to do this ''as a child'', while helping his dad sell drugs for easy money in an earthquake-ravaged 1970's Nicaragua.

* Shooting Police Officers on their knees in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' forces them out of the battle, and gives less negative Karma points than killing them. Unfortunately, this doesn't work on any other NPC in the game, meaning that shooting an escaping criminal on their leg usually makes them flinch/kills them.
* Happens in a cutscene in ''Videogame/LANoire''. Jack Kelso greets [[spoiler: [[BigBad Leland Monroe]]]] by [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim kneecapping him immediately]]. This solidifies his status as the CowboyCop [[RedOniBlueOni compared to]] Cole Phelp's ByTheBookCop, only enforced further by the subsequent one-liner.

* In ''[[ComicBook/MarvelStarWars2015 Skywalker Strikes]]'', Sana is confronted by some Rodian thugs who try to rob her while also looking for Han Solo. When they pull out blasters on her, she simply says "knees"... to the voice-activated [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter Scattergun]] turret sitting by her feet.

* Used twice in ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'': one is two goons threatening to "persuade" a guy with a wiffle bat (captioned "Ineffective tools of persuasion"), while another has goons waiting outside a guy's window, one doubting they're up to the task, as the guy has "kneecaps from hell" (they're each about the size of his head).

* In the first episode of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Revy reveals herself to be a fan of the act, and suggests performing it on Rock just for the hell of it.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Rob took out Mister Mayhem by kicking his knee the wrong way during a melee in Bludhaven where Robin, Ragman and ComicBook/BlueDevil were fighting thirty villains lead by Tapeworm. This had the added benefit of having the gadget Mayhem was about to throw in Rob's face hitting one of Tapeworm's crew instead.

** And in chapter 30, Syrus was going to pull this on [[spoiler: Stevie]], a thirteen year old boy, with a MAC-10 machine pistol, out of sheer spite.

* In the beginning of ''Film/{{Inception}}'', [[FemmeFatale Mal]] is threatening Arthur with a gun in order to get Cobb to talk. Cobb points out killing him won't actually work in a dream. "But pain...? Pain is in the mind," Mal says sweetly, and shoots Arthur in the knee. Luckily for him, Cobb kills him, instantly waking him up.

** Harry does this again to a minor league threat, Binder in ''Literature/TurnCoat''. He was trying to hit him center of mass but was feeling the effects of being close to a grenade exploding, so his aim was understandably off.

* In ''Literature/{{Twig}}'', Mary is shot through the back of the knee by [[spoiler:Sylvester]], in order to stop her from pursuing. With the advanced medical skill of Radham Academy she's back on her feet pretty quickly, but it provides a few months head start.
* In an early example, ''{{Literature/Winnetou}}'' I has an example of this, when Old Shatterhand is forced into a rifle shootout with Indian chief Tangua. After Old Shatterhand announced to aim for his right knee - and after his own shot went wide - Tangua turned sideways in order to offer a smaller target. Of course, Old Shatterhand aimed for the right knee, hit it - and the left knee, as it was in a line with it.
* ''Literature/TheExecutioner''. In "Jersey Guns", Mack Bolan does this for a MutilationInterrogation while hunting a TortureTechnician that has recently tortured a friend to death. Far than being a non-lethal option it's presented as OOCIsSeriousBusiness and Bolan follows it up with a MercyKill. On finding the torturer in a later novel, Bolan kneecaps him as a KickTheSonOfABitch, but again quickly inflicts the CoupDeGrace.

* In ''Series/TimeTrax'', after Darien manages to beat a 22nd century boxer (thanks to being trained by the boxer's father), the boxer is taken to the locker room and is nearly kneecapped by the mob for losing. Luckily, Darien and the boxer's father show up just in time. He ends up sending them both back to the future.

** Also, throughout the series aiming at a leg has always been a viable strategy. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', a ghoul with a crippled leg will have the limb fall off, rendering it unable to move or attack at all, the perfect stationary target, allowing players to kill ghouls many times their own level with ease.

* Can be done in ''[[VideoGame/{{Postal}} Postal 2]]'', most reliably with the SniperRifle. Unlike taking AnArmAndALeg with the machete or hedge clippers, this isn't much more reliable than going for center mass. It's mostly just for the VideoGameCrueltyPotential of leaving {{NPC}}s crawling around. Strangely, some enemies will pull out a pistol while falling, but they're never use it.

* In the arcade ShootEmUp ''Last Resort'', this is what you have to do to the third boss (a HumongousMecha). [[http://www.shmups.com/reviews/lastresort/images/6.gif Shooting his kneecap]] when it opens up will eventually cause his legs to be destroyed and his top half to fall down, allowing you to face off against his actual weakspot in his head.

* ''Webcomic/TheBeastLegion'' : In issue 4, [[http://www.thebeastlegion.com/issue-04-page-44gorgoraths-final-wish/ Dragos intentionally breaks Xeus' knee after defeating him so that he cannot escape]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' episode "Parents' Day", a jousting match takes place between Arnold's grandfather Phil and Helga's father Bob. Helga, conspiring to make Arnold's family win after her dad [[AdoptionDiss calls Arnold an orphan]], secretly tells Phil to go for her dad's knees due to how stressed they are. Phil proceeds to swipe at Bob's knees, with Bob dodging the first time only to get sweeped into the gelatin below the second time, rendering Phil the winner.

* Knee-capping was often used as a punishment by the IRA and other Northern Irish paramilitary groups. There were four versions of it: A) [[ThisIsADrill a drill]] B) putting a gun at the back of the knee and firing C) a sledgehammer, and D) [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill cinder blocks]], originating with Protestant terrorists and gleefully adopted by their Republican counterparts. Many patients from the UK and Ireland will travel to have every day hip or knee replacement surgeries in Northern Ireland because the surgeons there... well, let's just say they've had plenty of practice.

* When playing baseball, base runners will often slide, feet first, into 2nd or 3rd base in an attempt to avoid being tagged out or to break up a potential double play by clobbering the infielder covering the base. This is legal to do because the rules state that base runners have the right-of-way. Because infielders know what's coming and have a sense of self-preservation, they are very good at getting out of the way and the collisions that do occur usually don't result in anyone getting hurt. It is, however, considered very bad form (and will almost always lead to a bench-clearing brawl) when a runner intentionally aims for an infielder's knees by sliding with their cleats up. Ty Cobb was notorious for doing that.

* Some self defense classes advocate stomping or kicking the knee from the side. If done correctly, the target will have their weight resting on that leg and the joint is stiffer. Because knees were not meant to bend that way and the weight keeps the knee from just bowing out of the way, this can buckle the joint and effectively ruin their chances of standing any time soon.
* Over the [[http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20150118_use_of_live_ammunition_in_wb last few years]], the Israeli Defense Force has semi-officially adopted kneecapping stone-throwers and rioters as a preferred method of crowd control, rather than outright killing them. Mindful of the negative PR a street full of dead teenagers could produce, many of their marksmen have switched to the .22LR caliber, since it's small enough to avoid guaranteed death if it hits the torso, but will certainly shatter a kneecap. And these marksmen are ''very'' good shots.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
** Darla threatens to do this to Buffy in the episode "Angel":

** The demon Balthazaar also orders it done to Wesley in the episode "Bad Girls", but Wesley wiggles his way out of it.
** Possibly slightly ironic, Wesley does it to a guy at Wolfram and Hart in season 5 of Angel, when he finds the guy isn't working to save Fred.

* Kneecapping is pretty much Raul Menendez's favourite tactic in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII''; he cripples Woods for life by blasting him in both knees with a combat shotgun, and in an infinitely more sadistic instance, does the same to [[spoiler:Hudson]] even though the latter is already restrained, unable to escape, and has just volunteered to die in order to save his comrades. The [[AllThereInTheManual supplemental story]] "Rightful King" explains that he first learned to do this ''as a child'', while helping his dad sell drugs for easy money in an earthquake-ravaged 1970's Nicaragua.

* Over the [[http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20150118_use_of_live_ammunition_in_wb last few years]], the Israeli Defense Force has semi-officially adopted kneecapping stone-throwers and rioters as a preferred method of crowd control, rather than outright killing them. Mindful of the negative PR a street full of dead teenagers could produce, many of their marksman have switched to the .22LR caliber, since it's small enough to avoid guaranteed death if it hits the torso, but will certainly shatter a kneecap. And these marksmen are ''very'' good shots.

** In ''Literature/{{Jingo}}, [[CowboyCop 71-Hour Ahmed]] says he will shoot the next man who moves (though with [[FantasyGunControl a crossbow]] it isn't going to do as much damage), and when one does, the shot is to his knee.

* In ''Discworld/FeetOfClay'', Angua explains that dwarves are so prone to "running at people and trying to bite their knees off" that [[PoliceCodeForEverything the Watch have a code for it.]] Knees are in fact frequently mentioned as a favorite target of dwarves who've gotten into a fight with a larger being, at least when they're not [[GroinAttack aiming a little higher]].

->Dank's father: Kicked you out! But...our family's been graduating from Filtch's for generations!
->Dank: What are you going to do--kneecap the principal?
->Dank's father: Maybe. Wouldn't be hard.

* One of [[ThePunisher Frank Castle's]] preferred methods of interrogation, since he's almost always carrying some kind of pistol, it's quick, and it's hideously painful. Although often he'll just shoot a victim's ''legs'' full of holes until they tell him what he wants to know, not just the knees.

* ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' ends with Bond locating and knee-capping TheManBehindTheMan.

* In the ''Film/JamesBond'' film, the new Agent 007, Nomi, tells Bond she will shoot him in the knee if he gets in her way. She also adds "the one that works".

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