History Main / KnifeThrowingAct

* A sword variation in ''Film/{{Goyokin}}''. The {{ronin}} Magobei earns a living demonstrating his sword skills at carnivals. A fish is placed across the thighs (perilously close to the crotch) of a woman who plays a stringed instrument during his act, the the ronin slices it in half.

* A variation in ''Film/TheMasterGunfighter''. The title character earns a living as a carnival shooter, showing his proficiency with GunAndSword. As a demonstration of the latter, a fish is placed across the thighs of the senorita who plays the guitar during his act, and he slices it in half while blindfolded.

* In the anime of ''Manga/{{Golgo 13}}'', a hitman posing as a circus performer demonstrates his skill with hisweapon of choice by throwing a knife into the bulls-eye of a dartboard, just past his girlfriend's head. She shows her own badass credentials by [[NervesOfSteel not flinching]]. After playing the trope straight on stage, he then uses his skills against Togo, who unfortunately is an unflinching badass himself.

* The Russian knife throwing twins from ''Film/{{Octopussy}}''.

* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': In "Death in Disguise", Barnaby is puzzled by how the VictimOfTheWeek was stabbed while all of the suspects were on the other side of the room. After a EurekaMoment while watching a game of darts, he realises the victim was killed with a thrown knife, and then learns that one suspect had been a knife-thrower in a circus.

* In a ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' arc where Two-Face takes over a circus, Deadeye Dagger, the circus knife-thrower, was one of his more willing henchmen.

* Knife throwing was one of the skills mastered by the Gambler, a [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] foe of the ''Franchise/GreenLantern'', during his time at the carnival.
* {{ComicBook/Hawkeye}} developed his skills as part of a knife throwing act with the Swordsman
* In "Sawdust and Slow Death" in ''ComicBook/JonahHex'' #15 (original series), Jonah joins a circus and becomes the unwilling target of an armless knife-thrower (possibly inspired by ''Film/TheUnknown''; see ''{{Film}}'' examples below).
* Blade Benson was the knife thrower in the [[CircusOfFear Circus of Crime]] who fought Kid Colt in ''ComicBook/KidColt'' #106.

* Gitano is the knife thrower for the ''Cirque du Romani'' in ''ComicBook/LadyMechanika''.
* The Great and Powerful Trixie does this ''while blindfolded'' in issue #21 of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'', with the aid of one of her assistants.
* In ''[[ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian Savage Sword of Conan]]'' #119, Conan (in a scene that is undoubtedly a ShoutOut to the movie ''Film/TheVikings'') is forced to play a game where his sister's head is stuck through the middle of a hollow target and he must throw axes to sever her braids while blindfolded. Luckily, he manages not to slay his own sister; and since he ran out of sisterly braids while still having an axe left, he indulges in a manly jest and throws the weapon at Magloclun, cutting the clan leader's own braid.
* In ''ComicBook/SecretAvengers'' #29, John Steele is subjected to one after being captured by the Circus of Crime.
* General Alcazar in ''Recap/TintinTheSevenCrystalBalls'' has a Knife Throwing Act. After creating a full KnifeOutline around his Indian target, he asks an audience member to blindfold him. His blind throw hits right in the center of the target held over the Indian's chest.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'': In ''ComicBook/SensationComics'' Mimi Mendez's puts on impromptu knife throwing acts for her henchmen when she has prisoners she's angry at. After sinking knives in the walls all around them she'll throw the last few to kill.

* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'':
** The Gladys Knight episode had a knife-throwing act with Fozzie as the unwitting target. Unfortunately, the theater roof was away at the repair shop, letting in a thick fog and the knife thrower, who aimed with his hearing, was randomly throwing knifes at the slightest sounds while everyone was ducking quietly for their lives.
** TheTeaser for the Creator/PeterSellers episode has Scooter entering Mr. Sellers' dressing room to tell him its "fifteen seconds til' curtain" and catching Gonzo doing a knife-throwing routine with their guest. Sellers, in character as [[Franchise/ThePinkPanther Inspector Clouseau]], mutters "Fifteen seconds? I should live so long!" and ducks before receiving a knife to the head.

* ''Series/GetSmart''. Max is going undercover in a circus when his identity is blown. The circus strongman seizes him while the knife-thrower chucks his knives, but as he's trained himself to just miss the target they miss Max and stick in the arms of the strongman holding him. Max naturally responds with his CatchPhrase, "Missed me by that much!"

* ''Film/Berserk1967'' (1967), in which Judy Geeson played a target girl in a circus knife act.