History Main / LegFocus

This trope deals with cases where a female character's legs are given special attention, either by the camera or by characters in-universe. This is notably recurrent in G-rated fiction, where the MaleGaze is directed to the legs rather than the even more sexualized breasts and buttocks. Gender-inverted versions are rare, and tend to be PlayedForLaughs when they do occur.

Closely related to {{Fanservice}}. ShowSomeLeg is not necessarily related, but certainly can be.

* ''ComicStrip/TheAdventuresOfPrudencePrim'': Protagonist Prudence dresses in modern, stylish clothes for the 1920's, which means knee-length hems with stockings on display. There are two notable instances where her legs and stockings are in the spotlight:

** A February 1926 strip mentions Prudence taking part in one of the stranger makeup trends of the 1920's: [[https://www.makeupmuseum.org/home/2020/08/knee-makeup-history.html painted knees]].

* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': Asuka's legs are often Shinji's focus. In chapter 25, while they are having a serious -and, for once, civil- talk, Shinji has to force himself to not spend the whole time ogling to her legs:

* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': When Shinji saw Asuka's ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' costume for first time he noticed it showed off her gorgeous, muscled, long legs:

* In ''Fanfic/TokimekiPokeLiveAndTwinbee'', Hilda White and Risa Selden both have athletic looking legs just like their Canon counterparts. Justified in Risa's case due to having been a runner before.

* ''Franchise/TheIncredibles'': Elastigirl, Violet, Mirage and Voyd all have legs that are long and/or shapely.

** She has been often accused of making herself a career as a MsFanservice using her famous legs. Almost all of her movies feature a long close-up on them in her many dance sequences. Even the posters for her movies [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2184631296/tt0045537?ref_=tt_ov_i feature mainly her legs]]. No surprise, then, that she insured her gams for $5,000,000 USD.

* This is parodied in ''[[Film/TheNakedGun The Naked Gun 33 1/3]]'' which has the up the legs shot [[OverlyLongGag repeat]] itself several times, to the point that it shows ''TWO'' pairs of knees.
* ''Film/PrettyWoman'': Very clearly pointed out by Creator/JuliaRoberts' character. Important enough that they got a body double for the legs in the film's poster. Her thigh high boots add some extra appeal

** There was actually a blooper show in the 1970's or early 1980's in which the first segment was replacing Elvira's wax statue at a museum with Elvira herself. A young boy (couldn't have been 10) walks up to the statue, says "Hello, hot stuff!" or something familiar, and feels Elvira's legs up.

* The ''Film/ResidentEvilFilmSeries''; In [[Film/ResidentEvil2002 the first film]], the camera is down low on Alice's body to view her legs. In [[Film/ResidentEvilApocalypse the second film]], in Jill Valentine's introduction, we get a very nice close up on her legs. In [[Film/ResidentEvilRetribution the fifth film]], we have Ada. Leon couldn't even resist putting his hand on her leg.
* [[Creator/RosieHuntingtonWhiteley Carly]] in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. The camera spends an inordinate amount of time [[Main/MaleGaze focused on her legs]] as she walks up stairs, gets out of cars, and often just stands there while the action happens around her, all in the shortest possible skirts and highest possible heels.

* Happens a lot in ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' (1997) thanks to the title character's habit of [[RebelRelaxation propping her feet up on tables and car dashboards]]. Fifteen-year-old Creator/DominiqueSwain has great legs, but given the subject matter the MaleGaze aspects are [[YouBastard rather disturbing]].

* Sil from ''Film/{{Species}}'' thanks to her super model-like human form. A bouncer at a night club even referred to her as "Legs" when she entered the club.
* [[Creator/DarylHannah Madison]] from ''Film/{{Splash}}'' when she enters New York. The first thing she wore was was just a t-shirt, makes her legs show more. The fact that she's played by Daryl Hannah means that on land she qualifies for this trope in both senses.

* FemmeFatale Barbara Matthews in ''Film/DriveACrookedRoad'' is a very attractive package overall, but the film pays especial attention to her legs. She wears outfits designed to showcase her legs, and one scene has her stepping out of the shower to answer the phone where she is shown only from the thighs down.

* ''Film/Infamous2020'': Arielle seems to have an aversion to covering her legs and spends most the movie in extremely abbreviated denim cut-offs. During the final BlastOut, she draws a pistol she has [[PantsPositiveSafety tucked down the back of her shorts]].

** Beth often wears very short dresses, skirts and shorts which show off her long tan legs.

* In ''Literature/AlasBabylon'', a brief flashback shows Randy meeting LoveInterest Libby. He pulled his boat up to her parents dock where she was out getting some sun. All he could see was her legs (which she considers her only asset).

* It's not mentioned prominently or often, but Ellie Sattler in ''Literature/JurassicPark'' is noted to have a nice pair of legs. In fact it's the ''first'' thing Tim Murphy [[MaleGaze notices]] when he meets her. Malcolm outright tells her: "I could look at your legs all day."

** And what about "You've got the Love"? She clearly shows she's got the legs too.

* Park Bom, of the Korean girl band Music/TwoNEOne, uses this trope as her primary fanservice, as she wears rather tight, and extremely short mini-dresses in nearly all of the band's music videos, as well as live performances. (Many fangirls and fanboys are simply waiting for the day that particular wardrobe malfunction rears it's head.)

* British singer Eliza Doolittle is well known for using this trope as FanService. She's rarely seen in her concerts, music videos and even in public without a miniskirt or hotpants.

** After reaching maturity by Phase 3, Noodle usually wears short skirts, hot pants or stockings that emphasize her legs

* The protagonist of "Space Sister" in ''VideoGame/SuperPinballIITheAmazingOdyssey'' often show off her long, bare legs in the display animations.

** WhatCouldHaveBeen: "With Legs Like That" was originally intended for Stacy, but since she had left the company by then the theme was instead given to Maria. Stacy's legs were a favorite thing for the ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' judges to praise, since it obviously gave her an advantage in dancing. Well, that and all the years of jazz, tap and ballet training she had, which was arguably how she got those legs to begin with.

* Wrestling/AllysinKay is 5'10" or 6' depending on the source, wears [[StockingFiller fencenets]], and received this exact response to [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BYBIF6cgb5r/ this picture]] from her Instagram. In the ring Kay's most dangerous tools are her hands and forearms, but [[FinishingMove until we get there]] expect a lot of step over holds, big boots and gogoplatas.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Carol has to wear a skirt when working as news reporter seemingly to invoke this trope [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2009-01-22 in order to boost ratings]]. Catalina, who is a lesbian, remarks that it works.

* Even though [[http://www.wikifeet.com Wikifeet]] is a [[PeripheryDemographic foot fetish website]], it contains a lot leg shots of female celebrities.

* Hyouta Ashikaga of the ''LightNovel/PrettyBoyDetectiveClub'' is a track and field runner, well aware that his most attractive feature is his shapely legs. His school uniform is modified so that he wears short shorts, he cannot seem to stop posing with his legs, and [[PunnyName even his last name]] carries the kanji for "leg".

* ''Film/RoomInRome'': Natasha is a tall, gorgeous woman who's long legs get lots of attention, with several camera shots that linger on them, particularly when she wears only a silk dressing gown. Alba also likes this, staring at them and even dubbing Natasha "long legs" teasingly.

* Music/{{Zebrahead}}'s "With Legs Like That":

* ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet'': Naomi primarily teases Jordan with her legs in the infamous {{Fanservice}} scene in the nursery.

* ''Film/HigherLearning'': The camera slowly pans over Deja's long athletic legs while in [[WorkoutFanservice her running gear]], then while she and Malik have sex too.

* ''Film/MarsAttacks'': The [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116996/mediaviewer/rm1853975040/ first shot]] we see of Natalie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is her in a very short skirt and platform heels, casually leaning back in a chair with her leg on the table in the center of the shot.

Often takes the form of a FeetFirstIntroduction that slowly pans up the legs in question. May also be seen in conjunction with a SexyWalk. ZettaiRyouiki, ShowgirlSkirt, short skirt, {{Underwear|OfPower}}[=/=]{{Leotard|OfPower}}s[=/=][[MinidressOfPower Minidresses of Power]], UsefulNotes/{{Qipao}}, and FootsieUnderTheTable are also good ways to show off these features. A KickChick will almost always have these, as will most female {{Dance Battler}}s. The StatuesqueStunner will also have these, more often than not. Common in {{Bathtub Scene}}s; FootPopping is used to show these off as well. If the AmazonianBeauty has them, expect either the narration, other characters, or the character design to emphasize her legs' muscularity as attractive, often with special attention to the thighs.

There are many things about a woman that can catch [[MaleGaze the camera's eye]]. Some shows may focus on her [[BuxomIsBetter ample chest]]; others, her curvy behind; and others still like to take a really [[{{Pun}} long]] look at how lovely her legs are.

This trope deals with cases where a female character's legs are given special attention, either by the camera or by characters in-universe. This is notably recurrent in G-rated fiction, where the MaleGaze is directed to the legs rather than the even more sexualized [[BuxomIsBetter breasts]] and buttocks. Gender-inverted versions are rare, and tend to be PlayedForLaughs when they do occur.

* ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters'': Kurugaya's first CG - a low-angled shot from the front of her sitting down with her legs crossed - seems practically designed to show off her ZettaiRyouiki, [[{{Fanservice}} and it probably was]]. However, most of the time the focus is placed [[BuxomIsBetter elsewhere]].

* Music/{{Rihanna}} tends to wear outfits that show off her long toned yet shapely legs.

* ''Film/ItHappenedOneNight'' (1934) might be the codifier for this trope, as it lets Creator/ClaudetteColbert [[ShowSomeLeg flash her leg]] at a passing car as an alternative to sticking out her thumb. It works.

* ''Film/DickTracy:'' Breathless's backup singers perform or rehearse various dance numbers in short skirts and shorts (Breathless herself tends to wear long gowns, save for when she's trying to seduce Tracy) with there being occasional closeups of their legs.

** She has been often accused of making herself a career as a MsFanservice using her famous legs. Almost all of her movies feature a long close-up on them in her many dance sequences. Even the posters for her movies [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2184631296/tt0045537?ref_=tt_ov_i feature mainly her legs]]. No surprise, then, that she insured her gams for $1,000,000 US.

* ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet'': Naomi as she teases Jordan.

* Film/MaryPoppins shows a lot of leg in [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3195981824/tt0058331?ref_=ttmi_mi_typ_pos_1 the original poster]]. Doubles as a case of CoversAlwaysLie, as she never shows off her legs in the actual movie, except to a small degree in the "Step in Time" routine.

* ''Film/{{Infamous}}'': Arielle seems to have an aversion to covering her legs and spends most the movie in extremely abbreviated denim cut-offs. During the final BlastOut, she draws a pistol she has [[PantsPositiveSafety tucked down the back of her shorts]].

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16642101290.49124100 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue: Family Shatters'': In West's dream in "Hard Boiled", Tiny, playing the damsel client, gets a FeetFirstIntroduction with the camera panning up her legs, playing off the "legs up to here" cliché while comically emphasizing her height.

Often takes the form of a FeetFirstIntroduction that slowly pans up the legs in question. May also be seen in conjunction with a SexyWalk. ZettaiRyouiki, ShowgirlSkirt, short skirt, {{Underwear|OfPower}}[=/=]{{Leotard|OfPower}}s[=/=][[MinidressOfPower Minidresses of Power]], UsefulNotes/{{Qipao}}, and FootsieUnderTheTable are also good ways to show off these features. A KickChick will almost always have these, as will most female {{Dance Battler}}s. The StatuesqueStunner will also have these, more often than not. FootPopping is used to show these off as well. If the AmazonianBeauty has them, expect either the narration, other characters, or the character design to emphasize her legs' muscularity as attractive, often with special attention to the thighs.

Often takes the form of a FeetFirstIntroduction that slowly pans up the legs in question. May also be seen in conjunction with a SexyWalk. ZettaiRyouiki, ShowgirlSkirt, short skirt, {{Underwear|OfPower}}[=/=]{{Leotard|OfPower}}s[=/=][[MinidressOfPower Minidresses of Power]], UsefulNotes/{{Qipao}}, and FootsieUnderTheTable are also good ways to show off these features. A KickChick will almost always have these, as will most female {{Dance Battler}}s. The StatuesqueStunner will also have these, more often than not. BathKick and FootPopping are used to show these off as well. If the AmazonianBeauty has them, expect either the narration, other characters, or the character design to emphasize her legs' muscularity as attractive, often with special attention to the thighs.

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue: Family Shatters'': In West's dream in "Hard Boiled", Tiny, playing a FemmeFatale, gets a FeetFirstIntroduction with the camera panning up her legs, playing off the expected fanservice tropes for the archetype while comically emphasizing her height.

* In Louis Sachar's ''Dogs Don't Tell Jokes'', Gary Boone has an attractive teacher named Miss Langley whom he secretly calls "Miss Longlegs". (He accidentally uses the nickname [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud out loud]] during his comedy routine at the climax of the book, but the audience and Miss Langley take it as a joke.)

* ''Film/BlazingSaddles'': Lili von Shtupp is quite leggy, as pointed out by Hedley. [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071230/mediaviewer/rm1943908097/ One shot]] has her kicking up her feet onto her dresser in a way that draws attention to her legs.

* Creator/MarleneDietrich, whom Lili von Shtupp parodied in ''Blazing Saddles'', shows her gams in almost ever movie of hers. ''Film/WitnessForTheProsecution'' had a special scene written just so Dietrich could show off her accordion. And her legs, of course.