History Main / NeckLift

* Not bare-handed, but a catchpole-assisted Neck Lift is one way for animal-control workers to restrain aggressive cats without being clawed to ribbons. Not recommended for more than a few seconds, due to the risk of strangulation or neck injury, but often unavoidable if the cat must be retrieved from a confined and/or precarious space that humans can't enter.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':

** In "Literature/WinterfairGifts", set several years later, Taura notes that she does this on bodyguard duty when looming[[note]]She ''is'' an eight foot tall SuperSoldier...[[/note]] and [[TechnicallyASmile smiling]][[note]]... with fangs[[/note]] fail to make people back down.
** [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] for [[PlayedForLaughs comedy]] in ''Literature/ACivilCampaign'', when Lord Vorkosigan confronts [[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Borgos]] about an [[ItMakesSenseInContext experimental bioengineering spill in his family home]]. He reaches up to seize the taller man's collar, gives a half twist, does an [=ImpSec=] trick with his knuckles to constrict the relevant airway, and drags his head ''down'' to his level for the sake of properly giving him a piece of his mind.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': In ''[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS1E6TelephoniesToughLove Telephonies]]'', whilst Mojo Jojo Fuzzy Lumpkins and [=HIM=] are [[CurbStompBattle beating up the Gangreen Gang for prank-calling the Girls into attacking them]], [=HIM=] grabs Ace's throat with his claw and slams him into the ground repeatedly.

* Metallix does this to Yoshi in the rebooted version of the 2nd episode of [[WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ Super Mario Bros. Z]].

* Metallix does this to Yoshi in the rebooted version of the 2nd episode of [[WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ]].

* In the 8th episode of ''Manga/ZeroSevenGhost'' Ayanami (in Mikage's body) does this to Teito.

* In a rare heroic example, Kato does this to two RedShirts (at the same time!) in ''Manga/{{Gantz}}'' to show off the power of the Gantz suit and convince them to wear theirs, thus increasing their chances of survival ([[KillEmAll not that it helps]]). This may count as more of a variant in that he grabs them by their shirt collars rather than by their necks proper.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameDisney'': Quasimodo does this to Captain Phoebus by his collar. After calming down a bit, [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength he looks vaguely surprised to see that he'd done this]], and is kind enough to let the captain back down on the ground. It bears mentioning that: A). Quasi only uses one hand to do this, and B). Phoebus is [[UpToEleven wearing a suit of armor at the time]].

** Also in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' it is utilized by countless characters. Rugal, Goenitz, Magaki, both Zeros and Saiki to name a few. Taken UpToEleven by Ryuji Yamazaki, as seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih3snN4QBmc here]](from the 2.25 mark).

** In ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear Xrd'', Raven's [[OneHitKill Instant Kill]] is an UpToEleven version of this. As he lifts up his opponent, his eye sockets turn a terrifying, glowing red and the flames proceed to swirl up into a twister and '''incinerate him and the opponent alive'''.

This trope also usually ignores the fact that in real life, a neck lift victim would need an abnormally robust neck in order to be slowly throttled without taking more immediate and catastrophic damage first. A hand strong enough to keep a secure grip on the neck while lifting the entire body would probably also crush the delicate larynx and trachea in the process, and a violent jerking motion could damage the neck vertebrae or spinal cord. Some media gets around this by having the lifter grab the victim by the collar of their shirt, essentially using the shirt as a harness to hoist the victim into the air to achieve a similar effect without risking injury... though in that case the victim could possibly escape by raising their arms and slipping out of the shirt. A lapel grip also potentially enables the victim to bite the lifter's hand to make them let go, assuming that their mouth isn't covered by their shirt hiking up on them.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** In ''ComicBook/BatmanHush'', Batman grabs ComicBook/{{Robin}}'s collar and lifts him one handed to stop him from continuing to antagonize ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}. It's the first sign the fight is staged since Tim's collar and cape are detachable and Tim grabs Bruce's wrist instead of going for the release.

* During ''ComicBook/MsMarvel'' #44, the over-sexualised Carol Denvers lookalike ''Moonstone'' [[https://ibb.co/0rVpGj5 effortlessly hoists an innocent bystander by the throat, until they are above her head, as if she is lifting a piece of paper.]]

** In the beginning of [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 2010]] storyline ''ComicBook/DayOfTheDollmaker'', [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0ELZ9b065w8/TOL0JnqNpWI/AAAAAAAABbk/OyOnrRfJ0Ts/s400/Supergirl-58-06.jpg she does this to Toyman]] during an interrogation when she thinks he's lying. Her GlowingEyesOfDoom stress that she's serious and mad.
** In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Supergirl vol. 6]] #13'', Kara grabs Simon Tycho's neck when he breaks into her underwater secret base.
** In the beginning of the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' story arc (''Supergirl vol. 6 #28'') [[http://vokun.comli.com/comics/Supergirl/28/halaman/Supergirl-028-(2014)-(Digital)-(Nahga-Empire)-004.jpg Kara grabs Lobo's neck]] and slams him into the nearest wall before punching him through it.
** In the cover of ''ComicBook/RedLanterns #31'', Sheko does this to both Supergirl and Bleez.
** In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueUnited #3'', Lobo suckerpunched her. [[http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11115/111157701/3972159-justice+league+united+%233+-+page+9.jpg She grabbed his neck and lifted him off the ground]] before punching him across a valley.

** In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'', Kara does this to ''ComicBook/LexLuthor''. Several times.
** ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'' provides plenty examples:
*** Franchise/WonderWoman neck-lifts Kara when she abducts her.

%%** In ''ComicBook/SuperboyNew52'', [[spoiler: Fairchild surprises Superboy with on of these when she [[TheReveal Reveals]] her powers for the first time.]]
* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' #86 involves a moment where the skinny, sexualised Miss Martian can be seen [[https://ibb.co/gJ84sgY effortlessly lifting a tall professor in this way like he is nothing]]
* In ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', this is [[spoiler: Muller]]'s favorite attack thanks to his metal claws.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** On the cover of ''ComicBook/{{Wonder Woman|1987}}'' Vol 2 #198 Diana is depicted menacingly holding up a doctor by the throat with one hand.

* ''Franchise/XMen'':
** Shortly after being introduced as leader of the Mutant Liberation Front in ComicBook/NewMutants #87, Stryfe does it to MLF member Wildside as punishment for incompetence, as seen [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/14.jpg here]].
** In the ''Songs of the Orphan Child'' arc of ComicBook/{{X 23}}'s solo series, [[spoiler:Mr. Sinister]] does this to Laura after she neatly dodges one of his energy blasts and plants ''all'' of her claws in his chest. It even ends in a NeckSnap, though thanks to her HealingFactor Laura gets better.
** In ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', Doom gives one to Phoenix-possessed ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} and breaks his neck with ease.
* ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'': Wedge Antilles does a version of this to Sate Pestage, grabbing him with both hands by the front of his robes and slamming him against a wall. Pestage has referred to a nonhuman Rogue as "animal filth". [[BewareTheNiceOnes Wedge snapped.]]
-->'''Wedge:''' [[PersonAsVerb Don't make me go Vader on you.]] Ibitsam was a pilot and a friend and [[HeroicSacrifice she died to save your sorry hide]].
* [[https://ibb.co/6ZHh1nk Here]] Zatanna demonstrates this lift on a large man, with an added [[https://ibb.co/Yp7bWnK throw]] afterwards.
* ''ComicBook/ZodiacStarforce'': At the climax of issue 4 of Cries of the Fire Prince, Pavos grabs Molly by the throat and hoists her - and Emma, who she was preventing from falling to her doom at the time - aloft with one hand. He then starts sucking her lifeforce out.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}''. When the guards break into Aladdin's hideout and capture him, one of the guards does this to Aladdin.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': Quasimodo does this to Captain Phoebus by his collar. After calming down a bit, [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength he looks vaguely surprised to see that he'd done this]], and is kind enough to let the captain back down on the ground. It bears mentioning that: A). Quasi only uses one hand to do this, and B). Phoebus is [[UpToEleven wearing a suit of armor at the time]].

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossThe8thDimension''. Justified in both cases because they're Red Lectroids, not humans.

* ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. Ripley does this to the alien queen during their fight using the mechanical arm of the cargo loader she's strapped into.
* In the horror movie ''Film/{{Alone in the Dark|1982}}'', a huge guy holds up a teenaged girl by the neck with one arm. This was completely real with no wires or special effects used.
* ''Film/AustinPowers, International Man of Mystery''. When Random Task attacks Austin Powers near the end, he grabs him by the neck, lifts him up and presses him against a wall.
* ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina''. Thunder does this to Wang Chi when Wang and Jack attack him.

* ''Film/BladeRunner2049''. When K (a.k.a. Joe) attacks Luv inside the sinking spinner (FlyingCar), he grabs her by the neck and lifts her up in the air.
* In ''Film/BulletProofMonk'', [[BigBad Strucker]] becomes young and superhumanly strong after [[spoiler:reading the Scroll]] and then holds [[Creator/SeannWilliamScott Kar]] by the neck off the roof. Kar proceeds to [[spoiler:punch him in the head and then catches himself by his ''toes'']].

* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. The demonic half-breed Balthazar does it to Constantine after he bursts into Balthazar's office.
* In a cut scene of ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', Kingpin does this to a guard implied to have squealed. This is a slightly more realistic example than normal, as the guard's back is against a wall, plus Creator/MichaelClarkeDuncan does actually look like he would have the weight and strength to do it.

* ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'':
** Early on, Ajax lifts a mouthy client off the ground, establishing his badass credibility.
** Angel Dust lifts Weasel by the neck and slams him against the liquor cabinet of his bar.
** In ''Film/Deadpool2'', Juggernaut lifts Deadpool by the neck while saying he's going to rip him in half. [[NotHyperbole And then he proceeds to do so.]]
* ''Film/{{Destroyer|1988}}'': After his execution, when getting his final send off from the priest, Ivan grabs said priest by the neck, lifts him off the ground, and then [[DestinationDefenestration throws him through the window into the witness room]].

* ''Film/{{Fright Night|1985}}'' (1985) and its remake ''Film/{{Fright Night|2011}}'' (2011):
** Done by the ancient and powerful vampire antagonist Jerry Dandrige on anyone who happens to inconvenience him.

* In ''Film/{{Ghost Town|1988}}'', Devlin does this to one of his henchmen who refuses to enter the church. For good measure, he then strangles him one-handed as an example to rest of the gang.

* ''Film/JudgeDredd''. The ABC robot does it to Judge Hershey. Rico threatens to have the robot break her neck and rip her arms and legs off, but eventually orders it to let her go.

* In ''[[Film/TheKiss1929 The Kiss]]'', a homicidally angry Charles does this to Pierre after catching Pierre kissing Charles's wife.

* ''Film/{{Legend|1985}}''. Done by Darkness to Jack, but by grabbing his ''face''.

-->'''Master:''' Blaster, [[CountingToThree in three seconds]], break neck. One...two...th--\\

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', Loki does this to Tony Stark [[DestinationDefenestration (and chucks him out a 50th story skyscraper window)]] in a fit of pique after [[NoSell Loki's attempt to mind-control him fails spectacularly]]. It doesn't help Tony that he immediately starts throwing jibes of the "[[TheLoinsSleepTonight performance issues]]" variety.

** ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld:''

** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''

--->'''Tony:''' C'mon, use your words, buddy!\\

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'':

*** Ronan picks up Drax by the neck and lifts him in their second confrontation. [[spoiler:But he's interrupted by Rocket crashing his fighter at them.]]
** ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'': Just after Killmonger [[spoiler:is empowered by the Heart-Shaped Herb, he orders the rest of the plants burned. When the caretaker protests that they're a Wakandan treasure that should be preserved for future kings, he brutally grabs her by the neck and tests his newfound SuperStrength by lifting her from the floor.]]

*** During the battle on Titan, [[spoiler:Thanos grabs Doctor Strange by the neck and holds him up as he tries to take the Time Stone from him.]]
*** During the climax, [[spoiler:Thanos effortlessly neck-lifts Vision, and uses his free hand to extract the Mind Stone.]]

* There's a really badly done version in ''Film/MenInBlackII'', where villainess Serleena grabs and lifts the pizza shop owner (actually an undercover alien guarding the Light of Zartha) by the ''chin''. Then again, the fact that he turns out to be a hollow skin animated by alien energy might explain that...

* A one-handed version of it appears in ''Film/ThePossessionOfMichaelKing'' courtesy of demonic strength.

* ''Film/{{Prometheus}}''. The Engineer does this to the android David just before [[NeckSnap breaking his neck]] and ripping his head off.

* ''Film/RoboCop2''. When Cain (in his [=RoboCop=] 2 robot body) meets Angie in the warehouse, he grabs her head and performs a NeckSnap, then lifts her off the ground and holds her in the air.

* In ''Film/RockyIV'' Ivan Drago does this to his own manager, after he insults the boxer, and presses the {{Berserk Button}} by doing so.
* ''Film/TheRunningMan''. During the faked scene where Captain Freedom fights Amber, he lifts her into the air by the neck (we see her feet dangling above the floor) before [[NeckSnap breaking her neck]].
* During the climax of ''Film/ScoobyDoo'', [[spoiler: the possessed Mary Jane does this to Shaggy and Scooby.]]

* ''Film/{{Scrooged}}''. While Frank Cross is being visited by the ghost of his old boss Lew Hayward, Lew grabs Frank by the throat, lifts him into the air and pushes him through a building window (without breaking it) and letting him fall.

** Green Goblin barges into Jameson's office and grabs him by the neck while still on his glider, lifting him from the ground, while asking who is Spider-Man's photographer.

** ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan''. Used to demonstrate Khan's SuperStrength in his introductory scene (given that the audience might not be familiar with what an Augment was), but given that the man lifted is wearing a bulky spacesuit, Khan has to grab a handle of the front of the spacesuit instead of the neck, which appears to be there for the sole purpose of giving him a handhold for this trope.

** Nero's [[TheDragon Dragon]] Ayel does this to Kirk in ''Film/StarTrek2009''. [[spoiler:Kirk]] uses this as an opportunity to take [[spoiler:Ayel's weapon]] and do him in. (Justified, as Vulcans and Romulans are much stronger than humans.)

--->'''Darth Vader:''' Where are those transmissions you intercepted? WHAT have you DONE with those plans?
** He also has a much more famous [[PsychicStrangle long-ranged Force-assisted version]] which appears to use [[FingerPokeOfDoom even less effort]] and is in-universe referred to in such diverse terms as Force Choke and Virtual Garrote. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader neck-lifts a rebel soldier several feet off the ground using only the Force.

* In the live-action ''Film/StreetFighter'' movie, Bison neck-lifts Dhalsim (but doesn't kill him, since he's still needed alive) after Dhalsim makes the mistake of openly questioning Bison's sanity (which happens to be Bison's BerserkButton).
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** ''Film/{{Superman|TheMovie}}'' (1978). While Superman and Lex Luthor are in Luthor's underground lair, Superman grabs Lex by his shirt front and lifts him into the air and off the lead-lined box he's sitting on.
** ''Film/SupermanII''. When the three Kryptonian supervillains break into Perry White's office, Non grabs White by his lapels, lifts him up and rams his head into the ceiling, knocking him out.
** In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', [[TheDragon Faora]] does this to Martha Kent, and later to Franchise/{{Superman}} himself during a fight, before slamming him into the floor.
* ''Film/TankGirl''. The title character does it to Jet Girl twice inside a tank after Jet Girl saves her life.

* ''Film/ThreeAmigos''. When Lucky Day swings down into the yard of El Guapo's fortress, El Guapo grabs him by the neck and lifts him into the air.
* Done by the BigBad in ''Film/TheTuxedo'' to Jimmy and Del, simultaneously. Justified, as he is wearing the titular suit (it's a [[spoiler:PoweredArmor]]).
* Happens a few times in the ''Film/{{Underworld|2003}}'' films. An awesome example in the first film, where Lucian's NumberTwo [[ScaryBlackMan Raze]] rushes the Vampire Elder Viktor in his [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Lycan]] form, only for Viktor to catch him in mid-air with his hand by the throat, hold him a little, and perform a NeckSnap followed by a finishing stab with a silver sword. This is the first we see how truly strong Viktor is, given how normally a fight between a vampire and a transformed Lycan usually results in the Lycan tearing the vampire to shreds.

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. Judge Doom does it to Roger when he captures him in the bar. Doubles as {{Foreshadowing}}: how can this work, when Roger clearly has mass and Doom is too thin? [[spoiler:[[RuleOfFunny Judge Doom finds it funny]] to Neck Lift poor Roger.]]
* ''Film/WildWildWest''. During Jim West's battle with the last of Dr. Loveless' {{mooks}} (the one with the metal plate in his head) inside the giant spider robot, the {{mook}} grabs him by the neck and lifts him into the air.
* In ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' [[spoiler:Sir Patrick Morgan]], who reveals himself as Ares, does this to the titular protagonist herself during the final showdown before throwing her to the ground.
* ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': The eponymous villain does this to Mystique like in the posters, [[spoiler:after she sneaks up on him and slashes his throat]].
* ''Film/YoungFrankenstein''. The Monster does this to the police officer who was tormenting him with lit matches.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[caption-width-right:350:" [[VideoGame/{{Prototype}} You're just bringing my foot up to]] [[GroinAttack ball level]], [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu Beast!]]"]]

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Saren does this to [[PlayerCharacter Commander Shepard]] in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1''. And is treated to a human specialty, a punch to the face.
** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', [[spoiler: letting the quarians exterminate the geth means Legion will do this to Shepard. The result? A knife in the back from Tali.]] Both of these examples are justified; the first is performed by a cyborg (who is also noticeably bigger and heavier than Shepard,) and the latter by a robot, so they would both have the necessary strength to do this.

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', this seems to be one of Solidus's favorite things to do to [[{{Bishonen}} Raiden]].

** This is Batman's default {{Mook}} interrogation technique in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity''... when he's not [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique slamming them into walls]] or [[HighAltitudeInterrogation dangling them off railings.]]

* ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite''. Booker can do this to human opponents with the Skyhook device. The game sometimes has him do a NeckSnap with the Skyhook to kill them.

* ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'':

** ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' has the T-101 doing this to John Connor to convince him not to give up when the cops arrive at the cemetery.
** ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'': During the FinalBattle, the [[Characters/TerminatorGenisys T-3000]] physically lifts Pops (the heroic T-800) off his feet by his neck. Bear in mind, T-800s are ''not'' lightweight.

%%* Sesshomaru of ''Manga/InuYasha'' does this several times.

* The super-strong tiger warrior Lime to Ryōga in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''. Particularly horrifying since Ryōga has considerable superhuman strength and is MadeOfIron himself, but Lime even more so. It ends with Lime [[spoiler:crushing Ryōga's throat]] and almost bringing him to the [[spoiler:point of death]]. But when Ryōga's [[KamehameHadoken Shishi Hokodan]] fills him with "heavy" [[BattleAura depression ki]], he becomes too heavy for even Lime to lift.

* [[http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/File:Angel_and_the_Ape_Vol_2_4.jpg The cover]] of ''ComicBook/AngelAndTheApe'' #4, in which Gorilla Grodd does it to Dumb Bunny.

** In the beginning of the ''Day of the Dollmaker'' storyline (''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Supergirl vol. 5]] #58''), [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0ELZ9b065w8/TOL0JnqNpWI/AAAAAAAABbk/OyOnrRfJ0Ts/s400/Supergirl-58-06.jpg she does this to Toyman]] during an interrogation when she thinks he's lying. Her GlowingEyesOfDoom stress that she's serious and mad.

** Raven Beak, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', does this twice to Samus, once at the beginning and once at the end, and both times Samus is powerless to escape [[spoiler: except the second time when her Metroid DNA fully awakens and she goes absolutely berserk with rage and return-grabs grabs Raven Beak ''by the face'']].