History Main / RoofHopping

* Kurumi does a fair amount of roofhopping in ''Anime/SteelAngelKurumi 2''.

** That's because Cesare did it first in ''Film/TheCabinetOfDrCaligari''. It's one of the movie's most iconic shots, but due to the WeirdAlEffect, best known for all the homages and imitations that have followed. And Mr. Draven LooksLikeCesare.

* Done a few times in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', mostly by Ezra on Lothal.

[[folder:Fan Works]]

* ''Fanfic/EchoesOfYesterday'': As accompanying Assault and Battery in their night patrol, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] remembers how she and [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]] used to go roof-hopping across Gotham City.

* In ''Fanfic/HistorysStrongestShinobi'', ''Manga/{{Naruto}} alternates between this, and complicated, ever-changing back routes to keep anyone from following him home.

* ''Film/{{Aquaman}}'': The scene in Sicily featurez a very intense and exciting rooftop chase where Aquaman and Mera have to evade Black Manta and a number of Atlantean commandoes. Naturally Aquaman and Manta goes mano-on-mano with each other while Mera deals with the mooks.

* In the film of ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}'', this is Hellboy's preferred method of tracking what Liz Sherman and John Myers are doing on their 'going out for coffee' walk. Here Del Toro shows the risky chance of encountering civilians on rooftops - milk-and-cookie-distributing-civilians, but still. Hellboy, even with his superman abilities, still nearly misses one of the jumps.

** The opening ChaseScene involved Agents Roof Hopping after Trinity. Part way through, the whole thing is {{lampshade|Hanging}}d when a cop, seeing an agent jump an unbelievable distance following Trinity, says, "That's impossible!" This is the first hint we get that the action is not, in fact, taking place in the real world.
** There's also the infamous "Whoa" scene, where Morpheus shows Neo how to do it. As Cypher points out, ''nobody'' makes it their first try... but Neo is believed to be The One, surely he's an exception? [[spoiler:Nope, he fails his first jump just like everyone else did.]]
* The movie version of ''Film/SpiderMan1'' goes roofhopping before he learns how to use his web-shooters. The sequel also contain a memorable scene in which he attempts (and fails) roofhopping in order to revive his lost powers.

* ''Film/TheBourneUltimatum'': One of the most impressive sequences, where the near superhuman Jason Bourne was leaping from rooftops to catch up to his ally Nicky and protect her from an assassin. Made believable in that it took place in Tangier, where the buildings are very crowded, and the fact that Nicky tries the same thing and barely makes it herself. (The only question is how Bourne and the assassin were able to follow her in the near labyrinth-like buildings)

* ''Film/Catwoman2004'' used this trope, but with [[SpecialEffectFailure noticeably unnatural movement ]] in the CGI.

* ''Film/RumbleInTheBronx'', where Creator/JackieChan jumped from a parking garage to a fire escape, breaking his ankle.

* Subverted in ''Film/{{Kickass}}''; the titular character initially tries to train himself to roof hop as a means of getting around the city, but quickly realises how unfeasable it is. He eventually settles for walking around at street level. Hit-Girl and Big Daddy are able to do this casually.

* ''Film/DarkCity'' has a few roof hopping scenes, in fact one of the sets used in Film/TheMatrix's roof hopping scenes was a left over from ''Dark City''.
* Averted in ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance''. A police officer and a couple of schoolkids climb up onto the roof of the locked building with the intent of jumping to an adjacent building to escape from the bomb, but when they get there, they realize the distance is too far.

* In crowded parts of the world like parts of Europe and India, roof hopping is made much easier because the roofs may only be a meter apart. However, roof construction in some of these older buildings is mainly just light timber structure, roof tiles and... well, nothing else. You can also very easily go ''through'' the roof. Don't try this at a series of someone else's homes.

Helps someone get across town quickly without running into obstacles on the ground and keep their destination in sight. Also a lot easier to draw than a busy street. For a reality check, the world record for running long jump is just under 30' (9m), while a typical two-lane street in America is 22' (6.5m). And that's not including sidewalks or setbacks between the street and the building's footprint, which may be required in some places. So while this trope would be easier in some countries and neighborhoods than in others, doing it in New York City would require a CharlesAtlasSuperpower at the very least.

* ''ComicBook/TheTick''. Oh ho ho ho, ''The Tick''. Due to being NighInvulnerable, [[SuperStrength Super Strong]] and being built like a linebacker on steroids, he tends to leave footprints on the roofs during jumps. When he visits Europe for a superhero exchange program, he's forced to go pedestrian because his roof-hopping antics damaged historical buildings.

* The ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' do this a lot. The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]] even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1l-kcXEH78& does it to music]].

* ''ComicBook/TheTick'' oh ho ho ho, ''The Tick''. Due to being NighInvulnerable, [[SuperStrength Super Strong]] and being built like a linebacker on steroids, he tends to leave footprints on the roofs during jumps. When he visits Europe for a superhero exchange program, he's forced to go pedestrian because his roof-hopping antics damaged historical buildings.

* Somewhat lampshaded in the ''Manga/OnePiece'' Water 7 arc, everyone (including the Straw Hat crew) is impressed by shipwright Kaku's ability to jump great distances to the point of nearly flying ([[spoiler:part byproduct of having undergone special martial arts training like the rest of [=CP9=]]]). Later, Chopper and Nami must awkwardly run across rooftops to free Luffy, who is stuck between two buildings, and Zoro, stuck in a chimney.

* One bad guy on ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' tries this to get away from Callen and Sam. [[RealityEnsues He]] [[DisneyVillainDeath fails]].

* ''Literature/DoorwaysInTheSand'' by Creator/RogerZelazny: The main character is a roof hopping building climber among other things.

* ''Literature/UnLunDun'' by Creator/ChinaMieville: A roof-hopping subculture features, which makes it a point of pride never to leave the roofs. But all is not as it seems.

* Jimmie Dale, the Gray Seal, did some roofhopping at least once. (Possibly the Burrage Spring-Heeled Jack did, too.)
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** Assassins are expected to be able to do this. ''Literature/{{Pyramids}}'' in particular features the main character doing quite a bit of roof hopping.
** Sam Vimes engages in quite a few rooftop chases, most of them off-page. One of Death's [[NearDeathExperience near Vimes experiences]] happened when one of these ''stopped'' being a rooftop chase. (Another chase, in ''Literature/NightWatchDiscworld'', ended when both participants fell through the glass ceiling of Unseen University.)
* ''Literature/TheAlienist'': The killer demonstrates remarkable abilities traveling roofs and other urban structures. Not surprising, as he feels best when he's away from society, and up on the rooftops he feels alone and powerful.
* ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'': This is a very common way of getting around for the titular extraordinarily empowered individuals, since they can telekinetically push and pull on metals.
* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'': The climax of ''Changes'' is a roof-hopping race between Mags and two assassins.
* In ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth'' by Creator/HPLovecraft, the protagonist is trapped on the uppermost floor of the local HellHotel. He escapes by [[BedsheetLadder climbing down the drapes]] to the roof of the building next door, then [[NoEscapeButDown jumps through a skylight]] to the ground below.
* ''Literature/InCryptid'': This is Verity's preferred mode of transportation, especially when she's living in New York.

* All the Seven Angels and the Seven Seals in ''Manga/X1999''. The series ''loves'' this one, not to mention hopping off and [[IHaveTheHighGround standing on]] lampposts and such.

* Kei Kurono enjoys a bit of Sky Scraper hopping in ''{{Manga/Gantz}}''.

* Given the size of [[ElaborateUniversityHigh Mahora Academy]], this is standard for the magically-informed in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''. Since a mages are obligated to keep the {{Masquerade}}, an explanation about a spell in place to prevent the [[{{Muggle}} Muggles]] from seeing was once given - we later find out that environmental damage is still in effect, so dented lampposts and torn shingles aren't uncommon. Poor Muggles...
* Panther does this recreationally and for exercise in ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' since the racist coach wouldn't let him train with the rest of the team and Panther isn't too well off, hopping off the roof of apartment buildings was just convenient.

* Inverted in an issue of ''Comicbook/{{Catwoman}}''. During an adventure in Miami, she notes that the trick doesn't work so well in other cities when she runs out of rooftops.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

* As the name suggests, a large part of the level "Rooftop Run" from VideoGame/SonicUnleashed involves this.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTick''does this as his primary means of travel; however, he is so heavy he leaves footprints on everything he lands on. While visiting Europe he was forced to ride a scooter instead after damaging several historic buildings.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTick'': The Tick does this as his primary means of travel; however, he is so heavy he leaves footprints on everything he lands on. While visiting Europe he was forced to ride a scooter instead after damaging several historic buildings.

* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' : The Turtles do this a lot. The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]] even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1l-kcXEH78& does it to music]].

* In the episode "Hash" on ''Series/BarneyMiller'', this happens offscreen with Detective Fish, who is almost at mandatory retirement age--according to the suspect he jumped a ''twelve foot gap'', thanks to the hash brownies he'd unwittingly consumed.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In the days before she could glide on air Wonder Woman would get through the city by leaping between rooftops and [[BuildingSwing swinging from buildings]] using her magic lasso.

* Of course, stuff like this can be accomplished by practicing in the art of LeParkour. But always be careful when doing so, of course.

* ''Manga/KamikazeKaitouJeanne'' and her rival Sinbad Roof Hop frequently. They ''are'' art thieves, after all, divine mission or no, and what better way to escape from the apparently almost completely incapable police and Maron's mildly obsessed best friend?

* ''Series/{{Treadstone}}''. In the pilot episode, KGB guards chase an escaping American agent across steep some steep East German rooftops, and end up falling to their deaths because their boots can't maintain their grip on the slick tiles (the American is barefooted).

* In the pilot of the short-lived sci-fi series ''Something Is Out There'', the first clue the cop protagonist has that the woman he's chasing is not of this Earth is when she leaps across to the next building.

* ''Film/{{Catwoman}}'' used this trope, but with [[SpecialEffectFailure noticeably unnatural movement ]] in the CGI.

** Sam Vimes engages in quite a few rooftop chases, most of them off-page. One of Death's [[NearDeathExperience near Vimes experiences]] happened when one of these ''stopped'' being a rooftop chase. (Another chase, in ''Literature/NightWatch'', ended when both participants fell through the glass ceiling of Unseen University.)

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Buffy does some roof hopping chasing after the last bus out of Sunnydale in the final episode.

* The one generally admired part of BBC One's much-derided 2002 presentation revamp was ''Rush Hour'', a 90-second short film of roofhopping that would be used either as a straight promo or sometimes as an extended ident into programmes. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAMAr8y-Vtw]

* A turning point in John's life in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'''s first episode: Sherlock takes to the rooftops as a shortcut, and his route requires jumping a narrow alley. John has a psychosomatic limp, but this is a chase. He makes the jump and the rest is history.

* Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' has roof-''pole-vaulting.''