History Main / RoofHopping

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

* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "Treasure of the Found Lamp", Djinn infiltrates Scrooge's mansion by jumping from trees to rooftops.

* ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'': 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 go mano-on-mano with each other while Mera deals with the mooks. One of the commandoes misjudges his leap and goes crashing through the tiled roof in his heavy PoweredArmor, so he continues the chase by [[ThereWasADoor smashing through the walls below her]] instead.

* ''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 go mano-on-mano with each other while Mera deals with the mooks. One of the commandoes misjudges his leap and goes crashing through the tiled roof in his heavy PoweredArmor, so he continues the chase by [[ThereWasADoor smashing through the walls below her]] instead.

* ''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 go mano-on-mano with each other while Mera deals with the mooks.

* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed: The Run'' is forced to roofhop to escape from his pursuers. Rather predictably, it goes poorly when he misses a jump and falls painfully to the street below. He then [[{{Determinator}} beats up a cop and steals his police car]].

* ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout''. Ethan Hunt is running across London after the villain who is wearing a TrackingDevice with Benji guiding him. Unfortunately Ethan has to run up onto the roof of St Paul's Cathedral to escape some people chasing ''him'', so this trope ensues, but Benji doesn't realise this because his map isn't set on 3D. HilarityEnsues as Benji gives directions that don't match with reality.

* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': All {{player character}}s can do that on the city roofs of their respective settings.

** This also includes thieves, guards (except those in heavy armor), mercenaries, and witnesses. In fact, running on roofs is the standard and quickest means of getting anywhere in the whole franchise.

** As can Ezio in the sequels: ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' in UsefulNotes/{{Florence}}, [[UsefulNotes/TheBraveRegionsOfItalia Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Forlì]] and UsefulNotes/{{Venice}}; ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' in UsefulNotes/{{Rome}}, ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' in UsefulNotes/{{Constantinople}} (and a bit in an UndergroundCity in Cappadocia).

* ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' uses this in the opening scenes, with Film/JamesBond performing jumps that would have resulted in agony and likely broken legs for anyone else.

* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'':
** Altaïr of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' can use this to go pretty much anywhere he pleases. As can Ezio in the sequels.

** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', where buildings tend to be lower and farther apart from each other in colonial Boston and New York. You can still do it, but you'd have a hard time crossing the entire town without touching the ground.

* The street kids' primary method of transportation in ''Anime/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}''. They are often seen covering impossible distances and jumping up entire buildings.

* Altaïr of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' can use this to go pretty much anywhere he pleases.
** As can Ezio in the sequels.
** This also includes thieves, guards (except those in heavy armor), mercenaries, and witnesses.
*** In fact, running on roofs is the standard and quickest means of getting anywhere in the whole franchise.
** Slightly averted in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', where buildings tend to be lower and farther apart from each other in colonial Boston and New York. You can still do it, but you'd have a hard time crossing the entire town without touching the ground.
** Even more averted in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'', where Edward spends most of his time away from big cities, either on ships, deserted islands, forts, or small port towns.

** The first level of ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2: The Shadow And The Flame'' has the Prince running over the palace roof.

* ''Film/MajorGromPlagueDoctor''. Grom is a CowboyCop and not a superhero (yet), his efforts are less than successful when he's forced to use this trope; he tries to leap to the next rooftop and crashes through a window and down a staircase instead. However Grom liked the view so much he takes his FireForgedFriends [[SittingOnTheRoof up there]] at the end of the movie to [[TastesLikeFriendship have something to eat]].

* All the Seven Angels and the Seven Seals in ''Manga/{{X 1999}}''. The series ''loves'' this one, not to mention hopping off and [[IHaveTheHighGround standing on]] lampposts and such.

[[folder:Manhwa]]
* Almost any nimble martial artists in ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'' can do this.
* Webcomic/{{Noblesse}}s like to do this a lot, combined with IHaveTheHighGround.

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Podcast/DiceFunk: Marshmallow spends several episodes jumping from roof to roof in order to find Anne's friends.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* And from the same author, ''Manga/InuYasha''.

* ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis Tokyo 2040'' has the Knight Sabers using their PoweredArmor to do this

* Given the size of [[ElaborateUniversityHigh Mahora Academy]], this is standard for the magically-informed in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''. Since a mages are obligated to keep the {{Masquerade}}, an explanation about a spell in place to prevent the {{Muggle}}s 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...

* 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:partialy a 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.

** Possible in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]''.

** Once again possible (and VERY entertaining) in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Canabalt}}'' plays it straight.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Matrix in a season 3 episode of ''{{WesternAnimation/ReBoot}}'' does this to follow a thief that made away with his keytool.

* ''Fanfic/{{Wonderful}}'': In chapter 5, [[TheHero Taylor]] and her friend Emma make use of roofhopping to test Taylor's new [[PoweredArmor Sentinel Suits]]. Justified, since the Sentinel Suits enhance the wearer's physical capabilities.

* Films set in Brazil will likely have at least one of these scenes, since the homes are tightly packed. Examples include ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' and ''Film/FastFive''.