History Main / StormingTheCastle

* In the [[MultipleEndings Grand Route]] of GirlsLove VisualNovel ''VisualNovel/AoiShiro'', Syouko and Nami storm the titular Blue Castle, which counts as ToHellAndBack.

** ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'': In the climax the Naboo starfighter fleet attacks The Trade Federation battleship and the rest of the heroes take back Naboo Palace.

In RealLife, particularly during the MiddleAges, actually storming the castle was the tactic of last resort, due to how most fortifications are [[DeathCourse built specifically to give the defenders every advantage possible]] and because breaching a well-built castle was a lengthy and costly undertaking. Any sort of direct assault on properly built and manned fortifications required a big numerical advantage, strong morale, seige engines and catapults and often repeated attacks -- and even then it would be a bloodbath.

Castles seemed to be doomed as a defensive measure when gunpowder and cannons became widespread, but then defensive strategies evolved. Pre-gunpowder era, a high stone castle wall could offer solid protection again a besieging army. Post-gunpowder era, that huge stone wall is a perfect target for cannon barrage. Oh no! Kings and Queens are at the mercy of their enemies...Nope; fortress designers adapted by switching from stone walls to thick earth walls which were impervious to cannons. The apex of the new fortification was the Vauxban star-shaped fortress.[[note]]The Vauxban star-shaped fortress kept rulers and military garrisons safe from seiges from the

** ''Film/TheMatrix'' has the heroes storming a secure military building where Morpheus is being held captive.
** ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' revisits the trope as Neo storms the Source.
** ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' could be said to complete the trifecta, if you consider the Matrix as Smith's castle, or if you count when they storm the Machine City.
*** A more literal example from ''Revolutions'' would be [[spoiler: the machines attacking and invading Zion just before Neo makes the deal that saves humanity]].

* ''Film/{{Krull}}'', ''Film/{{Legend|1985}}'', ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}''... basically every '80s fantasy movie was required to end this way.

** The Impel Down arc. Not-at-all-Short summary: Luffy sneaks into Impel Down to save his brother, and meets several of his old enemies, such as Mr. 3, Buggy, and the bizarre Mr. 2 Bon Kurei. They use a combination of fighting and stealth while making their way to level four of the prison, until the warden poisons Luffy and leaves him for dead on a really cold floor... until both Bon Kurei rescues Luffy, then nearly freezes to death himself, and are miraculously rescued by [[DragQueen Emporio Ivankov]]. He ([[GenderBender at that time]]) cures Luffy, who eats an inhuman amount of food. Luffy and Ivankov start their second attempt at storming the castle, rescuing two of the Shichibukai, one of which is a former enemy of Luffy's. With the help of several okama and prisoners they rescue along the way they rip through Impel Down in a combination of an all-out brawl, a prison riot, and panicked fleeing. Around the midway point, a ''second'' StormingTheCastle occurs on the same prison, when Blackbeard betrays the Marines and breaks into it to recruit some prisoners for his crew.

* The ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'' actually has this as the title of one chapter in the [[BadFuture Dark World]] arc. Specifically, the one where the Dark World Elements of Harmony do exactly as the name suggests and begin their attack on [[BigBad Discord]]'s castle.

* ''Fanfic/{{Elysion}}'' has Akihiko, Junpei, and Aigis break into the Kirijo Estate at the same time as the Investigation team. Bonus points to Souji and Yosuke for storming said castle armed with only two knives and a golf club while everyone else already had their Personas by that point

* The eponymous girls may hold the record for fasting storming ever in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'' after they realize that not only has Mojo Jojo escaped to his volcano-top lair amidst the chaos of them fighting his superpowered primate army, but he's kidnapped the Professor (their dad) to boot. A series of big, intimidating barricades lock into place to keep them out...and they rip through them in ''seconds'' like they're paper. Unfortunately, the villain has a [[HumanShield backup plan]] to keep them at bay that's much more effective.

* ''Film/{{Commando}}''. John Matrix single-handedly assaults the mansion headquarters of a crooked crime lord planning a coup in South America, slaughtering dozens of henchmen in order to rescue his kidnapped daughter.

** The FinalBattle of ''Film/{{Justice League|2017}}'' has the eponymous League (Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, Cybirg, later joined by Superman) storming the base of the New God Steppenwolf in a Russian GhostTown to prevent him from activating the Mother Boxes' [[DoomsdayDevice Unity]].

* The Dark Aster in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' is a castle in the sky.

** [[Film/TheMatrix The first film]] has the heroes storming a secure military building where Morpheus is being held captive.

* The climax of ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves''.

* ''Film/TankGirl''. Tank Girl, her tank, Jet Girl and the Rippers assault the Water and Power fortress at the end of the movie.

* ''Film/{{Willow}}'', ''Film/{{Krull}}'', ''Film/{{Legend|1985}}'', ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}''... basically every '80s fantasy movie was required to end this way.
%%* The first and second movies in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' follow the trope, while the third one [[InvertedTrope inverts it]].

* In the final book of ''Literature/TheAccursedKings'', King John II of France insists on building a monstrous siege tower (against the advice of his generals preferring BoringButPractical mines or just negotiating) to take a minor fortress, more or less living out his fantasies of being a Crusader at Jerusalem (note that gunpowder artillery is already commonplace by the time the book takes place). The tower is built, loaded with soldiers, pushed up to the walls... and promptly blown apart by cannonfire. The siege ends when the defenders agree to leave in exchange for money.

* In Creator/FrankHerbert's ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', after the Harkonnens pull an AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs, Paul gathers the Fremen and storms the city of Arrakeen using a giant sandworm and [[NukeEm atomics]] (in the film). Many examples follow in [[Franchise/{{Dune}} later Dune novels]].

* ''Literature/TheIliad'' portrays an episode from the ten-year siege of Troy, which also involves the Trojans storming the fortified Greek camp.

-->[[TheMole Two Fire Herb]]: We must [[UsefulNotes/RomanovsAndRevolutions storm the Winter Palace!]]
-->[[ChineseGirl Lotus Blossom]]: Excuse me, Two Fire Herb, but it is June.
-->[[{{Jerkass}} Two Fire Herb]]: Then we can storm the Summer Palace!
* Torquilstone in ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}''.
* The medieval ''Kudrunlied'' ends with the storming of the Normans' castle by the armies of Kudrun's fiancé and her relatives.

* The ''Literature/{{Nibelungenlied}}'' ends with the climactic last stand of the Burgundians, who are holed up in king Etzel's hall and fight off several assaults by the armies of Etzel and his vassals until every one of them except Gunther and Hagen is dead.
* In the ''Literature/RainbowMagic'' series, Rachel and Kirsty storm Jack Frost's castle fairly often.

* The climax of ''Literature/TheSapphireRose'' by Creator/DavidEddings has Sparhawk and company storming an evil ''temple'', in the final battle of their war against the dark god Azash.
** And they do it again in a city with a temple in ''Literature/TheTamuli'' trilogy to rescue Queen Ehlana and Alean.
* In the third book of Bernard Cornwell's ''Saxon Chronicles'', the main character Uhtred and his adopted brother Ragnar storm Dunholm, the fortress of a rival Danish lord named Kjartan, who killed Ragnar's father about six years prior. This is one instance of a Storming the Castle happening before the story's climax, as the actual climax involves Uhtred duelling another rival and coming to a truce with said rival's army and the army of the king he supports.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has a few examples, but they're outnumbered by far by proper sieges and more sensible alternatives. It's made clear that StormingTheCastle is ''not'' a good idea most of the time and is rarely successful without a truly massive numerical advantage, as per the oft repeated maxim that one man on a wall is equal to ten on the ground. Stannis Baratheon attempts to take King's Landing in open battle in the second book ([[spoiler:and fails because Tyrion burned his fleet down and the Tyrells relieved the defenders]]), the Wildlings make repeated attempts to storm the Wall in the third book after failing to infiltrate it from the inside ([[spoiler:and fail, forcing Mance to bring out his ForgottenSuperweapon only to be defeated before he can employ it]]), and Loras Tyrell is forced to abandon a siege and storm [[spoiler:Dragonstone]] directly in the fourth book. ([[spoiler:He wins, but is reportedly almost killed... and [[UncertainDoom may have been]] horribly wounded by quarrels, maces and ''[[BodyHorror boiling oil]]'') and loses a disproportionately large amount of men in the process]]).
* In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', assaulting a fortified city is the only really viable way to take it due to the highstorms, which are incredibly powerful storms that sweep across the continent every week or so and tend to destroy any structures not made of solid stone. These render conventional siege tactics useless. Thankfully, most cities on Roshar are built to shelter from storms first and foremost, rather than to defend against invasion. Invading armies will also have access to [[PoweredArmor Shardplate]] and [[AbsurdlySharpBlade Shardblades]], which are instrumental in breaking through walls and fortified positions.
** In addition, there is a good chance that any major city will have at least one Soulcaster (a {{Magitek}} device that can turn rocks into food or other supplies), making starving the city out much harder.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Castle}}'', the {{animated adaptation}} of architectural historian/writer David Macaulay's book, shows in vivid terms just how tough storming a well designed, built and supplied castle could be in medieval times with defenses upon defenses in place to discourage it.

** In the climax of ''ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan'', Superman and Franchise/SpiderMan assault ComicBook/LexLuthor's space base.

* Double subverted in ''His Kind of Woman'': the hero's single-handed attempt to Storm the Yacht and does not go well at all, with him being captured by the crew within minutes of getting on board. The ''second'' attempt, which has police assistance, goes ''somewhat'' better.

* This is the premise of a splendid battle sequence in the 1958 Kirk Douglas vehicle ''The Vikings''.

* The climax of ''Film/TheExpendables'' involves infiltrating and blowing up General Garza's palace.

1700s to the first decade of the 1900s. The invention of powered flight made star forts vulnerable to air bombing.[[/note]]

Castles seemed to be doomed as a defensive measure when gunpowder and cannons became widespread, but then defensive strategies evolved. Pre-gunpowder era, a high stone castle wall could offer solid protection again a besieging army. Post-gunpowder era, that huge stone wall is a perfect target for cannon barrage. Oh no! Kings and Queens are at the mercy of their enemies..Nope; fortress designers adapted by switching from stone walls to thick earth walls which were impervious to cannons.

In RealLife, particularly during the MiddleAges, actually storming the castle was the tactic of last resort, due to how most fortifications are [[DeathCourse built specifically to give the defenders every advantage possible]] and because breaching a well-built castle was a lengthy and costly undertaking. Any sort of direct assault on properly built and manned fortifications required a big numerical advantage, strong morale, seige engines and catapults and often repeated attacks -- and even then it would be a bloodbath. More often sieges were won by cutting off the defenders from supplies and starving them to death or surrender (which could take years), by [[DungeonBypass breaching the defenses from the outside]] and marching in that way (not always practical), or by convincing enemy soldiers within the defenses to TurnCoat and let you in (very difficult). Going through the front door is almost always a suicide mission (assuming it's even possible), but it [[RuleOfCool sure is entertaining]].

There are really only a few good ways to end an action movie. You've got your car chase, your [[ShowdownAtHighNoon mano-a-mano showdown]], and your grand, sweeping FinalBattle ([[OneWingedAngel and maybe something else]]. [[ClippedWingAngel Or maybe not]]. [[AntiClimaxBoss Whatever]]). These are all well and good, but sometimes the Big Bad isn't gracious enough to come to you. In that case, you'd better go to them.

That means it's time to [[LockAndLoadMontage gear up]] and assault the bad guy's [[SupervillainLair home base]]. Sure, maybe it's guarded by countless [[EliteMooks extremely well-trained warriors]], a [[QuirkyMinibossSquad squad of bounty hunters]] looking for your head, and even TheDragon, but what choice do you have? Maybe the villain's stolen your [[ExcusePlot secret sauce recipe]], and he's not afraid to use it. Maybe he's gonna force [[DamselInDistress your girlfriend]] to [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe marry him]]. Maybe he just can't be trusted not to come back worse than before. In any case, the only way to stop him is to take him down.

In RealLife, particularly during the MiddleAges, actually storming the castle was the tactic of last resort, due to how most fortifications are [[DeathCourse built specifically to give the defenders every advantage possible]]. This is why they're called "fortifications". Any sort of direct assault on properly built and manned fortifications required a hell of a numerical advantage, very solid morale, and often repeated attacks -- and even then it would be an absolute bloodbath. More often sieges were won by cutting off the defenders from supplies and starving them to death or surrender (which could take years), by [[DungeonBypass breaching the defenses from the outside]] and marching in that way (not always practical), or by convincing enemy soldiers within the defenses to TurnCoat and let you in (very difficult). Going through the front door is almost always a suicide mission (assuming it's even possible), but it [[RuleOfCool sure is entertaining]].

* The episode "To The Gates" from the third season of ''Series/{{Vikings}}'' may have one of the most epic examples in television history. For a half hour the Norse attempt to storm Paris by attacking at multiple points complete with appropriate siege engines while the Franks and their defenses do everything to throw them back. [[spoiler:SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome and the Norse are beaten back entirely, with heavy losses. In fact, some of the Norse RedShirts realized early on what was inevitably going to happen, and all their leaders were simply [[PrideBeforeAFall too proud]], [[TheFundamentalist too zealous]], [[GloryHound too hungry for glory]], or [[WeAREStrugglingTogether too petty]] to admit it. It takes several attempts at treachery and a much more elaborate ruse before the Norse are able to breach the defenses and loot the city.]]

* The climax of ''Film/TheAccountant'' has [[spoiler: Wolff attacking the mansion of Lamar Blackburn, who is both a CorruptCorporateExecutive and the movie's BigBad.]]

* ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': Castle and city sieges usually amount to thousands of soldiers storming the gates and killing anything in sight. Having sorcerers, dragons, giants and other huge war beasts helps a lot.

That means it's time to [[LockAndLoadMontage gear up]] and assault the bad guy's [[SupervillainLair home base]]. Sure, maybe it's guarded by countless [[EliteMooks extremely well-trained warriors]], a [[QuirkyMinibossSquad squad of bounty hunters]] looking for your head, and even TheDragon, but what choice do you have? Maybe the villain's stolen your [[ExcusePlot secret sauce recipe]], and he's not afraid to use it. Maybe he's gonna force [[DistressedDamsel your girlfriend]] to [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe marry him]]. Maybe he just can't be trusted not to come back worse than before. In any case, the only way to stop him is to take him down.

* ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' has BigBad Victor Maitland's Beverly Hills mansion as the castle, the would-be LoveInterest as the DistressedDamsel, and a hilarious shootout between the heroic cops and the {{mooks}}.

* At the end of ''[[Film/InTheNameOfTheKing In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale]]'', [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Farmer]] storms the BigBad's fortress to kill him and rescue his [[DistressedDamsel wife]]... ''alone'', with the king's army and a magus providing distractions. Why? Because he's Creator/JasonStatham, that's why!

* Spike's one-man assault (which briefly becomes two when Shin joins him) on the Red Dragon building in the finale of ''Anime/CowboyBebop''.
* The final ''LightNovel/DirtyPair'' episode involves the girls rescuing their boss from [[ShoutOut Eagle's Dare Mountain]]. In an escalating series of plans that start with floating in with a hot air balloon wearing cat costumes (), and culminating with them walking through the front door after Kei flashes the guards.

* The climax of ''Manga/Golgo13: The Professional'' has the titular character attack Dawson Tower in [[BigApplesauce New York City]], where the final shootout between Golgo, a squadron of attack helicopters, Snake, and Gold and Silver occurs.

* ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'':

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': In the OVA the Chrazy Chimera Plan has 11 Naga the White Serpent's storming the fortress where Lina is being held captive. Made plausible by the fact that there were only two defenders, who knew they were against a powerful sorceress who had bonded with the ten clones created to stop her, and whose laughter made defense impossible. They did the sensible thing and fled the approaching devastation.

* The Dark Aster in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' is a castle in the sky.

* The War of Vordarian's Pretendership in the novel ''Literature/{{Barrayar}}'' centered on a siege of Vorbarr Sultana by the loyalist forces led by Regent Aral Vorkosigan against Count Vordarian's attempt to usurp the Imperial throne.

* In William King's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/SpaceWolf'' novel ''Wolfblade'', when they discover [[spoiler:the merchant Pantheus]] was behind an assassination attempt, they raid his asteroid [[spoiler:kidnapping him and destroying it]].
* In Creator/JamesSwallow's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novel ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Sanguinius]]'', Rafen gets on the outside of a shuttle going to the spaceship to inflitrate it. He is the only loyal Blood Angel left, and the ship, which should have been a refuge, is enemy ground.

[[quoteright:350:[[TabletopGame/AdvancedDungeonsAndDragonsSecondEdition https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ad&d_2e_dmg.jpg]]]]

** In ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', the same battle is richer in action setpieces.

** ''Film/DrNo'', ''Film/{{Thunderball}}'', ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'', ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'', ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'', ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'', ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'', ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'', ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'', ''Film/DieAnotherDay'', and ''Film/{{Spectre}}'' all end with James Bond willingly gearing up and assaulting a known enemy base that very definitely contains the major villain. ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' has a more subdued version in the form of a hotel, though it has the bonus of containing two villains.

** ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'' ends with an assault on Drax's space station by U.S. Marine astronauts with laser weapons. Bond was already inside the station when it occurred.

-->-- '''Max''' in ''VideoGame/MaxPayne2'', examining some [[TarotMotifs Tarot]] cards

-->-- '''VideoGame/MaxPayne''', examining some [[TarotMotifs Tarot]] cards