History Main / WeNeedaDistraction

* Taken UpToEleven by ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', in which Nostalgia Chick and [[WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh Oancitizen]] put on a musical number with a song in which they declare themselves to be a distraction. And it is actually the ''villain'' who asks them to sing it (he even joins in!). The best part is that the song's existence in-universe (and said villain's attachment to it) actually makes perfect sense. See WhileRomeBurns for details.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

** In ''ComicBook/WarWorld'', Franchise/{{Superman}} keeps the eponymous satellite's weapon systems distracted and focused on him while Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} gets ready to attack.
** Occurs in ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman: ComicBook/PublicEnemies2003'':

** In a later episode, they use [[HollywoodNerd Hardison]]'s violin skills to distract everybody... unfortunately that includes themselves and they aren't finished with the heist by the time he is done with his solo.

** One mission requires that certain members of the resistance create a distraction for an entire classroom full of students. After LookBehindYou, [[ShirtlessScene taking off one's shirt]], and a LoveConfession fail, Yuri simply sends Hinata and Takamatsu [[spoiler: flying into the ceiling using rockets on their seats]]. [[spoiler: Infact this happens so often in the episode that they get resigned to the fact that they WILL be shot into the ceiling, no matter what.]]

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11496962/6/Rocket-s-Rising Rocket's Rising]]'', one of Team Rocket's plans involves Jessie and James stealing several Pokemon from [[DrawAggro Pokemon Tech students right in front of Ash and company]]. Predictably, [[BatmanGambit said victims and the heroes chase after them.]] When Jessie and James get cornered, they [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness willingly]] [[ISurrenderSuckers give up the Pokemon]]. They go on a [[HoldingtheFloor tangent]], talking about how it wasn't a great loss and Ash's own losses in the past, until Meowth calls in, confirming that [[TheCaper he'd stolen all of the Pokemon]] [[TheInfiltration from the Pokemon Tech building.]]

* ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark?'': The girl in the often co-ed heroic duo of the story would usually be the distraction, with the implication this was the far more dangerous job.

* ''WesternAnimation/Moana'': Maui sends Moana as bait to distract the giant crab Tomatoa so Maui can steal back his magical hook. While he doesn't really care about Moana, Tomatoa gets distracted anyway because he is a '''massive nacissist''

** [[SupportingLeader Aragorn's]] actions through the end of ''The Two Towers'' and the beginning of ''The Return of the King'' are an extended version of this, played deadly serious ([[Film/TheLordOfTheRings which is]] to say... [[CaptainObvious "A diversion!"]]). His plan is to lead a giant army up to Sauron's front doorstep to make him think he's mounting a FinalBattle, while Frodo and Sam sneak in the back to kill Sauron for real.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' the Weasley twins are more than happy to provide Harry with a distraction so that he can break into Umbridge's office when Ginny tells them he wants to talk to Sirius. They do so by turning an entire hall into a swamp in a bit of magic Flitwick is so impressed by that he refuses to remove the entire thing and ropes off a bit to preserve as a permanent installation in the castle. They had been planning this prank for a long time, but Harry's need helped them decide where to put it.

** In ''Comicbook/WarWorld'', Franchise/{{Superman}} keeps the eponymous satellite's weapon systems distracted and focused on him while Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} gets ready to attack.
** Occurs in ''Superman/Batman: Public Enemies'':

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'': As seen in the trailer, part of the gang's heist operation at a formal party involves getting the security guards to leave their posts, so Mr. Shark (who is DressedInDrag) does the honors at Ms. Tarantula's request. Despite Mr. Wolf's advice to "keep it subtle", Mr. Shark hams it up by flipping a table and then pretending "she's" going into labor, and specifically [[LampshadeHanging calls upon the security guards to leave their posts and help "her"]].

* In ''Fanfic/WhatTomorrowBrings'', Marco distracts the Controller guarding the Dapsen Lumber Company by being really annoying so Ax can sneak into the cabin as a squirrel.

* In the Olsen Twins' vehicle ''Switching Goals'', where they are both in co-ed youth soccer teams, the sister who is no good at soccer uses other tactics to help her team - she simply starts chatting up one of the boys on the opposing team to stop him from noticing a goal being scored by her teammates just metres away.

* ''The Sea Wolves'' (1980). To remove most of the crew of three German merchant vessels interned in Goa harbor so they can be boarded and sunk, British Intelligence arrange a reception at the Governor's palace (to which the ship's officers are invited), a carnival with plenty of loud fireworks (to cover any explosions or gunshots), and the services of a local brothel to offer free sex to any sailor for three days.

** Later on ''Squirt'' proves to be a much better distraction.

* As shown in the documentary ''Series/FullColorFootball'': In 1959, the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague was catching heat from Congress about why they were refusing to expand to new cities, with rumblings about anti-trust suits. Then-Commissioner Bert Bell used the announcement of the founding of the American Football League as a shield. ("See? We don't have to expand! There's eight new teams right there!"). They expanded to Minneapolis and Dallas the next year anyway, in an attempt to undermine the AFL.

* ''Literature/{{Bounders}}'': When the protagonists want to break into a restricted area of the space station, Lucy distracts a guard by sobbing to him about her made-up relationship problems.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{TheJungleBook1967}}'': In King Louie's temple, Bagheera tells Baloo to distract and dance with King Louie by dressing up as a female ape so he can rescue Mowgli.