Once upon a time, it was pretty much a given that any dark-skinned, non-Christian native tribes encountered by a [[MightyWhitey European explorer hero]] would be [[ImAHumanitarian consumers of human flesh]]. The stereotypical Cannibal Tribe are AlwaysChaoticEvil, dress in [[{{Stripperiffic}} very little]] but for the SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset, and live in wooden huts around a large fire with an enormous cooking pot sitting on top of it.

TheMissionary may be already there, trying to make them change their ways, or he might be in our hero's party... or those might be his bones adorning the chief's throne.

Often provide the Angry Natives for a ChasedByAngryNatives scene. Contrast NobleSavage.

Supertrope of CapturedByCannibals and the related {{exploitation film}} genre, CannibalFilm. Contrast with CannibalClan, where the cannibals are just a family.
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!!Examples

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[[folder:Comics]]
* Several stories in the early years of ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'' featured cannibal tribes, including a few tribes in the Phantom's own neighborhood who were officially reformed, but prone to backsliding when they thought he wasn't looking. One later story ends with the Phantom placing the villain of the piece in the custody of one of these tribes, encouraging good behaviour by warning him of their history. He carefully neglects to mention that since then, not only have they kicked the cannibalism, but they have all become vegetarians.
* In the ''[[ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian Savage Sword of Conan]]'' comics, Conan encountered a cannibal tribe who believe they can become invincible for a short time by "eating the moon", which they accomplish by devouring the flesh of a HumanSacrifice bathed in moonlight. They're absolutely correct, though their invulnerability may be powered by [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve belief]]. Conan defeats them by "slaying" the moon — he releases a cloud of smoke from a special pellet, which completely obscures the night sky.
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[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/{{Casanova}}'', for failing to catch Casanova, Pucci's predecessor and his entire staff get sent off to be missionaries somewhere where they have "a great ''hunger'' for religion".
* In ''Film/NateAndHayes'', King Oatapi's people on the island of Ponape.
* CannibalFilm ''[[GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death]]'' parodies this trope. It's about two [[StrawFeminist feminist]] [[AmazonBrigade tribes]] who have fallen out over whether [[{{Gendercide}} men should]] [[CannibalTribe be eaten]] with guacamole or clam dip.
* The Kona tribe from ''Literature/CloudAtlas''.
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[[folder:Literature]]
* There's a CannibalTribe in ''Literature/{{Nation}}'', but aside from being terrifying raiders who take human prisoners for slaves (and dinner), they're really quite reasonable... and not nearly as terrifying as First Mate Cox.
* Elements of this turn up in the South Seas Treasure Game from the 1981 novel ''Dream Park''.
* ''Literature/HeartOfDarkness'': one of the only African characters Marlow describes as an individual is among a group of rowers for the European explorers (for lack of a better term), and they are described as being cannibals, but considerate enough not to practice that while Europeans are watching.
* Friday's tribe in ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe''. Despite his friendship with Friday, Crusoe remains convinced that Friday's people [[CapturedByCannibals will eat him if he ever ventures over there]], despite Friday's insistence otherwise. They later rescue a Spaniard and Friday's father from being eaten by another group of cannibals.
* The natives of Tsalal in ''Literature/TheNarrativeOfArthurGordonPymOfNantucket''.
* The Wendol in ''Literature/TheThirteenthWarrior''.
* ''Literature/CourtshipRite'' features the very rare non-villainous version; the entire population of Geta has been forced into cannibalism, and, over the centuries, has made it a proud part of their culture.
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[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* A regular threat in ''Series/SirArthurConanDoylesTheLostWorld''.
* The Reavers in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' are a particularly savage CannibalTribe InSpace!
-->'''Zoe:''' If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing – and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order.
* Such a tribe appears in ''Series/{{Sinbad}}'', but they are slightly more sympathetic than usual [[NoPartyLikeADonnerParty as they appear to be near-starving]].
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[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Rolemaster}}'' ''Shadow World'' setting supplement ''Star Crown Empire and the Sea of Fates''. They like to eat explorers searching for the ElephantGraveyard in the Chimen jungle in G'thal.
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[[folder:VideoGames]]
* ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' features a former Cannibal Tribe that has since turned towards vegetarianism.
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