History Main / BombDisposal

Bombs, mines, and other explosives are a a lethal threat, and sometimes, you have to disarm them rather than go around them, if they're blocking your way, hidden, or threaten the whole block. In fiction, our talented heroes can quickly and safely set them off (from a safe distance), disarm them before continuing on, throw them far far away, or, if they're a cartoon character or huge monster, [[EatTheBomb eat them]], etc.

In RealLife, this isn't so easy. Even a bomb disposal expert with proper equipment finds it dangerous and difficult to disarm explosives. And it's probably worse if you have to set them off using nothing but a stick, or defusethem with nail clippers. Thankfully, in the 2020s, police have remote controlled robots that help make the job a little safer. Hence why this trope is a subtrope of ArtisticLicenseExplosives.

TruthInTelevision is to that bomb and mine disposal is stressful and dangerous, even for the most seasoned professionals.

Bombs, mines, and other explosives are a a lethal threat, and sometimes, you have to disarm them rather than go around them, if they're blocking your way, hidden, or threaten the whole block. In fiction, our talented heroes can quickly and safely set them off (from a safe distance), disarm them before continuing on, throw them far far away, or, if they're a cartoon character or huge monster,[[EatTheBomb eat them]], etc.

Bombs, mines, and other explosives are a pain to deal with, especially if they're blocking your way, hidden, or need to be immediately removed. In fiction, you can set them off, disarm them before continuing on, throw them far far away, [[EatTheBomb eat them]], etc.

In real life, this isn't so easy. Even with proper equipment, it's a dangerous job disarming explosives. And it's probably worse if you have to set them off using nothing but a stick. Thankfully, there are remote controlled robots that help make the job a little safer. Hence why this trope is a subtrope of ArtisticLicenseExplosives.

In shows where [[ArtisticLicensePhysics physics is on a vacation]], expect people to do things like [[EatTheBomb swallowing the bomb]] or stuffing it into a not even nearly bombproof container, like a paper bag. See also BombproofAppliance for more "serious" shows.

* ''Film/TheHurtLocker'' is so far the most critically acclaimed movie on the subject.
* ''Film/TheMask'': The title character disposes of a bomb by [[EatTheBomb swallowing it and letting it explode inside him]].

* ''Film/LethalWeapon2'' had a nice bombproof bath.
* ''Film/SupermanII'': Superman disposes of a hydrogen-bomb set to go off in the [[MonumentalDamage Eiffel Tower]], by throwing it into outer space... where it just happens to blow the lid of a [[SealedEvilInACan can of sealed evil]].
* HilarityEnsues in ''Film/BatmanTheMovie'' (1966) when Creator/AdamWest tries to get rid of a bomb, wherever he's about to throw it, there's an innocent person. Or innocent ducks.
* The obscure action film ''Film/{{Ticker}}'' is mostly about bomb disposal.
* The obscure 1959 thriller ''Ten Seconds To Hell'' is about former German soldiers disarming unexploded bombs in Post World War 2 Germany and actually uses very realistic bomb disposal equipment and tactics.

* In ''Film/BatmanForever'', Dick Grayson rolls a bomb off the roof of a building and it explodes in the river.
* The 1994 film ''Film/BlownAway'' tells of a police bomb disposal team member who had immigrated from Ireland, after problems during UsefulNotes/TheTroubles. One of the IRA terrorists ([[MadBomber who specialized in explosive devices]]) he helped put in prison breaks out, and tracks him down to seek revenge.
* In ''Film/{{Rambo|IV}}'', the villains are shown using prisoners to clear minefields on two separate occasions. The second time shows this to be pure sadism rather than evil pragmatism when it is shown that the minefields are ones they make ''themselves'' just so they can do this and make bets about which prisoner will blow up first.

* In the '90s ''[[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries Spider-Man]]'' cartoon, the title character disposes of a time bomb by using his SuperStrength to throw it straight up into the air when it's about to explode since he couldn't find any other safe place to move it to.

* In the '90s ''[[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries Spider-Man]]'' cartoon, the title character disposes of a time bomb by throwing it straight up right when it's about to explode.

* Multiple instances in Anime/TerrorInResonance. In the most applicable, a character is held hostage in a vest full of explosives on a [[TimeBomb timer]]. Another races to disarm them all before they go off and kill both parties.

* ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMutantsInManhattan'': A recurring element in the game are timed segments where the turtles have to diffuse bombs set by the Foot. The more turtles doing the disarming at a time, the faster it is.

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See also Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}'s [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_disposal entry.]]

* ''Film/TheLastDrop'': Private Baker's speciality. Unfortunately, he's also TheAlcoholic.

-->'''Bond:''' You've defused hundreds of these, right?
-->'''Dr. Jones:''' Yeah, but they're usually standing still.

* RecycledInSpace for ''Earth II'', a 1971 {{pilot}} for an unmade sci-fi series. The drama centred around disarming a Chinese orbital nuke that threatened the titular SpaceStation.

* ''Series/GetSmart''. In "Stakeout On Blue Mist Mountain", [[IdiotHero Maxwell Smart]] has to be talked through how to defuse an atomic bomb.

** In "The Purging of CI5", Bodie dials the first number of his phone and suddenly realises it's booby-trapped. Fortunately, he's got his radio to call Doyle for help, who disarms it with their usual exchange of banter (though somewhat terser).

* ''Series/TheProfessionals'' ("Private Madness Public Danger"). Bodie and Doyle have to defuse a bomb connected to a gallon drum of [[WaterSourceTampering hallucinogenic drugs which is floating in a reservoir]], so they have to do this while treading freezing water with a device that they're can't even see. Fortunately (as the bomb has an [[BoobyTrap anti-handling device]]) they've brought the bomb designer along, and he decides he doesn't want to die for the cause. They use the same tactic in "Stakeout" [[spoiler:this time with an ''atomic'' bomb]].

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In "Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender", Rick and Morty disarm a neutrino bomb that Rick set up in Worldender's fortress while blackout drunk. [[OhNoNotAgain Morty makes it clear this far from the first time they've done this.]]

-->'''Rick:''' Morty, now many of these--?

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', Knight's of the Old Republic's MMO sequel, many quests often involve disarming bombs of some sort. No skill needed this time, as all it takes is a few seconds for any class.

* ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'': it's the whole point of the "bomb defusal" missions for the counterstrike team after the bomb is set by the terrorists. Normally takes a bit of time, but is faster if one has a "bomb defusal kit".

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The [[http://www.halopedia.org/EOD-class_Mjolnir EOD MJOLNIR variant]], though it is only for [[AndYourRewardIsClothes aesthetics]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Near the end of "Message Received", the Gems have to get rid of a communication device that's about to self-destruct. Steven traps it in a bubble to help contain the explosion, and Garnet knocks it into the air for good measure.

** In ''[[VisualNovel/GrisaiaNoRakuen Rakuen]]'' [[spoiler:Sachi has to defuse a bomb as part of a test, set up by the Thanatos system to measure her skills, but for that reason it's actually a mock bomb]].

** In ''[[VisualNovel/GrisaiaNoMeikyuu Meikyuu]]'' on Sachi's after story, [[spoiler:Yuuji and Sachi has to find and dispose of a bomb, that a madman planted in the church, on their own wedding]].

** In ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'' he has to disarm a nuclear bomb. Fortunately, he saw how this one was armed, so all he has to do to disarm it is do the exact opposite. JustInTime, naturally.

** An interesting variation in ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', where he isn't disarming an armed nuke, but instead removing the non-nuclear explosive from one in storage. Naturally there's a failsafe to prevent this, namely a magnetic ring that has to pull the explosive through (think TabletopGame/{{Operation}}, with detonation for failure). He then uses the bomb to get into a secure room.

** An interesting variation in ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', where he isn't disarming an armed nuke, but instead removing the non-nuclear explosive from one in storage. Naturally there's a failsafe to prevent this, namely a magnetic ring that has to pull the explosive through (think TabletopGame/Operation, with detonation for failure). He then uses the bomb to get into a secure room.

* ''Franchise/GrisaiaSeries'':