History Main / BrainTheft

* "Brain Doe" in ''Series/{{CSI}}'' involved a stolen cadaver brain found without a body after a car accident. It was switched with a brain donated for traumatic brain injury studies that would also have revealed that the brain's owner had been illegally drugged by his sports trainer. It was swapped to cover it up and the guy who knew about it was killed in the crash.

* ''Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''. The [[TheDogWasTheMastermind mice who used to secretly run the giant computer that was the Earth]] want to dissect Arthur Dent's brain in the hope of finding out the answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. When Dent objects, he's told they will give him an electronic brain in exchange. [[HumansAreMorons "A simple one will do."]]

* The ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E1SpocksBrain Spock's Brain]]" has a race of hot aliens...I mean HumanAliens disable the Enterprise and steal Spock's brain to control their UndergroundCity in the same manner that a brain controls the autonomic functions of a human body. Captain Kirk has to lead a mission to retrieve and reinstall it.

* The Thargoids who served as the main villains of the scifi comedy ''Captain Kremmen'' are introduced as doing this. They seek to drain the knowledge of intelligent beings so their race will become the smartest in the universe. Fortunately their brain-draining device has no effect on our hero, either because he's so amazing or [[IdiotHero because he has no intelligence to drain.]]

* WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers: In "They Stole Dodgers' Brain", the Martians [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin steal Dodgers' brain]], replacing it with a computer that bulges out of his skull but which everyone mistakes for a [[TheHilarityOfHats really elaborate hat]]. The computer makes Dodgers ''smarter'', while Marvin's attempt to probe Dodgers' mind [[TooSpicyForYogSothoth leaves him a gibbering wreck]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}''

* ''Film/YoungFrankenstein''. Igor (sorry, "Eye-gor") is sent by Dr. Frankenstein (sorry, "Fronkensteen!") to steal the preserved brain of "scientist and saint" Hans Delbrück for his creation, but Igor accidentally destroys the brain and so nicks an abnormal brain, hoping his master won't notice. [[DidNotThinkThisThrough He does of course]], what with his creation running amok.

* ''Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''. The [[TheDogWasTheMastermind mice who used to secretly run the giant computer that was the Earth]] want to dissect Arthur Dent's brain in the hope of finding out the answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. When Dent objects, he's told they will give him an electronic brain in exchange. [[HumanAreMorons "A simple one will do."]]

* The ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E1SpocksBrain Spock's Brain]]" has a race of aliens disable the Enterprise and steal Spock's brain to lead them. Captain Kirk then leads a mission to retrieve and reinstall it.

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* ''Franchise/LooneyTunes'': "Water, Water, Every Hare" has the short, greenish MadScientist pursue WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, intending to install the rabbit's brain into his GiantMecha robot. The rascally rabbit defers:
-->'''Bugs Bunny:''' Sorry, doc. I need what little I've got.

* ''WesternAnimation/RunawayBrain'': In order to get money for a vacation Mickey Mouse ends up working for [[DrFakenstein Doctor Frankenonllie]], who forcibly switches Mickey's brain with that of his monster Julius. The result is a forced FreakyFridayFlip with Julius becoming a monstrous-looking Mickey, and the actual Mickey trying to get his body back.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the "Treehouse Of Horror II" story "Homer's Nightmare", Mr. Burns steals Homer's brain to put into a robot designed to be the perfect worker. Since this is Homer, that doesn't turn out to be the case.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZTheWorldsStrongest'': The plot of the movie is that [[MadScientist Doctor Wheelo]] is trying to replace Master Roshi's brain with his own so that he can have the body of the world's strongest warrior and escape his status of being a BrainInAJar. He changes his target to Goku when he learns he's the actual world's strongest warrior. It's not quite clear how he's expected to fit inside Goku's cranium though, [[MyBrainIsBig since his brain is huge]].

** A full-head version happens at the end of ''Manga/PhantomBlood'', where [[spoiler:[[BigBad Dio Brando]] as a head decapitates [[TheHero Jonathan Joestar]] and puts his head on his body. He's sealed away for almost a century until the events of ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'' where he becomes the BigBad again using Jonathan's body]].
** [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''Manga/BattleTendency'': [[spoiler:After having his body destroyed, the brain of Esidisi pulls off a desperate last move of [[GrandTheftMe hijacking Suzi Q's body]] so he can give his allies enough time for their own plans]].
* ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWaterTheMovie'': Giger had various world leader kidnapped and replaced with robots, their brains being "preleved" and stored in jars to provide Giger with more information about their owners to better move the robots.
* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Full head version. [[spoiler:After Akira kills Katsuya, Kain/Nergo who was following him with ChameleonCamouflage, scoops up Katsuya’s split in half head and takes it. He then has the other nationalists patch it together and uses BrainUploading to inhabit the repaired brain, in hopes of that making himself into the same kind of DifferentlyPoweredIndividual (Old World Connector). The transfer works but he doesn't gain the abilities. Kain talks to Yanigisawa looking just like Katsuya but with a crease through the center of his face.]]

* Creator/DCComics:

** ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': This is [[EvilGenius the Ultra-Humanite's]] gimmick. Originally a GeniusCripple, he surgically transfers his brain into better bodies. He normally uses an albino gorilla, but has also put his brain in an actress and a ''T. rex''. During ComicBook/PowerGirl's series, he tried to put his brain in her body to gain her Kryptonian powers.
* Creator/MarvelComics:
** After ComicBook/ProfessorX dies, the ComicBook/RedSkull graverobs his brain and revives it so he can put it in his own head. This gives him the professor's psychic powers and transforms him into [[ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} the Red Onslaught]].

* ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'': In the Creator/HPLovecraft story ''Literature/TheWhispererInDarkness'', the alien Mi-Go can perform operations on living creatures (including human beings) to remove their brains. The brains are placed in metal "brain cylinders", which can have other devices attached to them to allow the brains to listen, see and speak. In the story, after capturing a man named Akeley, the Mi-Go perform a brain-removal operation on him and store his brain in a cylinder.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': The B'omarr Monks are [[BrainInAJar brains in spider-like droid jars]] who become so to find enlightenment. While usually willing, in ''Literature/TalesFromJabbasPalace'' where they turn their deal with Bib Fortuna and put his brain in said spider droid-jars. Bib eventually escapes his predicament in ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'' by stealing a rival's brain and putting him in a BrainInAJar.
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In the ''Literature/ForgesOfMars'' trilogy, the robot Galatea steals people's brains in order to add them to its WetwareCPU network. It does this on a regular basis, typically to replace those brains that have gone crazy from decades of being trapped in a glass jar while a psychotic robot plunders their mind for information. [[spoiler:Linya Tychon]] becomes Galatea's latest victim in the second book.

A sub-trope of OrganTheft, though that generally concerns organs that can be transplanted in RealLife (usually kidneys). Compare and contrast BrainTransplant, which is usually when the brain is transplanted consensually, but they can overlap. If the only reason the brain is stolen is to be eaten, it's BrainFood, and if the brain is physically tampered with, it's a {{lobotomy}}. Can be used to perform a KillAndReplace.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_avengers_0.png]]]]

A sub-trope of BodySnatcher and OrganTheft, though the latter generally concerns organs that can be transplanted in RealLife (usually kidneys). Compare and contrast BrainTransplant, which is usually when the brain is transplanted consensually, but they can overlap. If the only reason the brain is stolen is to be eaten, it's BrainFood, and if the brain is physically tampered with, it's a {{lobotomy}}. Can be used to perform a KillAndReplace.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_avengers_0.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_avengers_1_cliffhanger_with_charles_xavier_brain.jpg]]]]

Of all the organs in the human body, the brain is the most important. Not only is it what's animating the body, but it's where the consciousness is stored. So of all the organs to thieve, it might be the most valuable. Maybe the MadScientist wants to do experiments on it or forcibly put someone's brain [[BrainInAJar in a fancy jar]]. Or somebody's looking [[GrandTheftMe to take that body for themselves]] and needs a vacancy. Whatever the motive, the pounds of protein in the skull's got a target on it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E14WelcomeToTheChumBucketFrankendoodle Welcome to the Chum Bucket]]", [[GoKartingWithBowser Mr. Krabs bets SpongeBob's contract in a poker game with Plankton]] and [[LostHimInACardGame loses]], which results in [=SpongeBob=] having to go to work at the Chum Bucket. However, he ends up being lazy and not doing his job. Frustrated with this, Plankton tears out his brain and puts it in a robot body in order for him to be a better worker. However, he still acts just as much of a LazyBum and Plankton gives up, puts his brain back in his body and, after admitting he [[CheatersNeverProsper cheated]] in the poker game, gives him back to Mr. Krabs, though not before Krabs asks him to cough up $50 to do so.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E14WelcomeToTheChumBucketFrankendoodle Welcome to the Chum Bucket]]", [[GoKartingWithBowser Mr. Krabs bets SpongeBob's contract in a poker game with Plankton]] and [[LostHimInACardGame loses]], which results in [=SpongeBob=] having to go to work at the Chum Bucket. However, he ends up being lazy and not doing his job. Frustrated with this, Plankton tears out his brain and puts it in a robot body in order for him to be a better worker. However, he still acts just as much of a LazyBum and Plankton gives up, puts his brain back in his body and, after admitting he [[CheatersNeverProsper cheated]] in the poker game, gives him back to Mr. Krabs.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E14WelcomeToTheChumBucketFrankendoodle Welcome to the Chum Bucket]]", Plankton wins [=SpongeBob=] in a bet, but he ends up being lazy and not doing his job. Frustrated with this, Plankton tears out his brain and puts it in a robot body to be a better worker. However he still acts just as much of a LazyBum and Plankton gives up, putting his brain back in his body and giving him back to Mr. Krabs.

* The titular theft in ''VideoGame/MathBlasterMysteryTheGreatBrainRobbery'' is of math genius Big Brain's brain.

A sub-trope of BodySnatcher and OrganTheft, though the latter generally concerns organs that can be transplanted in RealLife (usually kidneys). Compare and contrast BrainTransplant, which is usually when the brain is transplanted consensually, but they can overlap. If the only reason the brain is stolen is to be eaten, it's BrainFood, and if the brain is physically tampered with, it's a {{lobotomy}}. Can be used to perform a KillAndReplace

* ''Anime/DragonballZTheWorldsStrongest'': The plot of the movie is that [[MadScientist Doctor Wheelo]] is trying to replace Master Roshi's brain with his own so that he can have the body of the world's strongest warrior and escape his status of being a BrainInAJar. He changes his target to Goku when he learns he's the actual world's strongest warrior. It's not quite clear how he's expected to fit inside Goku's cranium though, [[MyBrainIsBig since his brain is huge]].

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': At the beginning of the ''Old World Blues'' DLC, the Courier's brain along with their heart and spine are removed and replaced with advanced technology. Near the end of the story, the player can choose to keep the implanted technology or have the organs returned with the help of an Auto-Doc Machine.

* ''Anime/DragonballZTheWorldsStrongest'': The plot of the movie is that [[MadScientist Doctor Wheelo]] is trying to replace Master Roshi's brain with his own, so that he can have the body of the world's strongest warrior and escape his status of being a BrainInAJar. He changes his target to Goku when he learns he's the actual world's strongest warrior. It's not quite clear how he's expected to fit inside Goku's cranium though, [[MyBrainIsBig since his brain is huge]].

** After ComicBook/ProfessorX dies, the ComicBook/RedSkull graverobs his brain and revives it so he can put it in his own head. This gives him the professor's psychic powers, and transforms him into [[ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} the Red Onslaught]].

* "Brain Doe" in ''Series/{{CSI}}'' involved a stolen cadaver brain found without a body after a car accident. It was switched with a brain donated for traumatic brain injury studies that would also have revealed that the brain’s owner had been illegally drugged by his sports trainer. It was swapped to cover it up and the guy who knew about it killed via the crash.

** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio The Return of Doctor Mysterio]]" involves alien brains who are trying to take human bodies for themselves. They do this to take over planets, and have tell-tale scars from it.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': The neh-thalggus, or brain collectors as most others know them, are one of the numerous races of monstrous aliens that make up the star-faring empire knows as the Dominion of the Black. Their name comes from their ability to remove brains from living humanoids and store them in special blisters on their bodies, which they wire into their own nervous systems in order to increase their intellect and brainpower. [[AndIMustScream The captured brains are still alive and aware through this process]]; the neh-thalggus don't care. Old and powerful neh-thalggus can absorb their stored brains to transform into larger, stronger yah-thelgaads; these can only store six brains at a time, but can collect the brains of non-humanoid organisms as well.

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': At the beginning of the ''Old World Blues'' DLC, the Courier's brain along with their heart and spine are removed and replaced with advanced technology. Near the end of the story the player can choose to keep the implanted technology or have the organs returned with the help of a Auto-Doc Machine.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'', there is a pepper-like compound simply referred to as "Super-Sneezing Powder" that can cause people to ''literally'' sneeze their brains out if inhaled. This is the primary tool the BigBad uses to steal the brains off all of the PsychicChildren so that he can create Psychic Death-Tanks and conquer the world with them.

* ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder'': At the beginning of the game, William "B.J." Blazkowicz, Fergus Reid and Private Probst Wyatt III take part in a massive Allied raid against a massive fortress on the coast of the Baltic Sea, reported to be the hideout of and weapons laboratory run by his arch nemesis, General Wilhelm "Deathshead" Strasse. After an infiltration attempt goes wrong, the three are cornered and captured by Deathshead and his Super Soldiers, where Blazkowicz is presented with a difficult moral choice: between Fergus and Wyatt, he must pick one of them to sacrifice to his nemesis' sick experiments or he will have everybody in the room killed. Whichever is chosen has their brains painfully (and very graphically) removed and used as the brain for the game's penultimate boss the Prototype Robot.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Klaus's backstory is that he was an Olympic Ski-jumper for East Germany, before the CIA took his brain and put it in the body of a goldfish so he wouldn't win the gold medal. The CIA still uses this technology throughout the series, using it to put the brain of Reginald into the body of a koala. Later on Klaus [[GrandTheftMe pulled the same stunt on Stan]] so he can have a human body and Stan [[WhosLaughingNow gets to see what life is like as a goldfish]], but they end up switched back at the end.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': A robotic version happens in "[[Recap/FuturamaS2E11HowHermesRequisitionedHisGrooveBack How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back]]". After catching Morgan Proctor sleeping with Fry he tries to go public with it but she steals his memory drive, effectively his brain. This reduces Bender to monotonely asking if he can bend girders, and the crew has to go to Central Bureaucracy to get the chip containing his personality back.

* In ''Film/TheManWithTwoBrains'', Dr Necessiter opportunistically removes the brains of a serial killer's victims and keeps them alive in jars.
* In ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace'', the government threatens to suck Gonzo's brain out with a huge machine that is like a cross between a drill and a vacuum cleaner (and is big enough to require a cart). Cue Gonzo screaming "[[BigNo NOOOOOO!]] I NEED MY BRAIN!"