History Main / DesperateObjectCatch

Likely to be shown in SloMo.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/5bb2e63c8a52b215bf422f563e2cf40a.jpg]]]]

* Another villain version in ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Tavis has sent an android disguised as a female rebel leader with a tiny sphere of virus to Blake's ship. Our hero discovers the plot, and reprograms the android for a HostageForMcGuffin trade so it will drop the sphere on a verbal command or (unstated) movement. After Blake beams out, Travis tries to edge close to the android...then makes a desperate lunge as she opens her hand, grabbing the sphere before it hits the ground.

* Another villain version in ''Series/{{Blakes 7}}''. Tavis has sent an android disguised as a female rebel leader with a tiny sphere of virus to Blake's ship. Our hero discovers the plot, and reprograms the android for a HostageForMcGuffin trade so it will drop the sphere on a verbal command or (unstated) movement. After Blake beams out, Travis tries to edge close to the android...then makes a desperate lunge as she opens her hand, grabbing the sphere before it hits the ground.

* An early demonstration of Peter's super-reflexes in ''Film/SpiderMan'' has him catching a flung lunch tray, complete with all its scattering contents, in about one second. Not life or death, but it ''does'' spare Mary Jane from being spattered with food, which is pretty important to Peter.

* By the end of ''BeavisAndButtheadDoAmerica,'' an unstable MacGuffin of Mass Destruction is accidentally sent flying, when a soldier tries to seize it, to the horror of authorities. Cue it [[AccidentalHero softly thumping onto Butt-Head's hair and bouncing onto his opened palm.]] SloMo included.

** In November 2014, ''two'' one-handed catches for touchdowns hit the highlight reels, one day apart. First, University of Virginia receiver Canaan Severin [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3HKGjBKtA grabs the ball with his fingertips and dives into the end zone.]] Roughly 24 hours later, the New York Giants' Odell Beckham, Jr. performed what some already call [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFNfhtlSnLc one of the greatest catches in football history]]. You would not be faulted for confusing it with a yoga pose or ballet move.

** In November 2014, ''two'' one-handed catches for touchdowns hit the highlight reels, one day apart. First, University of Virginia receiver Canaan Severin [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3HKGjBKtA grabs the ball with his fingertips and dives into the end zone.]] Roughly 24 hours later, the New York Giants' Odell Beckham, Jr. performed what some already call [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hn7ur1f30g one of the greatest catches in football history]]. You would not be faulted for confusing it with a yoga pose or ballet move.

** In November 2014, ''two'' one-handed catches for touchdowns hit the highlight reels, one day apart. First, University of Virginia receiver Canaan Severin [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3HKGjBKtA grabs the ball with his fingertips and dives into the end zone.]] Roughly 24 hours later, the Dallas Cowboys' Odell Beckham, Jr. performed what some already call [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hn7ur1f30g one of the greatest catches in football history]]. You would not be faulted for confusing it with a yoga pose or ballet move.

** In November 2014, ''two'' one-handed catches for touchdowns hit the highlight reels, one day apart. First, Virginia receiver Canaan Severin [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3HKGjBKtA grabs the ball with his fingertips and dives into the end zone.]] Roughly 24 hours later, Odell Beckham, Jr. has what some already call [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hn7ur1f30g one of the greatest catches in football history]]. You would not be faulted for confusing it with a yoga pose or ballet move.

** In November 2014, ''two'' one-handed catches for touchdowns hit the highlight reels, one day apart. First, Virginia receiver Canaan Severin [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5WPTb6GMco grabs the ball with his fingertips and vaults into the end zone.]] Roughly 24 hours later, Odell Beckham, Jr. has what some already call [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hn7ur1f30g one of the greatest catches in football history]]. You would not be faulted for confusing it with a yoga pose or ballet move.

* In American football, the purpose of a Hail Mary toss is to invoke this trope in hopes of scoring desperately needed points.

* In ''Film/RiskyBusiness'', Guido the pimp throws Joel's mom's crystal egg award at Joel, so Joel has to catch it so it doesn't break.

Sometimes PlayedForLaughs by having a character catch a ''non-essential'' falling object with [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome just as much drama]] as if the situation were life and death, even if all that's at risk is a nice clean floor. Occasionally subverted when the thrown object turns out to be harmless, as when DrillSergeantNasty tosses a dud grenade at trainees to watch how they react.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} Shrek 2]]'': After Puss pulls the Happily Ever After potion from its containment, he loses his grip, causing it to fly through the air; just before it hits the ground, Donkey manages to catch it in his mouth.

* ''Film/{{Airplane}} II The Sequel''. One of the passengers aboard the Lunar Shuttle has brought a bomb on board. During a struggle the bomb is thrown up into the air and a dog jumps into the air to catch it before it hits the floor and detonates.

* The Franchise/HarryPotter franchise has a situation in ''Order of the Phoenix'', in which the ''baddies'' try to catch the object. The prophecy everyone is after is confined in a glass globe that's about to hit the floor. Lucius Malfoy makes a desperate grab for it but misses and it shatters.

* There's an entire sequence of priceless Ming vases that he must keep safe in the ''Film/RushHour'' movies to showcase Jackie Chan's amazing reflexes and skills.

* Often done horizontally by soccer goalies, although deflection instead of catching the ball is also sufficient.

Sister trope to CatchAFallingStar, when it's a falling ''character'' that has to be caught in mid-plummet. Sometimes the follow-up of a DramaticDrop, and a potential finale for some SportsStories. A common complication during a MissionImpossibleCableDrop. DishDash is a mass comedy version.

Sometimes PlayedForLaughs by having a character catch a ''non-essential'' falling object with [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome just as much drama]] as if the situation were life and death, even if all that's at risk is a nice clean floor. Occasionally subverted when the thrown object turns out to be harmless, as when DrillSergeantNasty tosses a dud grenade at trainees to watch how they react.

Sister trope to CatchAFallingStar, when it's a falling ''character'' that has to be caught in mid-plummet. Sometimes the follow-up of a DramaticDrop. A common complication during a MissionImpossibleCableDrop. DishDash is a mass comedy version.