History Main / LaserHallway

* In ''LightNovel/GoshuushouSamaNinomiyaKun'' this trope is combined with [[spoiler:[[GagBoobs gag boobs]]]] to comical effect. After much careful sidestepping, the lasers eventually [[spoiler:Tsukimura Mayu's breast obscures one of the (sensory-only) beams and sets off the security response.]]

* In ''LightNovel/GoshuushouSamaNinomiyaKun'' this trope is combined with [[spoiler:[[GagBoobs gag boobs]]]] to comical effect. After much careful sidestepping the lasers eventually [[spoiler:Tsukimura Mayu's breast obscures one of the (sensory-only) beams and sets off the security response.]]

* JackBlack navigates his way through a laser hallway in order to reach the Pick of Destiny in ''Film/TenaciousDInThePickOfDestiny''. The lasers themselves are fairly standard; however, this is probably the only example on this page that involves [[ChekhovsSkill deactivating them with the genitals]].

* A laser hallway was used as a security measure in one episode of the new ''Series/DoctorWho''. [[spoiler: The Doctor got through it by sonic screwdriver hacking; his force-grown cloned daughter, arriving late, had to resort to SheFu gymnastics.]]

* The... er, heroes... of ''Film/AliGIndahouse'' have to cross a room criss-crossed with lasers. Naturally they can't see the beams, so "Dave, we has to use your special powers." [[spoiler:Dave lights up his bong, takes a good strong hit, and blows the smoke out into the room]]. Once the lasers are visible, they can be avoided -- and the best way to do that of course is to [[spoiler:dance the Robot the whole way]].
* Jack Black navigates his way through a laser hallway in order to reach the Pick of Destiny in ''Film/TenaciousDInThePickOfDestiny''. The lasers themselves are fairly standard; however, this is probably the only example on this page that involves [[ChekhovsSkill deactivating them with the genitals]].

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' has Quickman's...pretty much the entire level. Here, though, the laser beams are huge and kill you if you so much as touch them. You will also see them in MegaManX 5 as a shout out.

* As a potential {{shoutout}} to [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Quickman's stage]], ''VideoGame/AngryVideoGameNerdAdventures'' has timed instant-death rays in the "Future Fuckballs 2010" and "Laughin' Jokin' Numbnuts" stages.

* ''VideoGame/AngryVideoGameNerdAdventures'' has timed instant-death rays in the "Future Fuckballs 2010" and "Laughin' Jokin' Numbnuts" stages.

[[folder:MusicVideos]]

* Music/LindseyStirling's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p0BqUcQ7i0 collaboration with The Piano Guys]] uses this. The red lasers contrast with a predominantly black-and-white video. Lindsey carefully plays her way through, around, and under the beams, but the cellist simply turns off the alarm system to walk through.

* ''{{Cube}},'' the movie that inspired that scene, featured similar devices which sliced the characters to pieces whenever they entered a room.

* Appears in the 2008 ''StTrinians'' movie, which gives us just about every heist movie trope in the space of thirty minutes.

* A strange example in ''StarWars Episode I: ThePhantomMenace''. Not actually laser, rather forcefields that turn on and off at intervals, but achieving the same purpose. They were strong enough to stop a lightsaber, so they'd probably disintegrate anyone stupid enough to step into one, but the characters were all smarter than that.

* The ''MythBusters'' thoroughly debunked this trope, first by discovering that visible laser security systems such as these simply don't exist (invisible infrared laser systems are sold instead), and secondly by demonstrating that even with a crude homemade mockup of the typical laser hallway most of the usual "circumvention methods" used on TV and the movies won't work, and can in fact trigger it. Specifically, they found that blowing smoke/powder at red lasers (jury-rigged from laser pointers) does make them visible, but not long or well enough to be very helpful without setting them off. Night-vision goggles plus powder make even IR beams visible, but with the same problem. Deflecting a beam with a mirror or hitting the detector with another beam worked, but was impractical. And most of their attempts assume beams placed so you could squeeze past them if only you knew where they were. Ironically, the ultrasonic motion sensors can be beaten with the ludicrous methods (tried almost on a whim by the producers) of holding up a bedsheet or simply walking at a snail's pace. Were it not for the fact that these methods violate the RuleOfCool, I'm sure we'd have seen Tom Cruise using them in the next ''MissionImpossible'' movie.

* In the third season ''[[{{CSINY}} CSI: New York]]'' episode "Snow Day", the lab is infiltrated by drug dealers. After capturing one of them, Mac rigs up a makeshift claymore mine to keep him in place, using a web of laser beams to bar the hallway. [[spoiler:At the end of the episode, the leader of the drug leaders dives for the machine gun that slid under the web. Mac takes cover, but the criminals ([[TrashTheSet and a sizable portion of the lab]]) go up in a massive fireball.]]

* In ''TheBigBangTheory'', the characters build such a system just for fun: they play a game, where the players have to avoid the lasers, to make a move in a chess match. Or ''[[MundaneMadeAwesome eat a slice of pizza]]''.

* Lex's secret lab in the ''{{Smallville}}'' episode "Mortal" is guarded by the deadly version. Since Clark has been BroughtDownToNormal, this is more of a problem than usual. A laser-guarded room full of priceless artifacts also makes an appearance in the season 6 episode "Arrow" - Green Arrow circumvents the (green) lasers with a crystal-tipped arrow.
* [[{{Psych}} Shawn and Gus]] encountered one of these. The more limber Gus wove his way through the laser hallway and Shawn [[spoiler:just walked through, because he had already turned off the alarms]].
* ''{{Chuck}}''

* Natsuki and Mai prepare to infiltrate a LaserHallway in ''Anime/{{Mai-HiME}}'', only to discover that Mikoto has already walked into the lasers and triggered the alarms.

* The ''MythBusters'' thoroughly debunked this trope, first by discovering that visible laser security systems such as these simply don't exist (invisible infrared laser systems are sold instead), and secondly by demonstrating that even with a crude homemade mockup of the typical LaserHallway most of the usual "circumvention methods" used on TV and the movies won't work, and can in fact trigger it. Specifically, they found that blowing smoke/powder at red lasers (jury-rigged from laser pointers) does make them visible, but not long or well enough to be very helpful without setting them off. Night-vision goggles plus powder make even IR beams visible, but with the same problem. Deflecting a beam with a mirror or hitting the detector with another beam worked, but was impractical. And most of their attempts assume beams placed so you could squeeze past them if only you knew where they were. Ironically, the ultrasonic motion sensors can be beaten with the ludicrous methods (tried almost on a whim by the producers) of holding up a bedsheet or simply walking at a snail's pace. Were it not for the fact that these methods violate the RuleOfCool, I'm sure we'd have seen Tom Cruise using them in the next ''MissionImpossible'' movie.

* [[{{Psych}} Shawn and Gus]] encountered one of these. The more limber Gus wove his way through the LaserHallway and Shawn [[spoiler:just walked through, because he had already turned off the alarms]].

* ''FightScience'' employed a non-moving visible LaserHallway to demonstrate a female ninja's flexibility and kinesthetic sense. [[http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/fight-science#tab-Videos/07741_00 She clears the room in 56 seconds and does a back walkover out of the room just to show off]].

* In ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' there is a level in which the player comes across a few space marines nearby a LaserHallway. The marines point out that the lasers are deadly, as discovered by one of them who foolishly thought he could dance his way through. The player, however, having been mostly stroggified, can pass through without triggering the trap.
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', Leon has to dodge through a LaserHallway about halfway through the game -- which is actually a nod to the movie. This happens again in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheUmbrellaChronicles'' when Chris and Jill infiltrate an Umbrella base at the end of the game.

* The ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' series features some Morph Ball tunnels with lasers, hallways with [[EyeBeam eye-like structures that shoot lasers]], and in ''Prime 2'', a regular Laser Hallway (though with not many lasers). ''Prime 3'' has a single corridor wired with invisible lasers, designed to teach the player to use their shiny new X-ray visor to look for traps like this.

* There is actually a LaserHallway in ''VideoGame/{{Zork}} III,'' yet another of the series' numerous anachronisms.

** In ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'', the first UnexpectedGameplayChange to RhythmGame is in a particularly mean LaserHallway.

* ''PerfectDark'' had a laser hallway in an early level that could only be circumvented by waiting for a maintenance robot to pass though and temporarily deactivate it. A later level has a huge laser grid surrounding Air Force One that required you to find a way around it.

* ''{{PN 03}}'' has a number of standard laser hallways, as well as WaveMotionGun-caliber [[OneHitKill death beams]].
* The ''CityOfHeroes'' "Casino Heist" Summer Event mission, being based on the tropes of TheCaper, has one of these.

* The [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Strong Bad Email]] ''[[http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail178.html Bike Thief]]'' features a LaserHallway that's more of a Laser Couch.

* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', Yumi encounters once a Laser Hallway of the deadly variety in Sector 5. Good thing she's the most acrobatic of the team.

* Doctor Doofenschmirtz installs an "anti-platypus security" system in one episode of ''PhineasAndFerb'' that includes a LaserHallway, among other traps. Naturally, Perry manages to avoid every trap easily.

* The... er, heroes... of ''Ali G Indahouse'' have to cross a room criss-crossed with lasers. Naturally they can't see the beams, so "Dave, we has to use your special powers." [[spoiler:Dave lights up his bong, takes a good strong hit, and blows the smoke out into the room]]. Once the lasers are visible, they can be avoided -- and the best way to do that of course is to [[spoiler:dance the Robot the whole way]].

* ''Sly Cooper & the Thievius Raccoonus'' had tons of these scattered throughout. Initially sensory, they would switch over to weapons-grade lasers if they detected intrusion. They were, in all cases, visible from any angle without any need to apply phlebotinum. A Making Of video in the third game showed beta footage of Sly using a spray can of some sort to use in order to see invisible lasers within a maze.

* In TelltaleGames' "Hector: Badge of Carnage" you break into the backroom of a sex shop only to find one of those in your path. You get through it by [[spoiler: flipping the switch located right by the entrance to turn off the lasers]]. Hector is way too fat to squeeze through the gaps in the laser grid.

* A few instances in ''Penumbra'' appear in some varied forms.

* The closing credits of ''C.O.P.S.'' had Nightshade navigating one wearing special goggles in order to see the lasers.

** The TomBaker arc "City of Death" features a variation; as Count Scarlioni demonstrates how he plans to steal the [[MonaLisaSmile Mona Lisa]], he shows a holographic recreation of the famed painting in the Louvre. He shows a laser grid in front of the painting which will trigger "every alarm in Paris" if tripped. Using a device that will [[TechnoBabble "alter the refractive index of the air itself"]], he bends the laser beams so the Mona Lisa can be removed safely.

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/OzzyAndDrix''. Drix and his partner encounter a laser hallway blocking the entrance to "The Fear Center". Drix gets through it by squeezing between every laser as carefully yet clumsily he can. After he's done, his partner, who is a cop, simply pulls out her ID card and deactivates the lasers.

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/OsmosisJones''. Drix and his partner encounter a laser hallway blocking the entrance to "The Fear Center". Drix gets through it by squeezing between every laser as carefully yet clumsily he can. After he's done, his partner, who is a cop, simply pulls out her ID card and deactivates the lasers.

* The episode "Double Date" from JusticeLeagueUnlimited sees Huntress use an aerosol spray to reveal lasers in Mandragora's home. She simply vaults and flips through them.

* A few instances in ''VideoGame/Penumbra'' appear in some varied forms.

* It appears an Intel ad for their I5 processor, featuring the ''{{Madagascar}}'' penguins trying to steal said processor.

* In ''ExecutiveDecision'', the concept of the laser hallway is shrunk and applied to a bomb. There are two metal contacts that, if they touch, close the circuit and detonate the bomb. All around the contacts there are (unmoving) laser beams which, if interrupted, would detonate the bomb as well. One of the good guys dons what look like ordinary night vision goggles that give him the ability to see the beams, so he can hold a plastic straw in between the contacts without interrupting any of them.
* The entire plot of ''{{Entrapment}}'' (1999) appears to have been constructed to provide an excuse for Catherine Zeta-Jones to twist and bend her way through laser beams in a SpyCatsuit.

* In ''[[ViewAskewniverse Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back]]'' the jewel thieves make their way through a laser hallway using various different acrobatics (each trying to upstage the last). They're foiled however when the last girl through ([[Series/{{Heroes}} Ali Larter by the way]]) lets one rip through her SpyCatsuit as a result of eating fast food. This sets off the audio detection alarm.

* ''ThePacifier'' has a laser-and-pressure-plate hallway that can only be navigated by [[ChekhovsSkill doing the goofy dance]] the DisappearedDad taught his smallest child.

In reality, low-power lasers can't be seen from the side, even with cool shades; they don't energize the air enough with photons to cause it to glow, and any laser that ''would'' give off a glow would be harmful or even deadly to touch. The aerosol trick does work on visible-frequency lasers, but if it scatters too much energy the alarm will still go off. Diverting a laser sensor with mirrors works in principle. In practice, however, it would be impossible to position the mirrors with enough precision to pull it off, or to find mirrors sufficiently flawless that they could be moved into place without their edges breaking the beam.

->''"There is one neat effect when characters unwisely venture into a corridor and the door slams shut on them. Then a laser beam passes at head level, decapitating one. Another beam whizzes past at waist level, cutting the second in two while the others duck. A third laser pretends to be high but then switches to low, but the third character outsmarts it by jumping at the last minute. Then the fourth laser turns into a grid that dices its victim into pieces the size of a Big Mac. Since the grid is inescapable, what were the earlier lasers about? Does the corridor have a sense of humor?"''

* In ''TheCrystalMaze'', there was one game in the Future Zone (inspired from the original in ''FortBoyard'') which operated on a similar principle -- using strings. Ringing a bell attached to one of the strings set off a warning. Three and it was an automatic lock-in.
** ''FortBoyard'' reintroduced a laser hallway challenge in 2012... again, using strings that set off an alarm when touched. Touching about five strings appears to be enough to lock in the contestant.

* Jack Black navigates his way through a laser hallway in order to reach the Pick of Destiny in ''TenaciousDInThePickOfDestiny.'' The lasers themselves are fairly standard; however, this is probably the only example on this page that involves [[ChekhovsSkill deactivating them with the genitals]].