History Main / LaserHallway

* The closing credits of ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'' had Nightshade navigating one wearing special goggles in order to see the lasers.

In [[RealLife reality]], low-power lasers can't be seen from the side, even with CoolShades; 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.

* Lampshaded in ''Machinima/FreemansMind'' while trying to navigate a room with tripmines placed on possibly every available surface, right near a couple of missiles already stored in the room. He also is confused as to why all lasers are visible in Black Mesa.

* ''Series/{{NTSFSDSUV}}'': Parodied when the team has to break into the NTSF database mainframe, which is protected by a single laser beam. Piper changes into a SpyCatsuit and does a full minute of gyrations and stripper poses around the laser before she gets past it (clearly parodying ''Film/{{Entrapment}}'' in particular). Her two colleagues just casually hop over it with one step.

* ''Film/UnderTenFlags'' (1960) had a British spy breaking the German naval codes out of a safe guarded by invisible beams (he put on infra-red goggles). Rather ironic when you realise the codes were actually obtained by the [[BoringButPractical less glamorous but methodical method]] of Ultra cryptography ([[DatedHistory still classified at the time the movie was made]]). Quite possibly the {{Trope Maker|s}}, since the first real-life laser was built the same year.

** In the first movie, most of TheSquad is slaughtered after they are locked in a hallway with lasers that slice them up like RazorFloss. First they try ducking, so another laser comes slicing up the hallway at knee high, and when one man tried to leap it, the laser raises so he's HalfTheManHeUsedToBe. The SoleSurvivor is able to do a CeilingCling to avoid it, but then a ''grid'' version appears so all he can do is say OhCrap before he's cubed. Which raises the question of why the BoobyTrap didn't just start with this.

* The laser hallway in ''Film/ResidentEvil2002'' where most of TheSquad is slaughtered and shredded into pieces, including one poor bastard who winds up getting "cubed." The contraption returns in ''Film/ResidentEvilExtinction''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode "Cat Man Do" a cat hypnotizes the Professor and the two go to the museum to steal the Cat's Eye Jewel. The Professor puts a container of grease on the floor and slides the cat under the lowest beam, leaving a trail of grease behind. The Professor then does the same and they steal the jewel.

** In episode one, Rin uses cigarette smoke to reveal the lasers in an [[AirVentPassageway air vent]]. She then tries to sneak through, but unfortunately [[spoiler:her butt trips the alarm]]. HilarityEnsues...immediately followed by Squick.

* ''Film/{{Cube}},'' the movie that inspired the famous ''Resident Evil'' scene, featured similar devices which sliced the characters to pieces whenever they entered a room. They worked with RazorFloss instead.

* A strange example in ''Franchise/StarWars Episode I: Film/ThePhantomMenace''. [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Laser_gate "Laser Gates"]] that turn on and off at intervals, but achieving the same purpose; breaking up the party so the bad guy can kill the mentor in single combat. Of course, as they were in the middle of a duel and not at all concerned about setting off alarms, there was absolutely no reason they couldn't use their lightsabers on the ''[[CuttingTheKnot emitters]].''

* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar 2'' has a laser hallway with instant-kill flamethrowers. One person must turn them off in sequence (only one can be off at a time) to allow the other to run the gauntlet.

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' has Quick Man'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 ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'' as a shout out.

* ''VideoGame/MissionImpossible1997'' has you descend through a laser grid to reach a computer terminal, just like in the [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first movie]].
* Common in ''VideoGame/MrShifty''.

* ''VideoGame/Persona2'': If you mention the Laser Trap in [[spoiler:Xibalba]] first, that's what you'll encounter. You will encounter it later anyway even if you didn't choose it.

** In ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' there is a mid-game level in which Kane comes across a few space marines near a laser hallway. The marines point out that the lasers are deadly, as discovered by one of them who foolishly thought he could dance his way through. Subverted for the player in that the tech among them points out that the lasers seem to be scanning for Strogg DNA, and Kane, having been stroggified and having the adequate physiology, can pass through unharmed. Later on, he disables the lasers and rejoins with the squad.

* ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest IV'' has one of these; you have to use cigarette smoke to see the lasers so you can adjust them to let you pass safely.

* ''{{VideoGame/Unreal}}'' features a laser hallway in one of its last levels.

* ''VideoGame/WinBack'' for the N64 has all sorts of horrible death lasers set up everywhere...including among the a.c. vents on the top of the main building. Not really explained how or why they were put there...but funny when the enemy freaks out and runs straight into one. Thankfully they move slowly enough Jean-Luc (yes, really) can somersault past. The blue variants don't kill immediately, but alert enemies or activate other traps.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* This has been seen at least twice on ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans''.

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

* The ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' "[[http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail178.html Bike Thief]]" features a laser hallway that's more of a Laser Couch.

* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/XMenzTheAnimatedSeries'', the beams are detected by smelling ozone, revealed by super-summoned fog, and shut down by scaling overhanging pipes to reach the control panel.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' one of these appears, somewhat [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys peculiarly]], in the genetics labs at Empire State University, to deter theft of the "ooze." This doesn't stop the ComicBook/BlackCat from trying, however.

* Robin and Red X both overcome a tangle of lasers that are protecting a Xenothium vault when Robin goes after whoever was in the Red X suit in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. Earlier, Red X dealt with a laser at ankle height by simply placing a mirror in its path, reflecting the beam upward.

* In the first episode of the '90s ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' series, the beams are detected by smelling ozone, revealed by super-summoned fog, and shut down by scaling overhanging pipes to reach the control panel.

** In the second episode of the third season.

* ''Film/{{Cube}},'' the movie that inspired that scene, featured similar devices which sliced the characters to pieces whenever they entered a room. They worked with RazorFloss instead.

* One features in the second episode of ''Anime/AngelBeats'', likely as a {{Homage}} to ''Film/ResidentEvil''. The group is trapped in a locked corridor and have to dodge the increasingly complicated laser patterns. [[spoiler:Matsushita]] ends up sliced into pieces, but of course, DeathIsCheap here and he revives soon after, although his clothes are shredded.

* The laser hallway in the ''Film/ResidentEvil'' movie where most of TheSquad is slaughtered and shredded into pieces, including one poor bastard who winds up getting "cubed." The contraption returns in ''Film/ResidentEvilExtinction''.

* ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'': [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3190 Part of the vault security.]]

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* Averted in ''Manga/GetterRobo'': In the second episode of ''New Getter Robo'' some people pass through laser sensors that weren't visible to them ([[RuleOfPerception only to the audience from an angle where they were practically pointed at the camera]]) and were aimed in five different angles, making it so it'd be all but impossible to get past them even if you could see them.

* ''Film/UnderTenFlags'' (1960) had a British spy breaking the German naval codes out of a safe guarded by invisible beams (he put on infra-red goggles). Rather ironic when you realise the codes were actually obtained by the [[BoringButPractical less glamorous but methodical method]] of Ultra cryptography ([[DatedHistory still classified at the time the movie was made]]). Quite possibly the {{Trope Maker|s}}, since the first real-life laser was built the same year.

* The laser hallway in the ''Film/ResidentEvil'' movie where most of TheSquad is slaughtered and shredded into pieces, including one poor bastard who winds up getting "cubed." The contraption returns in ''Film/ResidentEvilExtinction''.

* The entire plot of ''Film/{{Entrapment}}'' (1999) appears to have been constructed to provide an excuse for Creator/CatherineZetaJones to twist and bend her way through laser beams in a SpyCatsuit. According to WordOfGod, that is ''exactly'' why it was made.
* The most improbable laser hallway ever, as well as the most improbable method of moving through a laser hallway ever, appeared in ''Film/OceansTwelve'', in the lobby of a museum. Not only were there about two dozen beams, they were moving, and moreover, their movement was ''randomized'', which means there's no way to predict how and where to move through them. [[spoiler:Nonetheless, the French jewel thief extraordinaire (the Night Fox) makes it through. [[RefugeInAudacity By dancing.]]]]
* In ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'' 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.

* Appears in the 2008 ''Film/StTrinians'' movie, which gives us just about every heist movie trope in the space of thirty minutes.
* The... [[AntiHero 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]].
* Creator/JackBlack's character 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 strange example in ''Franchise/StarWars Episode I: Film/ThePhantomMenace''. [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Laser_gate "Laser Gates"]] that turn on and off at intervals, but achieving the same purpose; breaking up the party so the bad guy can kill the mentor in single combat. Of course, as they were in the middle of a duel and not at all concerned about setting off alarms, there was absolutely no reason they couldn't use their lightsabers on the ''[[CuttingTheKnot emitters]].''
* An early version of this trope occurs during the robbery that opens ''Film/TheReturnOfThePinkPanther'' (1975), with the beams (columns of bright light rather than visible lasers) revealed by an aerosol spray can.

* In ''Film/LupinIII2014'', Pierre demonstrates his LeParkour skills by dodging through a hallway full of lasers on his way to the MacGuffin of the opening heist.
* In the [[BatmanColdOpen opening caper]] of the 2012 Korean heist movie ''The Thieves'', a member of the gang (posing as a TwerpSweating mother) gains access to the laser-guarded vault beforehand (under the pretext of ensuring her future son-in-law has sufficient money) and leaves some chewing gum on the laser projector as she walks out. The chewing gum falls off before they've completed the theft, but fortunately the 'mother' and her 'daughter' don't have the stolen artifact on them when they're searched, having already passed it on to another member of the gang.

* In ''Film/MuppetsMostWanted'', Dominic Badguy reacts to the Tower of London defence system with "Oh, come on, not a laser web! Right, get the [[BuffySpeak suspendy rope thing]] and my really cool skintight outfit." After doing some acrobatics through the revolving lasers, he is able to shut them off with Thomas Blood's medallion, implying either that the laser web is 400 years old, or that the people who installed it thought it was a good idea to tie it directly to the ''last'' person who came close to stealing the Crown Jewels.
* Creator/PaulWSAnderson is clearly fond of this trope, as ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers2011'' sees Creator/MillaJovovich leaping through one - only without actual lasers. Not having electricity, it uses invisible razor wire instead.
* Played for laughs in ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' in a scene where Scott Lang is playing a ridiculously intricate game of "Thief" with his young daughter Cassie. At one point, the two find themselves in a "tech facility" which has one of these -- or rather, a mock-up of one of these courtesy of a light with a red filter and some carefully hung twine.
* Appears in ''Film/HeroesWanted'', complete with visible lasers. There is not enough room to get through, so the team gets it disabled by their tech person, only to have it switch back on halfway down the hallway due to them tripping a thermal sensor.

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!!!'''TV Movies:'''
* In ''Film/ItsAVeryMerryMuppetChristmasMovie'', Fozzie Bear, while trying to deliver a bag of money to the bank, is nearly prevented by doing so by the evil owner of the bank by one of these. Instead of actually triggering an alarm, these lasers are military-esque grade weaponry, which '''burn''' anything they come into contact with. Fozzie Bear ''runs through the burning lasers'', just to realize he forgot the bag. [[BlackComedy Painful]] HilarityEnsues, as he manages to run through them again and back.

* Mindless Behavior's video [[https://youtu.be/5w7RJRMwN2E?t=146 "Keep Her On The Low"]] features the boys attempting to get through a glowing green laser hallway, with one member, Princeton's afro curls eventually cutting one of the lasers.

* Lampshaded in ''Machinima/FreemansMind'' while trying to navigate a room with tripmines placed on possibly every available surface, right near a couple of missiles already stored in the room. He also is confused as to why all lasers are visible in Black Mesa.

* A [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/11082002/ one shot]] gag in ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'' shows that apparently there are a few lasers involved in the museum's security system.

* An episode of the short-lived 80's TV show ''Series/TheMaster'' had John and Max have to navigate one of these.

* Used three times in the challenge of ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama''. In the episode "Dial M for Merger" (Action), "Can't Help Falling In Louvre" (World Tour) and "Scarlett Fever" (Pahkitew Island).

** The first episode of the reboot has Scrooge and Dewey encounter a bridge containing one of these, with Donald Duck below them on a lower level. Interestingly, Scrooge -- who is more interested in the smart approach than the thrilling one -- recommends they just find another way around, but Dewey, in this continuity an action junkie, insists on unnecessarily crossing through the lasers. And for further face-palming value, he seems to think that the point of such a bridge is to activate every single laser, meaning he would have been fried to a crisp had Donald not been underneath preventing this with a metal shield (alternatively, he could be trying to do the "Dance to avoid lasers" trick, which [[RealityEnsues obviously doesn't work]]).