History Main / LaserSight

** Let's not forget the rocket launcher in both games--although that laser's meant to guide the shooter and the projectile.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ghostrunner}}: Some sniper enemies have massive red-laser sights, conveniently telling you when you need to run and hide to avoid getting one-shot by them.

* ''Film/{{Cobra}}''. The cop played by Creator/SylvesterStallone uses a [[RareGuns Jati submachine gun]] with laser sight. While in a factory he uses the sight to distract some mooks by detaching it and leaving it switched on in a dark room. While the mooks are sneaking up on where they think Stallone is, he jumps them from behind.

* ''VideoGame/GhostRecon: Future Soldier'' features the same attachment for most weapons, increasing your control over the weapon when firing; you can't turn it off in this game, but enemies can't notice you aiming at them with it, either. Setting up sync-shots also results in each teammate's gun emitting a blue laser through the [[DiegeticHUD Cross-com]] when they're ready to fire. Enemy snipers have the more traditional fully-visible laser so the player knows where they're about to be shot from; at one point in a cutscene, the player character warns the team that they're about to be ambushed ''because'' [[TooDumbToLive the enemy snipers are using said lasers]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', Charger-type weapons display a laser sight while they're being charged.

* [[StaticStunGun Tasers]] often have laser sights as well. However they are more effective than on firearms due to the short range and general inaccuracy of a standard taser. The intimidation factor is also more justified in law enforcement as taser use is much less restricted that firearm use (obviously) and the appearance of a dot on someone along with a threat to use a taser can often get someone to surrender.

** ''VideoGame/GhostReconWildlands'', which is [[UpToEleven even more]] GunPorn-heavy than ''Future Soldier'', offers a wide variety of laser sights as part of its GunAccessories repertoire. Most are single-beam models, but a few actually have Franchise/{{Predator}}-style triple beams instead. All laser sights increase a gun's accuracy (and sometimes its effective range) by a margin dependent on their respective tier/quality, but many of them are also [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome quite bulky and therefore make the weapon more unwieldy]]. Strangely, despite most models being compatible with standardized rail systems like Picatinny or Weaver, laser sights aren't interchangeable between weapon classes - a handgun sight can only be fitted to handguns, never to submachine guns or assault rifles even if they use the same rail system. In keeping with the rather downplayed realism, no enemy in ''Wildlands'' will ever notice being lasered even when you shine the dot(s) straight into a sicario's or soldier's eyes. Conversely, hostile snipers are smart enough to not use them, making those suckers exceedingly dangerous if you didn't spot and tag them before they spot you.

** ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E1TheMagiciansApprentice "The Magician's Apprentice"]], eight UNIT snipers train their laser-sights on Missy. This is justified on two levels: as she is a Time Lady, very specific spots on Missy's body need to be hit to stop her in case she does something funny, so precision is required; and it was ''Missy herself'' who requested the snipers, so that seeing her visibly targeted would have made Clara and the rest of UNIT trust her.

* ''Film/TheTerminator''. "The .45 longslide, with laser sighting." At the time, laser sights were nowhere near as common as they are now, and Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger had to hide the battery up his sleeve. [[FridgeLogic Of course, this invites the question as to why an advanced cyborg with night vision who can probably calculate the ballistics of a round would need to use a laser sight.]] But it does give a [[RuleOfCool cool]] ImpendingDoomPOV when Sarah Connor's vision goes red as the Terminator puts the laser dot right between her eyes.
* ''Film/RoboCop3''. A criminal enters a cafe/doughnut shop, unaware that the old cliche about doughnut shops being a standard hangout for cops actually applies to this establishment. As soon as he pulls out his piece and demands money from the cashier, there is what could be called a ''ClickHello'' on steroids, followed by three laser sights pointed at the poor sap's face. DonutMessWithACop!
--> ''What's it like, [[ThisAintRocketSurgery being a rocket scientist?]]''
* ''Leon / Film/TheProfessional'', where {{Laser Sight}}s appear like cutting beams through a window, to be avoided by the AntiHero protagonist and his LittleMissBadass tag-along.
* ''Franchise/{{Predator}}''
** The Predator from ''Film/{{Predator}}'' uses a cluster of three laser pointers [[HelmetMountedSight built into his helmet]], presumably for triangulation. These are arranged in a triangular pattern, make a distinctive sound, and are used to target its shoulder cannon. From the POV of the Predator's helmet, they appear as three red lines that come together in a triangle when the target is locked.
** Used to the extreme in the trailer for ''Film/{{Predators}}'' when a character is ''bathed'' in these marks. [[NeverTrustATrailer It's only one of them in the actual movie, though.]]

* Kind of a typical scene in ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct132005'' when a multitudes of laser pointers cross the entire interior. Apparently, pulling the shades on windows is adequate defense.

* ''Film/TheSubstitute2SchoolsOut'' invokes this trope to intimidate a group of gang-members by making them believe they are being covered by a like-number of hidden snipers, they are actually being covered by a single man with a gimbal-rig holding several laser-pointers.

* ''Film/{{Cobra}}''. The cop played by Creator/SylvesterStallone uses a [[RareGuns Jati submachine gun]] with laser sight. While in a factory he uses the sight to distract some mooks by detaching it and leaving it switched on in a dark room. While the mooks are sneaking up on where they think Stallone is, he jumps them from behind.
* ''Film/{{Wanted}}''. Towards the beginning of the movie, a man is shown talking with a woman, and a laser-point appears on her forehead prior to a BoomHeadshot. Possible lampshade, however, as she was Indian, she had a bindi, which was naturally where the sniper aimed anyway. The man doesn't realize it's a laser sight until she moves her head (meaning the laser is no longer on the bindi), but by that point it's too late. On subsequent viewings, it's pretty obviously a laser sight.

* The trademark weapon of Creator/KurtRussell's character in ''Film/TangoAndCash'' is a revolver with a laser sight mounted on top. However, since the movie is from the eighties, the laser-pointer is about as big as the weapon itself.

* In ''Film/LethalWeapon4'', Riggs adds a laser sight to his gun despite his already ImprobableAimingSkills. Early in the film he uses it to accurately plot a ricochet --off a [[RuleOfCool rusted pipe]]!-- and take out a mook who's taken cover. Later he uses it to intimidate Jet Li and force his gang to stand down.

* Used in the 2006 Geoffrey Wright version of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' in which the Shakespearean villain is an Australian crime boss. Macduff's forces have laser sights on their assault rifles, switched on while sneaking through the woods towards Macbeth's house in the middle of the night, yet for some reason [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy none of the guards see them]].
* In the ActionPrologue of ''Film/TheExpendables'', [[RuthlessModernPirates Somali pirates]] are about execute their hostages when a bag of ransom money drops in their midst. The pirate leader immediately shouts at his men not to shoot at the protagonists whom they see covering them with their rifles, because he's got several laser beams specifically on his chest. So justified, though he turns out to be TooDumbToLive anyway.
* ''Film/{{Colombiana}}''. An [[CIAEvilFBIGood FBI agent is trying to convince a CIA]] JerkAss to hand over information on the Columbian cartel member the hitwoman protagonist wants revenge on. The CIA dude refuses, even when the FBI guy says she's threatening his family. CIA dude then gets a red dot on his chest, but isn't impressed as the windows are armoured glass. Cue a bullet punching through the glass into a picture of the President. The CIA dude has a sudden attitude adjustment.
* ''Film/ThePeacemaker'' during the hijacking of the nuclear train a team of assassins take a position on one side of a train car to gun down at least a dozen sleeping soldiers. It's dark enough that the only light in the car are the lasers and the assassins are wearing night vision goggles. The troops suddenly wake up and the bright red dots are their only indication of what's about to happen.
* ''Film/ScarredCity'' the police use laser-equipped rifles as part of an initiation ceremony for a new member of the team. They chain him to a chair and shoot hundreds of rounds around him. His restraints are then shot off with the laser-aimed bullet. Later that cop enlists the help of a prostitute to take down a mobster and the bad cops by revealing she has one of these rifles. When the cop dismisses her abilities, she lampshades the trope by reminding them "Where the red dot aims, the bullet goes. Kinda takes all the skill out of shooting." She was close enough that real-world ballistics wouldn't have affected her shot that badly.
* Used for AnachronismStew effect in the opening scene of ''Film/{{Timecop}}'', in which criminals are using time travel for personal gain. A lone man confronts five UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar soldiers escorting a Confederate gold shipment; when they draw their revolvers, he guns them down with laser-sighted GunsAkimbo machine pistols.
* Used realistically in ''Film/ActOfValor'' since Chief Dave is an actual Navy SEAL. He turns his sight on and off as he moves through the terrorist compound in the climax, only keeping it on longer than a moment if he's firing at a target.
* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'', surprisingly enough, uses it realistically in the final battle when the US forces try to destroy Megatron's loyal underling Blackout. SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome occurs when said Decepticon sees the targeting laser on his arm.
* In the climax of ''Film/TheRecruit'' James Clayton exits the building to find an army of CIA agents with weapons pointed at him emphasized by at least a half a dozen red dots on his chest. Then it is revealed that his mentor Walter Burke, who had been trying to kill him, is TheMole, and all of the red dots move conspicuously from James' chest to Walter's.
* Manu has a laser sight mounted on his sniper rifle in ''Film/{{Dobermann}}''. The first time it is used, he puts a red dot on Dobermann's forehead at the junkyard, which is just him showing off. However, when the same red dot appears on the rookie cop's forehead during the bank job, the audience knows something bad is about to happen.
* Used by the antagonists in ''Film/{{Kate}}'' during the finale after the defenders cut the lights. Users are much easier to target in the dark.
* ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives:'' Deputy Rick's gun has a mail order laser sight that he's quite proud of. [[HoistByTheirOwnPetard Megan steals it to hold Rick at gunpoint and make him release Tommy from the jail cell, and then lock himself in.]] An amused Tommy makes an IronicEcho to a comment Rick made earlier while pointing the gun at him.
--> '''Rick:''' Wherever the red dot goes, you bang.

* In a notable exception, an episode of ''Series/CSIMiami'' features a military-trained sniper shooting random civilians, with absolutely no warning as to where or when he was going to strike... not even a laser sight. He even used a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghillie_suit Ghillie Suit]] to avoid being spotted from the air.
* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in an episode of ''Series/TheSentinel'', where the hero's friend protected him from angry mobsters by using a laser pointer and a pair of binoculars to simulate a sniper, forcing them to back down.
* Subverted on ''Series/MysteryWoman'', "In The Shadows"; Philby and Cassie escape a sniper when he notices the red dot. [[spoiler:The dot was actually created by a friendly party warning them about the sniper.]]

* The members of [[Series/StargateSG1 SG-1]] all use [=P90s=] that come equipped with laser sights, but they are almost never used. One time a laser sight was used it was to mark a target for a missile strike.
* Played straight in ''Series/RoboCopTheSeries'', where a criminal is knocked to the ground. When his head clears, he has about a dozen laser dots on his chest.
* There was an episode of ''Series/TheEqualizer'' where a professional hitman is trying to kill a murderous thug who'd taken hostages in a building which only happened because the thug had seen the hitman's laser sight [[IdiotBall waving about on the wall next to him]] and ran for it.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': They whip this out pretty frequently. Notably in one episode where they have some sort of automated gun system thingy. There must have a dozen dots hovering around.
** Notably averted though when [[spoiler: Kate]] is killed. The first indication that she was in a sniper's sights was the bullet hole in her head.
** Used at least once in ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' in the "I've got you in my sights so don't try anything funny" way.
* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. The intimidation factor of a Laser-Lok sight ([[TheSeventies at the time]] a cutting-edge technology) is a major theme in the episode "Hunter/Hunted", with the villain using a stolen rifle (based on the American 180) to conduct a war of nerves on Doyle. But when the villain sees a laser dot on ''his'' chest, [[WeaponForIntimidation he realises the game is up and surrenders peacefully]]. The DangerRoomColdOpen has Cowley shining the laser in someone's eyes to dazzle him so he'll fall from the roof (into a pool of water which is conveniently underneath).
** ''Series/TheSweeney'' episode "Nightmare" came out at the same time and featured a couple of renegade ex-IRA trying to get hold of some experimental laser-sighted rifles stolen from a factory in Utah (another reference to the AM-180, though they're AR-10's on screen).

* The ''Series/MythBusters'' would use a laser sight whenever a precision shot needed to be made for a myth, one episode even had Grant [[ItMakesSenseInContext putting a laser sight on a]] ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext blowgun]]''.
** During the series they also demonstrated repeatedly why laser sights are so impractical for long range combat. It turns out that [[NoArcInArchery bullets do not travel straight]], so the laser will always just give you an estimation on where it will land, not an absolute. Their favorite method to compensate for this was to instead fire several bullets at the exact same point and then use the laser sight to aim at the middle of the spread.

* One episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' had them being used [[JustifiedTrope specifically for the intimidation factor]]. Once the target knew he was being aimed at, he became [[MexicanStandoff a lot less inclined to shoot Michael]].
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E1TheMagiciansApprentice "The Magician's Apprentice"]], eight UNIT snipers train their laser-sights on Missy. This is justified on two levels: as she is a Time Lady, very specific spots on Missy's body need to be hit to stop her in case she does something funny, so precision is required; and it was ''Missy herself'' who requested the snipers, so that seeing her visibly targeted would have made Clara and the rest of UNIT trust her.
* ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth''. Both Ianto '''and''' Gwen see the laser-sight of a sniper in time to avoid the bullet. Ironically this could have been a chance to introduce some realism to this trope, as the smoke from the explosion [[spoiler:which just destroyed Torchwood 3]] could have revealed the beam.
* In ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', this is used to intimidate [[spoiler: Moriarty]]'s hostages whom he is using to communicate via phone and pager with Sherlock.
* In ''Series/FXTheSeries'', used by law-enforcement when ambushing a criminal-hostage pair after forcing them to a different location in a simulated fire.
** In a related usage of laser pointers, a laser sight was used to detect the location of a sniper in real time based by aiming it through two bullet holes. However, the sniper spotted the laser dot and managed to avoid capture.
* DoubleSubverted in an episode of ''Series/{{Weeds}}''. Nancy is speaking at an outdoor family gathering when suddenly a red laser dot appears on her forehead. It's her niece playing with a laser pointer. [[spoiler: The actual sniper aiming at her was using a standard optical sight.]]
* ''Series/BreakingBad'' has these used as a WeaponForIntimidation, when [[spoiler:Walt tells Elliot and Gretchen that two professional hitmen are at the other end of the sights with orders to kill them should they ever deviate from his demands for the handling of his money. In fact, it's just Badger and Skinny Pete with laser pointers.]]
* John Casey on ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' has a laser sight mounted on his Sig pistol.
* ''Series/PersonOfInterest''.
** Played straight in several examples involving so-called professional killers, but "Critical" has a different take. In a IHaveYourWife ploy, an EvilBrit shows the VictimOfTheWeek an infra-red camera image of their wife being covered by an infra-red laser from a sniper. This avoids the problem of people seeing it, though Reese is still able to work out the position of the shooter from the image.
** Subverted in "Guilty". Finch has an OhCrap reaction on seeing a laser dot on his window, but it's just Reese trying to communicate via a laser pointer and Morse code.

* ''Series/{{CSI}}'': In "Keep Calm and Carry On", Sara tackles Nick to the ground when a red dot appears on his chest while they are investigating a crime scene outside the airport. It turns out just to be {{Jerkass}} with a laser pointer.

* In an episode of ''Series/TheFlash1990'', an assassin uses a laser-equipped rifle to aim at a target. The target's girlfriend tries to brush off the red-colored "smudge" on his shirt and takes the bullet instead.
* ''Series/RedDwarf:'' At the end of ''[[Recap/RedDwarfThePromisedLand The Promised Land]]'', Diamond-Rimmer generates one of these and [[spoiler: splashes it across the chest of the villain Rodon.. not to shoot him, but to [[MyInstinctsAreShowing compel]] the target's fellow humanoid cats into attacking him, causing their ship to crash.]]
* ''Series/ThePunisher2017''. In "Crossfire", a private security SWATTeam bursts into a room where Frank Castle has just let off a couple of smoke grenades, with the smoke clearly revealing the laser sights on their submachine guns. Their leader is smart enough to turn his off as [[MookHorrorShow Frank takes down his men one by one]] and then when Frank picks up a submachine gun the team leader opens fire on where the gun's laser shows Frank must be standing. Turns out the SMG is just lying on a table as a distraction...

* [[StaticStunGuns Tasers]] often have laser sights as well. However they are more effective than on firearms due to the short range and general inaccuracy of a standard taser. The intimidation factor is also more justified in law enforcement as taser use is much less restricted that firearm use (obviously) and the appearance of a dot on someone along with a threat to use a taser can often get someone to surrender.

* [[StunGuns Tasers]] often have laser sights as well. However they are more effective than on firearms due to the short range and general inaccuracy of a standard taser. The intimidation factor is also more justified in law enforcement as taser use is much less restricted that firearm use (obviously) and the appearance of a dot on someone along with a threat to use a taser can often get someone to surrender.

* ''Manga/KishinCorps'' has aliens with a single eye permanently emitting a laser. It's apparently only to make them look more intimidating, or to compensate for their lack of binocular vision, since the tommy guns grafted to their arms ''don't'' have laser sights. Nowadays it makes them look a bit like ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' turrets, but they came first by almost fifteen years.

* ''VideoGame/BattleZone 2'' has hull-mounted lasers on its {{Hover Tank}}s to assist with aiming when in third person. However, other players cannot see the beam.

* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. The intimidation factor of a Laser-Lok sight ([[TheSeventies at the time]] a cutting-edge technology) is a major theme in the episode "Hunter/Hunted", with the villain using a stolen rifle (based on the American 180) to conduct a WarOfNerves. But when the villain sees a laser dot on ''his'' chest, [[WeaponForIntimidation he realises the game is up and surrenders peacefully]]. The DangerRoomColdOpen has Cowley shining the laser in someone's eyes to dazzle him so he'll fall from the roof (into a pool of water which is conveniently underneath).

* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. The intimidation factor of a "laser-lock sight" ([[TheSeventies at the time]] a cutting-edge technology) is a major theme in the episode "Hunter/Hunted", with the villain using a stolen rifle (based on the American 180) to conduct a War Of Nerves. But when the villain sees a laser dot on ''his'' chest, he realises the game is up and surrenders peacefully. The DangerRoomColdOpen has Cowley shining the laser in someone's eyes to dazzle him so he'll fall from the roof (into a pool of water which is conveniently underneath).

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', the [[MechaMooks Guardians]] [[CrosshairAware aim a laser sight at Link before shooting at him]].

->''"I didn't know you were a Hindu!"''
->''"I'm not."''
->''"Then what's that on your forehead?"''
->''[[BoomHeadshot BANG]]''

* ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'' has Film/JamesBond spot a laser sight on a Mook's chest in Bilbao, right before a sniper shoots him. Given that the mook was pointing a gun at Bond, it makes him realize the situation is more complicated than he knows.
** In the same film, after [[spoiler: [=MI6=] is bombed and James is looking out the hole in the building wall]], he sees a laser sight just in time to duck out of the way. The shooter was located on a boat, about 300-400 meters away, with G36 equipped with a scope. And she ''missed''.

* ''Film/TheTerminator''. "The .45 longslide, with laser sighting." At the time, laser sights were nowhere near as common as they are now, and Arnold had to hide the battery up his sleeve. [[FridgeLogic Of course, this invites the question as to why an advanced cyborg with night vision who can probably calculate the ballistics of a round would need to use a laser sight.]] But it does give a [[RuleOfCool cool]] ImpendingDoomPOV when Sarah Connor's vision goes red as the Terminator puts the laser dot right between her eyes.

** The Predator from ''Film/{{Predator}}'' uses a cluster of three laser pointers built into his helmet, presumably for triangulation. These are arranged in a triangular pattern, make a distinctive sound, and are used to target its shoulder cannon. From the POV of the Predator's helmet, they appear as three red lines that come together in a triangle at the moment of firing.

** The Predator from ''Film/{{Predator}}'' uses what appears to be three laser pointers built into his helmet. These are arranged in a triangular pattern, make a distinctive sound, and are used to target its shoulder cannon.

** At the end of the original ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', snipers use infrared lasers for an extremely difficult shot. They are only visible to Batou's ElectronicEyes, but don't show up to the naked eye.

* Used by the [[TerroristsWithoutACause terrorist sniper]] in ''WebVideo/DiamondsCut'', in spite of his weapon [[FridgeLogic already possessing the optical sights on it]]. It only seems to be there [[RuleOfDrama to add drama]] to [[spoiler: M’ death]].

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', an assassin targeting [[spoiler:Duke Ortega]] in "Literature/DeathMasks" uses a sniper rifle with a laser sight. It does little but tip off the intended target.