History Main / MexicanStandoff

This trope can be constructed in a number of geometries: one against one, three or more to a side, [[MeleeATrois free-for-all]], or army against army. Frequently ends in a BlastOut when someone gets twitchy, [[WhatAnIdiot figures the odds differently]] than everyone else and decides they have an advantage, or is just crazy enough to [[NotAfraidToDie not care if they die too]].

** Happens and even gets referenced by name in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. During the scene where they believe the Decepticons are targeting Sentinel Prime, the Autobots protect him as they get him to NEST headquarters where the Pillars are located. When two of the Dreads show up with their guns, [[TheBigGuy Ironhide]] and Sideswipe counter with their own. After Sideswipe Lampshades it, he and Ironhide offer to let the Dreads 'put down their guns and leave with their dignity still intact'. The Dreads do as they say, and so do the Autobots, then [[WhatAnIdiot the Dreads try to use their hidden weapons.]] Sides' and 'Hide proceed to kick the metal shit out of them ''without'' their guns.

* At the climax of ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' [[spoiler:Dean resolves the conflict by engineering a standoff between the rogue government agents who are after him and the mob goons who'd previously threatened him. Notably, neither of these groups has any reason to fight the other, but Dean [[OneDialogueTwoConversations manages to trick them]]
into a showdown that neither side will back down from.

* Happens and even gets referenced by name in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. During the scene where they believe the Decepticons are targeting Sentinel Prime, the Autobots protect him as they get him to NEST headquarters where the Pillars are located. When two of the Dreads show up with their guns, [[TheBigGuy Ironhide]] and Sideswipe counter with their own. After Sideswipe Lampshades it, he and Ironhide offer to let the Dreads 'put down their guns and leave with their dignity still intact'. The Dreads do as they say, and so do the Autobots, then [[WhatAnIdiot the Dreads try to use their hidden weapons.]] Sides' and 'Hide proceed to kick the metal shit out of them ''without'' their guns.

* Happens in ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' on a grand scale. Apparently played for laughs, too, since you know both parties are unsympathetic and are being [[OneDialogueTwoConversations suckered big time.]]

* This trope pops up regularly in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' fanfic ''Fanfic/OldWest''.

* In the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', the titular character's mother is taken hostage by TheMole, so he captures Lana and threatens her. Except that TheMole doesn't even care about Lana, and thus the Mexican Standoff is futile.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', of all shows, uses a family-friendly version of this trope in the episode "Desk Wars": instead of threatening each other with weapons, each of the kids threaten to destroy something important to another one of them. If George sharpens one of Brain's pencils for Muffy, Brain threatens to drop a book on George's bubble-gum stegosaurus model. Then Brain receives simultaneous threats from Sue Ellen and Muffy, with Sue Ellen (who watched George work on said model all year) threatening to throw Binky's rubber-band ball out the window if Brain makes good on his threat, and Muffy demanding that Brain give up the pencil or she'll put Judo Kitten stickers on his desk, Francine (who was promised those stickers) gets out a pair of scissors and threatens to cut up the dust ruffle that Muffy shares with Fern, who in response, threatens to have Buster's Bionic Bunny comic book shredded, briefly mistaking it as Arthur's before Buster corrects her and threatens to eat all of Arthur's chocolate chip cookies, etc. [[spoiler:Then Brain accidentally knocks the book onto the stegosaurus model and [[HilarityEnsues chaos ensues]]]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', during Huey's description of a "[[ConflictBall nigga moment]]", two men bump into each other on the street and pull guns on each other, daring the other to shoot, only for the men to [[ATeamFiring empty their clips at close range without landing a single shot]].

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', "The One Wherein There is a Big Twist, Part 1", where a minor issue between the housemates flares into a standoff. Then Wooldoor leaps into the fray and produces a ridiculous amount of guns (in a ridiculous amount of arms), even going as far to shout "I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE!" before pointing yet another gun at himself.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{GI Joe}}'' plays with this when Shipwreck is confronted by Destro and the Dreadknoks just after he dumped a chemical that makes water explode down the drain. To hold them off, Shipwreck has a lit match and threatens to ignite the treated water. Destro confidently tells him that's pointless since a triggering explosion is needed to set off the water. Shipwreck calls it a bluff and Destro dares him to find out. Shipwreck does and drops the match down the drain, only to learn he was not bluffing as nothing happens. With the Joes' trump card now worthless, the Dreadknoks open fire, but Shipwreck dodges and that weapons fire provides the triggering explosion to set the water off.
* Seen in "Gopher Help" from ''WesternAnimation/HandyManny'' when Turner faces off against the gopher, complete with what the closed-captioning describes as "western standoff music." It ends with Turner successfully leading the gopher to a trap, which it is then caged in.
* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' when Dale turns to the bounty hunter and faces his target. Both drop their rifles and put their arms up... Then stand there until their arms get tired.
** But not before they both covertly try to go for their guns... only to be scared by the other doing so, and both promptly surrender again.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'' [[ParodiedTrope took this trope to comedic excess]] in the episode "Let 'em Eat Corn", which climaxed in a 5-way Mexican Standoff, with each faction armed with a nuclear missile. It then ''anti''-climaxed when they all fire, and find out the nukes (all bought from the British) are duds.

** Maggie gets caught in the middle of an [[TheMafia Italian-American]] Mexican Standoff in the climax of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E22MoeBabyBlues Moe Baby Blues]]". Moe steps in and saves the day...by reducing the mobsters to tears with Maggie's innocent smile.
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS17E13TheSeeminglyNeverEndingStory The Seemingly Never-Ending Story]]" Snake, Mr. Burns, Rich Texan, and Moe get into a four-way Mexican standoff over a cache of pre-Columbian gold. Rich Texan even describes their situation as a "Mexican Standoff". Parodied somewhat in that Moe only brought a baseball bat, [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunfight is quite distressed to learn that the others brought guns]], and ineffectually tries to pretend that he has one too.
* In keeping with its western theme, ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "A Fistful of Energon" features one in the climax between the Autobots and Decepticons over two captured Starscream clones. The standoff breaks when the clones are also revealed to be living bombs that activate a timer to detonation.
* On ''WesternAnimation/TuffPuppy'' in the episode "Share-a-Lair" T.U.F.F. and D.O.O.M. were surprised at seeing each other in the same office and proceeded to point their guns at each other to try and attack. Kitty managed to reason with them that if they both started shooting their office would get destroyed.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS37E1TheWomanWhoFellToEarth "The Woman Who Fell to Earth"]]: At the climax, the Doctor versus alien headhunter Tzim-Sha. She has the recall device he needs to get home, he controls DNA bombs that were implanted into the Doctor and her friends earlier. [[spoiler:At least, that's what the Doctor lets him think... as she's already removed the bombs and tricked Tim Shaw into implanting them into himself.]]

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS17E13TheSeeminglyNeverEndingStory The Seemingly Never-Ending Story]]" Snake, Mr. Burns, Rich Texan, and Moe were trying to get a pile of golden coins and all of them got weapons (well, Moe had a baseball bat but, once he realized the others had guns, he hid himself in the shadows and tried to make it seem he also had a gun). Rich Texan even described their situation as a "Mexican Standoff".

** In the first season finale, One, Two, Three and Five get into a Mexican standoff where One and Three each accuse the other at gunpoint of being TheMole (One because he thinks Three is selfish enough to sell them out, Three because [[spoiler:One lied about his given name and identity when he joined the crew]]) and entreat Two to side with them, then Five appears and accuses Two at gunpoint of being the saboteur, thinking that she was subjected to MindControl when Dwarf Star Technologies recaptured her recently. The standoff is broken up when [[spoiler:Six, the real mole, locks them in and floods the corridor with knockout gas]].

** In the first season finale, One, Two, Three and Five get into a Mexican standoff where One and Three each accuse the other at gunpoint of being TheMole and entreat Two to side with them, then Five appears and accuses Two at gunpoint of being the saboteur, thinking that she was subjected to MindControl when Dwarf Star Technologies recaptured her recently. The standoff is broken up when [[spoiler:Six, the real mole, locks them in and floods the corridor with knockout gas]].

** In the first season finale, One, Two, Three and Five get into a Mexican standoff where One and Three each accuse the other at gunpoint of being TheMole and entreat Two to side with them, then Five appears and accuses Two at gunpoint of being the saboteur, thinking mistakenly that she was subjected to MindControl when Dwarf Star Technologies recaptured her recently. The standoff is broken up when [[spoiler:Six, the real mole, locks them in and floods the corridor with knockout gas]].

** In the first season finale, One, Two, Three and Five get into a Mexican standoff where One and Three each accuse the other at gunpoint of being TheMole and entreat Two to side with them, then Five appears and accuses Two at gunpoint of being the saboteur, thinking mistakenly that she was subjected to MindControl when Dwarf Star Technologies captured her recently. The standoff is broken up when [[spoiler:Six, the real mole, locks them in and floods the corridor with knockout gas]].

* ''Series/DarkMatter2015'': The cops hold Four at gunpoint, while Four's friends hold the cops at gunpoint. It quickly becomes apparent that the cops don't have as strong a negotiating position as they think.
-->'''Kierken:''' If you shoot, you risk killing your friend.\\

* LEGO comic ''Webciomic/BrickworldSaga'' had a truly massive standoff with over twenty participants on five different sides, including pirates, cyborgs, and the undead.

%%%%* The comic ''Webcomic/CtrlAltDel''
* A metaporical example in ''Webcomic/AnEpicComic'' that involves only villains;

* Subverted in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' between [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030108 Klaus and Dr. Beetle]]. As Gil points out, Beetle's strategy is flawed because he put all his strength in one large clank, and the Baron had a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030110 backup fleet]].

* In ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound'', Ocelot, Octopus, Wolf, and Scratch get involved in one of these in [[http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=71 strip 71.]]
* Subverted in an early arc of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': Tagon's Toughs [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-10-15 get into one]] with a small army, at which point the narrator describes the trope in detail. Then Tagon notices that his foes have armor while his allies don't, at which point the narrator points out that Tagon isn't even remotely descended from Mexican stock.

It's OlderThanRadio and has been around long enough to be ''parodied'' in the play "The Critic", first staged in 1779. The term itself, however, originated in the 19th century - possibly in Australia, of all places - regarding perceived political indecision in Mexico.

When entire nations do this, it's upscaled to MutuallyAssuredDestruction. Also a case of the famous "PrisonersDilemma": If everyone puts the gun down, everyone lives. If everyone shoots, everyone will die. But nobody wants to be the first to put the gun down and become vulnerable. Compare the ShowdownAtHighNoon from [[TheWestern Westerns]] which sometimes take the form of this trope. It's also closely related to the GameOfChicken, where nobody wants to be the first to back down, but if nobody backs down, well...

* Happens at least twice -- so far -- in ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. Once during Revy's epic battle with Roberta, and then again (with [[MeleeATrois three participants]]) in ''Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise''.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'''s first season ends with a Mexican Standoff that's [[spoiler:resolved after the FadeToBlack]]. One of the big mysteries going onto the OddlyNamedSequel is what exactly happened, since [[spoiler:all parties involved are shown to be alive and well one year later (not to mention the protagonist's little sister has been replaced by a little brother).]] There's another standoff much earlier, but that one is possibly disqualified by the fact that one side consists of two men with pistols while the other is a HumongousMecha with a supersized gun bigger than both men combined...
** Subverted earlier in the season, when C.C. pulls a gun on Lelouch, threatening to shoot him in the leg, in order to stop him from leaving. [[StopOrIShootMyself Lelouch responds by drawing a gun of his own]], [[spoiler:but since C.C. is immortal and needs him alive to fulfill their contract, he points his gun not at C.C. but at his own head, threatening to kill himself if he isn't allowed to leave.]]

* In an episode of ''Anime/DominionTankPolice'', there is a standoff in a sewer. Buaku and his police hostage are fleeing with a stolen portrait when they are accosted by power-armor wearing mercenaries called Red Commandoes. Then the Puma Sisters show up and point guns at the Commandoes. ''Then'' the tank police show up and point guns at both. Guns are pointed at ''everyone''. No one moves, no one talks, because they all know [[BlastOut what will happen]]. Then someone sneezes...

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' ends with a Mexican Standoff. [[spoiler:At first, it's only between [[BigBad Durandal]] and [[TheHero Kira]]; then [[TheDragon Rey]] appears and takes aim at Kira from behind, only to [[VillainousBreakdown lower his weapon]] at Kira's KirkSummation. Then [[TheCaptain Gladys]] rushes into the room, and [[TheLancer Athrun]] arrives on the elevator[[note]]Athrun was not originally in the scene, but was added in the Special Edition[[/note]]. He calls out Kira's name, and all five aim their gun at someone. Finally, a shot rings out, Durandal collapses... and the rest of them all look back at Rey as he falls to his knees in tears. Gladys immediately runs up to Durandal, who asks her whether she was the one who took the shot. She wasn't—it was Rey.]]

** A more traditional one happens after the midnight battle of Whiskey Peak, when AdventurerArchaeologist Nico Robin appears suddenly on board the ship everybody panics and Usopp points a slingshot at her head while Sanji points a gun at her, but Robin disliking their hostility disables both of them with her very "handy" devil fruit powers.

* Vash and Knives, in their climactic showdown in the finale of the ''Anime/{{Trigun}}'' anime, have a very protracted (and very dramatic) one-on-one standoff, where every attempt to break the stalemate by one character is instantly copied by the other. [[spoiler:Vash breaks it when Wolfwood's voice sounds in his head -- at which point he realizes he's standing on the Punisher, giving him a move Knives can't copy.]]

* In one issue of ''Marvel Team-Up'', ComicBook/ThePunisher and ComicBook/{{Blade}} have a gun and katana to each other's heads, respectively. Blade suggests they both stand down, and lowers his weapon. Punisher doesn't move. Blade: "..." He then turns away, and Punisher shoots him in the back.

* There's a crossover fanfiction wherein [[Series/DoctorWho the Eighth Doctor]], Film/{{Blade}}, [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]], [[Series/TheXFiles Mulder, and Scully]] find themselves in one of these. When a swarm of vampires suddenly show up, the Doctor -- the only one involved without a weapon -- remarks that things are starting to get a bit ludicrous...

** John Woo is fond of these kinds of standoffs. There's the standoffs between Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee from ''Film/TheKiller'', between Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in ''Film/HardBoiled'', and between most of the main cast in ''Film/RedCliff Part II'' - albeit with swords, of course, since that was set in Three Kingdoms period China. There's also the moment in ''Film/FaceOff'' where Sean Archer and Castor Troy end up in a standoff at a church, with Archer's FBI agents and family on one side, and Castor's family and crew on the other, which is made very dramatic by the fact that Archer and Castor are wearing each other's face and both sides are trying to convince the other which is which. When the stalemate is finally broken, the shootout that commences is the most memorable of the entire movie.

** Subverted on ''Film/BrokenArrow1996'', where a suspect snatches the gun from a park ranger's holster and aims it at her, only to realize she's drawn a hunting knife and set it against his throat. He points out the disparity in their weapons' effectiveness, and she agrees... because she doesn't keep her sidearm loaded. [[spoiler:She's lying, and admits it after he forfeits the pistol.]]

* This leads to tragedy in ''Film/CourageUnderFire''. [[spoiler:A mutinous soldier is pointing his weapon at Captain Walden, when Iraqi troops suddenly appear out of the darkness behind him. Walden fires at them and is shot in return by the soldier who thinks he is the target. Realising he will be court-martialed for this blunder, he later engineers Walden's death by UnfriendlyFire.]]

--> '''Hawkins'''': The Duchess dove at the Duke just when the Duke dove at the Doge. Now the Duke ducked, the Doge dodged, and the Duchess didn't. So the Duke got the Duchess, the Duchess got the Doge, and the Doge got the Duke!

* Near the conclusion of ''Film/LustInTheDust'', a 1985 film, nearly everyone is pointing guns at each other over a chest of gold. Marguerita (Lainie Kazan) is the lone character without a gun -- she exclaims, "This is ''not fair''!" The others give her a pistol out of fair play.

** In ''Film/AntMan1'', near the end of the film, Hope, Cross and his guards are all training guns at each other. Lampshaded by Carson who moves backwards out of the firing line.
--> '''Carson:''' And here we go...

** Near the end of [[Film/TheMatrix the first movie]] Neo and Agent Smith have their guns to each others' heads, only to find [[spoiler:that both their guns are empty.]]

* A variation in ''Literature/TheBourneIdentity. After overpowering the man holding him prisoner in the back of a car, Jason Bourne puts a gun to the head of a driver, who puts his foot on the accelerator, threatening to crash the car if Bourne shoots.

* In Richard Ellis Preston Jr.'s ''Literature/ChroniclesOfThePneumaticZeppelin'' novel ''Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War'', Goethe declares that Sabrina is Sabrina Fawkes, and must come with him, in the middle of the Imperial stronghold. Both the Imperials and the Crankshafts face off against Goethe's guards. Romulus diffuses it with a challenge to a DuelToTheDeath.
* The novel ''Literature/DanceOfTheVoodooHandbag'' by Creator/RobertRankin uses a Mexican Standoff in which an increasing number of characters arrive pointing guns at each other in an argument over the titular McGuffin. However, the main character realises noone's threatening him, so he steals the handbag and escapes in the confusion.

** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Used to interesting effect when the cursed Pirates have a sword to Elizabeth's throat, while Will Turner has [[StopOrIShootMyself a gun to his own head]] (If he kills himself there, the pirates can never lift the curse.)

Individual films

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** Another LEGO comic, Brickworld Saga, had a truly massive standoff with over twenty participants on five different sides, including pirates, cyborgs, and the undead.

* It doesn't get more dramatic than Pete and Brian's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBSi8qC0tFA Showdown]]". Hilariously done, with some StockPhrases to boot.
* Parodied for comedic effect in the Creator/TomSka video "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSY-90rwNgE Standoffish]]"
* This happens once in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' version one, between David Jackson, Jacob Starr, and Peri Barclay. By this point, Jacob's mind has become dangerously unstable due to the guilt and trauma he's experienced over the game's course clashing with the morals his police officer father taught him his whole life, so the situation devolves into a BlastOut when he suddenly turns on Peri and attacks him.
** Another happens in version 3, this can be best described as 'Bobby Jacks vs. ''Everyone''', as at one point the aforementioned villain character had no fewer than ''six'' people pointing guns at him, whilst he reciprocated by pulling out [[GunsAkimbo both of his guns]] and returning the gesture. Fortunately, the situation was eventually ''diffused''.
** Another v3 example is one that involves Lenny Priestly, holding Heath Trennoby hostage, has a gun pulled on him by [[AntiVillain Bobby Jacks]], while Shameeca Mitchell holds a gun at Lenny's sister Elizabeth, who is currently holding James Martinek hostage. Not to mention the three spectators who are watching from nearby. Unfortunately, just as things seem to be going good, Heath tries to attack Lenny. What results is James, Heath, and innocent spectator Lauren Howard being shot dead, [[CloudCuckooLander Anna Kateridge]] and [[{{Meganekko}} Lulu Altaire]] kidnapping Elizabeth, Lenny going on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, Bobby Jacks trying to hunt him down, and Shameeca realising she failed in her one job of trying to rescue James. So naturally, it doesn't end well for anyone.
** A smaller scale example would also be Clio Gabriella vs [[LandDownUnder Brendan Wallace]]. Both with guns pointed at each other's heads. It lasts for several minutes, while Brendan manages to talk Clio out of doing anything rash, proclaiming that if she were to pull the trigger, he could pull the trigger on his gun just as fast, leaving them both dead. After a while, she runs off, and Brendan looks inside the gun to find there's not a single round inside. Cue LONG sigh of relief.
* A Challenge Round is resolved like this in season one of ''Machinima/TheLeetWorld''. Ellis drops down behind Leeroy and takes aim, only to be held at gunpoint by Westheimer, who is in turn menaced by Cortez. It ends with a BlastOut (luckily, DeathIsCheap).
---> '''Ellis:''' [[DramaticGunCock *Click*]] "Hold it right there, Bo. Reach for the sky."
---> '''Westheimer:''' [[ClickHello *Click*]] "Hands up, perp!"
---> '''Cortez:''' [[NoisyGuns *Click*]] "Prepare to die, Dog."
* In the first season of ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'', a bit of a one-sided Standoff occurs in the bar when ComicBook/NickFury holds a gun to [[spoiler:the robotic ComicBook/LexLuthor spy]] Lance M Donovan, and every hero in the bar responds by pointing whatever weapons they have (including [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} claws]], [[ComicBook/ThePunisher guns]], [[ComicBook/IronMan} pulse cannons]], [[ComicBook/SpiderMan web shooters]], and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk fists of fury]]) at him.

-->'''Mao''': Lelouch, buddy, are you alright?
-->'''Lelouch''': [[SarcasmMode I feel like sunshine right now!]]

* Creator/FreddieWong + Series/KeyAndPeele + this trope = [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQr0HCIN2w hilarity that must be seen to be believed.]]

* The novel ''Literature/DanceOfTheVoodooHandbag'' by Creator/RobertRankin uses a Mexican Standoff in which an increasing number of characters arrive pointing guns at each other in an argument over the titular McGuffin. However, the main character realises noone's threatening him, so he steals the handbag and escapes in the confusion.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', there was a stand off between Harry, Hermione, Ron, Professor Lupin, and Sirius Black. It was then calmed, then when Snape entered the picture, the stand off began again.
* This happens twice in ''[[Literature/HisDarkMaterials The Amber Spyglass]]'' between Lyra, Will, Tialys, and Salmakia.
* Subverted in ''{{Popcorn}}'', one of Ben Elton's earlier books, when a very film-savvy criminal gets caught in a one-on-one standoff and remarks "I never got why people didn't just stop yakking and shoot the other guy" before shooting the woman he's facing in the chest.
* In the novel ''Something Rotten'' of the Literature/ThursdayNext series by Jasper Fforde, Thursday find herself in one of these: for the better part of the book, Thurs has been trying to find a way to gently break it to her friend and colleague Spike that his [[LittleMissBadass cute, perky]] wife Cindy is [[SecretIdentity secretly]] a [[ProfessionalKiller contract killer]] with a contract out on Thursday. When she finally confronts Cindy in Spike's presence, Thurs draws her gun on Cindy (who she believes has a concealed weapon) only to have Spike -- who refuses to believe her -- draw his gun on her. The standoff ends when [[spoiler:a [[AnvilOnHead random grand piano]] falls out of a window above them, and the piano bench lands on Cindy; she collapses, revealing said concealed weapon. The author has said that he had no idea how to end that scene, so he [[TakeAThirdOption Took A Third Option]]. Astonishingly, by the end of the book, he actually [[JustifiedTrope Justifies]] it]].
** Not ''that'' astonishing. Thursday Next lives in a [[{{Troperiffic}} very special world]].
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''Ghostmaker'', after Corbec tackled a figure who turned out to be a Volpone Blueblood, the Bluebloods surrounded him with guns; he let the major up, and the major drew a gun on him; Gaunt appeared, pointing a gun at the major and declaring that if he shot Corbec, he would be dead before his men could shoot; more Ghosts appeared, with their guns drawn... It was a good thing that the Inquisitor Lilith showed up, all in all.
* The ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' refers to this as a Rodian Standoff. It doesn't show up as often as you might think.
** One happened in Boba Fett's story in ''Tales of the Bounty Hunters'', with a twist. Neither Solo nor Fett really wants to fight anymore. But neither of them trusts the other enough to be the first to put his gun down. The story ends with both still trying to figure out how to end the fight without killing each other. [[spoiler:Since both of them show up in stories that take place later on in the EU, they must have come up with something.]]
* Played with in Trevanian's ''Literature/TheEigerSanction''. [[spoiler:The hero is only holding up his hand in a gun shape while he's under a sleeping bag.]]

* Happens often enough in ''Literature/BloodMeridian'', one memorable one being after Glanton's horse bites the ear off an Apache chief's during a meeting, and moments later everyone on both sides is fixed in a web of gunsights.
* Done in the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' novel ''The Bellmaker'', where Mariel is threatening to kill the commander of a troop of rats. One rat has an arrow pointed at her head. This goes on for at least a few hours before the good guys are finally rescued.
* One of the major storylines in the ''Literature/{{Liavek}}'' anthologies concluded with one of these in the office of the Levar's Regent. The Regent has a gun, his top enforcer Dashif has two, and a crossbow-wielding assassin has just showed up too. Also present are Dashif's daughter and one of the Regent's political rivals. [[spoiler:The Regent makes the mistake of aiming at Dashif's daughter, so he dies along with Dashif and the assassin.]]
* In Richard Ellis Preston Jr.'s Literature/ChroniclesOfThePneumaticZeppelin novel ''Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War'', Goethe declares that Sabrina is Sabrina Fawkes, and must come with him, in the middle of the Imperial stronghold. Both the Imperials and the Crankshafts face off against Goethe's guards. Romulus diffuses it with a challenge to a DuelToTheDeath.
* Referenced in ''Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda''. Rudolf even namedrops "The Critic".
--> '''Rudolf:''' "In fact, Fritz," said I, "I am reminded of a situation in one of our English plays—The Critic—have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of two men, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can't expose Michael without exposing myself..."
--> '''Sapt:''' "And the King."
--> '''Rudolf:'''"And, hang me if Michael won't expose himself, if he tries to expose me!"
* Battles between magic users in the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' require at least one of the participants to gain access to the other's mind before any casting can be done, because otherwise this trope will result. Magic takes a split-second to cast, and once cast cannot be stopped, thus the first caster is guaranteed that his opponent is dead. However, it takes longer than a split-second for the magic to take effect, so once your magic begins, your opponent can retaliate with equally lethal magic, thus the second caster is ''also'' guaranteed that his opponent is dead. If a caster has access to his opponent's mind, however, they can see the magic coming before it is cast, thus counter-magic can be prepared prior to the casting.

* ''[[Literature/JohnRain The Detachment]]''. After realising [[AssassinsAreAlwaysBetrayed they've been betrayed]] with the [[ParanoiaFuel apparent connivance of one of their own]], a minute twitch by Trevan leads to the entire BadassCrew pointing guns at each other. Fortunately Dox defuses the situation by putting his gun to his own head and quoting from ''Film/BlazingSaddles''.
* An indirect version in the ''Literature/AbleTeam'' novel "Warlord of Azatlan". Carl Lyons [[NotMyDriver gets into a taxi]] in Guatemala only to have a RebelLeader climb in also. Carl draws his pistol on the man, who points out that the nearest buildings include the Presidential palace and the headquarters of the National Police, guarded 24 hours by sharpshooters. If Carl were to start shooting, he wouldn't outlive the rebel by very long.
* ''Literature/Aeon14'': The third act of ''Destiny Lost'' has a five-way standoff between the Intrepid Space Force (the protagonists) and four fleets that are all trying to get their hands on ISS ''Intrepid'''s advanced technology: the Bollam's World Space Force (the government of the system they're in), the AST Space Force (TheEmpire), and pirate fleets of the Mark and of a warlord named Padre. [[spoiler:It turns into a winner-take-all battle after an ISF fighter has a malfunction and drifts into Padre's line of fire, and the ISF ultimately slaughters all of them.]]

* A variation in ''Literature/TheBourneIdentity. After overpowering the man holding him prisoner in the back of a car, Jason Bourne puts a gun to the head of a driver, who puts his foot on the accelerator, threatening to crash the car if Bourne shoots.

** ''Serenity'', the [[TheMovie Big Damn Movie]] of ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. This happens twice between Captain Mal and River Tam: the first time in the bar after River has demonstrated her martial arts abilities, and the second after River escapes custody and goes to the bridge.

* There is a short comedic play called ''The Tarantino Variation'' which is three men, each holding a gun to another's head. Then they realize they need to kill the person holding them at gunpoint, and switch, all the while bantering -- it's quite funny. The play ends with them each having one gun on each of the other men, walking off to lunch together.
* The end (and perhaps other parts as well) of the one-act play "The Inspector Answers".
* The ShowWithinAShow of ''The Pot Boiler'' ends with all of the characters holding one another at gunpoint and making threats. When the playwright admits that he has no idea how to end the play, [[RageAgainstTheAuthor all of them shoot him instead.]]

* Subverted in the second chapter of the video game ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'': a group of diplomats are playing mah-jongg when one is accused of cheating. All four men stand up, pull their guns... and then shoot each other without a second's pause.
** Before they reach for the weapons, one even expresses irritation that they're about to all die.

* The prologue chapter of ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 3}}'' has the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamQg6LM1lM&t=4m15s following happen within a train car]] on [[ItWasADarkAndStormyNight A Dark And Stormy Night]]: [[TheHero The Heroine]] bursting through the door, TheLancer ''doing a reverse barrel roll through the side window'', TheBigGuy coming from nowhere, and TheSmartGuy casually walking in [[RuleOfCool all at the same time]] and ending with the latter three pointing their guns at each other while the heroine just watches.
** This standoff lasts for quite a while because you return to this sight until you play every character's intro.

* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', Steve and Alfred get into a brief fight concluded when they get into a stalemate with Steve on the ground with both machine guns aimed at the latter and Alfred standing over and pointing his rifle at the face of the former. [[spoiler:[[HotBlooded Steve breaks the stalemate in a snap by unloading his guns into Alfred anyway.]] Who [[LargeHam probably didn't want to break the tension of the moment]].]]
* Did we mention John Woo really likes this trope? In case it wasn't already evident, ''{{VideoGame/Stranglehold}}'' uses these as a regular gameplay mechanic where the player has a split second to dodge bullets and take out anyone who's holding him at gunpoint.
* Samus vs Dark Samus on every occasion in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. Made even more awesome by the fact, at some times, they both walk while holding their cannons to each other.

* In one of the side missions in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'', you participate in a "Truxican standoff", which is slightly less dramatic than the other listed examples due to the fact that everyone involved has [[DeflectorShields energy shielding]]. In another side mission, you defuse an all-NPC standoff by solving a logic puzzle.

* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' had this happen in Random Arenas every time a team had a ritualist, a Trap hunter, or both. Offensive Ritualists worked best when enemies were in range, and Trap hunters require players to get closer to use the traps. While trash mobs will rarely try to get away from the spirits range, players are ''far'' smarter than that and know they'll be slaughtered if they try and ShootTheMedicFirst. So they waited until someone got impatient and [[LeeroyJenkins leeroyed]], or won because the other team all decided to surrender or leave. This was one of the reasons that a time limit before both teams went into a sudden death round. (The other being [[{{Griefer}} Rangers with kiting abilities would make the matches run forever after three of their teammates died.]]

* This is the situation at the beginning of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' between the three factions vying for control of the Mojave: the [[TheFederation New California Republic]], [[TheEmpire Caesar's Legion]], and [[TheChessmaster Mr. House]]. If any one of the three takes action against another, they'll be left weak and vulnerable to be picked off by the third. [[PlayerCharacter The Courier]] gets to [[KingmakerScenario decide which faction to support]] to break the standoff. [[spoiler: [[TakeAThirdOption Or can say "screw you" to all of the factions and takeover the Mojave him/herself]].]]
* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' - "The Wrap Up" climaxes with a crazy standoff wherein a half-dozen parties end up with guns pointed at each other, including Michael, Steve Haines, Dave, a rogue FIB agent with an entire HRT for backup, a group of IAA agents including the BigGood from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' and a [[PrivateMilitaryContractors private militia]] with helicopter support. Steve gets twitchy, shoots, and a massive BlastOut ensues.

* One trailer to ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' featured a standoff between each of the faction representatives introduced so far: [[ThePaladin Rose]] has a shotgun aimed squarely at Alex's head; [[BlackMage Alex]] is ready to launch a fireball at Mei-Ling from point-blank range; [[MagicKnight Mei-Ling]] is holding a flaming sword to Rose's throat. Then [[CoolOldGuy Zuberi]] shows up and draws their attention to the Unutterable Lurker closing in on them. Cue EnemyMine scenario.
* The opening sequence of ''[[VideoGame/ProjectXZone Project X Zone 2]]'' has one of these between Reiji, Xiaomu, Saya, and Sheath.
* The BigBad of ''VideoGame/RainbowSix Vegas 2'' tries to do this at the end of the game. Unfortunately for him, your reflexes are way better than his, even if you let him get far enough into his MotiveRant to actually draw his weapon on you.
* The 2018 remake of ''VideoGame/TheTwentyFifthWard'' has its final [[PlayableEpilogue bonus chapter]] black out focus on one of these; [[spoiler:Akama and Aoyama have guns pointed at Hatoba from two sides, but are also aimed by Kuroyanagi, with Uehara acting as backup. Kuroyanagi ultimately allows Uehara to take the first course of action, whether it's killing Akama, Aoyama, both of them, [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Hatoba]], [[BullyingADragon Kuroyanagi]], [[RocksFallEveryoneDies everyone (including or excluding yourself)]], [[SheatheYourSword no one]], or [[TakeAThirdOption taking a different option entirely]]. Played for laughs in that you have to choose from ''100 different outcomes''.]]

* A metaporical example in Webcomic/AnEpicComic that involves only villains;
** Hades and Bowsers are planning to backstab each other first and then take out the other villains.
** Eggman and Wily also plan to take out each other first and then the others.
** Scanty and Kneesocks plan to backstab [[spoiler:??? and Corset]] and then take over the universe with [[spoiler: ??? planning to backstab them and even expand on just taking over the universe.]]

* Late in ''Film/RepoMan'', there's one in a convenience store involving 1) Otto's friends who've come in to rob the store, 2) the brothers also trying to chase down the Malibu, and 3) the store's security guard. All three keep moving their guns back and forth at the other two.
* In ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'', with the knight Bowen standing in the dragon's mouth, sword pointed up. If the dragon bites down, the sword goes through his brain. If Bowen stabs the dragon, his jaw comes down.
* Discussed in ''Film/NickOfTime'' by Ms. Jones when Gene pulls a gun on her, unaware that she has a gun pointed at his daughter.
* ''Film/NextDayAir'' ends with a Mexican Standoff that [[BlastOut goes bad]] and kills half the cast (and almost kills half the rest).
* Happens in ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' on a grand scale. Apparently played for laughs, too, since you know both parties are unsympathetic and are being [[OneDialogueTwoConversations suckered big time.]]
* A brief subversion shows up early in ''Film/{{Predators}}''. When KnifeNut Stans realizes what sort of a DeathWorld they're on, he demands for someone to give him a gun, because his knife isn't going to cut it. After no one volunteers to give a gun to the friendly neighborhood SerialKiller, Stans catches Mombassa by surprise, holds a knife to Mombassa's neck, and demands a gun. Mombassa calmly points a gun at Stans' head, explains that he's NotAfraidToDie, and waits. It takes all of about two seconds for Stans to back down.
* In ''Film/ShowdownInLittleTokyo'', the heroes and the Yakuza end up in a standoff when they're taken to see the boss. The culture-savvy cop notes that they should make an effort to respect them if they are to be let off with a warning, but when he realizes that it's the same man who [[YouKilledMyFather murdered his parents in Japan years before]] he immediately points his gun at the boss's head. The situation eventually defuses when he points out that too many people saw them come in, so they can't just make the two L.A. cops simply disappear.
* ''Film/TheBlob1988'': During the climax, Brian pulls a military rifle on Dr. Meddows, getting into a stand-off between the two, the army, and the local police. Meddows tries to convince everyone to shoot Brian, and Brian reveals to everyone that Meddows is the mastermind behind what's happening. Meddows snaps and pulls a gun himself [[spoiler:only to get dragged into the sewers by the titular monster]].
%% * ''Film/{{Divergent}}'' has one between [[spoiler: Tris, Four, Eric, and at least one other Dauntless in the second half of the film]]
* In ''Film/{{Munich}}'', one occurs when Louis (the Israeli assassination team's source of intelligence) double-books their Athens safe house and a group of assorted revolutionaries stumbles in at the dead of night.
* ''Film/{{Retroactive}}'': In one of the temporal loops, Karen takes Frank's accomplice hostage at the gas station, only for the Sheriff to walk in at that moment. This results in an armed standoff between herself, the Sheriff, and Frank, which ends with Frank killing the Sheriff.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Done on an organisation-wide basis in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''. [[spoiler:Steve Rogers broadcasts that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by HYDRA, causing the loyalists and the infiltrators to point guns at each other, including Agent 13 and Brock Rumlow. Brock drops his pistol in apparent surrender, then uses a knife to slash 13's gun-arm.]] A BlastOut ensues.
** In ''Film/AntMan1'', near the end of the film, Hope, Cross and his guards are all training guns at each other. Lampshaded by Carson who moves backwards out of the firing line.
--> '''Carson:''' And here we go...
** In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', after Yondu's Ravager crew finally succeeds in capturing Rocket, a disagreement over what to do with him escalates into a full-blown mutiny attempt, culminating with a standoff in which all of the mutineers and all of the loyalists are aiming at each other with [[GunsAkimbo every weapon they have in their possession]]. [[spoiler:The impasse doesn't last very long before Nebula catches up and incapacitates both Yondu and Rocket, allowing the mutineers to take control.]]
** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' has Star-Lord and Iron Man holding each partner[[note]](Iron Man with Drax and Star-Lord with Spider-Man)[[/note]] hostage by threatening to shoot them if they don't get answers.
* This leads to tragedy in ''Film/CourageUnderFire''. [[spoiler:A mutinous soldier is pointing his weapon at Captain Walden, when Iraqi troops suddenly appear out of the darkness behind him. Walden fires at them and is shot in return by the soldier who thinks he is the target. Realising he will be court-martialed for this blunder, he later engineers Walden's death by UnfriendlyFire.]]
* ''Film/{{Circus}}'': The showdown in the GreasySpoon ends up with Leo pointing a gun at Julius; Bruno's men pointing guns at Leo; and Moose pointing guns at the thugs.
* ''Film/MenInBlack3'': Parodied when J and 1969!K go to a bowling alley for information, and K gets into a standoff with one of the aliens. K has his single gun, and the alien has four arms, one gun in each of them. It's resolved by J knocking the alien out from behind.
-->'''K:''' Looks like we've got ourselves a standoff.
-->'''Alien:''' Looks that way.
* A three-way one with four participants occurs in ''Film/{{Primal}}''. Loffler is holding a gun to Ellen's head. Frank is aiming an arrow at Loffler's chest. Freed is pointing a gun at Frank's back. If anyone fires, they're likely to kill at least two people as various weapons go off.
* The end of the French film ''Film/LaHaine'' sees [[spoiler:Hubert]] and [[spoiler:a cop]] with guns in each other's faces in the immediate aftermath of [[spoiler:Vinz getting shot and killed by accident]], ending with a single gunshot and a SmashToBlack.
* In ''Film/AManCalledNereus'', a federal agent draws his gun at the same time a bystander points his shotgun at him. The bystander won't even let the agent reach into his pocket for his ID. He eventually lowers the gun when told that he could spend years in jail.
* ''Film/SixReasonsWhy'' opens with a Mexican standoff between The Nomad, The Entrepreneur, The Sherpa and The Criminal in the middle of the desert. The rest of the film is dedicated to explaining HowWeGotHere.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Vash and Knives, in their climactic showdown in the finale of the ''Anime/{{Trigun}}'' anime, have a very protracted (and very dramatic) one-on-one standoff, where every attempt to break the stalemate by one character is instantly copied by the other. [[spoiler:Vash breaks it when Wolfwood's voice sounds in his head -- at which point he realizes he's standing on the Punisher, giving him a move Knives can't copy.]]
** Also happens in the manga with a multi-person standoff, consisting of Wolfwood, Zazie, Hoppered, Midvalley, and Legato all holding multiple guns to each other. Vash is kind of involved, too, since Legato's using his power to keep Vash from exploding. It was kinda awesome to watch. [[spoiler:Then Meryl popped up from beneath Vash to resolve it.]]
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'''s first season ends with a Mexican Standoff that's [[spoiler:resolved after the FadeToBlack]]. One of the big mysteries going onto the OddlyNamedSequel is what exactly happened, since [[spoiler:all parties involved are shown to be alive and well one year later (not to mention the protagonist's little sister has been replaced by a little brother).]] There's another standoff much earlier, but that one is possibly disqualified by the fact that one side consists of two men with pistols while the other is a HumongousMecha with a supersized gun bigger than both men combined...
** Subverted earlier in the season, when C.C. pulls a gun on Lelouch, threatening to shoot him in the leg, in order to stop him from leaving. [[StopOrIShootMyself Lelouch responds by drawing a gun of his own]], [[spoiler:but since C.C. is immortal and needs him alive to fulfill their contract, he points his gun not at C.C. but at his own head, threatening to kill himself if he isn't allowed to leave.]]

* Spike and Vicious engage in a Mexican Standoff in the fifth episode of ''Anime/CowboyBebop''. Spike's got a gun, and Vicious holds a [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] to the space cowboy's chest. They both attack each other, and Spike nearly dies, revealing flashbacks about both men's pasts. One seems to develop earlier in the same episode where Spike encounters an armed mook holding Faye as a hostage/human shield. Spike casually shoots him in the head.
** Repeated in the final episode. [[spoiler:Interestingly, the standoff is a result of each man disarming the other. Spike has Vicious's sword, Vicious has Spike's gun. In a ShoutOut to ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II'', they give them ''back'' and ''then'' both die.]]
* In the third episode of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', Guts and Griffith have their first fight, which ends with Guts and Griffith presumably in a standoff, neither able to move without putting themselves at a disadvantage. However, [[spoiler:Griffith manages to pull an ingenious move and win the day, which is very badass]].
* Happens at least twice -- so far -- in ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. Once during Revy's epic battle with Roberta, and then again (with [[MeleeATrois three participants]]) in ''Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise''.
** There's also the short standoff between Revy and Dutch during the Nazi arc following Revy getting the [[AxCrazy Whitman Fever]] and trying to gun down the noncombatant contractors on board the ship along with her Nazi quarry.
* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}!'' has a fun standoff as three separate groups simultaneously try and hold up a dinner car on a train. Two groups have guns and the third has a knife. The guy with the knife quickly apologizes, closes the door, and walks away.
* ''Anime/FutakoiAlternative'' has a hilariously awesome three-way Mexican Standoff.
* A Mexican standoff involving paint guns occurs during chapter 82 of ''Manga/AiKora''.
* Done in ''Manga/MysteriousGirlfriendX'', but instead of guns, we get scissors and legs.

* In the manga version of ''Manga/BlackButler'', during the Noah's Ark Circus Arc, Ciel [[spoiler:points a gun at [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron]] [[BandagedFace Kelvin]], so [[UndyingLoyalty Joker]] points his SwordCane at Ciel's throat, so [[BattleButler Sebastian]] holds his dagger against Joker's neck.]]
* ''Manga/PsychicSquad'' features a very prolonged metaphysical standoff between BigBad Kyosuke and BadassNormal Minamoto; they both possess the means to kill each other (Kyosuke has RealityWarper psychic powers, Minamoto has a gun specifically engineered to kill high-level Espers like him), but neither one will actually pull the trigger because [[spoiler:if they do, LivingMacguffin Kaoru is all but certain to side with the martyr and bring about the future the killer doesn't want.]]
* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' episode "Brittle Bullet". Haruko and Commander Amarao end up in one when she reveals herself as the woman cutting his hair. They each have a gun pointed at the other's head.

* In ''Manga/RaveMaster'', Elie and a villain get into one. Elie pulls the trigger while the guy is talking. [[MadeOfIron He survives.]]

* In one issue of ''Marvel Team-Up'', ComicBook/ThePunisher and ComicBook/{{Blade}} have a gun and katana to each other's heads, respectively. Blade suggests they both stand down, and lowers his weapon. Punisher doesn't move. Blade: "..." He then turns away, and Punisher shoots him in the back.
* Happens to the Hulk's supporting cast in an issue of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''. For some reason, writer Creator/PeterDavid thinks this is the perfect opportunity to [[AuthorTract deliver a topically belated, satirical comment]]: "Is it just me, or is this how we got involved in Vietnam?"

* The Hearts Of Yukon by Creator/DonRosa ([[http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/show.php?num=3&loc=D95044&s=date page 3, picture 6]]). If that's not one, I don't know what is.
* A three-way version in Comicbook/{{Hitman}} with Tommy Monaghan, a random {{Mook}}, and Franchise/{{Batman}}. Tommy has two guns, Batman [[DoesNotLikeGuns doesn't have any]], and he had his arms tied behind his back as well. Tommy talks the mook into pointing his gun at Batman, then leaves since nobody is pointing a gun at him. Batman later disarms the mook, because he's Batman.
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/EastOfWest'' starts with a Mexican Standoff between [[BadassNormal the Ranger]], [[TheChessmaster Archibald Chamberlain]], and [[TheAtoner Bel Solomon]]. [[spoiler:Chamberlain has rigged the situation in his favor by secretly emptying Solomon's gun beforehand, but ends up [[NiceJobFixingItVillain negating his own advantage]] by shooting Solomon first anyways out of anger, giving the Ranger an opening to gun him down.]]

* In ''Fanfic/UndocumentedFeatures'', a three-way standoff is described as a "Carggian standoff." Another character replies, "Well, we moved from Mexico when you showed up."
* There's a crossover fanfiction wherein [[Series/DoctorWho the Eighth Doctor]], Film/{{Blade}}, [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]], [[Series/TheXFiles Mulder, and Scully]] find themselves in one of these. When a swarm of vampires suddenly show up, the Doctor -- the only one involved without a weapon -- remarks that things are starting to get a bit ludicrous...
* In this ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1910801/1/Constants fanfiction]], it's referenced by name.
* In the ''Halo'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/TheLife'', Frank, Pavel, and two [[RedShirt redshirts]] get into a short one with a Spartan III team. The misunderstanding is quickly fixed, though. Through talking, not shooting.

* One of the most famous scenes from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' involves the titular characters in one of these, and may well be the TropeCodifier. [[spoiler:Despite that, it is actually a subversion. Blondie knew that Tuco's gun was unloaded, so he knew to shoot Angel Eyes and deal with Tuco later.]]
* Hilariously played with in ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' when, in order to actually make the standoff 'fair', a character from one side hands a weapon to a character on the other side.
* The final airstrip scene in ''Film/{{Takers}}''.

* Creator/QuentinTarantino loves this trope.
** The movie ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' features a few instances of the trope. Toward the beginning, an argument between Mr. White and Mr. Pink gets heated, and they end up pulling guns on each other. They hold for a moment, then both lower their guns. At the climax, an undercover cop and three villains are caught in a tense three-way standoff. Bad guy one shoots the cop, bad guy two shoots bad guy one, bad guy three shoots bad guy two and bad guy two returns fire. In the end, Mr. White holds Mr. Orange at gunpoint, while the cops (off-screen) point guns at Mr. Pink.
** In the climax of ''Film/PulpFiction'', Jules disarms Pumpkin at gunpoint, Honeybunny freaks and turns her gun on Jules, and a returning Vincent takes aim at Honeybunny while also threatening to shoot Pumpkin until Jules shuts him down. Unlike most other examples, Jules and Vincent could have ended the standoff at any time.
** ''Film/TrueRomance'' ends with a big standoff between the police, the mafia, and the bodyguards of a Hollywood producer. And Clarence & Alabama.
** A two-man version shows up in ''Film/NaturalBornKillers'', which drops the trope name.
** ''Film/KillBill'' features a standoff between a hitwoman and Beatrix, [[spoiler:who has recently learned she's pregnant and wants no part of it]].
** ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' features two separate stand-offs in a single scene. In the first, an SS agent and a British spy point pistols at each other's testicles beneath a bar table. Later, a German soldier and the rest of the Basterds have each other at a stalemate, during which time they argue about whether their position could be called a Mexican Standoff.

* In one of ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' movies, a soldier is shooting at the baddies. A baddie sneaks behind the soldier and puts a knife to his throat, telling him not to move. Another soldier gets behind him and puts a gun to ''his'' throat, telling him the same thing, creating a sort of blade-based Mexican Standoff. As they are all there unmoving and unsure about what to do, [[ShootTheShaggyDog a grenade drops nearby and blows them all up]].
* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', there is a Mexican standoff between a group of German soldiers and a group of Americans. As both were taken by complete surprise, nobody dares to shoot first, but they insult and intimidate each other instead. A second score of Americans enters, and literally blows the status quo.

* Near the conclusion of ''Film/LustInTheDust'', a 1985 film, nearly everyone is pointing guns at each other over a chest of gold. Marguerita (Lainie Kazan) is the lone character without a gun -- she exclaims, "This is ''not fair''!" The others give her a pistol out of fair play.

* In the ''Film/{{Hitman}}'' movie, the main character is in an Mexican Standoff with three assassins out to kill him. Why the assassins are pointing guns at each other and not just at the guy they're supposed to kill [[FridgeLogic is a good question]], but it is [[RuleOfCool quickly overshadowed]] by the fact that they decide to "die with a little dignity" by ejecting the magazines from their [[GunsAkimbo guns]], dropping their guns, and each pulling out a [[DualWielding pair]] of [[KatanasAreJustBetter mini-katanas]], and after another brief standoff in which the 4 assassins cross their swords a la the 3 musketeers, they then have a swordfight.
** As for why they're pointing guns at each other, it's most likely because the guy who completes the contract by killing 47 is the only guy who gets paid.
%%* ''Film/DeltaFarce'': "Here, we just call it a standoff."
* ''Film/TheDeparted'': Costigan, Sullivan, Barrigan, Brown. An abandoned apartment building. [[spoiler:Three bodies. Sullivan walks away.]]
* Done much more simplistically in the film ''Film/TheDeparted'' is based on, the Hong Kong thriller ''Film/InfernalAffairs''. Only three people, rather than the addition of another two a bit later on.

* The first ''Film/JamesBond'' film, ''Film/DrNo'', has Bond outwitting a would-be assassin by hiding behind the door while the assassin attempts to kill him in his room. Bond has the assassin drop his gun on a rug and sit down while he interrogates the man. Bond would occasionally take a drink during the conversation, which the assassin used to slide his gun closer to him by dragging the rug. Eventually, the assassin regained his gun and pointed it at Bond, saying that they are now at a standstill, to which Bond casually shrugs and simply shot the guy. It should be noted that the assassin had used all of his bullets earlier shooting the bed which he believed contained Bond. As Bond knew this fact, it was easier for him to react calmly to a gun pointed at him.
* The film ''Film/TimeAndTide'' has two characters, a regular soldier and a special-ops mercenary, pull pistols on each other simultaneously. The soldier says "Now we are equal," and the mercenary [[spoiler:shoots him immediately, then spits on his body, saying "I only speak with my gun."]]
* ''Film/InBruges'' has Ray and Harry getting into one of these in the middle of the bed-and-breakfast. Harry is too [[NobleDemon principled]] to get into a gunfight with the pregnant landlady right there in harm's way, and she refuses to leave, so they hilariously argue about how they can continue the fight elsewhere.

* In the film of ''Film/PrinceCaspian'', Caspian confronts Miraz and puts a sword to his throat. Then Miraz' wife points a crossbow at Caspian. Then Susan walks in and points her bow at Mrs. Miraz.[[note]]Whose actual name, by the way, is Prunaprismia. [[UnfortunateNames Lucky her.]][[/note]]

* ''Film/BrandedToKill'' features a very odd subversion, almost a {{Deconstruction}}. The Number One Killer pulls a gun on the the VillainProtagonist, who responds in kind as dictated by the trope. Then the Number One Killer says "We'll have to split the bed." They stand next to each other for days, as the SociopathicHero goes crazier and crazier. The Number One Killer is unfazed.
* Subverted in ''RikMayallPresentsTheBigOne''. Contains a five way Mexican Standoff. The guns are aimed this way and that, while three of the five people involved run off as soon as no-one is aiming at them. The two people left aiming at each other are on the same side.
%%* Parodied many times in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''.
* ''Film/{{Assassins}}'' (1995). Two hitmen are on either side of a bulletproof divider in a taxicab after an unsuccessful NotMyDriver ploy. Neither can get out of the taxi without being killed, so the younger (and crazier) hitman breaks the stalemate by threatening to shoot an innocent bystander unless he starts driving. Then follows a car chase to avoid pursuing police vehicles while at the same time each hitman is trying to kill the other.
* In ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', the Chang Sing gang and the villainous Wing Kong gang have what Wang calls a "Chinese standoff" before their big fight near the beginning of the movie.
* Parodied by ''Film/DateNight'': "Oh my God everyone is pointing guns at everyone!"
* ''Film/{{DEBS}}''. Lucy and Amy end up pointing their guns at each other the first time they meet and have a debate about who's going to put their gun down first.
* ''Film/TheTallBlondManWithOneBlackShoe'' is an unknowing pawn in a scheme between two interdepartmental government rivals who is set up to appear to be a whistle-blower agent. When factions from both sides converge on his apartment, they all draw guns -- as they face off, they agree that as professionals, they won't shoot each other... then a [[ExplosiveCigar trick cigar]] ([[ChekhovsGun given to the pawn by his friend]]) smoldering in an ashtray blows up, and all four men gun each other down.
* Referenced (perhaps) in ''Film/TheCourtJester'' in a joke Hawkins tells the king:
--> '''Hawkins'''': The Duchess dove at the Duke just when the Duke dove at the Doge. Now the Duke ducked, the Doge dodged, and the Duchess didn't. So the Duke got the Duchess, the Duchess got the Doge, and the Doge got the Duke!

* A huge one occurs in the BMovie ''Film/TheImmortals''. The leaders of two gangs direct about a dozen people each on who they should be covering, every one with GunsAkimbo. [[BlastOut It all hits the fan]] when an InnocentBystander drops some plates. Most of the good guys somehow make it out alive (if wounded), even though everyone involved in the shootout were standing only a few feet away from each other.

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':

* "WebVideo/HardlyWorking: Mexican Standoff" has office workers so bored that they are delighted to get into Mexican Standoffs (and die), and points out only two people is just a standoff, not a Mexican Standoff. After the initial Mexican Standoff is achieved by accident, the participants keep having to replace dead members to maintain the delicate balance after thoughtlessly jumping the gun and even [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight negotiate with another Mexican Standoff going on nearby]]. The reaction of the visiting Latino relative of one of the employees sends it home:

* WebVideo/HardlyWorking: Mexican Standoff has office workers so bored that they are delighted to get into Mexican Standoffs (and die), and points out only two people is just a standoff, not a Mexican Standoff. After the initial Mexican Standoff is achieved by accident, the participants keep having to replace dead members to maintain the delicate balance after thoughtlessly jumping the gun and even [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight negotiate with another Mexican Standoff going on nearby]]. The reaction of the visiting Latino relative of one of the employees seals the deal:

* WebVideo/HardlyWorking: Mexican Standoff has office workers so bored that they are delighted to get into Mexican Standoffs (and die), and points out only two people is just a standoff, not a Mexican Standoff.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{GI Joe}}'' plays with this when Shipwreck is confronted by Destro and the Dredknoks just after he dumped a chemical that makes water explode down the drain. To hold them off, Shipwreck has a lit match and threatens to ignite the treated water. Destro confidently tells him that's pointless since a triggering explosion is needed to set off the water. Shipwreck calls it a bluff and Destro dares him to find out. Shipwreck does and drops the match down the drain, only to learn he was not bluffing as nothing happens. With the Joe's trump card now worthless, the Dredknoks open fire, but Shipwreck dodges and that weapons fire provides the triggering explosion to set the water off.