History Main / RunOrDie

* ''VideoGame/SpiderMan'' features Monster Ock as the game's final "boss", which is used very loosely, because to beat him, there's only thing you can do, run and webswing out as fast as you can before the base completely blows up, or you die.

* Before you even begin playing the actual game, you get a bit of expository text at the beginning of ''Videogame/{{Outlast}}'' that gives a little bit of background information on the PlayerCharacter Miles, and states, in no uncertain terms, that he cannot physically fight back against the threats he encounters, and that running and hiding are your only methods of survival. This is also true in the Whistleblower DLC and ''VideoGame/OutlastII''.

* Before you even begin playing the actual game, you get a bit of expository text at the beginning of ''Videogame/{{Outlast}}'' that gives a little bit of background information on the PlayerCharacter Miles, and states, in no uncertain terms, that he cannot physically fight back against the threats he encounters, and that running and hiding are your only methods of survival. This is also true in the Whistleblower DLC and ''VideoGame/Outlast2''.

* Before you even begin playing the actual game, you get a bit of expository text at the beginning of ''Videogame/{{Outlast}}'' that gives a little bit of background information on the PlayerCharacter Miles, and states, in no uncertain terms, that he cannot physically fight back against anyone, and that running and hiding are your only methods of survival. This is also true in ''Whistleblower'' and ''Outlast 2''.

* Before you even begin playing the actual game, you get a bit of expository text at the beginning of ''Videogame/{{Outlast}}'' telling you, amongst other things, that Miles cannot physically fight back against anyone and that running and hiding are your only methods of survival. This is also true in ''Whistleblower'' and ''Outlast 2''.

* Contessa, of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', is notable in that she operates extremely quietly, acting as a censor of information about [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Cauldron]], up until the point when [[spoiler: Cauldron is exposed to the superhero community]], at which point she begins to eliminate leaks more openly, notably incapacitating Faultline's crew, an experienced mercenary team that has previously taken on [[WizardClassic Myrrdin]] and [[KnightInShiningArmor Chevalier]], in less than twenty seconds. Protectorate policy on facing her is "Just run," and when [[spoiler:Weaver]] ignores this directive, Contessa hands her a total defeat.
** Contessa herself sees the other side of this trope when faced with [[PowerNullifier Mantellum]].

* In ''Literature/NESGodzillaCreepypasta'', at the end of each of the game's worlds, instead of the military base present in the original game, there's what seems to be a red tribal mask. The level inside is just a burning background, with the word "RUN" at the top of the screen. And when [[EldritchAbomination the red monster who is bigger than freaking Godzilla appears]], then you know why. As the game progresses, the chase has new elements, including an underwater level for Anguirus and a flying level for Mothra, but the Hellbeast changes forms as well.
* Both sides in ''[[LetsPlay/{{Dream}} Dream's]]'' Minecraft Manhunt like to run away from situations they don't like.
** Early on in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7t5B69G0Dw Minecraft Manhunt finale rematch,]] [[spoiler: Dream gets a golden sword from a chest]] near a broken Nether Portal. [[spoiler: The three hunters promptly run away from Dream.]]
** Early in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tylNqtyj0gs Minecraft Manhunt grand finale,]] Dream is collecting wheat, when all of a sudden [[spoiler: George and Sapnap are chasing after Dream with iron weapons and armor. He runs away as fast as possible while the hunters try to get him.]]

* In the various ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' films, this is about the only thing the heroes can do against the most dangerous dinosaurs, particularly the ''TyrannosaurusRex''.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder'', the FinalBoss turns out to be [[spoiler:''Darth Vader''. And by "final boss", we mean "you get two desperate lightsaber swings which he easily blocks before he strangles you, throws you across the room, and you run for dear life as he tears up the entire ship with the Force while chasing you."]]

** While Ash and co. are seasoned Trainers and well capable of defending themselves against wild Pokemon, there are two Pokemon that, when faced with, they'll run their asses off away from: [[BearsAreBadNews Ursaring]] and [[BeeAfraid Beedrill]]. It's notable that other, often stronger Trainers usually share this philosophy as well. The one time Ash tried to fight back against a wild Ursaring, Pikachu landed one solid hit and the bear went '''''ballistic'''''. At that point, the heroes booked it out of there. Beedrill, on the other hand, attack in swarms. Unless you have a pokemon that can attack in a wide range, or even so, you're better off avoiding them.

** While Ash and co. are seasoned Trainers and well capable of defending themselves against wild Pokemon, there are two Pokemon that, when faced with, they'll run their asses off away from: [[BearsAreBadNews Ursaring]] and [[BeeAfraid Beedrill]]. It's notable that other, often stronger Trainers usually share this philosophy as well. The one time Ash tried to fight back against a wild Ursaring, Pikachu landed one solid hit and the bear went '''''ballistic'''''. At that point, the heroes booked it out of there.

* In ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', this is the situation that [[TheCaptain Captain Kirk]] finds himself in when he faces off against the USS ''Vengeance'', a ''[[TheDreadedDreadnought Dreadnought]]''-class warship commanded by InsaneAdmiral Marcus, and decides to [[HyperspeedEscape book it into warp]] rather than face a CurbStompBattle. Unfortunately for him and the ''Enterprise'', the ''Vengeance'' quickly proves itself capable of [[HyperspeedAmbush catching up to other ships at warp]], and the ''Enterprise'' soon gets the crap beaten out of her.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' had one of these come out of virtually nowhere during the Saboady Archipelago arc. It was probably the biggest PlotTwist ever seen since the manga started back in TheNineties.

** Basically, AuthorityEqualsAsskicking is usually in effect among both pirates and the Marines. Pre-TimeSkip, any rank below Captain was little more than a {{Mook|s}}, while a Captain would be a tough one-on-one fight for most of the Straw Hats. A Vice-Admiral could beat an individual crew member, but could be taken down by most or all of the crew working together. A full Admiral? ''Run. Just '''run'''.''

* ''WesternAnimation/Primal2019'': The antagonist of the episode "Plague of Madness" is a ''Camarasaurus'' infected with a [[TechnicallyLivingZombie zombie-like]] plague that turns it crazed and hostile. It's so [[LightningBruiser massive, fast, and vigorous]] that protagonists Spear and Fang, who can normally take on enemies several times their size, cannot do a thing to it and their only option is to run from it or sneak past it while it's dormant.

** The same thing happens in ''VideoGame/Persona4Golden'', but somewhat differently: if you open 20 chests in a single dungeon run (without going back to the entrance), then you'll hear the chains rattling. From that point on, any chest ''may'' contain the Reaper as a BonusBoss, but the game is nice enough to warn you prior to opening the chest that it seems like a ''really'' bad idea. If you're foolish enough to open the chest without being ready, then you should probably run away. Or die.

* Before you even begin playing the actual game, you get a bit of expository text at the beginning of ''Videogame/{{Outlast}}'' telling you, amongst other things, that Miles cannot physically fight back against anyone and that running and hiding are your only methods of survival.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', as you explore [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Tartarus]], if you linger too long on any given floor, TheGrimReaper will show up. He can be fought, but it's a very, very bad idea. One of Elizabeth's last Requests is to kill him; it's doable by that point, but unless you know how to cheat the system, you're still likely to die a few (dozen) times. The same thing happens in ''VideoGame/Persona5''; if you dick around too long on one floor and you start hearing chains, it's time to haul ass in the other direction. ([[WeaksauceWeakness Unless he's sick with the flu, in which case 72,050 free experience for you!]])

** Even before that, in both games, you're attacked by a swarm of Necromorphs without any weapons, stasis, or kinesis. Your only hope is to flee.