History Main / TrapDoor

-->'''Lightning Bug:''' On the contrary; didn't you enjoy my little [[{{pun}} floor show?]]

* Used for a HurricaneOfPuns in ''Film/JMenForever''. The Lightning Bug greets Billy Batchit and his captured minion and offers them a cocktail with just a ''drop''. ''(minion falls through the trapdoor as Billy desperately holds on to the edge)'' "Ain't that the pits!" As the scene is a GagDub of ''Film/TheAdventuresOfCaptainMarvel'', Billy just says the magic word to transform himself into The Caped Madman.

* ''Film/JMenForever''. The Lightning Bug opens a trapdoor beneath Billy Batchit and quips, "Ain't that the pits!" As the scene is a GagDub of ''Film/TheAdventuresOfCaptainMarvel'', Billy just says the magic word to transform himself into The Caped Madman.

* ''Film/FlashGordonSerial''. The CliffHanger ending to Chapter One. Emperor Ming has Flash thrown into the arena, but when he survives this declares he will not survive The Pit. Princess Aura has taken a fancy to Flash and rushes to save him, causing the trapdoor to open beneath both of them.

* '''VideoGame/BearWithMeTheLostRobots''': In the scene at Jungle Jazz Bar, Flint activates the lever that is connected to a trap door within Lily, in order to distract Barry and Harold.

* ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'': At the tail end of her IWantSong, Veruca is standing on a chute which has this effect.

* In the 1940s Fleischer & Famous ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' cartoons, Superman couldn't fly yet and wound up dropped down a trapdoor in one episode. Of course, he was ''still'' stronger then a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...

* ''Manga/TimeStopBrave'': In the royal palace of Mount Cape's basement, Lovisa tends to drop people down a trap door that leads to the sewers.

* Used straight/spoofed in ''Anime/LupinIIITheCastleOfCagliostro''; the title castle is rife with secret passages, {{Portrait Painting Peephole}}s and of ''course'' trap doors.
** When Lupin pays Clarisse a visit, the Count's men subtly herd him to the room's trap door and drop him like a bad habit.
** More laughable is one that's an actual ''trap'' in the main entrance hall: It's even hooked up to a fake bust that spits out pictures, Polaroid style, of whomever it drops into the dungeon -- Poor Zenigata gets to be the film's demonstration. Lupin, thus informed, manages to turn it on Jodo and one of his guards. The Count is merely amused when he sees the picture of them nearly falling in and commends Jodo for confirming that the trap works.
** On top of those, when Lupin and Zenigata team up to escape from the castle dungeon, they start a large fire as a distraction; this works out beautifully when smoke starts pouring out of all ''kinds'' of danged places, many of which all but scream the presence of even ''more'' chutes and trap doors.

* Examples from Fanfic/{{the Calvinverse}}:

* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Robots}}'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Ratchet]] tells his employees he doesn't wanna hear another word about former head of the company [[HonestCorporateExecutive Bigweld]].
-->'''Bigweld''': (on TV) ''So remember: whether a bot is made up of old parts, new parts or spare parts, you can shine no matter what yo-''
-->'''Ratchet''': My goodness. What a remarkable legacy. Concern for the common robot. You don't come across old-fashioned values like that anymore, friends. And for good reason. '''''[[SuddenlyShouting THERE'S NO MONEY IN IT!]]''''' Hello? Memo to Bigweld! We're not a charity! ''That's'' why old Fat-Face no longer sits in the Big Chair. He's a ''relic!'' So, I don't wanna hear another ''"Where's Bigweld?"'' [''imitates baby whining'']\\
'''Loud-mouthed Chairman''': We'll see him next month at the Bigweld Ball! He always goes to that!\\
(''Ratchet presses a button on a remote; a trapdoor appears below the chairman and he falls into the hole'')
* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'': This is the way that Fix-It Felix Jr. is captured by King Candy is a handy hole under the doormat.

* A variant of this appeared on ''Survivor: Exile Island''. It was an immunity challenge where each competitor knelt on a platform above the ocean. If they were unable to hold onto the ropes that held the weights, the trapdoor would open and drop them into the drink.

* ''Franchise/TombRaider'' is full of these, whether sprung by Lara's doing or her stumbling into them. The latter usually has instant death traps such as spikes.

* One of Pepsi's Superbowl ads featured Music/EltonJohn as a bored king who dropped various performers through a trap door in his throne room into the dungeon if they fail to entertain him. Naturally, the commercial ends with [[HoistByHisOwnPetard the king getting dropped through it himself]] by the ad’s hero, a singer played by Series/XFactor winner Melanie Amaro.

* One of Pepsi's Superbowl ads featured Elton John as a bored king who dropped various performers through a trap door in his throne room into the dungeon if they fail to entertain him. Naturally, the commercial ends with [[HoistByHisOwnPetard the king getting dropped through it himself]] by the ad’s hero, a singer played by X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Sneeky Peepers", Walter Denton installs a trap door next to a copy of Rodin's "The Kiss", mistakenly ordered for Madison High and covered with a tarp until it can be returned. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sneaking to take a peep]], Mr. Conklin, Miss Brooks, Mr. Boynton, Mr. Stone and Walter Denton himself fall thought the trapdoor into a vacant (and locked) storage room in the basement