History Main / WeHaveTheKeys

** Seven episodes later show why they don't bother with keys. When Rogue and ComicBook/{{Storm}} try breaking out Colossus, Rogue has the wrong key and simply rips the door off the hinges.

* ''Film/OnceBitten", the vampires are smashing their way through their countesses' mansion looking for Mark. She finally gets fed up and reminds them that she has to replace every door they break, and have they even tried the doorknob? Sure enough, that door opens normally, because it's her house and not a fortress.

* ''Film/OnceBitten", the vampires are smashing their way through their countesses' mansion looking for Mark. She finally gets fed up and reminds them that she has to replace every door they break, and have they even tried the doorknob? Sure enough that door opens normally because its her house and not a fortress.

Along the lines of ThereWasADoor, an ActionHero proves his manliness by [[OpenSaysMe busting down or through a locked door]], or hotwiring a car so he can steal it. After he's proven his manliness in this fashion, one of his companions holds up the keys to the [[DoorTropes door]] or car in question, which prompts a remark from the Hero.

This includes examples when the hero ''fails'' with his tactic, and the companion uses the simpler way, which works (thus being the SubvertedTrope to OpenSaysMe). Another possibility is that the companion unlocks the door (or tries it and finds that it wasn't locked in the first place) just before the hero breaks it down. Having a KeyUnderTheDoormat is a frequent way of doing this.

** In "[=SpongeBob=] vs. The Strangler", [=SpongeBob=] arrives home with the Strangler (pretending to be his bodyguard) in tow, only to realise he can't find his key. He decides to try and climb in through the window, using the Strangler to give him a boost, but loses his footing and sticks his cleats [[EyeScream right into the Strangler's eye sockets]]. He's apparently stuck like this for ''hours'' before the Strangler pulls him free... whereupon he remembers he has a spare key under the flowerpot.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': In the episode "Big Wanda" do this when Timmy and Cosmo want to enter Cosmo's mom's house. After Timmy broke the door [[UseYourHead using Cosmo]] as a BatteringRam, Cosmo states that he still has the house's keys. To be fair, up until that point in the episode, Timmy has been the victim of AmusingInjuries non-stop while Cosmo went unscathed, so frustration probably plays part of his reasoning on the stunt.

* From ''Film/TwoFastTwoFurious'': One of the protagonists smashes a car window with his shirt covered fist. His partner stops him and simply opens the already unlocked door.

* In ''Film/BlackMask'', at one point the BadAssNormal police detective manages to handcuff a SuperSoldier who feels no pain to a bar. The super soldier immediately and without hesitation ''cuts off his own hand''. The detective stares at him for a second and then (in the English dub at least) says "Damn. I had the key."

* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'', Trinity is on a motorcycle with the Keymaker and asks for a download on how to hotwire vehicles, only to have her passenger hand her a key. Both convenient and [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as the Keymaker is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin in addition to his more figurative role.

** The T-800 punches through a car window then hot wires the car. John Connor flips down the windshield visor to reveal the keys. The Terminator actually learns from this experience -- the second time he's required to steal a car, he gets in and flips down the visor. Boom! Keys.

[[folder:Print Media]]

* In ''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'', Alex uses his Super Scope to burst a hole in the door to Nexus, which causes problems down the line. He already had the key to the door in the form of a ring. In this case, the person who points out that he had the key was Ryan, witnessing this via some sort of flashback power from the future, with future!Alex sheepishly mentioning that, at the time, he hadn't ''realized'' he was carrying the key.

* A variation in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Logann [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1169.html charges through a blade barrier,]] sucking up the damage it deals. As he delivers a BadassBoast, Durkon dispels the blade barrier and heals his injuries.

* The Christmas Special of ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'' had the gang attempt to break into Chuckie's house to steal back the Christmas tree that Chuckie had accidentally stolen and found that his father Chas was too enthusiastic about the tree to simply ask about giving it up. The gang break into Chuckie's house through the window. Chuckie tells them all after they do this that he had the keys and could have easily just let them in through the front door.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'': In the episode "Big Wanda" do this when Timmy and Cosmo want to enter Cosmo's mom's house. After Timmy broke the door [[UseYourHead using Cosmo]] as a BatteringRam, Cosmo states that he still has the house's keys.
-->'''Timmy:''' [[ItAmusedMe Yes, I knew.]][[note]]To be fair, up until that point in the episode, Timmy has been the victim of AmusingInjuries non stop while Cosmo went unscathed, so frustration probably plays part of his reasoning on the stunt.[[/note]]

--->'''Wade:''' After you.
--->'''Kim:''' ''(disappointed)'' But I ''like'' jumping over stuff.

*** Justified a few minutes later, when they are trying to destroy the hard copies of the Mutant Registry files:
---->'''Storm:''' ''(trying a file drawer)'' Locked!\\
'''Wolverine:''' ''(stabs it)'' Unlocked.

* The Christmas Special of ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'' had the Rats attempt to break into Chuckie's house to steal back the Christmas tree that Chuckie had accidentally stolen and found that his father Chas was too enthusiastic about the tree to simply ask about giving it up. The Rats break into Chuckie's house through the window. Chuckie tells them all after they do this that he had the keys and could have easily just let them in through the front door.

--> '''Schmendrick''': My dear, you deserve the services of a great wizard, but I'm afraid you'll have to be glad of the aid of a second-rate pickpocket.

* It's nodded at in ''Videogame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', when you take a quiz to determine which class of Jedi your character will be sorted into. One question involves knowing that what you seek is on the other side of a closed door - the Guardian breaks the door down, the Sentinel picks the lock, and the Consular knocks.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' do this when Timmy and Cosmo want to enter Cosmo's mom's house. After Timmy broke the door [[UseYourHead using Cosmo]] as a BatteringRam, Cosmo states that he still has the house's keys.
-->'''Timmy:''' [[ItAmusedMe Yes, I knew.]]

* ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''. At the end of the Fight Club promo, Ray Palmer smashes through the ceiling to the Fight Club arena because he didn't know about the [[MissingFloor secret elevator in his own building]].
* In the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "A New Man", after Buffy has broken down the door to the magic shop:

* Played with in an episode of ''Series/CriminalMinds.'' They go to the motel the suspect is staying at and, upon seeing his picture, the clerk wordlessly hands over the appropriate key. Once they get to the room, Elle offers it to resident tough guy Morgan. He declares "I've got my own" and kicks in the door anyway. Badass-status intact, at the expense of the needlessly broken door. Seeing as it wasn't the suspect's property anyway, he's just intentionally inconvenienced a woman who was trying to help him.

* Happens when the ''Series/RedDwarf'' crew was locked in a dungeon by a lot of clones of Rimmer. While they don't have ''keys'' per se, Lister describes laying out a complicated system of traps to escape, while Kryten simply replies, "Or, we could use the teleporter", which they had acquired earlier from a derelict spaceship.

* In ''Film/HomeAlone'', Marv tries to crowbar open the basement door twice to no avail. Then he just turns the doorknob and finds it's unlocked. (Though this is justified since we just saw Harry burn his own hand on the front door doorknob which Kevin had heated red-hot.)

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'':

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Talespin}}'' episode "Citizen Khan", a CorruptHick sheriff has left the key in the cell door, so he can shoot Baloo trying to escape. Baloo doesn't notice because he's too busy trying to prise the bars off the window.

** In the episode "Night of the Sentinels", ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} uses his adamantium claws to slice open a locked door. However, after getting inside.

* In one ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode, Ron befriends Professor Dementor's giant dachshunds and gets them to break down the door of his SupervillainLair. Dementor protests:
-->'''Professor Dementor:''' Why did you have to break down the door? It ''wasn't'' locked! [[NoIndoorVoice I JUST HAD IT PAINTED!!]]

* In the ''Manga/DragonBall'' anime, the third episode has {{Filler}} where the Pilaf Gang raid Kame House for a Dragon Ball. Pilaf struggles with opening the locked door, prompting Shu and Mai to point out the conspicuously open window next to it by climbing through it.

* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'':
** The T-800 punches through a car window then hot wires the car. John Connor flips down the windshield visor to reveal the keys. The Terminator actually learns from this experience -- the second time he's required to steal a car, he gets in and flips down the visor. Boom! Keys.
** Subverted and invoked when the SWAT teams enter the Cyberdyne building. The first team uses a keycard to enter the building normally. The team immediately following them breaks the door's glass out.
* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'', Trinity is on a motorcycle with the Keymaker and asks for a download on how to hotwire vehicles, only to have her passenger hand her a key. Both convenient and [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as the Keymaker is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin in addition to his more figurative role.

* In ''Film/BlackMask'', at one point the BadAssNormal police detective manages to handcuff a SuperSoldier who feels no pain to a bar. The super soldier immediately and without hesitation ''cuts off his own hand''. The detective stares at him for a second and then (in the English dub at least) says "Damn. I had the key."
* In ''Film/BachelorParty'' the hotel manager instructs the security guys to break down the door, then tells them wait, and unlocks it with his pass key.
* In ''Film/{{The Pink Panther|1963}}'', Clouseau is about to shoot the lock off of a door, when Tucker says "Don't do that, old man" and casually opens the unlocked door.

* {{Defied|Trope}} in ''Film/{{Ricochet}}'', when a pair of bad guys are preparing to rob a place, one of them starts to unlock the door with a key, before Creator/JohnLithgow's character smashes a window in and asks if they want to just leave a note saying "Inside Job".

* In ''Film/HomeAlone'', Marv tries to crowbar open the basement door twice to no avail. Then he just turns the doorknob and finds it's unlocked. (Though this is justified since we just saw Harry burn his own hand on the front door doorknob which Kevin had heated red-hot.)
* In ''Film/{{Harper}}'', Allan and Harper have arrived at a house where they think the bad guys are. Allan, who is getting way too enthusiastic about helping in the private detective game, asks if he can knock the door down. He rams the door with one shoulder, and fails. Wincing in pain, he rams the door with his other shoulder, and fails. As he cringes from two hurt shoulders, Harper laughs, and opens the door, which wasn't locked.

* ''Series/LondonsBurning'': Downplayed when Blue Watch are investigating a report of smoke issuing from a factory building and arrive at the address to find the main gates closed and locked. Station Officer Georgiadis is about to order the crew to get the cutting equipment from the truck to force them when Billy notices that the gates are only held shut by a deadbolt, and thus they only need someone to climb over.

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* A variant in ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'': Rizzo very reluctantly climbs up a gate and jumps off, and then, realizing he's left his jellybeans behind, ''slips through the bars'' to get them.
-->'''Gonzo:''' You can fit between those bars?\\
'''Rizzo:''' Of course.\\
'''Gonzo:''' You're an idiot.\\
'''Rizzo:''' What? Hey, ''what''?
[[/folder]]

* In ''Videogame/MasterOfTheWind'', when [[spoiler:Morias]] gets broken out of prison, Shadehorn the minotaur attempts to smash the bars straight down, before Tyranda points out that they took the keys from the guard earlier.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' has the Toize Valley Mine. Regal tries to tell the party he can simply turn the defense mechanism off [[spoiler:because he's the ''president of the company that owns the mine'']], but the party doesn't listen and instead takes the thing down with brute force.
* The ''Citadel'' DLC for ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' has Shepard getting ready to bust down a door, only for his/her companion to knock on a window and ask the civilian hiding inside to unlock it.
* Played with but ultimately averted in the first installment of the ''VideoGame/{{SWAT}}'' series. In all missions where the player is able to interview the home or building owner beforehand, they will provide the keys needed to get inside and the team will use them during the entry. However, [[DevelopersForesight if the player does not report that they have the keys to their superiors,]] the SWAT team commander will initially suggest [[ShootOutTheLock using a shotgun]] to breach the door during the briefing. The player character will then automatically mention the keys, and the mission will proceed normally.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* An [[http://www.xkcd.com/530/ example]] from ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' where they ''don't'' have the keys, but there's still an easier solution.
* In ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' Annie did this twice. [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=410 First]] shows Reynardine/Renard how to use lockpicks [[SnoopingLittleKid she had hidden in the doll]] he possesses. [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=708 Later]] she uses out-of-body projection to open from the inside a door Jack wanted to break.

* One ''Webcomic/PixieAndBrutus'' strip begins with the eponymous characters trying to get over a fence. Pixie climbs up a shovel with her "super ninja cat skills", Brutus just leaps over with his "super ninja dog skills... and then [[Webcomic/LolaAndMrWrinkles Mr. Wrinkles]] joins in with his "super ninja gate wasn't latched" (which is actually visible in earlier images of the gate [[RewatchBonus if you know to look for it]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'':
** In the episode "Night of the Sentinels", ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} uses his adamantium claws to slice open a locked door. However, after getting inside.
--->'''Beast:''' Ahem... the guard's keys?\\
'''Wolverine:''' So I'll buy him a new door!
** Seven episodes later show why they don't bother with keys. When Rogue and ComicBook/{{Storm}} try breaking out Colossus, Rogue has the wrong key and simply rips the door off the hinges.

* Invoked in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' with an elevator door. The NonHumanSidekick managed to press the elevator button before any breakage transpired.

* The Christmas Special of ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'' had the Rats attempt to break into Chuckie's house to steal back the Christmas tree that Chuckie had accidentally stolen and found that his father Chas was too enthusiastic about the tree to simply ask about giving it up. The Rats break into Chuckie's house through the window. Chuckie tells them all after they do this that he had the keys and could have easily just let them in through the front door.
* A RunningGag on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' is Perry the Platypus smashing into Dr. Doofenshmirtz's lair, only for the doctor to bemoan the damage done to his home. At one point he specifically states he gave Perry a set of keys for exactly that reason. On a few occasions he wasn't even doing anything evil, so Perry reimburses him for the damage.
* Downplayed in ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy''. In "Scrambled Ed", Ed and Eddy go to Edd for their daily scam, but Ed tries to open the door by kicking it down, only to get his leg caught in the door instead. It wasn't even locked, and Eddy opens it with Ed still stuck.
-->'''Eddy:''' There's a ''knob'', Ed.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hurricanes}}'': In "Techno-Team", Stavros Garkos' finance company takes over a laboratory and he decides to break in to mess with a worker's research so she'll have no choice but help him with one of his plans. When he arrives at night, his henchman Genghis is ready to use a crowbar to open the door when he points out that, as the place's owner, he has the keys.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E18AHealthOfInformation A Health of Information]]", a sleep-deprived Fluttershy arrives at Meadowbrook's house and tries to push open the door -- to no avail. She declares their only option is to ''dig'' their way in! [[MundaneSolution Twilight turns the doorknob.]]

* One ''Webcomic/PixieAndBrutus'' strip has both of the eponymous characters working out "ninja" ways to get over a fence. Pixie climbs up a shovel, Brutus merely jumps the gate... and then [[Webcomic/LolaAndMrWrinkles Mr. Wrinkles]] pokes his head in to inform them that the gate wasn't latched (which is actually visible in earlier images of the gate [[RewatchBonus if you know to look for it]]).