History Main / ChainPain

* ''Film/SpeedDemon'' has a character be hanged by a telepathically controlled chain.

* ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'' - Alex Munday grabs a short length of chain and swings it around like numbchucks.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Jorah and Tyrion have been MadeASlave, and are collared and chained accordingly. As Jorah is sold on the auction block for the GladiatorGames, Tyrion appeals to his buyer to take him as well, claiming to be a great fighter also. As Tyrion is a dwarf, everyone just laughs, so Tyrion yanks the slaver holding his chain off his feet, then beats him with his own chain until he's pleading for mercy. The buyer decides that's ActuallyPrettyFunny and buys Tryion as well.

* ''Series/LukeCage2016'': In "Wig Out", one of Bushmaster's gang members attacks Luke with a chain. This being Luke, it proves useless.

* ''Film/{{Bumblebee}}'' has a unique spin on it: during a brawl between Bumblebee and Dropkick in a shipyard, Bumblebee manages to get hold of ''anchor'' chains and tangles Dropkick up [[TransformingMecha while he's in helicopter mode]]. Once he's brought down, Dropkick tries to escape by transforming back into robot form, only to end up completely tangled in the chains, and with Bumblebee still holding onto his end, he pulls so hard he [[LudicrousGibs rips his enemy to pieces]].

Overlaps with BreakingTheBonds and BringTheAnchorAlong if the chain was being used to restrain its wielder. ChainedByFashion is when a character wears the chains as an accessory, although it can also overlap with this trope if said character chooses to make use of those accessories as weapons too. See also BladeOnARope, EpicFlail, and FightingWithChucks for other weapons that have chains as an important component. A kusarigama is likely to be included in StockNinjaWeaponry. If the chains become electrified (naturally due to being made of metal), it becomes a LightningLash.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': the General class in the GBA games have chains attached to their [[BladeOnAStick lances]] and [[AnAxeToGrind axes]].

* In ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' the wraith Thresh the Chain Warden has two sets: one with a sickle attached he uses to bind and beat enemies, and one with a lantern he uses to protect allies. And steal souls.
** Also the escaped prisoner Sylas the Unshackled uses a heavy pair of petricite chains shackled to the heavy gauntlets on his wrists as deadly weapons as well as a channel for his magic.

** In the Anime, a filler character named Puzzle uses a chain as his WeaponOfChoice.

* Shun of ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' use these as his WeaponOfChoice.

* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' has minor Season 3 antagonist James AKA Hellfire, who has the ability to [[PlayingWithFire make anything he touches combustible]], take up a chain as his WeaponOfChoice, in a MythologyGag to ComicBook/GhostRider. Unfortunately for James, when he returns in Season 4, Ghost Rider himself has [[ExpyCoExistence joined the cast]], and he takes the chain from James, apparently impressed enough with the technique to pick it up himself.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'''s [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-070 SCP-070 ("Iron Wings")]]. SCP-070's wings have chains hanging from them that act as weapons.

* Most modern bearers of the ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' mantle such as Johnny Blaze, Dan Ketch, Michael Badilino and Robbie Reyes have all demonstrated the power to summon [[VariableLengthChain magical]] and [[KillItWithFire flaming]] chains as their main weapons. When not in use, the chains are usually wrapped around their chests like a bandolier. Later comic iterations have also given them the ability to attach various weapons at the ends of their chains, including [[HooksAndCrooks hooks]], [[BladeOnARope knives]], [[DropTheHammer hammers]], and even [[ImprovisedWeapon tire irons]].

* Most modern bearers of the ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' mantle such as Johnny Blaze, Dan Ketch, Michael Badilino and Robbie Reyes all have the power to summon [[VariableLengthChain magical]] and [[KillItWithFire flaming]] chains as their main weapons. When not in use, the chains are usually wrapped around their chests like a bandolier. Later comic iterations have also given them the ability to attach various weapons at the ends of their chains, including [[HooksAndCrooks hooks]], [[[BladeOnARope knives]], [[DropTheHammer hammers]], and even [[ImprovisedWeapon tire irons]].

* In the original ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' comics, a magical flaming chain manifests when Johnny Blaze or Dan Ketch transform into Ghost Rider.
* Most modern bearers of the ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' name (like Johnny Blaze or Dan Ketch) and power have a [[ VariableLengthChain magical]] [[KillItWithFire flaming]] chain manifesting as their weapon, sometimes when not in use the chain is wrapped around their chest like a bandoiler.
** ''ComicBook/AllNewGhostRider'' follows the Ghost Rider tradition, but Robbie's have [[BladeOnARope knives]] attached to their ends and the design notes hint that he can swap them out for different attachments including [[DropTheHammer hammers]] and [[ImprovisedWeapon tire irons]].

* ''Fanfic/JWITCHSeason1'':

* Heard over the radio during the opening of ''Series/AdamTwelve'', gangs are fighting using "chains and knives."

* Some gang members use bicycle chains as melee weapons. Quite likely began among outlaw bikers, who had excess chain on hand from motorcycle repairs. Often, a padlock was added at the end for extra weight and damage.

* In ''LightNovel/AbsoluteDuo'', Tomoe's Blaze manifests as a ball and chain.

* ''ComicBook/AllNewGhostRider'' follows the Ghost Rider tradition, but Robbie's have [[BladeOnARope knives]] attached to their ends and the design notes hint that he can swap them out for different attachments including [[DropTheHammer hammers]] and [[ImprovisedWeapon tire irons]].
* Befitting his entire aesthetic as a space biker, ComicBook/{{Lobo}}'s signature weapon is a hook on a chain.
* Hardcore, one of ComicBook/LukeCage's enemies from the nineties, wielded manrikisas - chains with weights on the ends.

* ComicBook/{{Spawn}} has chains that pop out of his cloak and are under his control; most often seen in the HBO Animated Series.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' mini-series ''ComicBook/TheKryptonChronicles'', which narrates the history of Krypton, reveals Superman's homeworld was once conquered by an alien race called the Vrangs who held sway over the planet until being kicked out by a slave revolt. The first rebel slaves lacked weapons when they revolted, so they used their own chains to flail their guards to death, and then they stole their ray guns.

* In ''Series/TheMusketeers'' s3e10, d'Artagnan beats the captain of the Red Guard with a chain.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ComicBook/{{Lobo}}'s signature weapon is a hook on a chain.

* ''ComicBook/AllNewGhostRider'' follows the Ghost Rider tradition, but Robbie's have knives attached to their ends and the design notes hint that he can swap them out for different attachments including hammers and tire irons.

* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' has minor Season 3 antagonist James AKA Hellfire, who has the ability to [[PlayingWithFire make anything he touches combustible]], take up a chain as his WeaponOfChoice, in a MythologyGag to ComicBook/GhostRider. Unfortunately for James, when he returns in Season 4, Ghost Rider himself has joined the cast, and he takes the chain from James, apparently impressed enough with the technique to pick it up himself.

* Happens in the ''Film/GhostRider'' movie, with emphasis on 'improvised' as this was the same chain one of the demons tried to kill him with at first.

[[folder:Film]]

* The killer in the SlasherMovie ''Film/ChainLetter'' uses chains to kill people.