History Main / ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind

* Occurs in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog''. Katz manages to tire out Courage by defeating him in a game of squash before grabbing him by the throat and preparing to feed him to his one of man-eating spider pets. However, as he is distracted [[EvilLaugh laughing uncontrollably]], Muriel knocks him out with a tennis racket saving Courage.

* Played with in ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' Neo doesn't actually need help, but the Witch NPC shows up and shotguns some mooks to death with a few [[BackStab back shots]].

* In the 1994 French film ''Film/TheRevengeOfTheMusketeers'', the BigBad has the heroine (Creator/SophieMarceau) at his mercy and is about to deliver the CoupDeGrace when he suddenly notices a sword-point emerging from his own chest -- courtesy of her father [[Literature/TheThreeMusketeers d'Artagnan]] (Creator/PhilippeNoiret). D'Artagnan {{apolog|etic Attacker}}ises for this unsportsmanlike action, [[PapaWolf he had to save his daughter at all cost]].

* ''Franchise/TheThreeMusketeers'': In the 1994 French film ''Film/TheRevengeOfTheMusketeers'' a.k.a. ''La fille de d'Artagnan'' ("[=D'Artagnan=]'s Daughter") the BigBad has the titular heroine (Creator/SophieMarceau) at his mercy and is about to deliver the ''coup de grâce'' when he suddenly notices a sword-point emerging from his own chest -- courtesy of [[PapaWolf her father]] [[Literature/TheThreeMusketeers d'Artagnan]] (Philippe Noiret).

* Occurs in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog''. Katz manages to tire out Courage by defeating him in a game of squach before grabbing him by the throat and preparing to feed him to his one of man-eating spider pets. However, as he is distracted [[EvilLaugh laughing uncontrollably]], Muriel knocks him out with a tennis racket saving Courage.

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS09E01IThinkImGonnaLikeItHere I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here]]", Dean stabs an angel in the back who has severely beaten Ezekiel.

* ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'' (first book of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''): Near the end of the book, Dalinar Kholin is losing an honor duel against an enemy Shardbearer (mostly due to the fact that Dalinar just finished having to fight through a large army) when Kaladin rescues him by stabbing the Shardbearer in the leg, slowing him enough for Dalinar to escape.

* The Council likes to do this to the heroes in ''Manga/FairyTail''. They make a point of showing up ''right after'' the villain has been defeated, ''twice''. One time just to question the guild, another to issue a life sentence to two people who just helped save the day.* In ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'', Cromwell uses his hypnotic ring to take control of Kirche and Tabitha. Cromwell starts gloating that as long as he has the ring, nobody can oppose him... then Guiche smashes a stick over his head from behind and knocks him out.

* In ''Film/FantasyIsalnd2020'', Dr. Torture is about to slice open Sloane's skull with an [[ChainsawGood electric bone saw]], but she is saved when Damon appears and stabs Torture InTheBack.

* In the movies of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', during the Zeon infiltration of White Base, Amuro has just been sprung from his holding cell by Ryu Jose and is on his way to take control of the Gundam when he is waylaid by a Zeon soldier. Things look bad, as the two fight over a gun, a shot it heard and the soldier drops. Standing behind him with the smoking gun is Bright Noa.

* This happens twice to [[Anime/MyHime Mai]] in Chapter 19 of ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated''. At the beginning of the chapter, while she is fighting with [[spoiler:Shiho, whom she is unable to take offensive action against lest Yuuichi die]], she is saved by [[spoiler:Yukino]] intervening and knocking her opponent out. Later that chapter, she encounters [[spoiler:Bachiko and Meiko]], but [[spoiler:Mikoto]] arrives and defeats them, killing them in the process. Much earlier, Mai and Natsuki are saved from Hitomi when [[spoiler:Shizuru]] destroys Hitomi's Child.

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]

* In ''Film/DragonballEvolution'', Mai is chasing Bulma and about to deal a killing blow when [[spoiler: Yamcha shoots her from behind]]. A deleted, alternate version of that scene actually has her [[spoiler: impaled by shrapnel, but still taken out by Yamcha]].
* Handled much more conservatively in the newer adaptation ''Film/{{Dredd}}'' than in the earlier ''Film/JudgeDredd'' (see below). The timing is a little off here, so Dredd has to stall his intended killer for a few seconds before Judge Anderson can show up from behind and blow the guy away.
-->'''Dredd:''' Wait.\\
'''Lex:''' "Wait?" Are you kidding me? Did you just say, "Wait"? Judge Dredd -- ''[[TheDreaded the]]'' [[TheDreaded Judge Dredd]] -- finally gets on the wrong end of a gun and all he says is, "Wait." You know what? [[EvilGloating I expected more from you. I mean, wait for what?]] Wait for me to change my mind? Wait for another two or three seconds of life because you are so fucking weak you can't stand to see it end?\\
'''Dredd:''' No.\\
'''[Anderson shoots Lex from behind]'''\\
'''Dredd:''' [[BondOneLiner Wait for her to shoot you]].

* ''Film/JohnnyEnglish'', two mooks hold Johnny and Bough at gunpoint and are knocked over the head by Lorna with a fire extinguisher.
* ''Film/JudgeDredd'':
** An extreme example occurs where this trope occurs not once, but twice ''in the same scene.'' During the confrontation with the desert cannibals. Toward the end of the fight, Dredd is about to be speared by the patriarch of the cannibal clan, when the bad guy is killed by a shot from the "cleanup team" sent to make sure that Dredd didn't survive. After the ensuing shoot-out, Dredd is again cornered only to have his attacker shotgunned by Judge Fargo, Dredd's mentor. Fargo is then literally skewered by the cyborg cannibal a few seconds after saying hello.
** And at the climax of that same movie, Dredd is hanging by his fingertips, with the recently-deceased BigBad's mad scientist henchman standing over him with a gun, gloating about shooting him. Cue the BaitAndSwitchGunshot as Judge Hershey, Dredd's partner, shoots the scientist from behind, saving his life. Using this trope three times in one movie may well qualify for some sort of record.

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''

* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'':
** Marion Ravenwood knocks out a mook from behind with a burning log during the bar fight near the beginning just as he's about to shoot Indiana Jones.
** She does this sort of thing again later during the fight on and around the Nazi plane. A German pilot is about to shoot Indy when he's hit over the back of the head, and we see Marion Ravenwood lifting some airplane wheel chocks triumphantly.
* In the 1994 French film ''Film/TheRevengeOfTheMusketeers'' a.k.a. ''La fille de d'Artagnan'' ("[=D'Artagnan=]'s Daughter") the BigBad has the titular heroine (Creator/SophieMarceau) at his mercy and is about to deliver the ''coup de grâce'' when he suddenly notices a sword-point emerging from his own chest -- courtesy of [[PapaWolf her father]] [[Literature/TheThreeMusketeers d'Artagnan]] (Philippe Noiret).
* During the fight on top of the [[RecycledINSPACE space drill]] in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', Kirk is hanging off the edge with a Romulan standing over him, trying to stomp on Kirk's fingers. Sulu comes to the rescue by running the Romulan through with his sword.
* From ''Franchise/StarWars'':

* In ''Film/{{Unknown 2011}}'', when Martin is about to be strangled by the hitman at Gina's place, Gina [[BigDamnHeroes comes to his aid]] and rams the syringe into the hitman's neck.
* ''Film/{{Stoker}}'': India rescues Evelyn, who is being strangled by Charlie, by shooting him in the back.

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS09E01IThinkImGonnaLikeItHere "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" (S09, Ep01)]], Dean stabs an angel in the back who has severely beaten Ezekiel.

* Zidane saves [[spoiler:Squall]] in this manner in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy''. Then he teases HIM for being a showoff
--> '''Zidane:''' Stop trying to show off [[spoiler:Squall]]. You make the rest of us look bad.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndScrappyDoo'': Has a variant in the first episode. Shaggy, Scooby, and his nephew are ''above'' the other three, though the three manage to launch Scrappy so that he can land ''behind'' the Scarab's head and cover the eyes.

-->'''Jacuzzi:''' Please, ''I don't want to kill you!''
-->'''Mook:''' Huh? Isn't it, you don't want to be killed by us?
-->'''Jacuzzi:''' No...I don't want you to be killed! So please...Donny...I'm sure they're going to put the guns down now...there's no need...
** And then a giant crushes one of them and an ActionGirl cuts their throats, from behind. Jacuzzi has pals.

* ''{{Comicbook/Hitman}}'': How do you out-shoot the fastest gun in the world? [[spoiler: Have your buddy sneak up behind him and blow his head off.]]

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

--> '''Dredd:''' Wait.\\
'''Lex:''' "Wait?" Are you kidding me? Did you just say, "Wait"? Judge Dredd -- ''[[TheDreaded the]]'' [[TheDreaded Judge Dredd]] -- finally gets on the wrong end of a gun and all he says is, "Wait." You know what? [[EvilGloating I expected more from you. I mean, wait for what?]] Wait for me to change my mind? Wait for another two or three seconds of life because you are so fucking weak you can't stand to see it end?
--> '''Dredd:''' No.
--> '''[Anderson shoots Lex from behind]'''
--> '''Dredd:''' [[BondOneLiner Wait for her to shoot you]].

* ''Film/JohnnyEnglish'', two mooks hold Johnny and Bough at gunpoint and are knocked over the head by Lorna with a fire extinguuisher.

--->'''Orc:''' I'm gonna bleed you like a stuck pig!
--->[Orc [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice gets run through]] with [[CoolSword Sting]], wielded by Sam]
--->'''Sam:''' [[DodgeThis Not if I stick you first.]]
* In the 2016 remake of ''[[Film/TheMagnificentSeven2016 The Magnificent Seven]]'', this trope is combined with a BaitAndSwitchGunshot. While Chisholm is monologuing and prolonging Bogue's strangulation, Bogue is busily fishing a derringer out of his pocket with which to shoot Chisholm. Emma shows up just in time to shoot Bogue before Bogue can shoot Chisholm. Played with in that [[ActionGirl Emma]] comes up behind Chisholm and not Bogue in order to deliver the fatal shot.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':

--->'''Pirate:''' SAY GOODBYE!
--->'''*A sign's chain conveniently breaks, causing it to smash the pirate.*'''
--->'''Will:''' [[BondOneLiner ...Goodbye!]]

* * In the 1994 French film ''Film/TheRevengeOfTheMusketeers'' a.k.a ''La fille de d'Artagnan'' ("[=D'Artagnan=]'s Daughter") the BigBad has the titular heroine (Creator/SophieMarceau) at his mercy and is about to deliver the ''coup de grâce'' when he suddenly notices a sword-point emerging from his own chest -- courtesy of [[PapaWolf her father]] [[Literature/TheThreeMusketeers d'Artagnan]] (Philippe Noiret).

-->'''Darth Vader:''' I have you now.
--> (One of Vader's wing-men explodes.)
-->'''Darth Vader:''' What?!
-->( Shot of Millennium Falcon coming out of the sun.)
-->'''Han Solo:''' Yahoo!
-->'''Tie Fighter Pilot:''' Look out!
--> (He tries to turn, but misjudges it, slams against the side of the trench, and sends Vader spinning off)
-->'''Han Solo:''' You're all clear, kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home!

* "[=EscApe=] From New York," the season five premiere of ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'', sees [[spoiler: ''Aria'', of all people, doing this when Shana has Spencer, Emily, Hanna and Alison at gunpoint and is about to kill them in revenge for the Jenna thing; Aria hits Shana with [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Rifle]], and hits her again sending her off the stage to a DisneyVillainDeath]].

--> '''Zidane''': Stop trying to show off [[spoiler:Squall]]. You make the rest of us look bad.

* ''VideoGame/FreeSpace''; In the Inferno R1 mod, this is first played straight, then subverted. [[spoiler: The GTVA's Independence carrier pulls off a conveniently timed attack from behind the Earth Alliance's flagship, the EA Nemesis. Said Nemesis then did a precise nano-jump right behind the Independence and shoots the crap out of it.]]

* In the final cutscene of ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft II}}: Heart of the Swarm'', Kerrigan has finally arrived to deliver some long-desired {{Revenge}} upon Arcturus Mengsk, but he pulls out an unpleasant surprise ([[spoiler:the Xel'naga artifact from ''Wings of Liberty'']]), which he uses to subdue her, and begins inflicting ElectricTorture on the helpless queen, [[EvilGloating gloating about his deviousness]] and how his empire will overcome, when [[spoiler: Raynor]] smashes through the half-open door and [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom hurls Mengsk bodily across the room]].
--> [[spoiler:'''Raynor''']]: Change of plans, Arcturus.

* ''VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception''- [[spoiler: Young Drake is on a roof, his back to a corner. There's nowhere for him to run and one of Marlowe's men has him at gunpoint. Before the minion can shoot our hero, in comes Sully from behind who shoots him, takes Drake to a tavern and begins the lasting friendship we see in the series.]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

-->''It's the least I could do. Also, the most, unfortunately.''

* Occurs in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Courage the Cowardly Dog}}''. Katz manages to tire out Courage by defeating him in a game of squach before grabbing him by the throat and preparing to feed him to his one of man-eating spider pets. However, as he is distracted [[EvilLaugh laughing uncontrollably]], Muriel knocks him out with a tennis racket saving Courage.

--> '''Tal Merrik:''' [[{{Foreshadowing}} Who will strike first and brand themselves a cold-blooded killer?]] ... !
--> '''Obi-Wan:''' Anakin...
--> '''Anakin:''' [[DefensiveWhat What?]] He was gonna blow up the ship.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' this serves as MysteriousProtector Cheetara's DynamicEntry, saving young [[KingIncognito Prince Incognito]] Lion-O from a headlock by rapping his mugger in the [[TapOnTheHead back of the head]] with her staff.
* WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndScrappyDoo: Has a variant in the first episode. Shaggy, Scooby, and his nephew are ''above'' the other three, though the three manage to launch Scrappy so that he can land ''behind'' the Scarab's head and cover the eyes.

* ''Series/TheBarrier'': Hugo is getting mugged when [[spoiler:Carlos]] bludgeons the thief from behind, turning out to have been in the area all along in the process.

* This happens twice to [[Anime/MaiHime Mai]] in Chapter 19 of ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated''. At the beginning of the chapter, while she is fighting with [[spoiler:Shiho, whom she is unable to take offensive action against lest Yuuichi die]], she is saved by [[spoiler:Yukino]] intervening and knocking her opponent out. Later that chapter, she encounters [[spoiler:Bachiko and Meiko]], but [[spoiler:Mikoto]] arrives and defeats them, killing them in the process. Much earlier, Mai and Natsuki are saved from Hitomi when [[spoiler:Shizuru]] destroys Hitomi's Child.

* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob:'' Jean saves Bob from KingMook of the [[BigfootSasquatchAndYeti Bigfeet]] with a [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20090530.html floorlamp.]]

** An extreme example occurs where this trope occurs not once, but twice ''in the same scene.'' During the confrontation with the desert cannibals. Toward the end of the fight, Dredd is about to be speared by the patriarch of the cannibal clan, when the bad guy is killed by a shot from the "cleanup team" sent to make sure that Dredd didn't survive. After the ensuing shoot-out, Dredd is again cornered only to have his attacker shotgunned by Judge Fargo, Dredd's mentor. Fargo is then literally skewered seconds later after saying hello by the cyborg cannibal.

* Near the end of ''Film/TheHungerGames'', Clove managed to get the best of Katniss and was just about to kill her when Thresh pulls her off Katniss and beats her to death against the Cornucopia, before leaving without attacking Katniss.

* The ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "Orpheus" has Faith do this to Connor before he gets to stab Angelus.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', Obi-wan and Duchess Satine have a terrorist leader at the point of their weapons, the villain gloats that they can't do anything before he pulls the trigger on some bombs, less the pacifist Satine become a hypocrite, or the lovestruck Obi-wan be made a monster in his love interest's eyes... cue Anakin running him through with his lightsaber, with a few chords of "March of the Empire" playing as he does.
--> "[[{{Foreshadowing}} Who will strike first and brand themselves a cold-blooded killer?" ]]

* When Ren from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' has Androssi and Anak cornered and is about to kill them, he gets a pebble thrown at his head. Enter [[LadyOfWar Yuri Zahard]].

* In ''ComicBook/TheFurtherAdventuresOfIndianaJones'' #12, an [[McNinja Ismaili assassin]] is about to throw a knife into Indy's back when there a shot, blood spurts from his chest and he falls over. The next panel shows Marion doing a SmokingBarrelBlowout.