History Main / GrapplingHookPistol

** ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': During the final battle, Hawkeye uses an arrow with a grappling-hook head to escape the roof where he'd been perched. He jumps off the roof, turns in midair, and shoots his arrow so that the hook attaches to the cornice of the building, then swings through a window and lands inside.

** In ''Film/WerewolfByNight2022'', Elsa finds a grappling hook pistol within the maze and uses it twice: first [[spoiler:grabbing the Bloodstone on Ted's back and yanking it off as he's running into the forest, and later snagging Vanessa's back to save Jack and force her to drop the Bloodstone]].

* In ''Film/SkyHigh2005'', the [[strike:Sidekick]] [[{{Sidekick}} Hero Support]] training includes learning to use one of these; as with the ''Film/BatmanBegins'' example, the whole mechanism is built into the UtilityBelt, which acts as a harness. It also has the option to launch a net or an inflatable raft rather than a line.

* A realistic version in ''Film/WhenEightBellsToll''. The secret agent played by Creator/AnthonyHopkins uses a line thrower to climb the cliff, with the line playing out from a large container at his feet rather than being attached to the launcher. There's also a moment of tension when it looks like the grappel might come loose as he's climbing.
-->"Well this always works in those World War 2 movies!"

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''

* ''VideoGame/AHatInTime'': Hat Kid's umbrella eventually gets an upgrade from a hat badge that allows the player to grapple towards certain points.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* The Raccoon from ''Webcomic/TheIncredibleAndAweInspiringSerialAdventureOfTheAmazingPlasmaMan'' (no relation).
* The Raccoon from ''Webcomic/KiwiBlitz''.
* ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'': Buckaress meets a hero with one of these, and she complains that she's not some "[[CrimefightingWithCash rich hero]]" who can afford that sort of thing. It's pointed out that the city has [[CityOfAdventure the highest superhero per capita rate in the nation]], so grappling-hook pistols are sold at every hardware store.
* Titania gives Dana one of these in ''WebComic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'', saying she had used it often during her own Wonderella days. Dana wonders what use ''she'd'' have for it, but Titania reassures her she'll think of something. [[spoiler: Dana uses it to take out a couple bullies harassing an overweight Wonderella fan.]]

** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' featured both low ''and'' high tech versions: the [[EliteMooks Yu-Yan Archers]] fired ropes tied to arrows, enhancing their capacity to give chase. And, as seen in "The Northern Air Temple," the Fire Nation's all-terrain tanks have grappling-hook-tipped chains they fire to ascend shear surfaces. Notable in that both examples are in use [[SchizoTech by the same society in the same era]].

* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', Great Uncle 'Grunkle' Stan Pines allows his niece and nephew Mabel and Dipper to take whatever they want from the Mystery Shack gift shop. While Dipper chooses a hat with a pine tree emblem, Mabel pulls out a '''GRAPPLING HOOK!''' [[spoiler: [[ChekhovsGun It actually comes in handy]] in the season one finale.]]

* In ''VideoGame/HenryStickmin: Fleeing the Complex'', Henry can try using a hookshot to reach up an area. Unfortunately, the shot ends up missing its mark and causes Henry to bash his head into a door.

** The [[SuperiorSuccessor Primaris]] [[SuperSoldier Marine]] [[TerrorHero Reivers]] can be equipped with grapnel launchers in order to scale buildings and ruins as part of their infiltrations. In the 8th Edition of the game, these launchers allow Reivers to ignore vertical distances when moving, something all other infantry models must factor into their movement. In Kill Team: Salvation, Scout Hunters are the Space Marine Scout equivalent of Reivers as they carry both Grapnel launchers and long knives.
** In Kill Team: Octarius, the Ork Kommandos have Kommando Grots that carry Grot Grappling Hooks. Unlike most examples (even the ones above) where you're left wondering how such a small device can carry someone bigger than it, the Grots have the advantage of being very small goblins, which allows them to easily zip around the terrain without much issue.

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' the [[SuperiorSuccessor Primaris]] [[SuperSoldier Marine]] [[TerrorHero Reivers]] can be equipped with grapnel launchers in order to scale buildings and ruins as part of their infiltrations. In the 8th Edition of the game, these launchers allow Reivers to ignore vertical distances when moving, something all other infantry models must factor into their movement.

%% Needs Context * ''VideoGame/ClusterTruck'' has one as an unlockable.

*** Black Widow uses her grappling-hook apparatus on Vormir to catch Hawkeye as he tries to jump from the cliff and stop his fall, allowing her to sacrifice herself in his stead.
*** Later, in the tunnels under the Avenger Compound's ruins, Hawkeye uses his own grappling-hook arrow to escape the pursuing Outriders up a well, cutting up the climbers still going after him with his katana.

* ''VideoGame/LikeADragonGaidenTheManWhoErasedHisName'' sees Kiryu, as the government agent "Joryu", given a special wristwatch capable of firing grappling wires called the "Spider". In addition to being shown in cutscenes letting Kiryu swing through the air, it can also be used to [[YouWillNotEvadeMe pull in enemies]] and any weapons lying around.

* The Hacksmith went and made a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZGzameP01k Batman-themed grappling hook gun.]] They later improved on the design and, by hiding away all of the elctronics in a backpack, made a version small enough to be wrist-mounted [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae4TJIeTUbs as part of their Mandalorian armor series.]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

* Generator (Jade Sinclair) at the SuperHeroSchool Whateley Academy in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' has one in an arm bracer. But she can cheat. [[spoiler:She can cast a psychokinetic copy of herself into objects, so she can always make the "grappler" end do what she wants.]]
* Justified with Flechette of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', who has a [[GadgeteerGenius tinker]] made chain fabrication machine installed in her arbalest, which when combined with her power to [[NoArcInArchery make a projectile ignore gravity]], allows her to overcome the difficulties inherent in this trope.

* During the siege on a town in ''[[Literature/TheMalloreon'', they use catapults to launch grappling hooks over the city walls. Of course instead of using them to scale the walls, they use them to pull them down. But not before Belgarion and [[spoiler:Durnik]] soak the ground good by magically creating a spring under it and turn the foundation to mud. Still, very cool.

* Early on in ''Anime/LupinIIITheCastleOfCagliostro'', Lupin uses this tool to save Clarisse from falling off the cliff, they end up in a Literal Cliffhanger.

* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973'', Robin and Little John would fire rope arrows to set up escape paths to move themselves and money. Unlike Batman's sidekick Robin, this Robin does it with a bit of realism, in that once the arrow was fired, somebody on the other end had to tie it off, instead of relying on the arrow to support the weight.

* In the climax of ''Film/{{The Assignment|1997}}'' (1997), KGB commandos use crossbows firing grappling hooks when assaulting the safehouse of Carlos the Jackal.

** [[Film/Batman1989 The 1989 Batman movie]] was the first to give him an actual grapple gun, as opposed to the batarang with a rope tied to it he relied on before. In the film, Batman asks Vicki Vale her weight to find out if his device will be able to hoist both of them off the ground. She lies about her weight, and the device malfunctions halfway up. In another instance, he uses one that fires hooks in two opposite directions. Instead of lifting him off the ground, this allows for rapid horizontal movement by acting as a zip line. It has continued all the way into the re-imagined franchise.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Worms}}'' series of games feature a "ninja rope" that can be lengthened and retracted at will, plus released and re-fired while in midair over and over to replicate Franchise/SpiderMan's method of travel. Mastery of the ninja rope is necessary to become a true worm warrior.

-->'''Amazi-Girl''': I wish I could swiftly grapple-gun from roof to roof. But alas, grapple-guns are ''magic'' and so I have to climb down realsies like a chump.

** In ''Film/BatmanReturns'', Batman actually weaponized the grappling hook gun against a Red Triangle thug holding a woman hostage. Batman fired at the goon and seemingly missed, hitting the wall behind his head. After the thug taunts Batman, the Dark Knight pulls on the rope, [[ExactlyWhatIAimedAt ripping out a piece of the wall to hit the thug in the back of the head]].

* ComicBook/{{Batman}} and all adaptations based on him - his grappling hook gun is [[DoesNotLikeGuns the one gun that he's willing to use]]. Note that in his case, the line - often called "silken rope" in older stories - is a lot older than the launch mechanism; in those olden days, he and Robin would frequently just tie it around a Batarang and launch it with [[BadassNormal brute muscle power]].

* ComicBook/{{Darkhawk}} has one built into his armor.
* Hilariously and realistically used in an issue of ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}''. Yes, he has the gun. But using it to go up 90 floors of a building takes ''forever''.

* ComicBook/NightRaven in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse wields one of these.
* In ''ComicBook/PS238'', Moonshadow's costume includes a built-in grapple gun. He is getting better at using it.
* In the 1940s, [[ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre the Sandman]] had one called a "wirepoon gun". His [[LegacyCharacter successor]], Sand, has used it as a weapon a couple of times. As a younger hero once pointed out: "Wirepoon. Sounds kinda dirty."
* In ''ComicBook/TheScorpion'', the title character uses a grappling hook crossbow.
* ComicBook/SpiderMan's webshooters are similar, but it uses a special strong adhesive chemical called "web-fluid" instead. The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' replaces the web fluid with "natural" spider webs, akin to his time after "the Other". ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'' goes back to the webshooters. It's called web-fluid due to the fact that it has a tensile strength, appearance, and many physical properties similar to actual spider-webs. Given that it's essentially malleable fluid [[DuctTapeForEverything duct-tape]], it's about as versatile as it gets, regarding this trope. The web-launchers are also really tiny, mostly because they're gas powered and most of the power comes from the web fluid expanding on contact with air.

* Greyshirt's ClassyCane doubles as one in ''ComicBook/TomorrowStories'', and he’s not above weaponizing it.
* Rorschach from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' has a Grappling-Hook Pistol that operates on compressed carbon dioxide gas; not only is it his trademark tool, [[ImprovisedWeapon he actually shoots someone with it at one point]]. It's also quite big, nearly lifesize to the real versions. Rorschach was actually given the grappling hook by Nite Owl, a CrimeFightingWithCash, [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys gadgets galore]] type of hero who ends up appearing very similar to Batman -- even though he's actually a CaptainErsatz for the second ComicBook/BlueBeetle. Rorschach's gun is a lot more realistic than Batman's. It's much bigger, and it also doesn't have a motor in it to elevate him.

** There's also the {{BFG}} versions mounted on the snowspeeders in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', proof that a properly utilized grappling hook can be the bane of any HumongousMecha. It was retroactively justified by saying that the speeders were used to tow cargo containers, thus the name [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin tow cable]]. The same movie has Luke use one on the belly of an AT-AT, getting him high enough to toss in a bomb.

* Spoofed in the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "Lonely Hearts" when our hero tries to use a grappling hook gun to get himself and Detective Kate Lockley (prompting the response "...who ''are'' you?") out of a room they are trapped in, but the wooden beam the wire attaches to crumbles under their weight. The device does get used once, but generally Angel prefers to use his powers rather than gadgets, so Wesley (being a BadassNormal and [[Franchise/JamesBond British]]) starts using it in Season 5 once he TookALevelInBadass.

* Downplayed in the second ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode, "Lonely Hearts". Angel tries to use a Grappling Hook Gun to get himself and Detective Kate Lockley (prompting the response "...who ''are'' you?") out of a room they are trapped in, but the wooden beam the wire attaches to crumbles under their weight. He did use it once again, without incident in "She" to gain entry to an office building. It worked fine that time; obviously he learned from his mistake. Probably it was too expensive or cliched a stunt to replicate again. Wesley had a grapnel-launcher at the end of Season 4/beginning of Season 5, which he used at least once.
* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' uses a slightly more plausible variant with the line attached to an arrow and the vigilante either zip lining on his bow or using some kind of portable winch to rapidly ascend to the tops of buildings. No explanation as to where he's keeping all that rope.

* The action-platformer ''VideoGame/{{Hangzo}}'' allows your ninja hero to release a clawed hook mid-jump, for you to grab on ledges and swing across pits or climb walls.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleOfAges'': The Switch Hook, which, rather than pulling Link toward an object, makes him switch places with it. It can also be upgraded into the Long Hook, which is about twice the length.

* In the opening episode of ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'', Kit Cloudkicker -- escaping from Don Karnage's air pirates -- seizes a GrapplingHookPistol, throws himself from the ''Iron Vulture'' -- several thousand feet up -- and uses the hook and his airfoil to hitch a ride behind a passing airplane. (His expression at one point suggests that if he has to put a grappling hook through Karnage, he just might.)

* In December 2019, as part of a 'Maker Secret Santa' project (in which six teams of Website/YouTube {{Gadgeteer Genius}}es/{{Mad Scientist}}s made [[RubeGoldbergDevice one-of-a-kind gifts]] for each other, with the videos of their construction being accompanied with humorous skits), Allen Pan made a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1IEfirbQo grappling hook swing set]] as his gift to Colin Furze.