Action Adventure Tropes

Elements used for exciting sequences, or primarily only found in stories about adventure.

A
After a big, property-damage-causing event, the main characters are seen on a cliff or plateau overlooking the ruins that resulted. A blade that is somehow so sharp that it can cut through almost anything, and never get dull. The development of immunity to a particular drug or poison by taking small doses for a long time. When escaping danger, a character who can fly will never think about flying up. When an Action Girl finds herself in a dress, she'll rip it before going into a situation that actually requires action. When an action adventure show has more action of a higher quality in the opening sequence than in an entire episode. That bit where you actually watch the actors instead of the special effects. When a shy or frumpy girl is embroiled in an adventure, by the end of it she has come out of her shell and often gotten sexier and/or more Badass. When the injured hero gets his injuries treated in a quiet scene after one of heavy action. When heroes find themselves trapped in a room with all doors and windows locked, the quickest exit is always through the ventilation duct. Where the heroes' home base is attacked. Imminent death by suffocation is always a good way to ratchet up the tension. An ally who is mistrustful or can't be bothered with your group, preferring to do things on their own; he generally joins up at some point, though. Where the heroes are saved from a scary monster by a scarier monster. Where you actively call the scarier monster to fight the current monster, and hope that by the time the dust settles you can scurry away. No matter what time of day or night, the main cast are always the ones on duty, ready to deal with problems. Where the hero values the life of their love interest over absolutely everything else, often including the rest of the world. Aliens are threatening the entire world - but it's up to the USA to beat them! The habit of some action works to take place around Christmas time.
 * Above the Ruins
 * Absurdly Sharp Blade
 * Acquired Poison Immunity
 * Acrophobic Bird
 * Action Dress Rip
 * Action-Hogging Opening
 * Action Film Quiet Drama Scene
 * Adrenaline Makeover
 * After-Action Patchup
 * Air Vent Passageway
 * All Your Base Are Belong to Us
 * Almost Out of Oxygen
 * Aloof Ally
 * Always a Bigger Fish
 * Summon Bigger Fish
 * Always on Duty
 * Always Save the Girl
 * America Saves the Day
 * An Asskicking Christmas

B
These guys can pull things behind the wheel that you'd love to be able to do (though not necessarily to be in the passenger's seat at the time). This is the place where bad guys hang out to plot their nefarious deeds. Where heroes or villains dress up as a religious figure as part of a disguise. The character used to draw out the bad guys for a trap. Often the Butt Monkey's job. The danger of the situation has forged a friendship between the Heroes and his companions that transcends the usual meaning of the word. A trapped character does this to attract attention from people outside. The bartender slides the cup, mug or shot glass across the bar to a patron. A super-strong character or monster just punches through a door or wall to reach the victim on the other side. A character makes his escape by ducking into the John. The heroic swoop to save the day just in the nick of time. In which the hero runs at full tilt to save the day or fulfill his goals, usually scored with a rousing fanfare. A type of action movie made in the 1970s and '80s where the heroes are always black. Making fun of the Blaxploitation genre. When someone is shot, they show no wounds or blood, they just crumple up and fall on the floor. You think someone is acting like an impostor, so you say something to them with an erroneous fact, and see if they react to it. When a character hides in a bodybag and is wheeled into a hospital or other facility, then gets out and does his/her mission. Where the most elite defenders of the Big Bad are exclusively female warriors. The ending of an episode, season, character arc, or especially entire series that ends in an open-ended tragedy. Techniques are used to dispose of bombs, regardless if it was disarmed or not. A real-time computer map is used, showing the positions of military units (or possibly a physical map with model units). When a bomb is going to go off indoors, the hero hides in a bathtub or fridge. A pithy line said by the hero just after he's killed a bad guy. When a villain fails to kill the hero when they have him cornered or captured. A secret passage is hidden behind a bookcase or triggered by the removal or manipulation of a book in a bookcase. A drug or potion to allow severely injured heroes to get back on their feet and finish off the bad guy. Don't you hate it when you get all tied up with things? When the modern weaponry or equipment has been destroyed or taken away, the heroes resort to outdated stuff to do the job. Heroes showing off their power by busting out of chains, ropes or similar restraints. When you want to show that the situation is horrible, make sure your toughest character is scared! Where a character must go back in person (often through long, dangerous roads) to deliver important news. Catching bullets translates into instant Badass. Grab a nearby Mook and let him block bullets while you head for safety.
 * Badass Driver
 * Bad Guy Bar
 * Bad Habits
 * The Bait
 * Band of Brothers
 * Banging for Help
 * Bar Slide
 * Barrier-Busting Blow
 * Bathroom Break Out
 * Big Damn Heroes
 * Big Heroic Run
 * Blaxploitation
 * Blaxploitation Parody
 * Bloodless Carnage
 * Bluff the Impostor
 * Bodybag Trick
 * Bodyguard Babes
 * Bolivian Army Ending
 * Bomb Disposal
 * Bombers on the Screen
 * Bombproof Appliance
 * Bond One-Liner
 * Bond Villain Stupidity
 * Bookcase Passage
 * Boomerang Comeback: The thrown weapon that you thought missed its target is coming back around for a second go.
 * Bottled Heroic Resolve
 * Bound and Gagged
 * Break Out the Museum Piece
 * Breaking the Bonds
 * Break the Badass
 * Bring News Back
 * Bullet Catch
 * Bulletproof Human Shield

C
A fight aboard, or atop, a moving gondola at great height. Remain unheard thanks to a nearby louder noise. The hero(ine) may need to undress to take a bath, but won't ever get caught without a weapon. Can the heroes escape in time to avoid becoming the main course? The higher you are falling from, the more likely it is that a car will be there when you land. When a series of assassins goes after the hero, either from a bounty offer or hired by the villain. Where heroes in danger will crack jokes or speak casually rather than gibbering in terror. If the hero falls from too high a point, he will inevitably be rescued. Exactly what it looks like -- the hero or someone else gets caught in a tree snare or other boobytrap. When a cave's mouth looks like an actual mouth, usually that of a monster. Where the heroes are saved in the last minute by other characters. Where apparent rescuers turn out to be actually siding with the villain. Where potential rescuers refuse to help the heroes. ...and usually only after the hero has dealt with the threat that needed their attention. A character avoids pursuit or detection by hanging from the ceiling of the room or hallway. An exciting set piece staged in Act 2 of a work to keep the audience excited enough to pay attention through the entire work. Any time a hero stops a villain's plans, and he takes it out, not on the hero or his friends, but on innocent bystanders or "weaker" people. A standby of all Caper films, or any other action story where a museum is involved. A Badass uses his cigar to light the fuse on a stick of dynamite. Blades slice clean through bodies and other things, with no jagged edges or thick wounds, and can slice any body part easily. A creature, character, hero, villain... stands at the edge of a cliff and lets loose a roar to the heavens. Where the hero must climb an insanely tall cliff to proceed. The hero can get in anywhere if he only holds one. A fictional spy agency full of glamorous secret agents, which has no relationship to real-life agencies. Any subterranean area will be full of curtains of spider webs. The smaller character attacks the bigger character by climbing his body to attack a vulnerable spot. When the climax of the work takes place around some big public event such as a concert, performance, sporting event, etc. When Fascists and Communists are conflated into one big oppressive mass. An "evil" or out-of-the-ordinary character can always be identified by his concealing trenchcoat, fedora and occasionally dark glasses. A professional killer suddenly finds himself being hunted by the very organization he works for. The heroes need to hide from something. That's why they happen to stumble upon a hidden space. If the heroes crash-land or shipwreck while on a mission against a powerful enemy, they will almost always wash up very close to that enemy's hidden headquarters. When escaping anywhere near a body of water, there will be a boat leaving the harbour the heroes can jump onto Whenever someone is tied up, the bad guys always tend to leave something sharp in the room that the victim can use to cut herself free. The hero is helpless and about to be killed, when the bad guy is taken out by an attack from behind just in time. The heroes have just finished their infiltration, but on their way out a guard sees them and sounds the alarm. Where the hero is tortured via some ridiculous method, like tickling or opera music. Luckily, only mild discomfort remains. An epic, one-sided ass-kicking where the kicked doesn't stand a chance. The single thing that sweetens the defeat in an epic, one-sided ass-kicking somewhat. Given to secret agents in case they're ever captured. After you get your revenge, your target's friends and family will vow revenge on you... and the cycle continues.
 * Cable Car Action Sequence
 * Cacophony Cover-Up
 * Can't Bathe Without a Weapon
 * Captured by Cannibals
 * Car Cushion
 * Carnival of Killers
 * Casual Danger Dialog
 * Catch a Falling Star
 * Caught in a Snare
 * Cave Mouth
 * The Cavalry
 * Cavalry Betrayal
 * Cavalry Refusal
 * The Cavalry Arrives Late
 * Ceiling Cling
 * The Centerpiece Spectacular
 * The Chain of Harm
 * Chekhov's Exhibit
 * Cigar Fuse-Lighting
 * Clean Cut
 * Clifftop Caterwauling
 * Climbing the Cliffs of Insanity
 * Clipboard of Authority
 * Cloak and Dagger
 * Cobweb Jungle
 * Colossus Climb
 * Concert Climax
 * Commie Nazis
 * Conspicuous Trenchcoat
 * Contract on the Hitman
 * Convenient Cranny
 * Convenient Enemy Base
 * Convenient Escape Boat
 * Conveniently Placed Sharp Thing
 * Conveniently-Timed Attack From Behind
 * Conveniently Timed Guard
 * Cool and Unusual Punishment
 * Cuffs Off, Rub Wrists
 * Curb Stomp Battle
 * Curb Stomp Cushion
 * Cyanide Pill
 * Cycle of Revenge

D
Where the barber ends up cutting your throat with his razor (or almost doing so). The Hero is called upon to step up to the plate and be awesome. A classic denouement - the hero and villain have a shootout in a darkened building, with a suitably suspenseful final shot. The day when all the prophecies and plans come to a head in a massive final confrontation. Here's a hint: Don't get hit by it. A backup plan in case of untimely death or incapacitation, used as a threat to protect the holder. The driver of a vehicle is killed; immediately, his foot gets stuck on the gas pedal, causing the car to speed out of control. A gauntlet filled with enemies and/or booby traps that the hero character has to pass through. An obvious hiding place is made visible to the pursuer, while the pursued actually escapes via some other means. Someone who lives a perfectly normal life for a long time, all the while being a mole or spy for another government or organization. Used to refer to the highest state of alert (it's actually the lowest stage). If you want to get into the enemy base, just pose as a delivery guy. A room in the Evil Overlord's lair where the mooks go to indulge their debauched pleasures. When the character gives a detailed accounting of how he's hurt, or is hurting another. The characters find themselves getting into a fight in a Greasy Spoon. The conspicuous lack of grime, dirt, or bruises on actors, especially those in action sequences. A character has to dash madly around a room catching stacks of falling breakable items before they hit the floor and smash. The hero appears to have suffered a fatal wound during the final battle, only to get up a few moments later. VERY common in family action movies. How else are you going to have a proper adventure? Where large numbers of mooks bring you down by jumping on top of you and physically dragging you to the ground. It's a very imposing door, you just know it's not just a collection of knobs and hinges, and going through is a Big Decision. Any work featuring martial arts or Eastern mysticism will have either an Eastern dragon or a Yin/Yang symbol somewhere. An otherwise comedic story trying its hand at a dramatic moment near the show's last episode or two, totally out of left field. Where the hero dresses up in a face-concealing suit of armor stolen from the enemy to infiltrate their base. The first inkling that a monster is above you? That yucky liquid splashing over your shoulders... Where heroes just blast through or over that complicated maze or trial that the villain has set up, rather than actually solving it. The act of exploring a dungeon while looking for treasure, avoiding traps, and beating off monsters. The ruins are ancient, but damn if those giant guillotine blades aren't as sharp as the day they were made! Where a secret agent has to dye his or her hair to avoid detection.
 * Dangerously Close Shave
 * Dare to Be Badass
 * Darkened Building Shootout
 * The Day of Reckoning
 * Deadly Gas
 * Dead-Man Switch
 * Deadfoot Leadfoot
 * Death Course
 * Decoy Hiding Place
 * Deep-Cover Agent
 * Defcon Five
 * Delivery Guy Infiltration
 * Den of Iniquity
 * Diagnosis From Dr. Badass
 * Diner Brawl
 * Dirt Forcefield
 * Dish Dash
 * Disney Death
 * Ditch the Bodyguards
 * Dog Pile of Doom
 * Door of Doom
 * Dragons Up the Yin-Yang
 * Drama Bomb Finale
 * Dressing as the Enemy
 * Drool Hello
 * Dungeon Bypass
 * Dungeon Crawling
 * Durable Deathtrap
 * Dye or Die

E
There's no better way to make a lesson stick than by adding explosions. The best way to flee The Mafia. Some one (or some thing) hostile is coming into view from behind and below. Try not to push that button accidentally. How our hero manages to get money, IDs, and weapons while on the run. Will the hero/villain/monster be in the elevator when it opens? Of course not! He/she/it is hiding somewhere nearby, ready to kick ass. When a nuclear bomb shows up in a story, it'll inevitably end up in the hands of the bad guys. Everybody knows kung fu and uses it often and awesomely, and I mean everyone. A character is chased by a whole bunch of other characters. When the events of a whole story (novel, arc, movie, etc.) takes place in a short period of time. Usually three days or less. If a character uses an unusual weapon, that indicates that they're more Badass than everyone else. If an aquarium is shown at any point, the aquarium will inevitably be destroyed. Where a bomb is attached to a prisoner while they carry out a dangerous mission. A diagram is set up to explain the upcoming plan.
 * Education Through Pyrotechnics
 * Elevator Escape
 * Enemy Rising Behind
 * Ejection Seat
 * Emergency Stash
 * Empty Elevator
 * Empty Quiver
 * Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting
 * Everyone Chasing You
 * Extremely Short Timespan
 * Exotic Weapon Supremacy
 * Exploding Fishtanks
 * Explosive Leash
 * Exposition Diagram

F
He's about to die, but he's got time for one last quip. Where the heroes come onto the scene by rappelling down from above. A very common Death Trap common for both Human Sacrifice and villainous disposal needs alike. When you see a Ferris wheel, it's either going to start collapsing, or break free and start rolling away. Wherever the hero goes, someone always wants a piece of him. The big, lavish fight scene and climax to the story. The classic swordplay of swashbuckling movies. Where a character barrels toward a target and tosses away anyone who gets in the way without a glance. The hero runs though a kitchen to escape the bad guys. Combatants are forced by the "powers that be" to brawl, box or otherwise fight. Sometimes to the death. A scene dedicated to forging a kickass weapon or something. A gentle character is fond of children. When something bad happens to a character, the protagonist will reach out towards the the character in question.
 * Facing the Bullets One-Liner
 * Fast Roping
 * Fed to the Beast
 * Ferris Wheel of Doom
 * Fight Magnet
 * Final Battle
 * Flynning
 * Foe-Tossing Charge
 * Foot Chase with a Side Order of Chef
 * Forced Prize Fight
 * Forging Scene
 * Friend to All Children
 * Futile Hand Reach

G
The hero is enslaved and forced to work as a galley rower. Badges and car decals in many cop shows are generic, with just the word "Police." Where an entire planet of people is out to destroy Earth - do we get them first? A big foot comes out of nowhere and stomps someone to death. A moron is trusted with a vital weapon or device, and tries to use it instead of giving it to the right person. Where people have to fight each other, or monsters, to the death while lots of people look on and cheer. Where the hero, captured as a gladiator, starts a rebellion with the gladiators breaking out of the slave pits. Eyewear that does something other than what their mundane design purpose is. When a character is dragooned into a dangerous job against their will. Either a fictional government agency, or a real one described in a fictional way. Because dead bodies are always useful For Science!! Breaking out of prison. "Stop falling in the death water!"
 * Galley Slave
 * Generic Cop Badges
 * Genocide Dilemma
 * Giant Foot of Stomping
 * Giving the Sword to A Noob
 * Gladiator Games
 * Gladiator Revolt
 * Goggles Do Something Unusual
 * Got Volunteered
 * Government Agency of Fiction
 * Grave Robbing
 * Great Escape
 * Grimy Water

- Proton Jon, Let's Play Mario's Wacky World - World 2 Part 1

When two characters have their guns aimed at one another, ready to shoot, but decide to have a conversation instead.
 * Gunpoint Banter

H
Where the heroes attack a monster who looks like it's accosting a girl, when it turns out the monster is the girl's pet. A character is frozen solid, and then unfreezes with no adverse effects. Anybody can hotwire a car: just open a random cover, grab two wires and stick them together! A hero in a hurry grabs somebody else's car or bike to aid in his chase scene. A large philanthropic organization whose "job" is, as close as anyone can tell, to fund heroes. A Story Arc or season which features an expansion of the general cast. An earth-shattering revelation or horrible event affects the hero, leaving him either mentally shut down out of shock, or subject to a violent outburst. An earth-shattering revelation or horrible event affects the hero, causing him to flea or fight as an automatic response. A character who throws something to another character to make him catch it, often to distract him. In the heart of enemy territory, the hero narrowly escapes detection when they're told something like "your shoe is untied". Tap your opponent on the back, and when he turns around, punch him in the face. A band of warriors or (more commonly) would-be warriors who join up with The Hero over the course of his journey. Acid in Hollywood movies does not act exactly like real acid would, and is often much more dangerous. The radios always work perfectly, you talk only to the person you're addressing, and you can interrupt people. Especially the bad guys. Fire in Hollywood movies does not act exactly like real fire would, and is not quite as dangerous. No matter how bad he's injured, the hero never ends up with permanent scars. Thieves turn out to be remarkably honorable fellows in fiction, especially amongst other thieves. A glimmer of hope for the hero which is quickly dashed. Where a character has to figure out how to use his newly-obtained superpowers. Chess played where the pieces are actual people... sometimes to the death. The Bad Guys challenge someone (usually the hero pretending to be a Bad Guy) to do something evil to prove his evilness. Where the villains formally hunt the heroes.
 * Hands Off My Fluffy
 * Harmless Freezing
 * Hassle Free Hotwire
 * Hero Stole My Bike
 * Heroes-R-Us
 * Heroes Unlimited
 * Heroic BSOD
 * Heroic Safe Mode
 * Hey, Catch!
 * Hey, Wait!
 * "Hey You!" Haymaker
 * Hitchhiker Heroes
 * Hollywood Acid
 * Hollywood CB
 * Hollywood Fire
 * Hollywood Healing
 * Honor Among Thieves
 * Hope Spot
 * How Do I Shot Web?
 * Human Chess
 * If You're So Evil Eat This Kitten
 * Hunting the Most Dangerous Game