Hallway fight scenes have left a surprising mark in cinema. It’s rather cathartic to watch someone you’re rooting for stare down multiple opponents, who are all funneled into a single, narrow passageway that the protagonist has to push through.
It isn’t just fun to watch, but a great way of showing the viewer the strength of the character. It comes off cliché sometimes, but when it’s done right, they might make their way to the 10 best hallway fight scenes in TV and movies.
Best Hallway Fight Scenes in TV and Movies
Lucifer
The hallway fight scene in Season 3, Episode 13 of Lucifer isn’t the most bombastic and action-packed. In fact, only a few baddies even show up to tussle with Lucifer. The entire scene is still fun, comical, and entertaining nonetheless.
Lucifer decides to confront Brandon Hong, a drug dealer selling KPop, just after being told by Chloe that’s not how you handle these situations. What makes this scene so great is a combination of Lucifer’s jolly amusement as he disarms multiple thugs with such minimal effort.
Best Hallway Fight Scenes in TV and Movies
Daredevil
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Daredevil’s hallway fight scene in Season 1, Episode 2. It’s dirty, dark, visceral, and surprisingly hopeful. This is a pivotal moment that marks Matt Murdock becoming Daredevil.
The scene starts off slow, quiet. Matt Murdock takes his time entering the establishment before slamming into a nearby door and assaulting the armed men inside. The entire scene is three minutes of what’s essentially a backstreet brawl contained in a hallway. And the best part? It’s one long take, uninterrupted.
Best Hallway Fight Scenes in TV and Movies
The Matrix
The Matrix doesn’t just have one, but two of the best hallway fight scenes in TV and movies. One is pure adrenaline, while the other stands as an important character moment for Neo, just as Daredevil’s hallway fight scene does for Matt Murdock.
The first scene includes Neo and Trinity. Morpheus was captured by Agent Smith, so they band together to save him. As they step into the narrow lobby, what follows is oodles of gun-fu, acrobatics, bullets, and lots of shrapnel.
The other scene is near the end when Neo fights Agent Smith. Neo is shot several times and is seemingly dead. After Trinity confesses her love for Neo, along with a kiss, Neo awakens to become the One. With his newfound powers, he stops bullets mid-flight, overpowers Agent Smith, and destroys him from within.
Best Hallway Fight Scenes in TV and Movies
What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows provides a wildly different take on the hallway fight scene. Of course, this being a horror comedy, it isn’t taken seriously in the slightest.
Nick, a fledgling vampire, is being reprimanded for bringing a vampire hunter home. Deacon, another member of the home, tussles with Nick over his carelessness. They toss each other about, flying into the walls and ceiling and eventually catching the attention of the police. Luckily, the police don’t seem very concerned about the two floating vampires, only that they should think twice before having BBQs inside.