Buzz
When it comes to pure comedy, few things are as amusing as watching someone trip and fall. It may seem harsh, but the chaotic, often violent nature of a fall has been making us laugh since ancient times. Our fascination with watching others lose their footing remains strong today, as countless pranksters film their friends' misfortunes, while the clumsy continue to make public appearances, where the internet culture is always ready to catch their slip-ups.
However, not all falls are the same, and as we look at the ten most remarkable falls caught on tape, it’s essential to recognize the various types of tumbles, as each one brings its own set of amusing qualities and surprises.
10. Ice
Slipping on ice ranks as one of the funniest types of falls. This is due to two main factors: the total lack of control the person experiences as they go down, paired with their belief that they can recover and avoid the fall altogether. When your feet slide beneath you rather than suddenly being knocked out from under you, there’s a sense of control that doesn’t actually exist – and this misconception only adds to the comedy of the situation.
As we’ll see shortly, news broadcasts often unintentionally capture, or even promote, the misfortunes of others. This clip from RTE News in Dublin, initially meant to show the windy conditions, instead caught a spectacular ice slip. Watch as the man tries to use the wall to stop his fall, and take note of how his head bounces off the icy pavement.
9. Pole Dancing
This recent craze, embraced by amateur women seeking to combine fitness and self-expression, has led to some unforgettable falls. Many of these women lack the athleticism or grace needed for the pole and approach it like a playground monkey bar. How many of us haven’t taken a tumble off the monkey bars?
This drunk woman’s fall has become one of the most-watched tumbles on the internet, and for good reason. She seems to be goofing around at a fair or festival when she gets stuck on the pole, which almost causes her to freeze in place, leading to a face-first slide into the ground. Take note of the fantastic head bounce and the fact that this happened in front of a crowd she was trying to impress.
8. Diving Board
This moment is always intriguing because the person falling is typically putting on a dramatic display from the diving board, or taking their dive far too seriously. The video above was chosen for its popularity, especially since the child slips backward and lands face-first.
7. News Correspondent
Reporters and correspondents often put themselves in perilous situations to capture a story. Whether it’s war, natural disasters, or crime, these journalists go wherever the story takes them. That’s why it’s so ironic that the most famous news fall occurred during a grape-stomping segment. This legendary clip is just as renowned for the audio as it is for the actual fall. But it’s really the entire moment that elevates it above all others.
6. Large
There should be a dedicated website for large people falling down. The reason being that heavier individuals often have less control over their bodies than others (which is surprising, given their center of gravity), and when they do fall, they tend to cause more chaos than their thinner counterparts. And why do so many overweight people think a table can support their weight? There are countless clips of large individuals toppling off tables. This one stands out, though. It has garnered significant web attention, as the woman spectacularly topples over while desperately trying to look cool.
5. Drunk
Drunk individuals make for some of the best falls because stumbling is one of the classic trademarks of overindulgence. The lack of coordination and balance is always amusing. There's even enough material for an entire category dedicated to falls during field-sobriety tests, as many are now caught on police dash cams. But the standout here has to be this guy, who’s already been arrested and brought to the station. The real highlight of this video, which aired on The World’s Dumbest Criminals, is the second fall in the hallway, though it’s the first tumble that results in him putting a hole in the station wall with his head.
4. Entertainment
The entertainment industry has seen countless memorable falls, whether they occur on the red carpet or on stage with superstars like Beyonce, J-Lo, and Lady Gaga. But today’s top pick goes to the world of modeling. These models, who are often not conventionally attractive, can be so arrogant and self-assured as they strut down the runway in ridiculous outfits that any slip-up becomes a golden moment. This one is especially memorable because of the model’s extended battle with her absurd shoes, which ultimately defeat her.
3. Trapdoors/Manholes
These falls stand out because the focus isn’t so much on how the person looks when they fall, but rather where they end up. It’s remarkable how many videos show people not paying attention and suddenly dropping through manholes. The humor typically arises from their initial look of shock, followed by their quick and complete disappearance into the hole. This particular trapdoor fall takes the crown. It was featured on several accident-focused TV shows and received millions of views online. In this clip, a worker in a Dublin pub (what is it with Ireland?) is about to face certain doom. The build-up is almost as thrilling as the fall itself.
2. Kids
Children are perfect fall candidates, largely because of their innocence and lack of experience. They’re easily startled and respond with exuberance. They rarely feel embarrassed and instead sit and embrace the full extent of their misfortune. The clip above, one of the internet's most popular, remains hilarious. In it, a young Mexican boy is teased by a friend, leading to his fall into the water beneath a wobbly log bridge. His angry tears at the end are truly priceless.
1. Sports
Sports offer plenty of memorable falls, though many of them stem from the very nature of the game, which requires athletes to frequently hit the ground. It feels a bit unfair to laugh at a baseball or football player tripping while trying to catch a ball, or a sprinter falling during a race. That’s why this mascot clip is so great. Mascots are already ridiculous distractions, so no one minds when Wolfie, the University of Nevada mascot, takes a horrific tumble off the dugout in the clip above. His rival mascot, devoid of any sympathy, simply continues the show without missing a beat.
