Thursday, May 7, 2026

Don't believe everything you see in them bang bang shoot-em-ups, Cisco...

 
If you remember high school physics, you know this is nonsense. Newton’s third law of motion says that for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. That means that if a gun is powerful enough to send someone flying off their feet, then it’s also going to send the shooter flying off their feet. That doesn’t stop movies from showing people getting literally blown away. Apparently, even a single shot from a handgun is enough to send someone flying. Meanwhile, the shooter doesn’t even feel a kickback. It’s a ridiculous trope that directors just can’t stop using.

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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 7, 2026 at 9:53 PM

    Eh, some yes, some no. I'm a big guy, but if I don't properly plant my feet, it doesn't take much to knock me on my ass. I watched a gentleman fire a double barrel elephant gun. He accidently fired off both barrels and ended up on his back staring at the sky.

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  2. JamesMay 8, 2026 at 6:28 AM

    Having fired me friends Barret .50 will say feel would knock over or send flying if someone hit with it.

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  3. AnonymousMay 8, 2026 at 8:28 AM

    That would be true if the weapon were affixed to an rigid object unable to absorb recoil and the bullet didn't hit solid bone, but they do really exaggerate the effect of the impact.

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  4. AnonymousMay 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM

    the reality comment is just dumb. it does not take into consideration that when someone shoots a gun, they absorb the recoil, either through their hands and arms with a pistol or thru their shoulders with a long gun. i have shot weapons since 1979 and have never been knocked over by it. the idea is to control the weapon, not let it control you.

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  5. AnonymousMay 8, 2026 at 2:14 PM

    I suspect that the physical reaction of the person being shot is not just momentum transfer from the bullet, but also the surprised muscle and nervous system reaction they might get from being shot.

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  6. AnonymousMay 8, 2026 at 5:23 PM

    Another film director’s staple is that all lightning strikes directly overhead … never a few hundred yards down the track so there’s a delay in the thunder

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