The 20 Best Jump Scares in Horror History

Jump scares are a tricky thing for horror fans. They’re often overused in slow or uninteresting movies – think a cat suddenly appearing or a bat flying across the screen. But when done well, a perfectly timed jump scare can really elevate a truly frightening scene. You know it’s a good scare when people rave about a movie and then talk about the moment that really made them jump. So, we decided to highlight some of the most effective jump scares in horror history.

Here are the 20 best jump scares in some of the scariest horror movies ever.

The following article may contain mild spoilers.

‘Sinister’ (2012)

A Dark Family Film Turns Terrifying When a Lawnmower Is Used To Kill

According to scientific studies, Scott Derrickson’s film Sinister is often ranked as the most frightening movie ever made. The story centers on a writer who hopes to find inspiration for his next book in a new house. However, he discovers a collection of tapes that suggest his family’s home has a terrifying history.

The movie created a sense of dread through Ethan Hawke’s character, Ellison, watching old film reels. While the earlier reels were unsettling, one in particular truly shocked viewers. This reel showed a lawnmower being used in a disturbing and completely unexpected way. The shock was made even more effective by a long period of silence beforehand, building tension until the horrifying reveal.

‘Carrie’ (1976)

A Delivery of Flowers Comes with a Bloodied Hand Bursting From Its Grave

Carrie is the story of Carrie White, a quiet and troubled teenager who suffers from bullying at school and a strict, religious upbringing. She finally gets a prom date, but it turns into a cruel prank. That night, Carrie discovers her powers and gets her revenge.

Brian De Palma’s horror film Carrie saves its most frightening moment for the very end: Sue Snell’s disturbing dream. Sue is shown kneeling at Carrie’s grave, placing flowers, when a bloodied hand suddenly reaches out from the earth (courtesy of Sissy Spacek, who bravely filmed the scene as if buried alive). While jump scares are common now, this one was particularly effective when the film was released and remains memorable for how well it was done.

‘The Descent’ (2005)

After Finding a Den of Monsters, One Gets Too Close for Comfort

The indie horror film The Descent is a truly terrifying experience, especially for anyone who doesn’t like confined, dark spaces. Directed by Neil Marshall, the movie follows a group of adventurous friends who go cave exploring and quickly find themselves in a nightmare. As they venture deeper into uncharted caves, the tension builds until a cave-in traps them with horrifying, flesh-eating creatures.

The cramped spaces and creepy feeling finally led to the appearance of the terrifying Crawlers, creatures that live in caves. In a particularly memorable moment, Sarah (Shauna McDonald) and her friends stumble upon the creatures’ lair while filming with a night vision camera. What makes the scene truly frightening is when the camera pans back from the lair to show one of the creatures standing right behind one of them, creating a perfect jump scare.

‘Psycho’ (1960)

“Mrs. Bates” Emerges From the Darkness To Attack with a Knife

Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Psycho, follows Marion Crane, a woman who steals money to start a new life with her boyfriend. Exhausted after a long drive in the rain, she stops for the night at the Bates Motel, a decision that proves fatal.

Alfred Hitchcock masterfully builds suspense throughout the film by suggesting rather than showing, which makes even small moments incredibly shocking. While Psycho isn’t overly graphic, its unsettling music and unexpected plot twists create a truly timeless scare. A prime example is when detective Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam) is suddenly attacked by “Mrs. Bates” while investigating the Bates home. Though the scene was groundbreaking for its time, repeated references have lessened its initial impact. However, it remains effective thanks to the incredible tension created by Bernard Herrmann’s score.

‘Lake Mungo’ (2008)

A Picture Is Worth More Than 1,000 Scares

Lake Mungo is a brilliantly unsettling horror film that gradually reveals a frightening story about a family and possible supernatural events. It expertly uses a documentary-style approach to create tension, culminating in a truly effective and memorable scare – one of the best in its genre.

As a fan, I think what really makes that scene with Alice’s phone footage so terrifying isn’t just the image itself – seeing her decayed body is shocking, of course – but how it happens. It’s not a sudden jump scare; it builds slowly, and that slow reveal is what really gets to you. Honestly, it’s one of the most effective scares I’ve seen in a long time, and it proves that sometimes, being subtle is way more unsettling than anything loud or flashy.

‘[REC]’ (2007)

A Deformed Monster Drags a Woman Into the Darkness

Filmax

I was hooked by the premise of [REC] right away! It’s about this TV journalist who’s doing a story on firefighters, and they get called to this apartment building in Barcelona for what seems like a routine emergency. But things quickly go sideways. They arrive to find the building sealed off with a tarp, and everyone – the firefighters and the journalist – are put under quarantine. It turns out there’s something inside the building, and the authorities aren’t trying to rescue anyone, they’re trying to contain it! It’s a really intense setup.

[REC] is widely considered one of the scariest found footage horror movies ever made. It cleverly uses the shaky camera work and limited perspective typical of the genre to build suspense. The film culminates in a terrifying scene: a darkened room seen through night vision as the main character encounters a massive creature. The final shot, where the character is pulled into the darkness to face a horrifying, unseen fate, is considered one of the most shocking and frightening jump scares and endings in film history.

‘Paranormal Activity 2’ (2010)

Breakfast Is Interrupted by a Violent Paranormal Force

Paranormal Activity 2 is a prequel to the original Paranormal Activity. It tells the story of Kristi, Katie’s sister, as she and her family start to encounter strange and supernatural events in their house.

Look, the Paranormal Activity series has definitely leaned into being a commercial venture, but every now and then, one of the movies throws you a genuinely scary moment. And Paranormal Activity 2? It’s got one of the best. There’s this scene with Kristi just going about her day in the kitchen, and everything is eerily quiet. Then, boom! The whole kitchen just erupts – cabinets, drawers, everything flies open. It’s incredibly brief, but that burst of paranormal activity is timed and executed perfectly, and it really got to me.

‘Oddity’ (2024)

A Nightly Visitor Brings a Dire Warning of a Man in the Home of a Young Woman

Damian McCarthy, a rising star in the horror genre, delivers a chilling blend of supernatural and folk horror with his film, Oddity. The movie delves into themes of morality and the consequences of past wrongdoings, kicking off with a startling murder scene that’s guaranteed to make you jump.

I was immediately captivated by this story. It centers around a young woman who’s just bought a house, but it’s still under construction, so she’s bravely camping out inside! One night, a man with a noticeable facial difference comes to her door, warning her that someone else is already inside. She’s understandably frightened and refuses to let him in, hiding in her tent. The silence of the house is so intense, every little sound feels amplified. I could really feel her fear as she cautiously peeked out, and then… a face suddenly appeared where the man said it would! It wasn’t him at the door, but someone else entirely. That moment was genuinely shocking – a brilliantly executed jump scare that has really stayed with me. The contrast between her hopeful new beginning and the terrifying intrusion is incredibly effective.

‘Signs’ (2002)

First Footage of an Alien Threat Sets the Tone for an Incoming Invasion

M. Night Shyamalan’s film, Signs, centers on two brothers, Graham and Merrill (played by Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix), who live in rural Pennsylvania. When mysterious crop circles appear on their farm, they realize their family is being targeted by aliens. As the alien invasion begins, the brothers rely on television news for updates and get their first look at the extraterrestrial invaders.

Merrill, increasingly anxious, is riveted to the television as a broadcast shows the first signs of an alien invasion. Although the invasion is expected, the mounting tension, combined with the shocked reaction of a character named Phoenix, is truly frightening and impactful. The scene expertly uses a news report interspersed with footage of a children’s birthday party to create a sense of normalcy before an alien suddenly appears from the bushes, terrifying everyone nearby. While Signs features several effective scares, this one is particularly memorable and stands out above the rest.

‘Where Evil Lurks’ (2023)

Breaking Two Taboos At Once To Deliver a Shocking Jump Scare

IFC Films

Damian Rugna’s film, Where Evil Lurks, delivers a truly terrifying and shocking story of a rural community battling a demonic outbreak. Unlike many horror movies about evil forces, this one doesn’t focus on a single villain. Instead, it portrays evil as an unstoppable, all-consuming power that affects everyone and everything, driven only by a desire to kill and spread.

The film creates a deeply unsettling feeling, making viewers question who – or what – they can believe. Because the movie has already shown animals as sources of evil, the appearance of a young girl and her dog immediately feels threatening. While an attack seems likely, the exact moment is unpredictable, and the way it’s filmed results in a truly shocking and memorable jump scare.

2025-10-28 05:06