100 Jump Scares That Will Make You Scream

by Jhon Lennon 42 views

Hey guys! Ready for a thrill? If you're a fan of getting your heart rate up and experiencing that sudden rush of adrenaline, then you're in the right place. We're diving deep into the world of jump scares. Buckle up, because we're about to explore a list of 100 jump scares that are guaranteed to make you scream, laugh, or maybe even a little bit of both.

What Makes a Good Jump Scare?

Before we dive into the list, let's quickly chat about what actually makes a good jump scare. It's not just about being loud or sudden. A truly effective jump scare plays with your expectations, builds tension, and then hits you when you least expect it. Lighting, sound design, and even camera angles all play a crucial role.

  • Suspense is Key: A great jump scare often follows a period of mounting suspense. The longer you wait, the bigger the payoff.
  • Sound Amplification: A sudden, loud noise is a classic element. Think screeching violins, a slamming door, or a blood-curdling scream.
  • Visual Surprise: Something popping into frame unexpectedly is a surefire way to get a reaction. It could be a monster, a ghost, or even just a person lurking in the shadows.
  • Misdirection: Sometimes, the best jump scares are the ones you don't see coming. Maybe the movie focuses your attention on one thing, only to have something else jump out from the periphery.

Now that we know what to look for, let's get to the main event! Get ready, because here come 100 jump scares designed to make you jump out of your seat.

100 Jump Scares to Watch Out For

Okay, here we go! Prepare yourselves, because this is going to be a wild ride. I've tried to categorize them a bit to keep things organized, but honestly, chaos is part of the fun, right?

Classic Horror Movie Jump Scares

These are the jump scares that have become legendary in the horror genre. They're the ones that everyone talks about, and for good reason – they're effective!

  1. The Shower Scene in Psycho (1960): Okay, this is more suspenseful than a pure jump scare, but the sudden appearance of Marion's attacker is definitely startling.
  2. The Cat in Alien (1979): When Jonesy the cat leaps out, it always gets a reaction, even if it's not terrifying.
  3. The Mirror Scene in Poltergeist (1982): Carol Anne's interaction with the entities in the mirror is unsettling, and the sudden appearance of the demonic face is a classic jump.
  4. Freddy Krueger Appearing in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Freddy's sudden appearances are always jolting, especially the one where he stretches his arms out.
  5. The Closet Scene in The Ring (2002): When Sam sees Rachel in the closet, and she suddenly turns around, it’s nightmare fuel.
  6. The truck horn in Jeepers Creepers When Trish Jenner and her brother Darry are driving home for the summer from college, they are run off the road by an intimidating rusty truck, nearly being ran over and possibly killed. This is the first scare of the movie. This movie is very unsettling to watch.
  7. The thing behind the dumpster in Mulholland Drive. The creep in the dumpster can be found on youtube as a scary movie scene.

Found Footage Frights

Found footage films are notorious for their jump scares, often relying on the shaky camera and sense of realism to amplify the effect.

  1. The Ending of The Blair Witch Project (1999): The final shot, where Mike is standing in the corner, is chilling and abrupt.
  2. The Window Scene in Paranormal Activity (2007): When the demon suddenly appears at the window and slams it shut, it's a truly terrifying moment.
  3. The Creepy Figure in Grave Encounters (2011): Pretty much the entire movie is a series of jump scares, but the appearance of the tall, gaunt figure is particularly effective.
  4. The Monster Reveal in REC (2007): The first glimpse of the possessed woman is horrifying and unexpected.
  5. The Basement Scene in As Above, So Below (2014): The claustrophobic setting and sudden appearance of figures make this scene incredibly intense.

Psychological Thriller Surprises

These jump scares rely more on psychological tension and disturbing imagery than outright gore.

  1. The homeless man behind the dumpster in Mullholland Drive The bum makes a suprising apperance in the alleyway when Joe goes to check on him.
  2. The car crash in Mullholland Drive After a date between Diane and Camilla, they head back to Camilla's place. On the way there, they have to slam on the brakes when a car pulls out infront of them.
  3. The jump scare in hereditary This movie has a lot of parts that make you wonder if something bad is going to happen. With the sounds of the mother griefing in despair, and the feeling of someone watching you.
  4. The sudden turn in The Sixth Sense (1999): When Malcolm realizes he's been dead the whole time, it's a shocking revelation.
  5. The hallway scene in Silent Hill (2006): When Rose explores the foggy town, she encounters the Pyramid Head monster, this is a classic jump scare that has appeared in silent hill games as well.

Anime & Video Game Scares

Jump scares aren't just limited to movies! Anime and video games have their fair share of heart-stopping moments.

  1. The Window Scene in Higurashi: When They Cry: Several scenes in this series will catch you off guard.
  2. The appearance of Pyramid Head in Silent Hill 2: Any encounter with Pyramid Head is bound to be terrifying.
  3. The Dogs Crashing Through the Window in Resident Evil (1996): This is one of the most iconic video game jump scares of all time.
  4. The Regenerators in Dead Space (2008): These creatures are unsettling enough, but their sudden appearances are truly horrifying.
  5. The first encounter with the Xenomorph in Alien: Isolation (2014): The feeling of being hunted is amplified by the Xenomorph's unpredictable appearances.

Foreign Horror Frights

Foreign horror films often bring a unique perspective to the genre, and their jump scares can be particularly jarring.

  1. The Ghost in The Grudge (2002): Kayako's croaking sound and sudden appearances are truly terrifying.
  2. The Girl Under the Sink in Audition (1999): This movie is full of disturbing imagery, but the girl in the sack is a truly horrifying sight.

Modern Movie Jump Scares

These are more modern jump scares to look for in horror movies.

  1. The jump scares in the movie Veronica A blindfolded girl has her friends help her in this horror movie. There are many jump scares, and lots of scary things that can keep you on your toes.
  2. The jump scares in the movie barbarian This movie is about a woman looking for a place to stay when she accidently books an airbnb that someone else booked. There are many things in the basement she has to look out for when staying there.
  3. The old woman in the movie sinister This movie has many jumpscares where ghosts appear. They are not just any ghosts, but ghosts of the children that were killed. The main focus of the movie is to figure out who is killing these people. The story has an unexpected twist.
  4. The jump scare in the movie the Babadook A single mother has to deal with the loss of her husband, while also trying to raise her child. She reads a book about the Babadook. It is a scary book, and her child is afraid of it. The mother and son duo have to learn to deal with the Babadook.

Random and Unexpected

  1. The appearance of a snake in Indiana Jones Indiana Jones is the main character in the movie. He goes all over the world to look for hidden treasures, and to protect artifacts from falling into the wrong hands. He is a very clever character, and is able to escape dangerous situations using his intelligence.
  2. The jumpscare in The Exorcist This is a classic movie, and if you have not seen it, you should. The demons are very scary in it, and it will probably make you sleep with the lights on afterwards. There are a few jump scares in the movie, so be ready for them.
  3. The killer in the movie Halloween If you have not seen this movie, you should give it a watch. Michael Myers is a very scary villain in the movie, and does what he wants to do. He has no remorse for his victims. In the beginning of the movie, he ends up killing his sister. He then goes to a mental hospital, and escapes as a young adult. Halloween is not safe when he escapes.

Psychological Thrillers

  1. The jumpscares in the movie silence of the lambs This movie is about Clarice Starling who has to work with Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer. She must talk with Hannibal to understand the mind of the serial killer. She also has to figure out the location of the serial killer before he kills another person. This movie is a race against time. There are some jump scares in the movie that might startle you.
  2. The movie Se7en This is a crime thriller about two detectives trying to solve a string of murders based on the seven deadly sins. The movie does a great job in making you feel that any of the characters can die at any moment. There are a few jump scares here and there as well to keep you on your toes.

Zombie Scares

  1. The jumpscares in Zombieland This movie has a comedic style where you can laugh, while also being scared. It is a fun movie to watch, and you get to see zombie kills. This movie has a great cast of characters and makes you want more.
  2. The jumpscares in 28 days later This is a fast paced zombie movie where you have to stay alive against the horde. The zombies are very agile and run super fast. This movie is a race against time, and has a few jumpscares in it.

Ghosts and demons

  1. The Nun This movie has great potential in being a scary movie, but is only carried by jumpscares. There are a lot of loud noises and scary figures to make you jump. If you like loud noises and scary looking nuns, this movie is for you.
  2. The Conjuring Ed and Lorraine Warren have to go to a house that is haunted by a demon. This movie has a very interesting story, and jumpscares to make you jump out of your chair.

Sci-Fi

  1. The jumpscares in the movie Event Horizon A rescue crew is sent to investigate a spaceship, only to find it is haunted by a demonic presence. It turns out the ship went into another dimension, and it bought something back with it. The rescue crew has to survive against the demonic presence.
  2. The jumpscares in the movie life This movie is about a space crew that finds a sample from mars. It turns out that the sample is not just a sample, but a living being. The living being is friendly at first, but quickly turns hostile and tries to kill everyone on the ship.

Comedy Horror

  1. The jumpscares in the movie Shaun of the Dead This is a comedy horror movie about a guy trying to win back his girlfriend during a zombie apocalypse. This is a light hearted zombie movie that you can enjoy. There are a few jumpscares here and there in the movie, but nothing too serious.
  2. The jumpscares in the movie Tucker and Dale vs Evil Two hillbillies are mistaken for serial killers by a group of college students. The hillbillies have to save themselves from the college students, while also dealing with the zombies that are in the area. This is a funny movie that is not supposed to be taken seriously.

Slashers

  1. The jumpscares in the movie Friday the 13th This is a classic horror movie about a summer camp that is haunted by a killer. You will have to watch out for Jason because he will try to kill you.
  2. The jumpscares in the movie Scream This movie is about a killer that is hunting a group of teenagers. It is a race against time to figure out who the killer is before they kill you.

Short Films and Online Content:

  1. Lights Out (Short Film): Before it was a feature film, Lights Out was a terrifying short film that relied on a simple but effective premise: a creature that only appears when the lights are off. The brief runtime and clever execution make this a must-watch for jump scare aficionados.

Creature Features:

  1. The Descent (2005): Claustrophobia meets monstrous creatures in this terrifying film. The sudden appearance of the crawlers in the dark caves is guaranteed to make you jump.

Home Invasion Horrors:

  1. The Strangers (2008): The masked figures lurking in the shadows and the unsettling knocks on the door create a sense of dread that culminates in several effective jump scares.

Supernatural Thrillers:

  1. Insidious (2010): This film is packed with creepy imagery and unsettling moments, but the appearance of the demon behind the main character is a particularly memorable jump scare.

Psychological Horror

  1. Session 9 (2001): This movie will have you thinking whether or not a tragedy will happen. There are subtle hints that you can find out along the way.

Animatronics

  1. Five Nights at Freddy's This movie has animatronics trying to hunt you down. The animatronics move in unexpected ways to scare you.

Psychological Horror

  1. The machinist This movie will have you scratching your head and wondering what is real or not. Christian Bale is an amazing actor and will make you feel like you are in the movie. There are scenes in the movie that will make you question reality.

Okay, we're halfway there! Still with me? Let's keep the scares coming!

Underrated Gems

Time to shine a light on some jump scares from movies that might have flown under your radar.

  1. Below (2002): This submarine thriller has some truly unnerving moments, and the sudden appearances of ghostly figures are surprisingly effective.
  2. Darkness Falls (2003): The Tooth Fairy is a lot scarier in this film than you might remember, and her sudden appearances are definitely startling.

Jump Scares in Disguise

Sometimes, a jump scare isn't a loud bang or a sudden appearance, but a moment of realization that hits you like a ton of bricks.

  1. The Ending of The Others (2001): The revelation that the family is actually dead is a chilling and unexpected twist.

Comedy Jump Scares

Because sometimes you just need a good laugh to break the tension.

  1. The Bear in The Great Outdoors (1988): This scene is more funny than scary, but the bear's sudden appearance is definitely a jump scare.

Animalistic Antics

Animals can be scary too, especially when they show up unexpectedly.

  1. The Snake in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Indiana Jones' fear of snakes is amplified by the sudden appearance of a giant cobra.

Jumpscares in children's movies

  1. Coraline This animated movie has a lot of subtle and scary scenes. If you are scared easily, you might have a hard time watching it.

Animatronics

  1. Willy's wonderland Nicholas cage takes on haunted animatronics that are trying to kill him. This is not a movie to take seriously, and to just enjoy the ride.

Body Horror

  1. The Thing In this movie, an alien is trying to take over all the living organisms. It is a race against time to figure out which characters are infected.

Thrillers

  1. Identity This movie has a twist that will have you thinking about the movie for days. A group of strangers get stuck in a motel, and have to figure out why they are there.

Horror Comedy

  1. What we do in the shadows A group of vampires live together and have to deal with modern day issues. They also have to figure out how to feed without getting caught.

Occult

  1. Prince of Darkness In this movie, a group of people have to stop the antichrist from being born. This movie has a classic theme of good versus evil.

Slasher

  1. Texas Chainsaw massacre A group of teenagers are stranded and must find a way to survive. They come across a family of cannibals, and have to fight their way out.

Space Horror

  1. Sunshine A group of astronauts are sent to reignite the sun. This is a race against time to see if they can save the world.

Survival

  1. The decent This movie is about a group of friends that go cave exploring. They end up getting trapped in the cave, and have to find a way to survive.

Science Fiction

  1. Annihilation This movie is about a group of scientists that go into an area called the shimmer. They have to figure out what is going on in the shimmer, and what is causing the mutations.

Apocalyptic

  1. A quiet place A family has to survive in a world where there are monsters that hunt by sound. They have to be as quiet as possible to survive.

Psychological Thriller

  1. The invitation This movie is about a man that goes to a dinner party with his ex-wife. He starts to realize that something is not right with the dinner party.

Mystery

  1. The others A woman lives in a mansion with her children, and they are waiting for her husband to come back from war. They start to realize that there is something else in the house with them.

Action Horror

  1. Train to busan A zombie outbreak happens on a train, and the passengers have to survive. They have to fight their way through the zombies to get to safety.

Gore

  1. Terrifier A clown goes on a killing spree on Halloween night. This movie is not for the faint of heart, and is very gory.

Thriller

  1. Split A man with multiple personalities kidnaps three girls. The girls have to figure out how to escape before the man's most dangerous personality comes out.

Neo-Noir

  1. Prisoners Two families are torn apart when their daughters go missing. They have to figure out who kidnapped their daughters, and where they are.

Disaster

  1. The mist A group of people are trapped in a grocery store when a mist rolls in. There are monsters in the mist, and they have to survive.

Splatter

  1. Evil Dead A group of friends go to a cabin in the woods and find a book. They read from the book, and unleash demons.

Mockumentary

  1. Troll hunter A group of students are making a documentary about a troll hunter. They have to figure out what is going on, and why the troll hunter is killing trolls.

Gothic

  1. Crimson peak A woman moves into her husband's mansion and starts to realize that there is something wrong with the mansion. She has to figure out what is going on before it is too late.

Erotic Horror

  1. Bordello of blood A group of teenagers stumble upon a bordello that is run by vampires. They have to survive the night, and escape the bordello.

Dark Fantasy

  1. Pan's labyrinth A young girl escapes into a fantasy world to escape the harsh realities of her life.

Revenge

  1. I spit on your grave A woman is attacked and left for dead. She seeks revenge on the people that attacked her.

Cult

  1. Mandy A couple is attacked by a cult, and the man seeks revenge on the cult.

Mystery

  1. Forgotten This movie is a Korean movie where a man is trying to remember what happened in his past. He starts to discover secrets that he did not know about himself.

Supernatural Horror

  1. Hush This movie is about a deaf woman who is being stalked by a killer. She has to use her other senses to survive.

Home Invasion

  1. Funny games This movie is about a family that is being terrorized by two young men. The young men put the family through a series of sadistic games.

Zombie Comedy

  1. Warm bodies A zombie falls in love with a human, and starts to become human again.

Found Footage

  1. V/H/S A group of criminals break into a house to find a VHS tape. They start to watch the tapes, and realize that they are all horror movies.

Anthology

  1. Trick 'r treat This movie is a series of horror stories that all take place on Halloween night.

Vampire

  1. 30 days of night A town in Alaska is plunged into darkness for 30 days, and vampires attack the town.

Low Budget

  1. Skinamarink This movie has a low budget but has subtle jumpscares. It is about a brother and sister duo that are dealing with a demon.

Witchcraft

  1. The witch A family in the 1600s is being haunted by a witch. They have to figure out how to survive, and defeat the witch.

Satanic

  1. Rosemary's baby A woman is pregnant with the antichrist. She has to figure out how to survive, and protect her baby.

Supernatural

  1. It follows A woman is being stalked by a supernatural entity. She has to figure out how to survive, and get rid of the entity.

Paranormal

  1. The babadook A mother and son are being terrorized by a monster from a children's book. They have to figure out how to survive, and defeat the monster.

Psychological

  1. Jacob's ladder A man is having hallucinations, and has to figure out what is going on. He starts to realize that he is not who he thinks he is.

Occult

  1. The void A police officer finds a cult that is trying to open a portal to another dimension. He has to figure out how to stop them, and close the portal.

Splatter

  1. Braindead A man's mother is bitten by a monkey, and turns into a zombie. He has to figure out how to survive, and stop the zombies.

Monster

  1. The host A monster comes out of the water and starts attacking people. A family has to figure out how to survive, and defeat the monster.

Sci-fi Horror

  1. Color out of space A meteorite crashes on a farm, and starts to mutate everything. A family has to figure out how to survive, and stop the mutation.

Cosmic Horror

  1. Underwater A group of scientists are trapped underwater when an earthquake hits. They have to figure out how to survive, and escape the underwater facility.

Cult

  1. Kill list A hitman is hired to kill a group of people. He starts to realize that the people he is killing are part of a cult.

Horror Comedy

  1. Final girls A group of friends are trapped in a horror movie. They have to figure out how to survive, and defeat the killer.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! 100 jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat. Remember, jump scares are just one part of the horror genre, but they can be incredibly effective when done right. Whether you're a seasoned horror fan or a newbie looking for a thrill, I hope this list has given you some ideas for your next scary movie night. Stay spooky, everyone!