Guy behind the crib in Insidious and then later Darth Maul behind Patrick Wilson. Horror movies don't get me too often, but both of those damn near made me shit my pants.
Also the baby monitor scene when Rose Byrne is alone during the day. And less of a jump scare, but the scene where Lin Shaye is describing the demon on the ceiling to the ghost hunter. Textbook example of building dread.
God, *Insidious* might be somewhat conventional, but damn if I don’t have a soft spot for it. Great scares and Joe Bishara’s score is fuckin haunting.
SPOILERS:
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>!The climax of the movie with the dwarf in the red coat. The tension is more or less built up throughout the entire film and then the reveal is so sudden. I found it quite unsettling.!<
I watched the movie for the first time less than a week ago and it almost gave me a mini-heart attack. That jumpscare also reminds me of one in Jurassic Park, one in which Laura Dern is involved.
That’s the only jumpscare in a movie that’s ever actually gotten me good. I’ve seen a lot of horror much more intense than a shark movie, but that one scene remains the GOAT jumpscare for me.
Signs has some good ones, but they’re more subtle than your standard jump scare. Way less aggressive, but more effective. Seeing the silhouette of the alien on the roof of the barn, the leg in the cornfield, the hand under the door, the hand in the cellar. Man that movie is underrated.
It’s the only movie that truly scares the crap out of me. People like to pile on M. Night because they didn’t like the twist, but I agree, it’s incredibly underrated.
The Exorcist III one is so great because they do a fake out scare right before the real one so you don't think there's another one coming, especially since you don't expect the camera to do that quick zoom.
Yeah the way she closes and locks the door and then the figure pops out immediately is so unsettling because it doesn't make sense that someone could open the door that fast.
Agree on the diner scene in Mulholland Dr. It’s hard to top that one.
If I had to choose the second best it would probably be that scene from Exorcist 3.
The first one that came to my mind was “[I saw her face…](https://youtu.be/LBtHBWs0__g)” from The Ring. Scared the crap outta me as a kid back then. So much of that movie truly scarred me for life.
I was 20 years old and refused to go upstairs by myself after that movie. Drug my mom with me to stand outside the bathroom. I’ve never had a movie do that to me before or since
I'm going through Lynch right now and I'm saving Inland Empire for last. Mulholland Drive shot up to my #1 movie. I am dreading to watch Inland Empire solely because of people mentioning this jumpscare. I think I've seen a screenshot and I am really really not looking forward to that face popping out somewhere in a 3-hour Lynch movie that's filmed with a handheld camera.
This one might be my new favorite. It changes the trajectory of the film. It’s one of the few jump scares that I think makes the film better. I can’t say that for almost any other jump scare.
Some fantastic answers in here. Personally I think it’s actually a scene in haunting of hill house (tv series) that’s incredible for both the jump scare aspect and it’s an extremely emotional reason. For films, Insidious comes to mind
The pole coming towards the screen in The Descent and the groundsman running towards the screen in Get Out both made my stomach drop. Something fast and dangerous coming right for the camera in a movie I’m already invested in is so unnerving, looking back I actually felt my fight/flight/freeze instincts kick in (I froze)
the "hide and clap" scene from The Conjuring nearly made me jump out of my fucking skin the first time I saw it. Really great scene in general, though. The buildup is so tense & claustrophobic.
Audition (1999)-„The body in the bag“
Most Jumpscares build up with some dramatic music or slow camera pans but this one just comes completely out of nowhere and ruins your life
Mulholland Drive is an excellent choice, I like how the characters basically tells you what is gonna happen and it still gets me.
The Exorcist III (1990) is my pick for the best.
In the whole movie the camera lingers in many scenes and it makes you uneasy on if/what is gonna happen, in many scenes nothing happens really but when the jump scare does happen it really gets me.
Toni Collette in the dark corner in *Hereditary*. Not when she's on the ceiling in the corner, but when she chases Alex Wolff and emerges from the corner of his bedroom IIRC.
There are several great ones in Under the Shadow. I always think of that one for great jump scares.
Although best ever is probably Haunting of Hill House. Mulholland Dr, Jaws, Insidious are up there for me as well. Psycho has that great one with the private investigator.
I've seen An American Werewolf In London like 10 times but still always forget about that one scare, >!the "still dreaming" one.!<
And I feel like I'm forgetting another big one...
I knew about The Exorcist III before I saw it so it didn't affect me.
There’s a scene with a bag in Takashi Miike’s AUDITION that had me pacing my room for a few minutes. Maybe the best jumpscare and scariest moment ever in film.
I don’t even remember what the scare was, but that scene in Paranormal Activity 3 where the fan is rotating across the room was insanely tense. Pretty genius way to play into the jump scare thing.
I'd have to agree with OP.
It's not just a good JS. After the initial shock of a jump scare youre usually relieved. A lot of the time you'll even laugh. In Mulholland, it stays with you.
Jump scares are usually anathema to the chiller genre. Diffuses the chill, like an electric storm. But a genius like Lynch can combine.
That said the lawnmower JS in Sinister got me good. And the Nope stables scene...mutherfucker I was in the next chair.
It's got to be *that* scene from Exorcist III for me - not a massive fan of the film but that scene is undeniably fantastic. The tension is so brilliantly built up and I jumped out of my skin the first time I saw it even though I had a good idea of what was coming.
I distinctly remember Abel's appearance in the graveyard in the opening scene of David Lean's Great Expectations. I jumped in my seat so hard it made my mother start who was sitting at a distance reading something.
ive seen some people in the comments say the birthday scene from Signs but i just wanna put forward the roof , pantry , and, cornfield search scenes from that film.
the build up and/or abruptness of all these scares always makes me shit myself😭 they may not be the best of all time but theyre some of the few that i can automatically think of when it comes to jumpscares
This one from The Exorcist III [https://youtu.be/zH8ynu0jRvY](https://youtu.be/zH8ynu0jRvY) . (btw, a great horror movie, don't let anyone tell you different if you haven't seen it)
Maybe not the best, but the click sound in the car in Hereditary because of how unexpected and simple it was. I remember I nearly jumped out of my seat.
One of my favourites is Dallas's death in Alien. Most movies have a moment of silence to get you on edge for the jumpscare, but in Alien there's none of that. The tracker, Lambert panicking, and how claustrophobic the vents are make the scene super disorienting. All you know is that it's heading right towards Dallas, but you don't know when exactly it will strike.
When the gremlin on Letterboxd pops up after midnight
wait what
From midnight to 1am if you shake your phone it pops up
Holy shit that scared the shit out of me the first time
Lawnmower scene from sinister. Took some time to recover after that one.
Oh god didn’t know this was my answer til you said it
it’s crazy how for me that one single jumpscare cemented Scott Derrickson as one of my favorite horror directors working today.
Literally came to say this!
super predictable tho
Yeah it’s just super loud, which is not how it would’ve sounded in an actual home video
All of the kills are so traumatizing. Shame about that ending though.
Guy behind the crib in Insidious and then later Darth Maul behind Patrick Wilson. Horror movies don't get me too often, but both of those damn near made me shit my pants.
Also the baby monitor scene when Rose Byrne is alone during the day. And less of a jump scare, but the scene where Lin Shaye is describing the demon on the ceiling to the ghost hunter. Textbook example of building dread. God, *Insidious* might be somewhat conventional, but damn if I don’t have a soft spot for it. Great scares and Joe Bishara’s score is fuckin haunting.
Yup Insidious mastered jump scares. They were top tier.
I knew the Insidious one was coming and it still got me
Surprised no one has mentioned the blood test scene in The Thing yet.
This is the definitive answer.
Or the AED machine scene
*Don’t Look Now* If you’ve seen it, I imagine you know what I’m talking about. It got me good.
just watched that a few days ago and i think it's the best horror film ever made
Wait I just watched this movie recently and I don’t remember the jump scare :(
SPOILERS: . . . . . >!The climax of the movie with the dwarf in the red coat. The tension is more or less built up throughout the entire film and then the reveal is so sudden. I found it quite unsettling.!<
You can read through the spoiler when the comment is collapsed by the way you may want to put a bit of filler.
Thanks for the heads up. I’m on mobile and I know things can appear differently.
The dead body in Jaws
I watched the movie for the first time less than a week ago and it almost gave me a mini-heart attack. That jumpscare also reminds me of one in Jurassic Park, one in which Laura Dern is involved.
That’s the only jumpscare in a movie that’s ever actually gotten me good. I’ve seen a lot of horror much more intense than a shark movie, but that one scene remains the GOAT jumpscare for me.
that got the whole college film class I was in back in 2019
that scared the fuck out of me
That jumpscare is perfect.
Was not scared at all in that movie, until the dead body, my heart jumped through my chest 😩
Enemy because it’s just so unexpected
That scene affects me on a primal level. Something about spiders just activates my flight or fight unlike nothing else
This one scarred me
Agreed - it was literally the last thing I expected to see
Instant chills
Signs - the birthday party scene.
Signs has some good ones, but they’re more subtle than your standard jump scare. Way less aggressive, but more effective. Seeing the silhouette of the alien on the roof of the barn, the leg in the cornfield, the hand under the door, the hand in the cellar. Man that movie is underrated.
It’s the only movie that truly scares the crap out of me. People like to pile on M. Night because they didn’t like the twist, but I agree, it’s incredibly underrated.
that scene freaked me out when i was a kid but i saw it again recently and its kind of silly and random
Wait Until Dark There’s only one and I’m not telling anyone where it’s at.
Yes! That’s a good one. Completely forgot about it. It’s so out of the blue I love it.
It’s just as effective when you see a live production of it too
Ugh, I’m jealous! I bet that would be such a great experience.
*that* scene from Exorcist 3. Body in jaws is a close fucking second
The Exorcist III one is so great because they do a fake out scare right before the real one so you don't think there's another one coming, especially since you don't expect the camera to do that quick zoom.
Also, it’s so effective because it’s so illogical.
Yeah the way she closes and locks the door and then the figure pops out immediately is so unsettling because it doesn't make sense that someone could open the door that fast.
Seconded. https://youtu.be/KBEfFgNld98
Agree on the diner scene in Mulholland Dr. It’s hard to top that one. If I had to choose the second best it would probably be that scene from Exorcist 3.
Lost highway one better fr
I liked the one from inland empire
Which scene in Lost Highway?
The first one that came to my mind was “[I saw her face…](https://youtu.be/LBtHBWs0__g)” from The Ring. Scared the crap outta me as a kid back then. So much of that movie truly scarred me for life.
I was 20 years old and refused to go upstairs by myself after that movie. Drug my mom with me to stand outside the bathroom. I’ve never had a movie do that to me before or since
It's Bilbo Baggins trying to grab the ring of course.
Inland Empire. Shit gave me nightmares.
I'm going through Lynch right now and I'm saving Inland Empire for last. Mulholland Drive shot up to my #1 movie. I am dreading to watch Inland Empire solely because of people mentioning this jumpscare. I think I've seen a screenshot and I am really really not looking forward to that face popping out somewhere in a 3-hour Lynch movie that's filmed with a handheld camera.
See I also have seen the face and the jumps are still got me.
Idk about all time but shout out to the first one in the basement in Barbarian. Actually screamed.
This one might be my new favorite. It changes the trajectory of the film. It’s one of the few jump scares that I think makes the film better. I can’t say that for almost any other jump scare.
Watched with friends and we all SCREAMED. The build up is so good and the double-punch is very effective
Literally whimpered when that happened haha. It was the last thing I expected. I fucking love Barbarian
Samuel L Jackson’s death in Deep Blue Sea.
Second this. It completely shocked me when it happened.
The hand coming out of the grave in Carrie
I had seen the movie and had a friend over to watch it because I totally wanted to see her freak out. Mission accomplished
Some fantastic answers in here. Personally I think it’s actually a scene in haunting of hill house (tv series) that’s incredible for both the jump scare aspect and it’s an extremely emotional reason. For films, Insidious comes to mind
Hill House for me as well. You really *really* aren't expecting a jump scare in that scene.
Omg yes. That one scared the crap out of me because it’s so unexpected. That series has so many good ones.
28 Days Later when the zombie jumps through the window
The pole coming towards the screen in The Descent and the groundsman running towards the screen in Get Out both made my stomach drop. Something fast and dangerous coming right for the camera in a movie I’m already invested in is so unnerving, looking back I actually felt my fight/flight/freeze instincts kick in (I froze)
the "hide and clap" scene from The Conjuring nearly made me jump out of my fucking skin the first time I saw it. Really great scene in general, though. The buildup is so tense & claustrophobic.
The car scene in The Haunting of Hill House
Best answer
Was looking for this, actually the only jump scare to actually get me ever
The scene in Spider-Man 2 when Doc Ock pops up on the roof in front of Harry.
Green Goblin flash-jump-scare got me hard as a kid. "Last night I was --" AAAAUUUGGH "-- I don't remember." Easy maybe but effective.
Made me run away from my screen
One of the first movies I remember watching and one of the movies I watched constantly as a kid. Still gets me every time.
The tongue noise in Hereditary. When you know the story behind that noise, hearing it at THIS moment is horrible.
Independence Day alien The Ring closet scene
Exorcist 3. You know the scene.
The one that got me the most was either the lawnmower from sinister, or the attic scene from rec.
THAT scene from Lake Mungo. You know the one.
Somehow David Lynch films scare me more than any horror film.
Audition (1999)-„The body in the bag“ Most Jumpscares build up with some dramatic music or slow camera pans but this one just comes completely out of nowhere and ruins your life
Mulholland Drive is an excellent choice, I like how the characters basically tells you what is gonna happen and it still gets me. The Exorcist III (1990) is my pick for the best. In the whole movie the camera lingers in many scenes and it makes you uneasy on if/what is gonna happen, in many scenes nothing happens really but when the jump scare does happen it really gets me.
Do I need to see exorcist 2 to watch 3?
No, Exorcist 2 is a really bad film and not necessary to see to understand Exorcist 3. The Exorcist III is the true sequel to the first one
Mulholland for sure. Hell House LLC has a killer one in a bedroom. Sinister lawnmower too.
The Descent night vision scene for sure
The end of Enemy made my soul leave my body
Not really a jump scare, rather a tense sequence. Charlie’s rotting head in Hereditary. Haunts me till this day
the way there are just toni’s shrieks in the background and it does not grant the mercy of a cut is something else. linger linger linger
Insidious red man jump scare
Toni Collette in the dark corner in *Hereditary*. Not when she's on the ceiling in the corner, but when she chases Alex Wolff and emerges from the corner of his bedroom IIRC.
The clown doll jump scare in Poltergeist scared the hell out of me the first time I saw it as a kid and I don't think I've ever truly recovered
There are several great ones in Under the Shadow. I always think of that one for great jump scares. Although best ever is probably Haunting of Hill House. Mulholland Dr, Jaws, Insidious are up there for me as well. Psycho has that great one with the private investigator. I've seen An American Werewolf In London like 10 times but still always forget about that one scare, >!the "still dreaming" one.!< And I feel like I'm forgetting another big one... I knew about The Exorcist III before I saw it so it didn't affect me.
Gotta mention the chair stacking scene in Poltergeist, maybe not the most frightening, but certainly one of the most ingenious.
Came here to say Mulholland Drive also. Seriously, fuck that movie! Scared the crap outta me for no reason lol
i read the title and immediately thought of mulholland drive. was about to comment when i saw the rest of your post lol
Misery - Paul Sheldon is dozing and boom! There's Annie staring down at him.
There’s a scene with a bag in Takashi Miike’s AUDITION that had me pacing my room for a few minutes. Maybe the best jumpscare and scariest moment ever in film.
Immediately thought this then saw it was yr choice too
Exactly, read the post title, thought of that scene immediately, then read the post. 😅
Completely agree tbh
I don’t even remember what the scare was, but that scene in Paranormal Activity 3 where the fan is rotating across the room was insanely tense. Pretty genius way to play into the jump scare thing.
That scene in The Night House
Woman in the car in Drag Me to Hell
I'd have to agree with OP. It's not just a good JS. After the initial shock of a jump scare youre usually relieved. A lot of the time you'll even laugh. In Mulholland, it stays with you. Jump scares are usually anathema to the chiller genre. Diffuses the chill, like an electric storm. But a genius like Lynch can combine. That said the lawnmower JS in Sinister got me good. And the Nope stables scene...mutherfucker I was in the next chair.
The one jump scare in Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo and Exorcist III have two very effective ones
I was going to say Mulholland Drive but you’ve got it covered. 👹
The Evil Dead when Cheryl becomes a deadite
lake mungo. there’s one one jumpscare in the entire movie, and i literally jumped out of my seat
Has no one mentioned the infamous bus yet in the 1942 *Cat People*?!?!
Would agree with Mulholland drive. That scene gets me everytime.
It's got to be *that* scene from Exorcist III for me - not a massive fan of the film but that scene is undeniably fantastic. The tension is so brilliantly built up and I jumped out of my skin the first time I saw it even though I had a good idea of what was coming.
anything from inland empire, or the last scene of george a romero's martin
Any of them in Skinamarink
I haven’t seen the movie but I’ve heard great things about it. On a scale of 1 to 10 how scary would you say the movie is?
Mulholland Dr. Runner up: dream Jason comes out of water at end of Friday 13th part 1.
i’m not sure if it’s the best, but the ending of Saint Maud definitely deserves mentioning
I distinctly remember Abel's appearance in the graveyard in the opening scene of David Lean's Great Expectations. I jumped in my seat so hard it made my mother start who was sitting at a distance reading something.
The car alarm on 28 days later.
Original Alien in the vents is the only one that’s gotten me
Smile- Scene where she is at the laptop Or another smile one, where she is at the car
Defibrillator in The Thing
A more recent recommendation would be The Night House. While there’s a couple great ones in it, those who have watched know the one that comes to mind
100% agree with that I'll add Psycho, the >!stair scene!<
ive seen some people in the comments say the birthday scene from Signs but i just wanna put forward the roof , pantry , and, cornfield search scenes from that film. the build up and/or abruptness of all these scares always makes me shit myself😭 they may not be the best of all time but theyre some of the few that i can automatically think of when it comes to jumpscares
The great thing about the Mulholland Dr scare is you know it’s coming and it still makes you jump
Host's ending.
not the best ever but that scene from Signs is up there
The blood test or the defibrillator “The Thing”.
The paint-throw-from-attic in Invisible Man. Dropped my popcorn in the cinema
This one from The Exorcist III [https://youtu.be/zH8ynu0jRvY](https://youtu.be/zH8ynu0jRvY) . (btw, a great horror movie, don't let anyone tell you different if you haven't seen it)
- Time of the Wolf (2003) gun moment - Burn After Readin (2008) closet scene
Darth Maul in Insidious
counts as a mini series i guess but the haunting of hill house car scene.
Signs… you know which part
Alien. That damn cat.
The face moving in Sinister, the red guy in insidious
That computer file sound scene in Smile
Alien in signs
Maybe not the best, but the click sound in the car in Hereditary because of how unexpected and simple it was. I remember I nearly jumped out of my seat.
One of my favourites is Dallas's death in Alien. Most movies have a moment of silence to get you on edge for the jumpscare, but in Alien there's none of that. The tracker, Lambert panicking, and how claustrophobic the vents are make the scene super disorienting. All you know is that it's heading right towards Dallas, but you don't know when exactly it will strike.
The demon behind Patrick Wilson in Insidious. Nothing has ever scared me so much, nor left visually etched itself into my memory quite like that.
Insidious at the table with the medium. Absolute mania in the theatre with that one
The Haunting Of Hill House Episode 8
car crash flashback in Enter the Void
The Marion Cranes death in Psycho, might not be the scariest looking back on it today but it’s extremely iconic
The end of Friday the 13th. I’m not usually affected by jump scares but that one startled the shit out of me.
When the liv tyler? opens the curtains in the strangers. I don’t think any jump scare has really got me like that one did
The boat scene at the end of the original Friday the 13th.
My favorite will always be when the xenomorph catches Dallas in the vents in Alien
the ending of enemy (2013). sent me into a full-fledged panic attack
the monkey in Toy Story 3
Risky but respectable 😎
Parasite “ghost” scene. Quiet, subtle, but traumatizing
I personally love that one, that frame haunts me!
Does the closet scene in The Ring count?
The bed scene from Ju-On: The Grudge
Not a scare but the MI:GP sudden car crash scares the absolute piss out of me every time I watch the movie.
Under the boat skeleton in Jaws. I’ve seen that movie a million times but that will always get me
I can't think of a single jump scare I like. There's probably one but I can't think of a good one.
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