25 Best Jump Scare Movies (And Where to Stream Them)

The best jump scare movies are the ones that have little happening in the frame for most of the time, allowing the viewer to effectively scare themselves with the power of their imagination. But that doesn’t mean the art of the jump scare is beneath great filmmakers – quite the opposite. The best jump scare movies prove that horror masters throughout cinematic history have used the jump as a powerful tool to draw the audience deeper into their terrifying worlds, and although there are often cheap scares, the best ones are the scares that really surprise viewers.

The best jump scare movies are the ones that don’t feel cheap to the audience, and build each scenario carefully and methodically over long periods of time to earn the scare. Finding the horror movies on platforms like Netflix is ​​not an easy task, because it requires the film to be the crowd-pleaser in a broad sense and very attentive to small details at the same time. however, When horror fans find the movies with the best jump scares, they provide something special that elevates the movie to another level.

25

[Rec] (2007)

11 jump scares

The found-footage genre of horror movies lends itself particularly well to jump scares. It puts the audience in the character’s perspective, often using long takes to heighten the tension with the possibility of something terrifying revealed every time the camera moves. The Spanish-language found-footage movie [Rec] is one of the best examples of this because it uses a claustrophobic setting to heighten the scares.

The movie follows a news camera crew that follows around a team of firefighters during their nightly duties. However, when they are called to investigate an incident at an apartment complex, they find themselves trapped in the building as a disease begins to spread that turns the infected into zombies. One of the best examples of the movie’s approach to jump scares is in a memorable scene in which The cameraman explores an attic, panning around the room with the audience knowing there is something there And just waiting for the reveal.

24

You’re Next (2011)

11 jump scares

You’re no further is a wildly entertaining horror movie that has fun playing with the conventions of the genre and also leans in some of its most effective elements. The movie has a simple setup as it follows an affluent family who gathers together for an evening at their secluded vacation home only to be targeted by a group of masked killers. Although it sounds like a typical home invasion horror movie, there are a lot of fun twists and some memorable jump scares.

You’re no further Goes for a variety of jump scares, including the ever-reliable fakeout when a character is surprised by someone only to discover they’re not a threat. however, You’re no further Also had a fun take on the horror movie Last Girl with Erin (Sharni Vinson) proving to be a capable survivor. The movie uses the audience’s growing trust in Erin against them as they throw various effective jump scares at her Just when she seems to be at her most unstoppable.

23

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

14 jump scares

Just because a horror movie also features a lot of comedic elements doesn’t mean it can’t also deliver some genuine jump scares. Such is the case with this brilliant genre-bending classic An American Werewolf in London. The funny movie follows a couple of friends who go on a hiking trip in England only to be attacked by a vicious animal. While one of the friends manages to survive the ordeal, he discovers that he is turning into a werewolf.

The humor of the movie does a lot to throw the audience off their feet, laughing one moment only to be jolted by a sudden jump scare the next moment. When the movie makes the switch to horror, it commits to the dark and violent vibes. Also, how much like An American Werewolf in London Was trail-blazing in mixing laughs with terror, it also features One of the earlier examples of the classic mirror jump scare reveals.

22

The Madmen (2010)

18 jump scares

The crazy ones is not only one of the most underrated horror movie remakes, but it is also one of the rare instances of a remake that is better than the original. The original version of The crazy ones was a lesser-known George A. Romero movie that is often forgotten in favor of its more iconic zombie fare. However, the 2010 remake proves that there is a lot of interesting commentary in the movie, while also elevating it to an exciting modern story.

The movie stars Timothy Olyphant as the sheriff of a small town where a military plane crashes and releases a toxin that begins to turn the citizens into mindless killers. The movie is an intense and thrilling story of the heroes trying to escape their city alive with some memorable sequences. One of the best plays in the movie’s surprisingly effective dark tone The heroes trapped in a car wash with the chaos around them leading to some great jump scares.

21

The Strangers (2008)

16 jump scares

The strangers is one of the great horror movies that proves incredibly effective thanks to its relatively simple approach. Instead of monsters or supernatural threats, The strangers Elicits fear of the randomness of cold-blooded killers targeting people for no reason. It follows a couple who retreat to their secluded vacation home only for a trio of masked killers to start stalking them.

The home invasion movie proves that jump scares can happen without fast movements or elevated soundtracks as one of the most chilling moments in the movie comes when Liv Tyler’s character is checking the house when one of the masked men emerges from the shadows and watches her without Making their presence known. There are also more deliberate jump scares with the masked killers popping out of nowhere to give their terrified victims, and the audience, a good scare.

20

Hell Fest (2018)

28 jump scares

in 2018, Hell fast Brought a throwback horror movie to the big screen, and it quickly joined the ranks of the best jump scare movies with an impressive 28 jump scares in its running time. The film focuses on a traveling theme park and a masked man known as “The Other” who lives there and kills people attending the event.. When a group of young adults heads to the carnival, the others start to hunt them down, kill them and leave some of them lying around as trophies.

This allowed for the perfect opportunity for a lot of jump scares throughout the movie as dead bodies pop up out of nowhere, making the killer’s appearances often a surprise. Haunted houses and similar attractions are all built on jump scares with the participants never knowing what is around the next corner. The movie does a great job of trying to replicate that feeling.

19

The Descent (2005)

16 jump scares

Neil Marshall directed one of the best horror movies of the 2000s with The descent. It was a hiking horror movie that started with a shocking moment That came as a jump scare when a car accident killed the main protagonist’s husband and daughter. The movie picks up a year later when she goes picnicking with her friends and ends up trapped in caverns where there are mutated creatures that start hunting the women down.

Being in a dark cavern with monsters hiding in the shadows, there was room for very effective jump scares, with a wide range of methods to deliver them. Probably the most famous jump scare is the moment the women start to feel that there is something in the cave with them, leading the group to Use a camera’s night vision which reveals one of the creatures standing next to them.

18

The Nun (2018)

21 jump scares

The nun was a spinoff of The Conjuring universe, and it was popular enough that it warranted a sequel in 2023. The sequel explains how the new franchise is connected to The Conjuring and Lorraine Warren. however, The first Nun Movie was a very effective example of a jump scare movie with 21 different jump scares in it. The movie has a young nun named Sister Irene who ends up face to face with an ancient evil demon named Valak who takes the form of a demonic nun.

The nun Was well reviewed and provided horror fans with a scary film regardless of its connection to the overall Conjuring Franchise. The franchise is known for its unnerving jump scares that create a sense of suspense. The nun Features many memorable ones, including the very amazing moment Sister Irene is exploring a tunnel. As she looks down one way, the camera pans to look at her and then turns to see a ghostly figure behind her. When she turns to see it, Valak attacks from next to her.

17

Candyman (1992)

16 jump scares

In the 1990s, slasher movies went out of style, and these were possibly the bottom of the barrel when it came to jump-scare movies as far as being respectful. however, In the 90s, there was one more new slasher icon that arrived before they died out and that was Candyman.. The movie is based on an old legend similar to Bloody Mary Where a person says the name of the demon three times in a mirror, and he comes to life and kills people.

Although it is often assumed that the element of surprise is how to make the most effective jump scare, anticipation actually plays a very important role. The audience can assume that when the characters start saying “Candyman” in the mirror, the killer will appear. However, one flashback to a candyman victim shows how effectively these moments can be dragged out A woman finally says the name the third time and then quickly turns off the light only for his reflection to appear.

16

talk to me (2023)

3 jump scares

In 2023, a new horror movie hit theaters that was an instant hit and could be a modern classic. That was it Talk to mewhich followed a group of young friends who found an embalmed hand that they discovered allowed them to communicate with the dead if they got hold of it. however, Those who take it too long find themselves prey to the dead, who want to bring more to their side.

It doesn’t have nearly as many jump scares as other offerings in the genre, but it does have three of them total and one of those jumps is better than just about any other horror movie. The central “game” sets the stage for many of the best jump scares as the protagonist reluctantly participates for the first time, Use the magic phrase, “talk to me” only for a corpse to suddenly sit in front of you. The movie was a huge success and Talk to me 2 is in development.

15

It Goes (2014)

5 jump scares

It goes is a high-concept horror movie driven by very simple – but very effective – scares. The assumption is that a Curse transmitted through sexual intercourse dooms a person to be followed for the rest of their life by a slow-moving but constantly pursuing entity that will kill them when it catches up to them. Maika Monroe plays Jay, the young woman who is the latest target of the curse.

The best jump scare movies have a never-ending sense of unease to them and, like the main character, the audience never feels safe from this petrifying monster because it can take the form of anyone and appear at almost any moment. The tension builds to very memorable jump scares such as when Jay is hiding in her friend’s room when A tall figure of the entity suddenly emerges from the shadows, silently approaching her.

14

Sinister (2012)

17 jump scares

An experiment conducted in 2020 found that Evil was the scariest horror movie of all time due to its ability to raise the heart rate of viewers, and it is quite easy to understand why this is the case. The plot sees an author discover a box of old home movies in the attic of his new house showing various gruesome murders. Through this terrifying discovery, he begins to suspect that this is the work of a decades-long serial killer.

As the audience is forced to see each of the movies with him and unravel the disturbing mystery behind them, it becomes impossible to look away from the pulse-pounding horror on display. One of the most effective jump scares in modern horror comes from one of the videos as the footage seems to be someone Filming himself mowing the lawn at night only for a bound man to appear on the lawn just as the mower passes them.

13

Paranormal Activity (2007)

10 jump scares

Paranormal activity is a memorable found-footage horror movie that helped revitalize the genre nearly a decade later The Blair Witch Project. The first film centers on a young couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their homeAnd they set up cameras to document the phenomena with terrible results. The movie’s popularity spawned a long-running franchise that continued to use a similar approach.

Showing only grainy home video footage may seem like it would minimize the impact of a horror movie. however, Paranormal activity It actually does the opposite because the audience is always looking for the tiniest movement or listening for the smallest noise right before the movie delivers a loud bang out of nowhere. It’s a slow-burn build-up to the final night recorded by the family that’s filled with memorable jump scares including The final image of a possessed woman lunging at the camera.

12

Brightburn (2019)

20 jump scares

Brightburn is an intriguing blend of horror and superhero movies focusing on a young boy who comes to Earth from another planet and is raised by a good couple. However, as the boy grows older, he begins to realize the extent of his powers and turns down a dark path. Explore the idea of ​​an evil Superman-type figure, Brightburn Not only does it come with an exciting and original premise, but also a hefty collection of jump scares, not to mention one of the highest horror movie kill counts of all time.

The movie’s villain has no need for machetes, hatchets, or elaborate traps to bring terror, all he needs is a well-aimed gaze. The killer kid’s fast speed makes for some sudden scares, including A scene of him intimidating a scared victim and then lunging at her at super speedtook the audience by surprise.

11

The Conjuring (2013)

12 jump scares

The Conjuring Is A supernatural horror film based on a true story. After the Peron family is terrorized by a dark entity in their secluded Rhode Island home, They look to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to shed some light on what they’re dealing with.. Although it may not be a unique storyline in terms of horror movies, there is a lot of creativity behind each shock, with each sudden appearance of a ghostly figure outdoing the last.

The movie was so effective with its jump scares that it spawned a massive Conjuring Franchise. It does a very effective job of building up moments of suspense that leave the audience on the edge of their seats just as they are hit with a jump scare. The most memorable comes with an extended sequence of a character investigating a mysterious knocking from inside the house. As she explores the dark basement, hands reach out from the shadows behind her and clap.

10

Creep (2014)

9 jump scares

crawl is a found footage horror film that shows the footage of a videographer named Aaron who agrees to work for Joseph, A terminally ill man who says he wants to make a series of videos for his unborn son. But as their day of filming progresses, Joseph becomes increasingly uncomfortable in his behavior, and it soon becomes clear that his main goal is to scare Aaron, whose perspective the viewer is always forced to look through.

This movie is a unique type of horror movie because it engages the audience more with awkward social interactions than outright scares. However, as uncomfortable as Joseph is in most situations, he gradually becomes more of a threat as the movie progresses. The most effective jump scare comes at the end when it is A long, unmoving shot only for Aaron to suddenly pop into frame and yell right at the camera.

9

Hush (2016)

7 jump scares

Complete silence makes jump scares in movies all the more frightening, why Quiet Capitalizes on how the film follows a deaf woman who finds herself hunted as prey in the middle of nowhere by a masked killer. There are several times when the main character remains completely oblivious to the fact that the killer is right behind her But even more tense are the moments when she enacts her plans to fight back, with the audience never knowing where the movie is going to go next.

This movie comes from modern horror great Mike Flanagan but trades in his typical supernatural horror approach for a more realistic and unsettling home invasion movie. Many of the best jump scares put the audience in a similar situation as the central woman, Maddie The murderer suddenly appeared before her Or his face is noticed when she looks out the window, pleased to give her a fright.

8

The Babadook (2014)

11 jump scares

The Babadook‘s story may seem simple enough at first: a widowed mother named Amelia reads a mysterious pop-up storybook called Mr. Babadook to her son, Who soon becomes convinced that Mr. Babadook is real, with the eerie figure invading their lives. As the film unfolds, however, it becomes clear that the true horror lies in Amelia’s own subconscious as her struggles with her grief and her trials as a single parent begin to overwhelm her.

It is a true psychological horror, which forces Amelia, and the audience along with her, to face terrible thoughts that burst into her life at the worst, and sometimes most unexpected moments. The Babadook monster design is also very effective with him often blending into the shadows making for the most memorable jump scares How his presence is suddenly revealed in subtle yet terrifying ways.

7

Insidious (2010)

24 jump scares

Insidious, Directed by James Wan, is the first installment in the Insidious franchise and the third in terms of series chronology. in this film, A couple’s son falls into a coma and becomes a vessel for ghosts who want to inhabit his body. Things get progressively darker and darker throughout the plot, and the unexpected twists and turns, especially at the end, guarantee non-stop shocks until the credits roll.

Although there are a lot of jump scares, the most iconic is easily The Red Devil appearance that occurs during a seemingly casual conversationCatching audiences off guard. The staging of the scene is brilliant as it is a conversation between two people as one of them relays a story. The audience expects the scare to come in the flashback and that they feel safe when focused back on the conversation only for an epic jump scare to be thrown in.

6

Scream (1996)

19 jump scares

scream is both a subversive seminal Slasher film and one of the best jump-scare horror movies ever made. The film follows the life of high school student Sydney Prescott as she becomes the target of an elusive masked killer.. The movie mixes in an element of a whodunit mystery with the identity of the killer raising the tension as it could be anyone.

Although effectively a parody of the slasher genre, scream Won over horror movie fans by analyzing and subverting tropes like jump scares rather than just making fun of them or recreating them. As a result, even seasoned horror fans can be clueless about what’s going to happen next. The iconic opening sequence of scream Has some of the best jump scares, most notably when Ghostface first shows up to the surprise of Casey (Drew Barrymore).