Last Updated on 26 September 2026

The following list is a compilation of the 100 best jump scares of all time. NOTE: possible spoilers throughout this list! And some violence.

Jump scares are a core feature of scary movies, and are popular even in movies that aren't scary. Generally, the point is to startle the audience by surprising them with a sudden, unexpected image, movement, or loud sound. Jump scares are also common in video games, but this list is focusing on movies. While some may think jump scares are just a lazy way to startle or scare the audience, they can be very effective. Especially if they are used sparingly and there's already a sense of dread building because of the scene, plot, and music. But overuse of this technique can feel cheap and result in the opposite effect.

I found 23 different ranked lists online of “best jump scares of all time” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to all 23 lists that were averaged. Below is a ranked list with links to YouTube clips of each one.

  1. The Exorcist III (1990) - hospital corridor nurse
  2. Insidious (2010) - demon behind Josh
  3. Jaws (1975) - finding Ben Gardner's head
  4. Carrie (1976) - final grave hand
  5. The Descent (2005) - night vision reveal
  6. The Ring (2002) - closet girl
  7. Friday the 13th (1981) - final lake jump
  8. Se7en (1995) - Sloth is still alive
  9. The Conjuring (2013) - the hand clap
  10. Sinister (2012) - lawnmower footage
  11. Mulholland Drive (2001) - the diner and the bum
  12. The Thing (1982) - blood test jolt
  13. It Follows (2014) - tall man in the doorway
  14. Psycho (1960) - shower scene
  15. Signs (2002) - the birthday party footage
  16. It (2017) - the slide projector
  17. Alien (1979) - the death of Dallas
  18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - Scary Bilbo
  19. The Conjuring 2 (2016) - the nun
  20. Poltergeist (1982) - Robbie's clown toy
  21. Lake Mungo (2008) - Alice's phone footage
  22. Hereditary (2018) - mother stalking Peter
  23. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) - an entire kitchen revolts
  24. REC (2007) - the boy in the attic
  25. Psycho (1960) - Arbogast meets Mother
  26. Audition (1999) - the bag scene
  27. The Shining (1980) - "Come play with us, Danny"
  28. The Thing (1982) - Norris and the defibrillator
  29. Cat People (1942) - the Lewton bus
  30. The Descent (2005) - first contact with the crawlers
  31. Wait Until Dark (1967) - Roat's leap
  32. What Lies Beneath (2000) - paralyzed in the bathtub
  33. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - Bubba first appears
  34. Halloween (1978) - Bob appears behind Laurie
  35. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) - Leatherface arrives
  36. Candyman (1992) - Helen is attacked
  37. Mama (2013) - she's mad
  38. The Sixth Sense (1999) - girl in tent
  39. Jaws (1975) - need a bigger boat
  40. The Invisible Man (2020) - the paint bucket
  41. Lights Out (2016) - black light figure
  42. The Haunting of Hill House (2018) - car scene
  43. The Ring (2002) - Richard shows up
  44. Hell House LLC (2015) - the clown head tilt
  45. Smile (2022) - sister loses her head
  46. Jurassic Park (1993) - raptor in pipes
  47. Barbarian (2022) - reveal of Mother
  48. The Exorcist (1973) - the devil's face
  49. A Quiet Place (2018) - spaceship toy going off
  50. Sinister (2012) - Baghuul’s face before the credits
  51. Shock (1977) - a boy's unexpected transformation
  52. The Ring (2002) - TV scene
  53. The Shining (1980) - Dick Halloran killed
  54. Alien (1979) - chestburster scene
  55. Evil Dead 2 (1987) - Linda's head
  56. It Follows (2014) - woman chases car
  57. Obsession (2026) - Nikki walking backwards
  58. Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) - mom's boyfriend turns on lights
  59. The Grudge (2004) - person dragged into ceiling
  60. The Conjuring (2013) - creature on the cabinet
  61. Hereditary (2018) - the "click" in the car
  62. House on Haunted Hill (1959) - the gliding old lady
  63. Candyman (1992) - Clara summons Candyman
  64. Halloween (1978) - Bob's death
  65. Ju-on: The Curse (2000) - Toshio's face
  66. Scream (1996) - opening scene reflection
  67. The Exorcist (1973) - spider walk
  68. Day of the Dead (1985) - the opening dream fake out
  69. Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) - Large Marge
  70. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) - room 402
  71. I Am a Ghost (2012) - running demon
  72. REC (2007) - monster drags woman into darkness
  73. The Haunting (1963) - Eleanor sees Grace
  74. Caché (2005) - the accusation
  75. Drag Me to Hell (2009) - Lamia attacks Christine's
  76. Under the Shadow (2016) - djinn in living room
  77. Black Christmas (1974) - the eye
  78. Creep (2014) - Josef takes control of camera
  79. Don't Look Now (1973) - ending scene
  80. Drag Me to Hell (2009) - fortune teller
  81. Hokum (2026) - honeymoon suite follower
  82. Oddity (2024) - the night visitor
  83. Sinister (2012) - home movies
  84. Phantasm (1979) - "BOY!"
  85. The Babadook (2014) - pop-up book scene
  86. Annabelle: Creation (2017) - blanket fort scene
  87. Drag Me to Hell (2009) - barn brawl
  88. Hereditary (2018) - sister sticks head out of car window
  89. The Strangers (2008) - face at the window
  90. Where Evil Lurks (2023) - the dog scene
  91. The Evil Dead (1981) - Cheryl possessed
  92. The Sixth Sense (1999) - Toni Collette and the breakfast table
  93. Thirteen Ghosts (2001) - the jackal pops out
  94. Deep Blue Sea (1999) - Russell's shark attack
  95. Halloween (1978) - Annie attacked in car
  96. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) - channeling forces
  97. The Grudge (2004) - Car window hand slap
  98. Final Destination (2000) - bus hit
  99. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) - contortion on floor

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