Since jump scares can feel frustrating and expected, some horror fans dislike them and believe that they should never be used. Others feel that sometimes, a jump scare is perfectly timed and nothing else would work. Jump scares can set the tone for a slasher film or create just enough tension in a paranormal story.
While there are definitely many horror films that employ jump scares that don't feel well-earned, there are several excellent scary movies with smart jump scares that fans of the genre appreciate. These moments prove that the main characters are in danger and that the situation is much worse than they originally thought. It's impossible to watch these scenes without feeling the same amount of fear that these characters are dealing with.
Norman Bates Approaches Marion Crane In The Shower (Psycho, 1960)
It's hard to think of a horror scene more famous than Marion Crane's shower death in Psycho (1960). Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho holds up and when audiences see Janet Leigh's character taking a shower and then realizing that Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) has come to murder her, it's hard to overstate how unnerving it is.
This scene has had a huge influence on the genre, and every time fans watch a scene that takes place in a bathroom, it's impossible not to think about it. Is anyone more vulnerable than when they're naked and taking a shower, assuming that they're in the privacy of their own home?
Michael Myers Kills Annie From The Backseat Of Her Car (Halloween, 1978)
Annie Brackett (Nancy Kyes) is Laurie Strode's (Jamie Lee Curtis) good friend in Halloween (1978) and she wants to drive to her boyfriend Paul's house. Instead, Michael Myers approaches her from the backseat of her car. He's been watching and waiting and now he's going to kill her.
The Halloween villain Michael Myers has been scaring audiences for several decades now thanks to his silent and stealth he is. Michael doesn't make a single sound and moves around Haddonfield, Illinois, killing whoever he feels like. A killer hiding in the backseat of a car might be a tired horror movie cliche, but this trope works here and results in a terrifiying and well-earned jump scare.
Billy Pops Up In Sidney's Window (Scream, 1996)
The Scream franchise has its fair share of jump scares since the movies take a meta look at horror. Early on in the 1996 film, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) knocks on Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) bedroom window. The jump scare works perfectly as Sidney definitely isn't expecting her boyfriend to just show up like that. She's also nervous that her father Neil (Lawrence Hecht) will find Billy and be upset about it.
This scene is smart as Billy is one of the Ghostface killers in Scream and Sidney has no idea that he's the killer yet. There is a lot of hidden subtext and strong emotion in this one scene, which makes it one of the best in the film, as Billy pressures Sidney to sleep with him and she's not ready yet. The jump scare is also genuinely scary, which is saying a lot since there are a few throughout the film.
The Red Demon Shows Up Behind Josh (Insidious, 2010)
The Insidious franchise is one of the best Blumhouse horror series and the 2010 film is one of the scariest horror movies according to science. That makes sense since it has a jump scare that has become famous and is often mentioned by horror fans. Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) is walking a red demon shows up right behind him. Josh looks absolutely terrified and falls over.
While audiences are definitely expecting something scary to happen, and it does seem like something will pop out at Josh, this is still a chilling and creepy moment. The fact that Josh looks so distressed makes it even harder not to feel afraid while watching it.
The Killer Approaches Julia (Watcher, 2022)
There are many great horror movies without jump scares but sometimes, one will be perfectly placed. The 2022 horror film Watcher is one of the best of the year and also one of the most tense. The pacing in the movie is incredible and Julia (Maika Monroe) walks into her neighbor Irina's (Madalina Anea) apartment. After seeing Irina's body (minus her head), the movie's killer Daniel (Burn Gorman) jumps out at Julia and puts a bag over her head.
It Follows is a popular film and Maika Monroe gives another incredible performance in Watcher, this time as a young woman who has been stalked by a killer while new to a city in Romania after moving there with her husband. When Daniel shows up behind Julia, it's impossible not to gasp and physically jump.