Top 20 Most Re-Watched Horror Movie Scenes of All Time
Top 20 Most Rewatched Horror Movie Scenes
Top 50 Scariest Horror Movie Scenes of ALL TIME
Wait, rewind that! We just gotta see that again! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Most Rewatched Horror Movie Scenes. For this list, we'll be ranking the most memorable sequences in the horror genre that fans loved to watch over and over, whether for the special effects, the dialogue, an Easter Egg, or something else. All that matters is that these scenes have taken on a life of their own within their respective films. Please note: there will be spoilers ahead.
#20: Sinking into the Floor
"Get Out" (2017) Jordan Peele's horror hit "Get Out" has a lot going for it - a unique premise, strong performances, and a great visual style. An example of the latter was this fan favorite scene which occurs late in the film's first act, when Missy Armitage puts our hero Chris Washington under hypnosis - deep under hypnosis. So deep in fact, that the film's cinematography gets positively psychedelic as it explores Chris' journey into "The Sunken Place." It's one of our first clues that all isn't quite right with the Armitage Family, since Chris' terrifying fall into darkness seems more than a bit extreme for something as comparatively minor as a cigarette addiction. You might never feel comfortable around a cup of tea again.
#19: Redface Comes Outta Nowhere
"Insidious" (2010) Why do we love being scared? We suspect that it has a whole lot to do with the adrenaline rush. Fans of the "Insidious" franchise just can't get enough of this scene from the first film, in which Joseph Bishara's Red Faced Demon appears behind Patrick Wilson. Sure, it's a cheap scare, and we can't decide whether Bishara looks truly scary, or more like some sort of demonic Muppet, but we certainly can't deny its effectiveness. Its strength lies in the way it plays on our expectations. We expect to see something scary at the end of a dark corridor at night, but not in a brightly lit dining room! And that’s what givers this jump scare enduring appeal.
#18: Subway Tunnel Miscarriage
"Possession" (1981) The twisted 1981 film "Possession" may not be a household name, but cult horror fans are likely quite familiar with this notably disturbing scene. Isabelle Adjani delivers an incredibly physical performance during what can only be described as a descent into madness for her character during a horrifying miscarriage. The scene of Adjani whirling about and pushing herself to the absolute physical limits may at first seem over the top - perhaps even humorous in execution. That is, until the character starts to leak and exude fluids from her body. As she slumps in the corner of a filthy subway, it’s clear that the mentally and physically exhausted Anna has forever been changed by the experience. It's difficult viewing, but nonetheless mesmerizing.
#17: Satellite Drop
"Cloverfield" (2008) Blink and you'll miss it. Even diehard fans of the "Cloverfield" franchise can be forgiven for missing this Easter egg, which occurs near the end of the film. We can see some sort of object fall from the sky during Rob's flashback footage from Coney Island, something that lands into the ocean below. Fans who followed the film's viral marketing and back story learned that the object was actually a satellite that's somehow connected to the destructive events that occur in the film. Given how difficult the satellite is to make out, however, it's necessary to re-watch the scene carefully in order to catch this tantalizing extra.
#16: Jason Jump Scare
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"Friday the 13th" (1980) It's a delicate tightrope walk when it comes to delivering a good jump scare. On one hand, it's a cheap way of delivering a fright, but it can also be an effective storytelling tool. This scene most definitely meets the latter definition, thanks mainly to how well it was executed by director/producer Sean S. Cunningham and crew. It's the mellow music from Harry Manfredini that elevates the scene. Alice is drifting in a boat, mentally exhausted from her fight with Pamela Voorhees. Then, with a truly unpredictable lead-in, the deformed body of Jason lurches up from the water, pulling her under. It may be just a nightmare, but it’s a scene that gets us each and every time.
#15: The Chucky Reveal
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"Child's Play" (1988) It's easy to forget, given how far this franchise has run, that the original "Child's Play" is actually quite restrained at first with its Chucky effects. The doll containing the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray is seen moving primarily in shadow and in first person, utilizing the old "Jaws" adage of "less is more." That said, when Chucky finally does come alive in Karen Barclay's hands, it's not only an effective shock, but also a pay-off for all the tension that’s been built up beforehand. Plus, Chucky voice actor Brad Dourif is just so good at being menacing and threatening - even in tiny doll form!
#14: Stair Crawl
"Ju-On" (2002) & "The Grudge"(2004) The world of Japanese horror is known for many things, not the least of which is their propensity for truly terrifying visuals. Case in point? This supernatural scene from the influential 2002 film, "Ju-On: The Grudge," which is something of a J-horror classic. Here, a mixture of tension-building, first person camera work, squishy sound design and dedicated, physical acting all come together in a perfect storm. In fact, the versions found in both the original "Ju-On: The Grudge" and its 2004 American remake are superbly effective, even today, serving as a perfect jumping off point for those seeking to explore a new world of fright.
#13: Man in the Mirror
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"Repulsion" (1965) Early in his career, Roman Polanski was a master of psychological horror, and achieved an absolute classic with this, his first English language film. "Repulsion" may not be your typical hack-and-slash horror fare, but this journey into the mind of a disturbed young woman takes a startling turn with this otherwise subtle jump scare sequence. Catherine Deneuve's Carol is all alone in the flat she shares with her sister. Or, at least she thinks she's alone. It's brief, but we can see a mysterious man in a reflection of a mirror, who appears when Carol opens her sister's closet. The question is, is he really there, or is he a product of Carol's increasingly unhinged imagination? Watch the film and find out!
#12: “She’s a Boy!”
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"Sleepaway Camp" (1983) It's one of those unpredictable "no WAY anyone was expecting that" kind of moments that can only happen in the world of horror. The ending of the 1983 slasher classic "Sleepaway Camp" not only revealed that the shy and troubled Angela Baker was killing off kids and counselors at Camp Arawak, but that she was actually a boy all along. The image of actress Felissa Rose, growling with a horrifying expression on her face, superimposed upon some very graphic male nudity was something absolutely NO ONE was anticipating back in 1982, and truthfully won't see coming today. That is...if you don't spoil it for them.
#11: Mind the Door
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"The Exorcist III" (1990) This jump scare can also be counted among the all time greats. This is due to the timing of the shot, and how it's never quite telegraphed to the audience exactly when it's going to occur. This underrated sequel to "The Exorcist" is an occult crime procedural, following a string of murders that appear to be committed by the long dead Gemini Killer. One of these attacks occurs in a hospital, as a nurse is checking doors on her floor. The scene is shot quietly, and at a distance, ramping up the tension to a delirious degree. Then, without ANY warning, the camera zooms in to the Gemini attacking the nurse, simultaneously giving viewers a heart attack.
#10: Freddy Cuts In
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"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) There's no arguing that Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger is one of THE all time horror icons. It's easy to forget, given the character's eventual propensity for wisecracks, that Freddy was initially a very menacing and merciless killer, as evidenced by this first appearance. Tina's death in the film is played completely straight, and the sight of her being cut open and tossed around the bedroom by Krueger's hand is only made all the more shocking for the gratuitous gore. Additionally, fans also re-watched this scene just to see how writer/director Wes Craven and co. managed to get the effect of Tina's final moments on the ceiling, back in the glory days of practical effects movie magic.
#9: Mind: Blown
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"Scanners" (1981) Speaking of practical effects, is there any other horror head explosion that's as satisfying or insanely over-the-top as this one from David Cronenberg's "Scanners?" Horror fans just loved rewinding this scene when a scanner, Cronenberg's word for someone with intense mental abilities, is put to the ultimate test by one of his own, Daryl Revok. The psychokinetic abilities of Michael Ironside's Revok are so strong, that they cause the other scanner's head to explode . . . in a gratuitously awesome way, of course. The effect was achieved by blasting a shotgun through a dummy's head filled with (among other things) old hamburgers, resulting in a messy yet surprisingly realistic sequence that’s just as much fun to watch today.
#8: Werewolf-a-Go-Go
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"An American Werewolf in London" (1981) There have been many effective werewolf transformation scenes over the years, from Joe Dante's "The Howling" to "Dog Soldiers" and "The Company of Wolves." There's one that nonetheless trumps them all, however, and it's from John Landis' immortal "An American Werewolf in London." Fans not only recoiled at just how visceral and painful turning into a werewolf seemed to be for poor David Kessler, they also studied the scene, frame by frame, to see how it was filmed. Rick Baker's game-changing effects were the star of the show, inspiring the next generation of makeup and visual effects artists.
#7:Monster Free For All
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"The Cabin in the Woods" (2012) Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's "The Cabin in the Woods" was simultaneously a great send-up and love letter to classic horror movie tropes. As such, the film was chock full of Easter eggs and homagès to other characters and franchises. One particularly great scene sets up a whole bunch of movie monsters for the ultimate, murderous mash of carnage. Beasts of all shapes and sizes terrorizes the underground compound which sits below the titular cabin, from a merman to a certain, shall we say "Pinhead-esque" tribute to the "Hellraiser" series. You’ve really gotta watch this scene again and again to catch them all.
#6: It's Time for My Close Up
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"The Blair Witch Project" (1999) Sure, this scene may have been parodied to death in the immediate aftermath of its release, but there's no denying the impact Heather Donahue's close-up monologue scene had on late nineties horror. Let's face it: not much happens on screen during "The Blair Witch Project," so when the camera cuts to an uncomfortable and unflattering angle of Heather's face, we're caught off guard. Donahue's fear is palpable as she delivers her lines in a trembling and tearful voice, and it's here where "The Blair Witch Project" truly grabbed hold of its audience and their imaginations.
#5 : Hammers & Hooks
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) This scene has sparked decades of debate and review. Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" isn't really bloody by modern standards, but achieves its scares via atmosphere and unbelievable tension. And so it’s easy to misremember the level of gore present. Still, this didn't stop fans from swearing they saw poor Pam impaled straight through on a meat hook by Leatherface. This was how powerful Hooper's subliminal terror was upon moviegoers, as we never see the hooks emerge through Pam's chest, just like we don't actually see Leatherface grind up Kirk after he brutally assaults him with a hammer. It's all in our minds, which was probably exactly what Hooper wanted in the first place.
#4: Morbid Symbolism
"Hereditary" (2018) There's no denying that the death of Charlie early on in "Hereditary" comes at a complete shock to the audience. However, the reasoning behind our next entry isn't necessarily due to the scene's troubling violence, but rather a small, minute detail that you can only see upon further viewings. The occult symbol of King Paimon is actually emblazoned upon the telephone pole that decapitates Charlie, leading the viewer to believe that all of the film's events have been preordained, leading up to Peter's demonic coronation. It's quick, and only really noticeable if you pause the frame, but it adds yet another layer of depth to one of 2018's most frightening films.
#3: Heeeeere's Johnny!
"The Shining" (1980) Ok, sure, Stephen King himself may have disliked what cinema maverick Stanley Kubrick did with his big screen adaptation of "The Shining," but there's no denying this scene's place in the pantheon of horror cinema. Jack Nicholson is in full unhinged mode at this point in the film, with his character, Jack Torrance, having seemingly lost all grip on reality. The image of Nicholson, bursting through a bathroom door as he stalks his wife Wendy, became the stuff of which nightmares were made and has since been watched, re-watched and quoted endlessly by legions of horror fans around the world.
#2: Chestburster
"Alien" (1979) Never have practical movie effects been so effective . . . or so gross. The infamous "chestburster" scene from Ridley Scott's "Alien" caught everyone by surprise when it first hit screens back in 1979. One might think that time would have lessened the scene's impact by now, but horror fans to this day are inspired by the level of skill and artistry it took to bring the Xenomorphs to life in Scott's film. The effect of this embryonic alien as it bursts through Kane's chest cavity is as savage as it is strangely satisfying; like the memory of our first time being scared at the movies. It's a scene that never gets old, even decades since its debut.
#1: Michael Unmasked
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"Halloween" Franchise (1978-) There were few ways to uncover a horror movie mystery in the pre-internet age. Diehard fans looking for answers turned to magazines like "Fangoria" for the latest scoop from the set, but what if you wanted to know what was really behind the mask of someone like Michael Myers? Well, you paused, watched and rewatched those scenes which offered a tantalizing glimpse behind those devil's eyes. The first film has probably the most satisfying of these "unmasking" scenes, specifically during the final confrontation in the Doyle house. Tony Moran's face is fleeting, but for fans of a certain age, revisiting these few seconds was the only way to get a personal glimpse at "pure evil."