Top 10 Scariest Movie Scenes of All Time

When it comes to chilling cinematic moments that have us clutching our popcorn tubs tighter, we've all got a particular scene or two that still sends shivers down our spine. They're the ones that lurk in the back of our minds long after the credits have rolled. The question is: what are the scariest movie scenes of all time?

Picture this, you're nestled comfortably on your couch, engrossed in a film, the tension is building, and then - bam! - a moment so terrifying unfolds that it catapults your heart into your throat. It's these kinds of scenes that we're here to talk about. But what makes a scene truly scary? Is it a heart-stopping jump scare? The creeping terror of an unnerving environment? Or perhaps it's the chilling realization of a horrifying truth that brings the dread?

Now, we invite you to play a part in deciding which movie scenes have earned the spine-chilling prestige. As the lights dim and the eerie silence befalls, you get to vote for the choices you believe deserve the top spots. Be it the classic 'here's Johnny' moment from 'The Shining,' the chest-bursting surprise in 'Alien,' or the terrifying night visit in 'Paranormal Activity', these moments continue to resonate with us and represent the many facets of fear.
The Top Ten
1 The Subliminal Face - The Exorcist

If this is not scary, nothing is. It should be number 1, not 2. The chest burst is so fake. It's like a cartoon.

This always freaks me out every time I watch it. This entire movie was scary and messed up!

Who did they get to play the face?

2 Jason Grabs Alice From the Boat - Friday the 13th

I thought the movie was over but it wasn't! When Jason pops out of the water, so scary! I was only 11 when I had watched it! Crazy, right?!

I read Stephen King all the time, and this scared the crap out of me!

3 The Shower Scene - Psycho

Fun Fact: the actor of the victim was scared of taking a shower, for like, ever. She would take baths instead and leave the curtains open...felt the same way...from that one scene from the Friday the 13th films. Spoiler: Jason literally smashes that guy's face with his palm... :-:

Creepy as heck, someone is taking a shower and then a dude comes in with a knife and then the popular scary music plays.

4 Chest Burst Scene - Alien

You know that during this scene, they used real blood and guts from a butcher shop, and the people who made the film didn't tell the actors what was going to happen, so the actors were genuinely scared. They just don't make them like they used to.

Only uneducated people could call this scene fake! It became a classic because of its realism. Yes, it's a sci-fi movie, but Ridley Scott made it look so truthful. The whole film was creepy. The Chest Burst Scene is probably its highlight.

This scene hurts my stomach while watching.

5 Final Scene - Paranormal Activity
6 The Toy Clown - Poltergeist

No more clowns, to this day I can't even look at a toy clown without freaking out.

7 The Blood Testing Scene - The Thing
8 Hannibal's Escape From Jail - Silence of the Lambs
9 Pennywise In the Shower Drain - It

Sometimes I fear to go in the shower. Scary, scary stuff to get in your mind, oh my.

10 Dinner Scene - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

So traumatizing! It feels like you're in it! It was traumatizing for both the audience and actors! Also, that's Marilyn Burns' REAL blood when Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) cuts her finger so John Dugan (Grandpa) can drink it.

The Contenders
11 Ending - The Descent
12 The Subway Scene - Cloverfield

This was the scene that scared me the most, they're walking through the dark subway tunnels and without warning they get attacked by these little parasite creatures. Adding to the fact the whole movie is shot on a video camera makes the scene even more terrifying.

13 Birthday Party Scene - Signs

Ohhhhh, nightmares. It's so scary because it's the last thing (for me anyways) to expect to see. I was expecting it to be seen watching the group but then it panned over and BAM(!), it bolts from the bushes.

14 The Tree - Poltergeist
15 The Girl in the Closet - The Ring

Oh my God, this scene was so scary. I still don't like closets and for a while, I was afraid to wake up in the morning and go downstairs, afraid one of my family members would be dead with a contorted face.

16 Doug’s Corpse Twitching Under the Sheet - The Grudge

This scene gets to me every time I watch The Grudge. You never fully know when it's going to happen, and when it does, it scares the crap out of you.

17 Man In The Bear Suit - The Shining
18 The Darkroom - The Grudge 2

I haven't even seen The Grudge 2 yet, but I have seen this scene and it also gets me every time.

19 Twin Girls - The Shining

Kubrick was brilliant here - flashing between the twins and the blood flooding the hallways.

20 Ending - Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
21 Room 237 - The Shining

That SLOW approach of Jack Nicholson towards the bath - we can see there's something there-but what? I still have to watch this through my fingers!

My parents made me close my eyes at nudity but the second time I watched this movie and watched this scene, I was horrified.

The eye candy was good but then it turned into a laughing, scary and oh God, I'm skipping this scene!

22 Opening Scene - 28 Weeks Later
23 Toshio on the Bed - Ju-On: The Grudge

Oh this scene scared the bejesus out of me. One of the scariest jumpscares.

24 Large Marge - Pee Wee's Big Adventure

The scariest moment of my life was when I was only 7 years old. My dad goes to the bathroom. So, I am left in the dark basement alone. One minute later the old hag's face explodes into a gore fest. Her eyes pop out of her skull and become huge. Her jaw drops into a bloody mess. And she makes a hellbound sound that still traumatizes me to this day.

I remember when my younger brother and I were little and we watched this movie at a hotel. My parents were in the bed with us and the scene was about to come on. As Large Marge was saying, "It looked like..." I could see my brother shaking his head no with a terrified expression on his face.

25 Carrie's Hand - Carrie

I'm rarely ever scared by anything, and I gasped when her hand popped out...

So scary and came out of left field.

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