10 Ridiculously Overused Movie Sound Effects

By Shaun Munro /

9. Police Scanner

This sound effect of a female police dispatcher is most closely associated with the video game Sim City 3000, though has found its way onto a large number of TV shows and movies. A generic sound for use at a crime scene, it has been used in Twelve Monkeys, Boyz n the Hood, Brainscan, Compliance, Donnie Darko, Eagle Eye, Gone in 60 Seconds, Jennifer's Body, I Love You Phillip Morris, Runaway Jury, Unknown, X2 and many, many more. Perhaps this sound effect is able to sneak under the radar a little easier because it's harder to hear exactly what the dispatcher is saying, though gamers who have heard it repeated countless times in Sim City might be easier able to spot it.