10 Best Jump Scares In Sci-Fi Movie History

The sound dissipates as an eerie silence takes hold. Our hero slowly and carefully searches the area for the threat that viewers know is somewhere in the darkness. The character inches further forward as the suspense builds with every step they take. And just when the tension becomes too much to bear, whatever was lurking in the shadows bursts into the frame accompanied by a deafening musical sting, terrifying both the character and viewers.

In short, a jump scare is whenever something suddenly appears onscreen after a threat has been established. And for better or worse, they've become a common part of modern horror cinema.

Although many lesser films have used them for cheap thrills and fake outs, this technique is nevertheless a simple yet effective way of delivering tension and terror in equal measure. And, when done right, they can subvert our expectations to create some of the most terrifying and iconic moments in horror cinema.

And while these scares have been utilised to varying success all across the genre, it’s sci-fi horror where we can find some of the greatest jump scares ever put to screen.

From the duo behind Grave Encounters and It Stains The Sands Red, Extraterrestrial follows college sweethearts April (Brittany Allen) and Kyle (Freddie Stroma), who head out to a remote cabin for a weekend of fun with friends.

However, the party comes to a halt when the group witness a fiery object crash nearby. On further inspection, they discover it’s a UFO with strange footprints leading away from it.

When they return to the cabin, the lights go out and strange sounds crash around them. Something is in there with them, and it’s only now they realise that the footprints were heading back to the cabin, too.

The group begin searching each room in the dark while a lightning storm surges outside. After a heart-pounding sequence of pure tension, whatever was in the cabin appears to have gone.

But just when we think we’re safe, a flash of lightning briefly illuminates the tall creature in the window behind April.

Squeezing in as much tension as physically possible, this unexpected scare catches viewers off-guard to give them their first look at the creatures who'll proceed to terrorise the friends for the rest of the night.

As far as first impressions go, these aliens make a big one.