15 Best Jump Scares In Movie History

4. Birthday Party - Signs

Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan, but he pulled off unquestionably one of the most effective jump scares in cinema history.

Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) is watching a news report featuring footage from a Brazilian birthday party, where one of the alien creatures is shown walking out from some bushes, terrifying the nearby children.

The genius of the scare is that the alien blends in with the bushes before emerging, making its appearance legitimately shocking.

It certainly didn't hurt that Shyamalan built up to the scare masterfully, and this brief glimpse sent chills down the spine of, well, just about everyone. It's simple but incredibly well done.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.