Introduction: The following list, in unranked alphabetical order by film title, presents a solid collection of the most classic, 'scariest' scenes in movie history, including film scenes that were once considered 'scary' upon their initial screenings (or scary for young viewers), but have lost some of their shock appeal. Films represent some of the best and worst of the horror film genre including entries from the classic Universal 30's monster films to some of the scariest, most shocking, bloodiest and gore-ridden slasher films of the recent past. [Author's Note: Admittedly, the word 'scariest' may also be interpreted as most horrifying, shocking, or many other such synonyms.]

Key to Iconic Symbol:

- Entries in Entertainment Weekly's "20 Scariest Movies of All Time" (October, 2004 issue)

Many other sites and horror books have attempted to compile listings of the scariest scenes in film history. In late October 2004, the Bravo cable network first presented a countdown of 100 movies that contained the 100 Scariest Movie Moments in Film History, later supplemented with 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments in October, 2006. Other sites and film critics have presented their own compilations of cinema's scariest scenes, such as the UK's Channel Four and RetroCrush.