The 99 Most Jaw-Dropping Movie Moments
Cinema's greatest shocks and show-stoppers
BY Nov 23rd 2009 10:10AMFILED UNDER: Features
User Comments (18)
One of the greatest gifts cinema can give us is the jaw-drop.
We love those movie moments that make us feel like we've been swiftly punched in the gut. The shocking scenes that give us goosebumps and gasps at the same time.
Because we love those shock & awe bits so much, we've compiled our 99 favourites, counting down to the all-time greatest moment of movie jaw-dropness.
Take a look and leave a suggestion for Number 100 in the Comments... We'll feature the best shouts soon...
99. Planet Of The Apes (Franklin J. Schaffner. 1968)
Future shock
Behind the iconoclasm of the familiar Statue of Liberty reveal there's utter desolation – there's no escape, no home to go to, just apes and apocalypse.
98. The Sixth Sense (M Night Shyamalan, 1998)
Sorry I'm late
The kind of twist that fuels a blockbuster all summer long. The moment itself is a brilliantly dizzying rug-puller, but the reason this one lingers is because, as a second watch through will tell you, the signs that Brucey himself was a stiff are all there – from the opening shooting, to the unspoken relationship problems, to the (in hindsight very odd) constant hovering. Smartly done.
Next: 97 - 92
Print Comments (18)
1: snooochies says
Oh dear! Close Encounters is actually post-Star Wars, having been released in November of '77. Awesome list though, missing the T-1000 though or even Arnie being good from T2
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 4:06AMAlert a moderator
2: NDitum says
Oh man, headslapping mistake. Had 1975 in my head. Obviously. I'll see if I can have a tinker... Terminator a good shout - there is a space left!
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 9:30AMAlert a moderator
3: ChristoLaurent says
I'd like to nominate Ichi The Killer (...any number of scenes!) and also Gozu, the ending is pretty out there, although I love the actual "Cow head" scene too.
Dead of Night (Ealing) has the great ending, especially the moment with the dummy.
Although not a great film, but passable, the ending of The Entity..."Welcome Home C**t"
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 10:55AMAlert a moderator
4: Pokoboy says
My jaw dropped when Bill Murray played himself in Zombieland. That was a pretty special moment in a mediocre zombie comedy.
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 11:58AMAlert a moderator
5: chenneye says
This should have had usual suspects at no.1 and surprised that the kerb scene from American History X is missing.
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 2:44PMAlert a moderator
6: BlueRyan says
For that golden 100th place i believe the "I have a Milkshake" scene from There will Be blood should own it. Considering it's one of the most bizzar and subliminal pieces of film in the past decade it should rightfully take the 100th place.
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 6:48PMAlert a moderator
7: Agent69 says
That Irreversible scene scared me for life.
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 // 9:26PMAlert a moderator
8: Pokoboy says
Is this the same Nathan Ditum thats the reviews editor for official playstation magazine?
10/10 f0r uncharted 2!!! 11/10 surely?
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 // 10:49PMAlert a moderator
9: joVceski says
You have to watch Pascal Laugier's Martyrs, I couldn't pick up my jaw from start to finish, it's so f..... up.
Posted: Nov 26th 2009 // 9:30PMAlert a moderator
10: mark912smith says
Great list and good call no. 5 on the kerb scene from American History X. I thought that the 'tree-rape' scene from the Evil Dead might have placed somewhere?!?
Posted: Nov 27th 2009 // 12:06PMAlert a moderator
11: jrod85 says
Thanks Pokoboy, some people haven't seen Zombieland yet. Way to ruin the surprise. Well done, j*****s
Posted: Nov 27th 2009 // 2:39PMAlert a moderator
13: NDitum says
Yes, same me as from OPM :)
Seen Matyrs. Kinda hated it. It's nasty like falling over. Kerb scene - we had it in the recent shocking moments feature. I guess the shock had worn off...
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 12:49AMAlert a moderator
14: Hadouken76 says
Whys is there a complete absence of John Carpenter movies? Like the girl asking for an ice cream in Assault on Precint 13? The little boy at the the start of Halloween? The doctor losing both arms in The Thing or the head spider?
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 // 1:09PMAlert a moderator
15: starwars4life says
Awesome list, really, and yes; everything on this list has good value to be in the 99, BUT there is one film which I would personally place at number one and it was very surprising that you didn't include it:
The Machinist!!!!
It has one of the most awesome twists and jaw-dropping moments EVER in the history of film!
Please amend the list and get it in there, it REALLY deserves it :)
Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 // 8:49PMAlert a moderator
16: starwars4life says
Almost forgot, not nearly as important as the machinist but Lucky Number Slevin deserves a place, it really has the shock factor and I would also say the scene in 'The Phantom Menace' where Maul ignites the double-bladed saber deserves a place further down becaus; although it may not seem like much now and television adverts probably ruined it, it is obviously a big reveal as he only uses one blade earlier and it must have been epic for the ignorant star wars fan at the time!
Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 // 8:55PMAlert a moderator
18: littlebocuk says
Some of these moments really had me but I would like to see "Terminator removing his eye" thing in this list.
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