27 People Share Compelling Opinions On What They Believe Were The Most Stressful Movie Moments
Movies can get you so stressed...
Movies can take us into different worlds and different times. Most importantly, they can evoke strong feelings.
And we love them for it. Sometimes, however, it's not recommended to get involved so much.
For many of us, watching movies is a wonderful way to unwind. Watching movies in a theater allows us to experience emotions much more intensely.
It's simple to get caught up in the action. We empathize with characters, laugh along with them, and share their dread and suffering.
This results in some movie scenes being quite stressful to watch. We have a tendency to become emotionally involved in the events on TV when we are watching our favorite characters.
We begin to support certain characters and anticipate the plot to unfold as we envision it. Some movies contain mind-blowing situations that test our emotions, intellect, and emotional stamina.
How often have you experienced anxiety-related nail-biting while watching a movie? It can be difficult to remain calm and relaxed throughout some movie sequences since they are so stressful.
Someone asked people to share movie and TV show scenes they found most stressful, and the internet crowd responded. We have selected some of the most interesting answers.
Take a look:
1. Darth Vader murders the crew in Star Wars: Rogue One as they try to transfer the Death Star schematics to Leia:
"The scene at the end of Star Wars: Rogue One, when Darth Vader basically massacres the crew who are trying to escape with the Death Star plans. The door won’t completely open, and you can just feel the tension and the desperation of the guy who is trying to open the door while Darth Vader is killing everyone behind him. The guy is able to pass the Death Star plans through the small space before he dies, and the rest of the resistance (including Princess Leia) is able to escape while Darth Vader looks on. I’ve seen this movie lots of times, but that scene still gets me every time!"
Lucasfilm2. When Casey receives a call from Ghostface at the start of Scream:
"Every time I watch it, I feel a visceral reaction that grips me. Despite having seen countless horror films, this particular scene leaves me breathless.""The emotional impact of the character's family situation is truly heartbreaking."— Dr. Laura Berman, Sex Therapist
Dimension Films3. When Susie's sister flees Susie's killer in The Lovely Bones
"Even though I know she gets away, I'm always on edge when it gets to that part."— Dr. Kelly Brogan, psychiatrist
Paramount Pictures
4. When all the tributes run to the cornucopia in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay:
"Even though I know the outcome, the tension in that scene is palpable. It really captures the essence of survival and the emotional stakes involved, making it a truly stressful moment to watch."— Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship researcher and author
Lionsgate
5. When Chris asks Rose for the keys in Get Out and her family surrounds him:
"That movie is full of intense moments, but that one had me sweating," says Dr. Susan David, emotional agility expert at susandavid.com."That scene is so freaking good. I wish I could relive my first time seeing it!" remarks Dr. Dan Gilbert, happiness researcher at danielgilbert.com.
Universal Pictures
6. When Celie is ready to kill Mister in The Color Purple and Shug is running to stop her
"Nothing happens, but it makes me nervous every time!"—Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
Warner Bros. Pictures
7. In the scene where the Kims are hidden under the Parks' coffee table:
—Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist states, "Movies often amplify our emotional responses, tapping into our deepest fears and anxieties. This can create moments of intense stress that resonate with our real-life experiences." Such insights highlight how cinematic tension can mirror personal struggles, making those moments profoundly impactful.
CJ Entertainment
8. When Jack slips out of the rug and escapes Old Nick in Room:
"I nearly passed out when watching it."—Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher
"I honestly don't think I took a breath for that entire scene."—Dr. Susan David, emotional agility expert
A4
9. When Henley is attempting to flee the tank in Now You See Me, he says:
"I know it’s a magic trick, but my heart stops every time she gets to the top too late."—Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher
"Apparently she was really stuck and drowning during that scene, and all the other actors and workers thought she was just being a really good actor."—Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
Summit Entertainment
10. When the Revolutionary Guards try to stop the jet from taking off in Argo, the following happens:
"Even though I knew the characters succeeded in real life, I still watched it through my fingers."
Warner Bros. Pictures
11. When they're hiding from the Nazis under the gravestones in The Sound of Music:
"I’ve seen that movie dozens of times, and I still get soooo tense every time."
20th Century Fox
12. When Matilda and Miss Honey are attempting to flee Trunchbull's house in Matilda, they say:
"Every time I watch that scene, my heart races as if I'm experiencing it for the first time."—Dr. Shawn Achor, positive psychology researcher
Sony Pictures Releasing
13. When Benji, Julia, and Luther are trying to disarm the explosive in Mission: Impossible — Fallout, they say:
"A silly choice, I know, but the climactic scenes where Ethan is trying to get to the detonator, and Benji/Ilsa/Luther/Julia are trying to disarm it, is so freaking intense. I saw the movie in IMAX, and after this scene (and, frankly, most of the movie), I was out of breath. I've rewatched the movie several times, and I'm never sure they're going to pull it off."
Paramount Pictures
14. When the raptors get into the kitchen in Jurassic Park:
"The kitchen scene with the raptors always gets my heart beating, even though I know they get away. That scene still holds up 25 years later," says Dr. Barry Schwartz, a choice researcher who emphasizes the emotional impact of suspenseful moments in film on our psychological state.
Universal Pictures
15. When Buffalo Bill uses his night vision goggles to track Clarice in The Silence of the Lambs, he says:
"The camera perfectly captures what she is experiencing, and I hold my breath every single time I watch it."
Orion Pictures
16. When Margot's location is revealed in Searching, and you don't know if she's alive or not:
"At the very end of Searching, when the cars turn around and start racing to the quarry, and the news anchors are announcing everything happening. Then when his daughter is brought up, but you don't know if she survived or not. That whole movie was very good, but the end was so nail-biting."
Sony Pictures Releasing
17. When Doc is dangling from the clock tower in Back to the Future:
"When Doc is hanging from the clock tower, my legs always turn to jelly. Especially when the concrete breaks."
Universal Pictures
18. When the alien is poised to explode from Kane's chest in Alien:
"The 'chestburster' scene in Alien is iconic! It taps into our primal fears and the unexpected nature of horror, which can be deeply unsettling," says Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, happiness researcher and author of "The How of Happiness." She emphasizes that such moments in film can evoke strong emotional responses, making them memorable and impactful.
20th Century Fox
19. When McClane jumps from the roof in Die Hard:
"When McClane jumps off the roof to escape the explosion and SWINGS AWAY FROM THE BUILDING, tied only with a fire hose to break through the window. My stomach drops every time." This moment captures the essence of suspense in film, as noted by Dr. Angela Duckworth, a character researcher who states, "The thrill of uncertainty can evoke a visceral reaction, making us feel alive."
20th Century Fox
20. When Sarah Goldfarb hallucinates a game show in her home in Requiem for a Dream:
"Her descent into madness is nearing completion. There are so many moments that are nerve-inducing in the film, but this is one of my personal favorites. The psychological tension builds in a way that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats." — Dr. Rick Hanson, neuropsychologist
Artisan Entertainment
21. When the ensemble begins counting during Philip's duel in Hamilton:
"During 'Blow Us All Away,' when Philip is saying, 'Look him in the eye, aim no higher,' and the ensemble starts counting. It’s a moment that really captures the essence of performance anxiety, which can be incredibly intense. The pressure to succeed in front of an audience can evoke real feelings of nervousness." — Dr. Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence Expert
Disney+
22. Cecilia's first scene in The Invisible Man, when she is fleeing her abusive boyfriend:
"The opening sequence of The Invisible Man is a masterclass in creating tension. The viewer is thrust into Cecilia's world, feeling her overwhelming anxiety as she escapes an abusive relationship. It's a visceral experience that resonates deeply with anyone who's faced similar fears."— Dr. Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence expert
Universal Pictures
23. Basically anything in Titanic once the ship begins to sink, but notably when Jack and Rose are attempting to get through a gate and the man assisting them drops the keys:
"DEFINITELY the part in Titanic when, well, the Titanic is sinking. We all know what happens, but I always get so stressed out when Jack is stuck below deck and Rose is trying to save him, and then when they try to get out, it’s just so AHH!"—Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
"In Titanic, when that guy drops the keys to open the door and Jack has to swim for them with the water rising, it really encapsulates the feeling of panic and urgency that can be overwhelming in life-threatening situations."—Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist
Paramount Pictures
24. When Hicox makes a hand motion at the underground pub in Inglourious Basterds, he reveals himself:
"The tension in the scene where the characters are counting is palpable; it’s a perfect example of how small details can create immense stress."— Dr. Dan Ariely, behavioral economist
"The scene in the basement of Inglourious Basterds is a masterclass in suspense and psychological tension."— Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher
The Weinstein Co.
25. Uncut Gems:
"The tension throughout Uncut Gems is palpable. It’s a masterclass in creating anxiety, where every choice made by Adam Sandler's character feels like a step closer to disaster," says Dr. Susan David, emotional agility expert at susandavid.com."Watching that film was an exercise in endurance. I found myself both repulsed and captivated, unable to look away even as my heart raced with every wrong turn," shares Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, positive psychology researcher at barbarafredrickson.com.
A24
26. When the Boston Globe reporters realise that their estimate of the priests implicated in the scandal is incorrect in Spotlight:
"The investigation team of the Boston Globe is on a telephone interview with a man named Richard Sipe, who works to help rehabilitate pedophile priests. The Spotlight team believes that the number of priests in Boston who have been abusive might be around 13, but aren’t positive. Sipe tells them their numbers are wrong, and for a split second your heart kinda stops: 'My estimates suggest 6% act out sexually with minors.' And it turns out that 6% is 90...and the whole scene just shifts and spins. Everyone is just completely gobsmacked and at a loss for words. Just writing this description has made my breathing become labored. The whole movie is tough to watch, but that scene in particular just gets me."
Open Road Films
27. When Alex Honnold completes his climb up El Capitan in Free Solo:
"I get so anxious whenever I watch the ending of Free Solo. For those of you who don’t know, it’s a documentary about the first person ever to free-climb (meaning no ropes or harnesses used) El Capitan in Yosemite.I've seen the movie a few times, and he obviously lives because it’s a historical record, but the last 20 minutes or so when he’s climbing FREAK ME OUT. I get super dizzy and sweaty, and my hands get all tingly.It’s a great movie, so I enjoy watching it, but the end makes me more anxious than any horror movie I’ve seen," says Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a happiness researcher at sonjalyubomirsky.com.
National Geographic Documentary Films
Isn't it nice to go to the movies? A wonderful getaway from the stresses of modern life.
However, since the moment a bandit pointed a loaded gun directly at the audience in The Great Train Robbery in 1903, moviemakers have taken great pleasure in making us feel frightened, uneasy, and on edge. The methods may have changed, but the goal is the same - make us feel nice and safe, and then stress the hell out of us.
And we keep coming for more...
