A jump scare (also spelled jumpscare) is a technique often used in horror films and video games. It is intended to scare the audience by surprising them with an abrupt change in image or event, usually co-occurring with a loud, jarring sound.
See also: Smile (2022 film), Connect (2022 film), Five Nights at Freddy's, Horror game, M3GAN, and The Offering (2023 film).