Sound Effects from 7 Hollywood Films with High Recall Value

Hence, we commonly see theatres boast about a superior sound system or speaker technology which delivers this sound with greater ease, wider range and sonic clarity.

Special sound effects for movies have also come a long way in films. In particular, films in action, sci-fi, and horror greatly benefit from these. Famous movie sound effects, like the eerie echoes in horror films or the futuristic beeps in sci-fi, are designed to enhance the storytelling experience. Sounds in sci-fi films are intended to be out-worldly and cannot be found in nature to capture or create with the help of an instrument simply, and neither are the screechy voices found in horror films easy to recreate with just the human voice alone. It is post-processed for the effect that has your hair standing every time you hear the voice, giving you nightmares!

In the case of some movies, the sound effects for movies have become so iconic that you can tell which movie they are from just by hearing them – a true testament to the talented sound design teams behind the creation of these out-worldly sounds.

Today, let’s take a look at some of these timeless pieces of sonic artistry with famous movie sound effects in Hollywood movies (old and new) that have stood the test of time.

7 of Hollywood’s most memorable sound effects

1. Iron Man’s Repulsor Blast 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Iron Man was so successful that it spawned 3 sequels. Tony Stark (played by the ever-so-charming Robert Downey Jr.) puts on his metal combat suit to become Iron Man, and one of the suit’s most iconic features is the Repulsor Blasts he can shoot from the palm-region, and chest of the suit. It also has a very unique sound – one that has etched itself in the memory of moviegoers and one that throws comic book geeks into frenzy of excitement every time they hear it.

This effect now can also be sourced and used if an Iron Man game was to be made for the same blast sound ejecting from his suit. This keeps it true to the original film sound used and makes it even more relatable for the gamer.

2. Toothless the Night Fury’s dragon sounds

How to Train Your Dragon, a DreamWorks animated film based on the book of the same name is an immensely popular flick. The movie soon saw a sequel hit the big screen again, and one of the reasons for the popularity of the franchise is definitely the lead character Hiccup’s flying sidekick. The famous movie sound effects created by this particular species of dragon (called Night Fury) are completely different to the mainstream dragon sounds of the other species in the film and to what is associated with dragon sounds commonly in general mainstream cinema and its why we think it deserves a mention.

3. Indiana Jones’s whip 

Indiana Jones, famous as he is and a cult classic, with the series propelling lead actor Harrison Ford to greater heights. The action series was typified by its larger-than-life storylines, Indiana Jones’s debonair character, and the vibrant thrill-a-minute action sequences. One of the mainstays of these sequences was Indy’s favourite prop – his trusted whip. The sound effects for movies like these are often unforgettable, and the sound made by the whip is one you can never forget if you have watched the film. It’s one to learn how to whip up for sure.

4. The screams of the Nazgûl

The Nazgûl is an Oscar-dominating epic The Lord of the Rings’ chief baddie – Sauron’s trusted minions. Nine mortals who were seduced by Sauron’s promises of immortality and power and are thus bound to their lord’s will, they dress in haunting black, ride horses and later winged demon-beasts and leave fear in their wake. Their calling card is a signature shriek that is as awesome as it is terrifying, and goes a long way towards conveying their mystical fear-inducing traits to the audiences.

5. Darth Vader’s heavy breathing

Darth Vader is the ultimate villain in one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. He is the the mask-wearing world-ending bad guy whose very breath and signature entry theme can announce his arrival and set anyone’s pulses racing. His breathing apparatus-assisted heaves are a sight in their own right, and someone liked them so much that they uploaded 10 hours of the stuff online!

6. Wolverine’s claw snick

It seems to me that great sound effects for movies are the secret to building up a film franchise because this entry, too, comes from a massive franchise – this time it is Marvel’s X-Men series of films. One of the mainstays and most popular characters of the series is definitely Logan a.k.a Wolverine, a character made immortal by the stellar performances of Hugh Jackman. Wolverine has adamantium claws that slide out from between his knuckles at will or when angry, and make a characteristic, metallic snick when they do. That sound usually means trouble for whoever he is up against, and a sign that watching fans should pay attention, because things are about to go down. Watch the video to witness a cool compilation of every claw-snick ever!

7. Godzilla’s Roar

Godzilla is the giant, dinosaur-esque monster that originated in Japan, and gained crazy popularity and numerous Hollywood remakes in the years gone by. This massive, monolithic creature has an astounding roar that is as individualistic as it gets, has awed audiences since the first film’s release in ’54. Have a listen and hear to see if it sets your pulse racing.

What is great about all these famous movie sound effects is that they have been attributed to objects or creatures that don’t even exist in everyday life! However, they are so amazingly executed that they ring with authenticity, and make even the unreal believable or hearable if we must say. That is the power of special sound effects and hopefully these examples can provide inspiration for to come in the future.

Which sound effects for movies did you get bowled over by? Let us know in the comments section below!

About Sound Engineering at Seamedu

At Seamedu School of Pro-Expressionism, we take a macro as well as micro approach to unraveling the beauty of sound. We offer three diverse courses across two campuses for aspiring sound engineers. Our meticulously planned audio engineering courses in Bangalore, Chandigarh and Pune allow individuals from a wide geographic swath (yes, international students, too) the opportunity to go after their dream – playing with sound!

What’s more, one can expect to fill positions in the following profiles post successful completion of the aforementioned courses:

• Sound Recordist
• Music Arranger
• Sound Designer
• Mixing Engineer
• Sound Engineer
• Live Sound Engineer

You can also check out our comprehensive career guide to know more about a successful career in sound engineering.