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Get ready for some serious tingles! Join us as we count down our picks for the movie scenes where pleasing and repetitive sounds send shivers down our spines and give us a sense of pure euphoria, intentionally or not. From whispered conversations to satisfying food sounds, these cinematic moments prove that Hollywood has been triggering ASMR long before it had a name!
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00:00I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the movie scenes,
00:11where pleasing and repetitive sounds send tingles down our spines and give us a sense of euphoria, intentionally or not.
00:20That was the single most thrilling experience of my whole life.
00:26Number 20. Pouring Beer.
00:29Django Unchained.
00:31While Quentin Tarantino films are not the first thing that come to mind when it comes to soothing movies,
00:36the quick cuts and precise sound design present in his films actually has a strong ASMR quality.
00:44An early scene in this revisionist western sees dentist-turned-bounty hunter King Schultz serving as his own bartender,
00:52and the sounds of him pouring the beer have an almost hypnotic quality.
00:57Despite that cart, I haven't practiced dentistry in five years.
01:01The repetitive nature of the handle being pulled, the mug being filled, the foam being scraped away,
01:07and then the side of the glass tapped doesn't last long.
01:11But it's a perfect calming moment in a film full of tension and violence.
01:24In the age of analog, a TV set to an unused channel was often accompanied by static and allowed buzzing
01:31frequency
01:32as the television tried to pull in a channel that wasn't there.
01:39Although the days of analog TVs and the so-called snow appearing on vacant stations are mostly in
01:45the past, the white noise itself has remained, often as a low, relaxing sound to drive off the
01:51chaos or as a way to sleep. Just as popular in terms of soothing sounds is the human voice,
01:57spoken in hushed tones. So naturally, the most tranquil scenes in the horror film Poltergeist
02:08took place as two characters whispered while a child slept, the soft hum of TV static playing
02:14in the background. 18. Making Marmalade – Paddington 2
02:20Actor Ben Whishaw has one of the most comforting voices in the industry,
02:24so it comes as no surprise that he is perfect as the humble and lovable bear Paddington.
02:30How on earth did you learn to use a knife like that? You don't want to know.
02:34All of the Paddington films are unquestionably comfort watches made to calm stress and soothe
02:39a weary soul. Perhaps the best example of this comes in Paddington 2, as the bear instructs
02:45Brendan Gleeson's hardened criminal on preparing marmalade for sandwiches.
02:54The melodic sound of Whishaw's voice, accompanied by the squeezing of oranges, pouring of sugar,
03:00and boiling pot of water, made for a perfect soundscape.
03:03Is it good? Oh, it's too soon to tell. We'll only really know once it's set.
03:0817. Waco, Texas – The Tree of Life
03:12Perhaps the most recurring element of director Terrence Malick's career is shots and sounds of
03:17nature, with actors whispering dialogue over it. This gives his entire filmography an ASMR quality,
03:27which is perhaps best exemplified in the flashback scenes of a film many consider to be his masterpiece,
03:33The Tree of Life.
03:4318. Waco, Texas – The Tree of Life
03:47The voice of Jessica Chastain whispers alongside the sounds of the natural world, with crickets chirping
03:52and birds singing.
03:53Do good to them.
04:00Wonder.
04:06Hope.
04:0716. Park Bench Conversation – Good Will Hunting
04:11Best known for being loud, bombastic, and hilarious, legendary actor Robin Williams also had a quieter,
04:18more reserved side. A perfect example of this was his Oscar-winning role as therapist Dr. Sean
04:24McGuire in Good Will Hunting.
04:32In one unforgettable scene, he speaks to his patient and student, the titular Will, played
04:38by Matt Damon, about experiencing the joys and sorrows of life.
04:56The pair sits on a park bench, and the sounds of a swing set in the background, far-off traffic,
05:02chirping birds, and an assortment of other peaceful tones add to the grounding sensation we feel from
05:07William Williams' voice.
05:2715. Cat Bus – My Neighbor Totoro
05:31On a rainy night near the edge of the forest, Satsuki and May await the return of their father
05:37at a bus stop when they encounter an unexpected traveler.
05:47The mystical forest creature Totoro emerges, waiting for a bus, and his footsteps, grunts,
05:53and scratches add to the ambiance of the following rain.
06:00I bet… your Totoro…
06:02Tripping both on the girl's umbrella and the leaf-covering Totoro's head.
06:06The rain lets up eventually, and we are treated to a new sound as another strange creature arrives.
06:13The rhythmic running of the cat bus, with its many legs rushing through the howling wind.
06:18The bus is here!
06:2214. The Sunken Place – Get Out
06:26Perhaps the most sinister example of ASMR you are likely to find, Get Out uses the effect to put its
06:32main
06:33character Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya, into a trance trapped deep within the confines of his own
06:39subconscious. We do use focal points sometimes to guide someone into a state of heightened suggestibility.
06:47Heightened suggestibility? That's right. That's right.
06:50He's placed into a hypnotic state using auditory stimulation, specifically the metronomic scraping of
06:57metal spoon against the side of a porcelain teacup. As the nefarious mother of Chris' girlfriend
07:04continues to stir the tea, she probes into his trauma and childhood. Catherine Keener's raspy voice,
07:09paradoxically unnerving and comforting. She then sends him to The Sunken Place, an ASMR nightmare of
07:28muted sound and powerlessness.
07:3813. The Bar – Lost in Translation The quiet and contemplative drama Lost in Translation
07:45follows two Americans adrift in their own lives, sharing a brief but powerful few days together in Tokyo.
07:51What can I get you? I'm not sure. For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.
08:03As the city outside shines with neon lights and roars with the endless noise of a metropolis,
08:08Bob and Charlotte are tucked away in the quiet and muted ambience of a five-star hotel.
08:14You're probably just having a midlife crisis. Did you buy a Porsche yet?
08:20You know, I was thinking about buying a Porsche.
08:23Meeting at the hotel bar near windows that look out over the city,
08:26music subtly plays in the background of their first conversation. As they chat,
08:32a dull murmur and sounds of the bar, like glasses clinking, fill the soundscape.
08:37I hope your Porsche works out. Cheers to that. Cheers to that.
08:4212. Strudel – Inglorious Bastards One of the most popular elements of ASMR involves food,
08:50with the sounds of eating and dining being a favorite of many that enjoyed the sensation.
08:55So, Emmanuel, please call me Emmanuel? Yes.
09:00Those sounds are featured prominently as German officer Hans Landa interrogates Shoshana,
09:05a Jewish woman in hiding he crossed paths with before in a French restaurant.
09:10The pleasant sounds of the restaurant are at odds with the tension in the scene,
09:14as the pair waits for the cream for their strudel. Once it arrives,
09:18the noises of it being scooped onto the pastries is delightful.
09:29As is the sound of their forks cutting the crunchy pastries before they consume them,
09:34even if the rest of the scene is anything but.
09:37Verdict.
09:39As I said, not so bad.
09:42Number 11. I'm afraid, Dave. 2001, A Space Odyssey.
09:47With much of it set in space, as well as subtle yet memorable sounds created by
09:53prolific sound engineer Winston Ryder, almost all of 2001 is pristine from an ASMR viewpoint.
10:00I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
10:07And I want to help you.
10:09But if we had to single out just one scene, it has to be when the murderous computer
10:14HAL 9000 is deactivated. As Dave floats toward the machine, the constant hum of machinery accompanies
10:20the long and deep breaths of the man in his spacesuit.
10:23I'm afraid.
10:30I'm afraid, Dave.
10:32Throughout it all, the peaceful and robotic voice of HAL calmly, but desperately, asks Dave to stop,
10:38finally singing about a bicycle built for two.
10:41I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid.
10:52Number 10. The Painting, Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
11:01Thanks to its sounds of paint brushes or pencils scraping across the canvas, it's no wonder that this
11:07film gives people the tingles. The story is an atmospheric one, as a woman sent to capture the
11:13likeness of an impetuous young lady develops into a love story. Among the quiet scenes are several
11:23involving the artist Marianne, devoted to her craft. One in particular has her painting while the
11:29crackling of a burning fire can be heard in the background, as the rainstorm taps on the window.
11:36Number 9. The Beach, Moonlight.
11:40In a scene set during protagonist Chiron's childhood, we see a tender moment as he is taught to swim by
11:47father figure Juan, played by Mahershala Ali. The moment is a welcome respite from the chaos of Chiron's
12:00surroundings and upbringing, as the sound of waves crash in the background.
12:14Often used as a way to fall asleep, the sounds of the ocean are particularly calming, as are the words
12:20of encouragement that Ali speaks. It's easy to imagine someone putting this scene on in order to
12:26help them float off into a peaceful slumber.
12:34Number 8. Cooking, The Taste of Things.
12:38The sounds of chopping, boiling water, and sizzling, combined with the often pleasant visuals,
12:44have made the cooking ASMR subgenre extremely popular.
12:50This is on full display in The Taste of Things,
12:54following a chef and his head cook in 19th century France. The film is filled with long scenes of food
13:00lovingly being prepared in an old style. One nearly wordless scene features a number of intricate
13:06dishes being painstakingly prepared, shot largely with available light. The sequence is a visual and
13:13audible feast whether you're a foodie or not.
13:20Number 7. The Pottery Wheel, Ghost.
13:24Even if you haven't seen this supernatural romance, chances are you're familiar with its most iconic
13:29moment, the pottery scene. Often cited as one of the most romantic moments in cinema history,
13:44the scene features Demi Moore and her boyfriend, played by Patrick Swayze, in A Tender Embrace.
13:50Can I help? Yeah. Get him wet.
13:55Setting the scene are sounds of dripping water, the pottery wheel spinning, the wet clay being shaped,
14:01and even the click of the record player. It's no wonder that the sensory experience has gone on
14:06to be so beloved.
14:14Number 6. The Nightwalker, Princess Mononoke. The gentle sounds of nature, the old world,
14:22and the chatter of industry both exist in this animated masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki.
14:33That old world is composed of magical and ancient spirits, including the deer god who at night
14:38transforms into a gigantic creature that walks the woods. As he strides, tiny spirits known as the
14:44Kodama gather, shaking their heads to make a sort of clicking sound in unison. As the forest spirit
14:55descends, turning back into the deer god, a mighty wind picks up, rustling the trees and Kodama.
15:01Finally, as it walks, we hear the sound of vegetation sprouting and withering away with each step.
15:14Number 5. Haircut, Edward Scissorhands.
15:18Have you ever cut a woman's hair? Would you cut mine?
15:21The soft sound of metal shears scraping against each other, combined with the repetitive nature
15:27of the process, has led to countless haircutting ASMR channels popping up. A few film scenes with
15:32haircuts that give us the same tingle as these videos, but only one character from any of those
15:38films has literal scissors for hands. That makes him the perfect person to trim hedges, make ice
15:52sculptures and, of course, give a good haircut. Providing the service first to a dog and then a
15:57number of suburban women, it's clear that they are experiencing the ASMR euphoria from the
16:02unconventional haircut as well.
16:10Number 4. Tears in Rain, Blade Runner. After the tense final chase at the end of Blade Runner,
16:17one would hardly expect a beautiful ASMR scene, but that's exactly what proceeded.
16:22Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. Moments after saving his foe Deckard,
16:29played by Harrison Ford, replicant Roy Batty launches into a poetic soliloquy about the
16:35amazing things he's seen in his short life. The largely improvised speech from Rutger Hauer,
16:45spoken softly as the rain falls, is as tragic as it is soothing, culminating in the fluttering of a
16:51dove's wings. Even the unique score from composer Vangelis, with its odd tones, adds to the effect.
17:20Number 3. Dress Fitting, Phantom Thread. Following a dressmaker, Reynolds Woodcock, in 1950s London,
17:28many of the sounds present in Phantom Thread are tailor-made for the ASMR community.
17:40When Woodcock first encounters his love interest Alma, played by Vicky Creeps, he quickly sizes her up,
17:47quite literally. The sound of fabric stretching and shoes sliding across a creaky floor were
17:52expertly put together by Academy Award nominee Christopher Scarabozio. Daniel Day-Lewis, who
18:05actually learned to make dresses for the role, whispers as he works in a meticulously chosen
18:09dialect, adding to the experience. It's no wonder he would be nominated for this role.
18:16Number 2. Small Pleasures, Amelie. The scene in question takes place when the film's narrator lists
18:23off the simple things in life that bring Amelie joy. Each of them is a sensory experience,
18:29and the audience gets to take a brief but diverse dive into these sensations. The first sees her
18:35dipping her hand into a bag of grain, the seeds making a satisfying sliding sound as she reaches
18:40deeper. That's followed by the crackling of creme brulee, with the metallic spoon hitting the
18:48caramelized sugar in a succession of satisfying thwacks. Finally, a shot over a flowing waterfall
18:56pans to the title character skipping stones across a canal.
19:06Number 1. Fixing Woody. Toy Story 2. Perhaps the first introduction that many of us had to the
19:13ASMR sensation came when we were children, after Woody had lost his arm. When a peculiar old man arrives to
19:19fix and clean the cowboy doll, he brings out a miraculous tool chest full of latches and levers,
19:25each with their own satisfying sound. The sound of a tiny chair squawking up, the cotton swab rubbing
19:36against the porcelain, and the hum of the airbrush coming to life all give us tingles.
19:45But most of all, what stimulates its audience is the sound of the thread stitching the beloved Woody's
19:51arm back to where it belongs. Which movie scenes give you that familiar feeling? Let us know in the comments
20:03below!
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