If you have never heard of the “Wilhelm Scream,” then this post may change the way you watch movies.

Wikipedia gives background on the “Wilhelm Scream” as such:

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums…it is probably one of the best-known cinematic sound clichés…The Wilhelm scream is often used when a character is plummeting to a great distance, usually falling off a ledge. Its use in the Star Wars films was the beginning of something of an in-joke among some sound designers of the film industry. They continued to try to incorporate it into films wherever feasible. Because of the popularity of the sound, people are still finding it in older movies and shows. See Wikipedia article for more details and an list of appearances of the Wilhelm Scream.

Here are two YouTube videos that demonstrate how the scream has been included in movies.

The scream has been included in many, many movies. In fact, I heard the Wilhelm Scream during the Pixar short “Lifted” which was included on the Ratatouille DVD.