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Sound

Wilhelm Scream

A stock sound effect of a man screaming that has been used in over 400 films and TV shows.

In Depth

First used in 1951, it has become an inside joke among sound editors. It is often used when a character falls from a great height or is thrown by an explosion.

Example

"You can hear the Wilhelm Scream when a Stormtrooper falls down a shaft in 'Star Wars'."