Science fiction and horror have always pushed the boundaries of sound design. Every hum, punchy crash, onomatopoeia, or alien scream started somewhere; someone imagined it, experimented with objects, animals, or machines, and etched it into film history. Many of these sounds are still used in today’s cinema, slightly tweaked for modern technology, but the essence remains the same. Here are some movie sound effects that became standards, from ’ ”70s-’90s blockbusters to cult favorites.
#1: Lightsaber Hum – Star Wars (1977)
The iconic hum of a lightsaber was the brainchild of sound designer Ben Burtt. He combined the buzzing of an old film projector with interference from a television microphone to create that signature tone. Every scene featuring a Jedi wielding a blade (from Luke’s first training with Obi-Wan to the duel with Darth Vader) is anchored by this sound, making it instantly recognizable even decades later.
