10 Amazing Opening Scenes That Set You Up Perfectly For The Rest Of The Movie

In today’s world of streaming services, where people have entire libraries of movies accessible at their fingertips, the pressure to make a good opening scene is higher than ever. If the first few minutes of a movie don’t hook your viewers, most of them will switch to watching something else. While theater walkouts are also a thing, they’re neither as common nor as frequent during the earlier moments of a film. So, while the pressure has always been there to make a statement with the first scene, it has become like an elevator pitch today.

For instance, the Mission: Impossible franchise bounced back after a disappointing second film with Mission: Impossible III, which opens with the climactic scene, establishing both the stakes and the pace of the film. Now, there is always a case to be made for watching a movie in full, despite how the opening scene makes you feel. Some great horror movie villain twists, for example, don’t occur until the end. However, setting the pace with an opening scene, just like the best cold-opens in TV show history, did for their episodes, always ensures a great viewing experience.

10

Scream (1996)

Directed by Wes Craven

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Scream

R

Crime

Horror

Mystery

27

9.1/10

Release Date

December 20, 1996

1996’s Scream follows a teenage girl who is targeted by a masked killer a year after her mother’s murder who uses horror movies as a deadly game against her and her friends.

Cast

David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, W. Earl Brown, Joseph Whipp, Liev Schreiber, Drew Barrymore, Roger L. Jackson, Kevin Patrick Walls, David Booth, Carla Hatley, Lawrence Hecht, Lois Saunders, Lisa Beach, Tony Kilbert, C.W. Morgan, Frances Lee McCain, Troy Bishop, Ryan Kennedy, Leonora Scelfo, Nancy Anne Ridder

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

Wes Craven

Writers

Kevin Williamson

Producers

Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein

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There are few better ways to open a slasher movie than establishing the villain as highly capable, violent, and smart. If that’s accompanied by one of the most memorable cases of misleading, the scene is bound to become iconic. When Wes Craven’s Scream was first advertised with Drew Barrymore in the poster, it was assumed that she would be the protagonist of the film, making it all the more surprising when she turns out to be one of Ghostface’s earliest victims.

Imagery from A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream

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Ghostace’s introduction as a movie trivia head who then murders you after quizzing you over the phone changed slasher cinema forever. It wasn’t common for slasher villains to be amicable with their victims. Moreover, the immediate switch of tone from casual conversation with an admittedly creepy movie nerd to being threatened by a killer establishes perfectly how high the stakes in Scream are. It tells viewers to expect the movie to become intense in a matter of seconds throughout the runtime.

9

Jurassic Park (1993)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

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Jurassic Park

PG-13

Adventure

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

10/10

55

9.2/10

Release Date

June 11, 1993

Jurassic Park is a science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Michael Crichton’s novel. Released in 1993, it follows a wealthy entrepreneur who creates a theme park with living dinosaurs. When security systems fail, experts and visitors experience the perilous reality of the park.

Cast

Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, BD Wong, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, Gerald R. Molen, Miguel Sandoval, Cameron Thor, Christopher John Fields, Whit Hertford, Dean Cundey, Jophery C. Brown, Tom Mishler, Greg Burson, Adrian Escober, Richard Kiley

Runtime

127 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Michael Crichton, David Koepp

Producers

Gerald R. Molen

Production Company

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

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If you can create literal dinosaurs, you will want people to know how cool they look. The Jurassic Park trailer blew up because Spielberg, practically the creator of the summer blockbuster, brought the promise of an adventure featuring dinosaurs that looked realistic, and still do. However, it’s just as important to remember that violent carnivorous dinosaurs are man-eating monsters you shouldn’t trifle with.

The screenplay for Jurassic Park was written by David Koepp and Michael Crichton, the latter being the author of the book it’s based on.

The opening scene of Jurassic Park establishes exactly this. The guard who gets pulled into the cage, in one of the most iconic movie scenes ever, is proof that these dinosaurs will not spare an attempt to attack, maul, and possibly eat a human. The scene also feels like it’s out of a horror movie. While Jurassic Park remains a perfect non-animated action movie for kids to watch, the opening scene lets viewers know what to expect if a carnivorous dinosaur is released. It also provides the tiniest of glimpses, teasing audiences before the dinosaurs are revealed.

8

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Directed by J. J. Abrams

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Mission: Impossible III

pg-13

Action

Adventure

8.3/10

Release Date

May 5, 2006

Directed by J. J. Abrams, Mission Impossible III marked the third release in the long-running Thriller, Action, and Spy series starring Tom Cruise. Marking J. J. Abrams directorial debut, this installment sees a retired Ethan Hunt dragged back into the spy game.

Cast

Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Billy Crudup, Keri Russell, Laurence Fishburne

Runtime

126 Minutes

Director

J.J. Abrams

Writers

J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci

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It’s not often that a Mission: Impossible movie unfolds non-linearly, but J. J. Abrams isn’t a conventional filmmaker. While he’s most famous for making two of the sequel movies in the Star Wars franchise, both of which are considered among the worst Star Wars movies ever, he directed one of the best Mission: Impossible movies of all time. It introduced Michelle Monaghan as Ethan Hunt’s romantic partner, and also starred the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as the villain.

The first scene in Mission: Impossible III occurs halfway through the third act in narrative order. Yet, it’s the opening scene, so the viewers know what Ethan is dealing with. Mission: Impossible II had seemed too gimmicky with its slow-motion action and the overuse of masks. So, the franchise needed revitalizing and introducing audiences to the villain and the high stakes of the mission, along with the ruthlessness of the villain he’s dealing with, got them hooked from the very opening and told them that the game had changed altogether.

7

Baby Driver (2017)

Directed by Edgar Wright

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Baby Driver

R

Action

Comedy

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

10

8.2/10

Release Date

June 28, 2017

After being coerced into working for a crime boss, getaway driver Baby is determined to escape his life of thievery and violence to make a life with his girlfriend Debora, However, when he finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail, things start looking desperate.

Cast

Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Eiza Gonzalez, Kevin Spacey

Runtime

113 minutes

Director

Edgar Wright

Writers

Edgar Wright

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Edgar Wright has one of the most stylish and simultaneously chaotic filmographies in all of Hollywood. He has dabbled in every genre and left an unmistakable mark on it with his style-over-substance approach. His most iconic movie, one of the most hilarious horror-comedy movies of all time, Shaun of the Dead is the finest example of his storytelling technique where interesting characters have meaningful experiences in fleeting moments during a chaotic film characterized by violence, memorable dialogue, and an incredible soundtrack.

We know all [this] about him in less than 5 minutes during the opening scene of the movie.

However, the epitome of that style of filmmaking can be found in Baby Driver, which follows a baby-faced getaway driver. He is the best at his job, he has an impeccable taste in music, and he doesn’t get involved in any of the other aspects of the crime that is being committed. We know all this about him in less than 5 minutes during the opening scene of the movie. It also sets the high-octane pace for Baby Driver, while letting viewers know the film will be set to some of the best high tempo music ever.

6

Uncut Gems (2019)

Directed by Bennie and Josh Safdie

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Uncut Gems

R

Comedy

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

6/10

9.0/10

Release Date

December 13, 2019

A crime thriller from Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems follows New York jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) as his gambling addiction forces him to associate with increasingly dangerous individuals. After receiving an incredibly rare black opal, Howard believes he can finally free himself of his mounting debts, but not without engaging in one final high-stakes balancing act while fending off violent loan sharks.

Cast

Jonathan Aranbayev, Eric Bogosian, The Weeknd, Idina Menzel, Noa Fisher, Kevin Garnett, Tommy Kominik, LaKeith Stanfield, Jacob Igielski, Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Keith Williams Richards

Runtime

134 minutes

Director

Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

Writers

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

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The Safdie brothers make some of the most uncomfortable thrillers of all time. They are brutal, quick, and relentless with anxiety-inducing moments that culminate in an explosive climax with an unpredictable conclusion. Uncut Gems, starring Adam Sandler in one of the best A24 movie performances of all time, is no different, as a jewelry broker’s business deals start collapsing on him simultaneously and his life is suddenly more endangered than it has ever been before.

Imagery from The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Andhadhun, and Gone Girl

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The opening scene of Uncut Gems establishes two important things – viewers will not be able to predict where the film will go at any point, and they must be prepared to watch scenes that will make them queasy and anxious. The transition from the inside of an ore that’s been excavated to the inside of a man during his colonoscopy lets viewers know the gems have as much relevance to the protagonist’s life as his own health. The fast-paced camera movement tells them to expect a relentless film with no moments to breathe.

5

The Dark Knight (2008)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

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The Dark Knight

PG-13

Drama

Action

Crime

Thriller

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

10/10

92

9.5/10

Release Date

July 16, 2008

The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.

Cast

Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Ron Dean, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cillian Murphy, Chin Han, Nestor Carbonell, Eric Roberts, Ritchie Coster, Anthony Michael Hall, Keith Szarabajka, Colin McFarlane, Joshua Harto, Melinda McGraw, Nathan Gamble, Michael Vieau, Michael Stoyanov, William Smillie, Danny Goldring, Michael Jai White

Runtime

152 minutes

Director

Christopher Nolan

Writers

Christopher Nolan, Bob Kane, Jonathan Nolan, David S. Goyer

Producers

Benjamin Melniker, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Kevin De La Noy, Michael Uslan

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Christopher Nolan changed superhero cinema with The Dark Knight, an action sequel better than the original movie in the franchise. It is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, with one of the best-written screenplays for a superhero film. The gritty tone of the story, buoyed by Heath Ledger’s unforgettable performance as the Joker, influenced many films in the genre and even affected the comic book Batman character.

Heath Ledger won a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

One of the greatest strengths of The Dark Knight as a film is its impeccable pacing. Despite its extended runtime and the number of elaborate action set pieces, it’s unrelenting in its intensity and never lets up since the Joker is introduced, which happens in the very first scene. Perhaps the most iconic character introduction of all time, it shows people Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker with a chaotic bank heist that’s simultaneously perfectly planned, setting the pace for the villain’s actions to follow.

4

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

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Saving Private Ryan

R

War

Drama

ScreenRant logo

10/10

35

9.6/10

Release Date

July 24, 1998

Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 WWII film. Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller’s command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan’s brothers are killed in the war. Matt Damon, Edward Burns,  and Tom Sizemore also star. 

Cast

Tom Sizemore, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon

Runtime

169 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Robert Rodat

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Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan has one of the most violent and gritty war scenes ever committed to film, and what’s even more shocking, it’s the first scene in the movie. It permanently changed the way war was shown in American cinema and viewed by its audiences. While the characters’ sacrifices are respectfully acknowledged, the scene strips away any sense of glorification, showing us how destructive a battlefield is.

While it’s not the first war movie to do this, given Spielberg’s influence on audiences and cinema, it wasn’t until this, that the unglamorous representation of war became mainstream. The Omaha Beach D-Day sequence, as it is known, presents an unrelenting view of war that sets the pace for the rest of the film, letting viewers know the characters won’t have respite from danger at any point. Acts of bravery are heroic, but there is no glory in the death afforded by war, and Spielberg ensures audiences knows he’ll not be glamorizing war in his movie.

3

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

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Inglourious Basterds

R

Drama

War

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

8/10

13

8.8/10

Release Date

August 21, 2009

In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich. Simultaneously, a young Jewish cinema owner plots to kill Nazi leaders attending a premiere at her theater. Both plans converge in a high-stakes showdown filled with action and revenge​.

Cast

Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger

Runtime

153 minutes

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Writers

Quentin Tarantino

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Right from Pulp Fiction, which marks his directorial debut, Quentin Tarantino has established himself as a master of cinematic tension. Scenes characterized by conversations that culminate in a heated, excessively violent, and devastating moment occupy all his films. They are also often characterized by brilliant performances, like Pam Grier in and as Jackie Brown, a thriller movie performance that deserved an Oscar nomination.

However, his masterpiece, which he slyly tells us with the final line of the film, is Inglourious Basterds, a parody of the tensions during the First World War. The first scene is the ultimate demonstration of his skills as a screenwriter, as he manages to make audiences anxious, showcase Christoph Waltz’s performance as the villain, and introduce viewers to the vengeful protagonist. The casual conversation boils into a massacre of a Jew family as the Nazi played by Waltz slowly figures out where they’re hiding. It sets the pace for the action and the dialogue to follow.

2

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost ark movie poster

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

PG

Adventure

Action

ScreenRant logo

10/10

38

9.2/10

Release Date

June 12, 1981

The most popular and well-received film in the Indiana Jones movie franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark follows Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones in a race against Nazi forces to recover the famed Ark of the Covenant. Aided by his former lover, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Indy must work to keep the Nazis, led by Dr. Rene Belloq, from obtaining the Ark and thus becoming recipients of its power. The film is widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest movies ever made. 

Cast

Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Alfred Molina, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott

Runtime

115 Minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Lawrence Kasdan

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While Harrison Ford’s most iconic character will undoubtedly always be Han Solo, the breakout role he is most known for, none can deny Indiana Jones’ popularity. The smooth-talking archaeologist with a penchant for punching Nazis will always be a pop-culture icon who fans will adore for his one-liners and memorable stunts. His most remarkable trait is perhaps his ability to think on the spot and pull off daring escapes from certain death.

It shows him cracking his whip to dispose of miscreants, establishes his knowledge in the field, tells us of his compassion for people, and showcases his knack for finding traps and evading death.

So, it’s fitting that the scene that introduced him to the world depicts Dr. Jones exhibiting all the traits we love him for. It shows him cracking his whip to dispose of miscreants, establishes his knowledge in the field, tells us of his compassion for people, and showcases his knack for finding traps and evading death. Moreover, the iconic boulder run, one of Harrison Ford’s most legendary stunts, set the pace for viewers who know to expect peril, action, and unbridled adventure from the film.

1

Trainspotting (1996)

Directed by Danny Boyle

Trainspotting

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Trainspotting

R

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

8.5/10

Release Date

August 9, 1996

Trainspotting is a darkly comedic drama based on the novel by Irvine Welsh. The film follows Mark Renton and his friends, a group of Scottish heroin addicts who journey outside of Edinburgh to find where the grass is greener. Renton attempts to clean up his act as he and his friends find themselves in increasingly absurd situations as they try to find the bright side of life.

Cast

Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald

Runtime

93 minutes

Director

Danny Boyle

Writers

John Hodge

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is a moody film about life, which follows a drug addict and his group of friends, all of whom struggle to get sober. It follows the ups and downs in their lives through various phases. It is one of the least coherent films of all time, which simultaneously makes sense as a meditation on the impact of drugs and urban subculture on the citizens of Ireland.

Imagery-from-Withnail-&-I-and-12-Angry-Men

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There are no words that can possibly describe the frantic vibe of Trainspotting, and perhaps director Danny Boyle knew this too. Hence, the film opens with one of the most bizarre and iconic monologues of all time, which depicts the protagonist running with drugs, nearly dying from being hit by a car, and rambling on about life in a voiceover. It also introduces us to the main characters and their defining traits, setting the pace for the relentless barrage of unforgettably queasy, weird, and incoherent dialogue and visuals that are to follow in the movie.