While it's important for a film to keep audiences engaged and enticed throughout its entire runtime, some films prove to be so effective that they demand attention from the very beginning. A great opening scene can make the difference between a good film that has its moments and a great film that instantly gets the audience pumped and excited for the rest of the film. An exceptional opening helps set the pace for the rest of the film to follow, establishing the stakes and tone that the rest of the film is going for.

Ranging from the very beginning of film as a medium, the importance placed upon the opening scenes of a film has been undeniable, making the greatest opening scenes a highly exclusive yet masterful club. Being the first moments that audiences have with a film, many of these opening scenes have become iconic in their own right as some of the most legendary moments in film history. Nearly every one of these amazing opening scenes could, by themselves, manage to be just as effective and powerful as other feature-length films in their entirety.

15'Jurassic Park' (1993)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Long before it became the massive franchise that would become the face of dinosaurs in filmmaking, the very first scene in the Jurassic Park series uses the shadows and unknown to create maximum tension and terror. The scene sees a group of dockworkers and handlers receiving the latest dinosaur shipment for the park, all primed and prepared to transport it into its designated area. However, the velociraptor in the cage proves to be as dangerous as it is terrifying, with it almost getting loose and killing a handler in the process.

The scene only shows a slight glimpse at the appearance of the dinosaur, yet immediately creates all the inherent fear and danger that these vicious prehistoric creatures provide, perfectly leading into the rest of the film. While the film isn't a full-on horror film itself, starting the film with this high-tension sequence helps show that, even when things get cheery during early introductions to the dinosaurs, the creatures are still dangerous and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Jurassic Park

PG-13

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Release Date

June 11, 1993

Runtime

127 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

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14'Up' (2009)

Directed by Pete Docter

Few film openings prove to be so effective that they can in some ways overshadow the rest of the film, with one of these rare yet prominent examples coming from Pixar's Up. The elongated opening sees the initial meeting of Carl and Ellie, who quickly foster a friendship through their shared sense of adventure before getting married. The film ends with a powerful and brilliant sequence showing the ups and downs of their married life as they continue to love each other and grow old together, ending with Ellie passing of old age.

The opening of Up is widely considered to be one of Pixar's most potent tearjerker sequences that they've ever created, made that much more effective because it is the first thing that happens in the film. Everything about this almost dialogue-free sequence comes together to bring up the waterworks while forming a relatable and heart-wrenching look at life in all of its painful beauty. The brilliant music is the final piece that makes the scene that much more memorable.

Up

PG

Adventure

Family

Release Date

June 11, 2009

Cast

See All

• 
  Ed Asner
• 
  Bob Peterson

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13'Scream' (1996)

Directed by Wes Craven

Scream is a horror film that is all about tackling the meta rules and conventions that makeup slasher films, so it would make sense that the opening would be toying with the audience even before the movie starts. The sequence sees teenage Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) enjoying a night at home before getting a phone call from an unknown figure. What starts as a lighthearted conversation quickly turns dark when it's revealed the unknown caller is a deadly killer, who soon forces Casey to play a horror movie trivia game to save the life of her boyfriend.

While Scream may just seem to be yet another horror movie opening with a shocking death, it's all about the context and execution that makes it one of the best opening scenes in horror history. All the marketing and promotion for the film treats Barrymore's character as a leading star, with the actress being incredibly popular in the 90s, so having her be the first death immediately raised the stakes and shocked audiences. This is simply complementary to the scene itself, which perfectly transitions from lighthearted to terrifying while keeping a satirical comedic edge throughout.

Scream

R

Crime

Horror

Mystery

Release Date

December 20, 1996

Runtime

111 minutes

Director

Wes Craven

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12'The Lion King' (1994)

Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

A great piece of music can sometimes do all the work when it comes to creating a magnificent opening sequence, with one of the most prominent examples coming from the original The Lion King. The film opens with the legendary original song, The Circle of Life, as it shows all the different animals of the animal kingdom coming together and meeting at Pride Rock to see the unveiling of the new lion prince, Simba. The young lion cub is lifted into the air by the monkey Rafiki, showing him off to the entire animal kingdom as they look on in respect.

The mixture of a powerful song and top-notch 2D animation came together to immediately set the tone and weight of The Lion King as a story, immediately cementing the film as a Disney classic. Even without a single word of dialogue, the sequence greatly establishes the rule and strength of the Circle of Life in the Pride Lands, as well as perfectly paralleling the end of the film. The sequence's abrupt and powerful ending on the title card further adds to the gravitas of the scene, as the film itself is telling audiences that they're in for a powerful work of art.

The Lion King

G

Animation

Drama

Adventure

Release Date

June 24, 1994

Runtime

88 Minutes

Director

Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

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11'The Matrix' (1999)

Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski

The Matrix is a flashy and wildly stylized revolution of what was possible not only within sci-fi action as a whole, but bringing the possibilities of technology to their absolute limits, so it would make sense that the film immediately kicks into high gear. The opening minutes of the film see a group of policemen and agents closing in on freedom fighter Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), as she is forced to fight her way out and escape the matrix in time.

Everything comes together to make this opening a standout moment in a film already filled to the brim with standout moments. From the slow buildup and tension surrounding the allure of Trinity as a force to be reckoned with to the visual explosion of action with wild camera movements and top-notch choreography. It sets the stage for the film's mythos and world without revealing too much, simply giving audiences a treat for the masterful sci-fi film they're about to experience.

The Matrix

R

Action

Sci-Fi

Release Date

March 31, 1999

Runtime

136 minutes

Director

Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

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10'Vertigo' (1958)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Stylized opening credits were largely considered the norm when it came to films released during older, more classic eras of Hollywood, and while they aren't nearly as prevalent nowadays, examples like Vertigo still hold up masterfully today. The film opens with a shot moving across someone's face, focusing on different parts of their face before squarely focusing on a singular eyeball, with the eye then widening as the title card appears and a flurry of swirls overtakes the credits.

While it's relatively simple in concept, there is an undeniable allure and strength to such mesmerizing visuals when combined with the striking and powerful score, lining up perfectly with the unnerving tone of the film itself. Even with just visuals alone, there are distinct parallels that can be made between this opening sequence and the themes of the film, as the whirlpool of spirals is pivotal to the film's messaging. As far as the visually enthralling opening credits that don't directly deal with the plot are concerned, few can hold a candle to the iconic and masterful execution of Vertigo.

Vertigo

PG

Romance

Mystery

Thriller

Release Date

May 9, 1958

Runtime

128 minutes

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

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9'Inglourious Basterds' (2009)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to exceptional opening scenes, with the likes of Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained also having standout opening scenes, yet Inglourious Basterds' first chapter is easily the director's best opening act. The film's brilliant first chapter sees a small farmer receiving an unexpected visit from Nazi colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), interrogating him about possibly hiding Jewish fugitives on his farm. Their conversation spans multiple languages as there is a palpable tension brimming with every passing second.

Few villain introductions do as great of a job of establishing the antagonist as a cunning yet ruthlessly despicable force of evil as the opening of Inglourious Basterds, cementing Waltz's role as Landa as an all-time great villain. The scene is as terrifying and foreboding as it is enthralling and entertaining, setting the stage for the stories of bloodshed and destruction to be told in the World War II setting. It speaks volumes that this opening chapter is as effective and iconic as it is, despite not even mentioning or relating to the Basterds to whom the film is named.

Inglourious Basterds

R

Drama

War

Adventure

Release Date

August 21, 2009

Runtime

153 minutes

Director

Quentin Tarantino

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8'Saving Private Ryan' (1998)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

One of the greatest cinematic strengths inherent to war movies is their ability to bring audiences directly into the heat of military hardships and battle, showing all the bloodshed and destruction of a battlefield like never before. When it comes to these realistic and memorable depictions of military combat, none hold a candle to the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan, featuring a large squadron of U.S. soldiers storming Omaha Beach on D-Day.

The opening minutes of high-octane battle and warfare almost immediately cement Saving Private Ryan as a one-of-a-kind feat of filmmaking, as well as an essential war movie experience. Just this opening sequence alone has its own weaving stories and fragments of chaos, following various soldiers fighting for their lives for the sake of their country in a display of technical mastery and the blunt realities of war. It also helps create connections and weight behind the gravitas of the soldier's mission, making each subsequent sacrifice all the more palpable and filled with emotional weight.

Saving Private Ryan

R

War

Drama

9.3/10

Release Date

July 24, 1998

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7'Goodfellas' (1990)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Gangster movies were an established staple of cinematic mastery long before Martin Scorsese's magnum opus, Goodfellas, would hit the big screen. However, in such a simple yet effective manner, Goodfellas cuts to the core of what makes these stories work so well in such a relatively short amount of time. The film opens on a scene reminiscent of many other gangster stories, with a trio of gangsters having to get out of a car after the body in the trunk turns out to be alive.

It's the simple line delivery and editing around the statement "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." that transforms the opening into an all-time classic. While the genre is most commonly recognized and known for its more grounded and serious elements, this simple line reading sets the tone of being more playful and coy with its darker premise. It's one of the most succinct yet effective ways to lead into the film, giving an aura of mystery as to how this trio got into this situation in the first place while immediately setting the tone as an entertaining crowd-pleaser.

Goodfellas

R

Drama

Crime

Release Date

September 19, 1990

Runtime

145 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

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6'The Dark Knight' (2008)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

While the pressure of an opening sequence is already high enough for standard blockbusters, a direct sequel such as The Dark Knight had all the weight and expectations of the previous film to deliver right out of the gate. The opening follows a high-octane bank heist being performed by a group of thugs hired by the Joker (Heath Ledger), each wearing clown masks and talking about the clown prince of darkness with mystery and allure. As the heist goes on, the clowns begin turning on one another, resulting in one remaining clown who is revealed to be the joker himself, leaving with all the cash in a school bus.

It makes for a brilliant parallel to introduce the Joker as an antithesis mythos to that of Batman, one that is talked about in shadows as an all-knowing crime lord capable of anything. Outside the content of the opening itself, The Dark Knight immediately ups the ante from the previous film with more exciting action, thrilling setpieces, and beautiful cinematography as a direct improvement over Batman Begins. The Joker is widely considered to be one of the best movie villains of all time, with this powerful introduction playing a big part in why.

The Dark Knight

PG-13

Drama

Action

Crime

Thriller

Superhero

10/10

Release Date

July 16, 2008

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5'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

The opening scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark is not one of the most memorable and iconic scenes in the film itself, but has become a legendary feat of filmmaking and the most memorable moment of the entire franchise. The sequence sees Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) on an expedition across the Peruvian jungles in search of forgotten treasures of the past. He soon finds himself in a booby-trapped temple, using his trusty whip to retrieve a golden idol and escaping by the skin of his teeth before having to give up the idol to rival Rene Belloq.

While there are many standout parts of this extended adventure sequence, from Jones being betrayed by someone who is immediately done in by booby-traps to the juxtaposition between Jones and Belloq's methodology for archaeology. However, the true highlight is the legendary rolling ball that Jones finds himself running away from in his escape from the temple, a setpiece that has lived in legendary status as one of the most iconic action sequences in cinema history.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

PG

Adventure

Action

Release Date

June 12, 1981

Runtime

115 Minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

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4'Citizen Kane' (1941)

Directed by Orson Welles

While many opening sequences have become legendary thanks to their flashy action and ability to get people immediately excited for the film to come, Citizen Kane achieves similar levels of audience attention in the form of an alluring mystery. The film opens with the enigmatic Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) on his deathbed, holding a snowglobe in his arms and uttering his mysterious final word, "rosebud", before dying. It then immediately shows the allure and legacy that Kane left behind, with many reporters hoping to find out the truth behind Kane's mysterious final word.

One of the most enigmatic and iconic mysteries in film history, Citizen Kane masterfully excels at creating tension and intrigue from the statement of a single word. Everything about the scene comes together to build around this mystery, from the beautiful framing of the snow globe to setting up Kane as a masterful figure with a dauntless legacy as one of the most important and powerful men of all time. It provides a powerful and instantly engaging beginning to one of the most perfect screenplays of all time.

Citizen Kane

PG

Drama

Documentary

Mystery

Release Date

April 17, 1941

Runtime

119 minutes

Director

Orson Welles

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3'Star Wars: A New Hope' (1977)

Directed by George Lucas

Text on-screen is one of the simplest yet widely understood methods when it comes to installing a wide swath of information and history before the actual movie begins, with no film having a greater opening crawl than the original Star Wars: A New Hope. The use of John Williams's iconic score instantly gets the audience excited for the adventure they're about to embark on, telling the audience everything they need to know to get engrossed world. It then immediately gets into the action with a chase across space and the kidnapping of Princess Leia from the deadly empire and Darth Vader.

When taking into consideration the immediate end goal of an opening sequence, getting an audience excited and ready to enjoy the rest of the film, A New Hope's opening crawl and following action scene is easily one of the best at this task. It's an iconic piece of film history that has a strong legacy even outside of Star Wars itself, easily being the most legendary prelude text on-screen in any film before immediately thrusting audiences into its world of intergalactic struggle.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

PG

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

910

Release Date

May 25, 1977

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2'Jaws' (1975)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

The opening kill is one of the most iconic trends in horror history, with it being widely understood that there's no better way to get audiences thrilled for a terrifying experience than starting with a gruesome and memorable death. In the vast history of opening kills, no horror movie is quite as iconic as Jaws, giving a deeply memorable kill that forever changed the landscape of horror filmmaking. The opening scene sees a young woman out on a night swim in the ocean suddenly being attacked and killed by a shark.

Everything comes together to make this opening kill one of the simplest yet most enigmatic and memorable kills in horror film history, from the haunting score to the brilliant shots underwater from the shark's point of view. It immediately creates a sense of dread and terror for the dangerous beast of the ocean, showing that this type of bloodshed could happen to anyone in the film, and nobody is safe from the bloodthirsty shark.

Jaws

PG-13

Adventure

Horror

Thriller

Release Date

June 18, 1975

Runtime

124 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

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1'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Completed different in style than the sci-fi space adventure that takes over the rest of the film, the brilliant opening act of 2001: A Space Odyssey, known as The Dawn of Man, is good enough to be a film by itself. The look into the prehistoric past of Earth sees a group of hominins being driven away from a water source by another rival group before having their lives forever changed by the appearance of a mysterious alien monolith, soon learning to use bone tools afterward. Even before this intro and before the production logos, the film opens with three minutes of a blank, black screen accompanied by ominous, haunting music.

There are many different layers that all come together to make The Dawn of Man one of the most brilliant and legendary openings in film history, holding up brilliantly on its own with an enigmatic score while subtly tying into the larger themes and messaging of the film. It plays off of the very expectations that audiences of the era had for how a film was supposed to start, capitalizing on this jarring nature to tell a brilliant tale of evolution when audiences least expected it.

2001: A Space Odyssey

G

Adventure

Mystery

Sci-Fi

Release Date

April 3, 1968

Runtime

149 minutes

Director

Stanley Kubrick

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