Top 20 TV Show Opening Scenes
Script written by Nick Spake
Top 20 Best TV Show Opening Scenes
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May the bingeing begin. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best TV Show Opening Scenes.
For this list, we’ll be looking at shows that had us hooked from their first scenes, guaranteeing we’d stick around for more.
#20: Whatever Happened to Saul Goodman?
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“Better Call Saul” (2015-)
Following through with his plans at the end of “Breaking Bad,” Saul Goodman now works at a Cinnabon in Nebraska under a new name. Although Saul established himself as a colorful character, his world is now shown in black and white as he goes about his tedious daily routine, making cinnamon rolls. The lawyer formerly known as Saul is a nobody, which this opening conveys through atmospheric cinematography and downhearted music. Despite being a free man, the only thing that brings him joy is watching a tape of his old law commercials. With no dialogue, this scene establishes the show’s central theme of identity. Whether you call him James McGill or Gene Takavic, he’s always been Saul Goodman and can’t escape his true self.
#19: Murder on the Beach
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“Revenge” (2011-15)
In this flash-forward to season one’s midpoint, the characters we’ll come to know gather for a “fire and ice”-themed engagement party on a moonlit night. The celebration takes a turn for the worse as gunshots are fired and a body is discovered on the beach. In the spirit of any addictive soap opera, this mysterious setup sinks its teeth into the audience, guaranteeing that they’ll be sticking around to learn who got shot. With great imagery and foreshadowing, “Revenge” certainly started off with a bang.
#18: Frank Kills a Dog
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“House of Cards” (2013-18)
Francis “Frank” Underwood is NOT someone who minds getting his hands dirty. That’s made clear in the opening scene of “House of Cards”, when a car hits his neighbor’s dog. Rather than letting nature take its course, Francis puts the dog out of its misery. All the while, he hauntingly explains to the audience why people like him are needed, to do the unpleasant but necessary things in life. What’s most chilling is how calm he remains throughout. It’s an opening that gives the audience a small but telling glimpse of just what Frank is capable of.
#17: A True Story?
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“Fargo” (2014-)
When it was announced that “Fargo” was getting the TV treatment, fans of the film were curious but skeptical. The 1996 feature is a cinematic masterpiece and replicating voices as distinctive as the Coen brothers’ is easier said than done. The series immediately shattered any doubts with a familiar “true story” disclaimer against a bleak winter backdrop, immersing us back in Minnesota. Like the film, this opening strikes an unlikely balance of dark comedy and tension as a drifter swerves off the road. This enables the practically naked man trapped in his truck to escape. The drifter doesn’t chase after his captive, instead focusing on the deer he struck. It’s a chilling scene that’s in sync with the film’s tone while also setting up a new mystery.
#16: It’s Not, But It Could Be
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“The Newsroom” (2012-14)
Nobody writes energizing speeches better than Aaron Sorkin. The opening to “The Newsroom” contains some of his best dialogue ever, as anchor Will McAvoy is pushed to answer the question: what makes America the world’s greatest country? Will tries to dodge the question, before deciding to face it head on - unleashing a three-minute monologue on why the US ISN’T the greatest. Pointing out what the US actually comes first in, and where it lags behind, Will relentlessly dishes out everything that other public figures would be too afraid to say. The impact of this masterfully written scene alone was enough to earn Jeff Daniels an Emmy.
#15: A Cop Who Doesn’t Play by the Rules
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“Luther” (2010-19)
Filmed from mesmerizing angles and set to a heart-pounding score, this scene drops us right into the middle of an intense chase as DCI John Luther pursues a serial killer named Henry Madsen. The chase takes them to the top of a building under construction. On a catwalk, the two have a standoff that leaves Henry dangling over a deep drop. Luther uses this opportunity to interrogate the killer. While he gets his answer and the victim is found alive, Luther still elects himself Henry’s judge, jury, and executioner - making for a shocking scene that had audiences hooked.
#14: Larry’s Pants Tent
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“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (2000-)
Like “Seinfeld” before it, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” has provided Larry David with a platform to tackle the little, mundane problems that can snowball into major issues. Weirdly enough, both shows kicked off with two characters casually talking about clothing. In “Seinfeld,” the topic was button placement. In “Curb,” the very first shot finds Larry inspecting his pants, focusing on the unusually baggy zipper area. The awkward material makes it look as if something is going on down there when in reality, nothing is happening. His wife Cheryl is also quick to notice the pants tent, although neither realizes just how much trouble it’s about to cause. Funny and all-too relatable, it’s definitely an opening that sparks our enthusiasm.
#13: Raylan Shot First
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“Justified” (2010-15)
The opening of “Justified” has the calling card of a classic spaghetti western - and not just because of Raylan Givens’ iconic cowboy hat. Raylan has given criminal Tommy Bucks one day to get out of Miami. Those 24 hours are almost up and Tommy refuses to budge. Sitting across from him in a public setting, Raylan vows to pull his gun if Tommy doesn’t leave in the next couple minutes. The suspense builds with each passing second as these two square off in a heated game of chicken. Feeling the pressure, Tommy draws first, but Raylan is the faster shot. It may not be set in a saloon, but this duel brings the nail-biting grit of the old west into modern times.
#12: The Vanishing of Will Byers
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“Stranger Things” (2016-)
“Stranger Things” was largely inspired by the works of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and everything 80s, all of which is on full display in the first several minutes. The opening possesses echoes of “E.T.” and “It” as a mysterious creature wreaks havoc in a laboratory. This cleverly transitions to four young boys engaged in a “Dungeons & Dragons” campaign, unaware that playtime is about to get real. Riding his bike home, Will Byers is cornered by a shadowy figure that closely resembles the Demogorgon from their game. Even when Will makes it inside, there’s no escaping this nightmare. With a mix of sci-fi, horror, and even humor, Will’s disappearance hooks us in and we won’t be able to sleep until he’s found.
#11: Snot Boogie, Made in America
“The Wire” (2002-08)
Few crime dramas feel as authentic as “The Wire” and that sense of realism is present from the first scene onward. We find ourselves on the hard-hitting streets of Baltimore where detective Jimmy McNulty questions a witness about the fatal shooting of Snot Boogie. The dialogue comes off as surprisingly natural and even casual as the two discuss Snot’s nickname and how he wound up bleeding in the road. Snot regularly robbed a craps game and things finally escalated out of control. McNulty is confused about why Snot would be allowed to play if he was known for stealing, to which the witness replies: [broll: “This America, man.”] Something similar can be said about the vicious cycle of the drug trade and the system that allows it to continue.
#10: A Familiar Face
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“Orphan Black” (2013-17)
This intro is like something out of a “Twilight Zone” episode, blurring the lines between science and superstition. How would you react if you got off a train one day and spotted somebody who looked exactly like you? Sarah Manning is given little time to process her thoughts as she locks eyes with her doppelganger, who steps onto the tracks as a train zooms by. Before we’re even past the three-minute mark, the audience already has a laundry list of questions. How are these two look-alikes connected? Why did one suddenly take her own life? What was in the bag she left behind? Wherever this train is headed next, we’re all aboard for more.
#9: Finding Laura Palmer
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“Twin Peaks” (1990-91; 2017)
Nowadays, audiences are used to most television episodes feeling like mini movies. In the early ‘90s, however, there was a clear distinction between movie drama and TV drama. Director David Lynch defied that distinction by bringing a genuine cinematic tone to the pilot of “Twin Peaks.” The first scene immerses the audience in a cinematic world as a fisherman discovers Laura Palmer’s dead body. The alluring atmosphere, music, and cinematography prepared us for a grand experience unlike anything we’d ever seen on television. And the rest of the series delivered in spades.
#8: The White Walkers
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“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
Speaking of risky pilots, nobody was sure if HBO could do justice to George R. R. Martin’s acclaimed fantasy novels. If the astounding title sequence didn’t immediately convince you “Game of Thrones” was going to be an amazing show, the first scene certainly did. Rangers of the Night’s Watch venture into a snowy, heartless terrain littered with icy corpses. Suddenly, the rangers are ambushed and learn the hard way that winter is coming. Full of unforgettable visuals and tension, this is an exquisite appetizer of even greater things to come.
#7: October 14, 2011
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“The Leftovers” (2014-17)
Oftentimes tragedy strikes when you least expect it. You could be doing your laundry, arguing with someone on the phone, and then SNAP! Your whole world is changed forever. The first scene of “The Leftovers” captures that sense of unpredictability and the ensuing panic. A stressed mother is seemingly given some peace and quiet when her baby stops crying. Looking into the back seat, though, she inexplicably finds her baby missing without a trace. This woman isn’t the only one who just lost a loved one, as a little boy in the parking lot can’t find his father while a car crashes with nobody behind the wheel. This woman’s grief, confusion, and fear can be felt worldwide, setting the stage for a provocative series.
#6: All Alone
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“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Joss Whedon has always known how to put a fresh spin on familiar horror tropes. Take the first scene of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for example. It starts off in typical slasher fashion as two teenagers sneak into the school after hours. Where the girl is timid about breaking in, her rebellious beau is on the lookout for trouble. We’ve all seen this setup before and it seems pretty obvious where the scene’s going when the girl hears a noise. Once the boy assures her that they’re alone, she sinks her teeth into him, although not in the way he’d intended. Playing with expectations in all the right ways, this combination of horror and comedy sets the mood for the whole series.
#5: Meet the Bluths
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“Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013-)
The pilot for “Arrested Development” only gets better every time you rewatch it. The opening alone works on several comedic levels. For starters, it introduces almost all of the key characters in a creative fashion. The dialogue between the Bluths is hilarious and at times downright savage, producing a number of laughs and future running gags before the title even drops. At the same time, the opening sets up several jokes that come back later in the episode. Everyone is immediately identifiable and we can sense why Michael, seemingly the only normal one, would be eager to get away from them. Little does Michael know that he’ll soon have no choice but to keep them all together.
#4: Dexter’s Night Out
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“Dexter” (2006-13)
Draped in sinister red colors, this opening invites us inside the twisted mind of Dexter Morgan, who’s having a run-of-the-mill night. Well, run-of-the-mill by his standards at least. On the prowl for fresh meat, Dexter targets Mike Donovan, a pastor responsible for the deaths of multiple children. After forcing Mike to look over the atrocities he’s committed, Dexter drugs him, straps him in, and collects a souvenir before delivering the final blow. Even if Dexter’s witty narration didn’t clue us in already, it’s clear that this wasn’t his first time. He’s been doing this for so long that it’s become a well-oiled routine. As disturbing as that may sound, we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t deeply satisfying seeing Dexter give Mike his comeuppance.
#3: The End Times
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“The Walking Dead” (2010-)
A police car drives down a seemingly run-of-the-mill street. As the sheriff gets out of his car, however, we discover that the road is actually paved with carnage. It becomes clear to the audience that this is the end of days. We soon find out exactly what caused the epidemic as a little zombie girl shows her face to the sheriff. Epic, while also being subtle and quiet, this opening to “The Walking Dead” introduces us to a grim world where hope, innocence, and humanity will inevitably be forsaken.
#2: Welcome to the Island
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“Lost” (2004-11)
The first episode of “Lost” is like the “Titanic” of TV pilots. It was the most expensive pilot ever made and nobody knew what to expect. J.J. Abrams proved from the opening shot, though, that this was a worthwhile investment guaranteed to suck viewers in. “Lost” plays its best hand upfront as a group of survivors flee from an exceptionally filmed plane crash. You don’t know who these people are, what happened to them, or where they are now, but the opening leaves you desperately wanting to find out more.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Up in Smoke
“Mad Men” (2007-15)
Negotiation Gone Wrong
“Mindhunter” (2017-)
No Escape
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (2017-)
Airplane Outbreak
“Fringe” (2008-13)
Burning Down the House
“Supernatural” (2015-)
#1: Caught With Your Pants Down
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“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
We’ve brought things full circle from “Better Call Saul” to the show that started it all. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, a pair of trousers goes flying through the air as an RV crashes. Out of the vehicle emerges the dad from “Malcolm in the Middle.” In his underwear and armed with a gun, he makes a goodbye video for his family. Police sirens go off in the distance and the lone man known as Walter White prepares for a showdown. What can you say except, “WTF! I hope the rest of the show is this wild and unpredictable.” Lucky for us, “Breaking Bad” was.
