Top 10 Movie Intros You Need to Watch TWICE

“Us” (2019)

All isn’t as it seems in the opening to Jordan Peele’s “Us.” As a young girl, Adelaide Thomas enters a house of mirrors, but she meets her doppelgänger inside. This is a terrifying scene on its own, but it becomes even more harrowing after the end reveal. The character’s double Red actually switches places with her counterpart. Peele’s script compels us to return to this opening with the new information, creating an even more haunting experience as a result. It certainly makes a rewatch that much more scary given the implication that the hero isn’t who we think she is.

“No Country for Old Men” (2007)

In the opening of this Oscar winner, Sheriff Bell talks about his family’s work and his future. This all plays over top of beautiful scenes of Texas. It’s clear that Bell is contemplating his effectiveness as a lawman, with introspective lines that don’t usually come out of standard heroes. We then see the arrest of villain Anton Chigurh, which provides some ominous foreshadowing. With fantastic material courtesy of Cormac McCarthy, the Coen Brothers set up both good and evil in this poetic opening. Revisiting the scene will give you a much greater appreciation of the sheriff’s upcoming battle. Not only that, it also gives you an insight into the philosophical subtext of the crime thriller.

“Citizen Kane” (1941)

In Orson Welles’ masterpiece, Charles Foster Kane dies in the first scene. His final words spark a mystery that reporters can’t seem to crack. The stunning finale reveals that the famed “Rosebud” is the name of his sled. Recalling his childhood, Kane longed for the innocence of his younger days before death. The twist gives classic movie fans one more reason to revisit one of the best American films ever made. It also gives the beginning moments more of an emotional impact, asking viewers to reconsider the complicated character’s life. Welles’ vision leaves you with vital information that reinvigorates the entire piece once more.

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)

At the start of this sci-fi love story, Joel wakes up and decides to be spontaneous. This leads to his meet-cute with Clementine, but little does the audience know the importance of Montauk or the train. We later learn that both characters erase each other from their memories and end up meeting once again. It’s a surprising and unlikely look at romance, showing that fate has a funny way of rekindling an old flame. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” features many details that only make the heroes and their relationship more special. By the end, the importance of the first scene takes on another meaning as the couple reappear at the beach.

“Sunset Boulevard” (1950)

In the opening moments of this Hollywood mystery, William Holden’s deceased character Joe Gillis is shown in a swimming pool. It’s a shocking start to a film filled with intrigue and an unlikely relationship. The end finally reveals that the hero is shot by Norma Desmond. Gillis was killed after telling Desmond the awful truth, hurting her ego so much that she lashed out with violence. The finale underscores the actress’ desperate mental state as she’s about to be arrested. While viewers will spend the movie coming up with their own theories, director Billy Wilder finally lets it all out in a fantastic conclusion. This only makes the beginning that much more tragic as the screenwriter recounts his death and the tragedy of a tortured starlet.

“The Sixth Sense” (1999)

In the terrifying opening to this thriller, Malcolm Crowe is shot by an old patient named Vincent. The scary scene initially sets up the hero’s complicated life and distant wife going forward. Little does anyone know the truth before it’s too late. Crowe was actually killed in these first few scenes, spending the rest of the film as a ghost. The ending requires viewers to go back to the start and examine the entire plot with new eyes. M. Night Shyamalan’s movie takes one of the trippiest twists ever and makes you wonder about everything you missed the first time around. With new insights, audiences can watch “The Sixth Sense” over again to discover that it’s even more horrifying than you think.

“The Prestige” (2006)

Christopher Nolan is no stranger to cryptic openings, as evidenced by many successful films, including “Inception”. He likes to hint at the complicated and endless possibilities of his storylines. His introduction for “The Prestige” lays out a central mystery about the plot while also introducing us to the magical world. With Michael Caine’s narration, the scene introduces the movie’s focus on magic and hints at the tragic rivalry between Alfred Borden and Rupert Angier. The image of Angier in a water tank makes you wonder what will happen between the two characters. With all of its twists and turns, this Nolan thriller demands that you take another glance to better understand its trickery.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

Quentin Tarantino starts off his award-winning film with a bang, showing two criminals contemplate and then decide to rob a diner. You only catch a glimpse of their plan before the filmmaker cuts away. By the end, the two hitmen characters end up at the same restaurant. The director even gives you subtle hints that it’s going to happen, such as Vincent walking away in the background of one shot. It’s such a smart and inventive choice that you have to watch it again to really appreciate it. Rather than going with a traditional timeline, Tarantino jumps back and forth until bringing everything to a thrilling conclusion. It’s one of the many reasons that “Pulp Fiction” and its exciting intro deserves to be rewatched.

“The Godfather” (1972)

As one of the most acclaimed films of all time, “The Godfather” begins with a scene that sets the tone for the whole movie. It’s a relatively simple exchange that underscores the emotional and philosophical content of the story. An undertaker comes to Don Corleone to ask for a favor that establishes the patriarch’s position in this society. When you watch it again, you’ll experience the nuance of this fantastic speech that discusses America, crime, and friendship. The fantastic acting, concise direction, and skillful cinematography can all be appreciated even more on a second viewing.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)

At the beginning of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey,” hominins roam the world in the distant past. They stumble upon a monolith that seems to grant them the knowledge of tools. It’s a dramatic and metaphorical sequence that brings up questions about human evolution. The monolith’s power might not be apparent on the first watch, sending some viewers away puzzled by its place in this scene. Kubrick doesn’t seek to answer your questions so much as he wants to ruminate on them. This results in an opening that asks the audience to bring their own preconceived notions to it, without voice over or dialogue to explain the central mystery.