Top 10 Scariest Opening Horror Movie Scenes

“28 Days Later” (2002)

Maybe we take for granted all of the hustle, bustle, and noise of our everyday lives. That’s why the introduction to “28 Days Later” is so frightening. There’s no one. Well, at least at first. Cillian Murphy’s Jim awakens to the aftermath of an infectious outbreak, caused by some shortsighted animal rights activists. His initial sojourn out into London sees no survivors, although there’s clear evidence that, to paraphrase some visual graffiti, “the end” seems to be “extremely effing nigh.” Jim eventually connects with other survivors like himself, but that opening scene was something else.

“It Follows” (2014)

The character of Annie Marshall admittedly doesn’t have much of a lasting impact on the plot of “It Follows” after her initial appearance. However, what she does do is set the stage, outlining the stakes of what’s about to be stalking Jay and her friends. Marshall’s violent, twisted demise is also notable for containing a fatalistic phone call to her parents. The young woman’s doom is closing in, and her tearful apology on the phone lends Marshall a fair amount of sympathy, even though we don’t really know who she is. Oh, and the results of what happens when “It” catches up? Shocking, to be sure.

“Final Destination” (2000)

The epic disaster set piece is a key point of the “Final Destination” franchise, one that defines these films for many fans. There have been a number of great ones, too, but the crash of Flight 180 remains somewhat iconic. It set the rules of the franchise: how Death cannot be cheated and how no amount of prescience will stop those souls from being reaped. The actual crash feels more grounded and realistic than in future installments, as well. This helps make it feel scarier, honestly, because it could potentially happen to any one of us.

“Ghost Ship” (2002)

It’s truly a shame that 2002’s “Ghost Ship” never quite lives up to the potential of its banger opening set piece. The flashback massacre of the MS Antonia Graza is gloriously bloody stuff, as a metal cable bisects an entire dancefloor of people. The CGI effects are definitely “of their time,” but remain startlingly effective. Perhaps it’s because “Ghost Ship” doesn’t hide the horrible injuries suffered by its passengers in the aftermath of this tragedy. The cable snap incident only leaves one survivor, a little girl who is forced to watch how the ship’s captain and many others suffer some truly horrible deaths.

“Midsommar” (2019)

The subject of self-destruction can be difficult to show on screen, for a variety of reasons. The triggering effect from the opening of “Midsommar” feels palpable because of its realism. Additionally, Dani’s stunned response to the news that her sister Terri has also taken out their parents via carbon monoxide doesn’t feel exaggerated in the slightest. Instead, “Midsommar” opens things up in the darkness, and pretty much stays there for the entirety of what follows this depressing set-piece. In fact, we’d argue that the opening of “Midsommar” is more traumatizing than its back-end occult madness.

“A Quiet Place” (2018)

“The Office” star John Krasinski joined the ranks of Ari Aster, Jordan Peele, and Robert Eggers, lending a little prestige to the horror genre. That feeling of “prestige” certainly didn’t mean that “A Quiet Place” was going to take it easy on its characters, of course. Beau Abbott is simply too young to understand the need for silence as his family prowls a post-apocalyptic landscape of monsters. This results in the small boy being distracted by a toy that winds up making noise. Krasinski’s Lee Abbott can’t make it to his son in time before Beau is taken by a Death Angel. It’s heartbreaking and scary, all at the same time.

“Scream” (1996)


It was a scene that helped revitalize horror movies for the nineties, a meta-commentary on the genre that nevertheless retained some real scares. The opening demise of Casey Becker in “Scream” wasn’t telegraphed by posters, advertising, or Drew Barrymore’s press junket appearances. Instead, what audiences received was a Hitchcockian exercise in bait-and-switch, as Becker is massacred by Ghostface. The latter’s cat-and-mouse phone call with Casey was the icing on the cake, as horror movie trope trivia came to life in a realistically bloody manner. And “Scream” fans never forgot that first time.

“It” (2017)

The SS Georgie will never sail again, and we’ll honestly never be over it. It doesn’t even matter that some of us grew up with Tim Curry as Pennywise, taking George Denbrough to his doom. This dancing clown was updated for a new generation in 2017 with “It: Chapter One.” Bill Skarsgård’s ultra-violent and vicious attack on Georgie is bolstered by the creepy Pennywise makeup. Skarsgård’s own personal approach to the role lends the scene palpable tension and fear, as well, enabling us to feel even worse for the young boy. As if that’s even possible.

“Halloween” (1978)

John Carpenter wasn’t the first director to utilize a POV shot when he helmed “Halloween” back in 1978. This opening sequence did, however, help usher in a new golden age for the slasher film. An era where slicing and dicing teens was about to become BIG business. It’s easy to forget, as a result, how smooth the camera work is here as we’re giving a glimpse into Michael Myers’ first kill. The slow, methodical glide as we follow Myers picking up the knife, the tension as he climbs the stairs and enters his sister Judith’s room. Carpenter’s iconic score underlines it all, right on through to that final reveal… as the mask is removed and Michael’s young face is uncovered.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Terry O’Quinn’s Ice-Cold Reveal

The Phone Call That Launched a Thousand Tropes

A Fast-Running, Carnage-Filled Zombie Upgrade

John Larroquette’s Iconic Narration & That Creepy Camera Sound

Joe Spinell Stalks, Scalps & Speaks to Deviant Inner Demons

“Jaws” (1975)

“Chrissie’s Death” is the title of the first scoring cue we hear from John Williams after that iconic opening theme to “Jaws.” It’s somewhat appropriate that Chrissie is immortalized in this way because this scene still makes us feel just a little queasy every time we watch it. Chrissie’s demise is described in equally gruesome terms in Peter Benchley’s original novel. Susan Backlinie, meanwhile, accurately portrays the shock, terror, and disbelief as the inebriated young woman is taken under the waves by a shark. Chrissie’s screams for help and the violent thrashing of her body are brutally realistic, although eagle-eyed fans might feel a little better knowing that Backlinie returned to comedically parody her role in Steven Spielberg’s “1941.”


Do you feel that it’s a horror movie’s job to properly set things up with a powerful opening? Or do you prefer a slow burn? Let us know in the comments!