Top 20 Best Opening Movie Scenes Ever

“Scream” (1996)

Wes Craven created something special with the first "Scream," and the opening scene encapsulates the movie's brilliance. During a seemingly ordinary night, Casey gets a phone call from a rather strange person, one who wants to talk about horror flicks and has a deranged sense of humor. "Scream" expertly balances laughs and fear, serving as a satirization of slasher cliches while still being an effective and scary entry in the horror genre. Casey's back and forth with Ghostface establishes the film's tone, and casting a known actress like Drew Barrymore as the first victim makes it clear that nobody’s safe.

“Children of Men” (2006)

In just two minutes, Alfonso Cuarón's sci-fi masterpiece establishes its unique premise, the protagonist's apathetic attitude, and the social climate that defines its world. As a TV in a cafe covers a news broadcast about the death of the youngest person alive in an infertile world, Theo pushes through the stunned crowd to buy a cup of coffee. This excellent scene leads to the cafeteria's bombing, a moment shot with such realism that it might cause someone to forget they are watching a sci-fi flick. "Children of Men" is a work of art, and its opening scene is its first masterful stroke.

“Drive” (2011)

A car chase is a pretty conventional way to start an action or heist film, but "Drive" is anything but conventional. Lasting for roughly 10 minutes, "Drive" opens with the Driver going out on a job that threatens to go wrong but never actually does. This sequence is nearly exclusively shown from the point of view of the protagonist, turning a common action set-piece into a character piece that establishes the Driver's personal rules. From the five-minute window to the perfectly executed escape plan, this opening scene is all about control, something the rest of the movie gradually wrestles away from the Driver's grasp.

“American Psycho” (2000)

Who doesn't appreciate a good dinner and a bit of dancing after a hard day's work? Patrick Bateman is the ultimate boy scout, a dignified gentleman willing to put his colleagues in their place if they were, for example, to be offensive. At least, that's what "American Psycho's" first scene indicates, although Bateman quickly reveals that this straight-laced attitude is nothing more than an act. Starting with the restaurant scene and ending with the protagonist's morning routine, "American Psycho" launches with a captivating opening few minutes that underline the many facades of Bateman's mask.

“Sunset Boulevard” (1950)

A classic noir about Hollywood, "Sunset Boulevard" starts by giving away the ending. The credits roll seamlessly into the opening scene as police cars race through Sunset Boulevard towards the house of a celebrity. A narrator comes in to explain the situation; that an unimportant man has been found dead in the pool. A narrator and a corpse might not be all that unique of an opening for a film noir, but "Sunset Boulevard" uses this familiarity to its advantage by flipping the script halfway through. Franz Waxman's score is also fantastic.

“No Country for Old Men” (2007)

The Coen brothers have had more than a few memorable openings, but "No Country for Old Men" just sticks with you like nothing else. Starting with a monologue from Sheriff Ed Tom Bell that reminisces about the past before expressing a fear of the unknown, the dialogue is unsurprisingly riveting. In the meantime, Anton Chigurh is taken into custody, an arrest that proves to be less than beneficial for the deputy. In the opening five minutes, Chigurh brutally kills two people and also unleashes one of the creepiest smiles in cinematic history.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)

Considering the short version of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy clocks in at roughly nine hours, the opening scene really needed to hit it out of the park. "The Fellowship of the Ring" opens with the War of the Last Alliance, a sequence that establishes Middle-earth's main races, the power of the One Ring, and the threat posed by Sauron and his forces. For the longest time, "Lord of the Rings" was considered almost unadaptable, so this opening not only needed to bring up to speed the uninitiated but also showcase that the film will do justice to Tolkien's epic story. “The Two Towers” opens brilliantly as well.

“Trainspotting” (1996)

An energetic and chaotic opening that sets the pace for the rest of the flick, Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" is a trip right from the opening seconds. As Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" blasts away, audiences are introduced to the charismatic Renton and his friends, a group from Edinburgh going nowhere fast. As Renton humorously but poignantly monologues about choosing life, family, and fixed-interest mortgage repayments, "Trainspotting" provides glimpses into the seedy world these characters exist in. Ewan McGregor is mesmerizing as Renton right from the get-go, instantly presenting a likable figure for audiences to grasp onto.

“Goodfellas” (1990)

Such a relatable opening scene; who hasn't experienced the frustration of having car trouble in the middle of the night? Jimmy, Henry, and Tommy find their peaceful drive disrupted by an unexplainable sound, although it doesn't take too long for the trio to figure out the issue. Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas'' opens with a morbidly funny scene, and it also highlights the different personality traits that will come to define its three main gangsters. Ultimately, opening scenes are there to entice people to stick around for more, and "Goodfellas'" guarantees that nobody will be changing the channel.

“A Clockwork Orange” (1971)

Stanley Kubrick opens his most controversial film with a pullback that will trigger a wide range of feelings; curiosity, discomfort, and alarm. "A Clockwork Orange" tells the eccentric tale of Alex DeLarge, the violent leader of a British gang who spends his time harassing homeless people, drinking milk, and just generally being the worst. The first shot of the film is a close-up of the confrontational and arrogant Alex, before "A Clockwork Orange" pulls back to reveal the rest of the droogs and a setting that is anything but ordinary.

“Jaws” (1975)

Steven Spielberg doesn't waste a single second in this classic. Right from the underwater opening shot set from Bruce the Shark's point of view, "Jaws" is a masterclass of suspense. Unaware of the beast that lurks beneath the waves, Chrissie heads out for a swim and quickly comes to realize that she's not alone. The music and build-up are perfect, culminating in a thrilling and terrifying scene that almost works as a standalone short film. Proving that sometimes less is more, "Jaws" creates magic without utilizing gore or showing the shark.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)

It takes guts to begin a sci-fi epic with a prehistoric prelude centering around a tribe of apes. "2001's" Dawn of Man sequence chronicles the hominids' discovery of an unexplainable monolith that triggers humanity's birth. Naturally, the first thing the apes create is a weapon. Impressive both visually and narratively, this sequence adds a sense of completeness to "2001: A Space Odyssey" and ties in beautifully with the events that transpire later in the film. "2001: A Space Odyssey" has aged incredibly well, and that extends to its impeccable and awe-inspiring opening scene.

“Apocalypse Now” (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam epic starts with a haunting scene that foreshadows the psychological and trippy journey the film is about to depart on. "Apocalypse Now" opens essentially with a dream sequence, albeit one heavily fueled by reality. Soundtracked hypnotically by The Doors' "The End," the mesmerizing napalm bombing of a forest is transposed with the image of an out-of-it Captain Willard in a hotel room in Saigon. Willard's 100-yard stare makes the destruction all that more unsettling, setting the stage for the darkness that will consume "Apocalypse Now" moving forward.

“The Matrix” (1999)

A sci-fi film with plenty of ideas and action, "The Matrix" incorporates both in its opening scene. The police show up at an abandoned building to arrest one little girl, an undertaking that proves a tad difficult when Trinity begins kicking some serious ass. Cool and innovative for the time, "The Matrix's" opening provides just enough context to keep people hooked while also sprinkling in a few hints that foreshadow later reveals. More than anything, this sequence brings up so many fascinating questions; who is Trinity? Why can she defy the laws of physics? Who is the One?

“The Godfather” (1972)

At the wedding of his daughter, Vito Corleone sits in his dimly lit office listening to a request for vengeance from Amerigo Bonasera. Showing plenty of restraint, Francis Ford Coppola leaves Corleone in the shadows for a couple of minutes, reflecting the Don's role in society. Expertly directed and flawlessly acted, this scene is subtle, powerful, and revealing, and serves as a microcosm for the entire film. As the godfather speaks to Bonasera about justice and respect, Corleone showcases his influence, morality, and authority. "The Godfather" opens on a sublime note.

“Jurassic Park” (1993)

Reminiscent of the opening in "Jaws," "Jurassic Park" whets the viewer's appetite by offering a glimpse of the mayhem to follow. The park's attempt to cage a Velociraptor goes awry when the dinosaur puts up a fight and grabs a bite to eat along the way. Utilizing great audio and tight editing, "Jurassic Park" shows more than enough in its opening scene to get people interested without spoiling the excitement by prematurely exposing a full dinosaur. Considering "Jurassic Park" has a pretty exposition-heavy first act, this scene does a lot of the heavy lifting in the film's early stages.

“GoldenEye” (1995)

While 007 had been around for a few decades, by 1995, "GoldenEye" marked a new era for Bond, and the film needed to make a great first impression. Following a bit of misdirection with a plane, "GoldenEye" introduces the world to this version of Bond with a bungee jump off a dam. 007 is known for jaw-dropping opening stunts, but "GoldenEye" manages to hit the elusive sweet spot of being both over-the-top and also grounded. Before Bond's face is even shown, the agent's nerves of steel and courage are proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and this jump is only the first moment in a long and thrilling sequence.

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

Christopher Nolan's second entry in "The Dark Knight" trilogy is just as much of a Joker film as it’s about Bruce Wayne. The opening scene places the Clown Prince of Gotham at the forefront, as the Joker leads a squad of disposable criminals in a bank heist. Splendidly paced and culminating in a fun shootout, "The Dark Knight's" opening instantly establishes the Joker as a criminal genius with a penchant for chaos and a willingness to challenge Gotham's status quo. Joker is Batman's greatest enemy, and "The Dark Knight" shows that from its first scene.

“Inglourious Basterds” (2009)

Whether talking about Madonna or robbing a diner, a Quentin Tarantino movie will always start in an attention-grabbing way. "Inglourious Basterds" achieves perfection in its opening scene as the SS officer Hans Landa interrogates a dairy farmer on whether he happens to be hiding any Jewish people. In this scene, Hans charmingly leads Perrier LaPadite on a charade while the officer casually reveals aspects of his psyche and ideals. A masterfully intense scene, Chapter One cements Hans as one of the best villains in cinema and achieves a high that the rest of the very good movie struggles to replicate.


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

Star Destroyer, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
Because as Good as “Episode III”’s Opening Scene Is, There’s No Beating the Original

Rosebud, “Citizen Kane” (1941)
Because of Course, the Opening Scene in “Citizen Kane” Is Great


London Outbreak, “28 Weeks Later” (2007)
Because This Terrifying Scene Blows Away the Rest of the Movie

Rooftop Chase, “Vertigo” (1958)
Because Hitchcock Knows a Thing or Two About Building Suspense

The Hills Are Alive, “The Sound of Music” (1965)
Because Julie Andrews’ Voice Is Something Special

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)

Certain sequences are so good, they come to represent an entire genre. When someone pictures an "adventure film," they are likely to imagine Indy picking up a golden idol and running away from a boulder. Indiana Jones is an icon nowadays, and so much of that can be credited to "Raiders of the Lost Ark's" opening set-piece. With barely any exposition, the scene reveals that Indy is brave but not fearless, perceptive but not infallible, funny but serious, and simultaneously lucky and stupidly misfortunate. "Raiders" packs in all this awesomeness before the main plot even starts.