23 Of The Best Movie Opening Scenes That Had People Glued To Their Seats
The first few minutes of a film are perhaps its most crucial moment. Why?
That's the part that hooks the audience. It's what keeps us in our seats wanting more because we all know that despite filmmakers giving us trailers, short story descriptions, or teasers, we still count on those first few minutes to see if a movie is really worth watching or not.
Also, it's been proven that people nowadays have short attention spans so if filmmakers can't capture and retain our attention by the first few minutes, they risk us missing important pieces of their film that might affect its overall effect on us, That's why they really have to make it count.
We all know that is not an easy job, of course. It might even be the hardest part to think of aside from the ending or the climax part.
If they do succeed, however, they create openings that become almost iconic and that stay in our minds forever, maybe even more than the entire film. With that, here are some of the best examples of films that have captured audiences from the get-go and have had them glued to their seats from there on.
Keep scrolling and enjoy!
1. Up
PixarThis entire opening sequence was a whole story in and of itself and it made many of us sob right even before the real plot of the movie began
2. Finding Nemo
PixarThis opening was so devastating and it explained why Marlin was so protective right away
3. Scream
Dimension FilmsThese first five minutes were amazing because of how they immediately killed off Drew Barrymore's character even though she was a household name actress
4. Jaws
Universal PicturesChrissie Watkins' figure getting thrashed around by the unseen shark while she was still screaming for help was one of the most haunting scenes we've seen
5. Mamma Mia!
Universal PicturesThis is the moment she sends that letter that upturns the entire lives of three busy men
6. The Prince of Egypt
DreamWorks PicturesJust hearing Ofra Haza's voice singing "Deliver Us" in these scene gives us chills
7. The Lion King
Disney
Until today, this remains to be one of the most beautiful and iconic animation openings out there
8. Booksmart
United Artists Releasing
The affirmation, the dancing - how can anyone not love those in this scene?
9. In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the dance fight between Wenwu and Jiang Li was just absolutely mesmerizing
Marvel
10. Birds of Prey
Warner Bros. Pictures
The opening scene really proved that the filmmaker knew Harley well with how Harley it all was
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
New Line Cinema
That narration at the start was so powerful and got us hooked
12. Avengers: Infinity War
Marvel
When Loki and Heimdall were killed off in the first few minutes, we knew it was going to be a rollercoaster of a film
13. The Social Network
Sony Pictures Releasing
That banter scene between Jesse Eisenberg and Rooney Mara trumps all preconceptions anyone might have had about this film
14. That first scene in Inglorious Basterds built up the tension beautifully
The Weinstein Co.
15. Black Widow
Marvel
It's technically not the first scene but the opening credits gave us the chills and was so dark and really embodied Black Widow's history
16. The Departed
Warner Bros. Pictures
By those first few moments, we already knew we were going to love this film
17. Crazy Rich Asians
Warner Bros. Pictures
We wish we were as powerful as Eleanor Young when she put the hotel worker in his place just like that in this opening scene
18. X-Men
20th Century Fox
Magneto isn't everyone's favorite mutant but the way his younger self carried that opening scene still gives us shivers
19. The Dark Knight
Warner Bros. Pictures
The entire Joker heist was done so well
20. The Other Guys
Sony Pictures Releasing
This was an epic car chase that we didn't know we needed
21. Deadpool
20th Century Fox
That opening scene immediately shows you what you're in for
22. Goodfellas
Warner Bros. Pictures
This scene and that little line at the end before the real start of the film is just *chef's kiss*
23. Drive
FilmDistrict
There are hardly any words spoken but it perfectly builds up the suspense of the film
These films are the perfect examples of the best movie openings of all time. They prove that you don't really need flashy openings or big reveals right at the start.
You just need the right elements to set the tone, the story, and what the audience should want to expect and you've got people hooked. Which one was your favorite opening?
