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Movies with the best opening scenes know how to get the viewer's attention fast, and these films do not wait around. They hook the viewers from the beginning. A great opening scene sets the tone for everything that follows, informing the audience of the premise.
Some films take time to build up, while others hit hard in the first few minutes. The best opening scenes can make the viewers forget about anything else. Movies with the best opening scenes do more than entertain viewers; they form an entire world within minutes and introduce characters without excessive revelations.
Therefore, seasoned directors understand this power. They craft these moments with vigilance as every angle and every shot becomes crucial. The opening note of every story sets the tone of the movie; these scenes become legendary, and viewers quote them years later. They can also inspire other filmmakers to challenge and test their creativity.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Social Network, The Dark Knight, and four other movies with the best opening scenes
1) Scream (1996)
Movies with the best opening scenes often surprise their viewers, and Scream is an example. The movie starts with a routine phone call from a young woman home alone. The caller seems calm at first, but ends up asking threatening questions.
The conversation feels a bit playful, but then everything changes. The caller's voice gets intense, the questions turn into threats, and Drew Barrymore's character learns she is in actual danger. The conversation turns into a deadly game while the stakes get higher with every passing second.
This opening scene transformed horror movies forever. It indicated that famous actors can be killed off too soon and that no one is safe. The scene blends genuine terror and comedy, making fun of horror movies while still being scary. Movies with the best opening scenes often break expectations like this.
Scream is available to watch on Netflix.
2) The Social Network (2010)
Not all movies with the best opening scenes require action and violence, and The Social Network proves this point with accuracy. The movie opens in a crowded setting where two college students are in a conversation. Mark Zuckerberg goes on a date with his girlfriend, Erica.
The conversation speeds up. The dialogue is clever and sharp, and Mark speaks in a confident manner. However, he is also thoughtless and rude. Erica tries to keep up with his rapid-fire words but grows more irritated as the scene continues.
The breakup happens on the spot, and the viewers witness a conflict in the beginning. The scene displays Mark's personality in a highlighted version. He is socially awkward but brilliant. He fails to comprehend his effect on those who are hurt. This opening sets up an intriguing tone among the viewers. Movies with the best opening scenes often use a simple portrayal to reveal the character's premise.
The Social Network is available on Netflix.
3) Jaws (1975)
Movies with the best opening scenes develop fear from ordinary moments. The movie's opening scene shows a beach party where young people look like they are enjoying their time around a bonfire, and one of the couples decides to take a swim. The girl jumps into the water first, and the camera pans on her as she swims beneath the water. Music starts to play, and the tension begins to build.
At that point, the girl abruptly vanishes from the water as the attack occurs quickly. The boy on the beach fails to help her. The scene does not show the shark but leaves certain hints that spark the viewer's imagination.
Jaws is available on Amazon Prime.
4) The Dark Knight (2008)
Movies with the best opening scenes can reimagine various genres. The Dark Knight opens with a bank robbery, which is unlike a typical one. The criminals in this opening wear clown masks as they follow a carefully orchestrated plan. With a twist, each robber starts killing other team members during the mission.
The Joker reveals himself at the end as he removes the mask with a sly smile. The scene displays his intelligence and cruelty. The robbery is a success, but at a terrible cost. This opening set a new standard for villain introductions in superhero films. To the viewers, it feels authentic and gritty. The shocking and brutal action in these movies, with the best opening scenes, transforms how viewers perceive familiar stories.
The Dark Knight is available on Amazon Prime.
5) Pulp Fiction
Movies with the best opening scenes sometimes tend to start from anywhere. Pulp Fiction, a cult classic, opens in a small diner. Two lovers sit in a booth while sipping coffee. They seem like simple customers at first, but they start talking about robbing banks.
Their conversation comes off as too casual as they continue to discuss different types of robberies. They weigh the pros and cons of each crime. The dialogue feels realistic and natural, but builds toward something huge.
The couple decides to rob the diner right now. They stand up and pull out guns, and the scene ends just as the robbery starts. This opening hooks the viewers immediately. Movies with the best opening scenes like this make the audience wish for more.
Pulp Fiction is available on Amazon Prime.
6) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Movies with the best opening scenes can work more effectively when the story seems like a short adventure. Raiders of the Lost Ark starts in a jungle temple, where Indiana Jones comes with his team. They are searching for a golden idol, and the temple is filled with deadly traps.
Jones moves carefully through each struggle and uses his intelligence and skills to survive. The famous boulder chase, where he barely escapes with his life, occurs at the climax. The scene shows everything about his character arc. He is smart, brave, and a bit fortunate.
Raiders of the Lost Ark is available on Amazon Prime.
7) Goodfellas
Movies with the best opening scenes can sometimes start with the climax. Goodfellas opens with three men in a car as they hear a noise from the trunk. They pull over to look in and find the driver in the trunk trying to run away.
The men finish the job violently, and the narrator speaks directly to the viewer as a protagonist and explains how much he always wanted to be a gangster. The scene jumps back in time to display the beginning.
This opening sets the tone perfectly as it is violent with a bit of dark humor. The narrator sounds proud of his criminal background, which proves that movies with the best opening scenes often use a narrator to draw the viewers into their world.
Goodfellas is available on Amazon Prime.
Movies with the best opening scenes prove that first impressions set the tone for the entire story, and these seven films establish an engaging manual for such narratives.
