22 Movies with the Most Memorable Opening Scenes

The beginning of a movie is incredibly important – it needs to quickly grab the audience and give them a sense of what the story will be like. In just a few minutes, a good opening establishes the setting, introduces the main characters, and hints at the central problem. The best openings feel like short films themselves, creating a memorable experience even before the main story starts. They often use creative visuals, surprising events, or strong emotional moments to become iconic scenes that people remember long after the movie ends.

‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)

The film begins by quickly showing us Andy Dufresne’s life and how he ends up on trial. We immediately see the key moments of his trial and conviction, powerfully establishing a sense of unfairness and the flaws within the justice system. The scene then cuts to Andy’s arrival at the brutal and unforgiving prison. This opening sequence immediately draws the viewer into Andy’s difficult situation and makes us care about what happens to him.

‘The Godfather’ (1972)

The film begins by immediately placing viewers within the world of the Corleone family, sharply contrasting the joy of a wedding with a secretive, serious meeting. For almost ten minutes before the opening credits, we see a funeral director, Amerigo Bonasera, ask Don Vito Corleone for help, demonstrating the Don’s power, his personal rules, and the way favors are exchanged within his organization. This carefully crafted opening brilliantly sets up the film’s central idea: organized crime functions as an alternative form of law and order, built on respect and obligation.

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Gotham City is thrown into immediate chaos by a carefully planned and flawlessly executed bank robbery. The robbers, all masked and instructed to kill their accomplice after the heist, systematically eliminate each other, leaving only the mastermind behind. This shocking opening scene perfectly introduces the Joker, not just as a villain, but as a force of pure anarchy. It immediately establishes the film’s high stakes and central conflict between order and madness.

‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)

The film begins not with an action-packed scene, but with a memorable and witty conversation between a couple, nicknamed Pumpkin and Honey Bunny, while they’re having breakfast at a diner. Their seemingly lighthearted debate about the morality of robbing restaurants quickly turns into a real robbery of the diner they’re in. This opening immediately establishes the film’s unique style – mixing everyday talk with sudden violence and a story that doesn’t unfold in a straightforward way. It’s a groundbreaking moment in film, signaling to the audience that they’re about to see something truly different.

‘Inception’ (2010)

The film immediately plunges viewers into a disorienting and fast-paced scene: a man is discovered on a beach and brought before a very influential older man. This quick introduction to complex ideas and action immediately reveals the film’s core conflict – a world of corporate spying carried out through shared dreams. This opening works brilliantly, creating a sense of confusion and mystery, and making the audience try to understand the story’s world right alongside the characters. The film’s intriguing and unusual premise is established from the very beginning.

‘Goodfellas’ (1990)

The film starts abruptly with a shocking and violent scene: Henry Hill, Jimmy Conway, and Tommy DeVito are shown hiding a body in a car trunk. The sounds of a final struggle and the camera’s focus on this gruesome act immediately show how brutal life is for these gangsters. This intense beginning is followed by Henry’s narration, which explains the characters’ perspective on their violent, criminal lives. The scene effectively sets the stage for the thrilling but ultimately sad story that unfolds.

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

The movie begins with a thrilling introduction to Trinity, showcasing her extraordinary fighting skills in a spectacular showdown with police. She not only masters martial arts but also seems to bend the rules of physics, immediately pulling viewers into a futuristic world of unbelievable action. This opening powerfully sets the stage for the film’s central conflict and introduces the signature visual style – dynamic wirework and the now-famous “bullet time” effect – that would become iconic and influence filmmaking for years to come.

‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977)

The film opens with a thrilling chase: a tiny Rebel ship desperately fleeing a huge Imperial Star Destroyer that dominates the screen. This immediately shows how powerful and overwhelming the Empire is, and how much trouble the Rebels are in. The fast-paced action, including a daring boarding attempt, and the introduction of unforgettable characters like Darth Vader and the droids, kick off an incredible space adventure. It’s a landmark moment in filmmaking, instantly pulling viewers right into the heart of the conflict.

‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968)

The film is famous for its nearly fifteen-minute opening scene, which has very little dialogue. It features three intimidating gunmen silently waiting at a lonely train station for someone to arrive – someone they’re clearly planning to attack. The sound design brilliantly builds tension, highlighting sounds like a creaking windmill, dripping water, and buzzing flies until the train finally appears. This slow, atmospheric build-up explodes into a sudden and shocking act of violence, establishing the movie as a grand and dramatic Western.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

The film opens with an exciting, self-contained adventure in a dangerous Peruvian temple. We see Indiana Jones, the archaeologist and adventurer, trying to grab a golden idol. This sequence is a perfect example of how to build suspense, with traps like darts and a giant rolling boulder, plus a showdown with a competing treasure hunter. It immediately establishes Indy’s personality – he’s clever, resourceful, afraid of snakes, and skilled at getting around tricky ancient places. It also creates the fast-paced, worldwide adventure feel that defines the whole series.

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

The movie begins with a long, incredibly tense conversation between SS Colonel Hans Landa and a French farmer at his home. Landa appears polite, but he’s actually a frightening and dangerous man, calmly questioning the farmer about a Jewish family that has disappeared. The scene builds almost unbearable suspense through dialogue and small visual details. The interrogation then ends abruptly and violently, instantly making Landa one of the most terrifying villains ever seen on film.

‘Vertigo’ (1958)

The movie throws you right into the action with a fast-paced chase across the rooftops of San Francisco. This exciting opening introduces us to detective Scottie Ferguson and reveals his serious struggle with heights, which is triggered when a colleague falls to his death while trying to assist him. This event causes Scottie to develop a crippling fear of heights, and the film uses an innovative camera technique called the “dolly zoom” to powerfully show his internal state. This intense scene is crucial for understanding Scottie’s personality and the tragic path his story takes.

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

The film begins with a stunning, almost silent sequence called “The Dawn of Man,” showing the harsh lives of early apes. When a strange black monolith appears, it seems to inspire them, culminating in an ape realizing it can use a bone as a weapon. This sequence thoughtfully links the creation of the first tool with the creation of the first weapon. The famous transition – a bone thrown into the air immediately followed by a shot of a spaceship orbiting Earth – is a landmark moment in cinema, powerfully illustrating the vastness of human history.

‘Up’ (2009)

The movie begins with a touching, almost silent series of scenes showing the entire life of Carl Fredricksen and his wife, Ellie, from when they first met to their life together. In just a few minutes, it wonderfully and sadly captures their shared hopes, happy moments, and struggles over the years. This brilliant opening immediately makes the audience feel connected to Carl and understand his sadness. Everything that happens next is deeply affected by the story of their life together, giving the whole adventure a strong emotional foundation.

‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

The scene opens with darkness and deep shadows as a huge cage descends into the jungle habitat, meant to contain a frightening creature that remains hidden from view. Amidst a downpour, handlers and security staff anxiously work to make sure the dangerous new animal is contained. Suddenly, a worker is attacked and pulled into the cage, instantly creating a sense of intense horror – all without ever clearly showing the creature itself. This powerfully demonstrates just how dangerous the park’s animals are and the terror they inspire.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

As a cinema lover, I’m always struck by how powerfully this film begins. It starts so calmly, with an elderly man and his family visiting a war cemetery, and then bam – you’re instantly thrown into the absolute chaos of D-Day on Omaha Beach. That first forty minutes is just…intense. It’s a truly shocking and realistic look at what WWII combat was like. The shaky camera work and incredibly loud sound really set a new standard for war movies, and it immediately gives you a deep emotional connection to the story and the sacrifices being made.

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

The film opens with a haunting voiceover from Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, reflecting on the increasing violence in the world. We’re then introduced to Anton Chigurh, a terrifying killer, who immediately demonstrates his ruthlessness by calmly and efficiently murdering a police officer and an ordinary man. This scene is brilliantly crafted, establishing Chigurh’s unusual methods and lack of compassion. The suspense isn’t created through quick action, but rather through the deliberate, unsettling pace of his violence.

‘Jaws’ (1975)

The movie opens with a young woman swimming at night near Amity Island. The scene is filmed mostly from the shark’s perspective, accompanied by John Williams’ iconic, increasingly intense two-note theme. This initial attack is a straightforward but powerfully frightening moment that introduces the film’s main conflict. It quickly creates a feeling of helplessness and the constant danger lurking beneath the ocean’s surface.

‘Casino Royale’ (2006)

The film begins with a striking black-and-white flashback showing how James Bond earned his ’00’ status. It’s a raw and intense sequence that ends with him committing two quick, emotionless killings, the last one taking place in a flooded bathroom. This introduction completely reimagines the iconic spy, presenting Daniel Craig’s Bond as a much more hardened, realistic, and unforgiving character. The shift to color at the end of the scene represents the arrival of a new, modern 007.

‘The Lion King’ (1994)

The movie opens with a stunning and memorable scene set to the famous song “The Circle of Life.” All the animals gather to celebrate the birth of Simba, a new cub, who is presented on Pride Rock. This opening is considered one of the most powerful and visually impressive moments in animated film, immediately setting the stage for an epic story and showing the natural order of life in the Pride Lands.

‘Children of Men’ (2006)

The film opens with a remarkable, unbroken shot of Theo Faron leaving a busy London coffee shop. A news report playing on a nearby television reveals the unexpected death of the world’s youngest person, an eighteen-year-old. This scene immediately establishes the film’s bleak, hopeless atmosphere and introduces the core idea of a world where people can no longer have children, leading to societal collapse. It’s a technically impressive and unsettling moment that quickly immerses the viewer in the film’s world.

‘Scream’ (1996)

The movie starts with a familiar horror scene: a teenager home alone gets a creepy phone call from a stranger. What begins as a possible joke quickly turns into a terrifying game of horror movie trivia, and the stakes are life and death. The unexpected death of a main character within the first ten minutes throws the audience for a loop and signals that this film is breaking all the usual horror movie rules. It breathed new life into the slasher genre by making the viewers feel like they’re part of the deadly game itself.

Share which of these unforgettable movie beginnings is your personal favorite in the comments.

2025-11-25 07:17