Films with Opening Scenes Set in Completely Different Genres

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a really interesting trick filmmakers sometimes use. They’ll start a film with a prologue that feels totally different from everything that follows. It’s like they deliberately try to throw you off balance or give you a glimpse of a character’s life before the main story begins. Often, these opening scenes have a completely different look and feel – almost like they were made as a separate short film! It’s a clever way to make a bigger impact when the real story kicks in, because you’ve already seen these characters in a different world. I’m going to highlight some movies that do this particularly well, where the opening feels like it belongs to a totally different genre.

‘Up’ (2009)

Pixar quickly tugs at your heartstrings in the opening ten minutes of this animated film. The beginning beautifully shows the entire life story of Carl and Ellie Fredricksen, from when they were children to their golden years. It feels like a wordless love story, which is very different from the bright, exciting adventure that comes next. This sequence clearly explains why Carl does what he does before launching into a fun and imaginative journey with talking dogs and a house that flies.

‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ (1996)

The film starts as a hard-edged crime thriller, following two brothers who rob a bank and then go on the run. They take a family hostage to help them escape to Mexico, creating a suspenseful road trip. But the movie takes a sharp turn when they reach the Titty Twister bar, where vampires launch an attack. What begins as a stylish crime story quickly becomes a violent, supernatural horror film about survival.

‘Drive’ (2011)

The film begins with a thrilling, self-contained heist scene showcasing impressive driving skills and a tense escape from the police. We see the main character expertly maneuver through Los Angeles while listening to police radio chatter. This fast-paced opening leads viewers to expect a consistently action-packed movie, but the film surprisingly shifts gears. It eventually becomes a slower, more atmospheric neo-noir romance, marked by quiet moments and occasional bursts of violence.

‘Scream’ (1996)

The film opens with a chilling scene: Casey Becker is harassed by a caller while making popcorn, creating a terrifying and self-contained sequence that feels like a short horror film. This scene expertly builds suspense, culminating in a shocking act of violence that unexpectedly kills off the film’s main star. This intense beginning immediately establishes the danger and then shifts the movie’s focus to a self-aware exploration of common horror movie clichés, all set within a high school environment.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

The film begins with a heartbreaking scene: young Peter Quill saying goodbye to his mother in a hospital. This emotional and realistic moment establishes his character before his life is turned upside down by an alien abduction. The prologue’s serious tone is a stark contrast to the colorful, action-packed adventure that follows, and director James Gunn skillfully uses this emotional foundation to create a balance between humor, action, and heartfelt drama.

‘Blade’ (1998)

The film starts as a horror movie, with an innocent person drawn into an underground rave that quickly turns deadly when the sprinklers begin spraying blood. The scene focuses on the victim’s desperate struggle against vampires. However, the horror abruptly stops when a skilled fighter—a Daywalker—arrives and begins systematically destroying the vampires with expert martial arts. From that point on, the movie transforms into a visually striking superhero action film, leaving the horror elements behind.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

An old man walks through a cemetery with his family, creating a peaceful but sad mood. This hints at a story about remembering the past and dealing with loss. The camera focuses on the man’s eyes, then flashes back to the brutal scene of the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. This contrast between the quiet present and the violent past shows the lasting impact of war and the price of freedom.

‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)

The film opens with a shocking and brutal attack, establishing the villains as terrifying and violent. This creates a sense of unease that persists throughout the story. For most of the movie, it follows a more traditional western, focusing on the characters and their journey, before ultimately returning to the horror elements in a climactic showdown.

‘Bumblebee’ (2018)

The movie begins with a thrilling science fiction battle on the planet Cybertron, showcasing the iconic robot characters. Optimus Prime spearheads a fight against the Decepticons in a scene filled with massive-scale action. However, this intense opening quickly shifts to a more personal story set in 1980s California. For the most part, the film focuses on a coming-of-age story about friendship, rather than the large-scale war hinted at in the beginning.

‘Pineapple Express’ (2008)

The film opens with a black-and-white sequence set in 1937, showing a secret government lab. We see a soldier testing a strange substance and becoming agitated as he describes its effects, all while being watched by military personnel. This opening feels like a classic spy thriller or old-fashioned war movie, and it explains where the film’s central drug comes from. The story then quickly moves to the present day, shifting into a comedic adventure about marijuana.

‘A Serious Man’ (2009)

The film opens with a strange and unsettling scene: a Yiddish-speaking couple in a Polish village in the 1800s argues over whether their guest is possessed by a spirit. In a shocking moment, the wife uses an ice pick to try and prove he’s a demon, creating a scene reminiscent of a dark folktale. This odd beginning doesn’t seem to connect to what comes next: a shift to 1967 Minnesota and a darkly humorous story about a physics professor struggling with a crisis of meaning.

‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)

Woody and Buzz Lightyear team up for a thrilling train rescue, complete with villains and energy shields. The scene is filmed like a big-budget action movie from the Old West, using sweeping camera angles and dramatic music. It’s then revealed to be what Andy is imagining as he plays with his toys. The scene quickly changes back to Andy’s bedroom, kicking off the main story about his family.

‘The Empty Man’ (2020)

I was hooked from the very beginning! The movie opens with this incredible prologue – four hikers stumble upon a skeleton in a cave in the Uzhura Valley, and it feels like its own little horror movie. It’s set in these snowy mountains, and it really sets the stage for the weirdness to come, explaining the rules of what they’re up against. Then, just when you think you know what’s happening, it shifts gears and becomes a totally different story – a detective investigating a spooky urban legend in Missouri. It’s a really clever setup!

‘Overlord’ (2018)

During the chaotic first moments of D-Day, paratroopers braced themselves as their plane came under heavy fire and ultimately exploded – a scene reminiscent of classic World War II films. The surviving soldiers fought to escape the wreckage and make their way through enemy territory. The film initially presents a gritty and realistic depiction of war, but later introduces a surprising twist with secret experiments and the emergence of zombies.

‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’ (2002)

The movie includes a thrilling car chase filled with over-the-top explosions and stunts, all done as a playful imitation of major action films. Tom Cruise and other famous actors are shown performing in a movie-within-a-movie, which looks polished and intense. This contrasts sharply with the generally lighthearted and humorous tone of the series. The scene then reveals the characters are actually sitting in a movie theater, watching this action sequence themselves.

‘Mortal Kombat’ (2021)

The story begins in 17th-century Japan with Hanzo Hasashi protecting his family from a deadly attack on a peaceful winter day. This opening feels like a classic samurai film, full of sword fights and heartbreaking loss. This tragic backstory gives depth to his character, Scorpion, before the story moves to the present day. The rest of the film then shifts to fantastical battles in a modern-day tournament.

‘Super Troopers’ (2001)

Three college students are stopped by Vermont state troopers, bracing for arrest on drug charges. The initial encounter is filled with suspense, feeling more like a psychological thriller as the officers toy with the students. The dark lighting and serious tone hint at police corruption, but the mood quickly shifts when the officers reveal themselves as playful pranksters, and the movie transforms into a lighthearted slapstick comedy.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)

Two technicians chat about everyday issues in a plain, corporate break room. It feels like the start of a sitcom or a serious drama. There’s no sign of anything scary until the title appears with a loud, startling sound. This brief scene suggests the facility where the story takes place is run by strict rules and procedures, and that these rules are connected to the terrifying events about to unfold.

‘Cliffhanger’ (1993)

The film begins with a gripping rescue attempt that tragically fails, leaving the hero deeply affected by his inability to save a woman falling between mountain peaks. This initial loss becomes a central motivation for his character. However, the movie quickly shifts gears, becoming a typical 90s action thriller centered around stolen money and a terrorist plot.

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

Marlin and Coral were happily settling into their new home and admiring their eggs on a beautiful coral reef. But their peace was shattered when a barracuda attacked, leaving Marlin unconscious. He woke up to a terrible loss – his wife was gone, and all but one of their eggs had been destroyed. This tragic event explains why Marlin is so overprotective. The story then shifts gears, becoming a funny and exciting adventure as Marlin travels across the ocean.

‘Melancholia’ (2011)

The film opens with dreamlike, slow-motion scenes of planetary collisions and figures drifting in space, set to Wagner’s music. This visually stunning sequence, resembling an art installation, immediately reveals how the story ends. The film then unexpectedly changes direction, focusing on a more intimate and realistic drama centered around a failed wedding reception.

‘Watchmen’ (2009)

The Comedian is involved in a fierce, close-quarters fight in his apartment, presented with the visual style of a classic film noir – think dramatic shadows and slow-motion. The opening credits then show a series of short scenes depicting a different version of American history. This sets the stage for a story that takes apart the idea of superheroes, offering something much more thoughtful than a typical action movie.

‘The Cannonball Run’ (1981)

The film opens with a thrilling car chase: two drivers speed off in a Lamborghini Countach, with police hot on their heels. The fast-paced action and dramatic music create a sense of excitement and danger. However, this quickly gives way to a funny, over-the-top comedy with a cast of quirky characters. The initial chase sets the stage for the film’s energetic pace, but the focus soon shifts to lighthearted humor.

‘Army of the Dead’ (2021)

A military transport carrying something secret crashes near Las Vegas, and the soldiers are quickly killed by a powerful, zombie-like creature – it feels like something escaped from a lab. This causes a rapid outbreak that overwhelms the city before the main story even starts. Eventually, the film focuses on a group attempting a heist inside the quarantined zone.

’28 Weeks Later’ (2007)

The film begins with Don and his wife, Alice, sheltering with others during a peaceful dinner when they’re suddenly attacked by infected people. In the chaos of the escape, Don makes the heartbreaking decision to leave his family behind to save himself. This fast-paced, terrifying opening sets the stage for a story that then transforms into a military thriller focused on rebuilding Britain after the outbreak.

2025-12-10 04:17