The opening sequence of a movie can establish a lot about what the viewer is about to see. In the era of streaming, when faced with thousands of options, the first few moments are even more vital, as a bad intro can lead one to jump to the next movie on their list. At the same time, some films start strong and sizzle out, leaving a sense of disappointment. Other times, a movie starts slowly or with a scene that feels inconsequential, but viewers are rewarded with an escalation of events or revelations that make the film a masterpiece.
With so many variables, a masterpiece of a film with an opening that establishes its status instantly is a rare occurrence. These are ten films that instantly sparked that connection when I first watched them and cued me in to the fact that what I was about to watch was a masterpiece.
‘Jaws’ (1975)
Arguably the first Hollywood Blockbuster, Jaws takes the terror of the sea to a small town as a large shark begins attacking its residents who dare enter its space. A trio is tasked with taking down the beast, only to learn they are “going to need a bigger boat” as they come face-to-face with a deadly behemoth. The film has become so entrenched in pop culture and is considered a certified masterpiece by many.
I was lucky enough that my first killer shark movie was Jaws, you know, before the streaming space was flooded with cheap cash grabs using sharks. While I was a young’un, the sense of dread of a shark stalking a woman at night had me on the edge of my seat, a scene which is still viscerally shocking to this day. The instant establishment of a threat was the perfect morsel to draw viewers into the phenomenal, groundbreaking film by Steven Spielberg.
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
The Dark Knight would see Christian Bale stepping into the role, working with Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent to combat crime in Gotham, only to come up against the deranged and driven Joker (Heath Ledger). As Joker creates a series of escalating attacks, Batman faces his most iconic foe across Gotham.
Batman has had a long, rich history in films and TV, with some highs and some lows, yet The Dark Knight brought excitement to the superhero icon, bringing it into the new century, helmed by Christopher Nolan. What we, DC fans, got as a scene was something else, though, with the focus shifted to Joker in an explosive, chaotic heist that established him as the ultimate threat to the Caped Crusader. It just sets the stage so perfectly for what remains the best Batman film to date.
‘The Social Network’ (2010)
David Fincher’s The Social Network chronicles the rise of Facebook and the legal battles faced by its creator, Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, and his co-creator Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). The movie unfolds through depositions, revealing how ambition and profit lead to legal pressure and challenges to start the revolutionary social media platform.
Cheating a bit here, as the opening moments see Jesse Eisenberg being broken up with at a restaurant; this is not the scene we are highlighting. Instead, shortly after, Eisenberg logs on to the computer, and in a fast-paced, perfectly edited monologue, delves into the inner workings of capitalizing on social media in an inventive manner. Many consider this the perfect opening to the tightly written and executed film script, and I have to agree that it is the opening scene that proves the film was going to be a masterpiece.
‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998) centers on a rescue mission deep into Nazi-occupied France to save the titular Private Ryan. Tom Hanks, in one of his career bests, plays Captain John H. Miller, who leads a team into danger in hopes of saving Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four, which makes his rescue a priority.
Leave it to Spielberg to offer up more than one easy choice here, as the sheer scale of Saving Private Ryan’s opening is mind-boggling, with a strict attention to every detail that felt revolutionary in the War genre. The D-Day landing scene is so chaotic, terrifying, and entrancing at once that it remains one of the more pronounced viewing experiences of my teens; the captivating story just cements that the opening was a tease of the harrowing war story to come.
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
Computer hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves) is given the chance to take the blue or red pill, learning the truth behind his reality. When he learns he is being controlled and used as a battery, he begins training to fight back, under the premonition that he is “The One” who can finally defeat the system.
I believe that The Matrix is more of a masterpiece of its time, especially since the sci-fi genre has evolved alongside culture and technology. Still, the excitement of watching it when it first came out was rewarded by a mind-blowing action sequence that was unlike anything I had seen before. It established that we were in a world where the known rules don’t exist, and laid out its dark aesthetic with such clarity. Plus, it was hard not to get drawn in by how bad-a** Carrie-Anne Moss’s Trinity is in the scene.
‘Perfect Blue’ (1997)
The psychological horror/drama/mystery follows Mima Kirigoe, who, after leaving her band to pursue acting, finds herself conflicted by the salacious roles and photo shoots she is offered. At the same time, someone is pretending to be her online, begging for help, which leads to a series of events and murders that leave Mima’s psyche fragmented.
Director Satoshi Kon was not just a master of anime; he was an exceptionally adept storyteller who made his movies accessible to those outside the fandom. Perfect Blue exemplifies this, introducing Mima’s turning point in her life as she leaves her band to go solo, her personal struggles behind the scenes with the choice, industry pressures, and the obsessive fan who worships her; plus, it has a catchy song. It sets up what is to follow so brilliantly, telling viewers everything they need to know in the first few moments, and offering a grounded point for the abstract psychological horror that follows.
‘The Thing’ (1982)
While initially flopping, John Carpenter’s The Thing has since become one of the most revered horror films of all time, both for the sense of dread and mistrust it weaves among a small crew stationed in Antarctica, and for the unforgettable practical effects, among other aspects. Here, a group faces a shape-shifting alien virus that could take over the entire planet if they do not stop it.
Arguably the greatest horror movie of the 80s, The Thing opens with a chaotic scene: a helicopter chasing a dog and trying to shoot it down, only to land in front of the crew at U.S. Outpost 31 in Antarctica before an accident kills the pilot. It works exceptionally well, as it creates a sense of mystery around the incident and introduces much of the power dynamics between the workers, which come into play as their trust dwindles. When I think of great horror opening scenes, The Thing is always the first that comes to mind.
‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968)
On the release of Once Upon a Time in the West, Sergio Leone had already established himself as a master of the genre. Here, he relied on a familiar story: a mysterious gunslinger (Charles Bronson) on a quest for revenge, complicated by other parties. The plot is far from groundbreaking, but the movie, much like the “Dollar Trilogy” as a whole, remains a masterpiece in the Western genre that is still revered to this day.
Westerns were a genre I had little interest in, that is, until I was introduced to the world of Spaghetti Westerns, particularly Sergio Leone’s films. Now I have a deeper appreciation for the genre as a whole, but it is the opening scene in Once Upon a Time in the West (which was the first of his I watched) that instantly made me a fan. There is a harshness, but also a cool calmness to the opening, presenting a quieter version of Westerns that feels more authentic, where men let their actions do the talking. It is also so brilliantly shot and establishes the film’s stunning visual style.
‘The Empty Man’ (2020)
James Lasombra (James Badge Dale) is drawn into a mystery when a young girl is found dead, and rumors of “The Empty Man” being behind her death and others. This investigation leads him to uncover conspiracies and cults and pushes his own sanity as he becomes more deeply entangled with each revelation.
I know… The Empty Man is a highly divisive film, with some seeing it as a convoluted mess and others championing it as one of the best horror films of the 21st century. I am obviously in the latter category, but what hooked me into the mystery that followed was the first scene, which is essentially a short first film, in which cave explorers find a sleeping god. The opening scene establishes that an evil force beyond comprehension will be at play, striking that perfect Lovecraftian cosmic-horror vibe as its masterfully executed terrifying mystery slowly unravels after the shocking discovery.
‘Suspiria’ (1977)
The classic Italian horror film follows an American ballet student, Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper), who, after arriving at a prestigious dance academy in Germany, begins to question the school’s bizarre system and staff. As strange accidents, eerie sounds, and murders begin to surround the school, Suzy comes to believe the school is run by a coven of witches.
Suspiria was first recommended to me as a slasher film that is less about horror and more about style. On my first watch, this became immediately apparent with the neon lights, sense of isolation, the perfect establishment of a mystery, and the iconic, haunting score from Goblin. If you extend the opening to the first kill that follows, Suspiria also establishes its uncompromising brutality delivered with flair within the first few moments.
There are some established masterpieces, while others rest in the eye of the beholder. So, we want to know what your own personal movie masterpieces are that drew you in from the opening scene in the comments.
