There’s a theory among writers that if you don’t hook someone by the end of the first page, you might never get another chance – because they’ll stop reading (or watching) and try something else.
According to these movie buffs, though, you’ll be hooked from the very first scene of these 15 movies.
#15. The fight at the rave.
The opening scene of Blade, with the fight at the rave.
#14. Just perfect.
Kill Bill vol 1. The music as well that went with it ‘bang bang ‘ by nancy sinatra is just perfect
#13. Iconic.
The Lion King.
#12. Deliver us.
The opening scene of The Prince of Egypt. “Deliver Us”
#11. The tension and terror.
Scream.
The tension and terror were built up perfectly and the eventual killing of Drew Barrymore’s character was shocking. Not just in its brutality (which was quite graphic for its time), but because such a major name was killed off that soon into a movie. The opening kill is a tried and true horror trope, but it had never been done before with such a big name so early in a film.
For the rest of the film, every time you saw a big name show up (Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox), you weren’t sure if they were going to make it to the end of the film or not.
#10. So eerie.
Jaws. So eerie. The bright moonlight shining down on the ocean and a swimming girl. And then the ocean is empty again.
#9. American Psycho.
.. I’m 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself, and a balanced diet and a rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I’ll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial masque which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion. There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman. Some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me. Only an entity. Something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours, and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable, I simply am not there.
#8. Shoot her!
Because I just saw it last night: Jurassic Park.
“SHOOT HER! SHOOOOOOT HER!”
#7. The Last Alliance.
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men, from “Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring”.
#6. It set the mood.
A Clockwork Orange.
It set the mood for that entire movie.
#5. It just takes off.
The “Dawn of the Dead” remake was one of my favorite opening scenes. When the little neighbor girl comes in their bedroom and bites the husband, shit just takes off and it is an intense ride. Really got me into the movie.
#4. An overwhelmingly sad story.
It’s going to sound weird, but The Rescuers. I hadn’t seen that movie in about a decade-and-a-half when I picked up the Blu-Ray during a local sale. I… was also rather smashed when I was watching it. Anyway, I’m watching it after a few drinks when the opening comes on.
It’s almost like how, when you’re a kid and you don’t realize that you’ve heard what is an adult joke because you were too pure and innocent? Well… as an adult, it truly hits just how overwhelmingly sad the story is, especially since the opening song, “The Journey” is almost like a lament. This is a young child who was taken against her will, in a situation where she could most certainly die and a note in a bottle is honestly her only real chance of escape.
I admit, I definitely cried the next few times I watched that movie. The same for the scene after Medusa insults Penny, although that was more due to pure rage.
#3. Cool.
Hot Rod.
“Kevin, did you reinforce the takeoff ramp?”
“No, we didn’t have time.”
#2. Super intense.
28 Weeks Later has an amazing longer opening but it is super intense and really sets the tone for an average movie
#1. “As far back as I can remember…”
Goodfellas
“As far back as I could remember, I always wanted to be a gangster…”
You’ll have to give them all a try for yourself!
