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"It's A Masterpiece Of Visual Story Telling" 21 Utterly Excellent Opening Scenes That Hooked Us Immediately

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"It will live in cinematic history, and a lot of people's hearts, forever."

The opening scene of a film is vitally important. We were recently having a discussion about our favourite opening scenes, and people had a LOT of opinions.

A woman in a winter hat and scarf says "Start at the beginning" with #Youngertv hashtag. No other text or persons are present

So here are 21 more opening scenes that really stuck with us:

1. There Will Be Blood

Miramax Films

"It takes the cake for me. That opening scene sets the tone for the character and the the whole movie. It's a masterpiece of visual story telling."

smellycowboy28

2. Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume II

Baby Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy stands with arms raised in a celebratory pose, with a blurred, dynamic background
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Baby Groot dancing whilst carnage unfolds all around him will never not be hilarious."

alclva

3. Speed

Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels in tactical gear, with Keanu giving a thumbs-up, from a movie scene
20th Century Studios

"In a movie filled with action, the elevator rescue scene starts Speed off with a bang!"

icyflower80

4. Blade Runner

A flying car navigates through a futuristic cityscape with a large digital billboard displaying an Asian woman's face
Warner Bros. Pictures

"The whole opening scene is iconic and even more amazing on a large wide screen TV."

missmiddleearthling

5. Raising Arizona

Nicolas Cage in a mugshot scene from "Raising Arizona," wearing a casual floral shirt, holding a placard with name H.I. McDunnough and date Nov 29 '83
20th Century Studios

"Definitely so many of the Coen Brothers movie openings are classic. Raising Arizona is by far one of my favourite openings of all time, the sound of the jail cell slam and his constant return to prison juxtaposed with his wooing of Ed makes it both engaging and hilarious."

maskedglue5447

6. Blade

A crowded, energetic dance floor with people raising their hands and dancing under bright, flashing lights in a nightclub
New Line Cinema

"The movie that saved Marvel. Hands the best opening scene to introduce a lesser known character at the time who is now a household name, SMH."

oldskeleton652

7. The Big Lebowski

Jeff Bridges, wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, and a robe, holds a carton of half-and-half while standing in a grocery store aisle
Gramercy Pictures

"Him writing the cheque for the milk cracks me up every time."

jennybell1985

8. Baby Driver

Ansel Elgort is driving a car, wearing sunglasses and earphones, in a scene from the film "Baby Driver."
Sony Pictures Releasing

"The opening scene of that one was epic to say the least."

joyfulturkey386

9. Inglourious Basterds

Two men, one in casual attire and the other in a uniform, sit at a wooden table in a rustic room lit by natural light
Universal Pictures

"Movie goes off the rails a bit, but the opening scene has to be top 10."

officialangel26

10. The Way of the Gun

A group of people in casual clothes converse and mingle at a crowded event against a brick wall. They seem to be enjoying their time
Artisan Entertainment

"The opening scene when Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillipe are leaning on the car and Sarah Silverman gets sucker punched for running her mouth is probably my favourite movie opening of all time."

joyfulovercoat933

11. The Lost Boys

Kiefer Sutherland, wearing a black coat, stands in front of a carousel with a snake and horse figure. The Warner Bros. logo is in the bottom-left corner
Warner Bros. Pictures

"The tracking shot over the water and the music merging perfectly into the actual music on the boardwalk. I know a lot of people think it's just a silly vampire movie, but to me it's *the* vampire movie. Joel Schumacher may have made a few clonkers, but he also made The Lost Boys."

lovelymule55

12. The Lord of the Rings

Eight men with long hair and beards, wearing crowns and dark robes, stand solemnly. They appear to be mature in age and hold items or gestures of significance
New Line Cinema

"When Galadriel is narrating the history of the One Ring. I don't know what we were expecting, but I'd read the books, and my dad re-reads all of them every Christmas. 

I think we went expecting something okay. Instead we got something extraordinary, that will live in cinematic history, and a lot of people's hearts, forever. Galadriel's narration told us, right from the start, that Peter Jackson understood LoTR and was not fucking around."

lovelymule55

13. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

A scene from "Pirates of the Caribbean" showing Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and others standing on a gallows awaiting execution
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"The hanging scene and the song, always gives me chills. It's the best Pirates of the Caribbean movie."

jayy9

14. Avengers: Infinity War

Loki, wearing an armored outfit, gazes intently while surrounded by glowing blue light in a dark, mysterious setting
Warner Bros. Pictures

"The opening had me in such a tight grip, and really set the tone for the rest to come!"

justlivvlife

15. Deadpool

Deadpool, in his signature suit, sits casually on a bridge, waving
Warner Bros. Pictures

"It tells you almost everything about the plotting, themes, characters, and production. Slow motion panning over a scene of ridiculous carnage, with a somewhat cheesy pop song playing over all of it. Loving moments of meta Easter eggs. Credits flung against and knocking over the fourth wall. And it sets up the non-linear storytelling. I love it."

alicelynn0211

16. Black Widow

A young person with blue hair, wearing a yellow and white shirt, looks sad and teary-eyed, with an older person in military attire in the background
Warner Bros. Pictures

"That particular cover of Nirvana, it’s so haunting, just amps it all up. Best opening of a Marvel film by far."

katerumtruffle

17. Crazy Rich Asians

Henry Golding in a white suit and Constance Wu in a stylish gown in a scene from a movie
Warner Bros. Pictures

"When Eleanor Young was refused her reserved room at an exclusive London hotel by three very haughty men, so her family buys the hotel and the original owner comes downstairs, welcomes her warmly, and gets her to a room. Perfect!"

hummingbird06

18. Star Wars

A massive spaceship flies over a planet with a moon in the distance, as depicted in a scene from Star Wars
20th Century Studios

"When the scene and the music came on it was like nothing anyone had seen before."

davidwigton

19. The Lion King

Sunrise scene from The Lion King, showing the sun rising over an African landscape with a silhouette of a tree
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

"That sunrise and the singing. One of Disney’s greatest moments."

juliaw1

20. Saving Private Ryan

Soldiers on a boat in WWII military gear with life vests, likely depicting a historical scene of a beach landing
DreamWorks Pictures

"It has to be on this list."

joyfuljellyfish31

21. Scream

Drew Barrymore, in a cream sweater, holds a large cordless phone to her ear in a kitchen scene. She looks worried or scared
Dimensions Films

"The opening of the original Scream! A complete classic. You think from the cover and everything that the big name of Drew Barrymore is going to be the lead only to lose her in the first five minutes! Total takeout and gives you a real sense of Ghostface."

lalalace1640

Editor's note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

What opening film scene really stuck with you? Let us know in the comments below!

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