Top 10 First Scenes In Movies That Were The Best Scenes

Starting off on top! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the films that hit their peak early on. Our countdown includes scenes from movies “Trainspotting”, “Drive”, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and more! Which movie do you find kicks things off just right? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!
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#movies #opening #topgun #scream #xmen #hughjackman #karlurban

[@WatchMojo]

Which movie do you find kicks things off just right? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below! For everything movies, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDYd2CBhd2Wl5I Play our Daily Point Battles to earn MojoPoints and qualify for CASH BATTLES! Check it out: WatchMojo.com/play

[@Nannon-p5g]

How is it 4 days ago

[@SirsasthNigam.]

"I dare say Jared Leto is best part in beginning of Morbius , the problem is the material he was given to work with is just *meh* "-Th3Birdman: Lets Talk : Morbius

[@ecwdude17]

Straight Outta Compton

[@David_Theisen]

@@WatchMojo Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny!!! Yeah some people think the movie sucked, I DON’T CARE!! It was a great way to start the movie!! Same with Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1

[@evangreaney7481]

The opening from 28 Weeks later was terrifying. It deserved a spot on the list.

[@hadiipad8946]

The bank robbery from the dark knight’s opening is perfect

[@SPAnComCat]

OF COURSE! IT'S PERFECTION! AND IT'S MY FAVOURITE BATMAN SEQUEL! Sorry for being Hyper about this, I just LOVE IT SO MUCH!

[@Soooooooooooonicable]

The sound design is SO good

[@SPAnComCat]

@@Soooooooooooonicable *I N D E E D !*

[@brupac5017]

Yeah but the whole movie is great

[@jesseincognito.]

And the reveal ofc

[@dorreyeet1529]

Mad max 2 road warrior that flashback narrative of the feral kids memories was a classic opening sequence

[@groaningmole4338]

Yes.

[@trinaq]

I love how "Scream" surprised audiences in 1996 by casting Drew Barrymore, and displaying her in the advertising, only to kill her off in the opening minutes. "Fear Street" pulled off a similar trick with Maya Hawke.

[@dianamcmahon51510]

They did it in Psycho too, with Janet Leigh. I think that's where they originally pulled the idea from- casting a big name, female lead, and killing her off right away. Love it! **edit: Didn't realize they actually mentioned that in the video...hadn't gotten to that point yet!** 😂

[@David_Theisen]

Scary Movie 3 when they parody “The Ring” opening

[@Codmaniac91]

The opening of The Godfather also deserves a spot as well. It's opening dialog is a powerful piece of cinematic history

[@davefreier7738]

It may be somewhat cliche now, but when the first Star Wars movie came out the opening received a tremendous audience reaction.

[@Cacuofa]

Baby driver. The first heist scene

[@FleaRHCP97]

my first thought

[@David_Theisen]

Most definitely!! Transporter the first group of criminals he drives!! And I think Crank had a crazy opening sequence too

[@matthew_natividad]

@@David_Theisen I love both scenes

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

With the opening of _Jaws,_ what we didn’t see scared us, and that’s why it works so well.

[@tylergoodman3560]

The Dark Knight opening scene is epic. 🎉

[@staceystone9783]

I love the Dawn of the Dead 2004 opening scene

[@ToABrighterFuture]

Snake Eyes. The opening tracking shot (yes, I know, there are some hidden cuts) is incredible. Rest of the movie, markedly less so. And yes, Gary Sinese and Nicolas Cage are in the same movie here, but still.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

That's right! Great opening!

[@brandonjohnson3122]

The first 20 minutes of When a Stranger Calls (1979) should have been included or at least mentioned. The first 20 minutes were very frightening and arguably the most, if not only, memorable moment of the film as a whole.

[@roomum9829]

I love the original 1979 When A Stranger Calls!

[@paulvoorhies8821]

Yeah. It should have stayed a short film. The first 15 and last.

[@Bintexas]

Saving Private Ryan is not on this list? Crazy. That said, Ghost Ship isnt all that bad.

[@alessandrodamiani1867]

Technically the 1st scene is the old man with his family at the graveyard in Normandy nowadays.

[@Bintexas]

@@alessandrodamiani1867 I stand corrected. Totally forgot that scene. Thanks!

[@toddlytodd]

I was thinking the same.

[@charlotte241000]

Purple Rain the whole movie is amazing not just the opening scene

[@sharpay33]

100% agreed

[@JustinCoffman-ht3lg]

I can't believe Full Metal Jacket doesn't appear on this list. What a shame.

[@dianamcmahon51510]

Cliffhanger belongs on this list. The first 5 minutes of that movie are some of the most intense moments of any movie I've ever seen.

[@David_Theisen]

That reminds me Ace Ventura When Nature Calls!! Is that an ode to Cliffhanger? But it is quite hilarious!!

[@jenhasken]

Omg yes!!

[@0706823245]

That's a great opening to a great movie!

[@groaningmole4338]

Yes, I'd forgotten about that one, but you're right. It was very well done.

[@trinaq]

The "Choose Life" montage will forever be iconic, particularly with "Lust for Life" playing over it. It's also effective when Renton delivers the same speech more sincerely later on, signaling his character growth.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥉

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@BlackHatCinephilespam

[@xwrecker]

Rotf and dotm intertwining the history of humanity and transformers

[@dorreyeet1529]

Coupled with prime’s narrative in theaters was so 👌

[@williamdaviddiazcuchimaque7511]

TLK epicardo arruinemoslo

[@sophial.6633]

I’m surprised the Matrix wasn’t up here. The first scene with trinity and the slo mo kick was incredible at the time. It locked you in for what was to come from the rest of the movie.

[@mountkilimanjaro2982]

Where’s the temple raid from Raiders of the Lost Ark?

[@David_Theisen]

You mean when he barely escapes that cave with booby traps going off and that big rolling rock?

[@takergt8659]

Punisher Warzone opening scene is crazy!

[@sukottotsukeshi.]

Transformers G1 movie unicrons introduction devouring a planet then transitioning into the theme song

[@xwrecker]

Hell yeah along with rotf n dotm intertwining the events of humanity and transformers

[@wyldhowl2821]

Bram's Stoker's Dracula ... the opening moments up until the title, the origins with Vlad The Impaler. Sets the tone for the whole film, probably more hardcore than everything that follows after.

[@jesseincognito.]

The fast and the furious opening sequence with the container loading scene and music will always be my favorite F&F movie

[@menzoueda2931]

Just gonna give 3 movies where the first scene was actually the best: - Saving Private Ryan - Blade - Up (although that montage is probably the second scene)

[@Naccsanyi]

Saving Private Ryan should definitely be the number one on this list

[@daudimasinde6280]

As soon as I saw the title of the vid the first movie I thought of was Saving Private Ryan.

[@brupac5017]

Saving privat ryan and blade are not only great because of the intros

[@Naccsanyi]

@@brupac5017 But they were the best scenes definitely

[@Mr.White10-65]

Inglorious Basterds has one of the best openings for a film, but also has many great parts after the opening (like the bar scene).

[@streetwatcher_]

Dunno if it counts and I can’t decide but all opening scenes of hot wheels Acceleracers

[@matthew_natividad]

A man of culture I see

[@GeezieMac]

The first “Cars” film has a great opening scene.

[@kanra2689]

Terminator salvation the text scrolling of the war against the machines and cut to the missile cam. Actually watched it few more times during 2018 XD

[@jesseincognito.]

Oh yeah I did watch it a bit more too mainly cuz of the year and how much I wished the franchise could’ve gone playing the arcade game ios and going to universal studios

[@THANATOS-PRIME]

Personally I like the opening of Scream 2 the best out of all of the movies, but I can’t deny how iconic the original films opening truly was at the time. I would definitely love to own one of the GEN one Ghostface masks someday.

[@jamesmendonca2900]

I love the opening scene from Boogie Nights. It starts off with some low tuba music, and then cuts to the film's title in neon lights while playing Best of My Love by The Emotions as the camera introduces a lot of the main characters in a long shot. How that was done is just masterful.

[@jenhasken]

Yes!

[@Mos41f]

'Quantum of Solace' had one of the best movie openings of all time! Also, 'The Stepfather' should be on this list.

[@David_Theisen]

The dancing topless girls in The Bank Heist, Baby Driver’s Bellbottoms, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning pt 1, Scary Movie 2 “peeing a BIG puddle” Jurassic Park “loading the momma raptor” Star Wars “Tantive IV fleeing the Star Destroyer” Raiders of the Lost Ark “chased by a big rolling rock”, Temple of Doom “Anything Goes at Club Kenobi”

[@cherylpurdue888]

I didn't mind ghost ship.

[@David_Theisen]

I thought that was a good chilling movie

[@WebMonkey741]

To add another Nolan for your consideration, the beginning of "Inception" is pretty rock'n!

[@matthew_natividad]

Death race 2008 adding realism to the series especially with the cars

[@redrocksLA]

Sicario has one of the most nail-biting openings I’ve ever seen.

[@DR4WZ]

Sicario is one of my favorite movies, but what about the opening scene is was nail biting? Also this video is about movies where the opening scene is the best scene of the entire movie. The opening scene of Sicario is very well done, but no way was it the best scene in the movie....

[@KevyNova]

When I saw the title, JAWS was the first film that came to mind. Greatest opening scene ever! Thanks to Spielberg’s direction, Williams’s score, and the incredible performance of Susan Backlinie (RIP).

[@JackJackIsBackBack]

Yall missed 28 Weeks Later! That opening is insane!

[@staceystone9783]

That’s what I was thinking as well

[@thecunninlynguist]

Scream? Jaws? Top Gun Maverick? The intro of the video states the scenes picked here were the HIGHLIGHT of the movie...WTH? Scream, Jaws, TGM, while their opening scenes are great/iconic...they were not the highlight of the films....something like Jason Goes to Hell would be a better choice for a countdown like this.

[@dietotaku]

i can't believe the first transformers movie didn't make this list. the first scene with blackout attacking the military base? mind-blowing. the rest of the movie? mind-blowingly dull.

[@Rattwap]

I agree. The impossible mission in Top Gun Maverick was the best scene, not the opening.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Absolutely agree! The opening scene of Jaws is gripping and terrifying, but come on - there are plenty of other scenes in the film that are better!

[@robertbouley7697]

WM churns out so many videos they forget to match the content with the title.

[@thecunninlynguist]

@@robertbouley7697 it kinda matches, but it does a disservice to those films, since it implies those were the best scenes of said films.

[@singleasasin]

"Ghost Ship" remains a horror classic ! ... 😊👍 09:30 Kid gave the best answer ! ... 😊👍

[@prestonestes1388]

The actress that played Chrissy in Jaws wasn’t acting during the attack scene; she was genuinely terrified. While doing the scene no one told her about a mechanical rig in the water that would grab her and drag her around and then underwater, so when it happened it took her by suprise and she panicked.

[@donaldbermudez7771]

Sincerely thank you Watchmojo for NOT ruining the first scene to Ghost ship but still having it on the list. EVERYONE watch the first scene to Ghost Ship it is sooooo worth it and sooo crazy. You haven't seen anything like it....probably.

[@G1Grimlock94]

2:11 And Deadpool kill the imposter 😂😂😂

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥈

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@BlackHatCinephile it's sad that you waste your time Bullying people and giving pointless spam comments

[@amonrodriguez3518]

@@Reaperguy67huh lol

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@amonrodriguez3518 Black hat is a bully. He constantly makes false claims about others being someone else when they weren't. When it comes to it, he has 0 proof. Also when it comes to his bullying, this is where it gets pretty bad . He has harassed others by calling them mentally handicapped or low IQ. Also I think it's wrong to say things like that to someone he doesn't know.

[@williamdaviddiazcuchimaque7511]

La escena de introducción de los villanos y la canción en lego Batman es perfecta

[@DJGamingSmash]

I mean, every scene in Trainspotting is the best scene.

[@Codmaniac91]

The opening from the original Toy Story deserves a spot on this list. It's opening sequence was and still is iconic to this very day

[@dawnpowers7626]

That opening shot of Star Wars (The original, no numbers, thank you), with that shot of the HUGE SPACESHIP impressed the hell out of me.

[@adamzabielski3685]

The Lion King: The Circle of Life. Do I need to say more?

[@David_Theisen]

Nah Lion King 1 1/2 opening was better and funnier!!! LOL

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Yeah! It’s a classic that brought us right into an immersive world that’s a gorgeous animated depiction of Africa’s natural landscapes!

[@jaredwonnacott9732]

Even more so in the "live action" remake. I'll just watch that scene, and then switch back to the 1995 version.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

@@jaredwonnacott9732 1994. The original movie came out in 1994.

[@jabberdouche]

Godzilla Minus One opening scene is flat out AMAZING

[@marcusaguilar874]

What about Star Wars 4’s first scene? Halloween 1? The Dark Knight? Saving Private Ryan?

[@kanra2689]

Probably overused on these lists

[@dvwgystyle2705]

Swordfish.... stainless steel ball bearings

[@bindefuni5407]

Agreed. They could have reserved that scene for the peak climax in the movie.

[@SeanONeill-ef5vb]

Beerfest. The opening scene is tense. Playing cards in a gambling den. The young man losing…….. And it’s the priest, at the young man’s Great Grandads funeral. Brilliant

[@kelsianderson8903]

Honestly, the first scene in Ghost Ship was the only good scene in the movie.

[@robertw9978]

The opening scene in the “Way of the Gun” with Ryan Phillipe and Benecio del Toro was one of the best scenes to start a movie.

[@Thesneakylittlegrinchman]

Might not be the best scene of the movie but Thanos killing Loki and beating the living hell out of the hulk is one of the best ways a movies started in recent years.

[@johnnydripp]

Nah, the final 30 or so minutes of Maverick when they attempt the mission they’ve been training for is definitely the best part of the movie.

[@deanjones684]

The opening to 28 weeks later was terrifyingly good

[@lockabar]

Baby Driver - Bellbottoms

[@toddlytodd]

I feel like Saving Private Ryan is only put on a pedestal and called one of the best and most influential war movies of all time because of the insanely violent opening landing scene. Also, the while the rest of it is great too, the opening interrogation scene of Inglorious Basterds stands above the rest of the movie.

[@Ra1d_danois]

Where's Baby Driver?

[@donnahaynes138]

I love purple rain

[@alancrisp1582]

🤯 Really ?. Please seek professional help and advice immediately 😷 ! ⚠..

[@Bostonnick34]

First Scenes of Final Destination & Lucy are some honorable mentions imo

[@joermnyc]

Star Trek II: the Kobayashi Maru scenario, except we don’t know it’s just a training exercise until Admiral Kirk literally breaks the fourth wall of the bridge simulator to end it before it gets any worse. Plus it’s a great feint for the rumors that Spock would die, since in the scenario he does “die” along with most of the main cast.

[@nickrykert2572]

Lord of War : Following the Bullet

[@alessandrodamiani1867]

Woody Allen's opening monologue in Annie Hall 😊❤

[@Jamal-bl7yh]

Freedom Fighters The Ray (2017) a Web Series repackaged as a movie but that opening fight scene so badass a good scene

[@tracidavis3565]

Thanks for mentioning The Empty Man. I found this one just looking for something to watch and was hooked. Sorry, but I liked Ghost Ship and except for the butchering of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I liked that one too. Scream was just a perfect opener.

[@The_Infamous_Boogyman]

Wolverine origins better be on here. 1:34 yup, there it is

[@JasonC1969]

THE LION KING, JURASSIC PARK, the first STAR WARS

[@arhamsayeed319]

You're voice is awesome 😍 LOVE YOU PATRICK BRO

[@sharkboss1]

"Up" is nowhere on this list? Ridiculous.

[@helderfonseca9926]

Damn shame... my then gf cried like a baby 😂

[@joedurantguitar1447]

For me personally, the intro of Jaws is actually one of the more forgettable moments... compared to the boy getting eaten (with dolly zoom shot of Roy Scheider), the head in the boat, Quints death, USS Indianapolis monologue, etc. I know it's subjective but come on!!! Also really surprised Saving Private Ryan isn't even on here as it was the first to come to my mind.

[@invaderkittykai]

No Baby Driver??? THAT SCENE IS AWESOME

[@ojoao.munizz]

For me Drive has the best intro scene ever!

[@msoi215]

Purple Rain always was, is and will be an instant classic from beginning to end. #RIPPrince

[@KZ1211-t2q]

Raiders of the Lost Ark. By the end of the first scene, you're emotionally exhausted.

[@tevward92]

The opening to Mortal Kombat 2019 was the best part of that movie.

[@olliesmith2890]

2021 my friend.

[@megalon73]

Honestly, X2 X-Men United (2003) is one that come's in mind for an Amazing opening.

[@MaxModded]

Is Ghost Ship really more obscure than The Empty Man? Discuss in comments.

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Jaws has no place on this list.

[@momanvgu]

I love the opening of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. It's so dark and different...

[@Animeguy300]

Incredible

[@rakshitraina9903]

Saving Private Ryan, Dark Knight, Gravity

[@mihmo2663]

The opening monologue of Bad Santa.

[@macjj1733]

Wolverine Origins flopped because the entire movie was leaked online

[@hapachick77]

Inglorious Basterds deserves a spot

[@drewske1984]

Top Gun Maverick started with a strong good scene, but it was not the movie's best. The best scene was when Maverick was let go of his duties to train his team but ended up stealing a Super F-18 Hornet and proving to the entire command that his mission was possible to achieve.

[@rileyshatraw7599]

Super Troopers Intro is Hands Down funniest scene of the film

[@fanmagicks]

"Streets of Fire" best movie opening.

[@jasonweed6213]

Goldmember is a great musical opening. Saving Private Ryan and Dark Knight missing this list makes me question how serious you took this one.

[@randybliss6480]

Cube. It was unforgettable.

[@Scruffytuba]

I distinctly remember going to see Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies in theaters with my wife and thinking we were in for a banger after the opening scene..... ....i was so wrong

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

Jaws is the only movie I have ever seen that five minutes into the movie I’m already super alert and tense for the rest of the movie 😂

[@eugeniapatroncosta920]

Of all those movies I only see X-Men Origins Wolverine and Top Gun: Maverick.

[@awesometacularhero]

At 3:23, he said number 17, when he actually meant to say, number 7. I get it. Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Just letting this guy know, to not make a mistake like that, ever again. And also, with this movie, I just wanna say, with the music playing in the background, that is a collaboration song, with Linkin Park’s Numb, along with Jay-Z. And that song from them is called, Numb/Encore. And also, as the 7 year anniversary was 4 days ago since he passed away, I just wanna say, may Chester Bennington of LP, rest in peace.

[@FDPFrank]

I thought #1 would be Riders of the Lost Ark. It's the best opening sequence in cinema history.

[@linda10989]

I'm probably alone in thinking this, but the opening scene in the Friday the 13th remake was awesome! The rest of the movie wasn't terrible but it had no chance of equaling that.

[@jaredwonnacott9732]

Though Jaws has a great opening, I wouldn't say it's its best scene. Spielberg did know how to kick off a movie, though, and he directed both movies I thought for sure would make this list: Raiders of the Lost Ark and Saving Private Ryan

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Awesome scenes 👏👏👏