A lot of movies start with a bang by delivering unforgettable cold opens which sum up what they’re all about. This is something that’s most often ᴀssociated with action movies, but there are also great examples from horror movies, crime thrillers, war movies and much more.
A good cold open is designed to excite audiences and grab their attention from the very beginning, but they should also introduce some key details about the characters involved and tease some elements of the story. If a cold open can combine all these elements, it can be impossible to forget.
10
Jaws (1975)
The First Attack Sets Up An Engrossing Thriller
Jaws was the highest-grossing movie of all time for a few years, and it helped invent the idea of the summer blockbuster. Its nerve-shredding appeal is evident from its very first scene, as Steven Spielberg wastes no time introducing the peril that lies beneath the waves. Jaws is loosely based on a true story, but Spielberg begins by making the shark seem like an unknowable monster.
The shark’s unseen presence in the cold open gives it an almost supernatural aura.
The low angles of the shark’s POV and the iconic, dread-inducing music both work to make the attack on Chrissie Watkins an attention-grabbing intro. Jaws takes its time to actually show the shark on screen, and its unseen presence in the cold open gives it an almost supernatural aura.
9
The Matrix (1999)
Trinity’s First Fight Demonstrates A Unique Style Of Action
The Matrix shook up the sci-fi genre, and this begins with the opening scene. After the iconic green lines of code, The Matrix opens in the middle of a thrilling action featuring Trinity trying to escape from several Agents. Her flying crane kick gives a taste of The Matrix‘s revolutionary approach to action.
The Matrix uses its sci-fi premise to create some remarkable action scenes that push wire-fu into new territory. The stunts and dynamic choreography are complemented by the Wachowskis’ willingness to dip into their bag of tricks, with bullet-time sequences and whip pans adding even more excitement. The cold open sets the agenda while kicking the story into motion.
8
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Quentin Tarantino’s War Fantasy Begins With A Masterpiece Of Tension
Inglourious Basterds is arguably Quentin Tarantino’s best movie. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that it ends with Lt. Aldo Raine proclaiming that he has just created his masterpiece. The opening scene is the first glimpse of brilliance, as it sets up the revenge plot while working on its own as a superbly-acted one-act drama.
Hans Landa’s visit to the farmhouse displays a lot of what makes Tarantino such a special filmmaker. Of course, his fascinating dialogue is in full flow, often running counter to the seriousness of the situation. It’s also excruciatingly tense and masterfully crafted. Christoph Waltz’s performance is also worthy of praise.
7
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan Introduces Batman’s Most Famous Enemy In Style
There are a few things which make The Dark Knight stand out as the best film in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is an obvious positive, and Nolan introduces him in style with a show-stopping cold open that demonstrates the Joker’s intelligence, ruthlessness and unhinged depravity.
The elaborate bank heist has the potential to be stretched out into an entire movie, but Nolan merely uses it as an intro for the Joker’s warped criminal philosophy. While the Dark Knight trilogy introduced plenty of crime tropes and conventions to the superhero genre, the cold open in The Dark Knight highlights that the Joker is not a common criminal by any means.
6
Goodfellas (1990)
Martin Scorsese’s Stylish Crime Saga Shows Henry’s Origins
Goodfellas is packed with memorable quotes, starting with the very first scene. Henry says “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster“, which creates a moment of incongruity with the grim scene of him and his ᴀssociates pulling over on the highway to stab and shoot the man in the trunk of their car.
The cold open sets up an intriguing mystery, and it’s immensely satisfying to see this paying off later when Tommy’s unbridled rage rears its head. It’s also a great introduction to the fast-paced swagger of Martin Scorsese’s gangster classic. No amount of nonchalant chatter can mask the bleak violence of the three men, bathed in the harsh red light of the car’s tail lights.
5
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Nightcrawler’s Attack On The White House Is A Great Opener
X2: X-Men United opens with one of the franchise’s most exciting action scenes, as Nightcrawler infiltrates the White House and leaves a path of destruction all the way to the Oval Office. It’s a great showcase of his unique powers, and Bryan Singer’s snappy direction works well with Nightcrawler’s teleportation.
As well as providing the audience with an early sH๏τ of adrenaline, the cold open to X2 also teases the broader themes of the movie, since Nightcrawler leaves a knife with a message of mutant liberation on the president’s desk. It’s a mystery at this point why Nightcrawler is carrying out the attack, and the shock of this scene allows X-2 to then delve into some slower scenes that flesh out the characters.
4
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)
Indy’s Origins Are Tied To His Legacy
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade wraps the original trilogy up by having Indy literally ride off into the sunset with his friends. While this ending would be overly sentimental and unoriginal in many other movies, it feels earned in The Last Crusade, partly because the cold open presents a thematic link to the end.
The opening scene of a young Indy getting tangled up in his first dangerous adventure is like an Indiana Jones short film, with just as much nail-biting action and crowdpleasing humor. As well as being a great way of grabbing the audience’s attention, it also sets up the movie’s exploration of Indy’s life and legacy, and his peculiar relationship with his father.
3
Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright’s Heist Thriller Starts With An Explosive Action Scene
Baby Driver is based on an idea that Edgar Wright first explored in a music video for an indie band many years earlier. The cold open demonstrates Wright’s evolution as a filmmaker in the intervening years. It also shows how much fun he can have with a much bigger budget, as he creates an unforgettable chase scene that introduces his protagonist.
Baby Driver‘s stylish soundtrack is vital to the story, since it shows how Baby disappears into his own private fantasy world. The cold open begins with sound before any images to illustrate this point, and the chase scene is accompanied by the freewheeling, zany fun of “Bellbottoms” by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. This makes the perfect soundtrack to an endlessly inventive chase scene.
2
Children Of Men (2006)
Alfonso Cuarón’s Thriller Starts With A Blend Of Action And Worldbuilding
Children of Men may have been a commercial flop at the time, but it’s since been recognized as an influential and exciting sci-fi thriller. The cold open sums up a lot of what makes Children of Men so unique, as it combines some fascinating worldbuilding with Alfonso Cuarón’s flair for fast-paced action.
The pacing of the opening scene is also admirable, as it bursts into life just as the audience is getting acquainted with the main character and the unusual world he inhabits. It’s an early indication of the kind of violence and instability that runs rampant, filmed in one long take like many of the film’s most exciting scenes.
1
Scream (1996)
Drew Barrymore Leaves A Lasting Impression
Scream is a satirical slasher that deconstructs the genre’s many excesses and quirks, often by having the characters make blatant references to them. However, it has to back this sarcastic angle up by proving that it can also be just as scary as the films it’s poking gentle fun at. The opening scene with Drew Barrymore is a tense and unpredictable sequence that states Scream‘s credentials.
It’s no wonder that cold open kills have become a tradition in the franchise ever since.
As well as providing an early scare to grab the audience’s attention, the cold open to Scream also helps to set up the central mystery of who Ghostface really is. It’s no wonder that cold open kills have become a tradition in the franchise ever since. While Scream 7 is still shrouded in mystery, fans will expect another great cold open.
