Some of the best action movies hook the audience from the first few minutes, and it can be easy to tell that they’re masterpieces immediately. Even more than most other genres, action movies often start with a bang. This is an easy way to excite the audience, but great filmmakers can also introduce the characters and the conflict within moments.

The best opening scenes in movies offer audiences a taste of what’s coming while also setting the story in motion. The first few minutes usually come with a lot of pressure and extra scrutiny, so it’s important to make a strong first impression. This isn’t a problem for some classic action movies, which waste no time in getting things moving.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Rogue Nation is one of the best movies in the Mission: Impossible franchise, and it declares its intent from the first scene. Ghost Protocol was tough to follow, but Rogue Nation wastes no time in delivering one of the biggest stunts of the franchise, with Tom Cruise hanging off the side of a plane as it takes off.

As with many of Cruise’s stunts as Ethan Hunt, this scene is the genuine article. Aside from editing out some safety straps, there’s no need for excessive CGI. Rogue Nation creates several more jaw-dropping action moments along the way, ensuring that the opening is merely an appetizer.

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix combines thrilling action with a fascinating sci-fi premise. The opening few minutes introduce the audience to both in style, with Trinity fighting off a group of pursuers before disappearing, as if by magic. It’s more than enough to grab the audience’s attention, as it sets up a few intriguing mysteries without any unnecessary exposition.

The Matrix‘s first action scene showcases the unique style that the Wachowski sisters use, which takes inspiration from the wuxia genre. Trinity seems to hang in the air at times, but the movie’s premise shows that this is more than a simple stylistic choice. Even before Neo is introduced, The Matrix gets the ball rolling.

Casino Royale (2006)

The James Bond franchise usually delivers a hit of action before the opening credits. These cold opens become especially important when the franchise is introducing a new actor to play 007, and Daniel Craig’s first scene in Casino Royale is a bold indicator that things aren’t the same as before.

Casino Royale sees Bond through a much darker lens. Craig’s version of the character is more brutal and detached, while still having a vulnerable side. The opening few moments sum this up perfectly before transitioning into another iconic тιтle sequence. The franchise’s тιтle tracks are often dreamy ballads, but Casino Royale opts for rock and roll.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

The first scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark does a lot of work to introduce the character of Indiana Jones and the tone of the movie, but Steven Spielberg conveys this information through action. Indy’s pursuit of a gleaming golden idol demonstrates his bravery, his intelligence and his resourcefulness, even if he ultimately has to give his prize away.

The opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark is a miniature version of the movie. Indy utilizes his skills to get a rare artifact, but he’s forced to hand it over to someone less intelligent and more violent than him. A lot of Spielberg’s best movies have iconic opening scenes, but Raiders of the Lost Ark may top them all.

Akira (1988)

Akira is the rare kind of animated action movie that can be just as thrilling as anything in live-action. The first few minutes drop the audience into the heart of the action, quickly setting off on a violent bike chase across the city, showing the warring gangs that drive the narrative.

Akira‘s opening few minutes deliver a shocking dose of animated violence, but they’re also notable for their paradoxical serenity. There are a few brief moments that seem idyllic, as the beautiful soundtrack accompanies images of tower blocks receding into the background as the bikes coast through the city. This peace doesn’t last long, but it underlines Akira‘s artistry.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is another outstanding animated action movie, although it has a completely different style from Akira. Into the Spider-Verse starts with an action-packed montage with Peter Parker narrating his experiences as Spider-Man. It then cuts to Miles Morales, an unᴀssuming kid with much more mundane problems, as he starts at a new school.

Into the Spider-Verse introduces variants of Spider-Man using the same montage style, so the first few minutes set up the movie’s funniest running joke. They also demonstrate the inventive art style while giving a taste of the action scenes in store for Miles. Across the Spider-Verse has another great opening sequence, so Beyond the Spider-Verse will probably also start strong.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

The John Wick franchise has evolved since its first movie, from a grounded revenge thriller into a highly stylized globe-trotting action epic. The opening sequence of Chapter 4 sets the tone for the biggest and most ambitious movie yet, as John journeys into the desert to try and regain his freedom.

In keeping with Chapter 4‘s reverent tone, the desert scene is steeped in religious symbolism. It sets up the idea that John will only be free in death and that he must suffer for his sins. John’s conversation with the Elder follows a beautifully framed horse chase, where John pursues three men dressed in white like the embodiment of death.

Gladiator (2000)

Many of Gladiator‘s action scenes take place within the walls of the Colosseum, but the opening battle sequence offers something different. It’s an epic conflict that establishes Maximus’ prestige as a Roman general, but it also highlights the cruelty of the empire.

Ridley Scott has always been a master of scale and spectacle. Gladiator‘s first battle scene is right up there with his most powerful images. The sequel uses the same technique for its opening sequence, but it’s hard to replicate the gritty detail of the original Gladiator.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

When the Mad Max franchise returned after 30 years, George Miller chose not to start Fury Road with boring exposition to catch his audience up. Instead, he drops Max Rockatansky into a chase across the desert immediately, with Tom Hardy’s narration only revealing fragments of his tortured past.

Fury Road isn’t concerned with Max’s past, aside from the ways that it haunts him in the present. The opening few minutes show that he’s constantly reckoning with his failures, even in the midst of a breathless action scene. Miller also gets started on his intriguing worldbuilding right from the beginning.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s movies usually start and end with particularly striking images. Like the opera scene in Tenet and the mysterious narration of The Prestige, The Dark Knight‘s bank robbery sequence is both visually striking and essential in setting up the story.

The Joker’s elaborate heist plan shows that he’s a dangerous criminal mastermind, but it also shows that he relies on the greed and fear within other people. It’s important that The Dark Knight introduces the criminal before Batman appears on screen, and it sets up a captivating duel between the two characters.