How a movie kicks things off is always important, and many of the best action movies get their audiences excited from the first minute. A good opening scene should establish the main characters and the world they exist in, as well as tee up the main ideas of the story. In action movies, it’s always an added bonus if an opening scene can be used to deliver some thrills early on, setting the stage for what’s to come.
Action movies that start strong have the potential of keeping their pace up throughout the entire duration. An opening scene can set the tone in many ways, but it’s mainly important as the first statement of intent from the filmmakers. On one hand, audiences can easily lose interest if a movie doesn’t grab their attention from the beginning. The flip side of this is that audiences will immediately give an action movie a chance if it excites them before the credits.
10Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Maverick Pushes Himself And His Plane To The Limit
Top Gun: Maverickis an uncommon kind of legacy sequel that not only justifies its existence, but even improves on the original. It gets the balance between nostalgia and innovation just right, and this starts with the very first scene. Seeing Maverick back in the cockpit after so many years is a joy, butTop Gun: Maverick’s opening scene also establishes his character, highlighting how he’s still committed to pushing his limits.
Seeing Maverick back in the cockpit after so many years is a joy.
Top Gun: Maverick’s opening scene sets up the movie’s main throughline, asMaverick earns his call sign once more. He gradually learns more responsibility as he takes on a position of authority, but he never plays by the rules set out by his superiors. The opening scene also offers a taste of the exhilarating flying scenes that director Joseph Kosinski has in store, marking a huge step up from the originalTop Gun.
9Blade (1998)
The Blood Sprinkler Scene Is The Perfect Introduction To A Dark, Dangerous World
While theMCUBladerebootis still stuck in development hell, it’s worth looking back on the original with Wesley Snipes. It has its faults, but it also has some moments of unimpeachable brilliance, starting with the very first scene. As an unsuspecting airhead is lured into a thumping nightclub inside an industrial meat locker, his excitement soon gives way to fear. The image of the blood sprinklers raining down on the vampires is probably the single most iconic moment ofBlade.
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The nightclub scene is the first introduction to the disturbing world ofBlade,rich in the eroticism and hedonism of much older vampire stories. It’s also a great introduction to the main character, who is welcomed with a dramatic pan up toward his face. He’s the sole figure dressed in black, while the vampires around him have their white clothes drenched with crimson blood. He stands out in more ways than one, meaning that the audience is immediately drawn to him.
8Akira (1988)
Akira’s Opening Is As Exciting As Any Live-Action Movie
Animated action moviesare often difficult to pull off, since the medium doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the visceral impact that action movies thrive on.Akirais one of a few noteworthy exceptions, with enough flair and creativity to break the shackles of its medium and create something truly exciting. This starts in the first scene, as the Capsules battle with a rival biker gang on the highways of Neo-Tokyo.
7Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
Tom Cruise’s Mission To Outdo Himself Reaches New Heights
The opening scenes have become an important part of theMission: Impossiblefranchise’s appeal over the years. While the prison break inGhost Protocoland the interrogation inMission: Impossible IIIare both worth mentioning,Rogue Nation’s opening scene wins the prize as the franchise’s splashiest intro. As an IMF plan hits a few snags, Ethan takes matters into his hands, and he’s soon dangling from the side of a plane.
The opening scenes have become an important part of theMission: Impossiblefranchise’s appeal over the years.
TheMission: Impossiblefranchise has seen Tom Cruise trying to one-up his death-defying stunts with each entry.Rogue Nationstates its intentions from the first scene with one of the franchise’s biggest stunts yet. Of course, Cruise performed the stunt himself, and it was shot practically. WithMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningcoming soon,it’s a safe bet that Cruise will try to push the envelope once more.
6Hard Boiled (1992)
John Woo’s Thrilling Brand Of Action Takes Hold Immediately
Hard Boiledis arguably the highpoint of John Woo and Chow Yun-fat’s long-running collaboration,starting with an explosive first scene that sets the precedent for what is to come. After a brief musical interlude which lets the credits roll and serves as the calm before the storm,Hard Boilederupts into violent gunplay, as a duo of Hong Kong detectives ambush a group of gun smugglers in a teahouse.
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The tranquil setting of the teahouse and the innocence of the caged birds are the perfect counterpoints to the wanton destruction of the shootout, as bodies fall and the entire building is thrown into chaos. Amid this chaos of seemingly infinite ammo and stylish slow-motion, Woo manages to pull together a compelling story about two partners with conflicting approaches and temperaments who nevertheless have each other’s backs.
5The Matrix (1999)
Trinity’s First Scene Is A Great Introduction To The World Of The Matrix
It takes a little while for Neo to realize that he’s in the Matrix, so the Wachowski sisters offer audiences a brief glimpse of the jaw-dropping action that’s to come in the opening few minutes ofThe Matrix.This first taste is enough to ensure that the story doesn’t drag for too long, but it’s also a thrilling set-up that plants a seed of mystery that lingers over Neo’s subsequent scenes, which seem mundane by comparison.
The Wachowskis set the tone for their stylized action sequences.
After setting up the motif of the green lines of code,The Matrixopens with a thrilling fight and chase that puts Trinity center stage. From her first bullet-time crane kick, the Wachowskis set the tone for their stylized action sequences, proving thatThe Matrixisn’t a typical action movie.The first scene also acts as a great introduction to Agent Smith, who is brimming with menace every second that he spends on screen.
4Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright Focuses On The Music
Edgar Wright’s stylish heist movie establishes its upbeat tone from the outset, as the director orchestrates a joyous heist scene that introduces Baby with flair. While the violent action unfolds from inside the bank, Baby waits in the getaway car outside, singing along to one of his favorite songs. He initially seems like a lovable goofball, but when the time comes for him to do his job, he proves that he’s incredibly resourceful, talented and cunning.
The idea behind this opening scene first started to take form in a music video Edgar Wright directed.
The idea behind this opening scene first started to take form in a music video Edgar Wright directed for Mint Royale in 2003, but it’s much better when it’s given more room to breathe and a bigger scope. As a way of highlighting the importance ofBaby Driver’s soundtrackearly on, the chase scene moves to the rhythm of the music.There are moments of Wright’s action choreography which make it look like the cars are involved in some strange ballet.
3The Dark Knight (2008)
The Joker’s Bank Heist Introduces An Iconic Villain
Christopher Nolan’s movies usually start with memorable images, like the opera scene inTenetor the reverse polaroid shot inMemento.The Dark Knightis no different, introducing Batman’s most famous foe in style. The Joker’s bank heist sequence is a miniature masterpiece, setting up an intriguing mystery about the nature of the man behind the mask and delivering some shocking action at the same time.
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From the first shot, which shows a twisted clown mask hanging by the Joker’s side, the opening sequence ofThe Dark Knightis difficult to predict. This early clue is the only indication of the man behind the complex bank job, the only robber set to survive the ordeal. Once Nolan reveals all his narrative tricks, it sets up the idea that Batman is dealing with an enemy far smarter and more ruthless than any he has faced before. Any time the Joker appears in a Batman movie or TV show, there’s added scrutiny, butThe Dark Knighthas the perfect introduction to the character.
2Skyfall (2012)
Bond Usually Starts With A Bang
Explosive cold opens have become a staple of theJames Bondfranchise, giving audiences a hit of adrenaline before the theme tunes even begin. This list could have been made up entirely ofJames Bondmovies, in fact, from the eye-popping base jump ofGoldenEyeto the brutal struggle ofCasino Royale. Skyfalloffers just one of many exhilarating opening scenes in theBondfranchise.
Skyfalloffers just one of many exhilarating opening scenes in theBondfranchise.
TheBondfranchise has the luxury of not having to introduce its main character in every movie, andSkyfallwastes little time with pleasantries. It quickly barrels into a car chase that evolves into a motorcycle chase and a thrilling fight scene on top of a train.It’s one of the franchise’s best action sequences, gettingSkyfallstarted in the best way possible. Whoever plays007 inBond 26,the opening scene will likely say a lot about the franchise’s new era.
1Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Steven Spielberg’s Flawless Introduction Of Indy Sets Up A Whole Franchise
Raiders of the Lost Ark’s opening introduces Indiana Jones in the best way possible, showing him in action while subtly revealing his true nature. The scene shows his bravery, his moral righteousness and his quick thinking, and Harrison Ford brings plenty of charisma too. The scene also sets up Indy’s first villain, as Belloq uses underhanded tactics to get the better of him, foreshadowing his actions later.
Many of the most recognizable images fromRaiders of the Lost Arkcome from this first sequence.
Many of the most recognizable images fromRaiders of the Lost Arkcome from this first sequence. Of course, the rolling boulder is loaded with Steven Spielberg’s inimitable movie magic, but the golden idol and the shot of Indy grabbing his hat are both famous too.TheIndiana Jonesfranchise could hardly have set things up any sweeter. Decades later, this still ranks as one of the most exciting and layered character introductions in any movie.
