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 associated 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.
Jawswas 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.Jawsis 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.Jawstakes its time to actually show the shark on screen, and its unseen presence in the cold open gives it an almost supernatural aura.
The Matrixshook up the sci-fi genre, and this begins with the opening scene. After the iconic green lines of code,The Matrixopens in the middle of a thrilling action featuring Trinity trying to escape from several Agents. Her flying crane kick gives a taste ofThe Matrix’s revolutionary approach to action.
The Matrixuses its sci-fi premise to create some remarkable action scenesthat 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.
Inglourious Basterdsis arguablyQuentin 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.
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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.
There are a few things which makeThe Dark Knightstand 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 theDark Knighttrilogy introduced plenty of crime tropes and conventions to the superhero genre, the cold open inThe Dark Knighthighlights that the Joker is not a common criminal by any means.
Goodfellasis 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 associates 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.
X2: X-Men Unitedopens 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.
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As well as providing the audience with an early shot of adrenaline, the cold open toX2also 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, andthe shock of this scene allowsX-2to then delve into some slower scenes that flesh out the characters.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadewraps 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 inThe 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 islike anIndiana Jonesshort 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.
Baby Driveris 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 soundtrackis 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.
Children of Menmay 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 makesChildren of Menso unique, as it combines some fascinating worldbuilding with Alfonso Cuarón’s flair for fast-paced action.
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Every stunt comes with a certain level of risk, and actors can often sustain injuries when they choose to do their own moves for the camera.
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.
Screamis 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 statesScream’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 toScreamalso 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. WhileScream 7is still shrouded in mystery, fans will expect another great cold open.
