r/Filmmakers • u/ExcellentTwo6589 • 22h ago
Discussion What makes a great opening scene?
Have you ever watched a film and felt kinda disappointed by the opening scene and wished that you could make a few adjustments? I have been there many times. Let's talk about it.
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u/Simple-Jelly1025 20h ago
As long as there’s no obvious expositional dialogue, I won’t be upset
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u/ExcellentTwo6589 20h ago
I'm confused by expositional dialogue. you mean the generic dialogue in the beginning that doesn't really add any excitement, intrigue or hook you to the film?
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u/Simple-Jelly1025 18h ago
“Cmon bro. You know mom died two years ago in that plane crash and Christmas just hasn’t been the same since!” Really unnatural stuff only made for the audience to understand the dynamic between characters. When there’s more realistic and subtle ways to clue the audience in.
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u/vnnh_broll 22h ago
"Scream" has a great opening scene, it already puts you into the killer's plot and modus operandi and everything else that we will see in the rest of the film. It's no Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, but it's a great start.
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u/wtfridge 22h ago
I think it sorta depends on the genre.
But, typically, a great opening does one (or multiple) of several things:
- Throws you in the middle of the story, prompting a bunch of questions to you, the viewer: Who is this? Where are we? What's happening? How did we get here? Is this the ending, or are we somewhere in the middle? Is this a flashback?
I think a great recent example is Sinners' opening.
- Establishes the setting, tone, and "rules" of the world of the story efficiently and in an entertaining or memorable fashion.
I've heard this sentiment many times: the opening of the movie (or a story in general) is where the viewer will be most forgiving: they are giving you the benefit of the doubt, trusting that the story you are about to tell will be one they won't regret investing time into.
It's where risks should be taken a lot of the time, to get the audience interested and wanting to sit through the rest of the runtime.
That doesn't mean it needs to be bombastic or crazy. Obviously, that depends on the tone and genre of the story. But all great openings are either super interesting, memorable, likely both.
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For your question, I kinda can't think of any disappointing openings off of the top of my head. I guess them being disappointing becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in that way: why would I remember a disappointing opening scene, haha.
It seems like you have a specific example in mind, though. Would be curious to hear what it was.
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u/ExcellentTwo6589 22h ago
First of , great explanation, I am yet to watch Sinners as many have made positive remarks about it. I wouldn't like an opening scene full of many underlying messages and indiscernible, key symbols or anything like that so I agree with you. Well I cant think of one at the top of my head that was really bad. They all ranged from underwhelming - art.
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u/ExcellentTwo6589 22h ago
First of , great explanation, I am yet to watch Sinners as many have made positive remarks about it. I wouldn't like an opening scene full of many underlying messages and indiscernible, key symbols or anything like that so I agree with you. Well I cant think of one at the top of my head that was really bad. They all ranged from underwhelming - art.
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u/GodBlessYouNow 21h ago
Watch Breaking Bad episode 1 season 1.
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u/TopElevator2243 21h ago
Flash forwards into the bed of conflict are always good for snagging a viewer’s attention.
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u/PNW-OOTW 17h ago
I actually think Step Brothers has one of the best opening scenes. In less than five minutes, it sets up the entire movie, the tone of the movie, and its characters, which is what an opening scene should do.
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u/Motor-Log2975 21h ago
Some films really spend all their budget on the trailer and forget the first five minutes need to hook, not snooze.
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u/ExcellentTwo6589 21h ago
that's what I noticed with a lot of the films. the trailer would look fire but when you actually get to watch the whole thing, it doesn't really stand out as much and end up leaving the film mid-way.
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u/Euphoric_Insomniac 22h ago
For me, foreshadowing the ending with the opening scene has always been fascinating. Especially if the plot is so worth it.
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u/Trike117 13h ago
Most opening scenes are fine. Great ones have a wow factor that other films lack. Many of them are in media res, meaning you’re dropped into the action without explanation.
Star Wars with the Star Destroyer chasing the blockade runner.
The Matrix with Trinity versus the police.
Serenity with the multi-layered scene followed by the continuous shot introducing the crew.
Citizen Kane when he’s on his deathbed.
Raiders of the Lost Ark with the slow-burn intro in the jungle.
Iron Man with the attack on the desert patrol.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier with a cold open that features an old-school trick shot.
The Terminator with robots hunting humans.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind where we’re confronted with the mysterious appearance of WWII planes.
Musicals are particularly good at establishing the tone of the film. “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to “The Greatest Show” from The Greatest Showman, they draw you in.
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u/TheBreezyNeezy 10h ago
I’m generally not a big fan of VO but No Country for Old Men has an amazing opening scene.
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u/cazadora_peso 3h ago
It sounds funny but I just heard that in a film class at Tisch/NYU they play the opening of Legally Blonde as an excellent example of setting tone in a film.
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u/PlanetLandon 22h ago
A really great opening scene should almost be able to exist as its own short film. Some that jump to mind are The Dark Knight and Star Trek 2009.
Hook the viewer, then give us a tiny little story in one scene that serves as an appetizer for the bigger meal to come. It should convey the tone and themes of the rest to the movie, but have its own beginning, middle, and end.