The best opening scenes in movie history — and why:
1/ The Dark Knight
No backstory. Just an insane villain executing a brilliant plan.
It makes you wonder who can stop him…
1/ The Dark Knight
No backstory. Just an insane villain executing a brilliant plan.
It makes you wonder who can stop him…
2/ The Godfather
Epic — but why? 3 things:
• Incredible opening hook, “I believe in America.”
• The dramatic camera pull back
• The shift in power from Bonasera to Vito
Plus the fantastic acting.
Epic — but why? 3 things:
• Incredible opening hook, “I believe in America.”
• The dramatic camera pull back
• The shift in power from Bonasera to Vito
Plus the fantastic acting.
3/ Baby Driver
The scene starts with movement and immediately raises questions:
• Who is this kid?
• Did he know about the bank robbery?
• Is he an accomplice or unsuspecting Uber driver?
The perfect song choice helps.
The scene starts with movement and immediately raises questions:
• Who is this kid?
• Did he know about the bank robbery?
• Is he an accomplice or unsuspecting Uber driver?
The perfect song choice helps.
4/ Saving Private Ryan
Immediate tension.
You read June 6, 1944 and know these guys are in danger.
The boats crashing through the waves then build on the anticipation…
The first sound from a human is puking.
Immediate tension.
You read June 6, 1944 and know these guys are in danger.
The boats crashing through the waves then build on the anticipation…
The first sound from a human is puking.
5/ The Lion King
That first “Ah Zebanya” hits hard with the sun rising at the same time.
Then there’s so much going on — lions roaring, birds chirping, and zebras running.
It’s the perfect introduction to the world before Simba is introduced over Pride Rock.
That first “Ah Zebanya” hits hard with the sun rising at the same time.
Then there’s so much going on — lions roaring, birds chirping, and zebras running.
It’s the perfect introduction to the world before Simba is introduced over Pride Rock.
6/ Get Out
“Hedge maze out here.” — Andre is tense, and you feel it with him.
Then the car slowly rolls up behind him.
The tension skyrockets.
An unknown man abducts Andre.
Impossible not to watch the rest of the movie.
“Hedge maze out here.” — Andre is tense, and you feel it with him.
Then the car slowly rolls up behind him.
The tension skyrockets.
An unknown man abducts Andre.
Impossible not to watch the rest of the movie.
7/ Star Wars: A New Hope
It jumps right into the action — a massive spaceship chasing a smaller, helpless one.
C-3PO feels helpless.
Then comes the villain.
The breathing, the all black outfit juxtaposed to the all white ship.
Vader is a badass — who can stop him?
It jumps right into the action — a massive spaceship chasing a smaller, helpless one.
C-3PO feels helpless.
Then comes the villain.
The breathing, the all black outfit juxtaposed to the all white ship.
Vader is a badass — who can stop him?
8/ Up
Pixar decided to rip your heart out in the first 4 minutes of the movie.
It’s effective — if you can emotionally attach your audience and main character from the jump, you have a winning hook.
From here, the whole story is about Carl’s journey to regain his happiness.
Pixar decided to rip your heart out in the first 4 minutes of the movie.
It’s effective — if you can emotionally attach your audience and main character from the jump, you have a winning hook.
From here, the whole story is about Carl’s journey to regain his happiness.
Hope you enjoyed that!
I write about storytelling and the strategies behind it 1-2x per week.
Follow @nathanbaugh27 so you don’t miss those.
Here’s another one you might like:
I write about storytelling and the strategies behind it 1-2x per week.
Follow @nathanbaugh27 so you don’t miss those.
Here’s another one you might like:
Storytelling is one of the most important skills you can learn.
To become a better storyteller, try my free weekly newsletter with 41k others: worldbuilders.ai
To become a better storyteller, try my free weekly newsletter with 41k others: worldbuilders.ai
Each of these creates open loops in its own way.
A few common tactics to call out:
— Start with movement
— Skip backstory
— Raise questions
— Intro the villain
Creating an epic hook is an art and a science, I find studying movies to be incredibly helpful for writing.
A few common tactics to call out:
— Start with movement
— Skip backstory
— Raise questions
— Intro the villain
Creating an epic hook is an art and a science, I find studying movies to be incredibly helpful for writing.
I’m sure I missed some. Inglorious Basterds is a glaring omission.
What would you include? youtu.be
What would you include? youtu.be
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