The Best Opening Scenes From Cult Classic Movies That Still Give Us Goosebumps

Jaws (1975)

The camera views the surface of the water, acting as the shark's POV, stalking Chrissie Watkins, who is swimming alone at night. As if putting us in the shark's POV was not enough- this iconic opening is a brilliant exercise in terror through suggestion. The unseen threat, underscored by John Williams's simple, escalating two-note theme, instantly establishes the mortal, unseen danger that will define the rest of the film.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The "Dawn of Man" sequence, showing early hominids struggling for survival, followed by the appearance of the monolith and the bone-to-spaceship jump cut. This opening is unmatched in scope and ambition. It spends 20 minutes wordlessly establishing the theme of human evolution across cosmic timescales, all building to the single most famous and audacious cut in film history.

The Godfather (1972)

A long, intimate close-up on the undertaker Bonasera, who says, "I believe in America," before the camera slowly pulls back to reveal the oppressive power of Don Vito Corleone. The opening is a structural masterpiece. It instantly pivots the audience from the American Dream to the shadow world of the Mafia, establishing the theme of justice, family, and corruption that defines the entire saga.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

A sensory overload montage of helicopters, fire, slow-motion shots of Martin Sheen, and destruction, all set to The Doors' "The End." Francis Ford Coppola doesn't just open the film; he opens the door to the protagonist's fractured psyche. The sequence uses sound, image, and music to immediately establish a psychological, nightmarish tone that perfectly summarizes the film's descent into the madness of the Vietnam War.

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

A black-and-white documentary sequence of a B-52 bomber being refueled mid-air, underscored by a somber voice-over. Stanley Kubrick immediately sets the tone for his satire, blending a chilling, realistic sense of Cold War dread with an icy, ironic detachment that promises high-stakes comedy.

Jurassic Park (1993)

The security team attempts to transport a living velociraptor into its containment pen, only for the raptor to escape and kill the gatekeeper. This is when all hell breaks loose and everything that could go wrong actually ends up going wrong. This opening (a necessary exception to the 60s/70s rule) is a masterclass in establishing tension, terror, and the threat of the dinosaurs—all before the audience even sees the park itself.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

A long, silent 13-minute sequence showing three villains waiting at a dusty train station. The only sounds are creaking wind, buzzing flies, and dripping water. Sergio Leone creates suffocating, unbearable tension using sound design alone. When the silence is finally shattered by the sound of a train arriving, the relief and shock set the dramatic, epic tone for the entire Western masterpiece.

The French Connection (1971)

A gritty, frantic sequence of Popeye Doyle and Buddy Russo conducting surveillance before a shocking, violent drug bust. It immediately plunges the audience into a world of street-level realism and unpredictable violence. This opening defined the template for the '70s action thriller—gritty, dangerous, and morally ambiguous.

Easy Rider (1969)

Wyatt and Billy complete a drug deal near the border, stuff the cash into a gas tank, and hit the open road. This sequence is a perfect cultural statement. It captures the spirit of freedom and rebellion in just a few minutes, backed by Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild." The defiant opening sets the course for a journey that celebrates the counter-culture movement.

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

The Beatles rush through a train station and scramble onto a train, pursued by screaming fans. It was a complete representation of what the Beatles were. Backed by the film’s title song, the opening is a perfect explosion of energy and chaotic joy. It instantly defines the relentless, world-changing fame and manic energy of Beatlemania with chaotic, stylized visuals.