5 Types of Movie Openings That Hook Audiences Instantly

Start strong! Of all the screenwriting mantras, this will help you set up your audience for the next two hours, because openings can make or break a movie.

Whether you are pitching a script to producers and actors or submitting to festivals, a gripping opening is crucial to holding their attention as quickly as possible. Just imagine some of your favorite movies…I bet they did it too.

Think of it as an invitation to a wild party, and only if you excite the guests will they stay to hear your speech. Let’s go over five types of universal openings executed by accomplished writers and filmmakers.

5 Types of Movie Openings That Seduce the Audience

1. In Medias Res

In medias res means starting in the middle. Dropping your audience right in the middle of high-tension action is one of the most common ways to open a movie. You don’t give any exposition or introductions to the audience, because we have plenty of time for that in the next two hours of a complex plot.

Starting right in the middle of the action is a little jarring, which compels the viewer to pay attention and catch up. Moreover, it creates momentum right from the beginning.

Example — The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan starts the film with an intense bank heist already in motion. We don’t even see who the masked men are, and the Joker is introduced right at the end of the scene before he blows up the bank manager (William Fichtner) and flees in a school bus.

Other notable examples: Dunkirk (2017), Casino Royale (2006), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

2. Emotional Hook

Destroy them. Hit them in the heart, not the brain. Start with a profound, emotionally charged moment to hook the audience. These can be intimate moments with a character, often personal and poignant, compelling viewers to invest early with the protagonists. If they feel something for the character, then they’ll care for them and stick with them until the last moment.

Example — Up (2009)

The opening of Pixar’s Up is a montage, which is a roller coaster of emotions. We see Carl and Ellie spending their whole life together through their marriage, shared dreams, infertility, and Ellie’s eventual death. Within the first 4-5 minutes, we experience two people’s lives and end up with Carl, now old and lonely.

Other notable examples: Marriage Story (2019), Arrival (2016), and Finding Nemo (2003).

3. Open with Mystery/Intrigue

These kinds of openings often start with surreal imagery that baffles the audience and leaves them wanting more. It confuses them, leaving them with unexplained events and countless questions.

Challenging the viewer’s intelligence is one of the most powerful hooks out there. It makes them lean in to reach the truth, which is out of their reach. It works best in sci-fi and psychological films where the filmmaker intentionally delays answers and keeps the audience intrigued.

Example — Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up on a mountain, rides a bicycle to his home, and finds that a jet engine has crashed into his bedroom. We are left with no hints whatsoever about who Donnie is and what’s happening. The only thing a viewer can make out is that he survived, probably because he was sleepwalking last night.

Other notable examples: Inception (2010), Knives Out (2019), and Mulholland Drive (2001).

4. Voiceover Setup

When a character’s narration opens the movie, giving us a glimpse of the backstory or commenting on it, it’s called a voice-over setup. The goal of such an opening is to convey the tone and worldview of the movie in no time. Moreover, a strong voiceover foreshadows the movie’s themes and helps the plot move forward.

Example — The Departed (2006)

“When I was your age, they would say we could become cops or criminals. Today, what I’m saying is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?” This is how Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) voiceover ends in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. We straightaway understand the chaotic and immoral world we’re entering.

Other notable examples: Goodfellas (1990), Trainspotting (1996), and Taxi Driver (1976).

5. Flashforward

Flashforward simply means to start in the future. It is a scene that takes place at a future point in the film. This scene could take place in the middle or at the very end of the movie. Filmmakers use this type of opening to tease the audience, leaving them wondering: How do we get here? For the audience, a flashforward sets an expectation. Now, they have something to look forward to.

Example — Casino (1995)

Martin Scorsese has a knack for starting his movies with a flashforward. In his iconic movie, Casino, Sam (Robert De Niro) walks up to his car from a restaurant. He sits in it, turns the engine on, and the car explodes while haunting choral music plays in the background. Other popular examples include The Irishman and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Other notable movie examples: Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Fight Club (1999), and The Usual Suspects (1995).

Summing It Up

Whichever opening you opt for, just remember the basic elements of it—the opening should hook the audience, establish the film’s tone, and plant a narrative seed that’ll pay off later. Because in a world where human attention spans are shorter than 10 seconds (being generous), your movie’s first few minutes decide if it survives past that point.