First impressions matter—and the world of cinema is no exception to this adage. When it comes to movies, a strong start can be the difference between a casual flick and a lasting cinematic experience. Opening scenes grab our attention, set the tone, and hook us in to watch the rest of the film. If done brilliantly, they have the ability to etch themselves into our memories, sometimes even outshining the whole film.
Join us as we share our 5 favorite opening movie scenes, all ready to stream on HBO Go and best enjoyed with the Philippines’ undisputed fastest home Internet connection, PLDT Home!
Inglorious Basterds
From IMDB
The opening scene of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds is nothing short of a masterpiece. The film’s opening scene not only introduced the audience to the film’s main villain, Col. Hans Landa, but also introduced the world to the talents of Christoph Waltz. Tarantino’s meticulous attention to detail ensured that the audience immediately knew that Landa was as cunning as he was intelligent. With every word and gesture on screen, Tarantino masterfully built tension and suspense that set the stage for the rest of this fantastic film. Stream Inglorious Basterds on HBO Go, powered by PLDT Home.
The Dark Knight
Courtesy of HBO Go
The opening scene of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight shares many similarities with our first favorite. It’s an epic introduction to one of film’s most memorable antagonists—Heath Ledger's Joker, and a showcase of his formidable nature. What sets it apart, and makes it memorable in its own right, is that this opening bank heist barely has the Joker on screen. It’s more of a demonstration of how brilliantly he orchestrates crimes–an aspect to his character that gets a wonderful callback in the film’s most pivotal moment. Watch The Dark Knight on HBO Go, powered by PLDT Home.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Courtesy of HBO Go
The opening scene of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad immediately establishes just how different his version would be from David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. It introduced members of Task Force X that were a lot wackier and goofier than the previous film. The opening scene also established just how expendable and replaceable every member was–making it a hilarious and action-packed start to a film full of them. Check out The Suicide Squad on HBO Go, powered by PLDT Home.
Star Trek (2009)
Courtesy of HBO Go
JJ Abrams’ reboot of the Star Trek film franchise doesn’t waste any time and immediately puts the audience in the heat of a tension-filled crisis. The sudden appearance of an unknown hostile ship, the immediate panic it causes among the crew of the USS Kelvin, the signature Abrams tease of a bigger mystery–all book-ended by a heroic display of what it truly means to be a captain of a ship. Watch Star Trek on HBO Go, powered by PLDT Home.
Shrek
Courtesy of HBO Go
The opening scene of Shrek, by traditional film criticism or standards, is nothing to write home about. The opening scene firmly establishes Shrek’s character and how the film parodies well-known fairy tales, but that’s not what makes it memorable for us. Truthfully, it’s thanks to the use of Smash Mouth’s All-Star that Shrek’s opening scene, and how it sets the tone for the fun and upbeat ride this movie delivers. Stream Shrek on HBO Go, powered by PLDT Home.
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