Summary

• Opening scenes can be deceptive, leading viewers to believe certain movies are better than they are.
• Intense openings can set the bar too high for a movie, leading to disappointment later on.
• Films like Green Lantern and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom have strong starts but fall flat once they're done.

Incredible opening scenes can be deceptive, with some first scenes lying about how good their movies will be after. While the opening scene of a movie should be gripping enough to draw viewers in, it shouldn't be the only compelling part of the entire film. There are plenty of films that put a lot of effort into making their opening scenes magnificent but fall short during what comes after. While these movies may not be the worst releases, they certainly prove disappointing.

A good opening scene should give the audience an idea of what the rest of the movie is going to be like. When the beginning of a movie is better than the actual plot, there is a problem. Movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Inglourious Basterds have wonderful opening scenes that pull the audience into the story from the start. However, these films keep viewers engaged all the way through — unlike movies that drop the ball after a great beginning.

10 Sucker Punch (2011)

The Intense Opening Overshadows Everything Else

The opening scene of Sucker Punch accurately describes the title of the film. Baby Doll is taken to a psychiatric ward after her step-father murders her mother and abuses her and her little sister. After the accidental death of the sister, for which Baby Doll is blamed, the step-father bribes a hospital orderly into itting her. The opening scene feels so surreal with its use of slow motion and an eerie version of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" playing in the background. While the rest of Sucker Punch maintains this atmosphere, it feels weak compared to the intensity of the opening.

9 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

From Raiding A Hydra Base To A Mediocre Action Film

The opening scene of Avengers: Age of Ultron showcases the dynamic of the Avengers after New York. The banter between the characters and the seamless way they infiltrate the Hydra base is so much fun to watch. It's exactly what viewers expect from a superhero movie. After that, though, Avengers: Age of Ultron ultimately turns out to be a weak sequel to its predecessor. The camaraderie seen within the first few minutes soon dissolves, and the rest of the film falls flat because of it.

8 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

A Dinosaur Attack In The Dark Sets A High Bar

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opens with a team of researchers trying to collect a bone sample from Indominus rex on Isla Nublar in the midst of a stormy night. The submarine team is quietly eaten by a Mosasaurus, and the helicopter team is attacked by a Tyrannosaurus rex while trying to escape. The scene is so suspenseful and well-executed. Seeing the T. rex illuminated by flashes of lightning is unnerving, as are the silent deaths of the submersible team. The rest of the film can't live up to the tension created in the opening scene.

7 Lord Of War (2005)

The First Few Minutes Hit The Hardest

A film about an illegal arms dealer, Lord of War begins with the life of a bullet. The camera angle is from the perspective of the bullet as it is made and then shipped away to a war-torn country. The scene ends when the bullet is fired into the head of a child soldier on the streets. It's a magnificent opening for Lord of War, which is all about the morality of arms dealing, both legally and illegally. Ending the opening scene with the death of a child is a hard-hitting tactic. Unfortunately, the remainder of the film does not live up to the message of the first few minutes.

6 Green Lantern (2011)

The Parallax awakens

The opening scene of 2011's Green Lantern is perfectly unsettling. The audience watches as three beings crash-land on the planet Ryut, where the Parallax is imprisoned. As the Parallax is made up of fear, it makes sense that its awakening is horrifying to witness. The survivors accidentally stumble into its prison and are killed as the Parallax feeds on their fear to the point of destroying their bodies. The scene encapsulates what makes the Parallax such a terrifying villain. The rest of Green Lantern is a well-known disappointment, but its opening scene may lead viewers to think otherwise.

5 Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets (2017)

A Heartwarming Opening Before A Letdown

The titular city of a thousand planets refers to what was once the International Space Station. Now called Alpha, the station had to be moved into deep space after so many beings inhabited it that it became a city. The opening scene of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets shows this transformation. Beginning with astronauts from various countries on Earth and ending with alien species, the of Alpha greet everyone who comes with a handshake. It's a heartwarming scene, as many movies involving aliens depict either them or humans as hostile. The camaraderie is nice to see, even though the rest of the film is a letdown.

4 Hancock (2008)

The Opening Police Chase Feels Disconnected From The Rest

Will Smith stars as the titular character in Hancock, an immortal superhuman whose alcoholism leads him to use his powers recklessly for good. In the opening scene, Hancock is woken up to help with a police chase on the freeway, which he does through a series of dangerous acts that end with the suspects' vehicle impaled on a building. Watching Hancock's erratic flight pattern and complete disregard for the damage he does highlights the key aspects of his character. The rest of the film, however, falls short after such a good opening. The final act of Hancock is confusing and feels disconnected from the film's excellent beginning.

3 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

An Exciting Setup With Little Pay-Off

The beginning of X-Men Origins: Wolverine shows Wolverine's past as he and his brother become soldiers for a century. The scene is shot as a montage, with the pair fighting in multiple wars. It demonstrates how close the brothers were, setting the stage for their rivalry later on. Most of X-Men Origins: Wolverine's problems stem from the fact that it doesn't live up to the Marvel movies that came before it. While the opening scene is exciting, what follows isn't. By the time it came out, Marvel was establishing itself as a powerhouse, so anything that didn't meet its new standards was bound to be a flop.

2 Spectre (2015)

Most Of The Movie Fell Short Of Other James Bond Films

James Bond infiltrates a Day of the Dead celebration in the opening sequence of Spectre. The cinematography of the scene is beautiful, with the normally bright colors of the Day of the Dead muted by the dust from the explosion. The chaos works well with the frantic nature of Bond's mission, and the fight scene in the helicopter is thrilling. Given the popularity of the James Bond franchise, however, it's not surprising that the rest of Spectre fell short of others like Skyfall. Movies that are a part of beloved and acclaimed franchises are always held to higher standards, and outside the opening, Spectre didn't meet them.

1 Mortal Kombat (2021)

The Prelude Is The Best Part

The opening scene of 2021's Mortal Kombat is a perfect short film, showcasing the beginning of Sub-Zero and Scorpion's story arc within Mortal Kombat. Bi-Han (Sub-Zero) fights with Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion) after killing Hanzo's clan and family. Hanzo is eventually killed by Bi-Han before Raiden appears to rescue Hanzo's daughter, who was hidden before Bi-Han could find her. The scene is reminiscent of wuxia films with its incredibly choreographed fight scenes and dramatic tension. For it to act as a prelude to the 2021 Mortal Kombat is misleading, as the rest of the movie does not live up to the opening scene.