In the horror genre, few things are as critical as a killer opening.
While every movie benefits from a strong start, horror films demand it. From jolting jump scares to unforgettable bloodbaths, the first few minutes are often what convinces viewers to stay, or sends them scrambling for the remote.
Some of the most legendary scenes in horror history are found right at the beginning, setting the tone, building dread, and in many cases, launching the story with a bang. These nine unforgettable intros prove that when horror films start strong, they can hook audiences instantly — sometimes for life.
1. Halloween (1978)
Few horror intros have shaped a franchise as profoundly as Michael Myers' first kill. Seen from the perspective of a child, John Carpenter shows young Michael watching his sister and her boyfriend before grabbing a steak knife, slipping on a clown mask, and murdering her in cold blood. “Somehow, the creepiest part is when Michael runs downstairs after the fact, panting into his mask, only to be met by his confused parents, who rip it off to find he still hasn't left his bizarre fugue state.”
2. Jaws (1975)
On land, humans may rule the food chain — but in the sea, we’re helpless. The opening scene of Jaws taps into this primal fear perfectly. As Chrissy takes a solo swim, she's brutally attacked by a shark in a sequence that mirrors the film’s iconic poster. The scene’s infamous score and Spielberg’s use of POV shots force viewers into the predator’s eyes, creating what would become the first modern blockbuster’s unforgettable beginning.
3. Midsommar (2019)
Some horror films begin with a tragedy so bleak, it stains every scene that follows. Midsommar opens on the aftermath of Dani’s sister’s murder-suicide, which also takes the lives of their parents via carbon monoxide poisoning. Cut to her boyfriend Christian walking through snowy silence to try comforting her. “The sheer level of dread Ari Aster is able to conjure with this uncomfortably long glimpse into a disaster is hard to describe.”
4. Scream (1996)
Arguably the most legendary horror opening ever, Scream introduces us to Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker as she flirts with a mysterious caller. That flirty chat turns nightmarish when Ghostface begins quizzing her on horror movie trivia — then kills her with a dagger. “The fact that Scream was willing to cast a starlet like Drew Barrymore only to callously murder her was a shock to audiences in 1996, playing with standard slasher movie conventions.”
5. It Follows (2014)
A girl flees an unseen pursuer in a panicked sprint, running barefoot and crying into the night. What follows is the eerie image of her broken body on a beach. This is It Follows, using ambiguity and dread to maximum effect. “This scene only makes complete sense after watching the entire film, cleverly foreshadowing how the curse of It Follows works.”
6. A Quiet Place (2018)
In a world ruled by sound-hunting monsters, A Quiet Place opens with a near-silent stroll through a ruined town. A child’s toy makes a noise — and in seconds, he's gone. “This scene is a great way to wordlessly explain how the monsters of A Quiet Place work, shown barreling across fast distances like a freight train to annihilate anything that makes noise above a certain decibel level.”
7. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton’s gothic slasher kicks off with a grim encounter between Peter Van Garrett and the infamous Headless Horseman. After his carriage driver is decapitated, Peter tries to flee but is hunted down and beheaded. “This scene instantly conveys the very real danger of the Horseman's myth.”
8. IT: Chapter One (2017)
A paper boat, a storm drain, and a child named Georgie set the stage for IT’s most infamous moment. When he meets Pennywise the Clown, the audience can only watch in horror as he's lured with talk of “popcorn and balloons.” “The creep factor turns to sudden shock when Pennywise finally snaps at his prey, taking off the young boy's entire arm and dragging him into the depths beneath the street to be devoured.”
9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The film’s documentary-style intro is nausea-inducing and unforgettable. “Over a black screen, a narrator explains the horror that's about to unfold… ending on a disturbing effigy of corpses piled on a tombstone like some sort of twisted monument.” It warns you exactly what kind of carnage is coming. “Not only is this sequence powerful enough to induce medical distress, but it makes it clear in no uncertain terms that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will not be for the squeamish.”
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