From Collider · Daniel Boyer · · 1m 30s
10 Scary Movies That Hooked You in First 10 Minutes
10 horror films that instantly became masterpieces with their opening scenes.
In brief
10 horror films that instantly became masterpieces with their opening scenes. 10 horror movies with unforgettable openings that signaled they'd become classics. Originally reported by Collider.
Sinners (2025)
Ryan Coogler's Sinners opens with Sammy returning to his father's church traumatized after a violent event.
“Sammy returned to his father's church traumatized and gripping his broken guitar”
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Herk Harvey's 1962 film Carnival of Souls features Mary surviving a car accident that drives off a bridge.
“Mary became the only survivor after her and her friends' car accidentally drives off a bridge into a river”
Black Christmas (1974)
Bob Clark's Black Christmas uses point-of-view shots of a stalker approaching a sorority house.
“The POV shots, combined with the already established dark mood, instantly clued me into the type of horror”
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's Get Out opens with Andre being stalked by a mysterious assailant in a black knight's helmet.
“Take, for instance, its opening, which features a central character, Andre being stalked and kidnapped by a mysterious assailant”
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead follows Barbara and Johnny arriving at a cemetery attacked by zombies.
“It follows the main character, Barbara, and her brother Johnny as they arrive at a cemetery and are attacked by a freshly resurrected zombie”
It Follows (2014)
It Follows opens with Annie being chased by an entity that claims her life after a one-night stand.
“It gets right under the skin and terrifies viewers with its amazingly creative concept about a young woman who, after an eerie one-night stand, begins seeing a strange entity”
Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist opens with Carol Anne communicating with supernatural forces through a TV in her family's home.
“Carol Anne is drawn to the living room TV and communicates with supernatural forces”
Jaws (1975)
Jaws opens with Chrissie being pulled beneath the waves by a shark.
“A poor swimmer, Chrissie, as she's pulled beneath the waves by a shark”
Halloween (1978)
Halloween opens with Michael Myers stalking Judith Myers before being unmasked by adults.
“After brutally stabbing the poor girl upstairs, the masked killer walks back downstairs, where he's confronted and unmasked by two adults”
Scream (1996)
Scream opens with Casey receiving a threatening call from a masked killer using horror movie tropes.
“The character, Casey, receives a threatening call one dark night from a sinister voice who makes her play his deadly game”
The one thing
10 horror movies with unforgettable openings that signaled they'd become classics.
