The best science fiction movies immediately pull you into their unique settings. They often achieve this through captivating visuals or by starting with intense action, immediately establishing the story’s urgency. No matter the director or methods used, truly great sci-fi films use every moment of the opening scene to transport the audience to a different time and place.
Over the years, many science fiction movies have captivated viewers, but only a handful of opening scenes have truly become iconic. These scenes – set in places ranging from the beginning of humankind to a futuristic Los Angeles and a distant galaxy – have become more than just parts of their films. They’ve inspired countless filmmakers and are often referenced or imitated, making them recognizable even to people who haven’t seen the movies themselves.
7) The Fifth Element
Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element immediately throws viewers into a strange archaeological puzzle. The film opens in 1914 Egypt, where an ancient temple holds the key to humanity’s survival. A professor (John Bennett) and his assistant (Luke Perry) discover hieroglyphs that predict the end of the world. As golden light reveals the carvings, the professor exclaims, “Aziz! Light!” The suspense builds until the scene is dramatically interrupted by the arrival of massive alien creatures called the Mondoshawans.
Éric Serra’s memorable music perfectly accompanies the Mondoshawans as they hide humanity’s most dangerous weapon, the Fifth Element. It’s a surprisingly enjoyable mix of thrilling action and impressive visuals. The alien characters, brought to life with a combination of robots and performers in suits, still look great. This scene expertly introduces viewers to Luc Besson’s imaginative world, establishes the film’s central prophecy, and hints at the grand story that’s about to unfold.
6) Children of Men
As a sci-fi fan, I have to say the opening to Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is just stunningly realistic. It throws you right into a bleak London in 2027, where humanity hasn’t been able to have babies for nearly two decades, and the last naturally born person has just passed away. We meet Clive Owen’s character, Theo, in a coffee shop, watching the awful news with everyone else. Then, boom – the café gets blown up right after he walks out. What’s incredible is how it’s all filmed in one long, shaky shot – you see the dust, hear the screams, and it all feels terrifyingly real, like you’re actually there.
The film opens with a famous, unbroken shot that immediately grabs your attention and has become a signature of director Cuarón’s work. This sequence contributed to the film Children of Men receiving Academy Award nominations for its visuals, editing, and story. Within the first two minutes, the movie quickly establishes its dark and realistic dystopian world.
5) The Matrix
The opening of the Wachowskis’ The Matrix begins with streams of green code, quickly cutting to police investigating a deserted building. We’re then introduced to Trinity, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, whose pursuit leads to a fast-paced, green-tinted chase. This sequence showcases everything The Matrix is known for – black leather outfits, impressively choreographed slow-motion fights, a phone call with Morpheus, gravity-defying stunts, and a daring escape through a public phone booth. The music by Don Davis and Bill Pope’s dynamic camerawork combine to create an immediate and captivating energy.
From the very beginning, The Matrix establishes itself as a groundbreaking science fiction film, and it lives up to that expectation. It went on to revolutionize the look and feel of sci-fi, inspiring numerous sequels, spin-offs, and video games. Critics immediately recognized it as a classic, particularly praising the Wachowskis’ visually stunning, anime-influenced style. Even today, the iconic rooftop chase perfectly captures what makes The Matrix so captivating.
4) Blade Runner 2049 (and the original Blade Runner)
Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 immediately re-establishes the world of Ridley Scott’s 1982 film. It begins with a close-up of a replicant’s eye, a visual that’s repeated as the film shows the desolate, futuristic city. As Ryan Gosling’s character, Officer K, arrives at a distant farm, the film uses powerful sound, very little dialogue – hallmarks of Villeneuve’s style – and stunning visuals from cinematographer Roger Deakins. Early on, K eliminates a rebellious replicant, played by Dave Bautista, quickly establishing the film’s dark and serious mood.
I remember the first time I saw the opening of the original Blade Runner – it totally blew my mind and introduced me to that whole cyberpunk world. And when I saw Denis Villeneuve’s 2049, I was amazed. He didn’t just copy Ridley Scott’s style, he improved on it. He clearly understood what made the original so special and built on that. Seriously, within just the first few minutes of 2049, you’re completely immersed in this incredibly lonely, artificial world – it’s just masterful filmmaking, and he subtly hints at everything to come.
3) Jurassic Park
The beginning of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park shows park warden Robert Muldoon and his team trying to move a Velociraptor—later identified as the largest one—into its enclosure. It’s nighttime and dark, and when a worker named Jophery Brown climbs onto the crate to open the gate, the raptor attacks, pulling him away. Muldoon tries to save him, shouting, “Shoot her!” as the raptor badly injures Jophery’s legs and drags him off.
The film immediately establishes the main conflict and creates suspense without relying on excessive visuals. When Jurassic Park came out in 1993, reviewers quickly recognized its ability to build tension from the very beginning. The sound design—hissing, yelling, and the electric fence buzzing—does much of the work, showing only brief glimpses of the dinosaur. This restraint is brilliantly effective, immediately making it clear that bringing these creatures back to life was a terrible idea.
2) Star Wars: A New Hope
The original Star Wars film begins with a famous opening crawl that quickly explains the backstory. The camera then reveals an unforgettable scene: a small Rebel ship desperately trying to escape a huge Star Destroyer. John Williams’ powerful music and the sound of laser blasts immediately create a sense of adventure and highlight the underdog story that’s about to begin.
When A New Hope first came out, it was unlike anything audiences had ever experienced. George Lucas pioneered new filmmaking techniques using models and precise camera movements, setting the stage for the modern blockbuster. The film’s opening sequence brilliantly captured its grand scale and excitement, and it’s been famously imitated in shows like Spaceballs and Family Guy. Even after more than forty years, that opening still thrills viewers and effectively hints at the epic adventure to come.
1) 2001: A Space Odyssey
Few sci-fi movies begin as memorably as 2001: A Space Odyssey. Instead of starting in space, as you might expect, director Stanley Kubrick opens the film on Earth, depicting the very beginning of humankind – the “Dawn of Man.” We see early humans struggling to survive until a strange, black monolith appears. Suddenly, one ape realizes it can use a bone as a tool and even a weapon. Kubrick brilliantly cuts from the spinning bone to a spaceship in orbit, visually jumping forward millions of years of evolution. And when the powerful opening chords of Richard Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra” begin, you instantly know you’re about to experience something special.
The opening of 1968’s 2001: A Space Odyssey still amazes viewers and is considered one of the greatest sci-fi beginnings ever. It’s been referenced countless times in other works, from shows like The Simpsons, Mad Men, and Monty Python, to anime like Attack on Titan, and even films such as Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. The sequence immediately establishes a key theme: that violence is central to human development. This visually impressive and meaningful opening scene sets 2001: A Space Odyssey apart as a truly unique and groundbreaking work of science fiction.
Did we miss any memorable opening scenes? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-11-01 17:17