10 Best Horror Movie Opening Scenes Of The 1990s

Crafting the perfect movie intro can be tricky, especially when it comes to horror. Keep things too mysterious or vague, and the opening could be disorienting or confusing in a bad way. Lavish the audience with exposition and detail, and you could end up killing the momentum instantly.

In theory, the easiest way to get everybody's attention is to start off with a bombastic kill. But if the story or stakes aren't established, this approach can come across as gratuitous or gimmicky.

Thankfully, there are plenty of horror movies that have managed to nail the opening over the years, and those made in the 1990s are no exception. During this decade, there was a whole batch of slashers, paranormal thrillers, and spooky anthologies that kicked things off with an enticing and memorable opening sequence, becoming iconic and highly influential in the process. 

Even though some of these openers are brief, they had us hooked immediately. Others went on for quite a while, yet never tested our patience, due to sharp writing and solid performances. Several didn't rely on violence or any horror elements whatsoever, yet still had us locked in straight away.

Whether they revolved around ghosts, kooks, or spooks, these nineties horror classics all knew how to start with a bang...

Species begins with text, in which it's revealed how astrophysicists sent transmissions into space during the 1980s, hoping to find signs of intelligent life.

It then cuts to a high-tech government facility, where scientists are working beside a containment unit which houses a young girl, Sil (played by a pre-fame Michelle Williams). While the child looks around scared and confused, workers in hazmat suits casually attach cyanide canisters to her unit, preparing to kill her. Due to the scientists' callous actions and Sil's innocent demeanour, it's natural to sympathise with her.

But when Sil punches her way out of her cell and escapes the facility, viewers are forced to readjust their preconceptions. As she flees, she's chased by dozens of heavily armed soldiers, watchdogs, military jeeps, and helicopters, indicating Sil is far more dangerous than she appears. As a result, viewers are wary of Sil for the rest of Species' runtime, no matter how sweet and innocuous she behaves.

What makes Species' opener stand out is how it perfectly blends science fiction intrigue with intense action. With next to no dialogue, the scene quickly establishes world-building, character dynamics, and stakes, while also delivering an adrenaline-pumping set piece.