10 Best Horror Movie Opening Scenes Of The 2020s (So Far)

To grab viewers' attention, movies often tend to start with a bang, and when it comes to horror, things may start with a bludgeoning, a dismemberment, or a lopped-off head. Of course, slashers, psychological thrillers, and monster B-movies can be equally gripping if they open with something slower and subtler. Other times, the prologue sets up a thought-provoking mystery, hoping to captivate the audience from the get-go.

And while reflecting on the current decade, there have been certain horrors that left everyone enthralled within the first few minutes.

Now, that's not to suggest every entry on this list is great - in fact, a few of them teeter on "average" - but regardless of how the finished product turned out, it's difficult to fault the beginning. Whether it's the visceral performances, innovative filmmaking, sharp dialogue, or the intriguing premise, there was something about each of the following preambles that had moviegoers shaking in their boots straight away.

If you're unsure whether to give these films from the 2020s a go, just watch the first couple of minutes. After that, it's almost guaranteed you'll want to check out some of them in their entirety.

Although Oddity explores psychic powers and other otherworldly elements, the introduction deals with a more grounded but equally terrifying scenario: a home invasion.

A young woman, Dani, hears a knock at her front door and peers through the peephole to find a one-eyed stranger called Olin. When he orders her to open the door, Dani naturally refuses, believing the potential intruder wishes her harm. But according to Olin, somebody has already infiltrated Dani's house. In that moment, Dani doesn't know whether putting her trust into this stranger will be her salvation or her undoing.

It's a very simple but palpable scene, due to the haunting premise, eerie atmosphere, and tense performances. Though it can be annoying when a character in a horror movie doesn't take a threat seriously, Dani comes across as realistically cautious rather than foolish. Olin seems sincere, but his unusual appearance and erratic manner make Dani justifiably wary.

As petrifying as a home invasion is, not knowing whether the threat is real can be more frightening, since Dani could be put in more danger if she leaves. It isn't revealed until much later whether Olin was telling the truth, intensifying the tension exponentially.