10 Movies Where The First Scene Is The Best

Even with director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin attached, it was easy to be skeptical about The Social Network turning the story of Facebook's creation into a worthwhile drama.

But those opening five minutes sure enough obliterated any remaining doubt, as Fincher and Sorkin delivered a masterfully conceived, fast-building argument between Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara).

As the two drink in a local Boston pub, Mark becomes increasingly agitated and insecure during a discussion about final clubs - not finals clubs, as Mark reminds her - while Erica grows irritated and treats Mark with an understandably sarcastic contempt.

The scene, a ping pong match of barbs being shuttled back and forth, climaxes with Erica breaking up with Mark and dispensing this cuttingly brutal final blow:

"You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an a**hole."

This is the single event which sets up the rest of Zuckerberg's journey - an expertly written, directed, acted, and edited five-minute verbal spectacle that's more exhilarating than most blockbuster set-pieces you'll ever see.

The Social Network is an incredible film, but this opening scene - which reportedly took 99 takes to complete - is as perfect as it ever gets.