20 Most Epic Character Introductions In Movies

17. John Doe - Se7en (1995)

David Fincher's psychological thriller takes its time in revealing who is responsible for the murders based on the seven deadly sins, letting the audience make their own decisions about what kind of man would commit such heinous crimes. When John Doe turns himself in at the police station, the sight of everyman actor Kevin Spacey came as a complete shock.

In a shrewd move, the marketing didn't make any mention of Spacey's name in an attempt to keep the killer's identity a secret. Generally associated with his dramatic character work, the actor adds layers of complexity to a character that could have ended up as one-dimensional in the wrong hands. Walking into the police station covered in blood and screaming at Brad Pitt's David Mills before calmly giving himself up, the reveal is a brilliant second-act twist and one hell of an introduction. Spacey's John Doe is a mild-mannered serial killer, believing his actions to be justified and dropping cryptic hints about his motivations. Introducing the character elevates the movie above a standard procedural and ramps up the tension as things come to a head (no pun intended!) , and the gut-punching final scene is a direct result of John Doe's memorable introduction.