9 Stunning Opening Movie Scenes That Hooked You Immediately

1. Raging Bull

This may not be the first Scorsese intro on the list, but it is the first title credits scene. The cinematic thunderbolt that was Raging Bull is a poetic study of a man dying of his own accord. A self-destructive boxer who's frustrations lay immersed outside of the ring; it's a deeply profound investigation of a man having to battle his inner insecurities and his sexual masculinity.

Raging Bull is an expertly crafted analysis of a person becoming their own worst enemy. It's examined with intense scrutiny and more importantly, highlighted brilliantly by a stunning opening frame. The opening shot is a masterful play of imagery, score, and analogy. As the hauntingly beautiful 'Intermezzo' fades in, Robert De Niro's Jake LaMotta stands alone in the ring, dancing across the floor fighting an invisible opponent, himself.

Upon reflection the scene stands as a masterful touch from Scorsese, reminding us that sometimes scrupulous attention pays off. It can sometimes be the finer details of each shot that truly brings out a film's beauty. A nod to the themes that the film will later explore, the image of LaMotta sparring himself in the ring is an image that works wonderfully before watching the film, but more poignantly after finishing it.