Top 20 Most Epic Movie Entrances
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best debuts to characters in film. We won’t be including any animated entries.
Transcript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best debuts to characters
00:10in film.
00:11And just a heads up, we won't be including any animated entries in this video.
00:26Shark attacks at Amity Island leave the whole town up in arms.
00:29A meeting at the town hall is extremely chaotic, with everyone voicing their opinions all at
00:34once.
00:35However, when they hear nails on a chalkboard, everyone stops and pays attention.
00:39This is how we're introduced to the grizzled shark hunter, Quint.
00:43And once he has their attention, Quint makes clear the threat of the monstrous fish and
00:46offers to kill it for $10,000.
00:57Robert Shaw's performance is magnetic and captivating right from the get-go.
01:02There are few actors who can deliver such a great speech while munching on crackers.
01:15Meryl Streep commands the screen in practically every role, but her introduction in this film
01:18is especially legendary.
01:20After the staff of fashion magazine Runway are informed of editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly's
01:25unexpected imminent arrival, they all panic.
01:30Shoes are changed, workplaces are tidied, and loins are girded in preparation for their
01:34tyrannical boss' arrival.
01:36And this is all interspersed with shots of Miranda that gradually reveal more and more
01:41of her as she arrives.
01:42Her staff, and even other people in the building, may do their best to stay out of their way,
01:46but we can't get enough.
01:48Though, to be fair, Miranda can't tear us a new one through the screen, probably, maybe,
01:55hopefully.
02:03There are few actors quite as extra as Tim Curry, and few would argue that his most extra
02:08role of all is that of Dr Frankenfurter.
02:11When Brad and Janet find themselves in Frank's castle, they're unnerved by the vibe of
02:15the inhabitants.
02:16Things reach another level entirely, though, when Frank descends in an elevator and launches
02:20into his famous musical number, Sweet Transvestite.
02:31Between Curry's scenery-chewing performance, and daring and iconic fashion choices, and
02:36the oh-so-catchy song, this is one scene that never fails to deliver, or make us shiver
02:40with anticipation.
02:56You might think that in a movie with a green-faced, reality-warping cartoon of a character, played
03:00by Jim Curry, it would be impossible for anyone to have a better introduction than him.
03:05And you'd be wrong.
03:06With a clap of thunder, Tina Carlyle walks into the bank where the future Mask's alter-ego,
03:10Stanley Ipkiss, works.
03:17The long, lingering shots on Carlyle and her red dress, combined with Ipkiss and his co-worker's
03:22stunned reactions, make it one of the most flattering introductions to a character, and
03:26to the actress too, since it was Cameron Diaz's first movie role.
03:30Male gaze gone wild?
03:31Absolutely.
03:32But the Mask really does put it best with his reaction to her later.
03:35It's an unforgettable one, for sure.
03:47The elusive chocolatier Willy Wonka is much discussed in the early part of the film that
03:51bears his name, so there's already plenty of build-up by the time five kids and their
03:55parents and guardians are granted the opportunity to tour his famous factory.
04:00Yet, when the door opens and we see Gene Wilder decked out in that iconic purple coat and
04:04top hat, the audience, both on and off screen, is riveted.
04:08After a slow, limping walk to the gate, he seemingly forgets his cane and falls forward,
04:13only to turn it into a roll.
04:18It's a perfect distillation of Wonka's character, with an element of mercurial whimsy
04:24and deception at play from the very beginning.
04:27And better?
04:28Wilder improvised the role.
04:30What a legend!
04:45This Indian period action romp is pretty epic in every single scene, and while Ram's fiery
04:50entrance is awesome as well, and kind of terrifying, we're going for his bestie's introduction
04:55instead.
04:56Cameron Beam's debut starts with an incredible upside-down reflection shot, and it only gets
05:01better from there.
05:08The village guardian covers himself in blood and attempts to lure a wolf into a trap laid
05:12by his friends.
05:13However, a tiger is lying in wait on the path.
05:17After the huge cat chases off the wolf, Beam catches the tiger instead.
05:21Except the tie on the neck comes undone, forcing some unprecedented acts of manliness.
05:29Beam comes face-to-face with the beast, and ultimately puts it to sleep.
05:33So bad-ass.
05:34Look, we know the original Terminator basically did the same entrance first, but you know
05:53what?
05:54Like just about everything else, the sequel did it better.
05:56In an empty parking lot, lightning and then a dark sphere appears, out of which appears
06:00the iconic Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
06:03He may be naked, but he aims to rectify that by going into a nearby bar.
06:13He scans the bewildered occupants for matching-sized clothes, and then tears his way through anyone
06:18who tries to stop him.
06:28Much like the song that plays over its conclusion, this introduction is bad to the bone.
06:44This famous epic is loaded with memorable scenes, yet there's something special about
06:48this one.
06:49The eponymous Lawrence and his guide have stopped at a well when they hear a noise in
06:53the distance, and a shape appears in the mirage-shrouded horizon.
06:57It's gradually revealed to be a man riding a camel approaching them.
07:00The guide panics and goes for his gun, only to be shot by the man, Sheriff Alley.
07:03I mean, it is Alley's well after all.
07:11Between the amazing mirage shot and Alley's punny joke, it's an unforgettable scene
07:15of classic cinema.
07:20As one of the most memorable movie villains ever, it's natural that Hans Lander makes
07:29quite the entrance.
07:31The Nazi investigator visits French dairy farmer Perrier-Lapetit's farm in search
07:35of Jews in hiding.
07:37Despite his horrifying objective, Lander is charming and well-spoken.
07:41Yet, as his interrogation continues and his reputation as the Jew-hunter becomes clear,
07:46Lander becomes more and more sinister.
07:52Eventually, he makes it clear that he knows the Jews are there, and where they are.
07:59The permission he gets to have them killed only makes the moment more heartbreaking.
08:03At 19 minutes, it's a long introduction, but the scene is such a masterclass of writing,
08:08direction and acting that it's well worth the wait.
08:14Yes, we know, Clark Kent appears before this scene in the film, but the debut of his red,
08:26yellow and blue-wearing alter-ego is the iconic entrance we all remember.
08:30When Lois Lane is involved in a helicopter accident, Clark makes a quick change in a
08:33revolving door and flies to her rescue.
08:44Lois' reaction is perfect, and the Man of Steel's cryptic words leave her as intrigued
08:48as we are.
08:49Is the scene a bit dated and silly by today's standards?
08:52Yeah, probably.
08:53But then the iconic John Williams score kicks in and, well, you believe a man can fly.
09:10The opening scene of this superhero film sees a group touring the White House.
09:15However, a suspicious mutant member of the tour lingers and begins attacking guards.
09:28Kurt Wagner, better known as Nightcrawler, tears his way through security by teleporting,
09:32running along walls and generally causing chaos, all set to music by Mozart.
09:42The brainwashed mutant comes inches away from assassinating the US President.
09:46The whole scene remains not only one of the greatest showcases of teleportation ever put
09:50on screen, but also one of the best introductions for a superhero movie.
10:03In 1999, audiences and theatres were not prepared for this scene, and it still gives us chills
10:08today.
10:09Following an ambiguous phone conversation, we see several policemen approach a woman
10:13in a dimly lit room.
10:14Agents arrive and warn the officer in charge, his men are already dead.
10:18Cut to Trinity, who easily dispatches the officers in an iconic and then unprecedented
10:22slow-mo shot, as well as some high kicks and wall running.
10:30Her ensuing escape sees her and one of the pursuing agents leap across huge gaps.
10:35Our minds were blown back then, and it remains an iconic and incredible introduction to both
10:39Trinity and the Matrix itself.
10:56Sometimes the introduction of a character can sum them up in their entirety.
11:00Such is the case with the entrance of Captain Jack Sparrow.
11:02We're treated to an epic shot of Jack atop a mast, riding into the harbour, but upon
11:07heroically swinging down, he lands in a puddle of his flooding and small boat.
11:16This kind of grandeur offset by comedy is the essence of Jack Sparrow, and then he just
11:20sort of steps off the top of his mast, with perfect timing, onto the dock.
11:24The arrival of Jack Sparrow, or Mr. Smith, to Port Royal is one we won't forget any
11:29time soon.
11:35Movie monsters often make dramatic entrances, but this dinosaur tears the rest to shreds.
11:45When a tour group of the titular park is stranded near the Tyrannosaurus Rex's paddock after
11:49the power is cut, disaster is just inevitable.
11:52First, Tim notices a booming sound, and the cups of water left on the dashboard start
11:57to shake.
12:01Soon he and Lex notice the goat, meant to be the dino's dinner, is missing.
12:10The T-Rex soon escapes its enclosure, giving its famous roar.
12:13Its ensuing rampage and the group's desperate attempts to escape it make for an incredible
12:17debut for this mighty movie predator.
12:26The land of Oz seems a whimsical and enchanting place upon Dorothy Gale and Toto's arrival.
12:36The Munchkins are quite happy that Dorothy's house killed the Wicked Witch of the East,
12:40but with a cloud of red smoke, their celebrations are interrupted and the witch's sister,
12:44the Wicked Witch of the West, makes her debut.
12:50The witch's sickly green look, broomstick and explosive entrance and exit make an immediate
12:55impression, as does her famous threat against Dorothy and her small canine.
13:03Playing the witch, poor Margaret Hamilton actually got terribly burned making her fiery
13:07escape, a painful price to pay to make that lasting impression.
13:20Hannibal Lecter, the Silence of the Lambs
13:31This cannibalistic psychiatrist is an absolutely iconic villain, and his introduction makes
13:36quite an impact.
13:37Trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling arrives to interview Dr. Lecter, and after passing
13:42unhinged crazed criminals, she sees Hannibal, standing there unnervingly straight and already
13:47staring at her.
14:00Her attempt to get him to fill in the survey may be unsuccessful, but her journey is far
14:04from wasted.
14:05While he's the one behind the glass, Hannibal still dominates the conversation, alternating
14:09between erudite musings, insightfully snide insults and straight-up terrifying behaviour.
14:14And just like Clarice, while we may find Dr. Lecter frightening, it's impossible
14:18not to be enthralled by his every word.
14:31Who doesn't love a good heist, eh?
14:32Well, the Clown Prince of Crime certainly does.
14:35In this tense opening sequence, a group of clown-masked criminals rob a mob bank.
14:40As the tension mounts, several of them kill other members of the crew, reducing the number
14:44of ways the hall has to be split.
14:46Eventually, with two men left, one suspects that he's next, but the last man distracts
14:50him long enough to be hit by the bus.
14:57When the mob enforcer rails at the final clown, asking what principles he has, the criminal
15:01removes his mask, revealing the Joker in full make-up.
15:05Keith Ledger's Joker may be stranger, but his reveal and performance are immaculate.
15:26In 1936, in the Peruvian jungle, we're introduced to one of cinema's most famous heroes.
15:32After one of his guides betrays him, and he whips away the gun, we're treated to a fantastic
15:36shot of Indy himself.
15:42He and his remaining guide proceed inside a ruined temple laden with booby traps.
15:46From Indiana replacing the Golden Idol with a bag of sand, to the giant boulder trap,
15:50to his frantic escape from the natives, this sequence is iconic from start to finish.
15:54And it's not just an epic introduction to Indiana Jones, either.
15:57It's also one of the most famous scenes in film, period.
16:10The entire opening sequence of the original Star Wars film is epic, from the initial shot
16:14of the ship to Princess Leia's memorable plea for help.
16:17But it's the introduction of one of cinema's greatest villains that sticks out the most.
16:21With just a change in ominous music and the overpowering, unforgettable sound of his breathing,
16:25Darth Vader's presence immediately screams, bad guy.
16:35I mean sure, James L. Jones' amazing voice, the iconic costume, and the fact that Darth
16:39Vader chokes a guy out in pursuit of the Death Star plans are pretty big clues that he's
16:43a bad guy, too.
16:44The point is, that every other movie villain could take a lesson on how to make a dramatic
16:48entrance from Vader.
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17:15There are plenty of surprising character entrances out there, and then there's this one.
17:19There's really no preparing for it, and you're never the same after watching it.
17:24The crew of the Nostromo have a scare with an alien lifeform attaching itself to Kane's
17:28face, but after removing it, everything seems to be fine and dandy.
17:37But then, Kane starts to feel a bit unwell.
17:40As he convulses in pain, the crew hold him down and a small alien infant bursts from
17:45his torso.
17:50There is truly no movie introduction quite like this one.
17:56So is there a movie character's debut we forgot to include?
17:59We need your comments, your boots, and your motorcycle, down below.