Films with Opening Scenes Set in Completely Different Genres

Many filmmakers utilize the opening minutes of a movie to subvert audience expectations or establish a backstory that contrasts with the main narrative. These prologues often employ distinct visual styles and tonal shifts that make them feel like entirely separate productions. A jarring introduction can heighten the emotional impact of the story by grounding the characters in a different reality before the primary plot takes over. The following films feature opening scenes that belong to a completely different genre than the rest of the runtime.

‘Up’ (2009)

Pixar delivers a crushing emotional blow in the first ten minutes of this animated feature. The prologue details the entire relationship between Carl and Ellie Fredricksen from childhood to old age. It plays as a silent romantic drama that stands in stark contrast to the colorful adventure that follows. The sequence establishes the protagonist’s motivation before shifting into a whimsical journey involving talking dogs and floating houses.

‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ (1996)

The first half of the film presents itself as a gritty crime thriller involving two bank-robbing brothers on the run. Seth and Richie Gecko kidnap a family to cross the Mexican border in a tense road movie scenario. The genre shifts abruptly once they arrive at the Titty Twister bar and vampires attack the patrons. What began as a Tarantino-esque crime drama transforms into a gore-filled supernatural horror survival film.

‘Drive’ (2011)

The opening sequence functions as a standalone heist film focused on precision driving and police evasion. The Driver navigates the streets of Los Angeles with a calm intensity while monitoring police scanners. This high-octane introduction sets a specific expectation regarding action that the rest of the film subverts. The narrative eventually settles into a slow-burn neo-noir romance characterized by stillness and sporadic violence.

‘Scream’ (1996)

Casey Becker receives a taunting phone call while preparing popcorn in an isolated house. The scene plays out as a terrifying self-contained home invasion short film. It builds extreme tension before ending in a shocking display of violence that kills off the biggest star on the poster. This cold open establishes the stakes before the movie transitions into a meta-commentary on slasher tropes within a high school setting.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

Young Peter Quill sits in a hospital waiting room listening to a mixtape before saying a tearful goodbye to his dying mother. This grounded and tragic family drama anchors the character in reality before he is abducted by aliens. The somber tone of the prologue differs greatly from the vibrant space opera that follows. Director James Gunn uses this emotional weight to balance the irreverent comedy and action of the main plot.

‘Blade’ (1998)

An unsuspecting human is lured into an underground rave that turns into a bloodbath when the sprinklers spray blood. The scene plays like a pure horror film focused on the helplessness of the victim amidst vampires. This terror ends abruptly when the Daywalker arrives to slaughter the undead with martial arts precision. The movie then becomes a stylized superhero action film rather than a traditional horror story.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

An elderly man walks through a cemetery in modern times with his family trailing behind him. The quiet and somber atmosphere suggests a reflective family drama about memory and loss. The camera zooms in on the veteran’s eyes before cutting to the chaotic and visceral Omaha Beach landing. This framing device bookends the intense war film with a gentle exploration of the cost of freedom.

‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)

Two drifters rob and murder travelers in their sleep during a gruesome prologue. The scene establishes a lurking horror threat and introduces the troglodyte antagonists in a slasher-like fashion. This violence sets a feeling of dread that hangs over the subsequent western narrative. The film spends most of its runtime as a character-driven cowboy trek before returning to the horror elements in the finale.

‘Bumblebee’ (2018)

The film opens with an intense sci-fi war sequence on the planet Cybertron featuring familiar robot characters. Optimus Prime leads a desperate resistance against Decepticon forces in a scene purely focused on large-scale combat. This action-heavy introduction gives way to a smaller story set in 1980s California. The bulk of the movie functions as a coming-of-age friendship tale rather than a galactic war epic.

‘Pineapple Express’ (2008)

A black-and-white prologue takes viewers to a secret government testing facility in 1937. A soldier smokes a mysterious substance and begins ranting about its effects while military officials observe him. The scene feels like a conspiratorial sci-fi thriller or a vintage military drama. It provides the origin story for the titular drug before the film jumps to the present day for a stoner comedy adventure.

‘A Serious Man’ (2009)

A Yiddish-speaking couple in a 19th-century Polish shtetl debates whether their visitor is a dybbuk. The wife stabs the man with an ice pick to prove he is a demon in a sequence that feels like a supernatural folktale. This bizarre and dark prologue seemingly has no narrative connection to the main story. The film transitions to 1967 Minnesota for a black comedy about a physics professor facing an existential crisis.

‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)

Woody and Buzz Lightyear engage in a high-stakes train rescue involving evil doctors and force fields. The sequence utilizes wide shots and epic scoring to mimic a blockbuster action western. It is eventually revealed to be a visualization of Andy’s imagination while playing with his toys. The reality of the scene shifts back to a bedroom setting to begin the family adventure plot.

‘The Empty Man’ (2020)

Four hikers in the Uzhura Valley encounter a mysterious skeleton in a cave during a twenty-minute prologue. The segment functions as a self-contained cosmic horror survival film set in snowy mountains. It establishes the supernatural rules of the entity before the title card finally appears. The narrative then moves to Missouri for a neo-noir detective story investigating a teen urban legend.

‘Overlord’ (2018)

Paratroopers prepare for a drop over enemy territory during the intense opening minutes of D-Day. The plane takes heavy fire and explodes in a sequence that rivals serious World War II dramas. Soldiers struggle to survive the crash and navigate the battlefield behind enemy lines. The movie maintains this realistic war tone for some time before revealing secret experiments and zombies.

‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’ (2002)

A high-speed chase sequence features explosions and stunts that parody big-budget action blockbusters. The scene stars Tom Cruise and other A-list celebrities acting out a movie within a movie. It presents a slick and serious aesthetic that contrasts with the campy reality of the actual franchise. The camera pulls back to reveal the characters watching this film in a theater.

‘Mortal Kombat’ (2021)

Hanzo Hasashi defends his family from assassins in 17th-century Japan during a tranquil winter day. The sequence plays as a tragic samurai period drama focused on swordplay and loss. This historical grounding provides emotional weight to the Scorpion character before the timeline jumps. The rest of the film takes place in the modern day and focuses on fantasy tournament battles.

‘Super Troopers’ (2001)

Three college boys get pulled over by Vermont state troopers and fear they will be arrested for drugs. The scene builds tension as the officers mess with the kids in a way that suggests a psychological thriller. The lighting and tone imply a corrupt cop narrative until the jokes start landing. The audience realizes the cops are pranksters just as the movie settles into a slapstick comedy.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)

Two technicians discuss their mundane domestic problems while standing in a sterile corporate break room. The conversation feels like the opening to a workplace comedy or a dry drama. There is no hint of horror until the title card slams onto the screen with a screaming sound effect. This cold open teases the bureaucratic nature of the facility controlling the slasher scenario.

‘Cliffhanger’ (1993)

A rescue attempt on a wire between two mountain peaks turns into a harrowing tragedy. The opening scene focuses on the failure to save a falling woman despite the best efforts of the hero. This moment of pure drama and loss haunts the protagonist and drives his character arc. The film subsequently transforms into a generic 90s action thriller involving stolen money and terrorists.

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

Marlin and Coral admire their new home and eggs in a peaceful coral reef setting. A barracuda attack leaves Marlin unconscious and wakes to find his wife and all but one egg gone. This devastating event plays as a survival tragedy that explains the father’s overprotective nature. The film then brightens significantly to become a humorous adventure across the ocean.

‘Melancholia’ (2011)

A series of slow-motion tableaux depict the end of the world accompanied by Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde. These surreal and painterly images show planets colliding and characters floating in space. The sequence acts as a sci-fi art installation that reveals the film’s conclusion immediately. The narrative then shifts to a grounded chamber drama about a disastrous wedding reception.

‘Watchmen’ (2009)

The Comedian fights an unknown assailant in his high-rise apartment during a brutal hand-to-hand combat sequence. The scene is framed like a noir murder mystery with shadows and slow motion. The subsequent opening credits montage details an alternate American history through political vignettes. These elements set up a complex deconstruction of superheroes rather than a standard action romp.

‘The Cannonball Run’ (1981)

Two drivers race a Lamborghini Countach while being pursued by police cars. The synthesizer music and serious driving stunts suggest a high-octane action movie. This introduction establishes the speed and danger of the race before the comedy ensemble takes over. The rest of the film is a lighthearted farce featuring an all-star cast of eccentrics.

‘Army of the Dead’ (2021)

A military convoy transporting a mysterious payload crashes outside Las Vegas. The soldiers are slaughtered by a superhuman zombie in a sequence that feels like a containment horror film. This incident triggers an infection montage that destroys the city before the main plot begins. The movie eventually settles into a heist film structure set within the walled-off quarantine zone.

’28 Weeks Later’ (2007)

Don and his wife Alice hide in a farmhouse with other survivors during a quiet candlelight dinner. The Infected break in and force a frantic escape where Don abandons his family to save himself. This opening is a breathless survival horror short film fueled by adrenaline and guilt. The rest of the movie shifts to a military action thriller about the reconstruction of Britain.

Tell us which movie opening hooked you the most by leaving your thoughts in the comments.