These 10 Action Movies Have the Best First 10 Minutes Ever
In the age of social media, everything is about attention span. The ones who have the most engaging openers will more likely thrive. Somehow, this logic can also be applied to movies, and the best of them do not wait around to make an impression. There are action movies that set up the stage early on in the film and not in the traditional, expositional way. Some of the most iconic moments in action cinema happen before we even start our popcorn, and the greatest openings show you what kind of ride you’re in for.
Here, we take a look at some of the most exciting opening ten minutes in action movies. These sequences are a collection of great filmmaking and crowd-pleasing moments. Some are slick and stylish, while others are chaotic bursts of action that feel like the movie has already hit its climax. From a thrilling bank heist to an absurd, over-the-top shootouts, no matter the approach, they all set the bar high for what follows. These are the action films that nailed their first ten minutes and showed everyone else how it’s done.
‘Shoot ’Em Up’ (2007)
Shoot Em Up kicks off in outrageous fashion as Clive Owen’s mysterious character is sitting on a bench eating carrots when he sees a pregnant woman being chased, quite slowly, by thugs. This drifter is then called into the action when one of the thugs pulls out a gun. He intervenes and kills the first one with a carrot. Within the first few minutes, he is leaping through the air and gunning them all, while also helping the woman give birth in the middle of the firefight. Paul Giamatti‘s unhinged villain enters the scene, and he saves the baby.
This opening is incredible because it sets the tone for the whole movie. The absurdity of the scene, from the carrot kill to protecting a newborn, is so extreme it borders on parody, yet it’s executed with commitment and flair. The scene itself is said to be inspired by Hard Boiled starring Chow Yun-fat, in which a similar situation occurs. The title sequence also comes in quite stylishly as Owen’s Mr. Smith is shown shooting at the camera. The scene ends spectacularly as Smith sends a message to Giamatti’s Mr. Hertz by rearranging a neon sign to basically tell him off. There’s a huge probability that if you love this opening sequence, you will love the entire movie.
‘Drive’ (2011)
Drive opens with a moody and cool getaway filled with style and aura. The nameless Driver, played by Ryan Gosling, is hired to drive two robbers away from their heist. We see that he has planned his escape and chosen a Chevy Impala as his vehicle. When the robbers get out, he glides through the streets of Los Angeles at night and avoids cops with precision, timing his every move calmly and silently. The sequence ends with him disappearing into a crowd that is coming home from a football game.
This film by Nicolas Winding Refn might be the entry with the least action on this list, even though the trailer sells it like it’s a Fast and Furious spinoff so much that an audience member sued the film for false advertising. However, this opening is brilliant regardless of the rest of the film. In just ten minutes, we learn everything about Gosling’s character: he’s meticulous, quiet, and very good at what he does. He also sports a killer scorpion jacket to add to his aura. Refn directs the scene with style and tension, and that is complemented by Cliff Martinez‘s pulse-pounding score. For audiences who prefer a quiet drama with a sprinkle of action, Drive is perfect.
‘Skyfall’ (2012)
Skyfall wastes no time throwing James Bond (Daniel Craig) into the action. We find him in Istanbul, with fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris), tracking down a mercenary who’s stolen a hard drive containing the identities of undercover agents. Bond chases down the mercenary through a bustling market and across rooftops on motorcycles. When the bad guy escapes on a speeding train, Bond jumps in and even destroys a carriage, all while never losing his cool. The chase was cut short when M (Judi Dench) orders Eve to take a risky shot. Bond is hit and falls into the river below.
This opening sequence, which directly ties in to the signature opening credit title featuring the Oscar-winning song by Adele, is a perfect mix of spectacle and thrills. It delivers everything you expect from Bond, exotic locations and jaw-dropping stunts, and then ups the ante by nearly killing him in the first ten minutes. Director Sam Mendes balances blockbuster thrills with a darker edge, signaling that this isn’t the invincible Bond of old but a more vulnerable, human version. The combination of breathtaking action, a shocking cliffhanger, and an iconic Bond song makes for one of the most memorable opening sequences in the storied James Bond franchise.
‘Face/Off’ (1997)
Face/Off immediately establishes the blood feud between FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) and terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage). Disguised as a priest, Castor plants bombs in the city, even making time to stop and infiltrate a student choir in public. He then hijacks a private jet, only to be intercepted by Archer and his team, leading to a wild airstrip showdown. With a helicopter, Archer takes down the jet, and it crashes into a hangar. Archer and Troy finally have a long-awaited stand-off that ends with Castor in a coma before revealing the location of the bombs.
This opening is one of the best there is because it’s John Woo firing on all cylinders, from the balletic gunplay to the slow-motion dramatics. By frontloading so much spectacle, Woo doesn’t just aim to entertain; he also sets the tone for a film that will constantly escalate in scale and intensity. The action set up in the beginning is wildly bombastic, but it serves as an introduction to both of the characters’ over-the-top personalities and mannerisms as they will swap places and faces later. Many action films strive to have huge set pieces in their third act, but Face/Off nonchalantly does it in the first ten minutes.
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
The Matrix begins with a cryptic phone call and a SWAT team storming a rundown apartment in search of a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Within moments, she dispatches those armed officers with impossible grace, capped by the now-iconic mid-air kick captured in bullet time. The chase spills onto rooftops, where Trinity leaps across gaps with agility while the relentless agents pursue her. Cornered, she dives into a phone booth just as a truck barrels through it, only to vanish into thin air, leaving audiences stunned and full of questions.
This opening sequence perfectly set up the film, both its style and the mystery. The Wachowskis waste no time showcasing groundbreaking effects, kinetic choreography, and a world where reality itself seems malleable. The action and style are incredibly unique and wholly different from other action films from the ’90s. But beyond the spectacle, the scene raises immediate intrigue, from the agents, Trinity’s abilities, and also The Matrix itself. It’s an electrifying way to start, hooking viewers with both jaw-dropping action and curiosity. The opening is so good that the fourth film, The Matrix Resurrections, decides to replicate it again.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road immediately plunges the audience into its nightmarish desert world. Max (Tom Hardy), haunted by visions of people he couldn’t save, is ambushed and captured by the War Boys. Branded, shaved, and chained, he’s reduced to a blood bag, as he’s blood is a universal donor. Max makes a desperate, chaotic escape attempt through the Citadel’s tunnels, only to be recaptured and dragged back into captivity. The description of the scene does not do it justice because all of this unfolds in a whirlwind of editing and sound that instantly throws the audience into sensory overload.
As a sequel-reboot film whose last entry in the franchise was released 30 years prior, George Miller wisely does not waste time giving unnecessary exposition to set up the film’s universe for new audiences. Instead, he assaults us with images of madness, violence, and decay, perfectly reflecting this world where chaos is the only constant. As the title character, Max is shown to be broken and defined by guilt, not as an invincible hero. Just like the rest of the film, which is practically just one giant chase, this opening sequence does not leave any moment for the audience to breathe.
‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ (2015)
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation surprises audiences when the much-advertised plane stunt is part of the cold open in the film. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), with Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames), and Brand (Jeremy Renner), is scrambling to stop a plane carrying of deadly package from taking off. When computer hacking doesn’t work, Ethan runs up and clings to the side of the cargo plane as it barrels down the runway and lifts into the sky. He hangs for quite a while until the door opens and he secures the cargo. The sequence is capped with an exciting title sequence, then followed by a scene where Ethan finds his mission briefing and meets Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) for the first time.
This stunt remains one of the most jaw-dropping stunts in the franchise. There is no CGI trickery here, as Tom Cruise really strapped himself to that plane. It’s over-the-top, outrageous, and thrillingly executed, making it impossible not to grin as the title card hits. It also showcases Ethan’s team dynamic with its strong teamwork and improvisation. The next five minutes of the opening are also thrilling, as audiences are treated to old-school spy tropes when Ethan gives codewords to a civilian to get his briefing. It is during these first ten minutes that we also learn about the ruthless Lane. Rogue Nation might be the most underrated among the franchise, but it’s arguably the most important film as it sets the stage for the rest of the films.
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
The first ten minutes of Gladiator see General Maximus (Russell Crowe) leading the Roman army against Germanic tribes in a snowy forest. With thousands of soldiers under Maximus’ command, this showdown is set to end the twelve-year battle with the barbaric tribe. Before the battle, Maximus rallies his soldiers with an inspiring battle cry. The fight itself is bloody and visceral, with flaming arrows flying across the sky and cavalry charging through enemy lines. It’s the type of epic sequence that Ridley Scott is known to execute effortlessly.
While the opening is memorable for its battle sequences, it is also notable for its iconic quotes, like “What we do in life, echoes in eternity,” which is part of Maximus’ battle cry, and “At my signal, unleash hell,” which he says before the battle commences. This opening also balances character work with the spectacle, as we see Maximus remembering his lush village and observing the freedom of a bird on the battlefield. It’s not just an action set piece; it establishes Maximus as a leader who inspires loyalty and respect while foreshadowing the struggles he will face later when stripped of his status. This stellar sequence sets the scene for one of the best historical action movies in recent memory.
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
The Dark Knight kicks off with one of the most iconic heist sequences in modern cinema. A group of masked criminals, each wearing eerie clown masks, breaks into a Gotham City bank with military precision. As they move deeper into the job, they systematically kill each other, following an unseen mastermind’s plan. With just two personnel to go, the bank manager steps in with a shotgun, and it is revealed that the mastermind is none other than the Joker (Heath Ledger), who kills the final thug, drives the getaway bus, and walks away with the loot.
This opening is so effective for its combination of meticulous storytelling, tension, and score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Christopher Nolan immediately establishes the Joker as unpredictable and brilliant, a powerful foe for the Caped Crusader. The scene feels grounded with gritty cinematography and practical stunts, giving it the style of a crime thriller rather than a typical comic book movie. After this sequence, the film never lets go and keeps the tension high until the very end. It also marks the first of many brilliant Nolan opening scenes, as seen in The Dark Knight Rises and Tenet.
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)
Audiences first meet Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Raiders of the Lost Ark deep in the Peruvian jungle, following a map into a mysterious temple, accompanied by his guide Satipo (Alfred Molina). As they approach the temple, every step is laced with danger, from poisoned darts shooting from the walls to a pit of spikes. With his whip in hand, Indy makes it to the golden idol, but the temple immediately collapses, and a massive boulder comes rolling toward him. Indy got out safely, but his rival got away with the idol he retrieved.
This sequence might be one of the most famous in action-adventure history and is probably one of the factors that made Indiana Jones a lasting character. Steven Spielberg and writer George Lucas perfectly establish the swashbuckling, snake-fearing Indy without needing a single line of backstory. Audiences know everything about Jones in this sequence; he’s resourceful, brave and a little reckless. The boulder chase is now iconic and has been immortalized in theme park rides as well. This opening sequence blends suspense, humor and spectacle in a way that’s become a blueprint for most action-adventure movies ever since.
