Top 10 Great Intros In Terrible Movies

#10: “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (2017)

Filmmaker Luc Besson has several celebrated classics in his filmography - but this is not one of them. Based on a French science fiction comics series, the space opera “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” was a box office bomb. Criticism focused on the plot and casting. However, you wouldn’t have guessed it from the opening scene. In an intriguing sequence, a montage showcases the evolution of the International Space Station, as various nations - and eventually extraterrestrials - are welcomed aboard. The space station’s gradual growth grounds the sci-fi themes, at least at first - only for what follows to launch off into deep space, leaving the audience far behind.

#9: “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002)

In the first scene of this comedy franchise’s third installment, director Jay Roach playfully toyed with audience expectations. The movie opens with a “James Bond” parody, teasing us with a slew of celebrity cameos - including Tom Cruise as Austin himself. What a way to hook audiences! After that however, the movie plunged into the usual “Austin Powers” silliness, but without the originality or cleverness of the first two movies. Mike Myers reprises his role as the groovy spy, teaming up with Foxxy Cleopatra to thwart Dr. Evil’s latest scheme. While it’s packed with humor, the film leans on recycled jokes, delivering an ultimately forgettable end to the franchise.

#8: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008)

The original “Indiana Jones” movies formed a perfect trilogy, ending with Indy and company riding off into the sunset. So a fourth really needed to justify its existence. And the first scene wasn’t a bad start. Unfolding during the Cold War, the movie opens with a kidnapped Indiana brought to Area 51, where the Soviets want him to retrieve a mummified alien. It was a clever way to connect to the previous movies, since the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the same warehouse at the end of “Raiders”. But it wasn’t long before audiences were let down, when Steven Spielberg infamously had Indiana survive a nuclear test in a refrigerator. And it was all downhill from there.

#7: “Zoom” (2006)

When this film kicked off with an electrifying comic-book intro, a killer soundtrack and a dramatic backstory, we expected a top-notch story. But we got a bland and predictable one instead. Based on Jason Lethcoe’s children's book, it follows an ex-superhero, played by Tim Allen, shaping an unlikely group of teens into superheroes. Sounds promising, right? But after the thrilling start, the film quickly loses its steam. It lacks heart, and the humor and performances fall completely flat. “Zoom” is a cheesy, charmless affair with nothing to offer beyond the intro.

#6: “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” (2007)

Picking up from where the 2004 film ended, “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” burst onto the scene with an explosive introduction. After a chestburster emerges from the dead Predator Scar, the Xenomorph-Predator hybrid goes on a wild rampage. The Predator’s spaceship soon crashes outside a small Colorado town. So far so good, right? Well, the Predalien IS a fun idea. But “Requiem” ends up feeling more like a teen slasher than either an “Alien” or “Predator” movie. The characters are flat stereotypes, and the dialogue cliche and cringeworthy. There’s some interesting action in there, but it’s too damn dark to see!

#5: “Sucker Punch” (2011)

The first six minutes of Zack Snyder’s 2011 action fantasy are a visual feast, with a killer soundtrack that pulls you right in. After Babyboll accidentally shoots her sister, her abusive stepfather has her committed to a mental asylum. Fun fact: Emily Browning, who plays Babydoll, also sung several of the songs in the movie, including the cover of “Sweet Dreams” in the opening sequence. Seems like a solid beginning that hints at deeper themes. But then, the film takes a nosedive into a jumbled mess that’s all style and little substance. Not even stunning heroines and fancy CGI can save it! Still, that opening scene? Loved it!

#4: “The Happening” (2008)

It was hoped that this would be a turning point for the director who won universal acclaim with “The Sixth Sense”, then had a series of flops. But “The Happening” turned out to be another letdown in M. Night Shyamalan’s filmography. It starts off intriguingly enough though. In and around Central Park in New York City, people start freezing and then taking their own lives. It’s certainly an eerie premise. But it’s all downhill from there. What follows is an incoherent shambles of a movie, with a very on-the-nose message. Spoiler alert: it’s the plants, transmitting an airborne toxin in defense of the natural world. Maybe this movie would have worked as a comedy?

#3: “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)

We all love a good origin story. And we love Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Put them together, and what could go wrong? Well, this. A strong opening scene sees the young James Howlett witness the murder of his father, which triggers his mutations and leads to his first kill. It’s an emotional introduction to the character. And the subsequent montage of James and his half-brother fighting through historical events is pretty compelling too! But that’s as interesting as the movie gets; the rest is bland and filled with cliches. And we will NEVER forgive what this movie did to Deadpool. Silencing the Merc with a Mouth? What were you thinking?!

#2: “Hancock” (2008)

This Will Smith blockbuster offers what should have been an interesting spin on the superhero genre. We’re introduced to the grumpy superhuman as he wakes up very hungover. He dives into action with a bottle of whiskey in hand, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. IWe gotta admit, our interest was piqued! This introduction sets up what could’ve been an unconventional but fun superhero saga. However, the second half is a narrative muddle. Suddenly Hancock’s immortal and Charlize Theron’s character is his soulmate? It’s all a mess.

#1: “Ghost Ship” (2002)

If there’s one aspect of this atmospheric horror that deserves your attention, it’s the jaw-dropping opening sequence. Aboard an ocean liner, passengers are happily dancing when someone pulls a lever. And it triggers what’s still hailed as one the greatest murder sequences in horror. A cable tightens bisecting the dancers. The scene grabs you by the throat and demands your attention. However, the rest of the film is a gorefest with a weak plot. It all feels very derivative, especially compared to the innovative opening. Watch the intro, and then throw yourself overboard away from this incoherent disaster.

What’s a movie you hated, but thought had a lot of potential? Tell us in the comments.