Can You Score 20/20? Movie Opening Scene Quiz: First Impressions Challenge

Answers Below – No Peeking!

Think you remember the openings that grabbed you from the start? This quiz dives into iconic movie opening scenes across genres, from heart-pounding action to emotional gut-punches. Questions range from easy warm-ups to fiendishly tricky details—good luck scoring a perfect 20!

20 Trivia Questions on Movie Opening Scenes: First Impressions

Question 1: In Jaws (1975), who is the first victim attacked by the shark in the opening scene?

A. Alex Kintner
B. Chrissie Watkins
C. Ellen Brody
D. Matt Hooper

Question 2: In Psycho (1960), the opening scene is set in which city?

A. Los Angeles
B. Fairvale
C. Phoenix, Arizona
D. Scranton

Question 3: The Shining (1980) opens with aerial tracking shots following what vehicle?

A. A red pickup truck
B. A yellow Volkswagen Beetle
C. A station wagon
D. A police car

Question 4: In Scream (1996), what is the name of the first victim in the opening scene?

A. Sidney Prescott
B. Gale Weathers
C. Casey Becker
D. Dewey Riley

Question 5: In Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), the opening space battle features a Star Destroyer pursuing which ship?

A. Millennium Falcon
B. Tantive IV (Princess Leia’s ship)
C. X-Wing fighter
D. Slave I

Question 6: In the opening temple scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), who betrays Indiana Jones by taking the idol and leaving him behind?

A. Belloq
B. Jock
C. Satipo
D. Barranca

Question 7: Goodfellas (1990) opens with:

A. The Copacabana tracking shot
B. A young Henry Hill joining the mob
C. A voiceover narration as mobsters place a body in a car trunk
D. The Lufthansa heist

Question 8: In Pulp Fiction (1994), what are the names of the robber couple in the opening diner conversation?

A. Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield
B. Marsellus Wallace and Mia
C. Pumpkin and Honey Bunny
D. Lance and Jody

Question 9: In Se7en (1995), the first murder victim’s sin is:

A. Gluttony
B. Greed
C. Sloth
D. Envy

Question 10: In The Matrix (1999), during the opening chase, Trinity escapes by running across:

A. Rooftops
B. Telephone wires
C. Train tracks
D. Bridges

Question 11: Fight Club (1999) begins with a close-up of:

A. A chemical burn
B. A bullet passing through the protagonist’s mouth
C. Soap being made
D. Tyler Durden laughing

Question 12: In Inglourious Basterds (2009), the opening scene features SS officer Hans Landa interrogating which French dairy farmer?

A. Perrier LaPadite
B. Aldo Raine
C. Shosanna Dreyfus
D. Bridget von Hammersmark

Question 13: The opening montage of Up (2009) is scored by the track titled:

A. “Stuff We Did”
B. “Married Life”
C. “Carl Goes Up”
D. “Ellie and Carl”

Question 14: There Will Be Blood (2007) opens with Daniel Plainview:

A. Preaching in church
B. Manually drilling for oil alone
C. Negotiating a pipeline deal
D. Confronting Eli Sunday

Question 15: In No Country for Old Men (2007), Anton Chigurh kills the deputy in the opening by:

A. Shooting him with a shotgun
B. Strangling him with handcuffs
C. Using a cattle gun
D. Stabbing him

Question 16: Zodiac (2007) opens with the Lake Berryessa attack on:

A. Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau
B. Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell
C. Paul Stine
D. David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen

Question 17: In WALL·E (2008), the robot WALL-E frequently plays clips from which classic musical film?

A. The Wizard of Oz
B. Hello, Dolly!
C. Singin’ in the Rain
D. West Side Story

Question 18: The opening scene of Jurassic Park (1993) shows workers capturing which dinosaur?

A. Tyrannosaurus Rex
B. Velociraptor
C. Brachiosaurus
D. Gallimimus

Question 19: The Lion King (1994) opens with the song:

A. “Hakuna Matata”
B. “Circle of Life”
C. “Be Prepared”
D. “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”

Question 20: Trainspotting (1996) opens with Renton:

A. Overdosing in his bathroom
B. Running down an alley chased by police
C. Attending a funeral
D. Driving a car

Answers

  1. B. Chrissie Watkins – She is attacked while skinny-dipping off Amity Island in the film’s first scene; Alex Kintner and others are later victims.
  2. C. Phoenix, Arizona – The film begins with a pan over the city skyline before entering Marion Crane’s hotel room; Fairvale is later.
  3. B. A yellow Volkswagen Beetle – Iconic aerial shots follow the car winding through the mountains to the Overlook Hotel interview.
  4. C. Casey Becker – Played by Drew Barrymore, she is stabbed during the phone prank call; Sidney is the main survivor.
  5. B. Tantive IV (Princess Leia’s ship) – The massive Imperial Star Destroyer chases the small Rebel blockade runner immediately after the crawl.
  6. C. Satipo – The guide grabs the idol and drops Indy into a pit of spikes during their escape from the Hovitos.
  7. C. A voiceover narration as mobsters place a body in a car trunk – Henry Hill’s narration accompanies the reveal of Billy Batts’ body.
  8. C. Pumpkin and Honey Bunny – The couple discusses robbing the diner before deciding to also rob banks; they bookend the film.
  9. C. Sloth – The obese man is found dead in bed after a year of forced feeding; gluttony is the second victim.
  10. B. Telephone wires – Trinity impossibly sprints across single power lines to evade agents before answering a public phone.
  11. B. A bullet passing through the protagonist’s mouth – The reverse bullet journey through the Narrator’s skull sets up the story’s climax.
  12. A. Perrier LaPadite – Landa politely questions the farmer about hidden Jews under the floorboards in Nazi-occupied France.
  13. B. “Married Life” – Michael Giacchino’s poignant piano piece underscores Carl and Ellie’s lifelong montage.
  14. B. Manually drilling for oil alone – The silent 15-minute sequence shows Plainview’s brutal solo labour and injury.
  15. B. Strangling him with handcuffs – Chigurh uses the cuffs as a garrote after being pulled over; the cattle gun appears later.
  16. B. Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell – The Zodiac, in costume, stabs the couple by the lake in 1969.
  17. B. Hello, Dolly! – WALL-E’s video screen loops scenes from the film, influencing his behaviour on trash-covered Earth.
  18. B. Velociraptor – A worker is killed while unloading the sedated raptor from a crate at night.
  19. B. “Circle of Life” – The majestic sequence shows animals gathering at Pride Rock for Simba’s presentation.
  20. B. Running down an alley chased by police – Renton’s frantic sprint accompanies his “Choose Life” voiceover monologue.

How did you score? Share your results in the comments and challenge your friends to tackle these opening scene stumpers!