What is a cold open?

A cold open is a storytelling technique commonly used in film and television, where the narrative dives directly into a scene—often a self-contained mini-story—before the opening credits or main plot unfold. These openings can range from just a few minutes to as long as 15 minutes in some feature films (such as the famous dialogue-free opening to Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood), and they typically occur before any titles or credits appear on screen.

Arguably the most famous cold open scenes are the ones that begin each installment of the James Bond franchise. These sequences are like mini-movies in and of themselves, and have a self-contained narrative with a micro three act structure (beginning, middle and end). Some other cold open examples are the diner prologue of Pulp Fiction, the bank robbery in The Dark Knight, and the telephone call sequence that begins Scream. All of these openings create intrigue and anticipation, and help to set the mood and tone of the film within a single scene.

In television, the cold open usually introduces the ‘A’ Story that is the primary plotline of the episode. For example, a police procedural is likely to begin with “the case” the detectives will have to solve (e.g. Columbo episodes usually start with the murder from the killer’s point of view, a technique also employed in Poker Face). Comedic content is looser: cold opens can sometimes just be a funny one-off sequence, however, some sitcoms like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia open with an introduction of the A Story (and sometimes also the B Story).

Regardless of the medium or genre, the main purpose of a cold open is to grab the attention of the viewer so they’ll continue watching. In a world flooded with content, cold opens have become increasingly common, and in screenwriting, significant emphasis is now placed on the crucial first ten pages to hook in viewers.

However, the best cold opens aren’t just obligatory teasers: a cold open can also elevate the entire script.

Strategic Storytelling

You should think of a cold open as more than a trick to grab a reader’s attention. Rather, think of it as a strategic storytelling device, one that sets the rhythm for everything that follows. It’s a preamble to not just the first act, but also to the second and third acts. It’s the introduction of your script’s characters and world. 

Cold opens are often entertaining and sometimes even shocking, but the strongest ones also plant narrative seeds that blossom later. In literary terms, they’re the prologue (i.e. a separate introductory section of a novel). Typically in literature, a prologue doesn’t have a direct connection to the main narrative, at least not one that’s immediately apparent, and it’s not until later in the book that the full significance of the prologue comes to light.

Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary were thinking this way when they wrote the cold open of Pulp Fiction, which is even titled “Prologue - The Diner”. The classic scene centers on two low-level thieves, “Pumpkin” and “Honey Bunny,” discussing the numerous hassles of robbing liquor stores, which leads to them deciding the diner they’re at is a much better target. They suddenly brandish their guns and proceed with their latest robbery. Cue surf music and opening credits.    

This sequence seemingly has nothing to do with the main characters and the film’s nonlinear narrative until the final sequence, entitled “Epilogue - The Diner”. In this sequence of the film, we go full circle as the main characters, hitmen Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega, are revealed to be at the very same diner as Pumpkin and Honey Bunny, and end up having to deal with the robbery. Like the last piece of a puzzle, there’s satisfaction when we come full circle, and a cold open is revealed to be part of a much bigger picture.

This is why it’s important to outline beforehand. It’d be difficult to create a truly effective prologue for a story you haven’t already mapped out. Know your characters, know your main plotlines and subplots, know your reoccurring themes, and then the perfect cold open for your script might present itself.

Heath Ledger in 'The Dark Knight'

Setting the Mood and Tone

In addition to the sneaky narrative strategy of Pulp Fiction’s cold open, it also set the mood and tone of the film. The scene boasted entertaining dialogue with plenty of gallows humor, and sudden bursts of violence immediately following a lighter or more whimsical moment. The cold open gives you a sense of the film’s style and aesthetic, and lets the audience know this film is going to be full of surprises. 

Another classic cold open that sets the perfect mood and tone for the subsequent proceedings is the opening sequence of The Dark Knight. We watch as a group of clown-masked thieves methodically rob a highly secure bank in the middle of Gotham City. As the perpetrators perform each of their individual tasks, they discuss the mastermind behind the heist: the Joker. This creates intrigue for this version of the Joker, and builds up his character before we think he’s been introduced. As the robbery transpires, the masked perpetrators are knocked off one by one by each other in a similarly methodical fashion, which is all part of the Joker’s grand plan. The sequence culminates with the last masked figure standing revealed to be the Joker himself, and gives the audience insight into his ethos: no honor among thieves, and a total embrace of the absurd. “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stranger,” he says before his getaway in a stolen school bus.

Although much can be discussed in regards to Christopher Nolan’s slick and impactful directorial style, an extension of Michael Mann’s approach with Thief and Heat, all of the elements of what work with the scene can be found in The Dark Knight script, written by Nolan and his brother Jonathan. The deliberate and taut pacing, the economic and pithy dialogue, the build-up of the Joker’s character, and the suggestion of a story with an epic scale is all there in the cold open. It’s a confident and intriguing opening that tells us to sit back, get comfortable and get ready for a long and wild ride as Batman faces his greatest nemesis.

Drew Barrymore in 'Scream'

A Mini Movie in Itself

The original Scream features one of the most effective cold opens in film history, and it’s definitely one that acts as a mini movie in itself. Written by Kevin Williamson, this opening is still the gold standard for how to kick off a horror or thriller. During a 12-minute sequence, we’re introduced to a teen girl, Casey, who starts off innocently talking to someone over the phone — a “wrong number” — about scary movies while the call becomes increasingly menacing, until it’s clear Casey’s being stalked by a psychopath and her life is in danger. The scene is a slow burn, taking its time with naturalistic dialogue and some meta humor, but eventually it transforms into a nail-bitingly tense horror sequence with running, screaming and carnage. 

By the time it’s over, we almost feel like we’ve experienced an entire Scream film, and that’s before introducing any of the main protagonists and their specific storylines. When we’re introduced to Casey, she’s a typical teenage girl, preparing for a fun “movie night” at home. Within the 12 minutes of the sequence, we hit numerous emotional beats with her character, and start to feel for her. She’s treated as “the Final Girl,” even though she turns out to be the exact opposite — spoiler alert — a tragic early victim. This scene is arguably the most iconic of the Scream franchise, and it wouldn’t have worked if we didn’t connect emotionally with Casey and want her to survive. 

Also, by introducing the meta element out of the gate via Casey and the caller’s discussion of popular horror films (Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th), writer Williamson and director Wes Craven are letting us know this film has a self-awareness of its role as a horror movie, and is going to have fun with the various genre tropes. This creates an anticipation for a narrative that’s going to subvert cliches rather than give into them. So, in addition to acting as a mini movie in itself, Scream features another cold open that sets the mood and tone of the film. It respects the lineage of classic slasher films of the past while charting a new direction.  

A Cold Open That Elevates Your Script

All of the above examples can be inspiration for any genre of film or television and help you to create a great cold open. Through strategic storytelling, setting the mood and tone, and by treating your opening scene as a movie in itself with strong emotional beats, you can dream up and write a cold open that engages readers, keeps them reading and elevates your entire script.