Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best debuts to characters in film. We won’t be including any animated entries.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best debuts to characters
00:10in film.
00:11And just a heads up, we won't be including any animated entries in this video.
00:26Shark attacks at Amity Island leave the whole town up in arms.
00:29A meeting at the town hall is extremely chaotic, with everyone voicing their opinions all at
00:34once.
00:35However, when they hear nails on a chalkboard, everyone stops and pays attention.
00:39This is how we're introduced to the grizzled shark hunter, Quint.
00:43And once he has their attention, Quint makes clear the threat of the monstrous fish and
00:46offers to kill it for $10,000.
00:57Robert Shaw's performance is magnetic and captivating right from the get-go.
01:02There are few actors who can deliver such a great speech while munching on crackers.
01:15Meryl Streep commands the screen in practically every role, but her introduction in this film
01:18is especially legendary.
01:20After the staff of fashion magazine Runway are informed of editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly's
01:25unexpected imminent arrival, they all panic.
01:30Shoes are changed, workplaces are tidied, and loins are girded in preparation for their
01:34tyrannical boss' arrival.
01:36And this is all interspersed with shots of Miranda that gradually reveal more and more
01:41of her as she arrives.
01:42Her staff, and even other people in the building, may do their best to stay out of their way,
01:46but we can't get enough.
01:48Though, to be fair, Miranda can't tear us a new one through the screen, probably, maybe,
01:55hopefully.
02:03There are few actors quite as extra as Tim Curry, and few would argue that his most extra
02:08role of all is that of Dr Frankenfurter.
02:11When Brad and Janet find themselves in Frank's castle, they're unnerved by the vibe of
02:15the inhabitants.
02:16Things reach another level entirely, though, when Frank descends in an elevator and launches
02:20into his famous musical number, Sweet Transvestite.
02:31Between Curry's scenery-chewing performance, and daring and iconic fashion choices, and
02:36the oh-so-catchy song, this is one scene that never fails to deliver, or make us shiver
02:40with anticipation.
02:56You might think that in a movie with a green-faced, reality-warping cartoon of a character, played
03:00by Jim Curry, it would be impossible for anyone to have a better introduction than him.
03:05And you'd be wrong.
03:06With a clap of thunder, Tina Carlyle walks into the bank where the future Mask's alter-ego,
03:10Stanley Ipkiss, works.
03:17The long, lingering shots on Carlyle and her red dress, combined with Ipkiss and his co-worker's
03:22stunned reactions, make it one of the most flattering introductions to a character, and
03:26to the actress too, since it was Cameron Diaz's first movie role.
03:30Male gaze gone wild?
03:31Absolutely.
03:32But the Mask really does put it best with his reaction to her later.
03:35It's an unforgettable one, for sure.
03:47The elusive chocolatier Willy Wonka is much discussed in the early part of the film that
03:51bears his name, so there's already plenty of build-up by the time five kids and their
03:55parents and guardians are granted the opportunity to tour his famous factory.
04:00Yet, when the door opens and we see Gene Wilder decked out in that iconic purple coat and
04:04top hat, the audience, both on and off screen, is riveted.
04:08After a slow, limping walk to the gate, he seemingly forgets his cane and falls forward,
04:13only to turn it into a roll.
04:18It's a perfect distillation of Wonka's character, with an element of mercurial whimsy
04:24and deception at play from the very beginning.
04:27And better?
04:28Wilder improvised the role.
04:30What a legend!
04:45This Indian period action romp is pretty epic in every single scene, and while Ram's fiery
04:50entrance is awesome as well, and kind of terrifying, we're going for his bestie's introduction
04:55instead.
04:56Cameron Beam's debut starts with an incredible upside-down reflection shot, and it only gets
05:01better from there.
05:08The village guardian covers himself in blood and attempts to lure a wolf into a trap laid
05:12by his friends.
05:13However, a tiger is lying in wait on the path.
05:17After the huge cat chases off the wolf, Beam catches the tiger instead.
05:21Except the tie on the neck comes undone, forcing some unprecedented acts of manliness.
05:29Beam comes face-to-face with the beast, and ultimately puts it to sleep.
05:33So bad-ass.
05:34Look, we know the original Terminator basically did the same entrance first, but you know
05:53what?
05:54Like just about everything else, the sequel did it better.
05:56In an empty parking lot, lightning and then a dark sphere appears, out of which appears
06:00the iconic Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
06:03He may be naked, but he aims to rectify that by going into a nearby bar.
06:13He scans the bewildered occupants for matching-sized clothes, and then tears his way through anyone
06:18who tries to stop him.
06:28Much like the song that plays over its conclusion, this introduction is bad to the bone.
06:44This famous epic is loaded with memorable scenes, yet there's something special about
06:48this one.
06:49The eponymous Lawrence and his guide have stopped at a well when they hear a noise in
06:53the distance, and a shape appears in the mirage-shrouded horizon.
06:57It's gradually revealed to be a man riding a camel approaching them.
07:00The guide panics and goes for his gun, only to be shot by the man, Sheriff Alley.
07:03I mean, it is Alley's well after all.
07:11Between the amazing mirage shot and Alley's punny joke, it's an unforgettable scene
07:15of classic cinema.
07:20As one of the most memorable movie villains ever, it's natural that Hans Lander makes
07:29quite the entrance.
07:31The Nazi investigator visits French dairy farmer Perrier-Lapetit's farm in search
07:35of Jews in hiding.
07:37Despite his horrifying objective, Lander is charming and well-spoken.
07:41Yet, as his interrogation continues and his reputation as the Jew-hunter becomes clear,
07:46Lander becomes more and more sinister.
07:52Eventually, he makes it clear that he knows the Jews are there, and where they are.
07:59The permission he gets to have them killed only makes the moment more heartbreaking.
08:03At 19 minutes, it's a long introduction, but the scene is such a masterclass of writing,
08:08direction and acting that it's well worth the wait.
08:14Yes, we know, Clark Kent appears before this scene in the film, but the debut of his red,
08:26yellow and blue-wearing alter-ego is the iconic entrance we all remember.
08:30When Lois Lane is involved in a helicopter accident, Clark makes a quick change in a
08:33revolving door and flies to her rescue.
08:44Lois' reaction is perfect, and the Man of Steel's cryptic words leave her as intrigued
08:48as we are.
08:49Is the scene a bit dated and silly by today's standards?
08:52Yeah, probably.
08:53But then the iconic John Williams score kicks in and, well, you believe a man can fly.
09:10The opening scene of this superhero film sees a group touring the White House.
09:15However, a suspicious mutant member of the tour lingers and begins attacking guards.
09:28Kurt Wagner, better known as Nightcrawler, tears his way through security by teleporting,
09:32running along walls and generally causing chaos, all set to music by Mozart.
09:42The brainwashed mutant comes inches away from assassinating the US President.
09:46The whole scene remains not only one of the greatest showcases of teleportation ever put
09:50on screen, but also one of the best introductions for a superhero movie.
10:03In 1999, audiences and theatres were not prepared for this scene, and it still gives us chills
10:08today.
10:09Following an ambiguous phone conversation, we see several policemen approach a woman
10:13in a dimly lit room.
10:14Agents arrive and warn the officer in charge, his men are already dead.
10:18Cut to Trinity, who easily dispatches the officers in an iconic and then unprecedented
10:22slow-mo shot, as well as some high kicks and wall running.
10:30Her ensuing escape sees her and one of the pursuing agents leap across huge gaps.
10:35Our minds were blown back then, and it remains an iconic and incredible introduction to both
10:39Trinity and the Matrix itself.
10:56Sometimes the introduction of a character can sum them up in their entirety.
11:00Such is the case with the entrance of Captain Jack Sparrow.
11:02We're treated to an epic shot of Jack atop a mast, riding into the harbour, but upon
11:07heroically swinging down, he lands in a puddle of his flooding and small boat.
11:16This kind of grandeur offset by comedy is the essence of Jack Sparrow, and then he just
11:20sort of steps off the top of his mast, with perfect timing, onto the dock.
11:24The arrival of Jack Sparrow, or Mr. Smith, to Port Royal is one we won't forget any
11:29time soon.
11:35Movie monsters often make dramatic entrances, but this dinosaur tears the rest to shreds.
11:45When a tour group of the titular park is stranded near the Tyrannosaurus Rex's paddock after
11:49the power is cut, disaster is just inevitable.
11:52First, Tim notices a booming sound, and the cups of water left on the dashboard start
11:57to shake.
12:01Soon he and Lex notice the goat, meant to be the dino's dinner, is missing.
12:10The T-Rex soon escapes its enclosure, giving its famous roar.
12:13Its ensuing rampage and the group's desperate attempts to escape it make for an incredible
12:17debut for this mighty movie predator.
12:26The land of Oz seems a whimsical and enchanting place upon Dorothy Gale and Toto's arrival.
12:36The Munchkins are quite happy that Dorothy's house killed the Wicked Witch of the East,
12:40but with a cloud of red smoke, their celebrations are interrupted and the witch's sister,
12:44the Wicked Witch of the West, makes her debut.
12:50The witch's sickly green look, broomstick and explosive entrance and exit make an immediate
12:55impression, as does her famous threat against Dorothy and her small canine.
13:03Playing the witch, poor Margaret Hamilton actually got terribly burned making her fiery
13:07escape, a painful price to pay to make that lasting impression.
13:20Hannibal Lecter, the Silence of the Lambs
13:31This cannibalistic psychiatrist is an absolutely iconic villain, and his introduction makes
13:36quite an impact.
13:37Trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling arrives to interview Dr. Lecter, and after passing
13:42unhinged crazed criminals, she sees Hannibal, standing there unnervingly straight and already
13:47staring at her.
14:00Her attempt to get him to fill in the survey may be unsuccessful, but her journey is far
14:04from wasted.
14:05While he's the one behind the glass, Hannibal still dominates the conversation, alternating
14:09between erudite musings, insightfully snide insults and straight-up terrifying behaviour.
14:14And just like Clarice, while we may find Dr. Lecter frightening, it's impossible
14:18not to be enthralled by his every word.
14:31Who doesn't love a good heist, eh?
14:32Well, the Clown Prince of Crime certainly does.
14:35In this tense opening sequence, a group of clown-masked criminals rob a mob bank.
14:40As the tension mounts, several of them kill other members of the crew, reducing the number
14:44of ways the hall has to be split.
14:46Eventually, with two men left, one suspects that he's next, but the last man distracts
14:50him long enough to be hit by the bus.
14:57When the mob enforcer rails at the final clown, asking what principles he has, the criminal
15:01removes his mask, revealing the Joker in full make-up.
15:05Keith Ledger's Joker may be stranger, but his reveal and performance are immaculate.
15:26In 1936, in the Peruvian jungle, we're introduced to one of cinema's most famous heroes.
15:32After one of his guides betrays him, and he whips away the gun, we're treated to a fantastic
15:36shot of Indy himself.
15:42He and his remaining guide proceed inside a ruined temple laden with booby traps.
15:46From Indiana replacing the Golden Idol with a bag of sand, to the giant boulder trap,
15:50to his frantic escape from the natives, this sequence is iconic from start to finish.
15:54And it's not just an epic introduction to Indiana Jones, either.
15:57It's also one of the most famous scenes in film, period.
16:10The entire opening sequence of the original Star Wars film is epic, from the initial shot
16:14of the ship to Princess Leia's memorable plea for help.
16:17But it's the introduction of one of cinema's greatest villains that sticks out the most.
16:21With just a change in ominous music and the overpowering, unforgettable sound of his breathing,
16:25Darth Vader's presence immediately screams, bad guy.
16:35I mean sure, James L. Jones' amazing voice, the iconic costume, and the fact that Darth
16:39Vader chokes a guy out in pursuit of the Death Star plans are pretty big clues that he's
16:43a bad guy, too.
16:44The point is, that every other movie villain could take a lesson on how to make a dramatic
16:48entrance from Vader.
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17:15There are plenty of surprising character entrances out there, and then there's this one.
17:19There's really no preparing for it, and you're never the same after watching it.
17:24The crew of the Nostromo have a scare with an alien lifeform attaching itself to Kane's
17:28face, but after removing it, everything seems to be fine and dandy.
17:37But then, Kane starts to feel a bit unwell.
17:40As he convulses in pain, the crew hold him down and a small alien infant bursts from
17:45his torso.
17:50There is truly no movie introduction quite like this one.
17:56So is there a movie character's debut we forgot to include?
17:59We need your comments, your boots, and your motorcycle, down below.