10 Most Unforgettable Character Introductions In Movies

Plenty of movie characters have had fantastic debuts, but out of all of them, these 10 character introductions in movies are the most unforgettable. The introduction of a character is arguably the most important moment in their arc, as it sets the audience’s expectations of whom this person is and what they will contribute to the story. Introductions can be meek or bombastic, lovable or hateable, simple or complex. The method by which characters are introduced in movies varies depending on the needs of each story, and these 10 show the different ways that it can be done the best.

The criteria for what makes a character introduction the “best” is obviously subjective. However, the entries on this list have appeared in all kinds of other discussions in regard to the best introductions, as they each have something uniquely perfect for the character that is being introduced and how that character will play into the story. James Bond in Dr. No, Marge Gunderson in Fargo, Norman Bates in Psycho, Simba in The Lion King, and the T. rex in Jurassic Park are just some of the examples that didn’t quite make the cut, with these 10 surpassing them.

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10 Hans Landa

Inglorious Basterds

Hans Landa’s introduction in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds is the opening scene to the film, with the Nazi officer showing up to the LaPadite farm in an attempt to locate a Jewish family that is being hidden by the farming family. What makes this scene so special is that it is strong enough to act as its own short film, with Landa’s confrontation with LaPadite being isolated to this scene. However, the introduction manages to show that Landa is not only a master at his method of villainy, but he also enjoys doing it, and that’s why he’s so scary.

9 Darth Vader

Star Wars

In contrast to Hans Landa, Darth Vader’s introductory scene in Star Wars shows how to build up a villain without showing him. The opening of the 1977 classic starts by showing off the massive scale of Vader’s ship in comparison to the small rebel craft, instantly setting up the dynamic that is explored throughout the original trilogy. C-3PO’s fears show that the yet-unnamed threat is a force to be reckoned with, and the standoff at the door continues raising this tension. Vader finally enters the scene after minutes of buildup, signaling his danger without him speaking a word.

8 John Doe

Se7en

Hans Landa and Darth Vader are both villains that were introduced in the opening scenes of their respective films, but Se7en‘s John Doe shows how to introduce a strong villain over halfway through a film. After Mills and Somerset have spent most of the film investigating the murders with no progress, John Doe enters the police station covered in blood, meekly calling out for the detective before finally giving out a chilling yell.

This introductory scene causes the entirety of Se7en‘s narrative to pivot, as the initial investigation is over upon John Doe’s yell. Much like the main characters, the audience is caught completely off guard, with this character introduction showing how the twist introduction of a character can be utilized to keep viewers on their toes.

7 Hannibal Lecter

The Silence of the Lambs

Despite being the most iconic character from The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is not the protagonist or the antagonist, with him actually being a supporting character in Clarice’s story. Lecter’s introduction perfectly illustrates this, with him analyzing Clarice in an absolutely terrifying way. Hannibal Lecter’s introductory monologues not only build his character, but they build Clarice’s character as well, showing how the introduction of a supporting character can be utilized to maximum efficiency.

6 Trinity

The Matrix

Trinity’s introductory scene in The Matrix does so many things, with it impressively showing off the world of the Matrix for the first time. The action scene manages to show off just how strong Trinity is, with this being something that Neo will aspire to throughout the majority of the film. The incredible action scene also shows off the style of the film, with the chase incorporating many of the aesthetic choices that are continued throughout the film. Essentially, Trinity’s introduction in The Matrix perfectly shows off how cool she, and the film by proxy, is.

5 Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Jack Sparrow is one of the most iconic movie characters of all time, but he wouldn’t be nearly as popular if it weren’t for his character introduction in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film. The scene tells the audience everything that they need to know about the character. Jack proudly and confidently stands atop his sinking ship, with this visual summing up the character’s attitude toward every single situation he finds himself in throughout each Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Sparrow is competent but unlucky, and this scene perfectly illustrates that.

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4 Quint

Jaws

The main conflict in the first half of Jaws is what to do about the killer shark, with a variety of opinions being thrown around throughout the film. This chaos ceases during a town meeting the moment that Quint scratches a chalkboard with his fingernails, silencing everyone and putting the spotlight on him. Similarly to John Doe’s introduction in Se7en, Quint’s introduction takes everyone by surprise, with it succinctly redirecting the main goal of the characters from coming up with a plan to killing the shark.

3 The Ringo Kid

Stagecoach

John Wayne is one of the most iconic movie stars of all time, and this can almost entirely be contributed to his introduction in Stagecoach. Through a simple camera push in and the flip of a gun, director John Ford somehow manages to implant the idea into viewers’ heads that “this is a movie star.” John Wayne’s role as the Ringo Kid in Stagecoach is a scene-stealer, with his introduction in the film instantly grabbing the attention of viewers through one simple movement.

2 Indiana Jones

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Indiana Jones is present throughout the entirety of Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s opening, but he isn’t seen until three minutes in. Instead, only vague glimpses of Indy are given. The film shows his hat, his jacket, his whip, and his confidence, all before you see his face, telling the audience everything that they need to know about the character. By the time Indy emerges from the shadows, the audience knows who they are dealing with. Plus, the epic tomb raid that follows this sequence is definitely a major plus.

1 Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

While all of the aforementioned character introductions are great, the greatest character introduction in film history is Willy Wonka’s introduction in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Gene Wilder’s version of Willy Wonka creates so much intrigue around the character before he is even seen, leading up to the moment in which he emerges from the titular chocolate factory. Wonka limps out, weakly hobbling with his cane, before he falls over. Instead of falling, Wonka does a somersault and hops back up, with his cane sticking in the ground.

As Gene Wilder understood, this introductory character beat raises an immense number of questions in the audience’s heads, causing a distrust that stays throughout the film. Nobody really knows who Willy Wonka is or what his motivations are, as any aspect of the character could be a show that he is putting on to trick the outside world. This scene shows how a small detail can go a long way in building a character, which is why Willy Wonka has the best character introduction in movie history.