1. Die Hard (1988) 

Die Hard opens in an unexpectedly calm way for an action movie the beginning is  John McClane  landing at an airport. This grounded introduction shows the human side of the character before the action begins. Rather than starting with an action packed scene.

The camera lingers on McClane’s actions showing him as an everyday cop and not like a special agent of sort. This choice makes the later action feel more intense and relatable. By the time the setting  the audience understands who McClane is and why we should root for the character.

2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Unlike Die Hard, Mad Maxthrows the audience straight into an  action scene. The opening uses fast editing, aggressive sound , and visuals to show their world.

Minimal dialogue forces the audience to learn the rules of their universe trough their own eyes. The fast paced scene immediately shows danger, instability, and survival as main themes. There is no easing in just momentum.

3. The Dark Knight (2008) 

The opening scene is a bank heist that uses puzzling sequence that makes the viewer both entertained and curious to see how the movie will play out.

The reveal of the Joker at the end of the sequence establishes him as intelligent, unpredictable, and dangerous before Batman even appears. This flips the traditional action opening by centering the villain rather than the hero.