cold open

noun

variants or less commonly cold opening

plural cold opens also cold openings

: a scene of a film or television episode that precedes the title sequence or opening credits and that typically takes place in medias res

Cold opens are a bold move in any medium. When a movie or TV show drops the audience into its world without so much as a "here's the title," it speaks to a confidence that whatever's about to happen on screen is sufficient enough to immerse, intrigue, and otherwise hook them.

—Alexis Nedd

For fans of NBC's "The Office," the cold open from season five's "Casual Friday"—where Kevin spills his famous chili—is one of the show's most beloved scenes.

—Addy Bink

The film lost me right from the overacted cold opening …

—Alexa Chipman

Examples of cold open in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the start of the episode, which was hosted by Poehler, Fey played a gun-toting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a cold open where Poehler starred as Attorney General Pam Bondi. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

Poehler was the episode’s host, and Fey also popped in during the night’s cold open playing Kristi Noem. —William Earl, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025

See Fey’s entrance on the nostalgic hot cold open above. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025

Launching a season that introduces some new faces in the cast, the show’s cold open featured a sketch mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s presentation to generals earlier this week. —Jocelyn Noveck, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cold open

• reopen