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

Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations. —Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025

Every season of the show starts with a cold open that introduces a supernatural element. —Eliana Dockterman, Time, 1 July 2025

This was a confident, almost brilliant way to do the last cold open of the season. —Andy Hoglund Updated, EW.com, 18 May 2025

Cut For Time • The final cold open aimed at a predictable target: Trump’s recent sketchy trip to the Middle East. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 18 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cold open

• reopen