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
Alexis NeddFor 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
Addy BinkThe film lost me right from the overacted cold opening …—Alexa Chipman
Alexa ChipmanExamples of cold open in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first comes in the show’s shocking cold open, in which a mother gives birth to a demonic baby that subsequently attacks an 11-year-old boy.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Gilligan’s trademark cold opens, which can transport us halfway around the world or introduce new characters, remain a masterly way of calibrating suspense.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
In her cold open, Poehler mocked Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
This week's cold open saw host and former SNL cast member Amy Poehler reunite with Tina Fey to play Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, respectively.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold open
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Andrew McGowan, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Gilligan’s trademark cold opens, which can transport us halfway around the world or introduce new characters, remain a masterly way of calibrating suspense.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
In her cold open, Poehler mocked Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
This week's cold open saw host and former SNL cast member Amy Poehler reunite with Tina Fey to play Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, respectively.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold open
Cite this Entry
“Cold open.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20open. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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