NFT: Best on-screen introduction for a character in film?

Darth Vader.

as Patton. He nailed it and kept hammering.

Another classic intro is John Belushi as Bluto in Animal House.

Joker

.

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.

In comment 15287356 Eric from BBI said:

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Darth Vader.

Very good choice

In comment 15287360 RobCrossRiver56 said:

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.

Good call.

the introduction of Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire was awesome.

Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump.

The Terminator from Terminator 2.

In comment 15287366 Chris684 said:

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the introduction of Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire was awesome.

Excellent call, that was a great one.

"This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's out there.

Like I told my last wife, I says, 'Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes.'

You just listen to the old Pork Chop Express here now and take this advice on a dark and stormy night alright.
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye, and asks you if you paid your dues; you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail.'"

in addition to the good ones already mentioned

in Silence of the Lambs

In Once Upon A Time in The West. Seeing Henry Fonda who was always a good guy, suddenly be a villain and shoot a child in the face was something else.

In Once Upon A Time in The West. Seeing Henry Fonda who was always a good guy, suddenly be a villain and shoot a child in the face was something else.

Problem with historical figures is that you already know the back story going in so they should not count. Darth Vadder was a excellent choice.

As Ben in the opening of the Graduate with Sounds of Silence playing him on. The absolute given up ennui of the character is bone chilling.

as a "character" but when Aaron introduces Roy in Primal Fear

scratching the blackboard and his speech at the town meeting were classic.

In comment 15287426 Jimmy Googs said:

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scratching the blackboard and his speech at the town meeting were classic.

Steals the movie from that scene on - absolutely.

Such a small part but an amazing scene

https://youtu.be/czOpDN8Knr4?t=80

Vertigo - Madeline's entrance in the restaurant wearing the green dress, completely stupefying James Stewart.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (original version from 1946) - Cora's lipstick rolling across the floor to John Garfield's character, and the camera pans backward along the floor to her legs, then cuts back to his him. His facial expression says everything.

... Large Marge sent ya.

In comment 15287424 pjcas18 said:

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as a "character" but when Aaron introduces Roy in Primal Fear

Sure

as well...

no dialogue, just him dangerously hacking away in a shaft searching for silver/gold with no idea he's going to be come a villainous oil tycoon.

I immediately thought of two...

Lee Van Cleef's intro as Angel Eyes in Good the Bad and the Ugly.

The hitchhiker in Texas Chainsaw Massacre - sets the vibe for the whole messed up movie.

But I was going to go with Charles Bronson as Harmonica.

Harmonica: [facing three men] And Frank?
Snaky: Frank sent us.
Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me?
Snaky: Well... looks like we're...
[snickers]
Snaky: ...looks like we're shy one horse.
Harmonica: [shaking head] You brought two too many.

as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman

In comment 15287497 Snacks said:

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as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman

Haha, so much for the part about them saying a lot without saying much at all. My bad.

Falling Down.

Top 3 villain in cinema history.
Link - ( New Window )

from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Sundance Kid intro - ( New Window )

In comment 15287524 Daniel in Kentucky said:

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Top 3 villain in cinema history. Link - ( New Window )

Its interesting to me how well characters are introduced in westerns. A bunch listed on this thread already.

Wild Bill from Tombstone

Javier Bardem from No Country for Old Men

In comment 15287524 Daniel in Kentucky said:

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Top 3 villain in cinema history. Link - ( New Window )

LOL..I was typing this and looking up his characters name when you made your post

…tumble weed rolling slow tempo which sets up the dramatic intro.

Mitchum in Cape Fear
Brando in The Godfather

Tyrion Lannister in GoT

Beatrix "The Bride" Kiddo - Kill Bill

I’ll go with ‘The Rock’ ... Ed Harris, Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery all had outstanding individual intros.

.

In comment 15287416 theking said:

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In Once Upon A Time in The West. Seeing Henry Fonda who was always a good guy, suddenly be a villain and shoot a child in the face was something else.

Harmonica's introduction was no slouch either. The setup to his introduction alone took like 10 minutes!

Silence of the Lambs

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...and you're welcome. :)

.

In comment 15287469 Jimmy Googs said:

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as well...

Scared the crap out of me as a kid. Still does!

But Harold (Bud Court) and his mother (Vivian Pickles) in Harold and Maude. You just see partial glimpses of a young man in a suit in a richly appointed room, hand putting on a record, sleeve and arm carefully lighting a candelabra, writing something and pinning it on, then you follow shoes as they step down a step, up onto a stool where both feet plant, then they step off and dangle. You realize he’s hanged himself and then you see him in full there.

An older woman comes in, possible his mother, sees him and walks calmly to the phone. You assume she’s dialing 911. She instead talks to her assistant about rescheduling an appointment as if nothing is wrong.

It sets the tone perfectly.

In comment 15287469 Jimmy Googs said:

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as well...

Lots of good suggestions on this thread, but I think you nailed it!

As Fred Fenster in "The Usual Suspects" in the running from the cops scene.