Some of the greatest movie characters of all time make the greatest entrances. Whether it be doing some despicably evil, something incredibly heroic, or something in between, we as an audience can never forget the first time we saw those characters on screen. While a lot of villainous characters have memorable introductions, several heroic ones do, too. Let’s discuss a few of the best introductions of heroes in movies.

6 Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

     Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Admittedly, Captain Jack Sparrow’s loyalties are… well… they change with each scene. However, later films imply the whole reason Jack was branded a pirate in the first place, was because he let a ship full of slaves go free, saying, “People aren’t cargo, mate.” Our first introduction to the manic pirate sees him sailing into Port Royal, standing on top of his ship, as Klaus Badelt’s bombastic score plays. Of course, Jack isn’t sailing on some mighty ship. He’s sailing in on a tiny little vessel… and it’s sinking. Jack tries valiantly to get the water out with a bucket, but to no avail. The next shot of Jack sees him back at the top, which is now level with the dock. All of this is done wordlessly. Jack’s first line comes as he bribes a harbormaster with three shillings to not record his name in the visitor’s log, then steals the bag containing the fees from all the other ships. It’s iconic, it’s hilarious; it’s everything we need to know about Captain Jack Sparrow.

5 Simba - The Lion King

     Walt Disney Pictures

Simba’s introduction is the very first scene of the movie, the iconic “Circle of Life” song. As the sun rises, we hear that famous opening chant in Swahili. For those wondering what’s being said, the first part is a very simple statement: “Here comes a lion, father. Oh yes, it’s a lion.” Yet it feels like the grandest, most epic statement ever made. Grand and epic are also the perfect descriptors for the visuals, as we see every animal on the African Savannah, from elephants to ants, gather at Pride Rock to see the presentation of Simba, the newborn lion cub of current lion king, Mufasa. Mandrill Rafiki then takes the child out for every animal to see, rays of sun burst through the clouds and land on Simba as all the animals cheer and bow. It’s big, it’s beautiful, all for what is essentially the animal kingdom’s equivalent of a baptism.

4 Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark

     Distributed by Paramount Pictures

South America, 1936. An American man and his native guides trek through the jungle where the Hovitos people live. The natives are spooked by things like stone statues and fresh poison darts, but the party continues onwards. So far, we have not seen the face of the American leading them. All we can tell of him is that he’s wearing a brown jacket and a fedora and is examining something written on paper. One of the guides decides to pull a gun on the American, who instantly whips the gun out of his hand. As the American emerges from the shadows, we see his face for the first time: Indiana Jones. It’s only after this he enters the temple, where one of the most iconic action scenes in the history of movies takes place.

3 Han Solo - Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope

     Distributed by 20th Century Fox

We first meet Han Solo in the cantina in Mos Eisley as old Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and future Jedi Luke Skywalker seek passage to the planet of Alderaan. Demanding an initial fee of ten thousand, Obi-Wan sweetens the deal up to seventeen thousand, a price Solo happily accepts. Right after Obi-Wan and Luke leave is when bounty hunter Greedo shows up, intending to collect a bounty placed on Solo by notorious gangster, Jabba the Hutt. We all know what happens next. Han shoots first, Greedo dies, and one of the galaxy’s most lovable rogues gets one heck of a statement-making introduction.

2 Batman - Batman (1989)

     Distributed by Warner Bros.

Before Tim Burton’s landmark superhero movie came out, the perception of Batman was more in the campy, Adam West-style, rocking a can of Bat-Shark Repellant, kind of territory. Casting Michael Keaton as the titular character was also met with derision, as most found it hard to believe that Mr. Mom was going to be Batman. Keaton made the doubters shut up for good in the very scene we see him in the iconic cape and cowl. Two muggers rob a wealthy man as his family is forced to watch, unaware that someone else is watching them. They discuss another criminal being captured by a mysterious “Bat” while from the shadows, a bat silhouette falls to the ground behind them. No doubt who that could be. Batman makes quick work of the two muggers, dangling one over a ledge. The hapless mugger asks “What are you?” to which we get one of the simplest and yet, most iconic answers to that question: “I’m Batman.” Yes, you are, Michael Keaton. Yes, you are.

1 James Bond - Dr. No

     United Artists

John Strangways, the MI6 Section Chief of Jamaica, has been murdered. Due to the time difference, London learns of this in the middle of the night, but they know just what to do: assign MI6 Agent James Bond to the case. But where is Bond? It turns out he’s playing chemin de fer, a variant of baccarat, at a fancy London club. One of Bond’s opponents is the beautiful Sylvia Trench, who loses multiple hands to our favorite secret agent. So far, we have yet to see Bond’s face; but when Trench asks for his name, we see it in full for the first time. Sean Connery, cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking as suave as possible, proceeds to deliver the most iconic introduction of all time: “Bond, James Bond.” That instantly recognizable 007 theme plays as Bond introduces himself, making the moment even better. For the last sixty years, no movie-goer alive has forgotten Bond, James Bond.