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10 Best 'The Office' Cold Opens, Ranked
## 10 Best 'The Office' Cold Opens, Ranked: The Definitive Ranking *The Office* is a masterclass in sitcom structure, but perhaps its most enduring g...
1. 10 Best 'The Office' Cold Opens, Ranked: The Definitive Ranking
The Office is a masterclass in sitcom structure, but perhaps its most enduring gift to television comedy is the cold open. These brief, often standalone vignettes before the opening credits became a hallmark of the series, showcasing the bizarre, hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly intricate dynamics of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch. More than just a collection of jokes, the best The Office cold opens are perfectly crafted short films. They distill the essence of each character—Michael’s desperate need for attention, Dwight’s dangerous lack of self-awareness, and Jim’s elaborate dedication to a good prank—into bite-sized, endlessly rewatchable moments.
From heart-stopping (literally) safety drills to moments of pure, unadulterated physical comedy, these introductory scenes often had little to do with the episode's main plot but everything to do with why we fell in love with these characters. They were the show's creative playground, a space where the writers could experiment with internet trends, character-driven gags, and ambitious pranks without the constraints of the main narrative. Deciding on the best is a monumental task, akin to choosing a favorite child. Yet, some cold opens have risen above the rest, becoming iconic cultural touchstones. This definitive ranking celebrates the most inventive, chaotic, and downright hilarious cold opens in the history of The Office.
10. Parkour! (Season 6, "Gossip")
Kicking off our list is the physical comedy spectacle that saw Michael, Dwight, and Andy wholeheartedly embrace an internet trend years too late. This cold open is a perfect storm of misguided enthusiasm and athletic incompetence, capturing one of the core comedic engines of the show: three grown men with the combined foresight of a hyperactive flea.
The Delusion of Grandeur
The beauty of the "Parkour" cold open lies in its utter commitment to a flawed premise. As Jim dryly explains, parkour is "the goal to get from point A to point B as creatively as possible." For Michael, Dwight, and Andy, this translates to a series of clumsy, destructive, and utterly pointless maneuvers. They aren't executing athletic feats; they are simply finding new and inventive ways to fall over furniture. The constant, emphatic shouting of "PARKOUR!" before each pathetic hop or gentle roll is what elevates the scene from simple slapstick to comedic genius. According to the cast, the actors were given minimal direction and were encouraged to simply "mess up the room as much as possible," which lends a genuine, chaotic energy to their movements.
Escalation and Destruction
The scene masterfully escalates from contained office chaos to genuine property damage in the parking lot. While the initial jumps over chairs and desks are hilarious, the sequence where they run across the hoods of parked cars—reportedly denting some in the process—shows their complete disregard for consequences. The climax, Andy’s ill-fated jump from a truck into an empty cardboard box, was performed by a stunt double, but it's the perfect, anticlimactic end to their misguided adventure. Jim's deadpan commentary serves as the perfect anchor to the absurdity, concluding that they are indeed doing parkour, "as long as point A is delusion and point B is the hospital."
9. Asian Jim (Season 9, "Andy's Ancestry")
One of the most brilliantly simple yet psychologically baffling pranks in the show's history, the "Asian Jim" cold open is a masterwork of gaslighting. It doesn't rely on props or complex setups, but on the complete, unwavering commitment of everyone involved, pushing Dwight’s tenuous grip on reality to its absolute limit.
The Perfect Execution
The scene opens with Dwight arriving at his desk to find an unknown Asian man (played by actor Randall Park) sitting in Jim's chair. When questioned, the man calmly insists he has always been Jim Halpert. What makes the prank so effective is the layers of detail. "Asian Jim" knows Jim's sales records, his computer password, and even has a photo of himself and Pam with their children on his desk. Pam's full participation, walking in and giving him a kiss, is the final, devastating blow to Dwight's sanity. The genius is in its simplicity; everyone treats the situation as completely normal, making Dwight the only one who seems insane.
A Prank for the Ages
Randall Park’s performance is key to the scene’s success. His deadpan delivery and perfect recall of Jim's life create an unshakable front. Interestingly, Park revealed in an interview that the shoot was very quick, and he later forgot about his appearance until fans started yelling "Asian Jim!" at him on the street. The prank is a testament to Jim's long-game mentality and his deep understanding of Dwight's psychology. It preys on Dwight's need for logic and order, completely upending his world in the most understated way possible.
8. Faxes from Future Dwight (Season 3, "Branch Closing")
This cold open showcases Jim Halpert at his most creative and mischievous, even from a different branch. The prank is ingenious because it leverages Dwight's deepest character traits against him: his gullibility, his love for science fiction, and his unwavering belief in his own importance.
Exploiting Dwight's Psyche
While working at the Stamford branch, Jim reveals he stole a box of Dwight’s personal stationery. This allows him to send faxes to Dwight, purportedly from "Future Dwight." The message is simple and urgent: "Dwight, at 8 a.m. today, someone poisons the coffee. Do not drink the coffee. More instructions will follow. Cordially, Future Dwight." This plays perfectly into Dwight’s paranoid fantasies and his desire to be a hero. Jim knows that Dwight would never question a warning from his future self, especially one that sounds so official.
The Hilarious Fallout
The execution of Dwight's reaction is pure physical comedy gold. Upon reading the fax, he sees Stanley ambling out of the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee. In a moment of heroic panic, Dwight sprints across the office and smacks the cup out of Stanley’s hands, sending coffee flying everywhere. He yells, "You'll thank me later!" to a bewildered and furious Stanley, utterly convinced he has just saved a life. It’s a perfect, self-contained story that demonstrates how well Jim knows his target, creating maximum chaos with minimal effort.
7. Michael Hits Meredith with His Car (Season 4, "Fun Run")
Some of the best cold opens are the ones that are brutally simple and shockingly abrupt. The opening to the fourth season is a prime example, delivering a moment of unexpected slapstick that is both horrifying and hilarious in its suddenness. It perfectly sets the tone for an episode centered on Michael’s guilt and misguided attempts at redemption.
The Ironic Setup
The scene begins with a serene, almost mundane feel. Michael is in his car, speaking to the documentary crew about how optimistic he is for the year ahead. He talks about new beginnings and feeling blessed, creating a perfect ironic setup for the chaos that is about to ensue. This calm-before-the-storm structure is a classic comedic device, lulling the audience into a false sense of security before the punchline hits—literally.
The Unexpected Collision
As Michael pulls into the Dunder Mifflin parking lot, still waxing poetic about his great year, he slams directly into Meredith Palmer, sending her flying onto the hood of his car. The sheer unexpectedness of the moment is what makes it so funny. There's no buildup, just a sudden, jarring impact. Kate Flannery’s stunt work is exceptional, and Steve Carell’s immediate, panicked reaction is priceless. It's a dark, unforgettable image that kicks off the season with a literal bang and stands as one of the most memorable physical gags of the entire series.
6. Michael's Hatred for Toby (Season 5, "Frame Toby")
Few running gags in television history are as potent and one-sided as Michael Scott's inexplicable, all-consuming hatred for Toby Flenderson from HR. This cold open is the purest distillation of that animosity, a masterclass in comedic timing and raw, unadulterated rage that requires only one word to land perfectly.
The Buildup and The Reveal
The scene begins with Michael walking into the office, happy and carefree after Holly has been transferred. He's on the phone, jovially recounting a story. He walks past the annex and notices someone new sitting at a desk. He doubles back, peers in, and his face slowly contorts from cheerful ignorance to dawning horror as he realizes Toby has returned from Costa Rica.
The Primal Scream
What follows is one of the most iconic moments in the show's history. Michael lets out a guttural, prolonged "NOOOOOOOO!" that echoes through the office. He follows it with a desperate, pleading "NO! GOD! NO!," his voice cracking with anguish. Steve Carell's ability to convey such profound, volcanic despair over something so trivial is a testament to his comedic genius. The theme song cutting him off mid-scream is the perfect punctuation mark on a moment of pure, unhinged hilarity, cementing this as one of the all-time best The Office cold opens.
5. Kevin's Famous Chili (Season 5, "Casual Day")
In a moment that is equal parts tragic and hysterical, this cold open gives us a deep, intimate look into the world of Kevin Malone. It's a masterfully constructed piece of television that combines heartfelt narration with devastating physical comedy, resulting in one of the most memorable and meme-able scenes in the show's history.
The Pride Before the Fall
The scene opens with Kevin's voiceover, proudly detailing the love and care he puts into his "famous chili." He explains that it's the one thing he does best, describing his process of dicing tomatoes, pressing garlic, and undercooking the onions. The audience is drawn into his passion project, making the impending disaster all the more poignant. This narration, filled with such earnest pride, is what elevates the scene from a simple pratfall to a true comedic tragedy.
The Tragic Spill
As he struggles through the office door with a massive, steaming pot of chili, the inevitable happens. He loses his grip, and the entire contents spill across the office carpet in a glorious, slow-motion disaster. The truly hilarious part is his desperate attempt to salvage the situation, frantically trying to scoop the chili back into the pot with a clipboard and folders as he slips and slides in the mess. Actor Brian Baumgartner’s performance is a masterclass in physical comedy, and the fact that he nailed the spill in a single take makes it even more legendary.
4. CPR Training (Season 5, "Stress Relief")
While technically a scene that occurs after the cold open, the CPR training is a direct consequence of the "Fire Drill" and functions as a brilliant, self-contained comedic set-piece. It's a perfect example of how a simple workplace activity can descend into utter chaos in the hands of the Dunder Mifflin employees.
A Lesson Derailed
Following Stanley's heart attack, Michael organizes a CPR training session. The instructor tries to teach the team to perform chest compressions to the beat of the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive." This simple instruction immediately goes off the rails as Andy begins singing "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and Michael, not wanting to be left out, joins in with his own nonsensical lyrics. The scene devolves into a full-blown musical number, with Kelly dancing and the instructor completely losing control of the room. The script for this chaotic scene was meticulously written, showcasing the writers' ability to craft seemingly improvised mayhem.
The Hannibal Lecter Finale
The scene reaches its absurd zenith with Dwight. After arguing with the instructor and failing to properly perform CPR, he takes matters into his own hands. In a moment of pure, unadulterated Dwight-ness, he cuts the face off the expensive CPR dummy and wears it as a mask, mimicking Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs. It’s a shocking, bizarre, and unforgettable image that perfectly encapsulates Dwight's character. The production used three separate dummies to capture the scene, highlighting the commitment to this unhinged comedic moment.
3. Jim Impersonates Dwight (Season 3, "Product Recall")
"Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." With those three words, Jim Halpert cemented his status as the Picasso of pranking. This cold open is not just one of the best in The Office, but one of the most iconic in sitcom history, a perfect blend of character study, impeccable comedic timing, and quotable dialogue.
The Art of Imitation
The genius of this prank is in its simplicity and attention to detail. Jim arrives at the office dressed exactly like Dwight—mustard-colored shirt, tie, center-parted hair, and Dwight's signature calculator watch. He explains to the camera that the entire ensemble cost him only eleven dollars. But the prank goes beyond mere costume. Jim has adopted Dwight’s mannerisms, his speech patterns, and his pedantic obsession with facts, leading to the legendary "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica" exchange.
Dwight's Frustration
Dwight's reaction is what makes the scene a masterpiece. He is not just annoyed; he is fundamentally shaken. Jim’s imitation forces Dwight to confront a version of himself, and he doesn’t like what he sees. His indignant cry, "Identity theft is not a joke, Jim! Millions of families suffer every year!" is a line that has entered the pop culture lexicon. When Dwight storms off to complain to Michael, Jim calmly follows, mimicking his walk and posture perfectly. It's a prank that is as psychologically brilliant as it is hilariously funny.
2. Toby's Return (Season 5, "Frame Toby")
A close runner-up for the top spot, this cold open is a testament to the power of a long-running character dynamic. Michael Scott's pure, unadulterated hatred for Toby Flenderson is one of the show's most reliable sources of comedy, and this scene is its magnum opus.
A Moment of Pure Joy, Shattered
The scene begins on a high note for Michael. He's walking through the office, giddy with the news that his nemesis, Toby, is gone, having moved to Costa Rica. He is practically floating on air, basking in the glow of a Toby-free workplace. He even buys a souvenir rock from Dwight that says "From Costa Rica" just to celebrate.
The Agony of Defeat
His joy comes to a screeching halt when he walks past the annex and sees a familiar, sad-sack face sitting at the HR desk. Toby is back. The color drains from Michael's face, his posture deflates, and he lets out a soul-crushing, drawn-out "NOOOOOOOO!" It's a scream that seems to come from the depths of his being, a primal cry of agony and betrayal. He follows it with a desperate "NO, GOD, PLEASE, NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOO!" as the opening credits roll, cutting off his anguish. It is a moment of pure comedic perfection, driven entirely by Steve Carell's unparalleled ability to turn Michael's irrational hatred into a symphony of despair.
1. The Fire Drill (Season 5, "Stress Relief")
There could be no other choice for the number one spot. "The Fire Drill" is not just the best cold open in The Office; it is a cinematic achievement. Aired after the Super Bowl, this sequence was designed to be a "big and crazy" hook for new viewers, and it succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams, becoming one of the most-watched and iconic moments in the show's history.
Dwight's Calculated Chaos
The scene begins with Dwight, frustrated that no one paid attention to his fire safety presentation, deciding to take matters into his own hands. He calmly seals the exits, heats the door handles with a blowtorch, and starts a small fire in a trash can, announcing, "Today, smoking is gonna save lives." His methodical approach to creating utter pandemonium is both terrifying and hilarious, a perfect showcase of his character's dangerous literalism.
A Symphony of Panic
What follows is five minutes of the most perfectly choreographed chaos in television history. Each character reacts in a way that is both insane and perfectly true to their nature. Michael smashes a window to yell for help, Kevin loots the vending machine, Oscar climbs into the ceiling, and in the scene's most memorable moment, Angela pulls a cat out of a desk drawer and tries to "save" it by throwing it into the ceiling, only for it to come crashing back down. The scene culminates in Stanley having a heart attack, a shocking end that perfectly grounds the absurdity in real consequences.
The Ultimate Cold Open
The fire drill is a masterpiece of comedic writing, directing, and performance. It reveals the core of every character under pressure, delivers countless iconic lines ("The fire is shooting at us!"), and sets a new standard for what a cold open could be. It is, without a doubt, the definitive best of the best The Office cold opens.
The Office perfected the art of the cold open, transforming the first few minutes of each episode into a highly anticipated event. These scenes were more than just warm-ups; they were comedic shorts that captured the heart and absurdity of the Dunder Mifflin family. From minor gags to elaborate, show-stopping sequences, they remain a testament to the show's brilliant writing and unforgettable characters.