A hook is what grabs your attention and HOLDS your attention. It makes you want to keep going.

Hooks exist in all kinds of storytelling—not just videos.

In books, a great first line immediately pulls the reader in:

• “When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold…This is the day of the reaping.” (The Hunger Games)
• “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” (1984)

In movies & TV, the first scene can make or break the rest of the film:

• The Dark Knight – Opens with a silent, masked figure standing on a street corner, followed by a tense bank heist. Who is this guy? What’s happening?
• Breaking Bad – First scene: A man in underwear, wearing a gas mask, speeding an RV through the desert with unconscious bodies in the back. What the hell is going on?
• Jaws – Opens with an unknown force violently pulling a girl underwater. What is attacking her?
• Inception – Starts with a man washing up on shore, dazed, holding a gun. Where is he? How did he get here?

How This Applies to Content Creation

All of these examples follow the same core principles of a hook:

1. Set up a question the audience wants answered
2. Create a sense of mystery or curiosity
3. Make a bold or unexpected statement
4. Drop people into the action before explaining anything

These aren’t just random tricks—they’re how all great storytelling keeps people engaged.