Netflix adds top-rated rom-com with 'shocking' opening scene that has viewers ‘screaming’

Netflix has added a film with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score which has an opening scene fans have hailed 'iconic' - although it leaves some 'screaming.'

The 2017 rom-com Lady Bird was added to Netflix UK over the weekend. Directed by Greta Gerwig, who's also behind Barbie and Little Women, it stars Saoirse Ronan as high schooler Lady Bird McPherson.

The senior year student is anxious as she navigates the next stage of her life, enduring the ups and downs of her relationships while trying to get into a prestigious college and become popular. The cast includes Laurie Metcalf as her mother Marion McPherson, as well as Timothee Chalamet and Beanie Feldstein.

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The film was scored an impressive 99% by critics on review site Rotten Tomatoes, across 400 reviews. Film Companion's Anupama Chopra 'can't recommend it enough,' writing: "It's light-footed without being lightweight. And it captures, with great feeling, the turbulence of a girl growing up."

Film Focus Online's Rebecca Johnson said: "Lady Bird is one of the best, realest explorations of the mother daughter relationship ever put to screen" as Cinema Sentries's Matthew St. Clair reckoned: "With Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig manages to take the old coming-of-age genre and make it feel refreshing with its authenticity and heart."

Taking to social media, Netflix UK posted a clip of the film's opening scene - which you can watch above - to celebrate it joining the streamer. The caption read: "Lady Bird (2017) is back on Netflix UK/IE! Turns out the end of this scene is still shocking even when you know it's coming..."

The opening scene shows a discussion about college between Lady Bird and her mother turn into a full-blown argument. It ends with the teenager chucking herself out the passenger-side door of a moving car.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, fans of the film shared their thoughts on the 'iconic' scene. @lostalleycat described it as 'sad, hilarious, and relatable' while @sunsetsfaded wrote: "i have literally never in my entire life seen a better opening scene to a film than lady bird".

@fiImgal said: "lady bird’s opening scene really is so iconic" to which @bottegaga responded: "when she jumped, i screamed like her mother, i don't believe my eyes lol" as @miekomane wrote: "I forgot how funny Lady Bird is. This scene was 5 minutes into the opening and took me out".

@charbeds lameneted: "Nothing does it for me like lady bird throwing herself out of the car in the opening scene".

Lady Bird is available to stream now on Netflix.