7 Hooks That Stop the Scroll (With AI Ad Examples)

You have about two seconds. The hook is the single biggest lever on performance, so it's the first thing worth testing. Here are seven patterns that reliably earn the watch.

1. Problem → Solution

Open on the pain your customer feels, then reveal the product as the fix.

2. POV

"POV: you finally found a [product] that…" — puts the viewer inside the moment.

3. Before / After

Perfect for transformation products. This maps directly to Transition mode, where you morph a first frame into a last frame.

4. Unboxing / First impression

Curiosity plus tactile detail. Great for premium or gift products.

5. Social proof

"I didn't believe the reviews until…" — borrow credibility from the crowd.

6. 3 things

"3 reasons this sold out twice" — listicles are easy to follow and screenshot.

7. Pattern interrupt

An unexpected first frame or line that breaks the feed's rhythm.

Test hooks, don't guess them

The mistake is committing to one hook. In AdVideoLab, Generate 3 angles writes three of these archetypes (problem→solution, social proof, transformation) in one click so you can compare and ship the strongest — see Writing prompts that work. Rate the winners and the AI leans into them next time.

Try three hooks on your product.