Screenwriting : Hook by Rutger Oosterhoff

Needs a reason to exist. Hook is very general a term. Needs to give a viewer a reason to keep watching.

And a hook and drama would be nowhere without good characterisation.

So it depends, some stories need a good hook, others don't, but they all need good drama and characterisation.

Well, it does help.

Strictly technically speaking... not always. But as a rule of thumb, yeah. Sometimes a really bland, cliche ridden story that is just executed brilliantly can be enough. 99% of the time, if you want to get noticed, you need a hook.

Yes indeed. Without a hook, you don't need a line or sinker.

Yes. "A great story, well told" needs to be both a great story and then also well told. Not just one or the other.