The opening scene sets the tone for the entire movie.
Whether it’s introducing viewers to the world that awaits them or immediately introducing us into the action, a good opening scene lets us know we’re in for a great movie.
These are the gold standard of opening scenes, whether it’s something I learned about in school, or fell in love with when I saw it in theaters.
Star Wars
Yes, the opening crawl lets us know that we’re in a galaxy far, far away, but the opening shot of the Star Destroyer engulfing Princess Leia’s ship does an excellent job of setting the stage.
The best movies are the ones that show us what’s happening rather than telling us, and that gigantic size of a Star Destroyer over Tatooine is one of the best examples of it.
The Matrix
The entire marketing campaign for The Matrix revolved around one question: “What is The Matrix?”
While the opening scene doesn’t exactly give us all the answers, it’s another fantastic example of showing versus telling. Watching Trinity pull off the impossible never gets old. This isn’t your typical action movie; this is something new.
Scream
Drew Barrymore was billed as one of the lead actors in Scream. Then she was killed in the opening scene.
Wes Craven’s masterpiece does an excellent job of breaking the rules of the horror genre, and doing it from the very beginning is a great way to start a modern classic.
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
The Dark Knight
Leading up to the release of The Dark Knight, IMAX screenings of I Am Legend had the iconic opening heist attached to the movie.
I saw I Am Legend three times, not because I wanted to see Will Smith, but because I wanted to watch Christopher Nolan’s excellent homage to Heat.
Up
Pixar’s original run is, in my opinion, unmatched in the world of animation. Yes, the Disney Renaissance gives it a run for its money, but the opening scene in Up is the biggest reason why I give Pixar the nod.
It displays more emotion, impressive storytelling, and heartbreak in ten minutes than most films have in their entire run time.
5
Jurassic Park
Before we learned how Dr. Hammon spared no expense for his park, we got a taste for the dangers that await when you play God.
It’s short but incredibly effective, giving viewers enough of a tease to hook them while holding the grand reveal of the dinosaurs until later on, when John Williams’ iconic score kicks in.
Touch of Evil
The greatest single take shot in movie history.
Orson Welles’ direction builds an incredible amount of tension. We know there’s a bomb ticking in the car as we follow it around town. We know it’s only a matter of time before it explodes, but the scene just keeps going and going. Every second that goes by as you wait for the bomb to go off or the scene to cut, the tension continues to build. It’s a masterpiece that every film student should study.
Saving Private Ryan
June 6th, 1944. The invasion of Normandy. One of the most important days in world history, when brave soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice against fascism.
World War II is no stranger to the big screen, but few moments, if any, have done as good a job of capturing that moment in history as Saving Private Ryan.
Casino Royale
The 2006 reboot of the James Bond franchise took things back to the beginning, with the film’s advertising telling us that this is how James became Bond.
It’s also a much welcomed change in direction for the franchise. The Pierce Brosnan films began to lean into the wackier, over-the-top aspects of the movies, whereas Casino Royale presented a far more mature, gritty take on James Bond, a quality that was apparent from the film’s opening moments and its iconic black-and-white opening scene.
Zodiac
Those who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960s know all too well the danger that lingered from the Zodiac killer.
David Fincher’s 2007 movie about the Zodiac doesn’t waste any time introducing viewers to the serial killer, with that opening scene sending a shiver down our spine.
10
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Perhaps the most iconic opening scene in movie history, following Indiana Jones into the temple, doing what he can do to secure the golden idol, and then escaping the giant boulder, is nothing short of pure cinema.
Raiders may be light on the action, but the opening moments give us more than enough to keep us hooked.
The Last Crusade
I love Temple of Doom, but there’s no denying that it was a little darker compared to its peers.
The Last Crusade is a more lighthearted, traditional adventure on par with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ironically, the opening scene does a similar job of setting the stage. It lets us know that the movie’s tone is more in line with the original. Plus, that iconic transition from young Indiana Jones to Harrison Ford is, once again, pure cinema.
Super Troopers
Speaking of setting the tone, it’s not just action adventure movies that use their opening scene to do that. A good comedy is more than capable of delivering impressive laughs from the very beginning.
Make no mistake that Super Troopers is a dumb comedy, but it’s also brilliantly written. Its opening gags had me rolling from laughter before the opening title even appeared.
Inglourious Basterds
Christoph Waltz has been acting since 1979, but 2009’s Inglourious Basterds is his first major role.
It should come as no surprise to learn that Quentin Tarantino knows how to build tension, between his savvy screenwriting and masterful work behind the camera. Plenty of talented actors have brought his words to life, but Waltz’s performance as Hans Landa in the opening moments of Inglourious Basterds takes things to another level. “Who the heck is this guy?” you asked yourself in 2009. He’s the guy who stole the show within minutes.
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
Read More:
Leave a Reply