# Best opening scenes in movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810 "2015-06-29T20:19:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/41 "2015-06-30T01:42:13Z")
The opening of **Fargo** , in which a car emerges from a dead-white screen. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/42 "2015-06-30T03:02:09Z")
The opening scene of _The Holy Mountain_ where the alchemist spiritual leader character initiates the nude women is an opening scene that strikes me as among the best. Orson Welles’ _Touch of Evil_ also came to mind immediately after reading the thread title, but _Touch of Evil_ has been mentioned upper thread. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/43 "2015-06-30T04:19:39Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Dark City. I wish they had left out Keifer Sutherland’s narration entirely and just started with the guy waking up, though. They did in the director’s cut. Only watch that a version. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/44 "2015-06-30T04:31:42Z")
In terms of opening shots, I can’t believe nobody’s mentioned\* Eyes Wide Shut\* yet! (It’s last shot/line ain’t bad either…) 😃 Slightly NSFW: [Eyes Wide Shut - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZHfjkFhXF4) ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/45 "2015-06-30T04:34:38Z")
Gladiator, though, technically, the first 30 seconds or so are kind of boring [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZghMKa4jGo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZghMKa4jGo) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/46 "2015-06-30T08:07:56Z")
_Memento_, which starts with a Polaroid photo of a murder scene that gradually fades. Then the photo goes back into the camera and we see the murder take place backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Sasori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sasori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sasori)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/47 "2015-06-30T08:22:24Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > [Yojimbo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjsAKbJcMAc) > > [Le Samourai](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivn2fi1TZY) Aaah, thank you! Since I’m beaten to these, I’d go for [_Aguirre._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dbBur_bSUE) In the audiocommentary, Werner Herzog mentions that the clouds broke up at just the right moment to shoot the breathtaking procession of people, poultry and pigs down that tiny goat’s path, how glad he was about having been able to persuade Kinski not to have the ruins of Machu Picchu (and lots of close-ups of himself, of course) in it and that he felt blessed when even the sun came out…after listening to the rest of it, I couldn’t help but wonder if some ancient deity wasn’t having a quiet chuckle after these gracious gifts. 🙂 I’ve waxed about it before, but the [opening scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5XlluQRi-4) for Mario Bava’s _Black Sunday_ is an atmospheric masterpiece of light and shadow, as is the rest of one of the most gorgeous pieces of gothic horror I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. Certainly not THE best, but after the first iconic minutes of _Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!_ you just know that you’re in for some wonderful pulpy fun. [Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to violence!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACu2AR7fbCo) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/48 "2015-06-30T08:56:04Z")
_Serenity_, a great movie from beginning to end. It begins with what seems like the opening exposition that a thousand other science fiction movies have before their opening credits. Then you realize that it’s not general movie exposition, it’s a teacher talking to her young students. Then you realize that it’s not actually a classroom, it’s a dream in River’s head while she’s being studied by Alliance scientists as if she were a lab rat. Then you realize that the lab is not being shown in real time, it’s holographic security footage being watched by the Parliament operative. Then there’s a fantastic scene as the operative deals rather severely with the lab personnel who let River escape. And then the opening credits start. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/49 "2015-06-30T11:05:05Z")
Some not mentioned : _Reservoir Dogs_ _Highlander_ _Pitch Black_ ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/50 "2015-06-30T11:45:19Z")
I enjoyed the opening of “Casino Royale”; it did a great job of introducing the new Bond without an outlandish and unrealistic stunt. And the title sequence didn’t have a bunch of beautiful nude women in sillhouette! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/51 "2015-06-30T12:30:45Z")
_The Rundown_ - The Rock walks into a crowded club and beats up 5 football players, taking out the last guy by chucking a turntable at him from across the dance floor. The rest of the movie is meh, but that scene is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/52 "2015-06-30T12:53:52Z")
I’ve always liked the opening to Apocalypse Now with the jungle, This Is The End, the napalm going off, the helicopter noise morphing into the sound of the ceiling fan, the Captain doing his dance or whatever and winding up getting all bloody… great mood-setter. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/53 "2015-06-30T12:58:22Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Glengary Glen Ross: “Coffee is for closers!” Fantastic scene, but it’s not the opening. The opening is the salesmen and office manager meeting before work in a bar. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/54 "2015-06-30T13:07:57Z")
Uneven as the rest of the movie is, the opening credits of [Watchmen](https://vimeo.com/38649608) do a great job of setting up the world. I agree with [The Lion King](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc). The Circle of Life sequence is easily one of, if not THE, greatest animated sequence Disney has ever created. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/55 "2015-06-30T13:30:38Z")
_The Dark Knight_ - no opening credits, no exposition, just straight into Joker’s bank heist. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/56 "2015-06-30T13:35:27Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > **Star Wars** … Episode IV > > That star cruiser passing overhead blew me away as a kid. **Spaceballs** did it even better! The cruiser just kept going and going for like 2 minutes! I was laughing my ass off before a single word was spoken! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/57 "2015-06-30T14:03:38Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > _Serenity_, a great movie from beginning to end. Which would lead to “great closing lines/scenes” were it not a hijack. (I can’t think of a better ending for the movie/series. At all. Destruction. Renewal. Soaring symphonic score. And… “What was that?”) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/58 "2015-06-30T14:17:17Z")
The first scene in _The Ring_ is really effective. It’s very much like your typical, cheesy teen horror flick - and yet it’s not. Two teenage girls home alone on a rainy night, spooking each other out with scary stories and pranks. If you don’t know anything about the movie, as I didn’t when I saw it, you really do think it’s going to be the usual schlockfest. Then the tension starts to get authentic and the last twenty seconds or so really pull you in and set the mystery in motion. Another good one in the horror genre is _It Follows_. A young woman comes out of her house half dressed. Shot from the camera’s pov (is that the right term?) we follow her as she runs in a frenzy around the street. We have no idea what she’s freaking out about, it daylight and there are other people on the street who apparently can’t see what she’s seeing. Then we cut to the next day and see the aftermath. Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/59 "2015-06-30T14:21:25Z")
The opening scene / sequence of the movie _Up_ certainly qualifies. It had lots of people in tears to see the progression of the loving couple losing a baby and then the wife as the man drifts into old age alone. On a happier note, how about the hills are alive with _The Sound of Music_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810/60 "2015-06-30T15:16:36Z")
An oldie that I still enjoy now and then: [Sharky’s Machine Opening](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG9ROB_2Zk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-scenes-in-movies/723810.md?page=4)