# Most Bad Ass Opening Scenes to a Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948 "2009-06-25T16:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/1 "2009-06-25T16:21:20Z")
See title of thread. In your opinion, the best opening scene to a movie. Regardless of further quality of said movie. **[Desperado](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjNxVmyoLIo)**: Steve Buscemi tells a bad ass story. This clip tends to get deleted periodically, so make sure to watch it soon. I got lucky that it was even available now to link to. “Can I get a cleaner mug? This one’s dirty.” 😛 **[Léon: The Professional](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCo5ltLvJg)**: Léon is just a bad ass. Pure and simple. “What’s he look like?” “Serious.” [gunshot] “Somebody’s coming up. Somebody serious.” You can’t mention Léon without mentioning **[this scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlbSDqa5DtU)**. All actors should strive to be more like Gary Oldman. Two others that I can’t seem to find videos for, with bad ass intros are **The Dark Knight** and **Lucky # Slevin**. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/2 "2009-06-25T16:38:54Z")
“The Wild Bunch”'s opening bank robbery scene still holds up as a great exercise in quick cuts and mounting tension and… operatic violence. Same with “Once Upon A Time in the West” the train station shoot out. How would you rate this exchange? Harmonica: And Frank? Snaky: Frank sent us. Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me? Snaky: Well… looks like we’re… [snickers] Snaky: …looks like we’re shy one horse. Harmonica: You brought two too many. Bad asssssss? Yesssss. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/3 "2009-06-25T16:56:58Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > “The Wild Bunch”'s opening bank robbery scene still holds up as a great exercise in quick cuts and mounting tension and… operatic violence. > > Same with “Once Upon A Time in the West” the train station shoot out. > How would you rate this exchange? > Harmonica: And Frank? > Snaky: Frank sent us. > Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me? > Snaky: Well… looks like we’re… > [snickers] > Snaky: …looks like we’re shy one horse. > Harmonica: You brought two too many. > > Bad asssssss? Yesssss. It WAS a great opening, but Sergio Leone made us wait for it. Remember the endless waiting for the train, while Woody Strode tried to ignore the water dripping on his hat, and Jack Elam tried trie to shoo away that pesky fly? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/4 "2009-06-25T16:57:59Z")
Star Wars. I was so overwhelmed I could barely breath. ---
**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 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/5 "2009-06-25T17:01:30Z")
The Dark Knight’s opening bank robbery is great as well. [Bank Robbery](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OYBEquZ_j0&feature=related) It cuts off a little early, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/6 "2009-06-25T17:01:37Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > “The Wild Bunch”'s opening bank robbery scene still holds up as a great exercise in quick cuts and mounting tension and… operatic violence. Absolutely - especially the way the images are frozen during the opening credits until William Holden says, “If they move, kill 'em!” and the screen flashes “Directed by Sam Peckinpah.” Still gives me chills. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/7 "2009-06-25T17:01:58Z")
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Indiana penetrating the defenses of the jungle tomb to retrieve the golden statue and escape from the natives. Reservoir Dogs wasn’t bad either. The suits and skinny ties stroll to Little Green Bag, discuss Like a Virgin and tipping and then Mr. Orange is screaming from the back seat, covered in blood. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/8 "2009-06-25T17:02:19Z")
I’d have to say Fight Club. The whole special effect of following the nerve impulse in the fear center was pretty impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/9 "2009-06-25T17:03:05Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It WAS a great opening, but Sergio Leone made us wait for it. Remember the endless waiting for the train, while Woody Strode tried to ignore the water dripping on his hat, and Jack Elam tried trie to shoo away that pesky fly? That’s what makes it so great. The anticipation. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/10 "2009-06-25T17:03:28Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Star Wars. > > I was so overwhelmed I could barely breath. I came in to mention this one. Nothing else compares. I also loved the opening to the original Superman: The Movie ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/11 "2009-06-25T17:10:46Z")
[The 8-minute tracking shot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0epB5Z6ijpk) that opens Robert Altman’s “The Player.” ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/12 "2009-06-25T17:13:33Z")
Saving Private Ryan has the best opening in my opinion. It changed how war movies would be shot. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/13 "2009-06-25T17:15:29Z")
I’m partial to the opening of [Austin Powers - Goldmember](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1TQTDi6gQ4). It’s bad-ass wrapped in awesome with a side order of bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/14 "2009-06-25T17:16:01Z")
[**Last of the Mohicans**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaekTWbDzIQ) couldn’t have started any better. Epic, pure epic. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/15 "2009-06-25T17:18:28Z")
The spaceship crashing in the beginning of **Pitch Black**. (I can’t see YouTube from here at work). ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/16 "2009-06-25T17:28:09Z")
Several Bond openings are pretty good. I’m kind of partial to Live and Let Die because you have three agents getting whacked — first one at the UN, then at a really awesome street funeral scene in N’Awlins, then finally at an odd voodoo ceremony thing in a fictional Caribbean island. You Only Live Twice is a pretty cool opening too, because it ends with Bond “dying” ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/17 "2009-06-25T17:30:34Z")
Pulp Fiction. Love that opening scene. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/18 "2009-06-25T17:30:52Z")
Hands down, **[The Naked Kiss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WQvHp9eHt0&feature=PlayList&p=32EC9F1A80BFD832&index=0)**. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/19 "2009-06-25T17:31:31Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Reservoir Dogs wasn’t bad either. The suits and skinny ties stroll to Little Green Bag, discuss Like a Virgin and tipping and then Mr. Orange is screaming from the back seat, covered in blood. I thought of this, too. Except isn’t it discussing Like a Virgin, THEN Little Green Bag, THEN Mr. O screaming? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948/20 "2009-06-25T17:37:40Z")
Sling Blade [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-bad-ass-opening-scenes-to-a-movie/500948.md?page=2)