best opening scene ever

[hans de vries]

My question is: the best movie opening scene? I'm not saying the best is the opening of Fellini's Satyricon, but the main character starting to rant to the audience about the other main character makes you sit up immediately, and I really liked that. I've found that movies that open quietly with unremarkable images just make the audience talk on for a while longer.

(I do have an agenda here; I'm finishing a scenario. I don't need help, problem is more too many ideas than too few. I've been wondering for a while if I should shuffle things around to maximise the impact.) So...I'm not looking for advice, I'm just wondering what you guys' favourite opening scene is.

 

[Brad Webb]

Here's a list compiled by Total Film

http://www.totalfilm.com/features/20-awesome-movie-openings

5 awesome ones I can think of off the top of my head

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Touch of Evil
3. Snatch
4. Star Wars
5. Inglorious Basterds.

 

[Craig Ryan]

"I believe in America..."

 

[guiziliu]

I do not believe America……

 

[colinbaugh]

"The Business"

 

[Mark Allen]

Saving Private Ryan certainly had quite an amazing opening scene - but it was incredibly different from the rest of the film. I'd agree about Raiders though it's a bit dated now. But honestly the best openings I feel really create a curiousity in the audience. Matrix had a great opening scene because it set up a lot of questions and set up a fantastic mood.

 

[Liam Hall]

The Player had a cool opening shot as did Absolute Beginners which got a mention in the opening shot of The Player along with a lot of other cool opening shots from movies.

 

[Martin Weiss]

Casino Royale

 

[Andy Jarosz]

The title shot of Serenity...

 

[Jan Balster]

Quantum Of Solace had a great opening sequence.

 

[Peter Hodgins]

Chasing the horses in "Billy Jack", not exactly the opening scene, but close enough.

 

[Kyle Presley]

Mine is the opening of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

 

[Anton Woldhek]

Apocalypse Now & Once upon a time in the west would be the standard sounddesigners reply

 

[Neil Larson]

Jurassic park came out when I was like 10 and I'll never forget that opening scene. "Shoot her........shoot her........."

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

The Matrix!

 

[hans de vries]

That's excellent response; good work guys!

 

[Jaime Vallés]

Jaws.

 

[Mitch Gross]

"I believe in America..."

Yes, "The Godfather." It instantly set the tone and framed the narrative structure of the film. Don Corleone was like a king, with the peasants coming to pay homage.

Another great one is "Reds" (how fitting for this forum). Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) arrives late for a conference she is supposed to report on. She peaks in the doorway to see a room full of people listening to a speaker talk a long diatribe on the evils of the current political system. The speaker then asks the esteemed John Reed (Warren Beatty) to explain why he believes that that current governement is evil, owners are unfair to workers, etc., etc. Reeds stands up and instead of a long complicated answer he says, "Money." and sits back down. Instantly you understand that he is an iconoclast who does not care to impress others and will not play along with them, which is why he will be both respected and reviled. And it is seen through Bryant's eyes, so we understand why she falls in love with him. And then the movie takes the next three-plus hours to explore this.

That's efficiency is storytelling.

The opening to Citizen Kane is pretty great as well.

 

[Yousuf Abbasi]

Reconstruction (2003)

 

[P Andersson]

agree to many above - here's some more

Bonnie and Clyde
Betty Blue
Irreversible
2001
Bladerunner
Paris Texas
The Wall
Citicen Kane
You The Living
Stalker