Film Best opening scenes to a movie

Green_Red

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Inspired by the RIP Ray Liotta thread. The opening scenes and monologue to Goodfellas are up there with the best in cinema.

What else should be on a list of greatest movie openings in history?
 

Solius

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The bit in Morbius where he says "It's Morbin time".
 

do.ob

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I can't remember if it was fast and furious 5 or 15, but the part where they are really cool guys and drive fast cars in the opener.
 

Vault Dweller

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Not many that trump the start of Goodfellas.

Would also pick start of Dark Knight which sets the stage brilliantly, Infinity War too (aye I'm a comic nerd :lol: )

Always liked the start of Gangs of New York too.
 

The Corinthian

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No Country for Old Men sets the scene perfectly. Some beautiful shots of the Deep South, with Tommy Lee Jones voiceover talking about the world changing, and changing to something he doesn’t comprehend or recognise…just as Javier Bardem’s character is getting arrested and put into the back of a police car. It’s beautifully done.
 

FrankDrebin

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The long take/shot of PTA's Boogie Nights.
Sets the stage, the tone and the main characters all in one continuous shot.
 

The Corinthian

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A Serious Man (another Coen Brothers flick) has a brilliant opening scene.

 

hasanejaz88

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Inglorious Bastards. Gradually builds up in tension and introduces you to one of the best modern cinema villains.
 

11101

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Saving private Ryan.
This, hard to see how it could be topped. Captured one of the most horrific events in human history so well a lot of veterans couldn't watch it.

On a lighter hearted note, Top Gun has a pretty good opening scene too.
 

FrankDrebin

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The intro to Alien sets the tone perfectly aswell.
We're introduced to this massive floating vessel that seems unhabituated but slowly but surely we witness it waking up along with the main cast.
The score by Jerry Goldsmith, though I'm not sure he himself was fond of his work on the film, really adds texture to the opening.
The set design is outstanding too, which isn't a particular surprise due to Scott's creative eye and his enormous fondness for the work of Kubrick.
 

FrankDrebin

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Think this was done once before but anyway, the opening of Inglorious Basterds is absolute perfection.

Think I've said this before but this really is the best sequence of the film. It never reaches this peak again.
 

Moby

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Think I've said this before but this really is the best sequence of the film. It never reaches this peak again.
No issues with that opinion, although the movie is one of my all time favourites and I have watched it start to end a million times and enjoyed each bit. The scene in the tavern with Michael Fassbender is incredible as well. Also the one when Waltz meets a grown up Shosanna for the first time is quality when you think of it from her pov. The scene between Waltz and Kruger with the shoe is great as well.

But yeah, that opening is absolutely brilliant. Similar to the "Do I look like a bitch" in Pulp Fiction, that sets the tone of the whole movie.
 

VorZakone

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Not the best but I've always appreciated the opening of Pelican Brief (1993).
 

Red Stone

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Saving Private Ryan and Inglourious Basterds immediately came to mind. Both are arguably the strongest scenes in the entire movie, which is no small feat considering how good they are in general.
 

FrankDrebin

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Left field choice here but I've always been fond of the opening shot/credits to Donnie Darko.

The shot starts with the lead character ,played by a then teenage Jake Gyllenhaal, who wakes up at the crack of dawn, in his pyjamas, in a bizarre yet seemingly familiar state of mind ,in the middle of the road, in the middle of this slightly eerie rural picture-esq setting, with hills and mountains popping up in the distance.
He gets up, takes a slight grin of his situation, hops onto his bike, Killing Moon by the Echo and the Bunnymen kicks in and we're set-off in following his ride into this 80's fancy suburban environment while smoothly being introduced, yet again, to predominately the main players of this little weird, kooky , surreal independent science fiction film.

The opening introduction of the characters High School , with TFF's Head-over Heels playing over the scene, is executed brilliantly too.

Overall, I will always have a fondness for this film. It brings me back to my own youth ,plus the environment always felt oddly familiar.
 

largelyworried

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Love the opening to Rear Window, sets the film so well.

For a less highbrow choice, the start of Scream is great too.
 

Neil_Buchanan

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Casino royale had a very cool opening action scene with the chase across the building site, jumping off the crane and ending in the embassy with a huge explosion.
 

Salt Bailly

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Loved the Dark Knight opening up until the point where the bus backs into the bank, knocking the guy down despite clearly not being close enough to do so.
 

Organic Potatoes

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No Country for Old Men sets the scene perfectly. Some beautiful shots of the Deep South, with Tommy Lee Jones voiceover talking about the world changing, and changing to something he doesn’t comprehend or recognise…just as Javier Bardem’s character is getting arrested and put into the back of a police car. It’s beautifully done.
Minor nitpick, but I wouldn’t call that the Deep South. Texas could be considered Southern in general, but only the eastern portions border the core of the ‘Deep’ South. It needs to look more like True Detective S1 to be called that.
 

Simbo

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Always liked the opening of JJ's first Star Trek, was like a movie in itself.
 

SuperiorXI

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The intro to Blade Runner is probably the best I've ever seen, with all of its symbolism, Vangelis and visuals. Absolutely amazing and timeless.

This a thousand percent.

The most naturally acted opening ever,

Dick dick dick dick dick dick dick.
How many dicks is that?
 

WI_Red

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Fallen - you are literally told how the movie is going to end and I bet 99% of viewers (me included) do not realize it.