The start of a movie is so important, especially for first-time viewers. A recent internet survey asked, “What movie has the greatest opening of all time?” Here are the top 24 answers.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
“Anytime they show the shire and that beautiful music, I want to live there forever.”
“The musical composition ‘Concerning Hobbits’ is some of the most beautiful music in the series; it immediately makes the Shire everyone’s idyllic fantasy.”
“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.”
Contact (1997)
“Starting at Earth, then panning out of the solar system, then the galaxy, then out to the edge of the universe, all while listening to older and older radio transmissions. Genius.”
“Also, that super cool shot with the mirror and the hallway.”
“I was looking for this. It’s beautiful and sets the perfect vibe for the rest of the movie.”
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
“No contest. It’s movie magic defined. And it has such a young Alfred Molina!”
“I think this is probably the definitive answer. It’s so famous that the live-action show at Disney World is literally that part of the movie 42 years after it came out.”
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
“That turn from Landa just being polite and charming to “You’re sheltering Jews” is just hair raising.”
“Tarantino said he kept Waltz out of all the rehearsals so that the reactions from the cast on film would be genuine.”
The Departed (2006)
“After the line, “When facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?” Jack’s eyebrows get me every time. It’s an epic movie with a phenomenal opening.”
“Exactly, plus I love how the title drops 20 minutes into the movie. So unexpected.”
Top Gun (1986)
“The opening of Top Gun was so good they used it again in Maverick, the re-make.”
“My wife hadn’t seen it. When Danger Zone came on during the opening, she said, “Oh wow.” I then reassured her that we’d be hearing it several more times.”
Children Of Men (2006)
“Yes! It is one of my absolute favorite films of all time; the whole film is a work of art.”
“In a movie with many epic long shots, this one, despite its relative brevity, is the most impressive. It so elegantly and effectively informs you about the world and character you’re introducing the audience to, and by making it a single shot, there’s such a strong sense of geography when you see the café he just left explode.”
Scream (1996)
“Seriously, killing Drew Barrymore right at the start was so jarring. That really set the thrilling, terrifying mood.”
“What really sold the opening at the time was the fact they really played up Drew Barrymore as starring in the film. So much so that she’s the main draw on the poster. The entire theater was so shocked.”
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
“The transition from cartoon to the real-world cartoon kitchen was so well done.”
“I’m still impressed how seamless the cartoon stuff blends with the live action. It works so well that it basically sets the benchmark for me. No other movie was able to do better. It’s like they created the perfect technology, used it once, and then never again.”
Goodfellas (1990)
“As far back as I remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
“People looked at me differently, and they knew I was with somebody. At thirteen, I was making more money than most of the grown-ups in the neighborhood. I mean, I had more money than I could spend. I had it all. One day the kids from the neighborhood carried my mother’s groceries all the way home. Do you know why? It was out of respect.”
The Lion King (1994)
“Using that opening as the movie’s official trailer was absolutely brilliant. When that trailer dropped, it was an event. Every kid was counting down the days until it came out; we all knew that movie was going to be life-changing.”
“The build-up of that song and just the drum beat close to the title is just fantastic.”
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
“Plenty of veterans had seen plenty of war films and thought this would just be another one. But the way Spielberg crafted that opening was revolutionary and immersive.”
“My grandfather was a medic who stormed the beach in Normandy. I had to take him home right after that scene. He said it was so real that he couldn’t watch anymore.”
The Matrix (1999)
“Came to say this, it is pretty perfect. Super exciting and introduces main characters, villains, and the world very well in only like 7 minutes.”
“Trinity defeats those agents in a way that movies tried to imitate for a full decade.”
Office Space (1999)
“He notices that the old man with the walker has gone further than he has in his car. Then he tries to “rap” hard-core in his car, then gets scared and locks his doors.”
“I think about this every time I’m stuck in traffic.”
Snatch (2000)
“They show how all the characters are connected in only the opening scene.”
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. And a ‘Pikey Reaction’… is quite a thing.”
The Godfather (1972)
“That opening scene with Brando, the cat, and the music. Just perfection!”
“It gives me chills every time I see it. That scene looks like an oil painting by the old masters. Did you know that cat was a stray that wandered onto the set, and Brando took a liking to it?”
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
“Pure horror cinema right there.”
“Regardless of how you feel about the rest of the movie, that first segment captures the chaos of a zombie apocalypse perfectly.”
Super Troopers (2001)
“Yes. The part where they slowly drive by maintaining eye contact, then immediately floor it in reverse and tell them to pull over. The acting by the guy in the back seat during that was phenomenal.”
“You won’t see a lot of comedies on this list, but this opening is just so perfect you are cheering when the title hits the screen.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
“I love how it started with the Balrog fight as they were falling through the void. I’m not a fan of the overused term ‘seriously cool,’ but that was seriously cool.”
“It is almost hilarious how cool that sequence is. It is an incredibly ambitious shot. I can’t imagine how they could pitch that and be confident in that past era of CGI.”
“I will never forget seeing this and being completely enthralled.”
28 Weeks Later (2007)
“I just explained this while talking about movies that make me unsettled. That opening definitely does it.”
“That moment when the zombies appear over the hills and chase him from all sides.”
“Best zombie scene ever! The way everything goes from 0 to 100 to 1000 so fast. The many impossibly tough decisions that are being made in split seconds.”
Lord of War (2005)
“Great answer. Not many people will remember the opening scene, but it’s incredible.”
“I chose to watch the movie based on a YouTube clip of that opening. I have no regrets.”
“That sequence is the only reason I rewatched this movie. I didn’t enjoy the whole movie, but that opening scene is reason enough to watch it.”
Spaceballs (1987)
“Three minutes of staring at the side of a ridiculously long spaceship makes me laugh every time. Who starts a movie like that?”
“The whole cinema busted up at the exact same time, watching that spaceship inch across the screen. Just hilarious.”
“You have to be old enough to get some of the references, though.”
Watchmen (2009)
“Whoever chose the song Bob Dylan’s‘ Times They Are A’ Changin” is a genius.”
“Ever notice how Nite Owl is punching out a mugger? At that moment, he saves the lives of Bruce Wayne’s parents, who are walking out of the theatre. Bruce never becomes Batman, and so he remains a fictional character in the Watchmen universe.”
There Will be Blood (2007)
“Yeah, that first part of them working the rig is so good you can’t even blink. Sets up the rest of the movie so well.”
“This was my answer. You learn everything you need to know about Daniel Plainview without a word spoken. He’s persistent and maniacally obsessed with money.”
“Truly masterful work with no dialog at all.”
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