For the time? A New Hope. Opens with easily the most impressive spaceship battle ever filmed, moves to an exciting battle, introduces an awesome menacing bad guy ("If this is a diplomatic ship, then where is thr ambassador? breaks neck with one hand and throws away the body) and kickstarts the plot.
I am really, really glad that someone else had said this before I got here.
The opening of ANH is a really great demonstration of minimalist storytelling. Not a moment of design - starship, character, action, nothing - is wasted; every interaction conveys something be it emotion or plot points. And after forcing the audience to sit through the opening crawl, I think that deluge of information is needed - anything less would have lost the audience.
Their lead up to release campaign was also great. Just "what is the matrix?" in a bunch of places. Way better than trailers that make watching the movie unnecessary because they include the best jokes and action scenes. Especially since with the Matrix, the whole premise of the plot was the twist, so they couldn't really give you anything.
I liked the intro to 28 weeks later more than the rest of the movie. Even though it makes little sense how the kid led the infected to them, when they can outrun most people.
Children of Men (2006) sets the scene perfectly: the future is filthy, the youngest person on the planet has just died, and our protagonist just narrowly survived a terrorist act. Marvellous film.
Weirdly, this is the first movie that came to mind even though I can't even remember the opening scene. Just the way done of those long shots are filmed, I was like, I bet that had a great opening
Saving Private Ryan is my pick but just to add something new to the conversation I’ll add Catch Me if You Can for one of the best illustrated opening credits.
And then with the waitress's tip, it shows how none of them really knows each other, they're all shocked when the one jerk won't contribute. It's not a team, just a job.
The Dark Knight - great IMAX-shot visuals, amazing atmosphere and music, action right out of the gate. Sets the tone that the Joker is one crazy mf'er while being basically an entire heist movie in a few short minutes.
Star Trek: Into Darkness - The first 10 minutes is my favorite demo sequence of all time. COLORS are really vivid and make the alien world look actually, well, alien. Good audio effects with spears whooshing by and water falling off the ship. Really nice cinematic shots of the Enterprise and the volcano. Ignore what the characters are saying (because it's all dumb) and stop watching the movie after the alarm clock goes off, but everything else is about the best thing you can watch on a really nice home theater setup.
Not quite the FIRST scene but I've always really liked the opening sequence of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where they're driving through the desert.
Not that person, but I'd assume that its artsy vagueness and self importance are both good if you wanna get into analysation and terrible if you know nothing about it and are just trying to watch a regular sci Fi movie and understands what's immediately going on
It breaks my heart that we don't have 14 Master and Commander films. The books are so good, and are the rare sort of book that would reach make a good movie.
It's my absolute favourite book series ever. I kept putting it off and putting it off as I thought - Napoleonic Wars, sailing ships, nah - but they blew me away from book 1.
There are solid rumours that a script is being written to launch the series as a movie universe. To be honest though, there's so much detail in each book I think each book would work better as a TV season.
Random story. I have a god awful memory for names and rarely have dreams. One night I have a dream and specifically even know someone’s name. I wake up and write it down cause it’s so completely unusual for me. I look it up in the morning and it’s the captain. Like I can’t even tell you his name now even after this happened. So I don’t know why he was on my mind as I hadn’t watched the movie in years. I took it as a sign to rewatch it.
Equilibrium is definitely a fun movie, but it's hard to avoid the fact that the Matrix does it better.
I remember it had a "Forget the Matrix!" quote on the cover, but when I saw it on a rental store shelf many years ago someone had put a store sticker on it so it just read "get the Matrix!"
Saving private Ryan
Such an incredible scene, and it really brings home the horror the soldiers went through
I mean none of the others even come close to this. And that's without it being all but true.
I forgot about that. PTSD
For the time? A New Hope. Opens with easily the most impressive spaceship battle ever filmed, moves to an exciting battle, introduces an awesome menacing bad guy ("If this is a diplomatic ship, then where is thr ambassador? breaks neck with one hand and throws away the body) and kickstarts the plot.
I am really, really glad that someone else had said this before I got here.
The opening of ANH is a really great demonstration of minimalist storytelling. Not a moment of design - starship, character, action, nothing - is wasted; every interaction conveys something be it emotion or plot points. And after forcing the audience to sit through the opening crawl, I think that deluge of information is needed - anything less would have lost the audience.
Inglorious bastards
This and Drive are the two top answers for opposite reasons.
Kinda, but in essence they're both about hiding and escaping from an overwhelming foe.
Drinking milk has never been the same.
Good one.
Terrifying performance.
The Matrix
The opening scene blew everyone's minds in the theater! Nobody had ever seen anything like it before.
Their lead up to release campaign was also great. Just "what is the matrix?" in a bunch of places. Way better than trailers that make watching the movie unnecessary because they include the best jokes and action scenes. Especially since with the Matrix, the whole premise of the plot was the twist, so they couldn't really give you anything.
Watchmen film doesn't get much love but I like it and the intro is fantastic.
I liked the intro to 28 weeks later more than the rest of the movie. Even though it makes little sense how the kid led the infected to them, when they can outrun most people.
Oh that is good.
Zombieland is overall underrated, but the intro is impeccable. Perfectly sets up the rules and the humor the rest of the movie follows.
also, just thinking about the start of cool hand luke makes me giggle uncontrollably.
I remember being very impressed with their use of text, too.
Children of Men (2006) sets the scene perfectly: the future is filthy, the youngest person on the planet has just died, and our protagonist just narrowly survived a terrorist act. Marvellous film.
Weirdly, this is the first movie that came to mind even though I can't even remember the opening scene. Just the way done of those long shots are filmed, I was like, I bet that had a great opening
2001: A Space Odyssey
Simply the sun rising over the Earth set to Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
On Space Odyssey, I would agree that it's cool to look at, but it's terrible at conveying the meaning. You'd know if you read the book.
The book was based on early drafts of the movie, so the movie is not beholden to the novel’s interpretation.
Intro to Lord of War (2005)
Is that Nicholas Cage?
It is!
Two favorites that come to mind:
Contact
Baby Driver
Contact the movie was almost as good as the book.
It's Baby Driver for me too, I will always be happy to watch
It was absolutely perfect.
Anything Goes.
Pretty hard to beat the opening sequence of The Dark Knight. Really sets the tone for the whole movie.
The Dark Knight and Baby Driver seem to be the favorites so far.
Up
Most of the James Bond movies, hard to pick one.
Oh mannn the Up opening hits hard :(
Goldeneye sticks out in my mind.
This made me think of the first Austin Powers. That was good.
Super troopers. (This cut off the first part, and the end part. Look up the movie.)
I’ve seen it, great movie
Great opening.
Saving Private Ryan is my pick but just to add something new to the conversation I’ll add Catch Me if You Can for one of the best illustrated opening credits.
Ghost Ship. The rest of the movie is horrible but the first scene is inspired.
Came here to say this, absolutely the first scene that came to mind. Any fan of campy horror should know this scene second by second.
WALL-E
I liked Manhunter opening scene too. The colours and the quiet.
Bladerunner, obviously.
Contact
28 days later
Love the opening to Pulp Fiction
That Lord of war bullet opening was pretty iconic
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Afaik voiceovers rarely work, but this one did.
That's because it's straight from the book.
Baby Driver
Casino Royale
Reservoir Dogs (1992) by Quentin Tarantino
"Let me tell you what like a virgin is about. It's all about a girl who digs a guy with a big dick. The entire song is a metaphor for big dicks."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyR4RK0LA_E
And then with the waitress's tip, it shows how none of them really knows each other, they're all shocked when the one jerk won't contribute. It's not a team, just a job.
Love that movie
I almost prefer it to Pulp Fiction. It's a close one though.
The Dark Knight - great IMAX-shot visuals, amazing atmosphere and music, action right out of the gate. Sets the tone that the Joker is one crazy mf'er while being basically an entire heist movie in a few short minutes.
Star Trek: Into Darkness - The first 10 minutes is my favorite demo sequence of all time. COLORS are really vivid and make the alien world look actually, well, alien. Good audio effects with spears whooshing by and water falling off the ship. Really nice cinematic shots of the Enterprise and the volcano. Ignore what the characters are saying (because it's all dumb) and stop watching the movie after the alarm clock goes off, but everything else is about the best thing you can watch on a really nice home theater setup.
NAAAAAAAAAAAAAA SUWENYAAAAAAAA HAMANIIII CHIHUAHUAAAAAAAAA
28 Weeks Later, absolutely visceral
x-men origins wants a word (rest of the movie is...not that great) https://youtu.be/kpcQOPz-HaE
Damn, I had forgotten how good that opening was.
I really like this summation of wars.
Magneto's origin in the first X-Men movie has always stuck with me. What a way to set up a character.
I think Raiders of the lost Ark is perfect in a way.
I also love
Leon: The Professional La Haine Home Alone Braindead
I'm still trying hard to remember the one I thought of a while ago while writing these down.
The Dark Knight
Not quite the FIRST scene but I've always really liked the opening sequence of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where they're driving through the desert.
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold.
We can't stop here. This is bat country.
Jesus, did you see what god just did to us, man?!
God didn't do that, you did. You're a fucking narcotics agent. l knew it.
I recently re-watched 2001: a space odyssey and its both one of the best and worst opening scenes ever.
Care to explain?
Not that person, but I'd assume that its artsy vagueness and self importance are both good if you wanna get into analysation and terrible if you know nothing about it and are just trying to watch a regular sci Fi movie and understands what's immediately going on
That'd be a specific vintage porn movie, one that I'm so very fond of to these days. 🧐
Hope the Iemon stealing whores don't steal any of our lemons.
Hot Dog the Movie? /s
Drive
Standalone short film that would've gotten into 80 festivals lol
Underrated movie!
Master & Commander.
It breaks my heart that we don't have 14 Master and Commander films. The books are so good, and are the rare sort of book that would reach make a good movie.
It's my absolute favourite book series ever. I kept putting it off and putting it off as I thought - Napoleonic Wars, sailing ships, nah - but they blew me away from book 1.
There are solid rumours that a script is being written to launch the series as a movie universe. To be honest though, there's so much detail in each book I think each book would work better as a TV season.
Random story. I have a god awful memory for names and rarely have dreams. One night I have a dream and specifically even know someone’s name. I wake up and write it down cause it’s so completely unusual for me. I look it up in the morning and it’s the captain. Like I can’t even tell you his name now even after this happened. So I don’t know why he was on my mind as I hadn’t watched the movie in years. I took it as a sign to rewatch it.
Never seen it. ☹️
Once upon a time in the West
Geez, amazing. That’s a whole vibe.
Scream. Pure camp, but actually scary. So good.
Equilibrium. Definitely a B movie. Call it a Matrix clone if you will, but that opening was an incredible experience in the theater.
Equilibrium is definitely a fun movie, but it's hard to avoid the fact that the Matrix does it better.
I remember it had a "Forget the Matrix!" quote on the cover, but when I saw it on a rental store shelf many years ago someone had put a store sticker on it so it just read "get the Matrix!"
Not really the opening scene, but I love the opening credits of Thank You For Smoking
Did you know Katie Holmes turned down her role in the Dark Knight because of her sex scene with Aaron Eckhart in Thank You For Smoking?
She was still in a relationship with Tom Cruise at the time and he was jealous (typical Cruise) of the on screen chemistry she had with Eckhart.
Smoke, smoke, smoke, that cigarette!
The opening of Once Upon A Time In The West always stuck with me.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lyuwBW9lNa8
Vada Chennai
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Too bad the rest of the movie does not live up to that opening
I really only opened this thread to make sure this answer was here.
Anyone who hasn't seen it, really should.
Belly 1998
Wow 🤩
Dawn of the Dead 2004
The long, slow burn exploring the depths of his alcoholism at the start of Leaving Las Vegas.
The intro to Taxi (1998) has always stuck with me
That was cool
The Rock.
Star Wars 1977
Elite Squad
I really like the beginning of the first Rambo movie. I may be a bit prejudiced since it's my favourite movie of all time
I'm a simple man. Lost in Translation starts on a high note and doesn't end