Best opening scenes of all time?

[Bill the Butcher]

+1 for Ryan. It is the opening scene. FTW.

+1 on Zombieland.

I personally liked the intro/opening credits of Watchmen. I really dig the alternate history. And the song was a great choice.

[FUDU]

Not sure if this one was mentioned, classic scene/footage, often gets overlooked.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

I reluctantly agree Bloody Omaha is scene 2 but, the "opening scene" of the flag waving in the breeze, no music for a moment or two then the old man's walk to Ryan's grave would still qualify as a #1 contender. It had me in tears before they ever hit the beach...

In any event, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Gladiator so I will

How 'bout Gladiator?

[Larvell Blanks]

Watched this yesterday with my nephews in their theatre room. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned.



I remember seeing this as a kid at the movies when it was first released. You're reading along with the opening scroll, then the screen turns to the blackness of space. All of a sudden a Rebel runner appears then the entire screen gets taken over by the Imperial star destroyer. Something that has never been seen on screen at that time.

[CharacterIV]

I personally liked the intro/opening credits of Watchmen. I really dig the alternate history. And the song was a great choice.

Good call, Bill. Loved the Watchmen intro. An excellent compression of the book's backstory.

For another candidate, I'll nominate the film from whence you draw your nomme-de-plume (SIC? My French is pidgin at best): Gangs of New York. I suppose it could trigger a whole new string of "what is the delineation of the end of the scene" arguments, because technically the first scene would just be Priest Vallon talking with young Amsterdam, but I mean the entirety of the prologue, through to Amsterdam as a young adult. An excellently textured scene for me, with enough exposition to get you interested, some great action in the unapologetically savage brawl with Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, John C. Reilly and of course, Daniel Day-Lewis having some great "badass" moments in the process. Vallon's death especially solid. Great dialogue really establishes the warrior culture of the gangs. Not saying it's in the elite like Saving Private Ryan or Raiders of the Lost Ark, but still a solid intro to a film.

[Hi Oktane]

The dairy farm scene in Inglourious Basterds was pretty damn good.

[tastybrownies]

Not sure if this one was mentioned, classic scene/footage, often gets overlooked.

Oh most definitely, the whole music in that movie is just spot on the whole time.

That beginning part just cues it up, and you know you're in store for someting good.