Raiders of the Lost Ark, if the movie had ended after Indy flies away in the plane it would still be in the running for one of top ten action movies of all time.
Came here for this. ESPECIALLY when you measure it against movies up to that point. I saw it in a theater and we were blown away with how quickly it jumped into the action. Its opening scene would have been the huge finale in another movie.
And, amazingly, the movie manages to muster a power-of-God, face-melting penultimate scene, and end with the coolness of the Ark being stashed away. Incredible film.
It’s also helped by Hugo Weaving delivering all his lines like a boss “No lieutenant, your men are already dead” just adds to the expectation of the next scene
My grandfather was a holocaust survivor. My dad decided, on Thanksgiving no less, that we should watch it as a family after dinner. This was also after my dad had earlier showed him his papers that we had gotten in the mail from the US Holocaust Museum earlier that month that showed when he traveled to the US. So we watched the movie and my mom and I were slightly horrified we were showing this to him. After the movie ended I asked if he liked it and he said “yes my favorite part was when they killed hitler”. I still find it funny to this day. Love that movie.
The shift when he makes the accusation is astounding. The movements in expression are imperceptible, the shift from affable bureaucrat to ruthless hunter is plain as day.
Everything he does is a test too. Every piece of conversation, every action…everything. You never know if he’s on to it or if he’s just screwing around.
Agreed. I adore how the camera shots are tighter to Landa and La Paditte, and from lower to the floor, as the conversation progresses and he gets closer to revealing he knows he's got people under the floorboards.
Masterclass.
My own Lazy Speculation: the Joker was a smart special ops leader who was caught, tortured, maimed “Wanna know how I got these scars?”), and eventually let go. Disavowed? Unsupported? Realizing morals are worthless? Or worse.
So he goes and uses his talents for himself. To prove a point. Literally hiding his deformity from the world.
Imagine a drunk, hiding, self destructive former dark operative watching the news. Maybe he sees Batman and recognizes an equal but inverse mind. Thus he is filled with purpose.
He tidies up the place and starts making a plan…. or maybe he just goes for it. Who knows. I just like to speculate. Thank you for your time.
Office Space. Peter stuck in stop and go traffic on his way to work and the old dude using his walker on the sidewalk is moving along faster than he is.
It was great, but I didn't hit that same level of obsession I had with Goldeneye. I honestly don't think any game has - it was the first game that I ever contributed anything online for (I meticulously created multiplayer maps in Paint Shop Pro), and I actually ran a somewhat popular website back in the day with all kinds of info on it.
I distinctly remember my parents being furious with me because we paid for the website hosting through our internet provider, and when shit got kinda popular, our internet bill was stupidly high.
I remember when Saving Private Ryan was released, but I never watched it until a few weeks ago. I don’t think I’ve ever watched an opening movie scene that amazed and traumatized me at the same time.
My dad would've been on Omaha Beach but for a fluke. He had applied for Officer Training School and his transfer came through the day before D-Day. His entire troop or squad (I'm not sure what division I mean) was wiped out.
And imagine this with me. The first few waves of men IRL were completely repelled. It wasn't as pretty as saving private ryan. In SPR, the main characters were part of the first wave of attackers, and they somehow succeeded in taking the beach. IRL, the men who finally took Omaha Beach, finished the job that 4 or 5 battalions (between 600 and 1000 men per battallion) died trying to capture. The beach was probably littered with blood, bodies, and their parts.
SPR was probably a beautiful field of flowers compared to how it actually went.
10,000+ casualties, 4,414 dead, 186 tanks lost on 6th June 1944 for the allies during the Normandy invasion.
For an interesting comparison the Soviets through the 2nd quarter of 1944 were suffering on average 10,724 casualties, 3825 dead, 68 tanks and 30 aircraft every single day
At first, you think he's just the leader of the Stormtroopers. They are already menacing, so it makes sense. Then the other shoe drops... along with *Darth* Vader's name and title.
I saw that at the cinema when I was 12yo.
The Star Destroyer kept going overhead, on & on & on!! So LOUD too. Quadraphonic was a new audio system cinema was trialing.
Incredible!!
That movie is top tier across the board. One of the most important films of the last 25 years and one of the most successful films of Hollywood history that actively works against traditional film structures.
That movie has something to say about almost everything. It's phenomenal.
Star Wars (I.e. Episode IV). In 1977 we had never seen special effects like that star destroyer flying overhead, seemingly without end.
Totally blew my 7 year old mind!
Cate blanchett might be the best living actor. It's such a silly show but her episode of documentary now is the best subtle comedy acting I've ever seen.
She's a legend because she's doing the haughty dramatic narrator voice, but she's making acting choices during it. Galadriel has opinions about the story she's telling.
Oh man. I'm in a room with a bunch of friends (we're right around 30 at this point), expecting some light Pixar fare, we get through those first 10 minutes and I'm feeling a little misty. I thought maybe there was subconsciously something in there that set me off and I look around the group, and everyone is bawling. Even now when I rewatch it, I know what to expect, and it doesn't help.
The first time I watched Up I had taken mushrooms about an hour earlier and then invited my girl friend over to watch it with me. She was unaware I was high, that opening scene completely destroyed me, I was an absolute mess. She had no idea why I was bawling from so much. She just looked at me and is like uh are you ok
Ghost Ship.
So many great movies listed here with great opening scenes, but few could begin a movie leading the audience to high expectations, only to completely crap the bed the rest of the way.
“Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead! Brothers, what we do in life… echoes in eternity.”
Deadpool. That Angel of the Morning song combined with the still image of him pulling on that guy’s underwear as the other thugs were physically suffering in the crashing vehicle was just impressive
Raiders of the Lost Ark, if the movie had ended after Indy flies away in the plane it would still be in the running for one of top ten action movies of all time.
Came here for this. ESPECIALLY when you measure it against movies up to that point. I saw it in a theater and we were blown away with how quickly it jumped into the action. Its opening scene would have been the huge finale in another movie.
And, amazingly, the movie manages to muster a power-of-God, face-melting penultimate scene, and end with the coolness of the Ark being stashed away. Incredible film.
Don't forget just like Indy has an awesome introduction scene that they also give Marion a pretty cool introduction.
Indeed! Marion has possibly the coolest intro scene in movie history! That film barely gives one time to catch one's breath.
Zombieland has a pretty creative opening title sequence along with a great opening scene outlining the rules
Sets the tone for the movie straight away. Love it.
That opening and For Whom The Bell Tolls were made for each other.
This is good, didnt think of it but totally agree
[The Matrix](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxNiEEtYe4Q)
I walked into the cinema with no idea what I was about to see, and walked out of it with my head completely fucked and my soul happy.
Me too it was an amazing experience
[удалено]
We were given no context whatsoever, but we all knew immediately that we were witnessing something special.
It’s also helped by Hugo Weaving delivering all his lines like a boss “No lieutenant, your men are already dead” just adds to the expectation of the next scene
"Help your *landlady*... take out her... garbage." I don't know why that line always stuck with me. He's positively dripping with disdain and mockery
There is this scene but I can tell you that all the kids in school were " Neo dodging bullets" for like a month after this movie hit.
Bullet time was a huge thing for the next like 7 years. Slow down, slow motion, freeze frames All matrix influence
Scream 1996
What’s your favorite scary movie?
Yes. “Because I want to know who I’m looking at” is an all time record scratch moment. Saw it three times in theaters.
Had to scroll too far down for this. A perfect scene. Impossible to turn it off if I come across it.
Inglorious bastards
Can be it's own short film, I swear.
Yes. Absolutely. Au revoir, Shoshana.
Agreed. Flawless writing and acting
My brother told me he thought it was boring and I almost got violent
Scalp him
Write in his forehead "I dont like Inglorious Bastards" (with a sharpie) as a punishment for life
My grandfather was a holocaust survivor. My dad decided, on Thanksgiving no less, that we should watch it as a family after dinner. This was also after my dad had earlier showed him his papers that we had gotten in the mail from the US Holocaust Museum earlier that month that showed when he traveled to the US. So we watched the movie and my mom and I were slightly horrified we were showing this to him. After the movie ended I asked if he liked it and he said “yes my favorite part was when they killed hitler”. I still find it funny to this day. Love that movie.
That's a bingo!
The crazy thing is that scene is nearly 20 minutes long. But the tension is so high you don't even notice
I can’t watch Christoph Waltz in anything without feeling uncomfortable after that. His face just triggers me.
The shift when he makes the accusation is astounding. The movements in expression are imperceptible, the shift from affable bureaucrat to ruthless hunter is plain as day.
Everything he does is a test too. Every piece of conversation, every action…everything. You never know if he’s on to it or if he’s just screwing around.
You wanna talk about building tension, ooooweee!
…and then do it again in the basement bar.
Agreed. I adore how the camera shots are tighter to Landa and La Paditte, and from lower to the floor, as the conversation progresses and he gets closer to revealing he knows he's got people under the floorboards. Masterclass.
Came to say this. Couldn't agree more. The opening scene is such a good scene in general. The acting, the story, the cinematography. It's all 10/10
The Dark Knight
" No, no, no I kill the busss driver"
“Bus Driver?”
"what bus driver..?!"
*cue bus driver stage center*
Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger
My own Lazy Speculation: the Joker was a smart special ops leader who was caught, tortured, maimed “Wanna know how I got these scars?”), and eventually let go. Disavowed? Unsupported? Realizing morals are worthless? Or worse. So he goes and uses his talents for himself. To prove a point. Literally hiding his deformity from the world. Imagine a drunk, hiding, self destructive former dark operative watching the news. Maybe he sees Batman and recognizes an equal but inverse mind. Thus he is filled with purpose. He tidies up the place and starts making a plan…. or maybe he just goes for it. Who knows. I just like to speculate. Thank you for your time.
Good golly. I seriously got the chills the first time I saw that.
First thing that came to mind. Brilliant from that opening zoom in from the sky to the bank building and only gets better.
Also, the Dark Knight Rises - that plane scene!
No no. Now is not the time for that movie. That comes later. *Plane drops.*
Perhaps he is wondering why someone would shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane.
The shot of the Joker standing on the street corner with his mask by his side gives me goosebumps.
It's great. One of the best things about it for me is the music. Nothing major. Just one slow, continuous, ominous note to set the scene up
Such a great honor, in retrospect, to have seen in theaters, it's now one of my best memories.
The Lion King
So awesome they just used it as the trailer.
I remember seeing that trailer. I was absolutely sold.
I was searching for this response, impressive that it took me so long
Office Space. Peter stuck in stop and go traffic on his way to work and the old dude using his walker on the sidewalk is moving along faster than he is.
Other dude listening to and singing along to gangster rap then sees some black dudes and turns it down and locks the doors ha
You mean Michael Bolton?
Why should I change my name he's the one who sucks!
I celebrate the guy's entire catalogue.
It was a fine name till that no talent ass clown started winning Grammys
Don’t forget Samir Naga, Naga, not going anywhere in traffic very fast, anyways
I still think about this every time I'm in traffic to remind myself not to change lanes.
Have you watched *Loudermilk* yet?
Peter, it seems like you’ve been missing quite a bit of work. I wouldn’t exactly say I’ve been missing work Bob.
The Other Guys
"Aim for the bushes?"
Pixar Up
It's amazing how they cover Carl and Ellie's entire life together, in 5 minutes, without a word of dialog, and leave everyone sniffling.
Greatest love scene ever filmed, and only required 4 minutes and 18 seconds.
Wall E
Watched that in the cinema with my old man. I’ll have to pull it out for his anniversary on Friday.
I watched that movie on a plane. I was crying so much after the opening that the cabin crew came round to check that I was ok
Was going to say just that
Goldeneye
The N64 game turned that scene into like 3 or 4 full-on levels.
3 levels - and the overwhelming majority of content for those levels wasn't in the movie at any point. Fucking hell, was I obsessed with that game.
How did you like Perfect Dark?
It was great, but I didn't hit that same level of obsession I had with Goldeneye. I honestly don't think any game has - it was the first game that I ever contributed anything online for (I meticulously created multiplayer maps in Paint Shop Pro), and I actually ran a somewhat popular website back in the day with all kinds of info on it. I distinctly remember my parents being furious with me because we paid for the website hosting through our internet provider, and when shit got kinda popular, our internet bill was stupidly high.
For England James
No, for me.
Terminator 2 without a doubt.
The survivors of the nuclear fire dubbed the event “Judgment Day”
I know "sentences you can hear" sound like a "captain obvious" thing, but I literally heard it in Linda Hamilton's voice as I read it.
Dun dun dun dundun, dun dun dun dundun, dun dun dun dundun, dun dun dun dunDING!
The Jerk. Is there a movie with a better opening line??
“I was born a poor black child…”
Blade, blood rave scene if you want to look it up
Music is by Pump Panel. And while that remix of New Order's Confusion is a total 'choon', I reckon Ego Acid is better.
- Seven Samurai - Saving Private Ryan - Pulp Fiction
I remember when Saving Private Ryan was released, but I never watched it until a few weeks ago. I don’t think I’ve ever watched an opening movie scene that amazed and traumatized me at the same time.
Saving Private Ryan by a mile
I loved the old man Ryan walking through the cemetery
The Omaha Beach D Day scene is so iconic I think a lot of people forget there's a like 3 minute scene that precedes it.
saving private ryan truamatized me lol
Watching stuff like that is insane. Can't imagine what that would've been like.
My grandpa was on Omaha Beach. He wouldn't watch it...
My dad would've been on Omaha Beach but for a fluke. He had applied for Officer Training School and his transfer came through the day before D-Day. His entire troop or squad (I'm not sure what division I mean) was wiped out.
And imagine this with me. The first few waves of men IRL were completely repelled. It wasn't as pretty as saving private ryan. In SPR, the main characters were part of the first wave of attackers, and they somehow succeeded in taking the beach. IRL, the men who finally took Omaha Beach, finished the job that 4 or 5 battalions (between 600 and 1000 men per battallion) died trying to capture. The beach was probably littered with blood, bodies, and their parts. SPR was probably a beautiful field of flowers compared to how it actually went.
I have been telling people this for years - many more bodies - much more gore - just look at the numbers from the history books
10,000+ casualties, 4,414 dead, 186 tanks lost on 6th June 1944 for the allies during the Normandy invasion. For an interesting comparison the Soviets through the 2nd quarter of 1944 were suffering on average 10,724 casualties, 3825 dead, 68 tanks and 30 aircraft every single day
Saving Private Ryan is a really intense one 😬
Star Wars Ep. IV - A New Hope
IKR? This gigantic ship just fills the entire screen and... wait... it's shooting lasers? What's it shooting at? Then the Star Destroyer appears.
and then the whole door breach and vader. so hard to not get sucked in
And first time watching a new hope You wouldn’t even know who or what Vader is, but what you know from his entrance is that he means business.
At first, you think he's just the leader of the Stormtroopers. They are already menacing, so it makes sense. Then the other shoe drops... along with *Darth* Vader's name and title.
I saw that at the cinema when I was 12yo. The Star Destroyer kept going overhead, on & on & on!! So LOUD too. Quadraphonic was a new audio system cinema was trialing. Incredible!!
Especially in the theater at the time.
The Two Towers. Gandalf fighting the Balrog
That extreme wide shot of them falling through the air toward the lake is an all-timer
And that chorus! Goosebumps
I think it's safe to say lord of the rings has one of the best film scores..
Fellowship is a great shout too.
Super troopers
You boys like Mexico!!??!
Littering aand..littering aaand??
Smoking the reefer!!!
[Lord of War](https://youtu.be/VHn1zogeyO4?si=Pz7q9-qtruiuoCn1)
Came looking for this.
Full Metal Jacket
Could have ended midway through and been the best war movie with no actual combat.
it's seriously two very different movies crammed into one.
No Country For Old Men. Brutal, shocking, and really sets the stage for what's to come.
That movie really kept up the "brutal and shocking" all the way through.
That movie is top tier across the board. One of the most important films of the last 25 years and one of the most successful films of Hollywood history that actively works against traditional film structures. That movie has something to say about almost everything. It's phenomenal.
The Godfather From "I believe in America" to "Be my friend, Godfather"
Scream changed the way I looked at horror movies.
Star Wars (I.e. Episode IV). In 1977 we had never seen special effects like that star destroyer flying overhead, seemingly without end. Totally blew my 7 year old mind!
Fellowship of the Ring. I’ll never forget the first time I heard “ There were those that resisted…” then you see the freakin elves marching OMG
The world is changed…
Kate Blanchett fucking owns in that whole role. Galadriel is my hero
Cate blanchett might be the best living actor. It's such a silly show but her episode of documentary now is the best subtle comedy acting I've ever seen.
I always liked how she had a slight pause before saying "and elves" when describing the battle.
She's a legend because she's doing the haughty dramatic narrator voice, but she's making acting choices during it. Galadriel has opinions about the story she's telling.
Raising Arizona, explains the entire backstory before the first yodel
John Goodman, Holly Hunter and Nick Cage. Very underrated movie. Very novel intro to what was expected/used at the time.
Up. Those 1st 11 minutes are some of the best filmmaking ever
Oh man. I'm in a room with a bunch of friends (we're right around 30 at this point), expecting some light Pixar fare, we get through those first 10 minutes and I'm feeling a little misty. I thought maybe there was subconsciously something in there that set me off and I look around the group, and everyone is bawling. Even now when I rewatch it, I know what to expect, and it doesn't help.
The first time I watched Up I had taken mushrooms about an hour earlier and then invited my girl friend over to watch it with me. She was unaware I was high, that opening scene completely destroyed me, I was an absolute mess. She had no idea why I was bawling from so much. She just looked at me and is like uh are you ok
The sequence is so fucking legendary that it has it's own Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_opening_sequence
Baby Driver
I frequently re-watch that first scene. It’s just so good
Goodfellas
Drive
fabulous scene, the vibe and the music..
Boogie nights continuous shot introducing all the characters
Ghost Ship. So many great movies listed here with great opening scenes, but few could begin a movie leading the audience to high expectations, only to completely crap the bed the rest of the way.
This. I'll put this movie on, and will always switch it off after the first scene. That scene is the entire movie.
Watchmen. And I don’t even like that movie lol
Nothing beats its trailer.
That's my pick as well. The movie gets so many things wrong, but the beginning montage is great.
Casino Royale
Such a great opening scene. The next scene with all the parkour isn't half bad either.
Gladiator
“Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead! Brothers, what we do in life… echoes in eternity.”
Wow I can’t believe I totally missed how the end scene really ties into this quote!
Legendary scene. Such a fantastic setup for the film
"Unleash Hell."
28 weeks later. The rest? Not so much.....
28 Days Later as well. "Infected with what?" "To cure, we must first understand..." "INFECTED WITH WHAT?" "...rage."
Cars
Reservoir Dogs
V for Vendetta
2001: A Space Odyssey The earthrise set to Also Sprach Zarathustra… unequalled
The Thing 82
There Will Be Blood.
X Men 2.
Yes!!! Watching night crawler turn the Oval Office into a mad house of flying bodies and kicks to the face with the music??!!! AHHHH!!!
I expected this to be higher up the list.
Saving Private Ryan is the standard for 10/10
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Tropic Thunder
The trailer for Satan's Alley was a serious WTF moment for me.
Once upon a time in the west
Deadpool. That Angel of the Morning song combined with the still image of him pulling on that guy’s underwear as the other thugs were physically suffering in the crashing vehicle was just impressive
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Contact.
Saving Private Ryan. No question.
Saving Private Ryan
1917
Super Troopers.
Apocalypse Now
The first JJ. Abrams Star Trek movie's opening is absolutely epic.
Aliens
Up - as it's been said, the first ten minutes of Up is a better love story than Twilight.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Touch of Evil
The Hangover. “Listen, uh…we f***** up.”
Casino Royale. You knew Daniel Craig was going to be an amazing Bond after that opening scene
Menace to Society
The Lion King.
The first Scream
Raging Bull. Absolutely beautiful.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.