What is the GREATEST OPENING SCENE IN ANY MOVIE?

What is the GREATEST OPENING SCENE IN ANY MOVIE?

That is my current quest and this little session will unearth my discovery, as well as the painful journey upon getting there.

It is not the destination that matters, but the journey; so someone said who probably had a very exciting journey to somewhere that disappointed.

The opening scene is arguably the most important in any piece as it establishes the tone and setting, it may introduce central characters. It is the way in to the world for the audience, and on many occasions, what occurs at the beginning is reflected towards the end. In any story it is integral, to grab the audience and to welcome them in; it is the artistic equivalent to opening a door to your guest.

To begin with, it is probably worth noting what are the best films, and this is entirely subjective. I have a list of best films which is chameleon and reptilian, in that it constantly changes.

Those pesky awards winners have killer scenes and dialogue to boot, but do they have memorable opening scenes?

How about the number one movie of each year, the one that broke records and made even the most tiresome of people attend a theatre so that they could observe and critique.

 

One-take scenes usually get critics purring as main characters come in and out of the frame; take Casino, or even The Bonfire of the Vanities; yet you could argue that Russia’s Ark, which is 90 minute movie shot entirely in one take, would swat those two great directors, Scorsese and De Palma, to one side.

Classic movies are a go-to; the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark is pretty memorable, but then so is West Side Story.

Delving into Google, here are some results from Screen Rant:

The bank heist from The Dark Knight. I agree, this is excellent and perfectly introduces us to The Joker.

The beautifully told life of Carl in UP.

The diner robbery in Pulp Fiction brilliantly sums up the tone of the movie with its sharp dialogue and intense violence.

The first swim in Jaws is also perfect, and immediately puts the viewer on the edge of their seat to which they will remain for over a hundred minutes.

The mind-blowingly tense scene with Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds, brilliantly crafted and acted.

 

Woah, there are so many and Screen Rant lists forty which I assume were voted for by readers and the like. You can check the list here

Screen Rant list of greatest opening scenes

While browsing the internet and Google searches is certainly interesting it is not helping, as all it seems to be doing is opening up the landscape to the breadth and depth of great opening scenes.

The current blockbusters also offer little help; Black Panther is the number one movie so far of 2018 yet I remember the opening to Infinity War more. The opening scene to the recent First Man is also excellent and immediately thrusts you into the cockpit of a jet and into the outer reaches of our atmosphere. The beginning of A Star Is Born takes you immediately into the drug and alcohol-fuelled mind of Bradley Cooper’s character, performing to thousands of fans.

Memorable, all of them.

To conclude, it would appear and be justified to agree that the best of anything is entirely down to you and your tastes. Lists of such things can be used as a reminder, and lists for most things these days tend to be long and exhaustive. Yet these lists from various publications and websites are compiled to the tastes of the writer, they are written down to the standards which that particular author has come to expect. Therefore, the greatest opening scene in movies is…

Your choice.