Friday, January 18, 2013

Top 15 Opening Credit Sequences


An interesting note about (American film) opening credits that many people aren’t aware of (or at least that I wasn’t aware of until a few years ago): opening credits must open a film. Now, if the director gets the okay from everyone who would be featured in the opening credits to not have credits, then the credits can be skipped. But if one person – one line producer, lead cast member, screenwriter, assistant editor, executive producer – if any of those people demand to see their name before the movie begins, then the director is contractually obligated to have opening credits. Confused? Welcome to American guild stipulations.

Now, because of this (or in spite of it) I feel like much of the effort spent on opening credits in most new movies is nonexistent. There’s virtually no creativity lent to the opening minutes of many films, which is a damn shame. Below are 15 films that got their opening credits right. Whether they took their time or went straight for your throat, they all set the tone perfectly.

15. Goldfinger (1964)
Because there must be a Bond, and while Adele has all but won an Oscar for her stellar “Skyfall” track, on any given day, the Bond intro I’m most drawn to is Goldfinger’s. The slow drums, the rat-a-tat-tat tambourine, Shirley Bassey’s wailing voice, and, you know, the gold – it’s oh so perfectly Bond.

14. Alien (1979)
The slow fade. The puzzling images. The developing title font. And, of course, Jerry Goldsmith’s perfect, beyond creepy music. In space, no one can hear you scream. That’s damn right.

13. Psycho (1960)
Bumm-bumm bum-bum. There’s no end to my fascination for the music of Hitchcock’s Psycho. Sure, Bernard Herrmann’s defining strings during the film’s iconic shower scene get the most play, but this breezy opener sets the tone distinctly. Accompanied by Saul Bass’ simple but effectively shifting lines, you just know you’re in for something different. Revelatory, even.

12. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
As discussed and parodied an opening credits sequence as there’s ever been, there’s no arguing the cultural impact that the opening 50 seconds of Saturday Night Fever continues to have. You can’t hear “Stayin’ Alive” without thinking of the Tony Manero strut.

11. Persona (1966)
After one of the best, most eerie, most experimental opening scenes of film history, Ingmar Bergman begins his masterpiece, Persona, with a jolt. Or several. Obscure music, jump cuts of nonsensical images mixed with future stills from the film – it’s by far the most wildly fast paced moment of the slow, dreamy film. What does it all mean? Ha, who gives a shit. It’s Bergman, baby.

10. The Player (1992)
It doesn’t happen often, but there’s something so refreshing about a film equipped with a self-effacing sense of humor. Take this bravado opening to Robert Altman’s perfect Hollywood thriller. An eight-minute, unbroken shot of hotshit studio execs talking about… long opening shots to movies. Many other things are discussed as well, but no matter where you focus your attention, there’s no denying Altman’s full understanding of what he’s doing here.

9. Se7en (1995)
Really, an entire post could be dedicated to the wonderment of David Fincher’s opening credits. Seriously, how often do you actually look forward to opening credits in a film? Whether it’s Panic Room’s steely cityscape, the inside of Edward Norton’s body, or the gothic mindfuck introduction to Lisbeth Salander, Fincher never fails to grab. And as far as I’m concerned, that notion rings true most effectively in the opening credits to Se7en. If you didn’t know what you were getting into before, you damn sure do now.

8. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
It’s just so… cool, you know?

7. Memento (2001)
The first time I saw Christopher Nolan’s Memento, I didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on in its opening credits. But then I noticed something. When people are fanning an object, it’s instinctual to move the object up first, not down. When I realized the Polaroid was not only fanning down first, by slowly redeveloping, I knew that I was in for something wholly different. A remarkable and subtle little cue.


6. Funny Games (1996)
If you know anything about Michael Haneke’s films, you know that they almost always start the same: silent credits over a black screen. No sound, just printed words. All’s the same in Funny Games, until, after a few preliminary credits, we open on a family driving to their summer home, enjoying the sounds of opera. And then suddenly, without any semblance of warning, a horrendous trash/punk/garbage/screaming/fuck/metal song begins to blare over the soundtrack. The quaint family certainly isn’t hearing the music, but we surely are. And from there, it’s clear that Haneke wants us to know we’re in for on hell of a ride, and this poor family has no damn idea.

5. Vertigo (1958)
There’s a reason Saul Bass’ intro to Vertigo represents one of the most discussed and revered opening credit sequences of all time. Still, to this day, its trippy images fused with Bernard Herrmann’s hauntingly telling score never fail to unnerve. I really wish this much time was dedicated to credit sequences in contemporary movies.

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
I can’t explain it, but when I’m watching a movie that is cut perfectly to a song, a chill runs down my spine, and I’m inspired beyond words. I don’t mean that the songs fits the overall mood of the film perfectly, I mean the actual, technical beats of the song are matched with cuts in editing. Or, in the case of 2001, Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” synched seamlessly with the opening credits to Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece. A defining achievement in film.

3. Raging Bull (1980)
Quentin Tarantino tells a great story about a time he met up with his idol, Brian De Palma, and De Palma recounted a feeling he once had. He remembered when he was making Blow Out, he thought he was really onto something special, something that may represent his best movie yet. Then he went to the theater and saw Raging Bull, and during those brilliant, opening credits, he thought: “Fuck. No matter how good you think you are, there’s always fuckin’ Scorsese.” Always, indeed. (Watch QT tell the story here.)

2. Enter the Void (2009)
As far as simple (… simple, ha!) text credits go, nothing tops Gaspar Noé’s Enter the Void. Period. It begins with a frantic jolt of flashing orange and white that we beg to stop. When it does, we let out the briefest of exhales and then it just Fucking. Takes. Off. LFO’s “Freak” blares away, and we’re privy to a complete cluster fuck of pulsating letters. Say what you will about the film itself, nothing beats what Noé did with color and words here.

1. Taxi Driver (1976)
Black screen. Silence. Slow fading credits bathed in blood red. Bernard Herrmann’s snares and horns build over the soundtrack. Fade in on a wet New York City street, smoke billowing from a sewer lid. A taxicab slowly moves through the smoke, toward the camera, straight to (or is to from?) hell. The harsh, blocky orange and yellow credits appear from over the smoke, and without warning, brass instruments cue and we cut to a pair of red, sunken eyes. Eyes that are disgusted by the scum, the dogs, the filth, the shit.

Want to know why Taxi Driver is my favorite film of all time? Here’s a damn good place to start:

46 comments:

  1. Excellent list, Alex. It's so hard to pick one Bond sequence, but Goldfinger is definitely up there. The Alien opening sets the mood so perfectly. And you can't go wrong with Vertigo, which is definitely a trippy experience. I can't really dispute any choice.

    Although I'm not sure it would knock out most of these choices, I really like the opening credits of Serenity. After giving us the plot-heavy intro trying to explain the whole series, Whedon cuts to the Serenity logo on the ship while warm music plays. As the credits roll, he re-introduces us to all the characters and the ship itself. It's one of my favorite sequences in a movie that I love.

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    1. Thanks Dan! Really glad you like the list.

      I actually just watched Serenity for the first time not too long ago, and I agree, that is a fantastic opening credit sequence. Whedon did a great job there.

      Thanks for reading/commenting!

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  2. Oh, this is a great list though there's a few films in there that I haven't seen. The Raging Bull opening credits scene is a moment I always watch as I try to imitate that moment whenever I watch that sequence.

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    1. Ha shit man, that is awesome. I do the same thing for the final fight scene in Ali. Slow motion shadowboxing is the shit.

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  3. Great list! I love Se7en credits - I think they are one of the most influential opening credits ever made.

    I had no idea about those guild regulations - that is pretty ridiculous! I mean all those people will be credited in end credits anyways.

    The opening credits that for some reason were very memorable for me were the ones for "Catch me if you can' and 'Sin City'.

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    1. Thanks! I think the Se7en credits have influenced most all American thrillers/horror films made since. Like... really, it's insane.

      Aren't those guild regs fuckin' bonkers? I heard PTA bitching about that concerning his Hard Eight. Really pissed him off.

      LOVE the Sin City credits. The music helps so much. Catch Me If You Can almost made the cut here. A great throwback.

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  4. Fantastic list. Can't really think of any suggestions, you pretty much got all the great ones, which is fantastic! Actually, another I might mention is the opening credits of Haneke's CACHE. One big block of text over the most iconic image in the film. Brilliant.

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    1. Thanks man! You know, I actually had Cache in my initial Top 10, and then I remembered Funny Games. But Cache is goddamn brilliant. It just keeps evolving in the most subtle way(s) possible. Love that intro.

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  5. Very cool post. I love the inclusion of Reservoir Dogs, but Jackie Brown is fast becoming one of my favorite Tarantino Openers. That opener for Persona is familiar. I feel like I have heard that music before. Love the credits for Enter the Void even more then the movie

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    1. Thanks man! Oh God, the opening to Jackie Brown is just perfect. I actually just finished rewatching that film and all of its special features. During that intro, QT is just yelling at Pam off camera: "Okay, run faster now Pam. Okay, now slow down!" Priceless.

      The very beginning music of Persona sounds exactly Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood. I mean... I swear it's the same thing. But that odd crazy shit during the credits is beyond me. Wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't recorded specifically for the film though. I'm sure ole Berg plucked it from somewhere.

      Isn't that Enter the Void sequence nuts? And brilliant...

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  6. I know this is a really cliche choice but no Star Wars on here?!?!
    -Dan

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    1. (sigh) I'm honestly not the biggest Star Wars fan. I agree those opening credits are iconic, but yeah, they didn't really come close to making this list.

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    2. Fair enough. Another great film with opening credits is McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Warren Beatty riding on a horse to Leonard Cohen is just great stuff.

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    3. Ooooh now you're talking, my friend. Perfectly established the film's bleak tone. Damn, I love that movie.

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    4. I've always considered Star Wars to be more of a prologue, rather than credits.

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  7. Ooh, I did a list like this aaages ago but it was pretty shite - I think it needs an update, because I have seen all these amazing films since then (I just checked and I did it in 2011!!)
    OH MY GOD 2001 - first time watch this year, and I loved it. One of my favourites now, without a doubt. The opening is almost overwhelming.
    Yep, yep - Alien. Very good. And when you watch it on the biggest screen you can find it's so chilling!

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    1. Haha I'm sure it isn't "shite"!! I'd love to check it out. Link it here if you want!

      2001 is incredible, isn't it? One of my Top 5 of all time. Just floors me.

      I remember seeing Alien when it was rereleased in theaters. I had seen it countless times on video, but that intro played SO WELL in the theater. Great shit!

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  8. Great list. Love opening credits. I never thought of Funny Games like that. Makes so much sense.
    One of my most favourite opening credit sequences is in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. And oh, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Fincher version.

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    1. Thanks! That Funny Games intro is just batshit nuts, isn't it? Ohh Scott Pilgrim is a great choice. And Fincher, I mean... damn, dude knows how to start a flick.

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  9. Great list, great idea. George Lucas actually resigned from the DGA after he had to pay some huge fine for not including proper opening credits in "Star Wars." Which is kinda sad because it reminds you of the time when Lucas was still a guerrilla filmmaker.

    Anyway, lots of cool stuff on here. I remember in high school making this awful short movie with a VHS camcorder and trying like hell to rip off the opening credits of "Saturday Night Fever." So iconic. I'd also throw the opening credits to "Once Upon A Time In The West" here.

    And while they are not as famous as those on this list, the opening credits to "Bowfinger", believe it or not, have always meant a great deal to me. In fact, I might write a post about it...

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    1. Glad you liked the list man! I remember hearing that about Lucas vs. the DGA. Pretty intense, but yeah, shame Lucas is... Lucas now. Once Upon A Time In The West is a great choice. Really solid credits there. Bowfinger, shit man, I haven't seen that in years. Need to check it out before you write that post!

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  10. The opening titles to 25th hour definitely should have a spot, now that's a sequence, especially in the wake of 9/11, that DARES the audience to not watch the rest of the movie. Always loved the Monty Python animated openings, now those are some crazy titles. Sort of a lost art nowadays, David Fincher being the only active director who tries to do something with them. Raging Bull's titles are the be all end all for me, perfectly encapsulates the themes and message of the rest of the film in that opening.

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    1. 25th Hour credits are some of my all time favorites. That's when that movie clicked for me and I said, "Oh, wow, he's actually doing this." That took such balls.

      It is a shame that opening credits are such a lost art, but I do agree that it's great that Fincher puts so much time into them.

      Raging Bull is the be all end all... works for me!

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  11. Great list, man. Very happy to see Enter the Void ranked so high -- that's a mindfuck if there ever was one. Also didn't know that there was a contractual obligation to put credits at the beginning... guess that explains why every film has them.

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    1. Thanks! I think I watched the Enter the Void credits a few too many times on Friday haha. I was so amped up watching them on repeat. Amazing.

      I mean, contractual obligations for credits isn't necessarily a bad thing, you know? I think it is a problem that so few directors give a shit about them.

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  12. Awesome list man! Enter the Void, Raging Bull, and Reservoir Dogs stick out to me, but there's a lot of great ones here. I second the mentions of Catch Me If You Can and Once Upon a Time in the West, and I'll throw in Gattaca, Drive, and (500) Days of Summer.

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    1. Thanks man! Oh God, I love the Drive credits. "Nightcall" is much to thank for that, but yeah, great work there. Gattaca credits... I'm not remembering those. Gonna have to check them out again.

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  13. Great list! I've always loved the opening to Funny Games and Taxi Driver. I must watch Persona - what a disturbing intro! It's just about the only Bergman film I haven't seen.

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    1. Thanks! Bergman is my favorite filmmaker, and Persona is my favorite Bergman film, so I HIGHLY recommend it!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.

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  14. I lol'd hard after reading your description of the Funny Games intro. That was hilarious and awesome. I'm sure you already know this (or don't care) but that was done by a group called Naked City which featured members of metal bands but was led by a jazz musician/saxophonist/composer John Zorn. Great group! Perfect description though!

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    1. Ha, thanks man. I actually had no idea who made that song. That's interesting to hear that they're great. Do all of their songs sound like that? Shit is mad intense.

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    2. Nah man, some of their stuff is straight jazz, a lot of it is intense metal/grindcore stuff because that's where most of the members come from but they've also done drone pieces and sort of quirky soundtrack covers as well. They're all over the place lol.

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    3. Wow, that's amazing. Had no idea. Thanks for the info! I'm gonna look them up now.

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    4. Lol, no problem man, let me know what you think. How's LA treating you?

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    5. Really good man. Been busy settling in, but this is definitely where I'm meant to be.

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  15. Well, I didn't saw Goldfinger or Persona (in a long time) or The Player or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Enter the Void (you got me intrested).
    It's funny how Scorsese made the best opening credit sequences and the best opening (GoodFellas). EVER.

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    1. Yes! Openings don't get better than Goodfellas. Scorsese really knows how to open a movie.

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  16. Gorgeous! Your list is the great recommendation for me.

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