Sometimes, a movie doesn’t have to jump right into its plot. Opening credits can do more than showcase the cast and crew to the audience. They can establish the tone, set up plot points, or even foreshadow the entire movie that follows. The best opening titles find a way to be just as, if not more, entertaining as the movie itself.
Opening titles can sometimes even act as their own short films.If a film has a prologue, opening titles can be a great way to separate that prologue from the rest of the narrative. In a sense, opening titles can set the stage for the story.
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In early Hollywood, it was standard to have no end credits. Classic movies almost always present their credits upfront, before the plot has begun. As time went on, filmmakers began to experiment and get more creative with their opening titles. As credits slowly shifted to the end of the film, opening titles began to go out of fashion. Fortunately, some filmmakers are still keeping the tradition alive.
9Goldfinger
No list of the best opening title sequences would be complete without at least one James Bond movie. It can be difficult to pick a favorite; from the original colorful dots ofDr. Noto the recent visual imagery found inSkyfall. The safest bet, however, easily lies with the iconic opening ofGoldfinger.
The title design itself would be enough to place it on this list. Actress Margaret Nolan covered in gold paint, posing as clips from previous Bond films are projected onto her is an image that is instantly memorable, though also captures both the suave and the danger that defines the Bond character.
It’s Shirley Bassey’s song that really completes this sequence, however. The song “Goldfinger” is classy and filled with dangerous excitement in its tone and lyrics. This song would go on to begin the tradition of original songs in James Bond movies.
8Watchmen
Zack Snyder’s interpretation of the popular DC comics may have led to a more divisive responsethan the acclaimed HBO limited series, but its opening minutes are a joy to watch regardless. A core concept ofWatchmenis that it takes place in an alternate version of Earth’s history. Some of the altered events include the United States winning the Vietnam war and Richard Nixon getting elected for a third term.
Obviously, Snyder needed a quick way to explain this to the audience. Instead of an exposition dump,Watchmenshows its alternate history rather than telling it.Watchmen’s opening titles are placed against several slow-motion images of these alternate events taking place. Not only are these some of Snyder’s best use of slow-motion, but they also get a ton of information out of the way in the fastest and most entertaining way possible.
7Lord of War
Imagine an opening title sequence that’s so powerful that the movie that follows pales in comparison. The movie that would perfectly fit that description would beLord of War, a 2005 movie about an illegal arms dealer played by Nicolas Cage. During the title sequence, Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” plays as the movie follows the life of a single bullet. That bullet is followed from its creation all the way to its final target.
The visuals may look uncanny at times, but the simple yet effective story works so well that it hardly matters. It manages to be consistently interesting and entertaining, while eventually landing with a strong emotional impact.
The tone, plot, and themes ofLord of Warare established so well that it almost works as its own short film. It could even be said that director Andrew Niccol makes his argument about the arms trade better inLord of War’s opening moments than in the actual story of the movie.
6Psycho
Title designer Saul Bass is a legend in the movie business. His opening titles, which includeVertigo,Casino, andAnatomy of a Murderamong others, could take up an entire top ten list. One of his finest also just so happens to be forone of Hitchcock’s finest films. The titles for this horror classic feature snippets of the iconic music mixed with stripes that obscure and distort the title cards.
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Saul Bass is better than anyone at setting a perfect tone for a movie with his opening titles. Bernard Herrmann’s score is frantic and urgent, which sets a mood of unease. Bass’s graphic design moves the names across the screen in ways that are unnerving. What’s more, is that these opening titles are set at a fast pace; not only do they get to the story faster, but the fast pace gives these titles an extra-thrilling element.
5Guardians of the Galaxy
Before saying goodbye to the current guardians, fans will likely want to return to the fantastic original. In an age where grimdark superhero movies such asMan of SteelandCaptain America: The Winter Soldierwere becoming the norm,Guardians of the Galaxyneeded to establish itself as the fun and zany alternative. After a powerful opening scene,Guardians of the Galaxycuts to an older Peter Quill as he dances around an abandoned planet listening to Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love”.
The presentation of the film’s title would be enough to make it on this list. The image of Peter dancing as the film’s title comes up in perfect timing with the fun pop song and sets the exact right tone for the rest of the movie.
The whole sequence, however, is insanely entertaining to watch. Peter’s dancing isn’t just fun, but it also establishes his character perfectly. This title sequence also establishes how the movie will use classic pop songs as its score, and “Come and Get Your Love” is a fantastic song to start with.
4Do The Right Thing
Spike Lee’s classic pulls no punches in its ideas, and his opening titles wonderfully reflect that. The film immediately begins with a young woman dancing to “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy. The dance scene is filmed on a noticeable indoor stage, with a set that mimics the same New York City neighborhood that the movie takes place in.
“Fight the Power” is a perfect song to startDo the Right Thing. It picks up on the movie’s themes but also becomes an anthem for the fictional Radio Raheem, a key player in the movie’s plot. It’s also an energetic song mixed in with similarly energetic dancing. It sets itself up as a hip new movie that will be wildly entertaining, immensely powerful, and extremely insightful.
3Pulp Fiction
Tarantino’s best and most iconic filmfeatures one fantastic opening.Pulp Fiction’s prologue takes its audience inside a mundane diner; though things turn interesting when two patrons begin thinking about robbing the place. The second the robbery starts, the film freezes as the titles begin in timing with Dick Dale’s energetic “Misirlou”. With a cut to black, the film’s title appears as the opening credits continue.
Even today,Pulp Fictionstill feels like an experiment in style and structure. The perfect freeze-frame mixed in with the music and credits sets the off-kilter tone that the rest of the movie relies heavily upon.
There really isn’t a better song to describe the feel ofPulp Fictionthan Dale’s re-imagining of “Misirlou”. It’s fast with a hint of surf music attached to it. The titles are able to setPulp Fictionas being a different kind of crime movie; one that focuses on the gritty underbelly of L.A. and the ridiculous and unpredictable situations that go on there.
2Halloween
The first night with Michael Meyers will always remain asone of the scariest stories put to screen. Part of the reason for the film’s success is John Carpenter’s famous piano theme. Playing just after the shocking prologue, the music is instantly recognizable as being tense and unnerving. There are very few horror movies that are able to convey the mood and instill terror in the listener.
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Of course, it’s not just the music that makesHalloween’s opening titles work. The image of a jack-o-lantern with a flickering candle inside gives the movie an ominous tone. The fact that the jack-o-lantern is a smiling one rather than a scary one almost makes the image even creepier.
Finally, the title sequence ends with “Halloween” displayed over the modern town - both a proclamation of the story’s date and the film’s title. Needless to say,Halloweenjust wouldn’t be the same without its titles.
1Touch of Evil
This classic thriller opens up with one of the best long takes in cinematic history. As the opening credits play out, the movie focuses on a man who places a bomb in a car. As an unsuspecting couple hops in and takes a drive around town, the camera follows them. Each second without an explosion just racks up the tension even further.
Few opening titles will have audiences on the edge of their seats quite likeTouch of Evil. Apart from the impressive shot, there always seems to be just enough room for the titles to be displayed without it ever getting in the way of the main focus of tension. It’s an opening title sequence that immediately gets the ball rolling and immerses the audience right into the world of the story.
