15 Amazing Opening Title Sequences
A lot of people seem to be divided over whether or not Zack Snyder’s Watchmen was a masterpiece or merely a serviceable adaptation of a great graphic novel, but one thing that almost everyone can agree on is that the opening title sequence set to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is a fantastic work of art unto itself. This recently reminded me that I had been meaning to put together a list of some of my own favourite opening credits in film. A quick Google search reveals that this topic has already been covered a number of times, but nonetheless I thought I’d revisit it and hopefully add a few new ones to the conversation.
1. Seven
You can’t talk about opening credits without mentioning the work of Kyle Cooper, and Seven is surely one of his best. I still remember the first time I saw this in the theatre, and it totally blew me away. Creepy and ominous, and set to a remix of Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer”, it completely changed how I thought about the opening titles of a movie. Cooper has since carved out a career creating hundreds of amazing title sequences for movies, including the Spider-Man movies, Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake, and more recently, Speed Racer and Iron Man.
2. Vertigo
Saul Bass is another master of graphic design who brought his artistic talent to opening titles on screen. He is best known for creating the intro to a number of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, including Psycho, North by Northwest, and Vertigo, plus several Scorsese movies later in his career. Very rarely do we see things kept so clean and minimal nowadays.
3. Lord of War
In just one short sequence, we trace the path of a bullet from production to its entry into a human body. This incredible opening for Lord of War almost made the rest of the movie irrelevant.
4. Goldfinger
The title sequence for any new Bond film is almost as anticipated as the movie itself. While there have been some amazing ones over the years, I think my favourite is still the classic Goldfinger, from back when they didn’t have digital effects to rely on.
5. Lost in Translation
Just a static shot of Scarlett Johansson’s butt… what’s not to like?
6. Juno
The combination of live action and animation used for the opening credits in Jason Reitman’s Juno meshed well with the theme of a teenage girl who is forced to grow up. Reitman is clearly a fan of cool opening credits, also check out the intro for Thank You For Smoking. (Note: The actual opening credits were pulled off YouTube, so I used the music video instead.)
7. The Incredibles
Only the creative folks at Pixar would think to open a CG animated movie with some stylish 2D animated titles. Awesome.
8. Dr. Strangelove
Although hand-scrawled lettering seems to be used everywhere in movie marketing nowadays, Pablo Ferro was one of the first to employ them on the credits at the beginning of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, while a B-52 bomber “mounts” a KC-135 Tanker in mid-flight.
9. Funny Games
Never has a movie made it so clear that it plans to mess with its audience as Michael Haneke’s Funny Games does with these opening titles set to screeching grindcore, directly after an intro involving classical music.
10. American Psycho
In this highly clever intro for a movie about a serial killer, what at first appears to be blood actually turns out to be dessert decorations in a high class restaurant.
11. Superbad
There’s no real good reason for this funked up ’70s intro to teen comedy Superbad other than the fact that it’s cool, but hey, that’s good enough for me.
12. The Pink Panther
Set to Henry Mancini’s classic theme, The Pink Panther’s animated opening actually spawned an entire cartoon series based on the character. As a kid I was always puzzled as to why a movie called The Pink Panther only featured the cartoon version of the panther during its opening credits.
13. Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Classic Mike Myers brilliance with an entire opening sequence based around Austin Powers dancing naked with various objects blocking his crotch at every turn. (The Simpsons Movie later played on this same idea with an unexpected twist.)
14. Bullitt
Stylish and suspenseful, the opening titles for Bullitt were set to an awesome jazzy tune by Lalo Schifrin.
15. Undertow
David Gordon Green’s first foray into the thriller genre, Undertow puts its opening credits over freeze frames during an opening chase scene. This same idea was also re-used for the HBO series East Bound & Down, several episodes of which Green has directed. (Warning: There is something in this video involving a rusty nail that is not for the squeamish.)
As an honourable mention, I wanted to include The Naked Gun intros featuring a POV shot of a cop car driving through ridiculous places. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any videos online.
For more great opening credits, check out The Art of the Title Sequence.
What are your favourite opening title sequences?
Comments (55)
Sahara. No I’m not kidding. Like Watchmen, the opening titles give a massive amount of exposition and back-story in an elegant way.
Also, love the titles for Soylent Green, Total Recall, Napoleon Dynamite and the kicker is another Zak Snyder flick (which also doesn’t live up to its opening titles), the Dawn of the Dead remake with Johnny Cash’s “WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND” over the news footage and blood microscope shots. One of the best.
Posted by Kurt on March 10th, 2009Good call on UNDERTOW, the opening credits for that one are stylish, entertaining and wince-inducing all at the same time.
Posted by Kurt on March 10th, 2009Annie Hall
Star Trek: First Contact
Rescue Dawn!
I agree with what you said about Lord of War.
Posted by Henrik on March 10th, 2009I love The Incredibles title sequence as well. The best Pixar movie in my opinion, a 2/4 for me, title sequence 3.5/4.
Posted by Henrik on March 10th, 2009I’ve met kyle cooper, and actually had dinner with him. really nice guy. Talented too.
Posted by Bob The Slob on March 10th, 2009Cool list. Another one that comes to mind is the I am Legend and Sweeney Todd. As a matter of fact, most of Tim Burton’s films.
Posted by Pr1mal on March 10th, 2009Sleepy Hollow definitely. And Edward Scissorhands.
Days of Thunder.
Bloodsport.
A Clockwork Orange. (Too cliché?)
I like title sequences very much.
Conan The Barbarian.
T2.
Posted by Henrik on March 10th, 2009Thank You For Smoking and Catch Me If You Can would be two of my own favourites. I bought a great coffee table book last year on the art of the title sequence, but it’s title escapes me at the moment.
Posted by Liz on March 10th, 2009I loved the way too short opening to Hellboy 2. It has an energy that the movie captures in moments, where it gets awesome, but the title sequence and opening is pure energy.
I think it shows balls from a filmmaker, when he includes an ouverture. The story can wait, let’s just ease into the experience, the themes, the mood and the emotion, before wanting to get along for the ride.
But I’m also the sort of person who watches end credits.
Posted by Henrik on March 10th, 2009Catch Me if you Can is a huge nod to Saul Bass.
On Bass, his opening ‘wavy opticals’ titles for John Frankenheimer’s SECONDS is pretty awesome and different.
Also, the opening of THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR is similar to Lord of War, except it follows a piece letter mail going through the german postal system.
Furthmore, I like the letters slowly fading in in the original ALIEN title sequence. Or the Undoing of all the cached emotion of Newt/Hicks being slaughtered so casually in David Finchers Alien3.
Posted by Kurt on March 10th, 2009“The story can wait, let’s just ease into the experience, the themes, the mood and the emotion, before wanting to get along for the ride.”
A-FUCKING-MEN.
Posted by Kurt on March 10th, 2009The Player has a good title sequence as well.
And Spider-Man 2.
Posted by Henrik on March 10th, 2009Panic Room is always one I remember as being pretty damn cool.
Posted by Andrew James on March 10th, 2009Cool list!! I love the opening to American Psycho, too.
Saul Bass was a genius. The opening to Psycho is brilliant.
Also, Andrew, good call on Panic Room.
I loved the opening titles to the Casino Royale remake particularly.
Now that I’m trying to think I can’t think of any other good ones, although it’s something I notice, comment on, and look for all the time. I like when movies put whole scenes in the opening titles, which is odd but sometimes intriguing. There is this weird movie called “Blue Sunshine” that does that. It sort of brings you in and out of the world of movie, which is a strange feeling.
Velvet Goldmine has a great opening sequence and totally sets the tone for the film. Fight Club is another one that with a great opening sequence, was it done by Kyle Cooper as well?
Posted by Less Lee Moore on March 10th, 2009OOH, thought of another one: Napoleon Dynamite.
Taxi Driver and Repo Man are great, too.
Posted by Less Lee Moore on March 10th, 2009I agree on most. Bullit is nice. Though some of these seem like hipster bullshit and that’s not too. Mad Mad World had a fun little animation when those were popular.
Posted by Ian on March 10th, 2009I like the Lord of War title too, I felt let down by the movie, it could have been so much more…but it was ok.
A few I like:
Jawbreaker-Cool visual of jawbreaker candy being made and a Veruca Salt song
Christmas Vacation-Cartoons and a catchy song
Full Metal Jacket-The boot camp head shaving, a wonderful experience
The Thing-John Carpenter music
A Bright Shining Lie: This HBO Vietnam film had an A-1 Skyraider dropping White Phosphorus bombs into the jungle to Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love”
I do love the Dr. Strangelove opening title….for me this film’s ending credits are even more memorable…mushroom clouds and “We’ll meet again..”
Posted by Joe Pug on March 10th, 2009I like it when movies don’t have any opening title sequences at all.
Someone should make a great ending credit sequence. If filmmakers really cared about the creative people behind the scenes, then they should make it worthwhile for people to stay for the ending credits. I suppose the studios would balk at spending money for something most people would never see though.
There was a trend where filmmakers would put a bonus scene after the ending credits. Has someone made a list for the best ones? I bet most people probably aren’t aware of many of the better ones.
Posted by Reed Farrington on March 11th, 2009Pulp Fiction anyone? By far the greatest cut to black and proceeding musical arangment, i think, ever.
the title Pulp Ficton fades into the background as the actors come up…Im sorry but that just gets me so pumped every single time.
Posted by john jacob jingle heimer shmit on March 11th, 2009Contact has to be on that list…
Posted by Dangely on March 11th, 2009This is a great list, and I couldn’t possibly argue with SE7EN as the number one choice. I actually revised my own list that I was posting for today since you’d included one of my choices on yours (SUPERBAD).
Posted by Mad Hatter on March 11th, 2009Henrik- First Contact? As I recall, it’s just the titles blurring in and out with a space background. I think a lot of the Trek movies did something like that.
Posted by Snorfle on March 11th, 2009Yeah, it’s just titles on black, but the music is extraordinary.
Posted by Henrik on March 11th, 2009Fair enough, Goldsmith was always one of the best things about the franchise (though Horner’s movie scores were my favorite).
Posted by Snorfle on March 11th, 2009How about the title sequence to Signs? Fading in with those creepy violins followed by the huge orchestral piece by James Newton Howard? I was all tensed up about 5 seconds into it. Awesome.
Posted by Neil M on March 11th, 2009Yeah I was thinking about the Signs opening credits too. They are awesome, but based entirely on the music of course.
Posted by Sean on March 11th, 2009I hated the opening of Signs all the way through Mel Gibsons shark awakening and the James Bond style constructed action scene.
Movie won me over though. Definitely the most intense experience I have ever had watching a movie.
Posted by Henrik on March 11th, 2009I would love to see a throwback review of Signs on the podcast. I remember being pretty blown away by it when I saw it in theatres. I still think after a few rewatches that, for the most part, it’s a great movie. I also remember a past Film Junk podcast where you guys made a passing remark about how Signs was one of the most memorable crowd reactions that you had ever witnessed. I hope I got that right. Maybe on a slow week?
Posted by Neil M on March 11th, 2009The opening titles to the movie Freaked are awesome and at least deserve an honorable mention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_24b3GbjFis
So 90’s.
Posted by bryan on March 12th, 2009This is a little off-topic, but less movies have awesome closing credits. Se7en, however, has awesome closing credits.
Michael Clayton – that long take before it cuts to black is so awesome.
Wall-E – probably the best closing credits I’ve ever seen. It goes seamlessly through nearly every period in art history. It’s honestly spellbinding.
Posted by Richard on March 12th, 2009I agree with most of the list too. Its hard to think of these off the top of my head. Gladiator is by far probably my favorite opening credits as he walks through his wheat fields. RockNRolla did it for me recently, but once again it was all about the music.
Posted by Nicole on March 12th, 2009Catch Me If You Can
Adaptation.
Posted by Glendon on March 14th, 2009Things I haven’t read mentioned:
2001:A Space Odyssey – Short, and to the point, and it completely sets the stage to come.
David Cronenbergs Crash. Just awesome. Frames the entire movie.
David Cronenbergs A History of Violence. Completely magnetic and compelling. Pulls your focus right into the movie.
The Thing, both the Howard Hawks and the John Carpenter versions.
The original The Blob.
The Disney production of The Black Hole.
Superman, with Christopher Reeve. Completely sets the mood!!
The Adam West Batman movie from the sixties.
Daredevil, with Ben Affleck.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
The original Rollerball, Logans Run, The Boston Strangler with Tony Curtis, The Hindenburg, The Towering Inferno, the original Poseidon Adventure, the original Andromeda Strain, The Omega Man with Charlton Heston, The Mechanic with Charles Bronson, George Pals adaptation of Doc Savage:Man of Bronze, Gotcha! with Anthony Edwards, The Lizzie McGuire Movie with Hilary Duff, The Man Who Knew Too Little with Bill Murray, The Last Shot with Matthew Broderick, Brian DePalmas Femme Fatale, Get Carter with Michael Caine and XXX with Vin Diesel.
The sixties version of Casino Royale.
All the Star Wars and Mission:Impossible movies.
Posted by Roberto on March 14th, 2009The Incredibles has no opening titles, it just begins on old footage of Mr. Incredible being interviewed. Those are the end credits. West Side Story also has long end credits, which ease you out of the film slowly.
The original 101 Dalmations has clever opening credits, where the visuals match the
Posted by gnemec on March 15th, 2009text (similar to The Pink Panther and The Incredibles). My favorite opening credits also do this, for Delicatessen.
End credits? Pixar sucks fucking ass then. I was surprised that I didn’t remember it starting this awesome, but I guess there is a perfectly good reason for it.
Posted by Henrik on March 15th, 2009Fight Club has great opening credit, fits within the contex of the film really well. Most Fincher films have good opening credits.
Also Winter Sleepers by Tykwer has good opening credits.
Posted by Keenan on March 18th, 2009Superbad opening is my favorite. It’s not the most creative, not the most introspective, has nothing to do with the story and it’s not innovative in any way, but there’s just something about #1 that song and #2 watching a fat nerd and a skinny nerd shadow dancin’ their asses off that makes me very, very happy.
And for the record, I am STILL puzzled as to why a movie called The Pink Panther only featured the cartoon version of the panther during its opening credits… If anyone help me out with this, I would really appreicate it.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on March 29th, 2009though not really a “opening credits” sequence, the opening of Revenge of the Sith will always stand out to me. Along with, of course, the openings to all The Lord of The Rings, but especially The Fellowship.
Posted by Ilikemovies on March 31st, 2009The Pink Panther opening sequence always fooled me as a kid. When the actual movie started, I was monumentally let down; my parents, captivated.
Posted by KingIsAFink on April 1st, 2009My favorite has got to be
Posted by BIGDUDE70 on April 3rd, 2009the original HALLOWEEN with
John Carpenters chilling score.
where is the devils regects, the passanger, the fall, the rules of attraction, the cell, or even mirrormask
Posted by Chad Mac on April 11th, 2009i do agree with undertow and to all u guy sayin sign’s m.night shlong dong is an amazing director hahah
where is the devils regects, the passanger, the fall, the rules of attraction, the cell, or even mirrormask
Posted by Chad Mac on April 11th, 2009i do agree with undertow and to all u guy sayin sign’s m.night sucks he pulled an orson wells and below his artistic leg on the 6th sense amazing director my hole hahah and we can’t forget dead man opening sequence
Fightclub…!
Posted by victor on April 12th, 2009Magnolia’s intro sequence was/is brilliant!
Posted by Andrew on April 27th, 2009Total Recall
To Live and Die In LA
Rocky
Superman
Near Dark
Terminator 1 & 2
Posted by Darren J Seeley on May 20th, 2009How, oh how, could you omit _Prime Cut_ from this list?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b9k1mqlF6Q&NR=1
Doubtless many many others will occur to me as soon as I press the “Submit” button, but I also liked _The Ipcress File_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kolQVDMW1IE) (everything fuzzy until Harry puts on his glasses)
For end credit sequences, I loved the US movie _State of Play_
Posted by Howard on June 2nd, 2009(Actually, the _Prime Cut_ YouTube link I just posted doesn’t continue to show the wieners being made, wrapped, and mailed to the Chicago gangsters who had just sent someone to collect a bill from their Kansas City counterparts)
Posted by Howard on June 2nd, 2009One word: Barbarella.
Yes, it does have a naked girl dancing during the credits.
Posted by CTS on July 2nd, 2009I think you guys should given a honorable mention to Dexter. I know its a tv-series, but It’s still one of the most amazing opening credits I have ever seen.
Posted by Mr.3Dsux on July 29th, 2009The opening credits for The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx is probably the some of the most informative 3 minute clip on the internet. Complete with deft editing and graphics, the opening swiftly covers the historical relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia throughout the 20th Century.
Posted by Eric Gadfsa on August 1st, 2009Can’t believe that Fight Club didn’t make the list.
Posted by Ben on August 9th, 2009Love the opening credits on Snatch where they just introduce the characters right after the prologue.
Posted by Jason on August 10th, 2009Hey people, does anyone know the song that plays in the opening credits for Femme Fatale?
Posted by Mya Parker on August 25th, 2009Mya, I popped my DVD of Femme Fatale into my DVD player to check out the song. There is no song. You did mean Femme Fatale directed by Brian de Palma? And you’re not referring to the music from the Double Indemnity clip on the television set? Or maybe I didn’t watch far enough into the opening?
Posted by Reed Farrington on August 25th, 2009Mya I’ve been looking for this for a long time the title is “Bolero De Ravel” scored by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Posted by Robert Diaz on September 24th, 2009Leave a Reply