The primary function of opening credits is to introduce some of the cast and crew members involved with bringing a film to life. They are usually more condensed versions of the closing credits, highlighting some of the films major players both in front of, and behind the camera. However, opening credit sequences are often used for other things such as setting the films tone or even contributing to the overall plot as well. Due to this, many opening sequences are just as memorable as the overall film itself and play a role in setting up the story or the atmosphere. When used properly, opening credits can be extremely effective and can stick with the viewers for just as long as the whole film itself. The following is a list of my personal favourite opening credit sequences in cinema, ranging over a number of decades and a number of genres. To me these sequences are just as important to the film as any of the scenes that follow, and since their respective releases they have become nothing short of iconic. Now, before anyone says anything, I did not include the screen crawl from Star Wars as it doesn't actually credit anyone, needless to say I still love the screen crawl regardless.
10. Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's gripping slasher film may be over 50 years old, but it still holds up today thanks to its incredible sense of tension that only Hitchcock could pull off. From the second the opening credits start rolling, we are thrown into the deep end as Bernard Herrmann's panic inducing score kicks off. The string-heavy number that appears a number of times throughout the film is what sets the initial tone, giving us this feeling of dread that gradually overcomes us until the music finally plays out. Along with this, we also have these visuals of lines cutting back and forth across the screen, almost like a knife. It is fast paced and intense, giving us a taste of what exactly we're getting ourselves into, it certainly gave me goosebumps and the film hadn't even started yet. Experience Psycho's chilling opening credits here.
9. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)
Perhaps one of cinema's most iconic theme songs plays through the opening credits of Sergio Leone's acclaimed Spaghetti Western. Opening with a white screen, the frame then begins to fill up with bloody gunshot wounds where men on horseback begin to materialise. We then flash through a number of multicoloured images that establish the main three cast members: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach, before quickly flashing through more images. The most memorable aspect of this sequence however, is the fantastic theme song composed by Ennio Morricone that gradually builds up throughout. The movement of imagery moves along with this music, ultimately culminating in a crescendo of sound and colour as explosive as the iconic bridge scene. The sequence manages to establish that fast-paced atmosphere and gritty aesthetic that have contributed to making the film so unique. Along with this, it introduced the world to that amazing theme by Ennio Morricone that has been used in numerous mediums ever since. Witness that brilliant opening sequence here.
8. Alien (1979)
Another horror film but a drastically different opening sequence, Alien begins with much more subtle and atmospheric opening credits. We open on this dark image of space with stars twinkling off in the distance, gradually panning across to give us an idea of the sheer vastness of the cosmos. Keeping in line with the slow-paced imagery, the score is also subtle and slow, for the first time we are experiencing that profound sense of isolation and loneliness found in space. As we continue to pan, white shapes begin to materialise onscreen, gradually becoming letters which eventually come together to reveal the films title: Alien. As the credits begin to come to a close, the score begins to sound a bit more sinister and we are then cast off into the film itself. The purpose of this is to really convey that sense of isolation felt by the crew members of the Nostromo in the film itself. It establishes the cold, detached feeling that is ever present throughout the film and acts as a calm before the storm that is Alien. Feast your eyes on that opening sequence here.
7. Nosferatu The Vampyre (1979)
Another horror from 1979, Werner Herzog's Nosferatu The Vampyre was part remake, part adaptation that has since become renowned for its atmosphere and aesthetics. There is this consistently unsettling atmosphere throughout the film that is introduced during the opening credits. The sequence is made up of a number of images of mummified corpses with ghastly expressions on their faces. They are disturbing to look at and the lingering images of them create this sense of uneasiness that becomes almost unbearable at times. The sequence is set to a ghoulish piece of music that establishes the uniquely gothic tone of the film as well as the unsettling atmosphere. There are times when it feels as though these mummified corpses are about to spring to life and frighten the audience, but it's the fact that they don't, the fact that we are left in suspense, that makes the sequence all the more effective. Watch that sequence here if you dare..
6. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Ah Reservoir Dogs, the film that introduced the world to the mind of Quentin Tarantino. The American director has since established his own unique style that is present in all of his films, but I feel like this sequence is the first taste we got of this style. It's a simple enough scene that consists of the films characters walking down a side street while the credits play out, however, Tarantino's execution of the scene is what makes it so memorable. The slow motion, the costumes, the use of The George Baker Selection's 'Litte Green Bag', there is just something about this scene that oozes style. These men are careless, confident and cool, and the imagery of them walking to the sound of this music embodies these sentiments perfectly. It establishes Tarantino's unique sense of style that he carries on throughout his filmography, a sense of style that made Reservoir Dogs so iconic and what essentially kick started his career. You can watch that scene here.
5. Taxi Driver (1976)
Picture the scene: steam rises from the street, encapsulating the frame in a cloud of white before being broken through by a yellow taxi cab. The cab leaves behind it another cloud of steam, along with the films title, Taxi Driver. It is here where we begin to enter the word of Travis Bickle, we cut between images of his eyes and images of what he sees. Streets littered with neon signs, crowds of people commuting across the city, heavy rain pouring down the windscreen, this is his life, his world, and the opening credits act as the gateway into this world. The sequence also sets the films overall tone, accompanied by that jazzy score by Bernard Herrmann that you will hum for days after watching the film. It is the perfect introduction to the world of Scorsese's film, immersing us in its atmosphere and letting us into the mind of Travis Bickle, the eponymous taxi driver. You can watch that captivating sequence here.
4. The Shining (1980)
Regardless of how much it strays away from its source material, as a horror film, The Shining excels in all aspects. Due to the articulate direction of Stanley Kubrick, there is this haunting atmosphere present in the film that manifests itself in the isolation and paranoia of the Torrance family. We first experience this atmosphere in the opening title sequence as we pan across this massive mountainous landscape, following a small yellow car driving through it. As we follow the vehicle, there is this sinister piece of music playing that greatly contributes to that haunting feeling that follows throughout. From where the audience is, the car is a mere isolated speck that is far from any sort of civilisation, until of course, we reach the Overlook Hotel. Isolation and paranoia are two of the main themes in Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining and in the opening sequence we get a taste of each. Watch the spine tingling opening credits to The Shining here.
3. Watchmen (2009)
Alan Moore's award winning graphic novel Watchmen is a tale of epic proportions, with a number of subplots and backstories on top of the already complex main story. Adapting it to the big screen was never going to be easy, but Zack Snyder's 2009 film did a pretty good job of covering most of the material. The majority of the backstory was condensed into this 5 minute opening sequence that briefly explores the history of these masked vigilantes over the years. Set to the tune of Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are A-Changing', we watch as the times literally do change and how these vigilantes changed the course of history forever. It is a sombre sequence of sorts, watching this team of heroes' downward spiral over the years and how the world has changed because of them. While it doesn't allow for an in depth exploration of the history of the Watchmen, it gives us a glimpse of how they transformed over the years and how the films events came to be. Sit back, relax, and enjoy that wonderful sequence here.
2. Goldfinger (1964)
To be honest, any James Bond film could have fit in here but I have a personal preference towards Goldfinger. I feel like a lot of the Bond films blend into one another, some being quite forgettable, but Goldfinger always stood out to me and that's partially due to its impressive opening credits sequence. Set against a black screen, we see images of a gold-painted woman appear onscreen, with scenes from the film projected onto her. It's simple, yet effective and introduces that golden imagery prevalent in the film, the black and gold colour scheme mixed with clever editing creates this psychedelic sequence, set to the tune of the iconic theme song by Shirley Bassey that foreshadow's the films antagonist. It's one of the more memorable opening Bond sequences from one of the greatest Bond films of any era, and you can watch it right here.
1. Se7en (1996)
The film that transformed David Fincher from 'oh, that Alien 3 guy' to one of the greatest directors in contemporary cinema, Seven is a chilling neo-noir that takes a journey into the darkest corners of the human mind. It's a gloomy, nihilistic film that set the standard for every Fincher flick since, and this dark tone was perfectly embodied in its opening credits. Set in what is presumably the killer's lair, the title sequence shows the enigmatic John Doe put together some twisted scrap book consisting of religious verses and disturbing imagery. One of the most grizzly moments comes when the killer is seen peeling off his fingertips with a razor blade, it's imagery like this that sets that pitch black tone for the events that will follow. To top it all off, the sequence is set to the chilling sound of Nine Inch Nails, further contributing to the unsettling atmosphere of the film. Dark, grimy, and disturbing, Se7en's opening titles are incredibly effective at setting the films tone and introducing us to Fincher's world of gloom and doom. You can take a look at that sequence here.
So those are my favourite opening credits in cinema, to me, they have as much of an impact on the film as the direction and even the acting. It shows that, if done right, a title sequence can be incredibly effective.
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