Top 10 Opening Shots of All Time

What did you think of the list? Do you disagree with any of our picks? Feel like we left out or mis-represented any of the films? What do you think are the best movie openings? Has the opening of a movie ever made you stop watching?

What other topics would you like to see us cover in future editions of CineFix Movie Lists?

Let us know in the comments!

THE LIST

Symmetry - The Searchers (1956)
Pushing through the doorway into the wild, capturing the frontier man as he approaches from afar.

Beautiful - Raging Bull (1980)
The operatic shadowboxing of a hooded pugilist, bouncing in slow motion, glowing in the occasional snap of a flashbulb, completely at home in the ring.

Beautiful - Apocalypse Now (1979)
A different kind of operatic violence in its serene ballet of smoke, fire, and helicopters.

In Media Res - Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Panning down from those iconic scrolling titles into an empty starscape, a rebel ship screams into frame throwing us into the middle of a chase we know nothing about.

Space - Contact (1997)
A tour of our universe turns into a simultaneous retrospective of modern human history via the reach of our radio waves

Movie Microcosm - Fight Club (1999)
A longshot tour through innerspace - in this case the brain of our hero.

Movie Microcosm - Day for Night (1973)
Creating and subverting our expectations; defining the world we're going to inhabit in a way we don't understand until the next shot turns it on its head

Long Scene - Flowers of Shanghai (1998)
An absolutely beautiful oil-lamp-lit 9 minute long shot that pans patiently back and forth across a table in a Chinese brothel following the complicated dynamic of an entire party.

Long Take - The Player (1992)
A meticulously choreographed crane shot that comments on itself and its industry while simultaneously setting up the entirety of the plot.

Long Take - Touch of Evil (1958)
Criss-crossing a moving bomb with our heroes time and time again, the audience has no choice but to wait anxiously for it to explode.

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[IncertusVeritas]

I humbly feel that Blade Runner's opening shot was the best of all times, that Vangelis soundtrack, the reflexion of the world on an android's eye was very poetic, a true masterpiece.

[scottmanley]

The intro to Star Wars is fantastic because that first shot of the blockade runner blew everyone in the theater away... only for George Lucas to immediately one up himself with an even more impressive starship.

[Nintenja]

These have almost become "which movies have I seen" videos for me.

[Jeff_Lichtman]

Fargo: The opening shot is a dead-white screen, out of which a car gradually emerges. It introduces an unnamed character: the weather.

Patton, with the title character delivering a gripping speech in front of the biggest American flag you've ever seen.

[spyroskokkalis]

Clockwork Orange deserves the 1st place. The opening fully prepares you of the ultra-violence you are going to see in this masterpiece of Cinema

[PepeCaspers]

For me "2001: A Space Odysey" got the most epic- opening shot.

[rodrigocastro]

i love these Top 10s. they are much better than Watchmojo

[cottonmather]

The opening scene from The Sound Of Music, with the panoramic views of the Austrian Alps and Julie Andrews whirling has universally been one of the top ten opening scenes.

[alicestocklistockli]

I’m very impressed by this list but the opening scene from the lion king deserved a spot if not a mention. That sunrise is magical

[y_fam_goeglyd]

Introducing Indy in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It describes him beautifully and tells us we're about to go on an adventure. Perfection IMHO.

[xxxxxRANDOMxxxxxx]

Personally, I think the opening in Shrek should be number 1

[jasonfan]

You guys actually know how to do these type of lists not like that WatchMojo bullshit they do now, good job guys!

[blossomingbeelzebub]

My number one is Barry Lyndon. Looks like a gorgeous painting, nothing quite like it. The men stand in the distance in the midst of an aristocratic gun duel. Pure and utter brilliance at the hands of the genius himself, Stanley Kubrick. And the fact that it was done entirely with natural light is a spectacle in itself.

[StamfordBridge]

I was watching this entire video thinking, “Where’s Touch of Evil?!” And then ...
This is the most satisfying movie channel I have found on YouTube. By far.

[isidorogarat]

The opening of Once Upon A Time In The West is wonderful. For me is the best I've ever seen

[gerben]

Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but th Lion King opening is so iconic and beautiful, I think it deserves a mention

[bender]

Your videos are wayyy better than WatchMojo. Please keep them coming!

[HeronCoyote]

I was 22 when Star Wars came out. I will never forget that giant ass spaceship coming from, it seemed, behind and over me. Whoa!!!
Touch of Evil had the most tension filled opening shot. Brilliant. Deserved the #1 spot.

[alanjames]

Where the hell is the #2 GREATEST OPENING SHOT OF ALL TIME?

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST....(Just 3 dirty cowboys waiting for a train.)

When it arrives...with a haunting HARMONICA...

Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me?

Elam: I guess....we're shy one horse.

Harmonica: (Shaking head), You brought two too many.

Blam-Blam-blam-Blam...

After Wells Touch of Evil...the # 2 Greatest Opening Shot of All Time!

Are ya wit me Folks?

[paulmoore]

One of my favorites is "Fargo" where the all white screen is suddenly crossed by a flying bird, awakening us to the featureless landscape of white overcast sky and snow.