A Celebration of Opening Title Sequences (And Why They Need To Come Back)

Opening title sequences have been going out of style for decades now, but the thing is, they rule and should come back.

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CAST & CREW

Editor - Ryan Alva
Research - Raven Thigpen
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Music by Epidemic Sound
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SEND US SOME MAIL:
Patrick Willems
P.O. Box 380333
Brooklyn, NY 11238

[gemmachaos]

The "don't bore me, I just wanna get to see the movie" argument is really rich in a time you have to sit through 30 minutes of commercials before the feature starts.

[HumbleWooper]

My most memorable opening title sequence from recent movies would probably be "Monsters, Inc."... which, looking it up, turns 20 this year. Wow. Okay, now I just feel old.

[donsample]

That Edison copyright notice is deeply ironic, considering that the TA Edison company was the biggest copyright pirate of its age.

[bangslamwham]

I would argue not only in favour of bringing back Overtures, but also the intermission/entr'acte as well. Movies that are 3+ hours long could greatly benefit from them.

[benabramowitz]

I also like seeing variants on opening studio logos, especially all the ones for Into the Spider-Verse.

[soltandvinegar]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail's credits are better now than they were back then. When I started watching the movie on Netflix, I had to check my language setting!

[AntonWongVideo]

One of my favourite opening title sequences: *Napoleon Dynamite*

They display credits printed on objects that the characters would use, shot in a top-down birds-eye-view set to "We're Going to Be Friends" by The White Stripes

It wasn't included until after the film was acquired for distribution and I'm SO glad they included it because it sets the audience for what to expect from the movie

[ericsimon]

Scott Pilgrim is an excellent example and I'm glad you included it. I'll also throw in The Great Muppet Caper as a great meta sequence, with one of my favorite quotes about credits -
Fozzie: "Nobody reads those names anyway, do they?"
Kermit: "Sure! They all have families."

Also, every time you talk about "ritual, " I kept expecting you to mention the concept of the Magic Circle of play. You described it very well even if you didn't say that that's what you were describing.

[topgun]

The reason for the big, very expensive end credits for MCU movies is to keep audiences attention on the screen for the credits scene and the post credits scene.

[snurd]

That Saul Bass quote makes all the sense in the world when you watch the Dead Pool Opening sequence. That sequence told me exactly what kind of movie I was about to watch.

[KibblezanBitz]

Honestly, even though Lawrence of Arabia's credits are one of those then-standard "text over mostly static image" types of credits sequences, I find that it's one of the best examples of "credits as overture" that you mentioned. That majestic main theme as Lawrence gets ready to ride his motorcycle, auggh I just love it. The Spider-Man trilogy and Casino Royale are some of my other favourite credits sequences. That Chris Cornell theme song fuckin slaps.

[DerekStewart]

"Sometimes audiences have... dumb opinions." Right about here is when I hit the like button.

[ralfmaximus]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture has an absolutely gorgeous overture that is worth listening to by itself. I remember seeing TMP in a theater when it opened and being floored even then, having never heard Horner's Trek score before.

Also: I'm not bothered by the elaborate post-film credits of (say) the MCU stuff. But I'm also the sort of viewer who won't stir from their seat until the last of the credits roll. Those people worked hard to get their names up there!

[YjaffacakeK]

Netflix's "Skip Intro" might even kill television title sequences, I pray that never happens tho

[scottmcdonnell]

Considering this with Black Widow. That's one of the only MCU films with a title sequence and PEOPLE NOTICED. They went wild for the intro even though it wasn't flashy animation and the music wasn't even an iconic theme, it was a cover of "smells like teen spirit". It was insanely basic and people went nuts for it, I would argue it made the film feel more cinematic than other entries.

[PenultimatePenPen]

Man that Spiderman theme never fails to get me right in the heart

[danielsteffee]

Title sequences at the start of the film serve a purpose, in setting the tone and expectations about the film. Ending title sequences serve a purpose as well, though. After a thrilling end, sometimes you want to dwell in the world just a little bit longer, feel the catharsis extended. This is what I felt with Black Panther and Shang Chi, wondering in awe at their art and passion. If these title sequences had been placed at the start of the film, I would have been robbed of the same emotion.

[Powerwashincrocs]

Seeing the “road show” version of Hateful Eight in 70mm was a great experience. Hearing the projector start up, the overture, the opening title sequence, the intermission; it made it all exciting again.

[dangibbins]

I love the opening titles to Catch Me If You Can because, in addition to the cool score, they're like a visual overture.

Also Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol's "Tonight, on Mission: Impossible" clips from coming scenes while the fuse burns around them is brilliant, love it.

[neurotransmissions]

Patrick, why are you not putting your Patreon credits at the start of your videos? I want you to set the mood for the video I’m about to watch with an elaborate opening credit scene!