The best opening scene in a film ever?

[Gilltthepill]

I’ve just watched the opening scene to Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. It was so mesmerising at the time on the big screen and unexpected (over 30 years ago now) - Rosie Perez was great and Fight the Power was an awesome track. I put it on top volume.

Whats your favourite opening scene?

I bought a dvd of Saving Private Ryan as a Christmas present for my dad one year, I had no idea about that opening scene, but my dad had been in the Korean War and said it was very similar to his experience, in fact he had nightmares that evening.

Scream - brilliant and audacious!

Yep I agree.

The Godfather. 'I believe in America.'

For very different reasons it’s Saving Private Ryan closely followed by Jackie Brown.

Brief Encounter - the moment of silence before the train roars past, followed by the opening of Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto gathering speed as the opening credits roll...

La la Land

Road to Perdition

Angel's Share.

Enduring Love, with that horrifying hot-air balloon accident!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, easily.

Ghost Ship opening sequence is also amazing, and means not having to watch the rest of the film.

Saving Private Ryan surely up there - deeply impactful and a riot of senses and emotions.
Blues Brothers....

Vertical Limit.

I was also blown away by the opening to Scream as it was so unlike other horror films at that time.

Final Destination too (the first one).

Touch of Evil.

So, why not post this in the Film forum where it belongs?

I agree it's definitely The Sound of Music, from the first whispers of the breeze accompanying the aerial footage of the mountains to Maria's final swirl! Perfect and still makes my hair stand on end even if it's 59 years old.

That's not how it begins though. It starts with his colleagues in the office and him arriving on his powered bicycle.

Ghost Ship. Rest of the film is crap though!

Was that that the one where she falls off the cliff face? If so I was going to say the same fantastic opening !

Ok thanks

Agreed! Never tire of that scene.

Oliver Twist and Great Expectations directed by David Lean have brilliant opening sequences.

Never heard of Ghost Ship and just watched it! Horrific (but stylishly done).

West Side Story - yes, the opening scene is so colourful and the choreography is wonderful.

One that immediately springs to mind is "Patton", with General Patton's (George C Scott) speech in front of a huge American flag.

"Chariots of Fire" beginning at the funeral to the end of the introductory credits on the beach at St Andrews always touches my heart.

Didn’t know there was a Film forum - meh .

La Grande Bellezza / The great Beauty (although THE opening is actually the second one but both are magnificent like the whole film)

A Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece too, same with Full Metal Jacket.

And Akira, the anime.

Also agree with the Ghost Ship and Saving Private Ryan.