Best opening scene in a movie...

stimpsonslostson

Oh... the montage from Up kills me every time. 
(I'll shut up now)

RaymondLin

For simple movie introduction that introduces you to all the protagonist, their roles to each other and what they are like, their hobbies, skills and even seniority. 

Back to the Future, it doesn't even involve a single line of dialogue between each other.    I think they teach that scene in film schools.

case in point

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a644895/why-the-opening-scene-of-back-to-the-future-is-pure-genius/

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-Back-Future-Incredible-Opening-Scene-Was-Filmed-67395.html

http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/back-to-the-future-opening-sequence.html

Impressive as Saving Private Ryan is as an opening scene, it is not going to work in 99% of other movies.

professorben

Is it Snake Eyes that the first 20m is one continuous shot? 

wave100

Another vote for Blade Runner here - fantastic combination of visuals and music.

equalsql

nocasternoproblem said:

The Godfather is an obvious classic opening that sets the tone of the characters perfectly and lays some pointers for the narrative that follows.  

The Searchers opening shot of the pan through the doorway and the arrival of John Wayne's character is worth a look, too. 

Alien and Aliens are both worth considering.   Oh, Goodfellas - brilliant opening scene.

I love films!   

Have a Wiz @nocasternoproblem, that was pretty much my  thoughts too. Especially Goodfellas... Ray Liotta's narration just hooked me from the off....and the long single shot scene through the kitchens etc was terrfic.

CHRISB50

Flight doesn't have a bad beginning. 

Saving Private Ryan as @Deadman ;said. 

Snap

wave100 said:

Another vote for Blade Runner here - fantastic combination of visuals and music.

very much so. Though I am biased: is my favourite film

axisus

stimpsonslostson said:

Oh... the montage from Up kills me every time. 
(I'll shut up now)

Agreed. The most heart achingly beautiful animated scene thus far. Shame the film wasn't all that epic.

axisus

I absolutely love the fight scene at the start of Watchmen. the slow mo through the window is superb.

Adam_MD

Love the intro to Super Troopers one of my favourite movies

Kebabkid

Casino Royale (recent) - all that jumping (whatever it's called).

jamiexsilver

Another vote for Saving Private Ryan.

TheBlueWolf

+1's from me for Star Wars and Goodfellas.

Personal favourites include the original Dawn Of The Dead, Clockwork Orange and Nosferatu The Vampyre. 

SteveRobinson

One Upon A Time In The West. About 8 minutes long in one single shot. Great film too

Nitefly

2001: A Space Odyssey - tons of essay material right there!

fretmeister

Apart from the good stuff already mentioned,

Star Trek First Contact.

The scale of the opening right up to the Drill & Eye bit was immense. Every time I think the pull back shot is going to end, the ship just gets bigger and bigger.

RocknRollDave

Cliffhanger. Hardly a cinematic masterpiece but I can still remember the shock of the character dropping to their death when you have that thing of 'Oh they always get saved at the last minute' in the back of your mind

ICBM

RandallFlagg said:

vasselmeyer said:

The film that had the most effect in me was the opening shot of Star Wars when the rebel ship was chased down by the imperial cruiser. That HUGE ship, with all the lasers firing and that rumbling sound was mind blowing at 9 years old in 1977.

I think there are technically better openings but that is the one i remember most.

Agreed, I was 10 and still remember that jaw dropping feeling I had in the cinema as the scale of the imperial star destroyer is revealed

Same here. We're all about the same age . That was the first film I ever saw at the cinema without my parents too - went with mates from school.

SteveRobinson said:

One Upon A Time In The West. About 8 minutes long in one single shot. Great film too

And this. It's so slow, but so tense at the same time - and it has *no music* - which is astonishing for a film that was based around the music… but that's the whole point, when the music finally comes in the impact is incredible.

I'd also rate…

2001
Blade Runner
Apocalypse Now!

HAL9000

Apocalypse Now, with the spinning ceiling fan blades and the helicopter soundtrack.

Bygone_Tones

Jaws opening scene is a classic.