Best Movie Opening

Pulp Fiction. The whole pre-credits scene is brilliant; well written, funny and you're not really sure what they're talking about until they start discussing robbing liquor stores. They're talking very calmly and matter of factly about the business of armed robbery and the pros and cons of various of places to rob and you actually find yourself thinking 'Yeah, a restaurant would be dead easy. Why does no-one rob them?'

'I love you Pumpkin'
'I love you Honey Bunny'
'Everybody be cool, this is a robbery'
'Any of you f*ckin' pr*cks move, and I'll execute every motherf*ckin' last one of you!'
Screen freezes on HB standing on a table pointing a gun, then:
BAM. Incredibly loud electric guitar note that leaRAB into Jungle Boogie and the credits.

Phew!
 
I always liked the gun barrel sequence at the start of every James Bond film. It was an inspired idea of Maurice Binder's (Title Designer) and I liked the constant updating of the James Bond Theme for each.
 
thought the opening of

Tim Burtons Planet of the Apes was awesome

It went seriously downhill after that though

Also Saving Private Ryan
 
Episode IV - A New Hope definitely has the best opening shot ever. Nearly 30 years on and it still hits you. Everything from the title 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...' to the end of the shot of the Star Destroyer passing overhead is perfect. I feel that Lucas really wanted to get the 'best opening shot ever' in Episode III where it follows Obi-Wan and Anakin's ships through the battle with one continuous shot that lasts two minutes. It's pretty good, but it's a shame the movie itself doesn't live up to it.

I also love any movie that dares to have a totally balls-out pre-title sequence. All the Bond films have them. Of course, some of the Bond pre-title scenes are pretty stupid, but there's still no better way to start.
 
I've always loved the opening of "Out of Africa".

"I had a farm in Africa.... I had a farm in Africa... I had a farm..." Just loved the wide expanse of the African plain as the train steams forward.
 
The Lion King.

The whole 'Circle of Life' sequence before the credits is amazing and gives me goosebumps.

I remember seeing the trailer for the movie and it was the entire sequence just as you see it in the movie. No voice over, no additional music or shots. Just the song, with the animals arriving at pride rock, and Simba being held up. Very effective as a trailer and made me cry!
 
How could I of forgotten that. Saving Private Ryan had a fantastic opening and followed on with a fantastic film.

I also enjoyed Jurassic Park 1's.
 
I think from an artistic point of view as someone has already said The Player really stanRAB out. The long shot is masterful and is part of the whole ethos of the film and smei-reality.

Plenty of films have great shock starts, Saw/Saw2, Scream, a lot of horrors in fact, you have to make your impact early.

I like the start to Jaws, and heavy reference was great in Sin City. I'd also say the opening shots of 28 days later are great
 
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