25 Amazing Opening Credit Sequences

Brilliance before the movie even starts

By Josh WinningDec 2nd 2010
9

Panic Room (2002)

The Sequence: Chunky credits text is cleverly slotted into New York cityscapes, as David Fincher establishes a wider setting for his thriller – which mostly takes place within a single building.

Key Moment: The ticking clock sound effect in the score hints that a breakneck race against time is coming up. Also that pivotal ‘Directed By David Fincher’ credit – important, that.

Does It Prepare You For The Film? Creeping violins and muted, green-ish lighting give us an inkling that we’re in for something serious – though you might wonder when the house arrest action will hit the Manhattan streets.
 

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    • gonzoBen

      Dec 2nd 2010, 9:10

      Really good piece TF. Right up my street. The Se7en titles are an absolute masterpiece. It's all handcrafted and shot in-camera. Zero CGI. Stunning. The designer, Kyle Cooper, is widely regarded as the modern equivilent of Saul Bass. Pure inspiration to us designer types. There's probabaly room for a second installment?! Sherlock Holmes, Island Of Dr.Moreau, Arlington Road, Batman(1989), Lord Of War, AmPsy, Irreversible... I could go on and on.

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    • jak69

      Dec 2nd 2010, 9:53

      Saul Bass was a genius...Watched vacancy recently and the titles had his dna running right through them(shame about the movie). More pieces like this please.

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    • MrSilly

      Dec 2nd 2010, 12:23

      Despite being a very recent film going by UK release date, Enter the Void surely deserves a high placing on the list.

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    • Bearks

      Dec 2nd 2010, 14:22

      WHAT ABOUT Lord of war?!!?!!!

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    • shonimac82

      Dec 2nd 2010, 17:35

      I've not been through them yet but I really really hope that Monty Python and the Holy Grail i on here... "My sister was bitten by a moose..."

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    • Jeffbiscuits

      Dec 2nd 2010, 19:23

      The title from The Thing is cool

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    • Comex

      Dec 2nd 2010, 21:20

      While overall it's a pretty bad film, "Zzyzyx" (2006) has some very impressive title credits. The credits (actually, the titles) appear on signs along the road, on passing vehicles, and so forth. In fact, most people get several seconds into the credits before they realize what they are watching. Not particularly original, but very effective. I own a copy simply to be able to show people the credit sequence. Then I turn it off....

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    • mikisotak

      Dec 3rd 2010, 4:09

      Where is the Lord of war??

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    • Ratter

      Dec 3rd 2010, 12:01

      I agree with previous comments, Lord of War had one of the best credit opening scenes. Not because it was so well done (well that as well) but also because it's almost like a separate film in itself that sets the tone for the main feature. Then there's Repo Man, The Warriors, The Third Man...

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    • SmokeyFoster

      Dec 3rd 2010, 16:49

      Yeh Lord of War should have been on there, but more importantly where was Zombieland!

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    • peqdavid5

      Dec 4th 2010, 19:52

      Nice list! Even though I would add: The Black Hole, Pulp Fiction, Juno, The Omen, all of Woody Allen´s title sequences (with the same font and using kick-a*s music), The Royal Tenenbaums, Shrek, Lost Highway, The Darjeeling Limited, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Untouchables, Casino Royale (2006), The Shining, Apocalypse Now, Batman, Bowling for Columbine, Chinatown, Planet of the Apes, Forrest Gump, Yellow Submarine, Harold & Maude, The Ninth Gate, Up in the Air and that´s pretty much it.

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