Top 10 Opening Title/Credit Sequences of All-Time (with exemptions)

Note: in order to keep it fair, I've limited it to 1 film per director

Hon. Mentions: Reservoir Dogs, Raging Bull, Back to the Future, Satruday Night Fever, Miller's Crossing, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Chariots of Fire, Run Lola Run, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Touch of Evil, Forrest Gump (yes, so sue me), To Kill a Mockingbird, Once Upon a Time in the West, Carol, Lawrence of Arabia, Raging Bull, any Bond film opening. If I counted Magnolia's opening character introductions as credits, it'd be right at the top of the list.

And I'll also be leaving off the credit sequences to the next two Halloween horror films I'll be covering on my countdown. Technically cheating a bit to get some of my other favourites onto the list, but they'd be right up there in my top 10 too.

Hon. Mention: The Graduate and its 1990s counterpart, Jackie Brown

I only left these two off the list because, firstly, one director one film limit, and secondly I can't decide which of these I love more. The Graduate perfectly paces the bored Benjamin Braddock's life to the tune of The Sound of Silence, and Jackie Brown struts her stuff to Across 110th Street with such aplomb. Both credit sequences immeidately capture your attention and captivate you to watch the film.

10. Se7en

Fincher's title sequences are always great even if the film is otherwise a bit lacklustre (see: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). The visual panache given to the opening credits of Se7en perfectly set us in this decrepit, downtrodden and deadbeat city we're about to enter, setting the tone perfectly. so credits to Kyle Cooper for devising the great hellish entrance into Fincher's magnus opus.

9. Requiem for a Dream

Harrowing without giving too much away in one go, Darren Afronsky's masterpiece remains so with every re-watch, and a lot of credit must go to the spellbinding opening sequence wherein we get a slice of life and slice of fantasy alongside each other.

8. For a Few Dollars More

Again, torn by this and any of the 'Dollars Trilogy' as they all have cracking openings, not to mention Once Upon a Time in the West which has one of the greatest credits buildups of all-time. I'll choose this one though because watching this for the first time, I was blown away by the cinematography, the simplicity, the music, the use of fonts, everything is perfect.

7. Fargo

Again, you could pick any number of Coen Brothers films to get onto this list, but I must say the opening to Fargo works for me just as well every time I see it. Exceptionally minimalist in the best possible way, Carter Burwell's beautiful soundtrack draws you into the snowy atmosphere of Fargo with such a chilling, serene air.

6. Raging Bull

Not the biggest fan of the film ever, but I do think it's a masterpiece in filmmaking in all technical regards. The opening sequence like Fargo's, is minimalist, but exceptionally effective, intertwining classical music with Robert De Niro's Jake LaMotta practising his punches in a misty boxing ring.

5. Watchmen

Hate putting a Zack Snyder film on one of my lists, but the opening credits to Watchmen are such a masterclass in stylistic choices, from one of Snyder's effective usages of sl-mo, and effortless exposition, plus the perfect addition of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A Changin' that it was always inevitable the rest of the film couldn't live up to it that much. I don't hate the film, I think it's alright, but the opening credits are brilliant.

4. Vertigo

Hitchcock always liked his credit sequences, and you can see an interesting transition over his career from the more traditional title sequences of Rebecca and Foreign Correspondent, to the more stylistically innovative likes of Rear Window. Vertigo's Saul Bass designed opening is my favourite, iconic for a very good reason - it conveys and foreshadows the film in a subtle and enigmatic fashion, and even though the opening scenes of Vertigo are fairly straightforward, the dread from the credits sequence carries forth momentum.

3. The Hateful Eight

Pretty much every Tarantino film has a cracking opening sequence. Even something relatively minimalist like the Kill Bill openings and the one to Inglorious Basterds are memorable. Pulp Fiction has an unforgettable one that segues in the perfect fashion to 'Miserlou' and 'Jungle Boogie'. Django Unchained has an amazing throwback sequence that is so perfectly QT. My favourite though is his most recent one, which blends Morricone with some stunning snowy cinematography, gradually building up to a crescendo of tension that never relents through the film. Even if you don't like the film (and there are many dissenters), you have to admire this sequence.

2. Amadeus

An incredible opening sequence where we are thrown in medias res into the attempted suicide of Salieri. Cue Mozart's music being played over the credits. Adapting such a grand play to the silver screen must have been a huge challenge, and Milos Forman and co. did they right thing by stating from the very start, that this is why it deserves the cinematic treatment.

1. Drive

Easily my favourite opening title sequence of all-time. I've grown to love the film over time, more and more, but even when I merely liked it, that opening credits sequence set to 'Nightcall' has been one of my favourites of all-time. I actually think it might be my favourite scene in the film as it sets the dreamlike, yet gritty tones of the film in perfect alignment with one another. The use of different camera angles and perspective is incredible in placing us in the Driver's particular mindset, and watching it in parallel with the ending sequence makes it even more brilliant.