10 Greatest Opening Scenes In Sci-Fi Movie History
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Arriving on epic worlds, first glimpses of an iconic menace, and other great sci-fi movie openings.
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John Carpenter's The Thing, the helicopter chasing the "dog" in the isolated Antarctic environment with Ennio Morricone's score is chill-inducing.
All I could think about is how they sucked at shooting.
It’s iconic. No one knows what the fuck is going on. And when they do. It’s too late
Good call 👍
That was the first thing I thought of as well.
sorry but thats not a scifi intro
"The Terminator". That opening paragraph saying the battle for the future will be fought tonight.. followed by that awesome "Doom-doom doom-doom-doom" theme music...🤯 Instantly hooked!
X Men 2 (X2) opening sequence with Nightcrawler teleporting through The White House absolutely blew me away when I watched it on the big screen.
The opening scene of the original "Star Wars" was the ambassador's ship being fired on by an Imperial Star Cruiser. Then the cruiser comes into view. And it keeps on getting bigger and bigger, and just when you think you've the rear part of the vessel, it keeps on filling the screen. Until it's true size as opposed to the ship with Leia is revealed. Jaw dropping. Literally.
I think that's by far the greatest moment for those of us who saw it when it first came out. Before that scene, you had to use your imagination a lot to believe anything you were seeing was in space. Then that scene suddenly exceeded our imaginations! It was a HUGE leap forward - akin to watching nothing but B&W, then suddenly getting a movie in full color.
To people that are used to seeing special effects far better than the original Star Wars, though, I can understand how Vader's entrance would eclipse the Star Destroyer's entrance.
@@ZlothZloth Don't forget that surround-sound was still fairly new at the time, so we actually felt the rumble of the massive engines.
The Kobayashi Maru test immediately had ne hooked and made me a Trek fan.
I remember seeing Star Wars at a movie theater in Times Square with my 4th grade class. Everything about it was so iconic. Seeing that huge star destroyer move across the screen was awe inspiring. Up until then, spaceships didn’t move on screen in that way. It seemed… real! Watching Vader strut on to the screen was amazing. From his first seconds on screen you got the feeling that he was powerful and not to be fucked with. While I thought Darth Maul LOOKED cool during his introduction, you never felt that he was all that powerful. I and all the guys in my my class where hooked from the onset.
The opening scene of 'Thunderbirds Are Go!' (1966), which zooms out from a vast hangar, and we are treated to the pre-launch assembly of the exquisite ZERO-X spacecraft. Physical movie special effects, in inimitable Derek Meddings style, accompanied by a stunningly beautiful theme by Barry Gray.
It brings me out in goosebumps every time I watch it. Also, as the Controller descends into launch control, the voices on the background soundtrack, are taken from real NASA launch control recordings, and it sounds astonishing.
The Matrix…not everyone had internet access. I went in with zero spoilers, only knowing the movie was something about hackers. The scene with Trinity left my jaw on the floor. Best movie experience of my life.
One of mine too!
I agree and then when the matrix reloaded came out in iMAX I went to see it at the IMAX theater and my mind was completely blown. Had just how amazing everything looks. That opening scene where Trinity jumps the motorcycle off the building was ridiculous
Several of these could’ve been dropped and replaced with the opening to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, which captures the mystery and wonder of the movie perfectly.
Yep. Clearly a man that knows his films...
Akira opening chase scene was epic.
Watchmen. People can say whatever they want about the movie, but the opening sequence was brilliant. Not sure if you count Deadpool as sci-fi, but the opening sequence of Deadpool alone had people in the theater laughing harder than most entire movies. Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The apocalyptic scene with a terminator stomping on a human skull while the heroine from the prior movie narrates in a despondent tone was one of the best openings, no idea how you could omit it. The opening scene of Ghostbusters set the entire tone of the movie perfectly - suspense and horror that immediately give way to the cheesy theme that was already well-known by the time the movie came out. Oh and the absolute best comic book movie opening - Blade. The tone of the movie is set from the start and the main characters gets the most badassed introduction of any character ever.
The worldbuilding done in the first 10 minutes of Bladerunner 2049 is amazing.
What I appreciate even more about the movies on this list that I love is that when you re-watch them (again and again and again...), the amazing opening minutes oftentimes get better on repeat viewings because you know how good the following ~2 hours will be.
Say what you want about the Star Trek reboot movies, but the opening scene from the first one is a masterpiece.
They see a strange ship like they've never seen before emerge from an anomaly. The enemy demands an audience with the captain in exchange for the lives of the entire ship. There's a mislead as to which Kirk we're being introduced to as he is given command in the captain's absence. The whole thing turns to shit as we find out this new villain is from the future, the captain is executed and extremely well produced song plays as we see the ship being destroyed and people sucked out into space. Kirk is now put in a position where the remaining crew, including his pregnant wife, will only escape if he stays and dies. The musical tension is cut by cries, the birth of his son, the actual star of the movie. He says goodbye by his wife and newborn as he rams the mysterious ship in a blaze of glory, roll intro. This is the first 5 mins.
Excellent scene, but some of us Old Farts have seen enough Star Trek reboots over the years that it took a moment and reading your description to realize, "Oh, THAT reboot". My first thought was "the 1979 movie wasn't a real reboot, so maybe The Next Generation""?
The opening scene of Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets is definitely number 1...unless City Of Lost Children is a sci-fi film.
That is one that I wish I had seen in a theater.
If you didn't see The Matrix in theaters original release, you REALLY missed out. I lied to my best friends mom so I could see it. It hit different. My kids love the movie, but don't actually get my obsessive 'this is real' compulsion. No, I don't think it is, but what if? Is always there for me
Star Trek Undiscovered Country when Praxis explodes.
"Should we report this?"
@@ZlothZloth are you kidding?
Pacific Rim (2013) a complete introduction to the world, a massive fight happens, andddddd title rolls *chefkiss*
Avatar, the biggest budget largest earning movie and people can't name the characters.
That's not true! There's... Marine Guy... Angry Marine Guy... Sigourney Weaver... Big Tree... and Blue Kitty Nip Slip.
I know it's not sci fi but Team America had the best intro of any movie ever.
Ha I've got to agree with you there pal.
F yeah😂
I would argue that the opening of Terminator 2 should be on this list. I've seen it a thousand times and it still gives me chills.
Jurassic park and star wars will always be iconic (their first ever movies)
@@BlackHatCinephile My aging eyes saw your emojies and I initially thought "a trophy and a pinapple????"😀
@BlackHatCinephile Yup. I took a closer look after thinking to myself "Wait a minute...that's a medal". I just thought you might get a chuckle from my initial befuddlement.
The Klingon Battle from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Shows V'Ger kicking all the ass, and paves the way for the Hem'Quch (proud forehead, aka Ridged Forehead) Klingons, Klingonese, and the K'tinga class Battle Cruisers....
Apparently whatculture is only aware of a couple movies prior to 1999 (that they already talk about every time they mention sci-fi). No mention of Close Encounters? ET? Back to the Future? Metropolis?
Avatar is an ok movie, I was really surprised to make this list. That's a huge jump
"Your clothes. Give them to me. Now."
True Lies is my favourite.
Since when ist The Prestige a Sci-Fi-Movie??
Well... It includes David Bowie playing Tesla, and (in case you haven't watched it) one of the magic tricks is not a trick at all, but the application of a scientific experiment (of sorts). Still, more scientific than Star Wars, where The Force (aka magic) is the ultimate weapon.
Since when is a story about a machine that creates exact duplicates of yourself NOT science fiction?
My favourite James Cameron film is T2
No Children of Men?
Captain Picard in the movie "First Contact" was really crisp. Scared the shit outta me. Another was the opening scene of the first movie of Resident Evil. The whole intro of music, drama teams, then the final...arrival. That was so cool.
The opening off Star Trek The Motion Picture.
the opening scene of Star Wars is NOT Vader's arrival. it's the small ship being attacked by the gargantuan ship
I *LOVE* how Greta Gerwig used the 2001: A Space Odyssey opening with the monolith for her 2023 film, *"Barbie"!*
Even though 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey" was several years old before I first saw it, that was still well before the Internet and easy access to explanations. I remember immediately checking out the book to hopefully figure out what I had seen.
The Abyss is my favorite JC film
Could I offer Infinity War has one of the best sci-fi movie openings as it sets up Thanos as the epic baddie he is? I got nothing else as Gareth has listed them all.😂
German stickler here: With 2001 it is not "also" (sprach Zarathustra) as in "as well", but the german "also" as in "thus". Rules are rules🤨
Idiocracy and Solo (1996)
Star Wars episode 3? Starting in the middle of a space battle?
Favorite Cameron movie? There are so many but I will pick a lesser known one: "True Lies".
My top 5 James Cameron movies:
1. Aliens (Special Edition)
2. True Lies
3. Terminator 2 (Special Edition)
4. The Abyss (Special Edition)
5. Titanic
I’d add to this list the opening scenes of Close Encounters and Star Trek (2009).
The last great opening scene was James Bond's Sceptre. Even then it was a while before a great opening scene
Ian Garry’s wife reminds me of Garbrandt’s ex. He wrote a book after having the belt for a week. She had him feeling himself so much, she pushed his career to trash.
My favorite James Cameron movie is The Abyss.
I love Avatar.
One of my comfort food films.
I know it's cool for people to hate the popular thing, but it's something I can watch whenever it's on.
For as much as I know that Cameron was a *royal* jerk during filming, I'd have to say my favorite is probably The Abyss.
I had a friend who was a Navy submariner and he couldn't watch that scene. He considered it to be the stuff of nightmares.
@@innagottadavida8538 Which scene, in particular?
@@ericthompson3982 He hated the opening scene where the Navy submarine crashes and fills with water, drowning everyone on board. It is a submariners greatest nightmare.
the opening of "Brainstorm" is better than most of these
Valerian… 😊
The opening scene of "Jurassic Park": Why didn't anyone think to put a braking system on the wheels of the cage...or at the very least, chock the rear of it with wedges so it couldn't break loose?
Big Trouble in Little China
Swordfish ?
now greatest comedic openings starting with Woody Allen Bananas
ALIENS, none of the others caome close!!!
Opening of A Clockwork Orange
Nice list. I would have put Space Odyssey number one: Star Wars looks like a comic book compared to it.
Jaws? Where the couple are in the sea and that pesky fish bites her legs off as she clings to the Bhoy.
Agreed. It's a fantastic opener but not Sci-fi
Was going to be really disappointed if A New Hope wasn't #1!!
James Cameron: The Abyss
Terminator followed by The Abyss.
ID4 Moon quake?
About half of these wouldn't have been on my list, especially Dune and Avatar. Things that would have been: The original ST:TMP opening, with the Klingons getting annihilated by V'ger. Ghost in the Shell, original anime. If you want Cameron, then go with T2. Superman.
TMP isn't the only Star Trek movie with an INCREDIBLE opening; others include: the Kobayashi Maru in “Wrath of Kahn”, the Praxis explosion in “Undiscovered Country”, the Enterprise B’s confrontation with the Nexus (& Kirk’s “supposed” death) in “Generations”, & Picard’s nightmare in “First Contact”.
Cameron = Aliens
I really wanna say "the abyss"
I don't remember Joe Burrow being in Signs.
Favorite James Cameron Film? "Piranha II" (1981)... just kidding, it's actually "True Lies" (1994). (Sorry "Titanic" (1997).)
As always thank you so very much for the videos.
4:58 Well that black stuff isn't leather for sure 🧐
I figured Star Wars would be near the top. My only real question was where would Blade Runner fall?
I'm not sure if you did that on purpose to get more comments, but Trinity is not "decked out in Leather" but in Latex. Both words start with an "L" I give you that, besides that, it is just lazy clumsiness or "ingenious" marketing strategy on your part
The Wochowski brothers, um, sisters.
I will say this, Trinity did need a man to get her out of trouble, cypher on the other end of the phone, but also no one messes with her and lives to tell the tell
Well, apart from agent Smith 😂
My Fave James Cameron Movie is Titanic
Aliens.
For my money the opening sequence for Valerian is better than all of these (though I wasn't much impressed by what followed).
JAWS OPENING
The beginning of Scream was great cuz it's became iconic & they killed off a well-known actress, which was surprising.
I also really enjoyed the beginning of Dawn of the Dead (2004). Kept me on edge thru the whole opening scene.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day should be on this list, not Dune: Part One. And I doubt Jurassic Park should be here.
No Pacific Rim?? 🤷♂🤷♂
Throbbing score 😂
actually, the opening of THE PRESTIGE is rubbish: Even in the era depicted, magicians' animals weren't customarily mistreated like that; performers who did were poorly regarded, and some taken to court to prove that their animals were alright, The duplication machine in Christoper Priest's novel produced non-living copies, and the change the movie wrought makes very little sense even in a fantasy context.
Tom hardy eating alive animal isnt great opening scenes in sci fi movie history
Narrator is on coke!
Diet Coke actually
Poor list
Dune? lol..... no.
It was "Shoot her!" not "Shooting her" How in the world can you screw up such an iconic quote?
Don't think you've quite understood the sentence Gareth was putting together here. We know it's 'Shoot her' man 😆
Signs? Really? I know some people like it, but you don’t know any better. It’s weird (and not in a good way), pretentious and makes less than no sense.
The acting is typical for a Shyamalan movie - flat. Like someone took a handful of antidepressants. Oscar winners have been reduced to blabbering idiots by this director.
Oh yeah - and the story is senseless. Aliens who have been built up as technologically far advanced to us humans have been watching us for decades turns out have 2 major flaws: wood and water.
Great, so maybe don’t try to take over a planet mostly covered in both.
“They seem to have trouble with pantry doors.” That is one of the dumbest lines in all of sci fi. These technologically advanced species can’t deal with a door? And when you hit them with a bat, they don’t fight back? Not that this planet is worth saving. All the humans act like movie aliens anyway. When I saw it, Signs was the stupidest science fiction movie I’d ever seen. Until I saw Shyamalan’s other movies. Poor Mark Wahlberg.
Signs is a great movie. The acting was on point for the psychological drama it was....just happened to have aliens in it. The theme of the movie is Faith and Hope. It's a true classic.
But then I find The Shining very boring and find any thriller or horror in it, so I understand
The acting is amazing...what are you smoking?
Shyamalan writes dialogue like he’s never heard actual humans speaking.
@@mrsam0496 They're demons, not aliens. The movie makes a bit more sense then, though still bad.
About the Signs movie. To this day once I heard they didn't like water, I was like...I'm done! Corn fields at night in humid conditions then morning sun that would drench the leaves with water beyond what they could have survived. It didn't make sense at that point. The aliens literally landed in water enriched fields of corn.
It's Terminator 1 and 2. He then agendaized (probably a made up word) his anti-capatalist agenda by promptly engaging in capitalism, but keeps pushing in his work to not being a capitalist by making 2 of the most money making movies (Titanic and Avatar) to not actually do anything that 'helps' the world. He's a hypocrite I love to hate. Cameron is literally Q from Star Trek. James Cameron is terrible and awesome. That's all
Signs, LOL. That movie was awful.
this is the worst list ever
Captain Picard in the movie "First Contact" was really crisp. Scared the shit outta me. Another was the opening scene of the first movie of Resident Evil. The whole intro of music, drama teams, then the final...arrival. That was so cool.