Title Sequence

So, there’s this thing called a Title Sequence—that little stretch of film that plays while the credits roll. Some of them just stick in your brain, you know? They linger. Other movies don't bother with one at all, while others nail it so perfectly that it feels like a masterclass in filmmaking.
For me, the one from Small Time Crooks really stuck. It's funny... I'll often find myself loving an opening sequence, only to have it slip my mind almost immediately. I guess the rest of the movie just tends to drown it out.

Is there a specific Title Sequence that actually stayed with you?

p.s. This whole topic popped into my head after I read that someone is actually writing a doctoral dissertation on it. Quite the niche subject.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the one used in Age of Innocence.
As for more recent stuff—that track from the dissertation really stands out to me in Catch Me If You Can.

Then there’s the one from Shyamalan’s Signs that most people might not think twice about, but I found it so striking; it’s that moment where the letters start subtly 'sliding' toward us, the music builds into this frantic, manic energy (it actually reminded me quite a bit of the score from Vertigo), and those letters just keep racing faster and faster. It was such a simple choice, but it honestly left a huge impression on me.

Man, if we’re talking about those legendary sequences, that bit from Vertigo is just incredible—those hypnotic spirals really pull you in... and looking at more recent stuff, the work from the Caro-Jeunet duo is absolutely stellar, not to mention how interesting the concept was in Fincher’s Panic Room with all those buildings and letters playing with perspective and shadows (to be precise, that's actually the best part of the whole movie 😁 😁).

PS. I haven't really sat down to investigate the official rules behind it, but I’m noticing more and more in Hollywood movies that they just shove the title & credits right at the very end... is that some creative choice by the director, or maybe the screenwriter trying to preserve the pacing, or is there some other reason? I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of it... especially since 99% of people in the theater just bolt for the exit the second they see "the end" 🙄

It honestly gets under my skin sometimes, because you often find those hilarious outtakes tucked away during the end credits—especially in comedies. There are certain movies where those little snippets actually hold some pretty significant weight even while the full credits are rolling, but most people just don't realize it, and frankly, neither do the theater owners 😠 .

The opening film sequence of se7en is just... wow...
And honestly, American Beauty isn't half bad either...
I mean, Fight Club is definitely worth a watch too...

That elevator scene from the movie "Speed"

djalminha said:That elevator sequence from the movie "Speed"...

Yeah, that one is actually quite good.

"M.A.S.H." is fantastic—those helicopters transporting the wounded, the gritty war imagery, followed by that upbeat little tune, "Suicide is Painless"...

But you absolutely have to include "Apocalypse Now" in any Top 10 list...
That scene where they pan over the jungle, then "The End" by The Doors starts playing right as the flames kick in, it’s just pure darkness...

Gerald Barrett25 said:Does anyone have any opening credits left over from their editing sessions?

Yeah, I've got one, actually—well, a whole bunch of them. 🙂 Here are a few of my absolute favorites (just click the photos or links below to see the full videos):







Se7en

The Shining

Taxi Driver

Monkeys Vertigo



Vertigo

To switch things up a bit: what about Single Title sequences? That's a tough call, maybe too tough:

Single Title, Part 1: The Classic(s)

Single Title, Part 2: The Individual Single Title

Single Title, Part 3: Steadicam’s Long Take

Single Title, Part 4: The POV Shot

🙏

Once upon a time in the West

everything else just feels way below...

Watchmen and Jean-Claude Van Damme

The Usual Suspects, Juno, and Superbad.

The Shining — hands down, the best opening scene ever made.

Dawn of the Dead paired with Cash is pure genius; you absolutely have to see it.

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest—is there anything more beautiful than a good morning wake-up call?

Then there’s Panic Room, Vertigo, Trainspotting, and honestly, the list just keeps going.

2001: A Space Odyssey. An absolutely flawless opening sequence—visually, musically, and thematically.

I can't recall the exact titles at the moment, but I am in total agreement regarding The Shining; that opening sequence is masterful, and the score is genuinely terrifying. Furthermore, the first Batman installment features that incredible music by Prince.

Jeffrey Howard79 said:So, looking back at the first Batman movie... Prince's music... man, what can you even say about that? It's just on another level..

It’s Danny Elfman, obviously. You hear that Batman theme kicking in right as the camera starts its slow glide around the edges of the Batman logo... honestly, a pretty solid way to kick things off.

Fetishistic Advocacy for speed in Titles Perfection



Perfection. 😍

[IMAGE DELETED]

Conan the Barbarian 👍

Casino has an incredible opening sequence when that car explodes. Looking at more recent stuff, I dug Juno, and Robin Hood has a pretty interesting end credit crawl.

Jerry Adams71 said:Casino has that killer opening sequence where the car blows up. Looking at more recent stuff, I thought Juno was great, and Robin Hood actually has a pretty interesting credit roll.

Hell yeah!

EXT. RESTAURANT PARKING LOT, LAS VEGAS, 1983 - DAY

SAM 'ACE' ROTHSTEIN, a tall, lean, immaculately dressed man approaches his car, opens the door, and gets inside to turn on the ignition.

ACE: (Voice-over) When you love someone, you've gotta trust them. There's no other way. You've got to give them the key to everything that's yours. Otherwise, what's the point? And, for a while . . . I believed that's the kind of love I had.

(Suddenly, the car explodes. Flames, smoke and metal rise into the sky covering the view of the Las Vegas casinos and their signs.
Music in: J. S. Bach - 'St. Matthew Passion'.
Ace's body comes flying in - extreme slow motion. His body twists and turns through the frame like a soul about to tumble into the flames of damnation.)

Opening Credits.

Casino Tribute - Part One

Since we're already talking about those end credits...

Casino Ending scene House of the Rising Sun casino - Matthew Passion

🙏

Casino - Matthew Passion

🙏 🙏 🙏

Psssssst, just go ahead and grab the soundtrack. 😉

If we look at how they're all connected:



Just one more little bit of minimalist perfection.

American Psycho, simply because it’ll play you 🙂