Top 20 Best Opening Lines in Movies
#20: “A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far, Far Away.”
“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977) There’s just no beating the opening sequence of the original “Star Wars.” A simple and iconic sentence appears on screen that sets up the time and place of the story. Following that, viewers are treated to the opening notes of John Williams’s iconic score while the title flashes across the screen and shrinks into the opening crawl. Instant chills. While not spoken by a character, the opening text nevertheless remains one of the most classic lines in movie history. Never before or since has an expositional bit of text been so mysterious and captivating. It instantly hooks viewers into the story and immediately gets the imagination flowing, which is obviously necessary for the otherworldly events that follow. This is how you start a movie.
#19: “I Don’t Wanna Be a Product of My Environment.”
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“The Departed” (2006) Martin Scorsese has a penchant for opening his movies with killer lines. His opening words for “The Departed” continus this strong trend thanks to a killer performance from Jack Nicholson. He plays gangster Frank Costello and starts the film by speaking about his influence in the Irish Mob of South Boston. The opening summarizes Frank’s entire character in a few short but effective words, portraying him as both a powerful man and enormously influential within his neighborhood. When Nicholson’s growly and intimidating affectation is combined with effective writing, you get a very tantalizing way to introduce a mob boss.
#18: “Between the Time When the Oceans Drank Atlantis...”
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“Conan the Barbarian” (1982) Fantasy and science fiction movies really know how to attract an audience’s attention. Schwarzenegger’s star-making turn as Conan the Barbarian begins with interesting allusions to fictional history. Atlantis is the allegorial island famously mentioned by Plato, and the Sons of Aryas is a group made specifically for “Conan.” These references help establish the movie’s fantastical setting and tone while getting viewers ready for all the imaginative events to follow. Not only do the lines sound captivating, but they depict the movie as a piece of folklore, almost as if it came from a society’s ancient mythology. This is high fantasy at its most whimsical.
#17: “Random Thoughts for Valentine’s Day, 2004”
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004) It’s fitting that an offbeat romantic movie opens in such a downbeat way. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” chronicles the ups and downs of a relationship and the literal erasure of good memories. While it can be a little morose, this film also offers brilliant commentary on the cyclical nature of troubled romantic relationships. And what better way to introduce protagonist Joel than by depicting him as a downbeat cynic? It’s clear that he hates the concept of Valentine’s Day because it makes him feel incredibly lonely. The dialogue is aided by Jim Carrey’s sullen line delivery, the quiet piano notes, and pale color palette. This great marriage between writing and filmmaking perfectly captures a character and a world devoid of life.
#16: “Yes, This Is Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California”
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“Sunset Boulevard” (1950) This opening line is one of the greatest tone and theme setters in movie history. Sunset Boulevard has a near mythical quality to it. It’s a historic street that runs through Beverly Hills and Hollywood with lots of money and has held an intrinsic connection to the movie industry. This sense of glamour was even more apparent in the ‘40s and ‘50s, when Hollywood was experiencing a Golden Age. And yet here it is, with police responding to a violent crime that occurred in a mansion. It immediately subverts the elegant allure of Sunset Boulevard and the surrounding area, depicting it with a seedy underbelly. It’s a fantastic way to open a film noir that aims to undermine the seductive appeal of Hollywood.
#15: “The World Is Changed.”
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“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) Screenwriters Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson accomplished an incredible and challenging task when they adapted “The Lord of the Rings.” They took various lines from Tolkien’s novels, including this opening statement, and changed who said them and at what time. This particular opening line can be found in “The Return of the King”, and is spoken by Treebeard while he’s saying his farewells to Galadriel. For the movie, the three writers gave the line to Galadriel herself and placed it at the beginning of “Fellowship.” This switch highly paid off. The opening piece of dialogue serves as a fantastic tone setter that immediately establishes the growing threat of Sauron and the changes that Middle Earth is experiencing.
#14: “Do You Find Me Sadistic?”
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“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) Quentin Tarantino quickly earned a reputation as a rather violent filmmaker, and his movies have garnered large amounts of controversy for their content. “Kill Bill’s” focus on over-the-top samurai action that harkened back to exploitative grindhouse cinema looked to be the most brutal one yet. So what better way to open this movie than by addressing the violent content outright? This line not only serves as a horrifying introduction to Bill, but it also acts as a meta-line of sorts, almost as if Tarantino himself is asking the audience if they find him and his films sadistic. And by addressing the violent content outright, it allows viewers to prepare for the brutal events and images that will follow.
#13: “I Remember Those Cheers”
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“Raging Bull” (1980) Martin Scorsese loves to subvert typical genre movies. With “Raging Bull,” he targeted the inspirational sports film. Rather than depicting a likable underdog, “Raging Bull” follows the violent and unappealing Jake LaMotta. He’s a towering figure who constantly sabotages his personal relationships. The opening depicts Jake washed up, aging, and his boxing career long over. He’s now a stand-up comedian that practices a comedy routine that opens with “I remember those cheers.” While he uses the lines within a bit, it’s obvious that he misses the celebrity and sense of accomplishment that came with his boxing success. “Raging Bull” is ultimately a personal tragedy. And there’s no better way to open a tragedy than by having its protagonist lament on good times gone by.
#12: “Who Are You?”
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“The Seventh Seal” (1957) After some opening narration, Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” begins with Death approaching a medieval knight named Antonius Black. To audiences, Death appears quite scary, silently standing on the beach with a creepy pale countenance. But the knight seems rather unfazed. When questioned, the mysterious man frankly responds, “I am Death.” It’s a simple yet incredibly effective way to open a movie. The blunt answer from Death depicts it as a fearless encounter. In a time full of plague and turbulence, people simply came to expect this dark concept. It’s no surprise that Antonius barely reacts to the revelation. Death is a universal struggle that everyone must cope with. We can only hope to accept it as well as Antonius did.
#11: “Now I Want You to Remember…”
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“Patton” (1970) Often regarded as one of the best war films ever made, “Patton” begins in magnificent fashion. General Patton appears in front of a massive American flag as images of his numerous medals flash across the screen and he’s accompanied by celebratory fanfare. He then launches into a rather blunt tirade about what he thinks about soldiers. His words are a very unique observation about the nature of war that actually came from the real General Patton himself. The real figure said these lines during his iconic speech to the 6th Armored Division on May 31, 1944. It took one of the world’s greatest motivational speeches to result in one of the greatest opening lines in movie history.
#10: “There’s A Hundred Thousand Streets In This City”
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“Drive” (2011) Known only as the Driver, our nameless protagonist’s entire identity revolves around automobiles. He works as a getaway driver, but will only offer his services for exactly five minutes. After that, you’re on your own. Five minutes might not sound like much and not every getaway goes off without a hitch. However, The Driver knows the streets of this city like the back of his hand and he knows how to make himself disappear even better. Reminiscent of a film noir anti-hero, The Driver’s opening lines say so much about his emotionally detached character while also saying so little, which is only appropriate for a man of few words.
#9: “People Are Always Asking If I Know Tyler Durden”
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“Fight Club” (1999) So you know that spoiler warning we talked about earlier? That was primarily for anyone that still hasn’t seen “Fight Club.” This masterpiece from David Fincher is notorious for having one of the greatest movie twists ever, revealing that Edward Norton’s Narrator is also Tyler Durden. What’s so ironic about this twist is that the Narrator basically gives it away with his very first line. Throughout the entire movie, however, the audience is completely oblivious. It isn’t until you watch “Fight Club” a second time that you catch this ingenious foreshadowing, which makes you appreciate the film even more.
#8: “Choose Life”
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“Trainspotting” (1996) Mark “Rent Boy” Renton has built his life around the illegal substances he relies so heavily on. However, the movie opens with him finally ready to choose another path in life away from his vices. As Renton states in the poetic opening of “Trainspotting,” there are so many things one can choose: a job, a career, a family; the list goes on and on. Above all else, Renton encourages his audience to choose life. But we learn it won’t be an easy journey for him. Although life offers many wonderful things to Renton, it’s hard for him to overcome his past demons.
#7: “We Were Somewhere Around Barstow...”
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“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998) “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” plays like one big acid trip. It’s only appropriate that Raoul Duke’s story begins just as his substances begin to take hold. From the second our main characters reach the edge of the desert, the film takes a nosedive into madness and never lets up. In addition to perfectly setting the stage, this opening also captures the essence of our narrator. Duke is constantly making observations and talking as if he’s typing a novel in his head. Of course, most of his rants are completely ludicrous and could only come from a totally whacked out mind…
#6: “I Am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman”
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“Full Metal Jacket” (1987) Few directors knew how to open a movie better than Stanley Kubrick. Alex’s first monologue from “A Clockwork Orange” continues to give us chills to this day. (xref) However, we’ve decided to single out Gunnery Sergeant Hartman’s exhilarating introductory speech from “Full Metal Jacket.” This film immediately throws the audience into basic military training, which can feel just as hellish as actual combat when you have a ruthless drill sergeant barking orders. Hartman is an unrelenting force that never stops insulting his cadets. From the second he opens his mouth, it’s clear he’ll eventually push one of these young maggots over the edge.
#5: “What Came First, the Music or the Misery?”
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“High Fidelity” (2000) Although pop music is often viewed as peppy and fun, a majority of the genre’s songs are surprisingly about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery, and loss. So why do we keep listening to them? Is pop music the root of all our misery or do we listen to pop music because we’re miserable? These are the questions Rob Gordon mulls over at the beginning of “High Fidelity.” With a love life that plays like a broken record, Rob contemplates if sad music can be even more harmful than toy guns and violent movies. In any case, Rob could definitely use a sunnier mixed tape.
#4: “I Was 12 Going on 13...”
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“Stand by Me” (1986) “Stand by Me” is all about the life-changing moment that kicks off a unique coming of age story. For Gordie Lachance, his life changed when he first saw a deceased human being. The opening of the film finds an older Gordie looking back on his friendships and the journey that changed his life forever. Aside from hooking the audience in, this opening line highlights the bittersweet sense of nostalgia that makes us long for a simpler time. Time goes by fast and is easy to take for granted. As Gordie completes his memoir, though, he remembers the importance of looking ahead to the future.
#3: “I Believe in America”
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“The Godfather” (1972) We’re all taught to believe in the American Dream. The sad truth, though, is that sometimes the American Dream lets us down and the only way to get justice is by seeking out somebody like Don Vito Corleone. The masterful opening of the movie sees Vito being asked by a man to get revenge against violent criminals who mistreated his daughter. The godfather ultimately agrees to deal out justice and go after the evil perpetrators. As Vito gives his enforcer instructions, we’re forced to contemplate a tough question. Is he keeping the American Dream alive or is he why the American Dream is dead.
#2: “As Far Back As I Can Remember, I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster”
“Goodfellas” (1990) Some boys dream of being president, but Henry Hill always wanted to be a gangster. This line sums up Henry in a nutshell. Like many of the other characters in “Goodfellas,” he’s a selfish villain. He does whatever he wants and takes whatever he wants with little regard for those that get caught in the crossfire. In Henry’s mind, being a gangster means to own the world. Henry does indeed achieve all the power and wealth he ever dreamed of… that is until his inevitable downfall. Even then, Henry’s just glad that he got a taste of the gangster lifestyle and wouldn’t change a thing. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Saturday March 24, 1984.”, “The Breakfast Club” (1985) Immediately Establishes the Setting and the Rebellious Tone of the Characters “Are You Watching Closely?”, “The Prestige” (2006) Starting a Movie with a Question Is Always a Fun Idea “There Was Me.”, “A Clockwork Orange” (1971) The Line Goes to Befuddle and Intrigue Viewers with a Fictional Language
#1: “Rosebud”
“Citizen Kane” (1941) Sometimes one little word can have the greatest impact of all. In this case, “Rosebud” initiates what is often considered the best movie of all time. Charles Foster Kane’s dying word, “Rosebud” sends a reporter on an investigation to uncover its true meaning. He never exactly figures out what “Rosebud” meant, but the audience learns that it epitomizes the one thing the richest man in the world couldn’t buy: his lost childhood. Bringing everything full circle, it’s easy to see why “Citizen Kane” is a masterpiece from beginning to end.
