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Seven films with incredibly creative title sequences
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With the release of Zombieland and after watching that film’s delightfully gory and creative opening credits, I thought it would be worth some time to argue in favor of the opening credits as a kind of art form. Zombieland features a variety of ultra slow-motion shots of various zombies attacking/eating humans and knocking away or crashing through the letters of the credits as if they were in the way of their fun. I don’t know about you, but I call that creative. So let’s take a look at some of the gems in recent memory, shall we? Click on the film's title for a youtube link to the credits.
Juno (2007)
Jason Reitman’s comedy features a youthful, sketched overlay of the titular character walking down the street chugging a gallon of Sunny Delight to the catchy tune of Baris Louis Polisar’s “All I Want is You”. Juno walks in step with the music and takes swigs of her juice as the credits draw themselves in and then disappear in a pencil-eraser fashion. The sketched look contributes a vibrant, colorful feel to the credits and sets the tone for an equally colorful film.
Watchmen (2009)
In bringing the famed graphic novel to life, Zack Snyder had to make sure the audience knew what sort of alternative history Watchmen followed. By incorporating scenes from post-WW2 history in the title sequence and altering them to the tune of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a Changin”, we needed no more reminders of the rich pseudo-historical environment the Watchmen inhabited. From Dr. Manhattan shaking President Kennedy’s hand on the White House lawn to the Comedian killing him with a rifle in Dallas, Watchmen’s opening credits amazed and shocked audiences with their graphic realism.
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Ah, whatever, let’s put a second Jason Reitman film up here. The credits for Reitman’s 2005 comedy appear as cigarette labels, industrial and colorful and cancerous, while the folksy song “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” by Tex Williams plays. The witty (and highly-relevant) lyrics are matched only by the clever writing of the film itself which makes it such a perfect accompanying tune: “Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate // That you hate to make him wait // But you just gotta’ have another cigarette.”
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
This film’s creative title sequence incorporates a sleuthy, amusing feel and stylistic elements reminiscent of Bond film credits. (Which, by the way, are films that aren’t included in this list, as everyone knows Bond films have great credits) There are smoking guns, silhouetted figures, footprints, blood splatters, bullet holes, and stealthy caper music, which appropriately set the tone for the kind of dark comedy that only Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. can provide. A lesser-known film, but definitely worth a look.
Fight Club (1999)
I’m very upset and astonished that I couldn’t find these credits on Youtube. You’ll just have to take my word for it. The title sequence is an intense computer-generated ride at a microscopic level of detail, starting with synapses firing in the brain, to individual nerves, exploding through a sweaty pore and traveling up the cool metallic texture of a gun barrel, through the weapon’s rear sights, and finally focusing on the terrified, perspiring face of Edward Norton in whose mouth the gun rests. All this is set to the electric rock of The Dust Brothers. The title sequence, in keeping with the film, is a kinetic psychological bullet train.
Lord of War (2005)
Thie one is my favorite. A sharp-dressed Nicholas Cage delivers a few lines of intro while standing in an urban courtyard covered in spent bullet casings. The camera cuts to a factory and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What it’s Worth” accompanies the creation of a single shiny 7.62 round through the production line. The gleaming bullet takes us along for the ride through its point of view, winding up in a wooden crate and shipped around the world. It ultimately finds its way into the magazine of your standard AK-47 and tragically ends its journey in the forehead of some innocent victim of global arms dealing. An absolutely stunning title sequence.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
We’re going to end our list with a blast to the past with James Cameron’s famous action sequel. The credits begin with Los Angeles at rush hour, traffic on the highways, pedestrians and children enjoying a playground. A bright flash cuts to a wasteland battleground and Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor gives the back story about the war of the machines and mankind’s fight led by her son John. The credits roll over the aforementioned playground, stylistically ablaze and frightening, and culminating in the steely face of a Terminator robot, red eyes glowing as bright as the fire that surrounds them. I mention this movie because when I was a child, I remember being horrified by the credits.
Other films with creative opening credits include the X-Men films, Lucky Number Slevin, Hostage, Catch Me if You Can, and Sin City, to name a few. Many films throughout history have featured great title sequences, and perhaps it might be worth including an Academy Award category for such creations? It’s an art form that should not be ignored, and fast-forwarding through them on the DVD should be considered a crime.
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