What makes a effective movie opening?

Movie openings are essentially the most important part of the film, it introduces the film to the audience and needs to catch and keep there attention. Although what makes a good openings is down to personal views and opinions there’s no denying that to capture the audience a opening sequence must offer a taste or sample of the story yet to come, it must leave the viewers curious enough to watch on, whether through a subtle and slow scene leading into the main picture, suspense building shots or shocking images.

First of all to understand this better, there are some different techniques and styles along with an examined case study.

Romeo + Juliet (1996) by Baz Luhrmann

Romeo + Juliet Opening
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This in my opinion is one of the most gripping and visually dynamic opening sequences I have seen.
Beginning with a simplistic view, a television, which opens to the first credits and to the prologue of the script based from Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet As it presents the production credit and film production company first and in a long shot it draws little attention away from the main picture, curiosity of the enlarging picture instantly grabs attention as the prologue unfolds.

Then straight away were are presented large text accompanying and emphasising on the off screen dialogue being played. This bold image is again excellent at surprising the audience and gauging interested. Especially with the contrast to the television prologue, along with the fast paced changing images before the main title the sequence is a feast for the eyes. Snapshots of media images, panning views of landscapes and locations sets the scale and size of the story within only seconds.

The credits of the actors are quick, and to the point, immediately establishing the main characters as the dialogue tells of the story to come. Also reappearing as each new character is introduced, such as the Abra- the Capulet, and reintroduces Benvolio as the suspense between the rival gang builds. By doing this, the two rival sides are reinforced.

The music, O Verona, heightens the epic and spectacular vision of the scene and film. Quickly changing to a heavy beat song, setting the modern and society of the tale. This contrast is effective in reminding the audience of the overall theme and size of the story, and foreshadowing how the rivalry will be apparent throughout the film.

The fight scene between the Montague and the Capulet is excellent itself, the continuing suspense and tension between characters and immediate suggestions of how a fight will ensue have audiences sitting on the edge of there seats, sharing the ever mounting tension of the inevitable battle. This is one of the most important aspects of the opening scene, the continuous enforcement of how brawling and death is unavoidable, it gives every moment an underline of building tension and adrenaline.

The shots focus solely on the main characters movement and actions with one another, until the battle unfolds and chaos throughout the city. This representation of the importance of the two households actions are shown as a key theme by these techniques of suspense, tension, and quickly moving back and forth to the picture on a larger scale.

The opening of Romeo + Juliet is a foreshadowing sequence. It presents us with not only a introduction to the film but gives us tastes of scenes and story yet to be scene. The epic scale this film shows within just the first scene, both visually and through sound grips and enthrals the audience. Even though we learn of the ending and events to come at the very beginning of the film, it does nothing to deter us or lessen the anticipation, which I feel is mostly because of this first scene’s effect on the viewer.

Why this makes a great film opening is because of so many factors, but most of all, it’s the arrangement and use of different images and alternating scenes that hold the audience in place, and what makes a opening great is its succeeding of doing just that.