4 Types Of Film Openings

4 Types Of Film Openings and analysis of a film title

Titles on a blank screen

This type of title is historically the most common type. It involves different kinds of type face on a black background. Usually a white type face is used on a black background to create a high contrast. Studios used them because they are low budget. They can offer a simple, uncomplicated way to include institutional information at the beginning of a film.

Phycho - The lines that intersect the typography represent 'slashing', which is the overall idea of the movie.

Titles on still images

Wimbledon title sequence - Watch the Titles

This type of title sequence is more elaborate than simple white text on a black background. The use of music and still images accompany the credits. It is historically title cards developed to include hand drawn borders and other images. It indicated a move past just text but a way to incorporate text with a visual image to hint at the tone or genre of the film. It coincides with more than just the name of the studio and film maker.

This is a Kyle Cooper's version of titles over still images. In the title sequence for Wimbledon he used both moving and still images to give the effect of the tennis match.

Titles on a blank screen & Titles on still images

Titles over Moving Images

It incorporates credit titles with moving images behind the titles, sound and usually no dialogue. The moving images offer a metaphor and narrative thread to help introduce the tone or storyline of the film to the audience.

Rear window - Image of the window behind the credits illustrate and present a metaphor of the storyline in the film of a character looking out of a window.

Titles using Animation or Motion



In the late 1990s, this type using animated text became more popular. The titles themselves became part of the moving image and are integrated together with the image we see. It requires a lot of digital technology and stylised editing.

Casino Royale - James Bond shown in an animation at the beginning and shows images of hearts to suggest the use of gambling and guns as a metaphor or action

Titles over Moving images & Titles using Animation or Motion

The Avengers