10 Best Opening Scenes In Martin Scorsese Films

As seen in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Age of Innocence (1993), Martin Scorsese is a big admirer of the epic historical dramas that dominated the box office in the latter period of the classic Hollywood era.

In Gangs of New York, the director builds on his earlier successful epics by mixing the violence perpetuated in his gangster classics to a religious war during Civil War-era New York City. Again starring DiCaprio, the film also featured a strong supporting cast led by Daniel Day-Lewis and Cameron Diaz, with the epic being one of the biggest productions of 2002.

The opening scene jumps straight into the action, as "Priest" Vallon (Liam Neeson) leads his catholic Dead Rabbits gang into battle against the rival native protestants leader Bill "the Butcher" Cutting (Day-Lewis).

Preparing for battle, Vallon marches through fantasy-like tunnels of the Dead Rabbits encampment with his son, as the Celtic battle tune intensifies. The sequence ends with one of Vallon’s main henchmen kicking the door open and, as the music falls silent, the land where battle will soon commence is revealed.

A riveting opening that sets the stage for what remains Scorsese’s only war-focused film.