10 Best Opening Shots In Cinema History

9. Contact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqOBMICkdA Though it might not seem quite as impressive nowadays given that CGI trawls through the solar system are a lot more common, in 1997, Contact held the record for the longest unbroken shot comprised entirely of visual effects, with the opening scale pan through the entirety of the universe. Lasting roughly three minutes, critics noted near-silent press screenings at the time, people literally being stunned completely speechless by the visual magnificence of the shot. Adding to it is the decision to mix in various pop songs, TV show themes and famous speeches from history as we travel through the universe, an ironic way to parallel our somewhat solipsistic view of Earth with our small stature within the scope of the universe. It's a brilliantly thought-provoking, technically astounding film that began as it meant to go on.