10 Greatest Opening Shots From Recent Movies
2. The Green Knight
David Lowery's The Green Knight may not be for everyone, but it's nevertheless a visual feast from beginning to end, kicking off with one of its most unforgettable images in its very first shot - a shot that was wisely featured extensively throughout the film's marketing.
That first shot sets the mood perfectly, glimpsing upon a visage of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) kitted out in a yellow robe while sat upon a throne in King Arthur's Great Hall.
A crown descends upon his head before his head sets aflame, and he then continues to stare motionlessly at the audience as the camera tilts upwards to the sky.
It'd be an utterly mesmeric shot on pure visual basis alone, but helping further establish the film's tone is a wispy voiceover which assures the audience this isn't the same King Arthur story they've heard so many times before.