20 Greatest Opening Movie Scenes Of All Time

7. Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane
Warner Bros.

Orson Welles' magnum opus about the life of newspaper baron and later politician Charles Foster Kane is oft considered the best film ever made, and while it is orchestrated flawlessly from beginning to end, its introductory sequence arguably best exemplifies its quality.

The mise-en-scène of the film's opening depicts a withered and abandoned palace; isolated, cold and dark. This is the home of Charles Foster Kane, and with the former newspaper baron on his deathbed, leaving nothing behind but his famous last word ("Rosebud"), the film sets out to explore the life that gave way to these bleak surroundings.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.