Ranking Every James Bond Opening Scene From Worst To Best

Live and Let Die is the only cold open in Bond history that does not feature the titular agent, and that ultimately ends up working in its favor. Bond's absence in this scene only adds to its intrigue.

This opening is made up of three distinct sections, each of which depicts the murder of a different Mi6 agent. The first and weakest section follows an Mi6 agent at a United Nations meeting as he is somehow killed by an obnoxious sound that is shot into his headphones. This death is ridiculous and forgettable, but thankfully the other two are a lot more interesting.

Though the Caribbean death ritual acts as some solid foreshadowing to the climax of Live and Let Die, the New Orleans funeral is easily the best section of this opening.

Director Guy Hamilton created a rich and mysterious atmosphere to surround the processing funeral, and it leaves the audience in enamored anticipation. The sequence culminates in an earned and unforgettable climax when the ill-fated Mi6 agent asks his eventual killer "who's funeral?"

Despite lacking a sensational stunt or even 007 himself, the opening of Live and Let Die succeeds because it captivates the audience and leaves them excited for the rest of the film. And after all, isn't that what a good opening scene should do?