Ranking Every James Bond Opening Scene From Worst To Best
1. GoldenEye
GoldenEye has the best opening scene in the history of James Bond.
Years before bringing Daniel Craig's gritty and realistic 007 to the big screen, Martin Campbell directed Pierce Brosnan's debut Bond film GoldenEye. Both of Campbell's films are hallmarks of the Bond canon, and the director impressively managed to create two of the three most spectacular James Bond opening scenes.
GoldenEye's opening is the gift that keeps on giving. It features Ken Adam-level production design, riveting action, and countless classic Bond moments. After all, the breathtaking 220 meter bungee jump alone would have been enough to cement this opening as an all-time great, yet that is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Immediately after that unforgettable stunt, Bond memorably infiltrates a Russian weapons facility through its restroom. Brosnan's "pardon me, forgot to knock" line may be cheesy to some, but I can't help but love it.
Inside the facility, James connects with Alec Trevelyan, his friend and fellow Mi6 agent. Although Sean Bean's 006 ends up becoming one of the greatest Bond villains ever by the end of GoldenEye, the character's brief partnership with Bond in this opening is a very enjoyable dynamic. The witty dialogue and the levity Brosnan and Bean bring to the scene make their relationship believable, and the success of that relationship increases the suspense of the ensuing action.
007 and 006 are discovered by Colonel Ourumov and his soldiers, who kill Trevelyan and hold Bond at gunpoint in a wonderfully tense moment. Finally, the opening culminates with yet another distinct and fantastic set-piece; Bond escaping the facility by riding a motorcycle off a cliff to catch up to and commander a falling plane. Wow.
The opening of GoldenEye is original, exciting, suspenseful, incredibly memorable, and the best James Bond opening scene of all time.