Four of the greatest openings ever:

1. Streets of Fire. The cold open of this Rock n Roll fable may be the best music video ever made.
2. Rollerball (1975). Seeing the game set up — the referees and coaches coming out to start the festivities and check the goals makes this gruesome, ultraviolent game seem like another day at the ballpark. (And no movie makes a more poignant comment about the corporate takeover of America)
3. The Shining. The interview with the hotel Overlook manager sets an insanely creepy vibe for the rest of the movie.
4. Saving Private Ryan. Never have people had a better chance to understand the randomness and chaos of combat.