This article examines the greatest opening scenes from 1970s cinema, a period when New Hollywood gave directors unprecedented creative freedom to experiment with how films could introduce themselves to audiences. The '70s saw filmmakers use opening moments as thesis statements and hooks, with directors like Stanley Kubrick and Francis Ford Coppola pioneering innovative techniques that would influence cinema for decades.

– **Patton** — An Oscar-winning World War II epic that opens with George S Scott's commanding performance as General Patton framed against an American flag, establishing the film's examination of militarism.
– **A Clockwork Orange** — Stanley Kubrick's controversial 1971 film uses a surrealist, disturbing introduction featuring Malcolm McDowell's magnetic performance as Alex, setting the tone for the film's exploration of British society and its dangers.
– **The Godfather** — Francis Ford Coppola's beloved film opens with Marlon Brando's iconic performance as The Godfather, establishing the character and his role as guardian to the Corleone family and community.