The 10 most iconic single-take shots in cinema history

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The 10 most iconic single-take shots in cinema history

Far Out · 3 hours ago

This article from Far Out Magazine explores the "oner," or single-take shot, a technique in which the camera moves through a scene without visible cuts, creating the illusion of unbroken, unedited action. The piece traces the technique's origins to Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 film Rope, well before it became widely associated with the Best Picture winner Birdman, and argues that while poorly executed single takes can feel gimmicky, well-crafted ones deepen storytelling and heighten audience engagement.

The (partial) list highlights several celebrated examples: Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas diner sequence, which immerses viewers in the allure of mafia life before protagonist Henry Hill's downfall; Park Chan-wook's Oldboy hallway fight, a single-take brawl the director attributed to "laziness" but which showcased genuine fight choreography and influenced later scenes such as one in Netflix's Daredevil; and Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men car-chase sequence, which conveys the sudden collapse of trust between characters through sustained, uninterrupted tension.

– Explores the history and craft of the "oner," or single-take shot, in film
– Traces the technique back to Hitchcock's 1948 film Rope, predating Birdman
– Highlights Goodfellas, Oldboy and Children of Men as standout examples

Entertainment Film

Read the full article at the source →