Let's Get It Started
The opening credit sequence of a television show is kind of of a big deal. When it's good, it is engaging, interesting, visually stimulating, and gets you ready and excited for the show to come. While the last few decades have seen more and more series go to short five-second title cards only—there is a rich history of amazing opening sequences to cull from when selecting the greatest of all time. And these are them (in no particular order).
The Wire
While the series had an overarching storyline and characters across its five seasons, each season of the wire focused on a different aspect of the city and its institution, from the port to the schools to journalism... And in keeping with that idea, so too did the opening sequence.
A sequence which used the same song ("Way Down in the Hole" by Tom Waits) but a different cover version for each season along with visuals from that specific season as well. What version is your favorite?
Mad Men
Alfred Hitchcock wasn't just an influence on the visual style of the series—but of the title sequence as well. The falling man silhouette is reminiscent of the famous Vertigo poster, and some may remember the North by Northwest opening sequence with all the skyscrapers. The instrumental music and the man falling past all of the advertisements beautifully sets us up for this great series.
Mission: Impossible
For our younger readers—yes, Mission: Impossible was a television show decades before it became a Tom Cruise movie franchise. And just like the movies, the series used a quick montage of clips from the show set against that instantly-recognizable (and totally awesome) Mission: Impossible theme music.
Paramount, Mission: Impossible (1966-73)
Game Of Thrones
The epic music (from Ramin Djawadi, the same guy who composed the Iron Man score) is perfect as we fly through an evolving 3D map of Westeros. Don't know about you, but the map actually did help me place things as I watched the series and would sometimes lose track of locations from week to week. But maybe that's just me.
HBO, Game Of Thrones (2011-19)
The Wonder Years
The opening sequence that introduced a whole new generation to Joe Cocker's brilliant cover of "With a Little Help from My Friends"—sung over some classic 1960s home movie-style footage of the main family and friends.
New World Television, The Wonder Years (1988-93)
Cheers
Like with The Wonder Years, Cheers starts off with a great song—and to go along with it, they used old-timey photographs and images to create a real sense of history and joie de vivre. And few sitcoms have provided as much joie as Cheers.
Shameless
I'm talking about the American version of the series and the awesome credit sequence featuring a static shot of the bathroom and all of the characters and crazy goings on that happen in it. A very nice intro to the people and the show.
Warner Bros., Shameless (2011-21)
The Shield
It's only 10 seconds long and it's just the title card with a police badge—but every time it hits, it hits hard for those 10 seconds. The music pounds and even the "created by Sean Ryan" card shakes a little—indicative of the hand-held camera style of the series. Trust me when I tell you this one gets you ready for the episode every time.
Breaking Bad
And while we're talking about those extra-short intro sequences, I had to throw Breaking Bad in there also. Just as The Shield intro does so much in so little time—so too does the Breaking Bad opening sequence with the elements of the periodic table floating through the air and that moody, twangy instrumental music accompanying it all.
Better Call Saul
And if we're going to praise Breaking Bad's short title sequence, we have to also give some love to Vince Gilligan's follow-up series, Better Call Saul—whose title sequences were also very short and featured many different VHS-style, low-quality images harkening back to Saul's Breaking Bad days.
Sony,Better Call Saul (2015-22)
All In The Family
"Those Were the Days" isn't just the name of the now-iconic theme song—but it was also the original title of All in the Family. The song is great, but it's how it's presented that really makes this opening credit sequence special.
Starting off by having Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton singing it at the piano in front of the live studio audience (we even hear the audience reaction when Stapleton goes for that high note), then continuing the song as we pan across the suburb and down the street to their house—allowing us to pay attention to the words of the song which are setting up the dynamic of the show.
And while we're talking about actors singing their own theme song....
Sony, All In The Family (1971-79)
New Girl
The opening credit scene changed after the first few seasons, but those first seasons with Zooey Deschanel singing her own theme song while the guys move the set pieces around her is fun and a pretty good encapsulation of the show and characters.
Twentieth Century, New Girl (2011-18)
The Simpsons
Talk about a show introduction—this credit sequence introduced us to almost every character in Springfield. And then there are the original couch scenes at the end that fans look forward to every single time.
Twentieth Century, The Simpsons (1989-)
Pachinko
The amazing—and highly under-appreciated—drama series on Apple TV+ deals with some hard issues but the opening credits (when they eventually get to them on each episode) are a colorful and joyous celebration of life and laughter as the actors—all dressed up in their period costumes—dance to an upbeat rock song (a different song is used for each season so far). I look forward to these credits every episode.
And speaking of characters dancing....
Peacemaker
James Gunn is no stranger to an opening credits dance routine. He did it in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 with Groot grooving to "Mr Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra—and in Peacemaker, he gets John Cena and the cast to put on a choreographed routine to "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam.
DC Entertainment, Peacemaker (2022-)
Dexter
The original version of the Dexter title sequence used a much darker musical theme as we were introduced to the morning routine of our protagonist. It's interesting to see, but not as good as the version we got in the end with the lighter music adding a darkly comic touch to all of the close-up morning routine double entendre visuals.
And with this one in mind, we have to mention...
John Goldwyn Productions, Dexter (2006-13)
Dexter: Original Sin
The latest series in the Dexter-verse is a prequel that takes us back to a young Dexter just getting started putting the code into action. While the series isn't as good as the original series—the opening title sequence is a wonderfully sly homage to the OG Dexter, taking us through the morning routine of the whole Morgan clan: Dexter, Deb, and Harry.
Showtime Networks, Dexter: Original Sin - (2024-)
Law & Order
We're talking the OG series here (although, as we all know, all of the shows in the L&O-verse take their cue from the original series' intro style and music). First off, we gotta mention that opening narration that starts off every episode. You know, the "In the criminal justice system..."
Then, after the opening scene—and usually following some funny or dramatic quip—we get the credit sequence with the classic music and images of "Law" and "Order" while also introducing us to the members of both that will be our guides through the "law" and the "order".
Universal, Law & Order (1990-2021)
The Sopranos
Ride along with Tony Soprano down the New Jersey Turnpike with Alabama 3's "Woke Up This Morning". He pulls into his driveway and we are ready to go.
The Brady Bunch
Here's a story about a great opening credit sequence that has a super catchy tune and that now-iconic family-grid graphic that has popped up in a whole variety of pop culture places over the decades since the show aired.
Paramount, The Brady Bunch (1969-74)
Severance
It won the Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design in 2022—and it most certainly deserved it. The claymation-esque Adam Scott's transforming and multiplying capture the brilliant show's sci-fi exploration of the Innies and the Outies.
Red Hour Productions, Severance (2022-)
Stranger Things
Less truly can be more—as the Stranger Things title sequence proves. The 80s synth-infused horror-style music and the Stephen King-inspired lettering of the title says everything that needs to be said.
Netflix, Stranger Things (2016-25)
Rescue Me
Denis Leary's under-appreciated FX series from the 2000s gets the energy going with "C'mon C'mon" by The Von Bondies—and gritty graphics of the fire department and New York City (where the series is set).
The Twilight Zone
This one is all about that awesome Rod Serling narration (which did change a few times over the years): "You're traveling through another dimension—a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind..."
CBS, The Twilight Zone (1959- 64)
Black Warrant
This Hindi-language prison drama is based on a book by Sunil Gupta—a jailer for 35 years at Tihar Prisons. The show is dark, dramatic, violent, and political and the opening credits are an engaging animated sequence with a cool bluesy rock guitar instrumental—with visuals that become more and more recognizable as you work your way through the series.
And speaking of prison shows...
Applause Entertainment, Black Warrant (2025)
Orange Is The New Black
The close-up eyes and mouths of 52 real-life convicted criminals were used to set the stage for one of Netflix's earliest original hits.
Lionsgate, Orange Is The New Black (2013-19)
The Americans
The show about Russian spies living in America as everyday Americans in the 1980s featured one of the best opening credit sequences of all time with a collage style of clips and images of America and Russia with a theme that feels very spy-thriller. Writing the actors' names in Russian and then covering it up with their name in English is also a really nice touch.
DreamWorks, The Americans (2013-18)
Succession
The Roy family are seen past and present in this good opening sequence that becomes great with the addition of the Emmy award-winning theme by composer Nicholas Britell.
Broad City
"Four and three and two and one"—It's quick and colorful and a little psychedelic and gets you ready for one of the funniest, most original and wonderfully odd shows of the last couple decades.
Paper Kite Productions, Broad City (2014-2019)
Peep Show
This awesome British sitcom ran for nine seasons and got its name from the presentation of the many POV shots of the two main protagonists. It's a setup that is introduced right away in the title sequence which frames the images in the shape of an eye (along with the POV). Fun and effective.
Objective Productions, Peep Show (2003-15)
Boardwalk Empire
Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson stands on the beach in his pinstripe suit as the waves wash up over his shoes. As the music builds, bottles begin to wash up and, eventually, he is standing amongst hundreds of bottles (symbolizing the prohibition era that the series takes place in).
HBO, Boardwalk Empire (2010-14)
Shogun
The Emmy-winning series features a credit sequence with rousing music and a grand presentation of ships and battles and islands set within a large Zen garden.
Golden Girls
Okay, to be fair, there isn't anything special about this one. It's got that generic sitcom credit sequence thing going on with a song and clips from the series. However, that song! How many of you still randomly break out "thank you for being a friend..." all these decades later? It's not just me, right?
Touchstone, Golden Girls (1985-92)
Miss Any?
Yeah, probably missed a few great ones. What are your all-time favs?
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