LIGHTS, CAMERA, INSPIRATION: Film Fans Vote Star Wars For The Best Opening Scene in Survey from OnePoll + MasterCard

FILM fans have voted the original Star Wars movie as having the best ever opening scene, according to a new poll.

The George Lucas classic film topped the survey for its action packed start with the evil Darth Vader making a dramatic entrance.

Closely following in second place was Steven Spielberg’s Jaws which shocked audiences with its opening shark attack on a young woman swimming in the ocean.

The research was carried out by MasterCard, the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival.

Star Wars Episode IV’s opening scene was voted the favourite being by far the most incredible opening scene, according to film fans across the UK. The first ever glimpse of the Imperial Star Destroyer has been watched by one in ten Brits since its first screening in May 1977.

Steven Spielberg’s iconic shark attack in Jaws (1975) is another great example, captivating audiences young and old, with one in ten Brits hooked by the menacing scenes of the young woman dragged under water by the great white; closely followed by the gunpoint diner robbery in Pulp Fiction (1994) (6%) and D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan (1998) (6%).

The research, conducted by MasterCard* official partner of Cannes Film Festival 2018 across 15 European countries, crowned Spielberg as the overall ‘master of the opening scene’ by all who voted. Brits love how the twice Oscar Award Winner kicks off a film with a bang. Bloodthirsty Quentin Tarantino came in second as voted by 10%, followed by the chilling scenes created by Alfred Hitchcock (9%).

Brits are more impatient than ever, with 83% of people switching off a film if they don’t like it, taking just 14 minutes to decide whether the movie is worth their time. 72% of respondents agree that an incredible opening scene makes a film more memorable as a whole.

It seems the Netflix Generation need to be hooked in an instant. 30% of the UK cite an amazing soundtrack as a key factor for this. John Travolta’s boots to the sound of The Bee Gees is the reason why Saturday Night Fever (1977) was voted the greatest musical opening scene of all in the UK. Elton John’s rendition of ‘Circle of Life’ for the opening visuals of The Lion King (1994) hooked 7% of UK viewers.

The ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ report investigated the power that the art of film can have on cinema fans. Movies, classic and contemporary, are inspirational Europe-wide, with 41% agreeing that a powerful movie can inspire people to start something new or make a positive change.

Jeannette Liendo, SVP Marketing Europe Mastercard said “Today, movies are not just about special effects but marrying all the different components to truly draw out an emotional reaction from the viewer. At Mastercard, we strive to become closer to consumer passions, like the art of film. Through our new Start Something Priceless campaign we are encouraging, inspiring and empowering people across the world to pursue a passion or goal meaningful to them. This research reflects the importance of how cinema can be inspirational, with 41% of people agreeing that a powerful movie can light a fire in you to make a positive change, which is exactly what we want to encourage. Cannes Film Festival is globally renowned for championing cinema and celebrating the importance of passion points exactly like this.”

Titanic (1997) came out floating on top across Europe; voted as having the best opening scene by Turkey, Poland, France, Czech Republic, Italy and Russia.

@MastercardEU

#StartSomethingPriceless

*Research conducted on behalf of MasterCard by OnePoll

Survey of 32,000 respondents across 15 markets In Europe, 2,000 respondents from the UK

UK Top Ten Best Opening Scenes

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope: The classic "In a galaxy far, far away..." followed by shot of The Star Destroyer (1977)

Jaws: A woman swims in the water and is attacked by Jaws (1975)

The Lion King: The famous Lion King song, with the sun rising and the animals of Africa collecting around Pride Rock (1994)

Saturday Night Fever: Shots of New York, then John Travolta walking with The Bee Gees playing (1977)

Saving Private Ryan: D-Day landing, with bullets flying and boats sinking (1998)

Pulp Fiction: The famous line 'Any of you p****s move, I'll kill every last m*********g one of you!' followed by the Pulp Fiction music and credits (1994)

Titanic: Slo-mo sepia of the Titanic about to depart on its' maiden voyage, followed by the sub looking at the wreck of the ship (1997)

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Paramount logo transfers onto a shot of a real-life mountain, Harrison Ford walks into frame and faces the mountain (1981)

Up: A montage of the main character's relationship with his wife, from childhood to adulthood (2009)

The Dark Knight: Bank robbery opening scene with men in evil clown masks (2008)

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Start Something Priceless
People today believe in the power of brands to effect positive social change, and that they themselves, have a duty to make the world a better place. Start Something Priceless is Mastercard’s global brand platform designed to inspire people to pursue their passion or purpose - a reminder that every day, we all have the power to create a memory, ignite a passion, make a difference, and even launch a movement. It is intended to spark a new mindset and encourage people to take an action to create a positive impact in their lives, their communities or even the world.

About Cannes Film Festival
The International Festival de Cannes is the most important film festival in terms of worldwide impact. 2018 marks the 71st season and the festival remains faithful to its founding purpose which is to draw attention to and raise the profile of films, with the aim of contributing to the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level.