The opening credits for a television show have the ability to immediately capture the attention of viewers, offering insight into the premise of the program. When done effectively, these sequences can entrance and engross audiences, an important and crucial feat due to the ever-growing amount of small screen content available. It is up to the creators to craft a memorable and eye-catching introduction, thereby ensuring that watchers don’t change the channel in search of something more appealing. Over time, opening credits have evolved into stunning standalone forms of art, often featuring brilliant visuals, memorable musical scores and eye-catching effects.
For decades, the small screen has continuously upped its sequence game, utilizing CGI, groundbreaking scores and cutting-edge imagery to set their TV show apart from the competition. The iconic ’90s cult classicThe X-Files is famous for its eerie and unsettling instrumental and opening montage, flawlessly mastering the art of an unforgettable sequence. Severance, which recently aired its season finale on Apple TV+, is an innovative dystopian thriller that gifted audiences with a breathtakingly bizarre introduction which has garnered universal acclaim and appreciation. These are the best TV opening credit sequences of all time.
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12 The Sopranos
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
The effortlessly cool and stylish opening sequence of the epic HBO crime drama The Sopranos features James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano driving through the Lincoln Tunnel and past various landmarks in and around Jersey City and Newark, cigar hanging loosely from his mouth. The credits are slightly ambiguous, as it gives viewers no real tangible knowledge about what will unfold on the edgy program or that it deals with the violent lives of notorious mobsters, but sets an unmistakable tone.
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The minimalist intro did exactly what the show’s creators intended: it informed audiences that the series would be set not in New York like so many other fellow dramas, but instead takes place in New Jersey. The show’s theme song “Woke Up This Morning” was remixed and performed by the British band Alabama 3; TV Guide ranked the title sequence at number 10 on a list of TV’s top 10 credits sequences, as selected by readers.
11 Freak and Geeks
DreamWorks SKG
The cult classic teen dramedy series Freaks and Geeks famously depicted life for a group of misfit adolescents at a Detroit high school in 1980, and despite only lasting one season has been heavily regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” was the perfect choice to serve as its theme song, with the introduction showcasing the various characters as they sit to have their school picture taken.
Each of their personalities are hilariously captured in the montage, skilfully revealing to audiences who the true “freaks” and “geeks” of the program are. The gone-too-soon comedy contained an impressive soundtrack throughout its run (including the head banging intro) and helped launch the careers of many of its outstanding lead actors. Freaks and Geeks placed third on Time magazine’s list of the greatest television shows of the 2000s.
10 Shameless
Showtime
Showtime’s cult hit about Chicago’s poor, dysfunctional Gallagher family aimed to highlight how patriarch Frank’s alcoholism and drug addiction affected his loved ones. Shameless’ series creator Paul Abbott declaring, “It’s not My Name is Earl or Roseanne. It’s got much graver level of poverty attached to it. It’s not blue collar; it’s no collar.”
A drama following a group of wild degenerates needs an equally chaotic introduction to capture the essence of the show, which was achieved with its carefree and dance-worthy opening credits. The sequence features a dirty and dingy bathroom that hasn’t been properly cleaned in months, with each member of the Gallagher bunch popping in to do their business and participate in various forms of debauchery while its theme song “The Luck You Got” by The High Strung plays.
9 Dexter
Centering on the misadventures of forensic technician and vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan, Dexter quickly became one of the best original Showtime series, a critically-acclaimed crime drama that captivated fans with its unique premise of a seemingly unassuming man who hunts down murderers that have evaded punishment in order to serve retribution. It’s one of those antihero shows which redefined the TV protagonist as it’s now known.
Despite being a dark and extremely twisted series, the opening credits humanize Dexter by showcasing the blood splatter analyst as he goes about his mundane morning: shaving his face, making breakfast and heading out to work like any other average person. As the sequence progresses, it takes on a more sinister tone and enlightens viewers that perhaps he’s not so normal after all. The score intensifies as the credits close, and audiences are left questioning whether Dexter is a reluctant antihero or devious villain in the cutting-edge series.
8 All in the Family
Sony Pictures Television
Famously following the bigoted working-class family man Archie Bunker and his often controversial world views, the renowned ‘70s sitcom All in the Family was a groundbreaking program that dove head first into a slew of issues that were previously considered TV taboo, touching on topics like racism, abortion, antisemitism and homosexuality. By addressing such issues, All in the Family went on to become one of the most influential comedic shows of all time, as it injected realistic conflict and dramatic moments into the traditional sitcom format.
The outspoken and narrow-minded Archie croons alongside his sweet and compassionate wife Edith for the introduction, with the pair sitting at a piano while sharing a tender and affectionate moment. The simple melody, entitled “Those Were the Days," is easily recognizable and a treasured theme song that audiences both young and old can’t help but tap their toe to.
7 The X-Files
20th Television
The revolutionary pop culture phenomenon with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, The X-Files is one of the most lauded and longest running sci-fi series in U.S. television history, introducing the world to the dynamic duo Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, FBI Special Agents with differing views on the supernatural who investigate paranormal phenomena. The introduction’s montage of unexplainable and unsettling imagery, paired with eerie shots of the leads’ FBI badges and the ominous theme song instantly makes audiences uncomfortable and on edge.
The opening credits sequence is one of the most recognizable and iconic, with the theme song having been created by famed composer Mark Snow; the atmospheric score used more instrumental sections than most dramas, and creator Chris Carter “was looking for something that boy scouts could hum at the campfire, a scary song. You know, something akin to The Twilight Zone.”
6 Mad Men
Lionsgate Television
Set at the beginning of the 1960s at one of New York City’s most prestigious ad agencies, AMC’s award-winning period drama Mad Men focuses on one of the firm’s most mysterious and extremely gifted ad executives, Don Draper. The series tracks the people in both his personal and professional lives, while depicting the changing moods and social climates of the United States during the ‘60s and early ‘70s.
The opening title sequence includes credits superimposed over a graphic image of a businessman falling from a height, surrounded by skyscrapers with period advertising posters and billboards in the background. The introduction features the man in a black and white silhouette, with production paying homage to graphic designer Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest and Vertigo; the stunning sequence is accompanied by a short edit of the instrumental “A Beautiful Mine” by RJD2.
5 Stranger Things
Netflix
A simultaneously sci-fi and horror juggernaut on Netflix, Stranger Things was a massive hit for the streaming platform, following the disappearance of a young local boy and subsequent supernatural events occurring around the town of Hawkins, Indiana during the 1980s. Created by the Duffer Brothers, the series was developed as a mix of investigative drama alongside otherworldly elements portrayed with horror, conspiracy theories, science fiction and childlike sentiments.
To capture the essence of the nostalgia-fueled show, the creators opted for a minimalist opening sequence, equipped with a simple electronic score that utilizes synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers. The Duffer Brothers hired electronic band Survive to develop the theme song, who retooled their demo to make it “bigger, bolder and kind of build to a climax”; the distinct score was elevated by the intro’s use of film-like grain that perfectly captures the lo-fi titles popular in the 1980s.
4 Cheers
CBS Television Distribution
The adored and seemingly timeless verlasting sitcom Cheers centers on the titular bar and its owner and head bartender Sam Malone, a womanizing former professional baseball player who develops relationships with the Boston bar’s regulars. During its impressive run, Cheers was one of the most popular programs in history and one of the great workplace TV comedies, with its beloved series finale becoming the most-watched single episode of the 1990s.
The cherished show’s outstanding theme song “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” was the debut single for Gary Portnoy, and instantly draws in audiences with its wholesome and endearing lyrics and montage. The use of old-world photographs and images of bars and their patrons only adds to the overall charm and appeal, and the uplifting music and timeless atmosphere helps cement Cheers’ status as one of the greatest introductions of all time.
3 True Blood
Warner Bros. Domestic Television
HBO’s groundbreaking fantasy horror drama True Blood takes place in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, focusing on telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse as she encounters a strange supernatural world full of vampires, werewolves and other mythical creatures while navigating the complex world of romance and relationships. The Emmy-nominated title sequence for the series is composed of portrayals representing its Deep South setting, constructed around the idea of “the whore in the house of prayer” that depicts contradictory images of violence, sex and religion.
Created by the independent film company Digital Kitchen, the intro is from the point of view of “a supernatural, predatory creature observing human beings from the shadows…” and is set to the sensual and mysterious song “Bad Things” by country singer Jace Everett. The sequence’s transitions were made with a Polaroid transfer technique, with individual frames splattered with drops of blood that ingeniously captures the essence of the series.
2 Severance
Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ smash hit sci-fi dystopian thriller Severance focuses on Mark (the brilliant Adam Scott), an employee of Lumon Industries who agrees to a “severance” program in which his nonwork memories are separated from his work memories. The newly-released and innovative series premiered to universal acclaim from critics, who praised its knockout performances, thought-provoking narrative, musical score, and overall production. Though it made its debut just this year, Severance is establishing itself as a must-see TV spectacle, captivating audiences with its cutting-edge content.
The program’s uncanny title sequence wonderfully showcases the unique elements of the thriller, taking viewers on a surreal journey through Mark’s workday, while illustrating the mounting tensions in both his personal and professional life. The CGI animated versions of the character are both engrossing and bizarre; the title credits were sharply crafted by Berlin artist Oliver Latta, who expressed, “I enjoy playing with common situations and presenting them in an ambiguous and uncomfortable way.”
1 Game of Thrones
HBO
Raved about by critics and fans alike as on the of the best television series of all time, HBO’s sensational fantasy drama Game of Thrones is based on the George R. R. Martin novels and centers on the battle between nine noble families who fight for control over the land of Westeros, while combating a once dormant ancient enemy. The pop culture hit attracted a record viewership for the premium network, developing a broad, passionate and international fanbase since its 2011 debut; the series has continuously been praised by critics and historians for its medieval realism.
Known as a modern TV wonder, Game of Thrones features an equally impressive opening sequence, depicting a three-dimensional map of the show’s fictional world that is projected on the inside of a hollow sphere. As the camera moves along the map, locations of the episode’s events are highlighted, as clockwork mechanisms intertwine and structures and buildings emerge. Entertainment Weekly commended the dazzling introduction, calling it an “all-inclusive cruise of Westeros.”
