47 Years Later, Apocalypse Now Has The Second Greatest Opening Scene In War Movie History

Published Aug 29, 2026, 10:15 AM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. Some of the greatest movies of all time offer bleak portrayals of war. World War II, in particular, is the backdrop for some of the most horrific stories on the silver screen. War movies hit audiences so hard because while they present a dramatized or even romanticized version of events, those conflicts actually happened. They immediately feel like such relevant stories, as war remains very real, which is exactly the case in Apocalypse Now. Another famous conflict depicted in dozens of movies is the Vietnam War. Apocalypse Now is easily among the best films about that event, though other famous titles, like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, also offer unforgettable portrayals. Apocalypse Now is widely regarded as a masterpiece for many reasons. The movie stars Martin Sheen as Captain Willard tasked with assassinating a rogue Special Forces Colonel, but that's really just one small part of what makes the title so special. Willard encounters people on the brink of insanity, lost in the jungle as paranoia spreads. That sense of deterioration only seems to escalate as his mission takes him deeper into the wilderness. Francis Ford Coppola's war epic is responsible for some of the most well-known scenes in the genre, including an introduction many regard as one of the greatest of all time. The opening scene of Apocalypse Now is just as impactful today as it was more than four decades ago. It tells the audience so much with so little dialogue and remains a highlight of one of the best war movies ever made. Apocalypse Now's Opening Scene Is Perfect War Movie Chaos United Artists /Courtesy Everett Collection The opening to Apocalypse Now is remarkable for many reasons. The imagery is almost dream-like as "The End" by The Doors plays. We see helicopters flying across the screen, accompanied by the thudding noise of their propellers, and you can hear the aircraft flying around you as they approach. Audiences catch their first glimpse of Willard's face upside down next to a spinning ceiling fan. Moments later, we see a treeline engulfed in napalm. Audiences know almost immediately that Willard is a troubled man. "I hardly said a word to my wife until I said yes to a divorce," is a hard-hitting line. We also know he's somewhat numb to conflict from his hotel room in Saigon as he says, "Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker. And every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger." Later, Willard starts practicing martial arts in his room. He smashes a mirror and rolls across the bed with blood pouring from his hands. We then see him reaching for a bottle, naked, uncontrollably sobbing as the scene fades to black. We learn so much about Willard from the opening of Apocalypse Now, even though the movie doesn't blatantly spell anything out. The introduction foreshadows much of the chaos to come, and the soundtrack choice elevates the scene into something truly special. Audiences can connect some of the dots even before they realize Willard is a Special Forces Captain. The scene is also rather poignant during a rewatch when you have more context about his character. Many fans would declare that the first few minutes Apocalypse Now is the greatest opening to a war movie, though it's hard to ignore one particular World War II classic. Saving Private Ryan's Opening Remains Untouchable While the framing is quite different, many war movie fans would still consider the opening of Saving Private Ryan the greatest in the genre, bar none. At the start of the movie, we see an elderly James Francis Ryan (Harrison Young) walking through a cemetery filled with white crosses. We don't know anything about him at this point, but it's still a powerful, emotional scene. He breaks down in tears as the scene dramatically snaps to defensive structures on Omaha Beach. The fear is palpable as we see young soldiers in landing craft approaching the shore. Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) shakily drinks from his canteen as two of his men vomit. The sound of artillery fire ominously rumbles overhead as a young soldier kisses a crucifix on a chain around his neck. Chaos ensues the moment the front of the boats opens as the soldiers are peppered with gunfire and dive into the water to avoid it. Compared to the opening of Apocalypse Now, there is no music as soldiers storm the beach in Saving Private Ryan. Much of the scene is shot as though through a soldier's eyes, making the audience feel as if they are there, experiencing the hopelessness of the situation. The opening also doesn't shy away from injury detail, which makes the beach assault feel much more real. The introductions to Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan are both masterpieces, with entirely different styles. One is more abstract, while the other is unforgettable for its gritty, grounded portrayal of a famous historical battle. You could make cases for both being the best openings in the genre, but the Omaha Beach scene will stay with you long after the credits roll.