Credit Scenes

In my last post, I explored opening scenes in crime films. Today, I’ll be analyzing three credit scenes from the same genre.

Credit scenes can be done in many different ways. Some films keep them simple so they don’t distract from the movie, while others use creative visuals to add to the story or theme. No matter the style, the main purpose of a credit scene is to recognize the key people behind the film, such as the director, main actors, producer, writer, cinematographer, editor, etc...

The Bling Ring (2013) 

The opening credit scene of The Bling Ring sets the tone of the movie by showing both the luxury and the crime. As the names of the cast and crew appear, the background shows expensive jewelry, designer bags, and fancy items inside celebrity homes. At the same time, we see moments of the characters stealing these things, creating a feeling of excitement and danger. The items filmed reflect on how much the characters want to live like celebrities. 

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A Simple Favor (2018)

The opening credits of A Simple Favor immediately set the film’s mysterious tone. Displaying the cast and crew names against a black background with images of items like brownies, shoes, bags, and a knife, that are shown with bright colorful filters. These visuals hint at both the elegance and the darker themes of the story.

The French music adds a classy vibe, balancing the stylish yet odd atmosphere. The combination the music, intriguing visuals, and the cast and crew names introduces the film’s mystery, luxry, and suspense, getting the audience’s attention right from the start.

click here to view credit scene

Red Notice (2021) 

The opening credits of Red Notice start with dramatic clips of ancient Egyptian art, with a suspenseful music and a voiceover explaining the story of Cleopatra and her three eggs. The voiceover sets the stage for the film’s main mystery. As the story develops, we see someone faking the third egg. Throughout this sequence, the cast and crew names appear in red. This blend of history, mystery, and suspenseful music sets the tone for the adventure ahead.

click here to view credit scene

After researching, I discovered that credit scenes in crime films are an important tool to set the tone and atmosphere while recognizing the key people behind the movie. I was particularly drawn to the credit scene in The Bling Ring and plan to discuss with my partners, Camila and Charlee, about creating a similar style in our film opening.