What movies have a text prologue using a sequence of dates?
January 3, 2024 8:37 AM Subscribe
A text prologue with a progression of dates explaining how we got to Now is an SF trope that I swear I've seen more than once.
At the moment I'm only finding one example.
Do you know of others? Ones that simply state the date don't count (e.g. Zardoz, Blade Runner)... it must be a series of dates explaining the history that led to the current period of the movie.
For example...
Escape from New York (1981)
At the moment I'm only finding one example.
Do you know of others? Ones that simply state the date don't count (e.g. Zardoz, Blade Runner)... it must be a series of dates explaining the history that led to the current period of the movie.
For example...
Escape from New York (1981)
Red Dawn has this but without dates, just a series of bad events.
posted by johngoren at 8:50 AM on January 3
posted by johngoren at 8:50 AM on January 3
In Terminator 2 I know there is some sort of litany of the date Skynet goes live and the date it becomes self-aware, but I can't remember if it is strictly in text or in voice over with text.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:12 AM on January 3
posted by Rock Steady at 9:12 AM on January 3
The opening of Idiocracy has a progression of years, but doesn't have specific dates. Idiocracy intro
posted by TheAdamist at 9:17 AM on January 3
posted by TheAdamist at 9:17 AM on January 3
You might want to poke around the Opening Scroll trope.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:51 AM on January 3
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:51 AM on January 3
Not one of the Star Wars movies included dates in the opening crawl.
posted by Lexica at 10:20 AM on January 3 [1 favorite]
posted by Lexica at 10:20 AM on January 3 [1 favorite]
2010 The Year We Make Contact gives the back story with a series of date/narrative exposition.
Buck Rogers, the series, starts with a date on screen and some exposition voice over, followed by the date advancing to the "present" while images on screen show what's changed.
posted by justkevin at 10:44 AM on January 3
Buck Rogers, the series, starts with a date on screen and some exposition voice over, followed by the date advancing to the "present" while images on screen show what's changed.
posted by justkevin at 10:44 AM on January 3
No actual dates onscreen but the opening montage to Soylent Green is worth mentioning - it’s amazing. Explains the history perfectly.
posted by whatevernot at 11:06 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]
posted by whatevernot at 11:06 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 8:49 AM on January 3