Films: Opening credits -- Why do they do this?

[paulb203]

Why do some movies show credits after several minutes of action? They spend that time luring you in, hopefully suspending your disbelief. You, hopefully, start to relax into it, becoming engrossed if it’s really good. A person. A crisis. Whatever. You’re in.

And then. ‘Also starring...’

Which is effectively saying, ‘Just a reminder; you’re watching a film, this isn’t real, it’s made up, remember? What? You’ve just spent five minutes overcoming that? You were in? And now you’re out again. Now you’re aware that it’s a film again. Ok. Let’s start again...’

 

[Baluncore]

When you watch a movie, you allow the director to get into your head. The director of the movie is afraid you will go elsewhere, or change the channel.

Like a storyteller, the director knows how to capture your attention and hold you. They use those techniques to keep you waiting for completion of the story.