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15 Best TV Show Intros of All Time

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These TV intros are iconic...

Ivan Shahran

Entertainment - November 2nd 2026, 22:00 GMT+1

Friends TV Show Intro — 15. Friends

The fountain, the colorful umbrellas, and the instantly recognizable theme song make **Friends** one of the most beloved sitcom intros ever created. Set to The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There for You," the sequence features Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey goofing around together. Its playful energy perfectly captures the friendship at the heart of the series. Quite frankly, it's difficult to imagine *Friends* without this cheerful opening. | © Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions/Warner Bros. Television

Suits TV Show Intro — 14. Suits

The intro to **Suits** is a personal favorite of ours as it perfectly captures the slick, fast-paced world of corporate law. Set to Ima Robot's "Greenback Boogie," the opening features quick cuts of New York City skyscrapers, financial imagery, and the show's sharply dressed lawyers, Harvey and Mike. This sequence also hints at the show's glamorous take on the legal profession, where expensive suits and sharp minds are just as important as courtroom victories. It's genuinely a really catchy introduction that immediately establishes the show's personality. | © Universal Content Productions

The White Lotus TV Show Intro — 13. The White Lotus

One of the most unique TV intros in recent times belongs to **The White Lotus**, as each season has an intro that features distinctive art inspired by the season's setting, such as Hawaii and Sicily. They often combine elaborate wallpaper-inspired imagery with music that grows eerie and unsettling. For example, the first season's tropical patterns initially suggest a luxurious vacation, but upon closer inspection, you'd be able to find details that hint at darker themes hiding beneath the surface. This evolving art style allows the intro to serve as a pretty subtle preview of the tension and mysteries that await in the coming season. | © HBO Entertainment

Better Call Saul TV Show Intro — 12. Better Call Saul

The opening credits of **Better Call Saul** feature a brief, low-resolution montage of images associated with Saul Goodman's world, including legal items and advertisements. Accompanied by a bluesy guitar riff, the sequence has the rough, slightly worn-out appearance of an old VHS recording. The best part is that the intro changes each season, with the intro's quality degrading until it's nothing but text on a blue screen in the final season. It's a perfect reflection of Jimmy McGill's complicated journey from struggling lawyer to morally bankrupt criminal attorney. | © Sony Pictures Television Studios

The Twilight Zone TV Show Intro — 11. The Twilight Zone

**The Twilight Zone's** intro remains one of TV's most iconic opening sequences. Its black-and-white imagery, sound design, and Rod Serling's narration help establish a world where reality is never quite what it seems. The opening changed throughout the show's run, but its central idea about entering an extraordinary place remained the same. Even decades later, the intro continues to create a strange atmosphere that made the series such a classic. | © Cayuga Productions/CBS Productions

Mad Men TV Show Intro — 10. Mad Men

The opening credits of **Mad Men** are a striking visual representation of the show's central themes. Surrounded by advertisements and fragments of city life, a silhouetted businessman falls to the ground. It shows the man sitting in an office right before the sequence ends. Paired with RJD2's instrumental track "A Beautiful Mine," the intro suggests distress and instability hiding beneath the polished surface of corporate success. All in all, it's minimalist but incredibly meaningful. | © Weiner Bros. Productions/Lionsgate Television

Cheers TV Show Intro — 9. Cheers

The opening of **Cheers** is a rather nostalgic celebration of the neighborhood bar at the heart of the sitcom. Accompanied by Gary Portnoy's "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," the sequence features vintage photographs of bars and their customers. This song is arguably one of television's most beloved theme songs. Overall, the intro is meant to evoke a sense of community and belonging, as it emphasizes the comfort of familiar places and familiar faces. | © Paramount Television

Succession TV Show Intro — 8. Succession

***Succession's*** intro immediately establishes a world of wealth, privilege, and family dysfunction. Set to Nicholas Britell's dramatic theme, the sequence combines footage of expensive homes, city skylines, and the Roy family, reflecting the contrast between old money and corporate power. The visuals also emphasize the distance between the family's privileged lifestyle and the ordinary world. It's an elegant, slightly unsettling introduction to a drama about power and ambition. | © HBO Entertainment

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air TV Show Intro — 7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Few intros are as entertaining as the one for **The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air**. Will Smith's theme song explains how a teenager from West Philadelphia ends up moving in with his wealthy relatives in California. It's a playful sequence filled with basketball references, neighborhood scenes, and humorous shots. It could feel like too much exposition to some, but we appreciate the intro because its catchy rhythm and storytelling helped make it a defining television intro of the '90s. | © Hollywood Center Studios

Breaking Bad TV Show Intro — 6. Breaking Bad

**Breaking Bad** keeps its opening credits short, but the sequence is packed with details that reflect the show's scientific foundations. The molecular formulas and periodic-table references immediately establish the world of Walter White, a chemistry teacher whose life takes an extraordinary turn. On top of that, the atmospheric music nicely hints at the show's Southwestern setting. It's easily a great example of how a brief intro can quickly showcase a show's identity. | © Sony Pictures Television

The X Files TV Show Intro — 5. The X-Files

The opening intro for **The X-Files** is instantly recognizable thanks to its eerie music and bizarre imagery. Composed by Mark Snow, the theme features an unusual whistle-like melody that creates a sense of mystery and unease. The visuals include strange photographs, shadowy figures, and paranormal phenomena. It's a remarkably effective intro that further reinforces the science fiction show's fascination with the unexplained. | © Ten Thirteen Productions/20th Century Fox Television

Game of Thrones TV Show Intro — 4. Game of Thrones

Few television intros are as instantly recognizable as **Game of Thrones**. Accompanied by its powerful orchestral theme, the opening sequence takes viewers on a journey across Westeros and Essos using detailed maps. Castles, cities, and landmarks rise from the ground, which helps establish the enormous scale of the series. Another great thing about the intro is that it changes to reflect the locations featured in each episode, making it more than just a standard opening. | © HBO Entertainment

Law and Order TV Show Intro — 3. Law & Order

Everybody's grandparent, parent, and relative knows about **Law & Order's** intro — that's just how unique it is. The intro features images of New York City, crime scenes, and the legal system, which helps build a gritty atmosphere that defines the show. The music has become so closely associated with the series that even a few notes make people think of the crime show. The show's neon-colored name appearing on a black background is also quite iconic. | © Wolf Entertainment/Universal Television

The Office TV Show Intro — 2. The Office

**The Office** opens with a theme by composer Jay Ferguson and a montage of familiar sights like the office building, the Dunder Mifflin sign, and the show's characters. The unpolished footage suits the show's sometimes amateurish mockumentary style. As a whole, the simplicity becomes part of the intro's charm, as it complements the awkward office humor and absurdity that follow. | © Deedle-Dee Productions/Universal Television

The Simpsons TV Show Intro — 1. The Simpsons

No intro is more recognizable than the one for **The Simpsons**. The energetic theme song accompanies a sequence that follows Bart skating through Springfield, Lisa playing her saxophone, and Homer rushing home before the family gathers on the couch. One of its most lasting features is the couch gag, which changes from episode to episode and gives viewers something new to anticipate. It's a clever, funny introduction that perfectly reflects the show's relentless humor. | © Gracie Films/20th Television Animation

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A great TV show intro does more than just introduce the characters or list out the show's name. It sets the mood, gives hints about the show's identity, and gets people excited for what's coming next. Some have done a great job of having an amazing theme song, stunning visuals, or a clever montage. That said, these 15 TV shows have some of the most iconic intros that have earned their place among the greatest of all time.

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A great TV show intro does more than just introduce the characters or list out the show's name. It sets the mood, gives hints about the show's identity, and gets people excited for what's coming next. Some have done a great job of having an amazing theme song, stunning visuals, or a clever montage. That said, these 15 TV shows have some of the most iconic intros that have earned their place among the greatest of all time.