Why Children Of Men Is The Best Sci-Fi Movie Of All Time

Children of Men sets a tone so efficiently, you hardly recognize its happening. The opening moments feature audio of news coverage playing over a black screen, which suddenly flashes to an image of a coffee shop, packed wall to wall with glum patrons. They are all engrossed in the news, which is covering the death of the world's youngest person, Baby Diego, who was stabbed by an angry fan. A rabid crowd had responded by beating the assailant to death.

Theo Faron (Clive Owen) makes his way through the captivated news watchers and orders himself a black coffee. A single camera shot follows Theo out to the street where he nonchalantly adds some liquor to his brew. Suddenly, the coffee shop he was just in explodes, shooting a plume of debris into the streets of London. A woman steps out, carrying her detached arm. The ringing in Theo's ears continues as a high pitched tone that leaks into the following scenes.

This opening is an incredibly succinct introduction to both the local and global climate the movie takes place within. It lays the story foundations in about 90 seconds, without any lazy exposition or coddling. Not only do we feel this world's despair, but also its numbness, which envelops Theo as he meanders through his daily life.