From the training montage in Rocky to the baptism massacre montage in The Godfather, there are plenty of iconic montages from film history. Pioneered by Sergei Eisenstein, the montage was initially designed as a way to create symbolism in a story, but its primary function in modern filmmaking is to create the illusion of the passage of time. Whether a boxer is training for a big fight or a gangster is rising through the ranks of the criminal underworld, a montage is a great way to cover a few weeks or months – or even years, in the case of Up’s “Married Life” sequence – in a short amount of runtime.
Whereas other cinematic techniques exist in other mediums – foreshadowing can be used in literature, lighting techniques can be used in theater, etc. – montage is so inherently connected to cinematography and editing that it exists purely in the medium of film. Cinema is all about the combination of sounds and images, but it also has the ability to manipulate time. Time is a filmmaker’s canvas, and a montage allows them to bend time to their will, taking audiences through days, weeks, and months in just a couple of minutes.
10 Daniel Reaches The All-Valley Final In The Karate Kid
One genre that is inextricably tied to the montage technique is the sports movie. Every great sports movie uses a training montage to show its protagonist getting in shape ahead of the big game (or the big fight). As Daniel LaRusso puts Mr. Miyagi’s unconventional training to the test, he finds that he’s practically unbeatable. The feeling of triumph and victory that Daniel feels as he karate-chops his way to the All-Valley Final is conveyed beautifully by “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito on the soundtrack.
9 The Odessa Steps In Battleship Potemkin
The inventor of montage theory, Sergei Eisenstein, offered up a perfect example of the montage at work in his silent war film Battleship Potemkin. The civilian massacre on the Odessa Steps is one of the most acclaimed and influential sequences in the history of cinema. From the boots of the soldiers marching down the steps to the baby’s carriage tumbling past rows of corpses to a wide shot of the entire massacre, every shot choice in this montage is both haunting and iconic.
8 Team America’s Montage Parody
The montage parody in Team America: World Police, in which Gary uses a montage to get in shape quickly, is so accurate in its satire that it holds up as one of the greatest montages ever made. Trey Parker and Matt Stone had previously spoofed montages in an episode of South Park, and their montage parody in Team America builds on the foundation of that spoof. The wonderfully self-aware lyrics of Parker and Stone’s montage song point out all the cinematic tricks: “Always fade out in a montage / If you fade out, it seems like more time has passed in a montage.”
7 The “Layla” Mob Murder Montage In Goodfellas
After the Lufthansa heist in Goodfellas, Jimmy Conway has the bright idea to kill everyone else involved in the robbery so he can keep the whole score for himself. The somber second half of “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, notable for its melancholic piano melody, plays on the soundtrack as bodies are found all over New York. Not only is it shocking to see all these familiar characters at their blood-soaked murder scenes; it also represents the beginning of the end for Jimmy as he finally takes one step too far.
6 Ghostbusters’ Media Montage
Demon dogs and marshmallow mascots aside, at its core, Ghostbusters is a relatable story about a group of friends going into business together. After successfully busting their first ghost at a fancy hotel, the Ghostbusters’ luck finally starts to turn. A montage of the news coverage surrounding the Ghostbusters’ antics shows their journey to becoming local celebrities in New York. This sequence of short scenes allowed for a lot of punchlines in a narrow window of time – like the revelation that, after busting a ghost at a nightclub, the Ghostbusters stuck around to dance the night away.
5 Scarface’s Rise To Power Montage
Brian De Palma’s 1983 remake of Scarface tells the story of drug kingpin Tony Montana through the lens of ‘80s consumerism. The montage in which Tony rises to power in Miami’s seedy underbelly perfectly captures the materialistic gains and moralistic losses of a gangster lifestyle. Every tacky, lavish item that Tony’s blood money affords him costs him a little piece of his soul. The flashy ‘80s flair of Scarface’s rise-to-power montage is encapsulated by its musical accompaniment: Paul Engemann’s post-disco dance rock hit “Push It to the Limit.”
4 Shaun’s Survival Plans In Shaun Of The Dead
When Shaun and Ed finally realize a zombie apocalypse is taking place in Shaun of the Dead, they try to come up with a plan of action. Shaun runs through a few different survival plans, each complete with its own rapid-paced montage. This scene is a prime example of the frenzied, energetic cutting that makes Edgar Wright’s movies so engaging. It’s full of great little details, like Shaun’s “I’m a genius” mug. The parts that are in every incarnation of the plan – like killing Shaun’s stepdad – get faster and more callous each time.
3 Rocky’s Original Training Montage
The sports movie training montage originated with the timeless original Rocky movie. As he prepares to take on world champion Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa finds cost-effective ways to train, like using animal corpses hanging in a chilly meat locker as a punching bag. Bill Conti’s theme, “Gonna Fly Now,” has become synonymous with exercise; it’s a perfect addition to any workout playlist. This montage culminates in the unforgettable image of Rocky running up the stone steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and celebrating when he gets to the top. This has become the defining image of the Rocky character.
2 The Godfather’s Ending Massacre
The climactic sequence in The Godfather sees Michael Corleone attending his sister Connie’s baby’s baptism. While Michael is standing at the altar in his role as godfather, Corleone hitmen kill the dons of the Five Families, along with Moe Greene and Salvatore Tessio. The Godfather’s baptism massacre montage morbidly juxtaposes the ritualistic celebration of new life against a harrowing rampage of death and destruction. The murders edited into the baptism sequence convey Michael’s moral downfall, and his point of no return as the new boss.
1 The Opening “Married Life” Montage In Up
Before the main plot takes the audience on a high-flying adventure, Up opens with a young Carl Fredricksen meeting his childhood sweetheart, Ellie. The following 10-minute montage follows Carl and Ellie as they get married, move into their first home, and grow old together. This sequence is a perfect example of Pixar’s storytelling prowess. They cover a couple’s entire life story in just a few minutes with no dialogue. Pixar’s history is full of tearjerking scenes, but this montage – complete with Michael Giacchino’s heartbreaking “Married Life” composition – might be their all-time saddest sequence.
