Is there a term for the prologue story present in the opening of a film?

Question

I observed that few films have a short story in start of the film during opening credits, specially in Zack Snyder's films. In *Watchmen* it's about Minutemen, and in *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* it's about Batman's parents death. Both the time it was more visual with near to no dialogue. What is the term for this kind prequelish segment during start of film?

Answer 1

Typically an opening sequence like this would be called an opening title sequence. Prologue works too, but I would use that term only if I was talking about the opening part to a story rather than to define an edited sequence with titles. In the case of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice I would probably classify the opening as a montage sequence. Here is the definition of montage according to the New York Film Academy student resources glossary: "Editing a sequence of shots or scenes together in a continuous sequence to more quickly convey information over a period of time." Source link: https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/glossary/#M

Often times a lot of montage sequences won't have dialogue, they will just show a lot of shots of characters performing actions over a period of time.

I hope that answers your question!

Thank you,

-Alec