RESEARCH- structures of film openings

There are 3 types of Structure which a film opening could follow.

The first opening structure is a narrative opening.
A narrative opening is when the titles run throughout and are either super imposed or inter cut to the scene. The film 'The Shining' is an example of a narrative opening as the credits scroll from the bottom of the screen to the top.

The second opening structure is a discrete title sequence.
A discrete title sequence includes separate segments which are from random points within the film, but does not indicate the plot or give to much away and is not part of the narrative. 'Seven' is an example of this as the credits run over random segments.

The third opening structure is titles over a blank screen, followed by the narrative opening.
This means the credits stand alone and run generally over a black screen, they have no relation with the narrative  which then leads to the opening of the film. An example of this is 'Donnie Darko'

Stylized Editing 
Stylized Editing begins discrete but continues slowly and eventually into the opening narrative of the film. An example of this is The taking of Pelham 1 2 3. The credits begin super imposed onto the scenes of skylines of New York then continue to the opening narrative.