To begin, the title sequence is literally the first thing viewed in your movie. Those first 2 minutes (approximately) are the very foundations that leave a good or bad first impression on the audience about your movie. So the title sequence requires a lot more attention that one may think. A well functioning title sequence should accomplish these 2 tasks:
1. Set up the genre of your film
If I were to be blind-folded, guided into a movie theatre, and sat down to watch said movie without any prior context as to what the film is about, then I should at least be able to tell what genre the movie falls under after I watch the title sequence. If I'm exposed to outer space or advanced technology then I could, with plausible cause, assume I'm watching a sci-fi movie. But if the sci-fi movie starts out with 10 high school outcasts performing an A-level musical number on stage in bright neon clothes... and I wrongly assume I'm watching a musical... then the title sequence wasn't set up right! Title sequences are vital to exposing the audience to what they are about to watch, and should represent their genre with crystal clarity.
2. Foreshadow themes of the movie without overshadowing the movie itself
When watching a title sequence, the audience should be able to have a basic (yet detailed enough to gain attention) understanding of what is happening in the film. Or, better yet, some title sequences even foreshadow events that we can't connect immediately. But once the movie is done, we are left admiring the title sequence for how it handed us so much vital information who's extreme value was just not quite understood yet. The details exposed in a title sequence should be enough to engage the audiences attention and have us wanting more information. It should keep us glued to our seats, spoon feeding us just enough to make us stay and watch. Along with that, when making a title sequence, many things should be considered, such as typography (red writing to evoke fear in horror?), color pallet (bright and colorful to show ambition and happiness in musicals?), and even cinematography (high/low angle shots to show power in action films?) should all accurately evoke the right emotions within the audience which filmmakers wish to create.
Here is an example of a good thriller title sequence within the 2018 thriller film Bad Times at the El Royale.
This was done quite well for many reasons. First, I immediately get the sense that this falls under thriller because we are exposed to the character tearing up his hotel room to drop a mysterious red bag under the floorboards. This raises immediate suspicion, and foreshadows future events in the film, which is enough to keep the audience glued to their seats. We also witness many jump cuts throughout the title sequence which very effectively conveys the feeling of urgency present in the film. The ending, which shows the character getting shot, makes the audience question why he is getting shot which once again leaves us yearning for further information. Notice how hardly any information was given away and the movie itself was not spoiled before it began. Instead, we were given small glimpses into the world of the film which were enough to tell us the basics of what is going on, and make us want to know more. I would also like to acknowledge its proper usage of sound. We were exposed to on-screen diegetic sound coming from the radio, which sounded rather upbeat. Yet it was accompanied with action on screen such as the mysterious bag hiding and the spontaneous, unexpected murder. This gives off a sense of irony, directly spooking the audience.
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