Opening ceremony is a warm-up: Danny Boyle

The "Slumdog Millionaire" filmmaker was responsible for the incredible transformation of the stadium in Stratford, where the athletics will take place, reported Contactmusic.

"Tonight's a warm-up act for the Games. That's one of the things you have to keep remembering. You big it up for different reasons, and you hear it bigged up or slammed or whatever it is and you've got to keep remembering we're the warm-up act," Boyle said before the visual extravaganza.

The ceremony lasted nearly four hours and saw a bevy of performances. The festivities started with an illustrious trip through England's early years and the industrial revolution. Kenneth Branagh performed an excerpt from Shakespeare's "The Tempest," which, Boyle had said, inspired the show.

Other characters figuring prominently included Daniel Craig's James Bond, who appeared in a pre-recorded skit with the Queen. A stunt version of the pair parachuted onto the stadium as the Bond theme played.

Among the surprises was 'Mr Bean' Rowan Atkinson. "Harry Potter" villain Lord Voldemort also appeared during the proceedings and was vanquished by a fleet of Mary Poppinses.

The segment included a number of villains from children's books, including Child Catcher from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

Dizzee Rascal performed during a musical montage, rapping his 2009 hit, 'Bonkers'. After the athlete march, the Arctic Monkeys took the stage to perform a medley of their song 'You Look Good on the Dance Floor' and The Beatles' 'Come Together'.

The biggest music moment of the evening was Paul McCartney's performance. The Beatle sang 'Hey Jude', eventually leading a gigantic sing-along with the entire crowd in the stadium.