Back in the late '70s and '80s, when there were only three big networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS), evening movies were a major staple of network television. Check out the amazing graphics from this ABC opening for its Sunday night movie. I remember this intro vividly from that era.
Heres the Intro for CBS' weekly Saturday Night movie. This Intro was used during the late '70s through the early '80s. As you can see by both of the above openings, flashy graphics was big back then for movie intros. I guess the intent was build excitement for the movie about to be presented.
Of course, cable was also around at that time, but it was just beginning, and there were only a few channels. Here's a truly cool intro for the cable movie channel HBO.