Jaws (1975)
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Jaws scared a generation of viewers and made millions of people second-guess their decision to enter the ocean. The animatronic shark was a frightening sight for people in theaters as well as actors on set. However, director Steven Spielberg didn’t have a problem with the beast. How else could one explain Spielberg willingly entering the mouth of the monster?
Titanic (1997)
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Is there anyone who believes there wasn’t enough room on the door for Jack? Jack’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) death in Titanic is one of the most memorable scenes in the modern history of film. In this behind-the-scenes shot, director James Cameron is seen in the water tank alongside DiCaprio and Kate Winslett (Rose).
Apocalypse Now (1979)
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Apocalypse Now was a sensation when it was released and it remains an iconic film more than 40 years later. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Hollywood legends such as Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Harrison Ford, Martin Sheen and Laurence Fishburne, the film won two Oscars including Best Cinematography. Vittorio Storaro won three Oscars in the category and this shot above is just a small example of his ability.
Schindler’s List (1993)
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Viewed as the best film of all-time by many, Schindler’s List won seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. In this shot, director Steven Spielberg is in discussion with Liam Neeson. Neeson, who played Oskar Schindler, earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his stellar performance.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
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12 years before he directed Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg introduced the world to the character Indiana Jones. Here Spielberg is getting a bird eye view of a miniature set piece. Models like the one seen in this image are a big part of why Raiders of the Lost Ark won the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.
Braveheart (1995)
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Before Game of Thrones gave us ‘Battle of the Bastards’, we had Braveheart. Starring Mel Gibson as Scottish warrior William Wallace, the film featured plenty of intense battle scenes like the one pictured here. If you look closely at the horse, you can see that it is an animatronic prop. Do you think you could spot this scene in the film?
The Godfather (1972)
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If The Godfather isn’t the greatest film of all-time, it is no worse than second-best. On the left side of this image, we see Marlon Brando with his normal appearance. On the right, Brando is transformed into the character of Don Vito Corleone. To successfully play the role, the Best Actor recipient was fitted for a mouthpiece and was aged via makeup daily.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
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2001: A Space Odyssey is a classic that every true film buff has watched at least twice. Even if you haven’t watched the film, you’ve likely seen the scene where a group of apes — primitive humans — pick up bones and learn how to use them as weapons. In this image we see Stuart Freeborn, the man who designed Yoda, sitting with a trio of apes used in the film.
Gladiator (2000)
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If you think the tigers in Gladiator look real, you aren’t wrong. There were live tigers used in the film — but when it came to Maximus (Russell Crowe) fighting the ferocious animal, an animatronic was used. The tiger that nearly kills Maximus, and later dies at Maximus’ sword, is a stuffed prop. In addition to prop tigers being used, some of the scenes featuring horses also utilize fake animals.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
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For a film that is almost entirely reliant on visual effects, Avatar: The Way of Water was not an easy film for the actors to make. A majority of the epic film was filmed in a 120-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, and 30-foot-deep tank. Kate Winslet, her arms outstretched in the photo, held her breath for an astonishing seven minutes during filming. Director James Cameron is no stranger to water, either. A few years ago, Cameron broke the record for the deepest solo dive in history when he traveled to the deepest part of the Mariana Trench.
Scream (1996)
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The Scream franchise is still going strong nearly 30 years after its debut and it wouldn’t be possible without Wes Craven. Before he passed in 2015, Craven made a name for himself in the film industry as one of horror’s iconic minds. Seen in the image alongside Neve Campbell (Sidney) and Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis), Craven also created the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
Goodfellas (1990)
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Goodfellas is another all-time classic. This mafia epic was directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese and stars an endless list of top talent — including Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Frank Vincent, Paul Sorvino, and Lorraine Bracco. Scorsese hit all the right notes with his directorial decisions — which makes it no surprise that De Niro would be so locked in while listening to Scorsese in the moment captured above.
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
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Austin Powers needs to make a comeback. Played by Mike Myers, Powers was a hilarious character in all three films — including Austin Powers in Goldmember — and often had audiences laughing uncontrollably. The dance number in Goldmember that opened the film is seen in the photo above. Front and center, Powers in all his 70s glory.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
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Long before Avatar existed, James Cameron created the action-packed Terminator franchise. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in particular, was a sensation. The Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer was renowned for its visual and sound effects. With Schwarzenegger playing a cyborg, mastering the SFX was crucial to the film’s success. As a result of work such as the animatronic Arnold seen above, T2 won the Oscar for both Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
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The conclusion of an epic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King captured 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Jackson), and several visual awards. A huge part of capturing the magic of Middle-Earth was nailing the look of the orcs. In this photo, the camera is getting up close and personal with actor Lawrence Makoare — who portrayed both Gothmog and the Witchking.
Alien (1979)
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Director Ridley Scott terrified actors on his set just as much as he scared the audience. Famously, Scott didn’t tell his cast about all of the moments he had prepared for the film. The main villain, seen above, is known as a xenomorph. The man in the picture with the xenomorph is the man who created the monster — Swiss surrealist and artist H. R. Giger.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
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The film that started it all — Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The first film of the original trilogy, A New Hope introduced the world to a story that has withstood the test of time. The photo above shows director George Lucas talking through a scene with Carrie Fisher. Of course, Fisher played the iconic role of Princess Leia.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
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This is why behind-the-scenes shots aren’t often promoted. After all, what is less intimidating than Furiosa (Charlize Theron) holding an umbrella above her head? Mad Max: Fury Road was a phenomenon in 2015 upon its release, as the audience gravitated to the story of Furiosa and Tom Hardy’s Max. In this behind-the-scenes look, director George Miller is seen with Theron and Hugh Keays-Byrne — Keays-Byrne plays Immortan Joe, the man sitting in the car.
The Matrix (1999)
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The winner of four Oscars in 2000, The Matrix revolutionized visual effects. Keanu Reeves (Neo) and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith) are the two men attached to the wires above. We have all seen the end result — the two men floating in the air and dodging bullet after bullet, but this behind-the-scenes shot puts The Matrix into an entirely new perspective.
Ghost (1990)
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Patrick Swayze was invisible for the majority of Ghost, but it doesn’t look like anyone is having trouble seeing him here. Joining Swayze in the image are director Jerry Zucker, Whoopi Goldberg — who as Oda Mae Brown was able to hear Sam (Swayze) throughout the film, and Demi Moore. Moore played Molly Jenson — the love of Sam’s life.
The Mask (1994)
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Those in charge of The Mask had one big question to figure out: How do we maintain Jim Carrey’s facial expressions while drastically changing his appearance? In an oral history of The Mask, director Chuck Russell explained to Forbes how they accomplished their goal:
“They were doing tests right from pre-production to make sure we could do these transformations on Jim without replacing him … I worked out how to do a design with a lot of very, very small applications with one headpiece off of the boney structures on Jim’s face, so I could still get that expressiveness.”
Pulp Fiction (1994)
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Quentin Tarantino is one of the most accomplished directors of all-time, and 1994’s Pulp Fiction may be his best work. With John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson playing a pair of hitmen, the film is full of violence, hilarity, and numerous memorable quotes. Here, Travolta and Bruce Willis (Butch Coolidge) enjoy a laugh — and a cigarette from Willis — during a break in filming.
Predator (1987)
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It’s not always a good thing to see behind the mask. In this case, we all wish we didn’t see the Predator unmasked. The 1987 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers features a group of commandos that suddenly find themselves to be the target of a skilled, extraterrestrial warrior — the Predator. Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast to play the Predator, but he was ultimately replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
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As much as we wish Hogwarts was a real place, it unfortunately doesn’t exist…as far as we know. In this photo, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are preparing to film a scene outside the Weasley family home. While there is a green screen in the background, the home appears to be a rather intricate building. Props to the Harry Potter team.
The Shining (1980)
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Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining was not a feel-good movie. As the movie progresses, Jack Nicholson’s character, Jack Torrance, becomes increasingly unhinged. Here, in the middle of a place that would become home to horrific moments, Shelley Duvall — who plays Wendy Torrance — takes a photo of Danny Lloyd. Lloyd plays Jack and Wendy’s son, Danny.
