We’ve come a long way since silent films. Thanks to a bunch of creatives who didn’t know the meaning of “impossible,” we’re blessed with movie magic that looks as real as reality. But not all visual effects are created equal, and some are just straight-up game-changers. Let’s look at these spectacular moments in cinema history that didn’t just wow us but transformed the industry forever.
A Trip to The Moon – Moonstruck
Georges Méliès used a combination of practical effects, miniatures, and innovative editing to achieve the iconic scene of a spaceship landing in the moon’s eye. He created sets with painted backgrounds and used in-camera effects, laying the groundwork for future special effects.
Star Wars – Star-Crossed Models
George Lucas and his team at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) used physical models of spaceships and camera motion control systems to create the stunning dogfights in the Star Wars movies. The technique brought a level of realism to space battles and became a staple in sci-fi films, paving the way for advancements in CGI technology.
King Kong – Ape-solute Stop-Motion
Willis O’Brien’s iconic stop-motion animation of King Kong required him to carefully move a miniature puppet one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement. The groundbreaking technique became the gold standard for creature features and laid the foundation for future stop-motion animators like Ray Harryhausen.
Jurassic Park – Prehistoric Pioneers
Steven Spielberg and ILM combined animatronics, practical effects, and, most notably, computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create the lifelike dinosaurs of “Jurassic Park.” It was the first time filmmakers used CGI so heavily, revolutionizing the visual effects industry and opening the door for future blockbusters. It still looks good today!
An American Werewolf in London – Howling Transformation
Rick Baker used a mix of animatronics, prosthetics, and makeup to create the terrifying transformation scene in “An American Werewolf in London.” The effect became a landmark in practical effects, inspiring countless creature features and earning Baker the first Academy Award for Best Makeup.
The Matrix – Bullet-time Brilliance
The Wachowskis used a unique combination of slow-motion photography and a circular stage of cameras to achieve the iconic bullet-dodging scene. It allowed audiences to simultaneously see the action from multiple angles, changing how action sequences were shot and inspiring countless imitations.
Young Sherlock Holmes – Glass Knight Genesis
Industrial Light & Magic used pioneering computer graphics to create the first fully CGI character, a knight emerging from a stained glass window. This breakthrough paved the way for countless CGI characters in future films and marked a significant turning point in visual effects.
Tron – Entering the Byte Age
“Tron” achieved its innovative digital world using a combination of backlit animation, computer-generated imagery, and live-action footage. This approach to blending the digital and physical worlds marked a major milestone for CGI in film, opening the door for future sci-fi blockbusters.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Gollum’s Greatness
Peter Jackson and Weta Digital used motion capture technology to transform Andy Serkis’ performance into the digital Gollum. Using motion capture technology in this way changed how CGI characters were portrayed, allowing for more lifelike and expressive characters in future films.
Avatar – 3D Done Right
For this film, James Cameron used cutting-edge 3D technology, motion capture, and computer-generated imagery to create the immersive world of Pandora. “Avatar” redefined the potential of 3D filmmaking, inspiring a new wave of 3D blockbusters. However, none of them quite captured the use of 3D as Cameron did.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – Liquid Metal Marvel
It’s James Cameron again! He and ILM used CGI to create the T-1000’s fluid, shape-shifting form this time. Using computer graphics in this way marked a turning point in how they showed CGI characters, paving the way for more intricate and realistic visual effects in movies.
Inception – Dreamy Visuals
Christopher Nolan and his team combined practical effects with CGI to create the mind-bending city-folding scene in “Inception.” It helped to change approaches to visual storytelling, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in film and allowing for more creative storytelling to come to the forefront.
Gravity – Astronomical Achievements
Alfonso Cuarón used long takes and fluid camera movements to create the immersive experience of “Gravity.” This innovative approach to cinematography transformed how audiences experience space in movies. Going beyond the Earth in film became more possible than ever!
The Abyss – Watery Wonders
Using CGI to create the fluid alien in “The Abyss,” James Cameron and ILM paved the way for more realistic and otherworldly creatures in sci-fi films. This helped the genre appear more accurate, as filmmakers could now avoid using typically humanoid creatures.
Forrest Gump – Historic Blend
Robert Zemeckis combined CGI and digital compositing to seamlessly insert Tom Hanks’ character into historical footage. The result was an immersive blending of reality and fiction, allowing filmmakers to change how they show historical moments in movies.
Life of Pi – Oceanic Odyssey
In this award-winning film, Ang Lee and Rhythm & Hues used CGI to create life-like animals and the vast ocean. Like other films on this list, this new approach to visual storytelling allowed filmmakers to create more realistic and breathtaking environments in movies.
The Day After Tomorrow – Chilling Effects
Thankfully, those stunning scenes of New York City freezing over in “The Day After Tomorrow.” weren’t real! Instead, Roland Emmerich and his team used CGI to create this chilling effect. It’s no wonder this changed how future filmmakers approached showing natural disasters in this genre.
Sin City – Noir Nuance
Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller used high-contrast visuals and unique color grading to bring the noir world of “Sin City” to life. By adapting a graphic novel this way, the pair redefined how comic books are brought to the big screen, allowing audiences to enter a living comic book world.
