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We have been so spoiled by the movie industry, sometimes it's hard to imagine just how much actual work is being put into the production. We see cutting-edge visuals, striking shots, and amazing movie effects - but all of that takes a lot of time and effort, sometimes even months or years to perfect. Bored Panda has already made a list of the amazing CGI that Hollywood uses in its movies, but this time, we're focusing on the so-called practical effects that are produced physically without computer-generated imagery. We have compiled a list for you of photos from the sets of popular movies in which you get to see the amazing props, models, masks, puppets, and even robots which were used to bring movie magic to life. Scroll down below to see all of the fascinating shots and vote for the ones that you like!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Model maker Michael Lynch cut 450,000 Q-tips, painted them and inserted them into a mesh to fill the stands. To make it seem like the crowd was moving, the crew placed fans underneath.
Final score:
247points
Dorothy Webster 6 years ago
Gosh watch Trump give the guy a job to show the world his crowds of cheering fans.
RELATED:
#2
Corpse Bride (2005)
Setting up the set with models.
Final score:
211points
Amanda Krueger 6 years ago
Stopmo is a dying art; love me some Coraline, Corpse Bride, Isle of Dogs. Great stuff.
#3
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The actual shooting of the iconic opening credits of the movie.
Final score:
201points
Pamela Scott 6 years ago
When I was little I never actually read them. Watched them roll by as a lady with her kids read them out LOUD, very loud at each movie we went to the 1st weekend matinee showing and they were right behind us each time. I still here her voice when I watch the movies as I now read them but it's some lady I never knew in my head ever time!
Mark Muirhead 6 years ago
It was episode 2. It only became episode 5 in the 90s when Lucas created that terrible trilogy.
SJM 6 years ago
Its says Episode V on the slate they are filming... And the fact its always been E. 4, 5 and 6 they made first
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#4
Star Wars: Episodes I & II
Adam Savage (yes, the same famous Mythbuster) worked as a model maker on both Star Wars episode I and II.
Final score:
175points
nanashi 6 years ago
I think both Torey and Grant worked with the same project. not sure if that's them in the picture as well.
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Freya the Wanderer 6 years ago
Adam Savage was the keynote speaker at this year's Mensa Annual Gathering in Phoenix, AZ.
Andy Rochez-Maggs 1 year ago
Note: Tory Belleci in the background who also starred in Mythbusters!
#5
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Kenny Baker having a sandwich break on set.
Final score:
173points
jenjie.newt 6 years ago
Definitely how we should all spend our lunchbreak
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Memyselfand I 6 years ago
I found this picture of him on set...I love these behind the scenes pictures of iconic characters! Kenny-Bake...1efd00.jpg 
AP Harrington 6 years ago
To mess with him they sometimes would scotch tape Playboy centerfolds inside the dome piece. He actually was quite happy about it.
Andrew Reyes 6 years ago
For all you fellow Star Wars fans, Wondery did a 7-part podcast called Inside Star Wars that goes into the making of it and then another podcast by Wondery called American Innovations, they did a 3-part series on the amazing technology that had to be CREATED in order for the impossible to be done and shot Inside Star Wars https://wondery.com/shows/inside-star-wars/ American Innovations https://wondery.com/shows/american-innovations/ Episodes start on May 16th
#6
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg in the jaws of Bruce, the animatronic shark designed for the movie.
Final score:
170points
Paul K. Johnson 6 years ago
With as many problems as that shark was reported to have, I'd think more than twice about climbing into its mouth for fear the mouth would suddenly start working.
Herb Eaversmells 6 years ago (edited)
Bruce the shark,was named after Spielberg's lawyer. Also nicknamed the floating turd, because it was always breaking down.
Pamela24 6 years ago
And then Bruce the shark from Finding Nemo was named after this shark! Imagine being the lawyer. :)
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#7
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
A prop used for close ups of the ring.
Final score:
166points
Lila Launehase 6 years ago
No, the ring can change its size. It is mentioned in the books. If its wants to leave you it gets bigger to slip from your finger, for example.
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The Girl on Fire 6 years ago
LOTR also used a 1/72 scale models for Minas Tirith, Rivendell, etc instead of using CGI. Really cool-looking
#8
The Matrix (1999)
In the scene where Neo is reaching for a doorknob, there was no proper way to hide the camera so the director of photography disguised it with a coat and tie matching the ones Morpheus is wearing.
Final score:
158points
Podunkus 6 years ago
Tilt-shift photography has been around since the 60’s and I understand that’s how scenes are shot where you see the actor and their reflection in the mirror without the camera also appearing in view. I wonder why this was different. Maybe someone knowledgeable can explain?
Rudy Khoory 6 years ago
The mirror reflects one view at one angle in 2d, whereas the doorknob is spherical and is collecting/reflecting light from almost every angle in 3d creating a peephole effect, with room size 2d dimensions projected on a tiny half an inch glass. The camera wouldn't be able to capture this image without actually reflecting itself because on the sphere shaped doorknob there will always be an angle where the camera will be capturing the image that is directly being projected, hence itself.
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moogical dank creature 6 years ago
*me squirming, trying to reach keanu reeves real bad* AHHHHHHHHHH
#9
Alien³ (1992)
Bolaji Badejo, a Nigerian student who wore the Alien suit in his only film role, sitting down for a rest during a break. Filming was extremely physically taxing for him as the costume was made from latex that made breathing very hard.
Final score:
157points
Paula Swanson 6 years ago
Actually it dies say it is Alien 3 in the header.
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NanZ 6 years ago
Too bad the costume couldn't have been done so that he could breath without straining. That is one cool alien suit though.
Mark Viniello 6 years ago
Incorrect. That is Tom Woodruff Jr. in the suit for Alien 3. Tom played the titular xenomorph in all the subsequent films until Prometheus. Bolaji Badejo was only in Alien.
#10
Jurassic Park (1993)
The life size T-Rex animatronic on the set.
Final score:
155points
Speedlimit78 6 years ago
What happens to the t-Rex after filming stops? Wouldn't it be awesome to have this in the backyard?
#11
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Steven Spielberg with a camera that's covered in a white cloth with two holes in it. It was used to get the point of view shots for E.T.
Final score:
148points
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος 6 years ago
This is from the scene where ET is dressed as a ghost for Halloween so they get past Elliott's mother
Ashley Stevens 6 years ago
You should have called him with your helpful tips. A classic by a legend can absolutely benefit from you.
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#12
Labyrinth (1986)
In order to film the "Helping Hands" scene, the creators made over 100 pairs of latex hands.
Final score:
147points
Cat on a bike 6 years ago
I recently rewatched this and never could have imagined it! Must watch this scene again.
#13
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin on the set.
Final score:
147points
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 6 years ago
As you wish......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0HcDmjiIYE
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Mark Szeman 6 years ago
This makes me love this movie even more, and the reason why I love Guillermo Del Toro for refusing to do allot of things in CGI in Pacific rim.
#14
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
To make it seem like the pen was floating, Stanley Kubrick instructed the crew to glue it to a large sheet of glass, which was then rotated around to give the impression of free-floating.
Final score:
143points
Noel Benavente 6 years ago
...and managed to avoid any reflections on the glass, not like in Indiana Jones :-/
Louise Stange-Wahl 6 years ago
Amazing--and in 2010 when they did something similar with Roy Scheider, he ruined the take by just shaking his head and said "Amazing!"...it's in the blooper reel.
#15
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson directing Ralph Fiennes who's looking through the window of a “train.”
Final score:
139points
Monty Is Fiennes 6 years ago
Wes, you are my favourite director. And for this film you finally directed my favourite actor. Ahhhh heaven.....
Cyd Charisse 6 years ago
I couldn’t stand Ralph Fiennes. Never liked him. Wes is such an amazing director, that after this perfect movie, I’m a huge fan of Ralph Fiennes too! Totally changed my mind about him, all due to Wes Anderson’s gifts!
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#16
Goldfinger (1964)
The illusion that the laser was cutting through the table in the famous Goldfinger scene, was actually... not an illusion. The nervous look on Sean Connery's face, we assume, must've also been real. To film it, a special effects man was under the table with an acetylene torch cutting through it from beneath.
Final score:
133points
Podunkus 6 years ago
And this was the subject of some great satire in the first Austin Powers movie, with the exchange between Dr. Evil and his estranged son. “Why can’t you just shoot him?!”
Phil Fennig 2 years ago
I have a gun. In my room. I’ll go get it. We can shoot him together. It’ll be fun!
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#17
Back To The Future Part II (1989)
The effects crew working on creating the auto-adjusting and auto-drying jacket effect.
Final score:
131points
Louise Stange-Wahl 6 years ago
No matter what year, it's movie magic! I have a photo sitting in this DMC! My favorite movie car!
Elizabeth Scarborough 6 years ago
I wondered how many people it took to make that effect work, loving this.
#18
Face/Off (1997)
John Travolta insert torso used for skin removal scene.
Final score:
128points
#19
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick shooting the famous hotel's maze.
Final score:
122points
Niall Mac Iomera 6 years ago
So to film a model of a maze, they got a model of a maze and filmed it? Amazing.
Anon Yymi 6 years ago
Kubrick was a perfectionist, he wouldn't settle for anything but a real model of a maze.
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Vesna 6 years ago
The took the interior of a hotel from a real Hotel that is located in Yosemite National Park, California. It still stands today and very popular tourist stop after a long day of hiking or skiing. Once you are inside, you feel like you are on the set of the movie. Especially eerie in the winter. They do have those famous chandeliers, big fire place and Native American ornaments and rugs, and the doors of the elevator look pretty identical. They also make a killing Irish Nut coffee. The best stop during winter days of fun in the park:)
#20
Men In Black (1997)
This what the alien from from the movie actually looks like.
Final score:
122points
Amanda Krueger 6 years ago
This tiny alien was SO adorable!! I wonder if he had his own action figure set?
#21
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Setting up models of vehicles.
Final score:
118points
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
They've got Linda Hamilton back for the newest one. She looks terrific! Ready to kick butt and take names. I'm looking forward to it.
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#22
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Jim Henson and other Muppeteers working on the set.
Final score:
117points
Full Name 6 years ago
Seth Green said seeing Big Bird hanging on a hook in a closet was unbelievably unsettling.
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Bonny Saxon 6 years ago
Those guys necks and arms must be made of metal. I can't imagine how much they must have ached after filming.
Kimberly Irving 6 years ago
They weren't real?! *Holds head in hands* My whole life is a lie....
Billy Beecham 6 years ago
Kinda reminds me of our politicians... there's always someone's hand up their a**e controlling their speech and movements.
#23
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
A giant robotic bee that was used to film the bee ride scene. In the post-production of the movie, some digital effects were also added.
Final score:
113points
Momo Skarsgård 6 years ago
Idk if you still can, but when I was a kid and went to Disney you were able to ride the bee and see how the magic was made.
Dianabanana 6 years ago
I rode the bee with my sister, this just brought back a very fond memory!
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#24
Star Wars: Episode VI — Return Of The Jedi (1983)
George Lucas and the fully operational Death Star.
Final score:
110points
E FourOFour 6 years ago
George Lucas is pointing to right to where all of his good ideas stopped.
#25
Raise The Titanic (1980)
55-foot scale model of the Titanic being positioned by a diver.
Final score:
110points
Cody Eriksen 6 years ago
Worst Dirk Pitt movie. Loved Richard Jordan as an actor but not the right role for him. Sandecker was perfect for Jason Robards.
Louise Stange-Wahl 6 years ago
This kind of reminds me of the giant with the ship hat in TIME BANDITS.
#26
Independence Day (1996)
The highest grossing movie of 1996 used a mixture of models and CGI for the effects shots. Around 80% of effects were models (like the large-scale model below) while the other 20% were created digitally.
Final score:
106points
#27
Escape From New York (1981)
The '80s action flick features a scene in which police officers are looking at a digital map of the city. At the time, technology was not advanced enough to create the actual digital graphics so a real-life model was built instead.
Final score:
106points
Milo Stefani 6 years ago
No In Tron all the lines were added by HAND frame by frame. Then post produced to give the glow and then merged optically together with the original B&W footage.
Load More Replies... Just Curious 6 years ago
How ironic: nowadays computer graphics are used to simulate reality, back then they had to use reality to simulate computer graphics!
Oliver Casasola 6 years ago
Call me snake? I always thought it was a recent movie from 90's and not from 80's
#28
True Lies (1994)
A shot from filming the helicopter scenes for the 1994 action movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. For the movie, the US Government supplied three Marine Harriers and their pilots for a fee of $100,736.
Final score:
101points
Paul K. Johnson 6 years ago
Yep. Even people I know who don't particularly care for Schwarzenegger movies still enjoy this one. Tom Arnold was great in it too. It's on my regular play list (watch it once a year or so).
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Care 6 years ago
And she looks like a goddess hanging from that helicopter!!
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Trix 6 years ago
The plot is going to be about lies a couple tells when one is going through menopause and the other is suffering from erectile dysfunction?
Load More Replies... #29
Jaws (1975)
Bruce, the animatronic shark under construction.
Final score:
96points
2WheelTravlr 6 years ago
I'd always read about how Bruce was this high-tech nightmare, so this pic showing he's basically a plywood and glue school project gone crazy is a bit of a letdown ;)
Tiny Dancer 6 years ago
They used more than one Bruce :-) Fun bonus fact: Bruce, the man-eating shark, was named after Spielberg's lawyer.
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#30
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)
Filming the plane crash scene.
Final score:
86points
#31
Baby Driver (2017)
While the actors inside the car are acting, the actual driver is manning a car from the roof.
Final score:
26points
Max L. 6 years ago
The same technique used in one of the Jason Bourne saga. The cars keeps crashing so they were rebuilding them during daytime to crash them again during the night in the tunnels scenes.
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
That was epic! When the car bursts out and cuts across four lanes of Moscow traffic.
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#32
I Am Legend (2007)
Will Smith fighting a zombie dog.
Final score:
24points
Kaisu 6 years ago
Of course there's CGI, they had to give the dog a body didn't they?
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#33
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
ILM (Industrial Light & Magic, a visual effects company founded in 1975 by George Lucas) visual effects crew Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and Mike Pangrazio working on the Hoth scene.
Final score:
23points
#34
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
Setting up the werewolf transformation scene. All of the amazing special effects were created the old-fashioned way - by using make up and props.
Final score:
23points
Tiny Dancer 6 years ago
Love it! The effects in this movie really hold up all these years later. Still have to watch it when it turns up on the Late, Late Movies.
#35
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Moving the Ark of the Covenant.
Final score:
22points
#36
Pumpkinhead (1988)
For better traction in the scenes where the feet weren't visible, the Pumpkinhead actor wore his Nikes. Unfortunately, the crew left a shot in the movie with a clear view of said sneakers.
Final score:
21points
#37
King Kong (1976)
Jessica Lange filming a scene in the giant animatronic gorilla hands.
Final score:
21points
#38
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Death Star landscape getting some final touches before filming the assault on the Death Star scene.
Final score:
21points
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
I remember when it still was just called "Star Wars" - am I showing my age?
#39
Spartacus (1960)
Extras on the set with assigned numbers so that Stanley Kubrick could address them individually and give them instructions.
Final score:
20points
#40
Gremlins (1984)
Animatronics and puppeteering effects crew working on Gremlins. As visually striking as they were, making them was also expensive. The movie exceeded its original budget, which made the studio particularly paranoid. Thankfully, it turned out for the best.
Final score:
19points
#41
Ghostbusters (1984)
Puppeteers working with Sigourney Weaver on filming the armchair scene.
Final score:
19points
#42
The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson propped up with pieces of wood, foam blocks, and a pillow to shoot the final scene of the movie.
Final score:
19points
#43
Inception (2010)
A large-scale model of a snow fortress which is about 2 stories tall.
Final score:
18points
Mark Szeman 6 years ago
which they then blew up :) like the Whitehouse and other buildings exploding scenes in independence day.
#44
The Godfather (1972)
James Caan taking a break during filming the scene in which his character Sonny Corleone gets riddled with bullets.
Final score:
18points
#45
Dunkirk (2017)
Actors standing amid cut-out models of soldiers.
Final score:
18points
#46
Cape Fear (1991)
Prepping the set for the houseboat scene finale.
Final score:
17points
#47
Batman TV Series (1966-1968)
Adam West during the filming of the TV series.
Final score:
17points
#48
Alien (1979)
Applying condensed milk to the face and head of Ian Holm.
Final score:
16points
Adrienne Early 6 years ago (edited)
Didn't her get sick because the milk went bad under the heat of the lamps?
Load More Replies... Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
"You have my sympathies" - wow, for a robot, that character was an a**hole.
#49
Skyfall (2012)
Miniature of chopper positioned to crash into the Skyfall House and a bullet-riddled miniature Aston Martin on the lower left.
Final score:
16points
#50
Dunkirk (2017)
Model of the German aircraft Stuka RC being transported on the beach.
Final score:
15points
#51
Krull (1983)
Effects crew working on the crystal spider scene.
Final score:
14points
#52
Evil Dead II (1987)
Effects artist Greg Nicotero manipulating the head of Henrietta while rehearsing for a scene.
Final score:
14points
#53
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Working on the full hotel set for the visually striking Wes Anderson masterpiece.
Final score:
13points
#54
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Testing the functionality of the Goomba animatronic costume.
Final score:
10points
#56
Django Unchained (2012)
Exploding blood bag. Quentin Tarantino wanted it to have a "meaty effect," so the bag is full of strips of latex and other little bits of particles.
Final score:
10points
#57
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
Bill Murray holding a miniature of the research ship Belafonte with the full-size production version in the background.
Final score:
9points
#58
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
John Goodman, John C. Reilly and Brie Larson on the set among props.
Final score:
9points
#59
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Applying syrup blood effects to Marilyn Burns in preparation for the final scene.
Final score:
6points
Full Name 6 years ago
"Okay, break for 1/2, people" "I'm going to get in line at McDonalds. Anyone else want something?"
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
McDonald's called - next time, we need to send an intern.
Load More Replies... #60
Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Cast and crew in the pool at UCLA filming the final scene.
Final score:
4points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Oathbraker 6 years ago
It's nice to see some modern movies still using practical effects. CGI is a bit "hit and miss" sometimes.
The Cappy 6 years ago
To be fair, props were too. Consider the brilliant work of The Thing (1982). As great as the work was, the final monster reeked of stop motion.
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Leodavinci 6 years ago
Not all but the vast majority of movies listed in this article predate the advent of CGI. Which is why it wasn't used in them. Many recent movies that people think are pure CGI fests actually use a substantial amount of practical effects and miniatures in conjunction and in combination with CGI. I often laugh to myself when overhearing (think they) know-it-alls talk about the obvious (bad) CGI in sequences I know were done with miniatures and/or practical effects. Want to know about behind the scenes effects? Read Cinefex and American Cinematographer magazines.
Dre Mosley 6 years ago
I'm a tech geek and love anything involving computers, but practical effects are still awesome.
Noel Benavente 6 years ago
Agree, that's why the first 3 Star Wars movies and T2 are unbeatable, also clay motion and 2D animation will always fascinates me more than digital 3D
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Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
Nothing from the 1982 Blade Runner? It was just about the last science fiction movie made without CGI and there are lots of pictures of the many miniatures created by Doug Trumbull. https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/how-the-blade-runner-opening-sequence-was-created-1284218/
2WheelTravlr 6 years ago
"Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes." This is at the bottom of the page and includes a link to the additional images.
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Random Panda 6 years ago
Practical effects are so much better. CGI should be used sparingly, otherwise it makes everything look off somehow.
Lauren Caswell 6 years ago
Yeah cgi ages so fast, it's always changing so if you research something that's only a few years old the cgi elements stand out like a sore thumb :( with full prop/miniature work (I.e. no cgi touchups), it ages so much better
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eric shepherd 6 years ago
I love seeing how movies are made. I still think the original 1933 King Kong Movie is the best, The remakes today are a joke. The script writers have lost the mystery of the original. and they rely to much on CGI. and the original 1933 monster was the best, by not having the modern gorilla features.
Oathbraker 6 years ago
It's nice to see some modern movies still using practical effects. CGI is a bit "hit and miss" sometimes.
The Cappy 6 years ago
To be fair, props were too. Consider the brilliant work of The Thing (1982). As great as the work was, the final monster reeked of stop motion.
Load More Replies... Leodavinci 6 years ago
Not all but the vast majority of movies listed in this article predate the advent of CGI. Which is why it wasn't used in them. Many recent movies that people think are pure CGI fests actually use a substantial amount of practical effects and miniatures in conjunction and in combination with CGI. I often laugh to myself when overhearing (think they) know-it-alls talk about the obvious (bad) CGI in sequences I know were done with miniatures and/or practical effects. Want to know about behind the scenes effects? Read Cinefex and American Cinematographer magazines.
Dre Mosley 6 years ago
I'm a tech geek and love anything involving computers, but practical effects are still awesome.
Noel Benavente 6 years ago
Agree, that's why the first 3 Star Wars movies and T2 are unbeatable, also clay motion and 2D animation will always fascinates me more than digital 3D
Load More Replies... Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
Nothing from the 1982 Blade Runner? It was just about the last science fiction movie made without CGI and there are lots of pictures of the many miniatures created by Doug Trumbull. https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/how-the-blade-runner-opening-sequence-was-created-1284218/
2WheelTravlr 6 years ago
"Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes." This is at the bottom of the page and includes a link to the additional images.
Load More Replies... Random Panda 6 years ago
Practical effects are so much better. CGI should be used sparingly, otherwise it makes everything look off somehow.
Lauren Caswell 6 years ago
Yeah cgi ages so fast, it's always changing so if you research something that's only a few years old the cgi elements stand out like a sore thumb :( with full prop/miniature work (I.e. no cgi touchups), it ages so much better
Load More Replies... eric shepherd 6 years ago
I love seeing how movies are made. I still think the original 1933 King Kong Movie is the best, The remakes today are a joke. The script writers have lost the mystery of the original. and they rely to much on CGI. and the original 1933 monster was the best, by not having the modern gorilla features.
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