32 Amazing Behind the Scenes Photos From Our Favorite Movies

John Summers • Contributor

Jul 28, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

Get ready to peek behind the curtain and discover the magic of movie-making with these 32 amazing behind-the-scenes photos from our favorite films. Compiled by Imgur user BrainTaffy, this list not only showcases incredible moments from the sets of iconic movies but also drops some fascinating trivia for each photo. Whether you're a film buff or just curious about how your favorite scenes came to life, these behind-the-scenes glimpses will give you a new appreciation for the art and effort that goes into filmmaking.

From unexpected candid moments with actors to the intricate setups for special effects, each photo tells a story of creativity, innovation, and sometimes sheer luck. You'll see directors in action, actors goofing around between takes, and the hardworking crew making movie magic happen. So, grab your popcorn and join us on this cinematic journey through the lens of behind-the-scenes photography. Let's dive into the trivia and tales that make these films truly unforgettable!

01

via BrainTaffy

Schwarzenegger's long time stunt double Peter Kent on the set of Total Recall (1990) with the two animatronics for the final scene where they get shot out onto the surface of Mars. Kent has been his double in Twins, Total Recall, all the Terminator movies, Predator, Commando, and even for T2:3D (The Ride) at Universal Studios.
02

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Mechanical special effects designer Jim Doyle as Freddie Kruegers hand in the bathtub scene Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984.
03

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The "clever girl" getting ready for her scene in Jurassic Park
04

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A rare non-greenscreeened and CGIed to the hilt scene from Alice in Wonderland, 2010.
05

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Actor Chazz Palminteri prepares to drag a camera operator across a bar room floor on a sound blanket in order to get a POV shot of Palminteri's gangster character yanking a biker out of his bar in 1993's A Bronx Tale.
06

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Testing the porg animation on the set of The Last Jedi, 2017.
07

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Barbara Eden climbs a ladder to enter her bottle interior on the set of her TV show I dream of Jeannie, 1965 to 1970.
08

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Cramped quarters, one of the downsides to filming in an actual home and not on a set built on a soundstage. Shooting a scene for Edward Scissorhands, 1990.
09

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The full set of the final battle in John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, 1986.
10

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11

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Amazing set design and creation for Tim Burton's Batman, 1989.
12

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2 crew members prepare a stuntwoman for the shot in which Tina's body falls from the ceiling in Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984.
13

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Chris Hemsworth getting fitted into his Thor fatsuit for Avengers: Endgame, 2019.
14

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Gary Oldman Filming the famous top-down shot on the set of The Professional, 1994.
15

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Life size to-scale Black Pearl set for Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, 2017.
16

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Behind the scenes on the Clash of the Titans revival, 2010. And they say practical effects are dead. *eyeroll*
17

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Three years before the release of The Terminator, James Cameron worked on Escape From New York (1980) as an effects technician. Here he labors on one of the films matte paintings.
18

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On the set of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005.
19

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FX creators working on last-minute details of the spider from the finale of the IT TV miniseries, 1990. The spider puppet was dubbed "the Alaskan King Spider monster" by the cast, at over 12 feet long with 15 foot long spked legs. It featured a fully mechanized head with radio-controlled mechanical components. Inside the body was mouldmaker Brent Baker, puppeteering the creature's arms. The legs were immobile and the creature could be raised or lowered through an offscreen support system. The legs themselves were detatchable so they could be used for insert shots.
20

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A little before and after visual effects shot of Gary Oldman in The Hitman's Bodyguard, 2017.
21

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Director James Gunn posted this pic of the Guardians of the Galaxy cast stand ins on set. I haven't laughed so hard in awhile. GROOT HAT!
22

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Miniature practical effects used for the crash of the alien ship in Independence Day, 1996.
23

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Lighting rigs on the freeway for scenes in Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
24

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Full scale dead King Kong awaits reconstruction in the plaza of World Trade Center, June 1976.
25

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The final battle set for Saving Private Ryan, 1998.
26

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Using a raised platform and camera angle to create height differences between Will Ferrell and Ed Asner and the elves in Elf, 2003. They tried to use practical perspective effects for as much of film as they could.
27

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Furiosa's truck filming rig from Mad Max: Fury Road, 2015.
28

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The studio built a mile and a half long fake highway utilizing unused airport runways in Alameda, California for The Matrix Reloaded, 2003. After the shoot it was destroyed.
29

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Director Wes Anderson on the full set of the Belafonte, Steve Zissou's ship in The Life Aquatic, 2004.
30

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Not so miniature set work for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, 2005.
31

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filming one of the train scenes for HBO's Westworld, 2016.
32

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This isn't so much a behind the scenes as just an excuse to point out a cool little detail from this scene from Hook, 1991. The record player on Hook's ship has no arm and needle, but an armrest for Hook to place his own arm into play the records with his hook.