28 Behind-the-Scenes Shots from Famous Movies and TV Shows

John Summers • Contributor

Oct 2, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

There's something so weirdly satisfying about seeing the chaos behind the camera of your favorite films. Like, yes - The Dark Knight was intense and brooding, but here's a photo of Heath Ledger hanging upside down between takes. Deadpool 2? Violent and edgy on screen, but off screen? it's just Josh Brolin chilling while make up is being applied to his neck.

This collection of 28 behind-the-scenes shots pulls back the curtain on some of the most iconic movies and shows - from The Goonies to Face-Off, Dr. Who, and more. It's a reminder that movie magic is really just a bunch of very tired people with boom mics, duct tape, and snacks trying to make something epic.

Whether it's stunt doubles cracking jokes, directors giving notes while sitting in lawn chairs, or full monster suits hanging out next to a craft services table, these photos are gold. They make the impossible seem... possible.

Also, nothing makes a terrifying villain less scary than seeing them check their phone between takes.

01
Animatronic head, The World's End, 2013

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02
John Travolta Insert torso used for skin removal scene in Face/Off, 1997.

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03
Applying Cable prosthetic makeup to Josh Brolin for Deadpool 2

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04
Building Tank Girl's tank, for....wait for it....the movie Tank Girl, 1995.

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05
This looks so good!

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A mix of practical and digital FX for Netflix's Hemlock Grove, 2013-2015
06
2011's Cabin in the Woods werewolf

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07
Another werewolf - The Howling, 1981

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08
Building the climactic domino shot for V for Vendetta , 2005.

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09
underwater scene from Jupiter Darling, 1955

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10
One Eyed Willie's ship, The Goonies, 1985.

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11
Full scale set of the Belafonte from The Life Aquatic, 2004

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12
Sir Gary Oldman in various stages of having his Mason Verger makeup effects applied for Hannibal, 2001.

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13
A before-and-after green screened CGI effects for The Walking Dead.

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14
Filming the chase scene in Independence Day, 1996.

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15
Heath Ledger filming dangling Joker scene The Dark Knight, 2008.

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16
On the set of 1959's North By Northwest getting ready to shoot the Mount Rushmore scene.

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17
Before and after CGI effects added for Boardwalk Empire.

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18
Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, 2006.

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19
Stellan Skarsgard getting ready to play Bootstrap Bill in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, 2006.

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20
Aaron Eckhart before and after CGI for The Dark Knight, 2008

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21
Peter Weller with his stunt double Russell Towery on the set of RoboCop, 1987.

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22
Matt Smith filming his final episode as Doctor Who, 2013.

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23
Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride, 2005.

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24
John Matuzak having a Sloth makeup prosthetics applied for Goonies, 1985.

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25
Dunkirk, 2017.

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26
Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954.

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27
Makeup tests for Vincent D'Onofrio's Edgar suit, Men in Black, 1997.

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28
Before and after greenscreen CGI effects, The Hobbit, 2012.

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