Skip to Content

Movies That Revolutionized the Standard for Visual Effects

The earliest filmmakers like George Méliès and the Lumière brothers didn’t have computers they could throw their films into to create their stunning visuals. 

They wanted to make fantastical films anyway, so they took it upon themselves to create special effects. Special effects (SFX) refer to filmmakers’ techniques to create an image in-camera.

As technology advanced and computers became more accessible to movie studios, the industry began creating visual effects, or VFX. VFX is the effects that video editors put into motion pictures during post-production. Today, we’ll look at some movies that revolutionized the standard for visual effects.

Westworld (1973)

An oft-forgotten film that should have found new life after its HBO reboot, Michael Crichton’s (Jurassic Park, ER) classic ’70s sci-fi/Western hybrid features the first-ever use of computer effects on film.

At a certain point in the movie, we see from the point of view of Yul Brynner’s robotic gunslinger, which is pixelated and looks a lot like a videogame from the ’80s. This trope has become incredibly popular in sci-fi, inspiring similar shots in films like RoboCop, The Terminator, and Predator.

Westworld
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Yul Brynner (Actors)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Though it’s not the only James Cameron film featured on this list, Terminator 2 holds a special place in the hearts of many movie fans who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s.

The first major film to create large-scale effects on a personal computer, T2’s iconic T-1000 villain (played to delightfully evil perfection by Robert Patrick) has the ability to become liquid metal and phase through, under, and over almost any obstacle.

The effect was so seamless and realistic that many films couldn’t match it, even 30 years later.

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY Special Edition (Extended)
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong, Linda Hamilton (Actors)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

While any film in this trilogy could easily have made this list, The Two Towers edges out the first and third chapters with a single factor: the introduction of Gollum.

The computer-animated Andy Serkis counterpart represented a massive jump in visual effect capabilities; for the first time, audiences were seeing an entirely computer-generated character interact with live-action human characters. If you look at any other effects-heavy film from 2002 and then look at Gollum, it’s clear just how far ahead of its time the movie was.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler (Actors)

Avatar (2009)

The King of the Blockbusters strikes again! James Cameron’s wildly divisive motion capture had audiences and critics agreeing on one thing: this is the single greatest use of visual effects ever to make it on screen. Mocap was far from new technology, as it was used by Robert Zemeckis in the 2000s post-Cast Away.

More than any other film on this list, this movie revolutionized the standard for visual effects. Cameron famously delayed the production of Avatar for fifteen years to allow the technology to catch up with what he wanted to achieve. With sequels finally coming after over a decade on the shelf, we’re all waiting for what tricks the director of Titanic and Aliens will pull out next.

If you enjoyed this list of movies, I have a monthly membership for parents and educators that want to teach or supplement lessons with shows and movies.

“I absolutely love sharing movies with my kids as a way to teach them valuable lessons. It’s like this awesome bonding experience where we all snuggle up on the couch with some popcorn, and I get to see their little faces light up with curiosity. Whether it’s a classic with timeless morals or a new animated flick with hidden gems of wisdom, it’s a fantastic way to impart important life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Plus, the post-movie discussions are priceless – hearing their take on the characters and the story adds a whole new dimension to our family time.” –a Homeschooling parent

With Homeschooling with Shows and Movies membership, you will get resources every month, including:

  • List of This Month’s Suggested Themes
  • List of Monthly Observances
  • List Of Movies for Unit Study
  • Unit Study Resource
  • Seasonal Activities (minimum of three)
  • (BONUSES) Resources for you, the teacher

These resources are worth it if you’d like to easily incorporate shows and movies into your homeschooling.

Grab your membership here.

Related Posts:

 

 

Sharing is caring!

The Best Movies Ever Made About Ecological Disasters

Sunday 30th of January 2022

[…] Movies That Revolutionized the Standard for Visual Effects […]

Top 4 Best Movie Marathons To Enjoy With Family

Friday 14th of January 2022

[…] Movies That Revolutionized the Standard for Visual Effects […]

The Best Movies That Are Set in Factories

Friday 7th of January 2022

[…] RELATED: Movies That Revolutionized the Standard for Visual Effects […]