While CGI and post-production turn a film into a blockbuster, the movie sets are just as important. From ground-breaking animatronics to new ways of creating movies, these iconic movie sets ushered in new eras for Hollywood, bringing about the movie technology we have today. These movie sets have also firmly lodged themselves in people’s minds, recognized from the smallest details. If you enjoy movies with sprawling sets that have helped redefine Hollywood, check out these six films now.
6. Jaws (1975)
Starting our iconic movie sets list is Jaws, where Martha’s Vineyard has become synonymous with the film. Bringing in an animatronic shark to encapsulate the creature, the film has continued to be popular to this day. In the film, a massive shark is causing chaos off the coast of Amity Island, rendering their beaches unsafe. It will be up to the sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old fisherman to take the shark down.
5. King Kong (1933)
Next up on our iconic movie sets list is King Kong. While the first installment might not be up to par with the most recent films CGI-wise, it did usher in the idea of using stop-motion to create Kong and the other Skull Island creatures. Groundbreaking for its time, the technique is still used today. King Kong features a film crew heading to Skull Island to film their next big hit. However, they are unaware of what dangers lie on the island.
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4. Jurassic Park (1993)
Fourth on our iconic movie sets list is Jurassic Park. The film franchise introduced animatronics to their sets, making the dinosaurs seem truly alive. They filmed in Hawaii, Malta, and California to create the uninhabited jungle scenes. The film follows paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler and mathematician Ian Malcolm as they are invited to tour a theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. But when the facility proves faulty, the guests will be taken back to when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
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3. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Rounding out the top three iconic movie sets is Pan’s Labyrinth. Production designer Eugenio Caballero created most of the sets from scratch to create the unmistakable fantasy in each scene. The movie is set in 1994 Spain, where a young girl is sent to live with her cruel stepfather. One night, she meets a fairy who tells her she’s a princess. However, to prove her loyalty she must survive three gruesome tasks.
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2. Avatar (2009)
Second on our list of iconic movie sets is Avatar, and while most of the filming was done through CGI, the technology alone used has revolutionized the way these films are captured. The second installment even invented a new way to film underwater to make everything seem real. Set in a distant world called Pandora, humans are trying to take resources from the ground while learning about the people who live there, the Na’vi. When getting resources threatens the Na’vi, a paraplegic Marine will be at the forefront to protect them.
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1. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
Last but not least on our list of iconic movie sets is Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. All three installments were shot at the same time in New Zealand. The films had an ambitious budget and aimed to make them seem from another realm completely. In Return of the King, Gandalf, and Aragorn lead the forces of good against Sauron’s evil army while Frodo and Sam reach Mordor to destroy the One Ring once and for all.
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