Since the early age of silent cinema, film has been treated as a three-dimensional presentation. The silent movie of 1922 The power of love, was the first to be shown to an audience in 3D. It showcased landscapes and ocean views in a way that an audience of this young age has never seen before on the silver screen. It has since evolved with the technological advancements in CGI and HD rendering.
However, in the modern era of cinema, the technique is almost used as a gimmick to draw large crowds to the cinema. The aim of 3D is to completely immerse the viewer in the world outside the screen. While some movies use this as a grab (quite literally on the screen) for money, others combine it with fully realized visual effects to bring the scenes to life. In most of these cases, it might just be for fun, but there are many movies that have had a memorable impact on 3D and the movie genre.
13/13 Jaws 3D
Originating from the global phenomenon that was jaws and the honest sequel Jaws II, Jaws 3D takes the gimmick of 3D and combines it with one of the most recognizable images in the entire movie. That shark fin and the ominous score inspired by John Williams make a powerful pair in their own right. However, this movie is not that serious when it comes to its presentation, after all, it is often referred to as a comedy. With elongated shots that linger over fish, corpses and the famous shark himself, this popcorn movie was a great way to enjoy yourself.
12/13 Journey to the Center of the Earth
Beloved actor Brendan Fraser stars with Josh Hutcherson in 2008 classic family adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth. While it’s fantastic and becomes a cartoon at some points, it still captures the essence of what makes a movie The Goonies very special. The beauty of escapism mixed with loving chemistry of the characters creates the atmosphere for a fun adventure movie, which is exactly what a movie like this is. It’s wild, action packed and visually impressive in the 3D format that works for the gimmick.
11/13 Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D brings the antics of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and many more “jackasses” right in the face of the audience. Quite literally with the famous facepalm sequences, adding in a 3D element is almost a nod to the ridiculous nature of the franchise. However, it makes it all the more common as we feel the horrible stunts these daredevils do to themselves. The film was both critically and commercially successful and proved to work as a concept to add that extra element to the already wild film.
10/13 The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Seeing this classic universal monster movie in 3D adds so much to the already subtle and visually stunning Hollywood masterpiece. The Creature from the Black Lagoon of 1954 got a reissue in 3D in 1975. While retaining the black and white presentation, there is so much to love about seeing it in the added format.
The common theatrical experience allows the audience to watch this creature stalk its prey beneath the murky depths with already stunning quality. The practical effects flow seamlessly into the technical format to make the audience feel like they are in the lagoon with the creature itself.
9/13 The North Pole on purpose
Robert Zemeckis is one of the most prominent directors today. He has perfected the art of fully realized motion capture performances in fully CGI films. His first film in this medium titled beowulf, was a fantastic introduction to a new format for visual presentation.
His next film in full computer motion capture was the classic holiday movie The North Pole on purpose which is played every year and has now become a staple of Christmas traditions. However, the 3D presentation allows the audience to immerse themselves in the unnatural and liberating movements of Zemeckis’ camera. With such a medium, the audience gets to places where a live action camera cannot get in one take.
8/13 The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D
The Tim Burton Produced Movie The nightmare Before Christmas already had a popular reception when it premiered in 1993. Director Henry Selleck took the stop-motion animation format to its limits, creating one of the most beloved worlds in all Disney properties. However, the public has been able to experience it up close. The film was re-released in 3D in 2006, adding a great deal of magic to an established world.
7/13 How to train your dragon
2010 was the year of 3D movie and great animation. All movies in the How to train your dragon provide a sense of mystique and escapism when the 3D glasses come on. However, the first time we see Toothless and Hiccup flying through the sky is a breathtaking moment in animation history.
The cloud sound design and realistic depiction of the sky help create a breathtaking sequence for this Academy Award nominated film. In addition, the action battles with large-scale dragons are meant to be seen with those glasses on. There is great attention to detail in flight and on the ground that should not be overlooked.
6/13 The life of Pi
Director Ang Lee is known for pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. With a filmography including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonthe standalone Marvel from 2003 Hulk feature film and Brokeback Mountain, Lee has shown that he can tell different stories in different settings. His most visually stunning masterpiece of 2012 The Life of Pi. The adventure drama is filled with glorious CGI animals and locations, which are good for the Academy Award win for best visual effects. It is a movie that is meant to be viewed with 3D glasses. The film also earned gold trophies for direction, cinematography and music.
5/13 Toy Story 3
The Disney and Pixar Classic Animated Movie Toy Story 3 is a staple of 3D animation. It’s arguably the most large-scale of the bunch, where we get to see the toys in various locations. All this is emphasized by the 3D element and allows the audience to enter the grounded world with this toy. Prior to the release of toy story 3, both of its predecessors were shown in 3D. The third part in the trilogy, however, showed a more refined presentation and did not shy away from dark and sometimes harsh environments that keep the viewers tearing.
4/13 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Directing trio Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman gave the character a new style and feel. The animated film of 2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the most successful comic books of all time. It’s a fast-paced action sequence that’s enough to bring this Oscar-winning film to the top of the superhero lists. However, the combination of 2D and 3D animation offers audiences something they have never seen before. It also used realistic city sound designs and a comic book look that made fans feel like they were swinging around town with Miles Morales herself.
3/13 The stroll
Director Robert Zemeckis continues to shine in creating immersive cinematic experiences. His 2015 drama and an almost thrilling adventure film The stroll had a huge impact on the theater audience. Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Philippe Petit who vows to walk the Twin Towers on a highwire. During this sequence, it is so realistic (especially with 3D glasses), that the squeezing of the intestines has made the audience dizzy. The sound design and CGI put a lot of pressure on those who are afraid of heights and sensitive to movement. It’s a movie meant to be seen on the largest screen possible and has yet to be replicated.
2/13 Gravity
The 2013 film by Alfonso Cuarón Gravity is arguably one of the most visually stunning films of all time. The elongated sequence at the beginning of the film sets a tone for unease and establishes the vast emptiness of the space. We see the freedom these characters have in their movement, and it’s emphasized by the panning of the camera. Showing space at this level of size and vibrancy has never been done so perfectly on screen, and is known to be done realistically. It’s all visual, because there’s no real sound in the room except the voices of the actors.
1/13 Avatar
It is one thing to recreate our world or the space beyond our own. It takes a special kind of creative talent to create a completely original concept based on nothing but the imagination. The 2009 James Cameron movie Avatar has become a classic part of film history. The world of Pandora opened up a new kind of cinematic experience that audiences have never seen before. Fans can even visit the world of Pandora at several Disney theme parks. The film, with a budget of over $237 million, shattered box office records and has grossed nearly $3 billion.
The film has been re-released in an absolutely gorgeous new version that makes the already ingenious 3D look downright revolutionary, and Cameron is sure to outdo himself and the 3D format once again with the highly anticipated sequel. Avatar: The way of the waterhits theaters in December.