This Top 5 examines Visually Stunning Movies - the films that amaze and delight viewers, that define an aesthetic and expertly and consistently executes that design. Films that simply have a few interesting sequences didn’t make the cut; rather, films where the craftsmanship of the entire crew is on display, whether in the production design, special effects, or the stunt choreography, and all adds up to expressing a director’s vision that leaves audiences stunned when they leave the theater.

Gibelwho Productions Top 5 Visually Stunning Movies:

5. Bladerunner

4. 300

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2. Gravity

1. Mad Max Fury Road

Blade Runner (1982): If this list were driven by nostalgia, then this sci-fi flick would unquestionably be number one. As film visuals have taken leaps forward due to digital effects, the film’s produced today can ride circles around film’s produced in the early 80s, BUT credit must be given to the achievements of Blade Runner’s design without the aid of visual effects. Director Ridley Scott was notoriously meticulous and personally (and perhaps dictatorially) oversaw many aspects of the film’s design and production and famously went over budget to achieve the dystopian futuristic Los Angeles setting.

300 (2006): While Zack Snyder’s ability to convey a well-told story may be questionable, his skill to design a breath-taking frame/sequence/aesthetic is undeniable. Backed by a graphic novel by Frank Miller, the film embraces the gritty, sexy, and sepia-toned imagery of the Spartan epic and turns it into a feast worthy of the female gaze, each frame dripping with sex, violence, and crimson.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): The first installment of Tolkien’s epic visits a plethora of settings, cultures, and landscapes within Middle Earth. Peter Jackson and his WETA crew took their craft seriously, creating a design for each society and infusing the costumes, props, and locations with details worthy of fine art. The special effects enhanced the action scenes, the color correction team created a beautiful pallet, and the New Zealand Middle Earth setting is breathtaking. The audacity of the overall effort paid off, setting the tone for the introductory film that extends into the overall trilogy.

Gravity (2013): Alfonso Cuaron set the bar high with his visual masterpiece, literally pulling the viewer into the film, gasping at the vast expanse of space, reveling in the exquisite views of Earth, experiencing the weightlessness of space, squirming from the panic of spinning out of control, and all without making a single cut. Cuaron and his team pushed the boundaries of filmmaking techniques and their experimentation resulted in a groundbreaking experience for audiences. This film demands to be seen on the big screen.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): What a ride! George Miller returned to his iconic wasteland with a new Max and an unstoppable enthusiasm for practical effects, daring stunts, and intense visuals with a pace that leaves the viewer breathless. Miller’s vision is expertly crafted - a desolate landscape, sparse dialogue, and desert punk style. Rather than create a Mad Max sequel that had a few action scenes set amongst the dystopian future, the entire film is a series of extended sequences in the car chase motif, yet Miller and the editor Margaret Sixel (also Miller’s wife) elevates the action and drama about ten notches higher than a typical Hollywood action flick.

Honorable Mentions:

Sin City (2005): The progenitor to all graphic novel adaptations that adhere closely to the source material (and emanate from the genius of Frank Miller), including 300, this film’s opening scene defined the aesthetic and convinced the studio to finance the rest of the flick. Dark and stormy, Sin City appears in shades of white, black, gray, and blood.

Avatar (2009): This film pushed the boundaries of film technology, fulfilling the potential of 3D in a way that couldn’t have been imagined in the 1950s when the technology first appeared. James Cameron took a simple storyline and overlaid it with the latest technological advances - techniques that have now become standard in Hollywood, yet none have managed to capture the stunning and vast visuals that Cameron designed specifically for the 3D landscape.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005): While the sequences of the Geisha’s performances certainly are visually stunning set pieces, the production design and tasteful eye of director Rob Marshall are dazzling, even when composing the everyday life of the geisha house. Marshall has the ability to elevate any story he touches, bringing his careful craft and marshalling a group of talented filmmakers - production design, lighting, and set decorators - to bring to life his period epic set in Japan.  

Upcoming:

Bladerunner 2049 (2017): This upcoming film is a sequel to the movie holding the last spot on this Top 5, yet will have a new director and new star to lead the movie. What was so groundbreaking about the first film - world-building and meticulous attention to details in the frame - are now more commonplace in Hollywood. This film must find new and innovative ways to live up to the legacy of the sequel, while elevating what current and commonplace sci-fi flicks aspire to achieve with production design paired with special effects. If Arrival (2016) is any indication, Denis Villeneuve is up to the challenge.