12 Times Movies Alter Actors' Heights With Magic
The silver screen is a place where the extraordinary becomes reality and imagination reigns supreme. Behind the captivating performances and mesmerizing visuals lies a secret world, concealed from the prying eyes of the audience.
Film productions possess a remarkable ability to bend reality and mold it to their creative vision, including the manipulation of their characters’ dimensions to create a seamless visual narrative.
It’s an artistry of illusion that shocks us to our core when we realize that many actors, known for their towering height in real life, unexpectedly appear shorter on screen, while those we perceive as diminutive can possess an unexpected stature that rivals giants. This magic of cinema, where height differences disappear, is an intriguing phenomenon that keeps us captivated.
If you're curious to discover more about the times movies have made actors' height differences vanish, join us as we delve into the enchanting world of cinematic illusions.
#1. Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike
Many directors maintain the illusion of height parity between characters by applying various techniques like adjusting camera angles or letting actors wear heeled shoes.
We can see this clearly in the movie Jack Reacher where the characters of Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike have similar heights. However, in real life, Pike is taller than Cruise, with a height of 5’8½" compared to Cruise’s 5’7″.
#2. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone
Michael Douglas acted alongside Sharon Stone in the movie Basic Instinct. In many scenes, we see that the actor is taller than his co-stars though in reality, he is 5’8″ and she is 5’8½".
#3. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Some eagled-eye viewers wondered why Sylvester Stallone is as tall as Arnold Schwarzenegger while they are 5’9½" and 6’2″ respectively. During filming Escape Plan, Stallone wore elevated shoes.
#4. Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller
Source: Zoolander 2 / Panorama Films
Viewers who watched Zoolander 2 thought that Stiller's character was on par with, or even taller than, Wilson's character in many scenes. It is a fact that Ben Stiller stands at 5’7½" while Owen Wilson measures 5’10½". Because of clever cinematography and visual techniques, the truth was bent.
#5. Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth
Source: Walt Disney Co. / East News
Fans will really be shocked when their actual heights are revealed. Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth are 5’3’’ and 6’3’’ tall respectively but to make them look well together, the filmmakers let the actress walk on a path that was one foot off the ground during their scenes together.
#6. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett
Source: The Aviator / Warner Bros.
Cate Blanchett, who portrayed the amazing Katharine Hepburn, looked stunning in gorgeous dresses paired with high heels. So, that’s why Cate (5’8’’) should be as tall as Leonardo DiCaprio, whose height is 6′. It may be Leo had to put on platform shoes to be much taller than his colleague.
#7. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law
Source: Sherlock Holmes / Warner Bros.
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are 5’8″ and 5’10″ respectively. However, the gap is shorter in the movie Sherlock Holmes (2009), where they starred together. Director Guy Ritchie suggested Robert should wear heeled shoes during filming to achieve visual continuity.
#8. Kit Harington and Rose Leslie
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie, who portrayed Jon Snow and Ygritte on Game of Thrones, have a very small disparity with Kit standing at 5’8″ and Rose at 5’6″. But, look at them on screen, Kit Harington is much taller than the actress. It turns out that he wears heels to create the illusion of being taller than the other characters.
#9. Charlize Theron and James McAvoy
Source: Atomic Blonde / Focus Features
Many might not notice that Charlize Theron is 6 inches taller than James McAvoy (5’9″). So, to create visual consistency, McAvoy is suggested to wear high heel shoes.
#10. James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway
Source: BLUEPRINT PICTURES / EAST NEWS
The romantic drama Becoming Jane made the heights of James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway disappear. James McAvoy is much taller than her but it is the fact that James McAvoy is 5’9’’ and Anne Hathaway 5’8’’.
#11. Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman
Source: The Paperboy / Millennium Films
The production of the movie The Paperboy (2012) changed the heights of Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman. Despite their real-life height difference of 3 inches (with Efron standing at 5’8″ and Kidman at 5’11″), Zac Efron is as tall as Nicole Kidman on screen. It may be due to clever camera angles or the use of elevated shoes.
#12. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham
Former wrestler Dwayne Johnso, who is 6’5″, is much taller than Jason Statham, who is 5’10″. During filming together in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, the height difference between them is changed.
Who is your favorite movie? Whose height do you think is being changed the most? Let us know in the comments.