33 Behind-the-Scenes Photos That Show What Actually Happened On The Set Of Popular Movies

Margot Nolan
Jul 20, 2022
Oct 31, 2023

The excellent acting skills of actors and actresses probably make the audience feel they are the characters they play. Besides, make-up and costumes help to change the talent into someone entirely different on-screen. That is the magic of Hollywood - imaginative animation, digital wizardry, lifelike practical effects, and cutting-edge stunt sequences are all expected. However, there’s a different side to the life of these magic worlds created on the screen that we never see. Did you know that Michael Jordan doesn't need any cinematic magic for his basketball skills in Space Jam? Or how Florence Pugh prepares to take a flight on the set of Black Widow in 2020?

Here, we decide to help you explore what happened behind the scenes of certain Hollywood films and enjoy the more amusing moments of the production process. We hope you will be interested. So keep reading for more details!

#1 On the set of Thor: Ragnarok, Cate Blanchett looks on as director Taika Waititi shows her some shots (2017).

Source: Jasin Boland/© Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

#2 Behind-the-scenes photos aren't just for live-action films! Here's artist Mark Henn working on a Belle drawing while animating Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Source: Walt Disney Co. / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

#3 Heath Ledger getting his makeup for Joker done behind the scenes of ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008).

Source: Stephen Vaughan / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

#4 Producer and director Ivan Reitman, above center, with the cast of 'Ghostbusters II' posing by their beloved car

Source: ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Co / Everett Collection

#5 Director James Cameron relaxes with the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and John Connor (Edward Furlong) during filming of Terminator II: Judgment Day (1991).

Source: ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

#6 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson can definitely smell what filmmaker Stephen Sommers is cooking during filming of The Mummy 2. (2001).

Source: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

#7 Brandy Norwood looks every part a princess behind the scenes, too, while filming Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997).

Source: ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection

#8 On the set of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, director Peter Jackson seems to be a multiverse hopper who has come to warn Legolas (Orlando Bloom) about the risks of not wearing sun protection (2002).

Source: New Line Cinema / ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

#9 On the set of Hook, director Steven Spielberg poses for a very gorgeous photo with Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) (1991).

Source: Tristar Pictures / Â©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

#10 On the set of Black Widow, Florence Pugh prepares to take flight (2020).

Source: Jay Maidment /© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / © Marvel Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

#11 In Pride & Prejudice (2005), Kiera Knightly listens carefully as director Joe Wright arranges his next shot — and, let's be honest, he's probably talking a little trash about Mr. Darcy.

Source: Focus Films / ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

#12 On the set of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, director Steven Spielberg delivers some very essential tips on how to dinosaur to a dinosaur (1997).

Source: David James / ©Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

#13 Julia Roberts takes over on camera for director Garry Marshall in Pretty Woman (1990).

Source: Buena Vista Pictures / ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

#14 While filming Midsommar (2019), Jack Reynor, Ari Aster, and Florence Pugh experimented with different flowery backgrounds.

Source: © A24 / courtesy Everett Collection

#15 Rita Moreno rests her hard-workin' dancin' shoes for a quick smoke break while filming West Side Story (1961).

Source: Ernst Haas / Getty Images

#16 On the set of The Shining, Jack Nicholson and director/writer/producer Stanley Kubrick seem unfazed (1980).

Source: Murray Close / Sygma via Getty Images

#17 On the set of Everything Everywhere All At Once, co-directors/writers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively, the Daniels) discuss a multitude of multiverses (2022).

Source: Allyson Riggs /© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

#18 Meanwhile, Michael Jordan's basketball talents in Space Jam don't require any cinematic trickery (1996).

Source: Bruce Talamon / ©Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection.

#19 And when filming Black Panther, director Ryan Coogler doesn't mind sitting for a talk with Chadwick Boseman (2018). (T'Challa in a sweatshirt?! He looks so relaxed!!!)

Source: Null / Â©Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection

#20 On the set of Crazy Rich Asians, director Jon M. Chu sets up the major party entrance sequence with Awkwafina (2018).

Source: Sanja Bucko / ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

#21 While filming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), director Chris Columbus utilizes his magic to reposition Daniel Radcliffe and Maggie Smith.

Source: Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

#22 This is a scene when director/writer Sam Raimi speaks with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst on a New York City rooftop in Spider-Man(2002).

Source: Columbia Pictures / ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

#23 On the set of Lady Bird (2017), Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan pose similarly.

Source: ©A24 / courtesy Everett Collection

#24 On the set of Uncharted (2022), Tom Holland stands on a large, comfortable-looking mat, listening to director Ruben Fleischer.

#25 While filming The Matrix (1999), Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving both appear to have a fight AND flight reaction.

#26 On the set of Titanic (1997), Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio gaze while director James Cameron points to something. I adore Kate's expression here because it appears like James has been transported back in time to deliver her some juicy information.

#27 And when filming Us (2019), Jordan Peele isn't hesitant to get up up and personal with Red (Lupita Nyong'o).

#28 During Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Charlize Theron speaks with director George Miller while sweating it out in the desert.

#29 For King Kong (2005), Naomi Watts is embraced by an enormous green screen hand.

#30 Clive Barker chilling with his sick-lookin' cenobites on the set of Hellraiser (1987).

#31 Director George Lucas looks on while Ian McDiarmid and Samuel L. Jackson practice their laser sword duels on the set of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005).

#32 On the set of The Green Knight (2021), director David Lowery takes a moment to coach Ralph Ineson and Dev Patel. I'm enamored with how relaxed this tree man appears here.

#33 Finally, Eddie Murphy voicing Donkey during the Shrek recording sessions (2001).

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