Film has been given the treatment of a three-dimensional presentation since the early age of silent cinema. The 1922 silent film The Power of Love, was the first to be shown to an audience in 3D. It showcased landscapes and ocean views in a way audiences of this early age have never experienced before on the silver screen. It has since evolved with the technological advancements in CGI and high definition viewing.
However, in the modern age of film, the technique is almost utilized as a gimmick to draw large crowds into the cinema. The purpose of 3D is to fully immerse the viewer into the world beyond the screen. While some films utilize this as a grab (quite literally at the screen) for cash, others combine it with fully realized visual effects to bring the scenes to life. It may just be for fun in a majority of these cases, but there are many films that have made a memorable impact on 3D and the film genre.
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13 Jaws 3D
Universal Pictures
Coming off of the global phenomenon that was Jaws and its fair sequel Jaws II, Jaws 3D takes the gimmick of 3D and pairs it with one of the most recognizable images in all of film. That shark’s fin and the ominous score inspired by John Williams make for a powerful pair in it of itself. However, this film is not as 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 itself, one could have a great time enjoying this popcorn flick.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
12 Journey to the Center of the Earth
Warner Bros. Pictures
Beloved actor Brendan Fraser stars alongside Josh Hutcherson in the 2008 classic family adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth. While it is fantastical and becomes a cartoon at some points, it still captures the essence of what makes a film like The Goonies so special. The beauty of escapism mixed with lovable chemistry from the characters creates the atmosphere for a fun adventure film, which is exactly what a film like this is. It is wild, action packed, and visually impressive in the 3D format which works for the gimmick.
11 Jackass 3D
MTV Films
Jackass 3D brings the antics of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, and many more ‘jackasses’ right into the audience’s faces. Quite literally with the famous facepalm sequences, adding a 3D element is almost a nod to the ridiculous nature of the franchise. However, it makes it all the more communal as we feel the cringe worthy stunts these daredevils put themselves through. 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 The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Seeing this classic Universal monster flick in 3D adds so much to the already subtle and visually stunning Hollywood masterpiece. The Creature from the Black Lagoon of 1954 was given a re-release in 3D in 1975. While maintaining its black-and-white presentation, there is so much to love about seeing it in the added format.
The communal theatrical experience allows for the audience to see this creature stalking its prey underneath the murky depths with already stunning quality. The practical effects blend seamlessly together in the technical format to make the audiences feel as though they’re in the lagoon with the creature itself.
9 The Polar Express
ImageMovers
Robert Zemeckis is one of the most prominent directors working today. He has perfected the art of fully realized motion capture performance pieces in entirely CGI films. His first film in this medium entitled Beowulf, was a fantastic introduction to a new format to visual presentation.
His next film in full computer motion capture was the classic holiday film The Polar Express which has been played every single year and has now become a staple of Christmas traditions. However, the 3D presentation allows audiences to immerse themselves into the unnatural and liberating movements of Zemeckis’ camera. A medium like this allows the audience to enter places a live action camera can not enter in one take.
8 The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D
Walt Disney Pictures
The Tim Burton produced film The Nightmare Before Christmas already had a popular reception upon its 1993 premiere. Bringing the stop-motion animation format to the max, director Henry Selleck created one of the most beloved worlds in all of Disney’s properties. However, audiences got to experience it in a closer way. The film was re-released in 3D in 2006, which added a great amount of magic to an established world.
7 How to Train Your Dragon
Paramount Pictures
2010 was the year for 3D film and great animation. All the films in the How to Train Your Dragon provide a sense of mysticism and escapism when the 3D glasses come on. However, the first time we see Toothless and Hiccup fly through the skies is a breathtaking moment in animation history.
The sound design within the clouds and the realistic depiction of the skies help craft a breathtaking sequence for this Academy Award nominated film. In addition, the action battle sequences with large scaled dragons are meant to be seen with those glasses on. There is great attention to detail in flight and on the ground that must not be overlooked.
6 Life of Pi
20th Century Fox
Director Ang Lee is known for pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. With a filmography including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the 2003 Marvel standalone Hulk feature film and Brokeback Mountain, Lee has shown he can tell diverse stories in a variety of settings. His most visually stunning 2012 masterpiece Life of Pi. The adventure drama is filled with glorious CGI animals and locations, which account for the Academy Award win for Best Visual Effects. It is a film meant to be viewed with 3D glasses. The film also earned golden trophies for directing, cinematography and music.
5 Toy Story 3
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The classic Disney and Pixar animated film Toy Story 3 is a staple of 3D animation. It is perhaps the most wide-scaled of the bunch, where we get to see the toys in a variety of locations. All of this is emphasized by the 3D element and allows the audience to enter the grounded world with these toys. Prior to the release of Toy Story 3, both of its predecessors were shown in 3D. However, the third installment in the trilogy showed a more sophisticated presentation and did not shy away from dark and sometimes harsh environments that continue to bring a tear to the eyes of its viewers.
4 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Columbia Pictures
Directing trio Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman gave the character a new style and feel. The 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the most successful comic book films of all time. It is a fast-paced action sequence that is enough to bring this Oscar winning film to the top of the superhero lists. However, the combination of 2D and 3D animation provide audiences with something they have never seen before. It also utilized realistic city sound designs and a comic book look that made fans feel as though they were swinging through the city with Miles Morales himself.
3 The Walk
TriStar Pictures
Director Robert Zemeckis continues to shine with creating immersive cinematic experiences. His 2015 drama and near suspense adventure flick The Walk had an enormous impact on the theater audiences. Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Philippe Petit who vows to walk across the twin towers on a highwire. During this sequence, it is so realistic (especially with 3D glasses), that audiences have been reported to have gotten vertigo from experiencing the gut clenching sequence. The sound design and CGI put a heavy strain on those afraid of heights and sensitive to motion. It is a film meant to be seen on the largest screen possible and has yet to be replicated.
2 Gravity
The 2013 film by Alfonso Cuarón Gravity is perhaps one of the most visually stunning films of all time. The elongated one take sequence in the beginning of the film sets a tone for uneasiness and establishes the vast emptiness of space. We see the freedom these characters have in their motion, and it is emphasized by the panning of the camera. Showing space in this level of magnitude and vibrancy has never been done so perfectly on screen before, and it is noted to be done realistically. It is all visual, as there is no real sound in space other than the voices of the actors.
1 Avatar
20th Century Studios
It is one thing to recreate our world or the space outside our own. It takes a special kind of creative talent to create an entirely original concept based on nothing but the imagination. The 2009 James Cameron film Avatar has become a classic part of film history. The world of Pandora opened up a new type of cinematic experience audiences have never seen before. Fans can even visit the world of Pandora in various Disney theme parks. The film, with a budget over $237 million, shattered box office records and has made nearly $3 billion.
The film is was re-released in an absolutely gorgeous new version that makes the already ingenious 3D look downright revolutionary, and Cameron is sure to top himself and the 3D format yet again with the highly anticipated sequel Avatar: The Way of Waterhits theaters this December.
