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Top 10 “How’d They Shoot That?!’ Scenes


mine officially blown welcome to

mine officially blown welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 movie

down our picks for the top 10 movie

down our picks for the top 10 movie scenes that must have been nearly

scenes that must have been nearly

scenes that must have been nearly impossible to shoot

we’re taking a look at some of cinema’s

we’re taking a look at some of cinema’s most impressive sequences made possible

most impressive sequences made possible

most impressive sequences made possible through astonishing effects editing and

through astonishing effects editing and

through astonishing effects editing and cinematography the scenes additionally

cinematography the scenes additionally

cinematography the scenes additionally need to have a certain degree of

need to have a certain degree of

need to have a certain degree of difficulty or originality to them

difficulty or originality to them

difficulty or originality to them leaving the audience wondering how the

leaving the audience wondering how the

leaving the audience wondering how the hell did they do that we’ve excluded

hell did they do that we’ve excluded

hell did they do that we’ve excluded continuous uninterrupted shots because

continuous uninterrupted shots because

continuous uninterrupted shots because we already have a list dedicated to

we already have a list dedicated to

we already have a list dedicated to those

number ten the smell of napalm in the

number ten the smell of napalm in the morning

morning

morning Apocalypse Now CGI isn’t a simple

Apocalypse Now CGI isn’t a simple

Apocalypse Now CGI isn’t a simple process but it has made achieving the

process but it has made achieving the

process but it has made achieving the impossible much easier Francis Ford

impossible much easier Francis Ford

impossible much easier Francis Ford Coppola didn’t have this luxury back in

Coppola didn’t have this luxury back in

Coppola didn’t have this luxury back in 1979 making Apocalypse Now his own

1979 making Apocalypse Now his own

1979 making Apocalypse Now his own personal apocalypse although every shot

personal apocalypse although every shot

personal apocalypse although every shot of the movie is an incredible feat this

of the movie is an incredible feat this

of the movie is an incredible feat this napalm strike might be the most

napalm strike might be the most

napalm strike might be the most remarkable capturing reel f5 Tigers and

remarkable capturing reel f5 Tigers and

remarkable capturing reel f5 Tigers and a real extended explosion on film

a real extended explosion on film

a real extended explosion on film Coppola settles for nothing less than

Coppola settles for nothing less than

Coppola settles for nothing less than perfection in recreating the Vietnam War

as impressive as the scene is on a

as impressive as the scene is on a technical level Robert Duvall’s iconic

technical level Robert Duvall’s iconic

technical level Robert Duvall’s iconic monologue truly steals the show

hey all the guys on the world smells

hey all the guys on the world smells like that

I love the smell of napalm in the

I love the smell of napalm in the morning number nine bridge collapse the

morning number nine bridge collapse the

morning number nine bridge collapse the Bridge on the River Kwai

yet another classic from the pre CGI era

yet another classic from the pre CGI era the Bridge on the River Kwai works up to

the Bridge on the River Kwai works up to

the Bridge on the River Kwai works up to a crucial scene in which the bridge

a crucial scene in which the bridge

a crucial scene in which the bridge itself comes tumbling down

itself comes tumbling down

itself comes tumbling down British officer here to blow up the

British officer here to blow up the

British officer here to blow up the bridge Oh bitches British commando

bridge Oh bitches British commando

bridge Oh bitches British commando orders throw up the bridge

orders throw up the bridge

orders throw up the bridge rather than using models the filmmakers

rather than using models the filmmakers

rather than using models the filmmakers decided to demolish a full-scale bridge

decided to demolish a full-scale bridge

decided to demolish a full-scale bridge as a train comes plunging into the river

as a train comes plunging into the river

as a train comes plunging into the river below only getting one chance at

below only getting one chance at

below only getting one chance at shooting this pivotal not to mention

shooting this pivotal not to mention

shooting this pivotal not to mention expensive moment the whole picture would

expensive moment the whole picture would

expensive moment the whole picture would have basically been ruined if anything

have basically been ruined if anything

have basically been ruined if anything went wrong

went wrong

went wrong fortunately the flawless final product

fortunately the flawless final product

fortunately the flawless final product turned out to be nothing short of movie

turned out to be nothing short of movie

turned out to be nothing short of movie magic

number eight the crazy 88 fight Kill

number eight the crazy 88 fight Kill Bill Vol 1

Quentin Tarantino throws everything he

Quentin Tarantino throws everything he has at his leading lady and audience in

has at his leading lady and audience in

has at his leading lady and audience in this kick-ass scene you didn’t think it

this kick-ass scene you didn’t think it

this kick-ass scene you didn’t think it was going to be that easy to tune you

was going to be that easy to tune you

was going to be that easy to tune you know for a second there yeah I kind of

know for a second there yeah I kind of

know for a second there yeah I kind of did confronted by an army of masked men

did confronted by an army of masked men

did confronted by an army of masked men the bride engages in a gloriously

the bride engages in a gloriously

the bride engages in a gloriously choreographed battle full of severed

choreographed battle full of severed

choreographed battle full of severed body parts and blood spewing everywhere

as excessive as it may appear

as excessive as it may appear brilliantly shot and gushing with

brilliantly shot and gushing with

brilliantly shot and gushing with creative swordplay Tarantino just keeps

creative swordplay Tarantino just keeps

creative swordplay Tarantino just keeps topping himself

the sequence is so overwhelming that you

the sequence is so overwhelming that you really need to stop and catch your

really need to stop and catch your

really need to stop and catch your breath once it’s over

breath once it’s over

breath once it’s over good thing Kill Bill was split into two

good thing Kill Bill was split into two

good thing Kill Bill was split into two movies number seven deserted London 28

movies number seven deserted London 28

movies number seven deserted London 28 days later

filming a deserted city might not sound

filming a deserted city might not sound especially complex when you consider the

especially complex when you consider the

especially complex when you consider the time and manpower needed to make a huge

time and manpower needed to make a huge

time and manpower needed to make a huge capital city look abandoned though it’s

capital city look abandoned though it’s

capital city look abandoned though it’s a pretty daunting task

nevertheless Danny Boyle pulled it off

nevertheless Danny Boyle pulled it off in 28 days later placing Killian Murphy

in 28 days later placing Killian Murphy

in 28 days later placing Killian Murphy in the eerily empty streets of London

in the eerily empty streets of London

in the eerily empty streets of London with the police closing the roads at 4

with the police closing the roads at 4

with the police closing the roads at 4 a.m. and reopening them around rush hour

a.m. and reopening them around rush hour

a.m. and reopening them around rush hour Boyle only had a brief window of time

Boyle only had a brief window of time

Boyle only had a brief window of time each day sometimes only a couple of

each day sometimes only a couple of

each day sometimes only a couple of dozen minutes to shoot this stunning

dozen minutes to shoot this stunning

dozen minutes to shoot this stunning sequence but it was worth it the results

sequence but it was worth it the results

sequence but it was worth it the results certainly created a disturbing

certainly created a disturbing

certainly created a disturbing end-of-days vibe

number six the Burj Khalifa Mission

number six the Burj Khalifa Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol okay Ethan the

Impossible Ghost Protocol okay Ethan the

Impossible Ghost Protocol okay Ethan the hotel servers 11 stories up in seven

hotel servers 11 stories up in seven

hotel servers 11 stories up in seven units over okay

units over okay

units over okay comm check copy suspending Tom Cruise

comm check copy suspending Tom Cruise

comm check copy suspending Tom Cruise outside the tallest building in the

outside the tallest building in the

outside the tallest building in the world there are so many ways this

world there are so many ways this

world there are so many ways this sequence from Mission Impossible Ghost

sequence from Mission Impossible Ghost

sequence from Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol could have cheated

rather than relying on a green screen or

rather than relying on a green screen or hiring a stunt double what the audience

hiring a stunt double what the audience

hiring a stunt double what the audience sees is virtually what they got oh the

sees is virtually what they got oh the

sees is virtually what they got oh the sequence is only made more thrilling

sequence is only made more thrilling

sequence is only made more thrilling when considering that’s really Tom

when considering that’s really Tom

when considering that’s really Tom Cruise running and crawling outside the

Cruise running and crawling outside the

Cruise running and crawling outside the Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa even if cables are supporting him

it’ll have you hanging at the edge of

it’ll have you hanging at the edge of your seat

your seat

your seat just as Cruz hangs 123 stories above

just as Cruz hangs 123 stories above

just as Cruz hangs 123 stories above Dubai number five

Dubai number five

Dubai number five d-day Saving Private Ryan

Milind over the course of a month the

Milind over the course of a month the Omaha Beach landing sequence from Saving

Omaha Beach landing sequence from Saving

Omaha Beach landing sequence from Saving Private Ryan places the audience at the

Private Ryan places the audience at the

Private Ryan places the audience at the center of the action through handheld

center of the action through handheld

center of the action through handheld cameras although the film hasn’t

cameras although the film hasn’t

cameras although the film hasn’t introduced us to any characters yet we

introduced us to any characters yet we

introduced us to any characters yet we immediately share all the anguish and

immediately share all the anguish and

immediately share all the anguish and panic these soldiers endure while the

panic these soldiers endure while the

panic these soldiers endure while the scene is indeed a visual marvel what’s

scene is indeed a visual marvel what’s

scene is indeed a visual marvel what’s truly miraculous is how Steven Spielberg

truly miraculous is how Steven Spielberg

truly miraculous is how Steven Spielberg bluntly immerses the audience in combat

with haunting imagery that will forever

with haunting imagery that will forever remain etched in our minds never has a

remain etched in our minds never has a

remain etched in our minds never has a depiction of war felt more hellish

through his Dark Knight trilogy

through his Dark Knight trilogy Christopher Nolan aspired to create a

Christopher Nolan aspired to create a

Christopher Nolan aspired to create a Gotham City that could exist in the real

Gotham City that could exist in the real

Gotham City that could exist in the real world this is a bill for that right

world this is a bill for that right

world this is a bill for that right his grittier approach to the franchise

his grittier approach to the franchise

his grittier approach to the franchise especially shines in this freeway chase

especially shines in this freeway chase

especially shines in this freeway chase chiefly relying on practical effects

filmed on the streets of Chicago the

filmed on the streets of Chicago the explosive confrontation works up to an

explosive confrontation works up to an

explosive confrontation works up to an applauded worthy climax as Batman

applauded worthy climax as Batman

applauded worthy climax as Batman utilizes his fully functional back pod

utilizes his fully functional back pod

utilizes his fully functional back pod to flip the Joker’s rig and yes the

to flip the Joker’s rig and yes the

to flip the Joker’s rig and yes the filmmakers overturned an actual truck

filmmakers overturned an actual truck

filmmakers overturned an actual truck with a driver inside how will Nolan ever

with a driver inside how will Nolan ever

with a driver inside how will Nolan ever topped this amazing set piece stay tuned

topped this amazing set piece stay tuned

topped this amazing set piece stay tuned to find out number three car chase

to find out number three car chase

to find out number three car chase Mad Max – the road warrior

given a bigger budget for the initial

given a bigger budget for the initial sequel to Mad Max George Miller was able

sequel to Mad Max George Miller was able

sequel to Mad Max George Miller was able to go as big and over-the-top as he

to go as big and over-the-top as he

to go as big and over-the-top as he wanted he put the money to great use

wanted he put the money to great use

wanted he put the money to great use particularly in the films wildly

particularly in the films wildly

particularly in the films wildly inventive climax

driving a tanker our death-defying hero

driving a tanker our death-defying hero is bombarded by a gang on wheels

is bombarded by a gang on wheels

is bombarded by a gang on wheels determined to spill his blood for oil

with vehicles crashing vehicles catching

with vehicles crashing vehicles catching on fire and characters jumping between

on fire and characters jumping between

on fire and characters jumping between vehicles it’s exhausting just thinking

vehicles it’s exhausting just thinking

vehicles it’s exhausting just thinking about how Miller got this extraordinary

about how Miller got this extraordinary

about how Miller got this extraordinary scene on film however he did it we are

scene on film however he did it we are

scene on film however he did it we are 100% grateful

number two the Titanic sinking Titanic

number two the Titanic sinking Titanic iceberg wanna thank you Titanic is full

iceberg wanna thank you Titanic is full

iceberg wanna thank you Titanic is full of inspiring moments that authentically

of inspiring moments that authentically

of inspiring moments that authentically recreate the supposedly unsinkable ships

recreate the supposedly unsinkable ships

recreate the supposedly unsinkable ships rise and demise utilizing a diverse

rise and demise utilizing a diverse

rise and demise utilizing a diverse blend of sets models green screen

blend of sets models green screen

blend of sets models green screen effects and CGI to fashion the most

effects and CGI to fashion the most

effects and CGI to fashion the most convincing illusion possible James

convincing illusion possible James

convincing illusion possible James Cameron leads the audience gasping for

Cameron leads the audience gasping for

Cameron leads the audience gasping for air

air

air up until the Titanic’s final moments

up until the Titanic’s final moments

up until the Titanic’s final moments before it submerged below the sea with

before it submerged below the sea with

before it submerged below the sea with countless extras crowding around the bow

countless extras crowding around the bow

countless extras crowding around the bow and holding on for dear life as the ship

and holding on for dear life as the ship

and holding on for dear life as the ship breaks in half the audience is thrilled

breaks in half the audience is thrilled

breaks in half the audience is thrilled shocked heartbroken and left feeling

shocked heartbroken and left feeling

shocked heartbroken and left feeling totally insignificant compared to the

totally insignificant compared to the

totally insignificant compared to the film’s majestic size

before our top pick blows us away here

before our top pick blows us away here are some honorable mentions

number one crashing this plane the Dark

number one crashing this plane the Dark Knight Rises

Knight Rises

Knight Rises if I pull that off will you die it would

if I pull that off will you die it would

if I pull that off will you die it would be extremely painful you’re a big guy

be extremely painful you’re a big guy

be extremely painful you’re a big guy for you trapped in an airborne CIA plane

for you trapped in an airborne CIA plane

for you trapped in an airborne CIA plane there appears to be no escape for Bane

there appears to be no escape for Bane

there appears to be no escape for Bane was it getting caught part of your plan

was it getting caught part of your plan

was it getting caught part of your plan of course when a c-130 shows up though

of course when a c-130 shows up though

of course when a c-130 shows up though the criminal mastermind puts his

the criminal mastermind puts his

the criminal mastermind puts his unthinkable getaway plan into action

unthinkable getaway plan into action

unthinkable getaway plan into action what’s the next step of your master plan

what’s the next step of your master plan

what’s the next step of your master plan crashing this hood causing the

crashing this hood causing the

crashing this hood causing the government aircraft to take a nosedive

government aircraft to take a nosedive

government aircraft to take a nosedive and ultimately crash to the ground this

and ultimately crash to the ground this

and ultimately crash to the ground this scene is truly a revolution of stunts

scene is truly a revolution of stunts

scene is truly a revolution of stunts cinematography and staging

it goes to show that Christopher Nolan

it goes to show that Christopher Nolan will never stop pushing the envelope in

will never stop pushing the envelope in

will never stop pushing the envelope in terms of ambitious action sequences from

terms of ambitious action sequences from

terms of ambitious action sequences from the corridor fight in Inception

to this unbelievable opening to the Dark

to this unbelievable opening to the Dark Knight Rises come on down doctor now is

Knight Rises come on down doctor now is

Knight Rises come on down doctor now is not the time for fear that comes later

do you agree with our list

do you agree with our list what impressive movie scenes made you

what impressive movie scenes made you

what impressive movie scenes made you drop your job for more entertaining top

drop your job for more entertaining top

drop your job for more entertaining top 10s published every day be sure to

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