Not every “Behind the Scenes” photo you see from a movie set has the same value. Sometimes they’re staged. Sometimes they’re just tools that marketing teams use to create hype for a movie. But sometimes they also let you sneak a peek at the movie-making process and (depending on your attitude towards the industry) either dispel or strengthen the feeling of movie-making-magic. Here are some rare behind the scenes selfies and snapshots from 10 popular movies and tv-shows.
Maleficent
I know I talked about movie-making-magic, but this photo goes a level deeper. Not only is the movie itself about magic, but seeing these two stunning actresses together just having fun seems like you’re seeing a magical moment that you probably, should not be privy to.
Shining
If you get the chance, try to get your hands on books about Stanley Kubrick and the way his movies are made. They’re full of pictures like these, where world-famous actors are letting down their guard between takes and just hanging out with each other. It boggles my mind when I think about the fact that one of the greatest movies ever made was just the product of the hard work of talented actors, a skilled film crew, and a genius screenwriter/director.
Stranger Things
These pictures come from a book about the making of Stranger Things. The show took the world by storm, and with its third season coming out on Netflix very soon, it’s nice to see some pictures from the making of the show’s first and second season. Also, it’s incredible to see how much these actors have grown since we first saw them.
Game of Thrones
Of all the movies on this list, the behind-the-scenes pictures from Game of Thrones are the most entertaining to me. Sure, there’s pictures that demonstrate how the CGI crew used green-screens (and green-dragons) to create dragons, but also seeing the actors dressed in their Westeros attire while holding iPhones is hilarious to me. I’m going to miss that Starbucks cup from the 8th season. (In case you didn’t know, when HBO uploaded the episode to HBO Go, they used CGI to remove the cup from the shot.)
Avengers: Endgame
Marvel (and all of Disney in general) are famous for keeping the details of their production under a tight lid. Everyone’s scared of saying anything in case it’s a spoiler. So, all the behind-the-scenes shots from the set only make their way out into the world well after the movie has been released. That being said, it’s awesome to see how much fun the actors seem to have been having on the set of “The Best Crossover Movie of All Time”.
Psycho
I know I said this about The Shining and about Stanley Kubrick, but this also very much applies to Alfred Hitchcock – if you have a chance to get your hands on a book or documentary about his filmmaking process, don’t waste it! These shots from the set of Psycho are incredible, and the fact that they’re in black-and-white only makes them more mysterious.
Jumanji
I’m talking bout the new Jumanji here. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend the Jumanji movie. It’s a fun movie with an entertaining plot and hilarious performances from all the cast. Plus, with the sequel coming out soon – now would be the perfect time to watch it. Unlike the Avengers movies, the people in charge of making Jumanji have no problem allowing their actors share pictures and videos from the things that happen on set. As a matter of fact, I highly recommend you check out Jack Black’s YouTube channel for some cool appearances from The Rock and the rest of the Jumanji team!
Aquaman
In my humble opinion, behind-the-scenes pictures of Jason Momoa from the set of Aquaman are way more entertaining than the behind-the-scenes pictures of Jason Momoa from the set of Game of Thrones. First of all – they’re more recent. But, more importantly, they show him having so much fun on set!
Xena: Warrior Princess
Oh man, this show is a cult classic. And it’s a well known fact that Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor became good friends while the show was in production. Seeing them hanging out behind-the-scenes is a treat for the small kid in me who was watching this show back in the 90s, when it first came out.
The Seven Year Itch
I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t seen this movie, but I would be very surprised if you don’t recognize the iconic scene of Marylin Monroe’s dress being blown up by the vents in the pavement. That scene has been made into thousands of posters worldwide, and now you get to see a photo of how that scene was shot and made.
