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Incredible Behind-The-Scenes Photos That Show The Difference Special Effects Make

Walt Disney Studios

Technology is really amazing.

When I was a kid, we were still using puppets and men in suits to make movie monsters. Now, they're all made on the computer.

In fact, a surprising amount of what you see on a movie screen is added in after filming wraps.

And photos from the set show just how different things look in real life:

Life of Pi

Not as cuddly in person.20th Century Fox
No surprise here, cats hate bath time. 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

Alice In Wonderland

Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

"Uh, Bill, I think there's something on your face."Walt Disney Pictures

Cinderella

Walt Disney Pictures

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

For a closer look at how the cast transformed for the movie, check out this behind-the-scenes video.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Who feels like a quick trip to Venice?Paramount Pictures

For this shot, the lion was real but his human co-stars were added in later.

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures

Wonder Woman

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

District 9

TriStar Pictures

Ender's Game

Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films
Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films
Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films

Game of Thrones

Of course, this HBO fantasy show isn't a movie, but it relies on special effects as much as any blockbuster.

Including when its actors transform into their characters.

I wonder why they didn't use a real dragon for this shot.HBO
HBO
HBO

Beauty and the Beast

Not beastly, but very silly.Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures

If you really want to appreciate Emma Watson's performance, you can watch them tape this scene before the beast's costume is added on.

The Hobbit

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

Oz the Great and Powerful

Walt Disney Pictures

The Harry Potter series

Quidditch is obviously tricky to film...

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

And so are floating books.

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

The Jungle Book

No tigers were harmed in the making of this movie.Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures

The Great Gatsby

Warner Bros.
"Traffic is pretty light today, old sport."Warner Bros.

Avatar

20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

The Matrix

Warner Bros.

Everest

Don't look down...Universal Pictures

Inception

A mountain lair...Warner Bros.
With convenient street-level parking.Warner Bros.

The movie's gravity-defying scenes were pulled off using giant, rotating sets.

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

You can see the set in motion in this video.

Okja

Netflix
Netflix

Man of Steel

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an actor on a fishing line.Warner Bros.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Summit
Summit

Forrest Gump

Paramount Pictures

The Lord of the Rings

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros
Warner Bros.

300: Rise of an Empire

Warner Bros.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Paramount Pictures

Iron Man 2

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures

Gravity

So they didn't film in in outer space? Disappointing.Warner Bros.

Captain America

Paramount Pictures

Notice: Chris Evans is shrunk down to play his scrawny character before he transforms into Captain America.

Paramount Pictures

The Avengers

Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios

If these pictures surprised you, maybe you missed these 10 Tiny Details From Ferris Bueller's Day Off too.

And if you're craving more before and after photos, find out what these 21 Child Stars From the '80s Look Like Today.

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