Visually Stunning Movies So Beautiful They Belong In A Museum

Year it came out: 2001 Memorable moment: Frodo and cohorts are attacked by Ringwraiths. He puts on the One Ring and becomes invisible. Cinematographer: Andrew Lesnie Where it takes place: Like the J.R.R. Tolkien work it's based on, the film is set in Middle-earth, an imaginary continent. The Fellowship of the Rings is the first part of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It set the bar high for the two subsequent sequels. The story establishes the mission hero Frodo (Elijah Wood) must go on, namely to take the One Ring and throw it into a volcano. Although the visual effects are certainly impressive, Andrew Lesnie's cinematography helps to make the fictional world immersive and credible. Middle-earth becomes a place viewers easily get lost in. That sense of authenticity is a big part of why the movie was hugely popular around the world. Tolkien's beloved tale transitions to the screen in an eye-popping manner that truly transports you to a magical world.

Year it came out: 1982 Memorable moment: Villian Roy Batty delivers a deathbed speech about how memories “will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” Cinematographer: Jordan Cronenweth Where it takes place: Blade Runner is set in Los Angeles in the year 2019. Ridley Scott's brilliant Blade Runner combines science-fiction and film noir into an irresistible package. Harrison Ford plays Rick Deckard, a “blade runner” whose job is to eliminate a group of escaped “replicants” - android beings who easily pass for human. The plot is filled with compelling twists and turns, especially as Deckard confronts the villainous replicant Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer). Groundbreaking visual effects make futuristic Los Angeles a place whose griminess is neon-lit, which is a cool contradiction. Even the scenes without effects are stunning to look at. Chief among them is an atmospheric moment in which Batty eulogizes himself, rain pouring on his face and smoke billowing behind him. Blade Runner's visual opulence makes this a science-fiction detective story that hooks you from the beginning and doesn't let go.

Year it came out: 1968 Memorable moment: Astronaut David Bowman goes through a colorful, kaleidoscopic star gate, then emerges on the other side as a fetus in a bubble. Cinematographer: Geoffrey Unsworth Where it takes place: The majority of the film takes place inside the Discovery One, an American spacecraft on its way to Jupiter. Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most seminal science-fiction movies of all time. The plot concerns a group of astronauts seeking to discover the origin of a strange artifact buried under the lunar surface. Their ship's onboard computer system, HAL, seems intent on sabotaging the mission. Kubrick takes the audience on a visually captivating ride with 2001. Groundbreaking special effects and a surplus of trippy imagery have long made this a favorite of sci-fi buffs and people who like to partake in illicit substances. It's more than a movie, it's an experience, filled with big ideas that get your mind working overtime.

Year it came out: 1999 Memorable moment: As bullets fly toward him, hero Neo bends over backwards, allowing them to zip overhead in slow motion. Cinematographer: Bill Pope Where it takes place: As the title suggests, the film occurs inside the Matrix, a simulated reality created by sentient machines to fool human beings so their bodies can be harvested for energy. In The Matrix, intelligent machines have trapped humans inside a non-existent virtual world. A man named Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is prophesied to be the one who can shut off the Matrix and liberate humanity. The film is a trippy mix of science-fiction and philosophy that repeatedly asks how we can be sure anything we experience is real. Groundbreaking action sequences add a level of excitement. Bill Pope's cinematography goes a long way toward creating this fictional world. It's sleek, stylish, and alluring. The story is undoubtedly compelling, but you could theoretically watch the film with the sound off and still be mesmerized.

Year it came out: 2021 Memorable moment: A massive sandworm emerges from the desert, dwarfing the humans standing in front of it. Cinematographer: Greig Fraser Where it takes place: The 2021 film adaptation of Frank Herbert's landmark sci-fi novel is set on the desert planet of Arrakis. David Lynch famously adapted Dune back in 1984, to less than satisfactory success. Denis Villeneuve had more luck with the first part of his adaptation, which came out in 2021. It introduces the character of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), who will become the central figure in a battle for control of Arrakis's valuable spices. Villeneuve shot on beautiful desert locations, then added first-rate special effects that integrate seamlessly with the live-action footage. In other words, they don't look like visual effects, they look real within the world of the movie. That helps Dune achieve the sweeping feel that earned it an Oscar nomination as Best Picture. This is an elaborate and intelligent sci-fi adventure that also happens to look extraordinary.

Year it came out: 2014 Memorable moment: Cooper lands on a water-based planet and has to contend with enormous waves. Cinematographer: Hoyte van Hoytema Where it takes place: Although sections of Interstellar take place on Earth, most of the movie is set in space, as the protagonist travels through a wormhole in search of a planet that might be hospitable for humans. Christopher Nolan's challenging, provocative Interstellar imagines an Earth that is dying from blight. NASA test pilot/engineer Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is tasked with venturing through a recently discovered wormhole in space. He must visit several different planets to determine if any of them might sustain human life. Hypnotic visual effects can be found throughout the film, most awesomely during a kaleidoscopic dimension-hopping finale. Even more impressive is the way Nolan uses actual locations to stand in for the planets, making them look suitably alien. The whole visual scheme of the movie draws you in to Cooper's journey through the cosmos, giving it a palpable human quality.

Year it came out: 1962 Memorable moment: A slow-burn sequence in which Ali emerges from a mirage in the desert, shoots a man who drank from his well, and meets Lawrence. Cinematographer: Freddie A. Young Where it takes place: This classic epic takes place in several Middle Eastern locations, most notably the Nefud Desert. Lawrence of Arabia follows British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) as he treks to Arabia in order to aid the Arabs and the British, who are in conflict with the Turks. Running a whopping three hours and thirty-six minutes, this is an old school Hollywood epic, with tons of storytelling nuance, interpersonal drama, and visual lushness. Scenes in the desert are especially potent, thanks to the majestic cinematography that captures its vastness. Authentic costumes and sets add to the impact. Lawrence of Arabia is considered an all-time classic because of the way it marries human drama with history, then wraps everything together in a package with a magnificent sense of scope.

Year it came out: 2015 Memorable moment: A chase through the desert as makeshift vehicles shoot fire and a musician with a flamethrower guitar stands in front of a bank of speakers on top of a tank. Cinematographer: John Seale Where it takes place: Like the previous Mad Max installments, the setting is a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The Oscar-nominated Mad Max: Fury Road cranks the series' already intense style up to 10. Former cop Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) helps warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) save a group of wives from their dictatorial husband Immortan Joe. Director George Miller and cinematographer John Seale make the Australian locations look credibly like a world decimated by nuclear war. A color palette that's heavy on browns, oranges, and reds adds to the effect, as do the gliding camera movements during the frenetic action sequences. Fury Road is widely credited with being a game-changer in the action genre. Insane stunts and a unique look turn this into a rousing adventure that you want to experience again and again.

Year it came out: 2000 Memorable moment: The muscular, scary looking Demon King descends a flight of stairs, his massive purple robe menacingly flowing behind him. Cinematographer: Paul Laufer Where it takes place: The Cell is primarily set inside the mind of a serial killer, where all kinds of horrific, disturbing things take place. Jennifer Lopez plays psychologist Catherine Deane in The Cell. She's participating in an experimental new therapy program whose specialized suits and computers allow her to enter the unconscious mind of her clients. Catherine is tasked with venturing into the psyche of serial killer Carl Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio). The cat-and-mouse game psychologist and psycho play is gripping. The Cell benefits from striking cinematography that makes Stargher's mind a place filled with terrifying imagery that really sells his deranged mental state. Visually, the film plunges viewers into nightmare territory right alongside Catherine, leading to a harrowing viewing experience.

Year it came out: 1990 Memorable moment: A thrilling buffalo hunt that makes viewers feel as though they're in the middle of a stampede. Cinematographer: Dean Semler Where it takes place: The story is set in and around Fort Sedgwick, a remote outpost in Colorado. Dances with Wolves is the Oscar-winning story of 1st Lieutenant John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner). He's sent to a remote outpost, where he develops an unexpected friendship with a Lakota tribe and begins a touching romance with a Lakota woman. When Union soldiers arrive to seize their land, Dunbar switches sides, helping his new friends instead. Exquisite cinematography makes you feel as though you've been transported back in time to 1863. The film beautifully captures the vastness and majesty of the plains, which allows the story's themes about the historic mistreatment of Native Americans to have maximum impact.

Year it came out: 2009 Memorable moment: Jake and Netiri kissing under the tree of voices. Cinematographer: Mauro Fiore Where it takes place: On the fictional planet of Pandora, which is rich with a valuable mineral called unobtainium. Paraplegic ex-Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) finds a new lease on life when Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) gives him control of an avatar that resembles the blue Na'vi inhabitants of planet Pandora. He assimilates himself into their culture and falls in love with one of their women, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), only to switch allegiances when a human-run corporation attempts to exploit their planet for unobtainium. Avatar is a feast for the eyes, creating a fictional world that feels fully formed. Especially seen in 3D, it offers an immersive experience that makes you feel as though you're moving among Pandora's foliage and riding atop one of the dragon-like creatures that live on the planet. Cinematic adventures are rarely this thrilling.

Year it came out: 2012 Memorable moment: A huge whale jumps out of the flourescent water and over a small boat containing a teenage boy and a tiger. Cinematographer: Claudio Miranda Where it takes place: This magical tale takes place mostly on a small lifeboat that's adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Based on the best-selling novel, Life of Pi follows an Indian teenager named Pi Patel who barely survives a shipwreck. The only other survivor is the Bengal tiger with whom he shares a lifeboat. Although initially adversarial for obvious reasons, the two become an unlikely team. Director Ang Lee and cinematographer Claudio Miranda shoot the film in a slightly exaggerated style meant to create a magical, fable-like quality. Every shot is practically a piece of art you could hang on the wall. The 3D version is even more incredible, as it delivers the sensation that the viewer is on that boat. The depth and scope of the vast ocean is magnificently conveyed. Life of Pi uses its visual spectacle to address the value of faith, especially during challenging times.

Year it came out: 1982 Memorable moment: Characters in glowing costumes throw deadly frisbee-like objects called “light rings” at each other. Cinematographer: Bruce Logan Where it takes place: Tron is set in “the Grid,” the inner workings of a video game system. Tron is easily one of the most original looking movies ever made. It tells the story of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a video game designer who gets sucked into the mainframe of a game he's been developing. There, he does battle with its rogue security system. Special effects create objects like the "light cycles", which are similar to motorcycles, except that walls of light are erected in their wake. Scenes featuring humans are exceptionally sleek. The actors appear to be black-and-white, with their costumes decorated with fluorescent colors. The effect truly does resemble an ‘80s-era video game, so the world created by Tron is appropriate to its story. If it looked cheesy, the whole picture would collapse. Instead, it's eye candy from start to finish, guaranteed to make you nostalgic for '80s games.

Year it came out: 2018 Memorable moment: A climactic battle in which Spider-Mans from multiple universes all converge in one interdimensional place to square off against the villainous Kingpin. Art Directors: Dean Gordon and Patrick O'Keefe Where it takes place: Inside the Spider-Verse, an interconnected series of universes where a near-endless number of Spider-Man variations exists. Teenager Miles Morales gets bitten by a radioactive spider, then develops a series of astonishing superpowers. A bad guy named Kingpin has a devious scheme to open up multiple dimensions, thereby causing New York City to implode. Miles uses his newfound abilities to stop him. The animation style employed by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is unlike any movie that came before it. Great attention is paid to detail, making the image look like a comic book that has started moving. Use of different textures like dots, lines, and squiggly patterns aid in that effect. Text boxes even appear onscreen at times, just as they do on the page. Telling a Spider-Man story in animation allows this to feel like the purest, most natural cinematic superhero movie ever.

Year it came out: 1984 Memorable moment: A tragic slow-motion scene in which a child is shot on a street underneath the Brooklyn bridge. Cinematographer: Tonino Delli Colli Where it takes place: This sprawling epic is set in New York City, specifically the Lower East Side, during the ‘20s and ’30s. Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America follows the life of criminal David “Noodles” Aaronson (Robert DeNiro). His trajectory takes him from a tough street kid to a Mafia kingpin. The character's rise and fall are captivating to watch, and the detailed story shows how and why Noodles changes over the years. A big part of what makes the film special is its meticulous recreation of the era. Once Upon a Time in America came out before CGI, meaning the elaborate sets had to be created practically. Evocative cinematography adds crucial texture and depth to the character's arc.

Year it came out: 2006 Memorable moment: Conquistador Tomás Creo approaches the Tree of Life, drinking the sap inside of it and seeming to ascend to a different plane. Cinematographer: Matthew Libatique Where it takes place: One section is set on Earth in 2000. A second takes place in Spain during 1500 A.D. The third is set in a bubble floating through outer space sometime in the future. The Fountain tells three intertwined stories. Tommy Creo (Hugh Jackman) seeks a cure for his terminally ill wife. Spanish conquistador Tomás Creo searches for the Fountain of Youth. Futuristic space traveler Tom floats through the cosmos in a bubble. Director Darren Aronofsky tells an emotional, thematically rich story dealing with life, death, love, and the possibility of an afterlife. For the more visually extravagant scenes in space, the director didn't use computer effects. Instead, he and cinematographer Matthew Libatique relied on a process called microphotography that entailed using a special camera to record chemical reactions occurring in a petri dish. That technique gives The Fountain a hypnotic quality. It visually conveys the mysteries and majesty of the universe, while simultaneously prodding you to ponder those same things.