It takes a whole army of production designers, location seekers, construction workers, and creative minds to make the impossible possible in the world of movies, especially when it comes to film sets. Here are some of what could arguably be the best movie sets in cinema history.
Image source: Den of Geek
Cleopatra: This Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starrer was supposed to be filmed in England, but the set was ruined by a winter storm, which led to its rebuilding in Rome. The results aren’t less grand at all: the country reportedly nearly ran out of building materials due to the grandeur of the movie set.
Titanic: Filmed in Rosarito, Mexico, the story of the ill-fated ship captures the world’s audience not just because of Jack and Rose, but because of the spectacular backdrop for their love story. The re-creation, for instance, was built on a gargantuan hinge allowing it to become fully perpendicular during filming while sucking in ocean water into an 800-foot-wide water tank where it sat.
Intolerance: When talking about the best and the biggest cost-wise, not a lot can beat “Intolerance” in 1916, whose film set cost $2.5 million back then and $47 million when adjusted for inflation. DW Griffith’s movie is an epic tale that spanned 2,500 years and took place in ancient Babylon, 16th century France, and 20th century America.
Ben-Hur: It’s called the “entertainment experience of a lifetime,” which the film lived up to with its 2,000-foot-long arena. For a time, the chariot arena serves as the largest film set in history, while the rest of the set pieces – all 300 of them – occupied over 340 acres.
Image source: Architectural Digest
The Lord of the Rings: The Waikato region of New Zealand gave life to this 2001-2003 masterpiece, specifically a 1,200-acre property that was once privately owned by a single family. Apart from facades for 27 hobbit holes, a mill, and a double-arch bridge, production designer Grant Major also insisted on the planting of real flowers and vegetables on the set.
Chicago sports fan Richard Ohlhaber also loved movies and counts 'The Godfather,' 'Gladiator,' and 'The Natural' among his favorite films. For similar reads, click here.
