Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2019 February 1

= February 1 =

Which movies has the biggest amount of practical special effects?
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen

I was curious which movie features the biggest amount of practical special effects. I tried to find some information per Google but failed. I could not find any list at all.

Thank you for your answers

With kind regards--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:E171:2D71:15F0:169E (talk) 20:57, 1 February 2019 (UTC)


 * Define "amount". Clarityfiend (talk) 00:51, 2 February 2019 (UTC)

Special effects used per shot.--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:AC27:6E6B:AE5A:525A (talk) 12:23, 2 February 2019 (UTC)

The movie "Lost in Space" from 1998 had about 5000 spceial effect shots, at least according to the blu-ray documentary.--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:7552:5263:C880:EFFA (talk) 16:44, 2 February 2019 (UTC)


 * You must define what a "special effect" is for this to make sense. For example, animation used to combine live actors with cartoons is a special effect. However, a completely animated film is not considered a special effect. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 13:49, 6 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Many, though not all, special effects are added later. I could argue that Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is one long special effect. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:10, 6 February 2019 (UTC)
 * The original question specified "practical special effects", practical effects do not include drawn or computer generated animations but do include stop motion animations. See our article: practical effect. --Khajidha (talk) 22:50, 7 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Would a matte painting count? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:10, 8 February 2019 (UTC)
 * I think so. But that's on the gray line between "effects" and "sets". --Khajidha (talk) 12:26, 8 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Some input from the OP would be helpful (but don't hold your breath waiting). ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 19:10, 8 February 2019 (UTC)

Movies with the largest film sets
Hello, it is me again (I am the guy from the special effects question).

I was also wondering which were the largest sets ever built for a movie? I once heard that "Krull" from 1982 had the biggest sets, but this seems unlikely when I consider some of the monumental movies of the silent film period.

Thank you for your answers

With kind regards--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:E171:2D71:15F0:169E (talk) 20:59, 1 February 2019 (UTC)


 * Define largest and set. Oxford defines set as "The place or area in which filming is taking place" so somewhere like The Big Country had a pretty large set.--Shantavira|feed me 10:44, 2 February 2019 (UTC)

A set refers to a full-scale scenery. There must have been a biggest set.--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:AC27:6E6B:AE5A:525A (talk) 12:25, 2 February 2019 (UTC)
 * The new Russian film Dau had a specially constructed set with an area of 12,000 m2. --Viennese Waltz 14:00, 2 February 2019 (UTC)

Very interesting, thank you!--2A02:1205:505D:1BB0:7552:5263:C880:EFFA (talk) 16:43, 2 February 2019 (UTC)


 * Ran (film) used some huge scenarios. It was also highly praised and still holds a place among the top-100 best movies of all times. --Kharon (talk) 03:48, 3 February 2019 (UTC)


 * Monument Valley is pretty good-sized. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:58, 3 February 2019 (UTC)
 * The sands of time took millions of years and some continental drift to build that one Bugs :-) MarnetteD&#124;Talk 04:35, 3 February 2019 (UTC)
 * And with non-union labor, yet. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 05:29, 3 February 2019 (UTC)


 * The chariot race set in Ben-Hur covered 18 acres.  Lugnuts  Fire Walk with Me 10:36, 4 February 2019 (UTC)


 * This has some good ideas. It should help the OP get started on their research.  -- Jayron 32 12:49, 4 February 2019 (UTC)