behind the scenes library

 

Behind the Scenes pulls back the curtain and lets you see how movies are made, from the initial script, the casting and how the jaw-dropping special effects come to life.

Featured Article:  Inside 'Ladder 49'

Ladder 49 boasts some of the most realistic depictions of firefighting in movie history. See what stars Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta and director Jay Russell told us about this ambitious production. See more »

Inside 'Get Smart'

Inside 'Get Smart'

Opening today, the "Get Smart" franchise gets another theatrical revival starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. The film showcases all of the signature gadgets and memorable catchphrases of the original, plus spectacular action.

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Inside 'Hancock'

Inside 'Hancock'

When people fantasize about having super powers like Herculean strength, indestructibility or the ability to fly like the heroic icons of comic books, they're probably not thinking of Hancock. Who is he, and what can he do?

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Inside 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'

Inside 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the fifth movie in the Harry Potter film franchise. Go inside this magical film and see how its amazing special effects were created.

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Inside 'I Am Legend'

Inside 'I Am Legend'

Imagine New York City suddenly devoid of life save for a solitary man and his dog. That unsettling vision sets the scene for "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith. Go behind the scenes of this suspenseful film.

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Inside 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'

Inside 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'

In the crowded summer movie marketplace, a great gimmick can make a film stand out, provided it's done well and fits the story. As the first live-action flick shot in digital 3-D, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" scores big on both counts.

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Inside 'Kung Fu' Panda

Inside 'Kung Fu' Panda

Talking animals have been a mainstay of animation since the early Disney days. But "Kung Fu Panda," DreamWorks Animation's latest CG endeavor starring Jack Black in the title role, is a whole other animal.

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Inside 'Ladder 49'

Inside 'Ladder 49'

Ladder 49 boasts some of the most realistic depictions of firefighting in movie history. See what stars Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta and director Jay Russell told us about this ambitious production.

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Inside 'Nim's Island'

Inside 'Nim's Island'

"Little Miss Sunshine," the hero from "300" and an uncharacteristically comedic Jodie Foster join forces in a fantasy adventure set in an island paradise.

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Inside 'Poseidon'

Inside 'Poseidon'

Thirty-four years after disaster film director Irwin Allen inverted a cruise ship in the name of entertainment, Wolfgang Petersen -- who knows a bit about boat-themed cinema -- has upended another Poseidon and drowned thousands with $160 million worth of watery effects.

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Inside 'Serenity'

Inside 'Serenity'

Firefly was canceled before its first season was up, but an outcry from fans (not to mention their outpouring of cash for the DVDs) brought the Serenity crew back, this time to the big screen. Learn what went into making "Serenity" accessible to unfamiliar viewers while still pleasing the faithful followers of the show.

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Inside 'Shutter'

Inside 'Shutter'

In "Shutter," ghostly photographic images haunt a young couple. What is spirit photography -- and could this happen in real life?

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Inside 'Speed Racer'

Inside 'Speed Racer'

Speed Racer and his tricked-out Mach 5 have had a cult following since it premiered in 1967. Now, Warner Bros. has turned this popular anime cartoon into a live-action movie. Buckle your seat belt and get ready for quite a ride as we go inside "Speed Racer."

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Inside 'The Bank Job'

Inside 'The Bank Job'

"The Bank Job" re-created a scandalous 1971 bank robbery. Why has the story been covered up for so many years?

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Inside 'The Dark Knight'

Inside 'The Dark Knight'

Three years after "Batman Begins" reinvigorated the ailing Batman franchise, Christian Bale is back in the Batsuit to battle forces of evil in Gotham City in director Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated sequel "The Dark Knight."

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Inside 'The Golden Compass'

Inside 'The Golden Compass'

The Golden Compass features some of the most complex effects sequences ever seen on film. Check out this article, where some of the movie's visual artists tell us how they brought Phillip Pullman's beloved novel to life.

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Inside 'The Water Horse'

Inside 'The Water Horse'

The visual effects team for "The Water Horse" faced a unique challenge: Take a mythical creature and make it come alive on-screen from baby to adult. Take a look behind the scenes of "The Water Horse" to find out how they met the challenge.

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Inside 'Watchmen'

Inside 'Watchmen'

More than two decades since the "Watchmen" comic book series debuted, the cult favorite has finally been made into a movie -- with most of its violence, nudity and sex in tact.

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Post-blockbuster Summer Movie Guide

Post-blockbuster Summer Movie Guide

Now that all those gigantic blockbuster movies are out of the way, let's relax and enjoy some late-summer films. Check out our movie guide.

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The 42 Things You Should Know About 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'

The 42 Things You Should Know About 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'

In its 26-year history, "The Hitchhiker's Guide" has rubbed shoulders with Darth Vader, the Ghostbusters, Pink Floyd and Radiohead and even put its stamp on an asteroid. Find out what else you should know.

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What are precision drivers?

What are precision drivers?

What do Bo and Luke Duke have in common with James Bond? Superb driving skills. When these characters take off in a high-speed chase, who's behind the wheel?

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videos: filmmakers