Behind the Scenes of Fan-Favorite Movies: 50 Photos Revealing On-Set Secrets (55 Photos)

Ever wanted to step onto a movie set? To pull back the curtain, step behind the camera, and see the magic as it happens? Share a laugh with your favorite stars and uncover the secrets hidden behind the scenes? Well, today we’re lifting that veil! Join us for a virtual tour of the sets of iconic, beloved films.







1. *The Empire Strikes Back*

Carrie Fisher and Peter Mayhew proving that Princess Leia and Chewbacca were actually best friends.





2. Kermit and Miss Piggy hanging out with Mark Hamill and Yoda.



3. *The Shining*

Lisa and Louise Burns looking considerably less terrifying between takes.



4. Stanley Kubrick taking a mirror photo with his daughter—while poor Jack Nicholson naively assumes he's the one being photographed.



5. *The Muppets*

Jim Henson and Kermit gazing deeply into each other's eyes.



6. *Edward Scissorhands*

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder sharing a moment between takes.



7. *Harry Potter*

Maggie Smith resting between takes for scenes that ultimately got cut from the final film. Remarkably, she refused to stop filming despite undergoing chemotherapy at the time.



8. *300*

Director Zack Snyder looking downright tiny next to King Leonidas.



9. *Ben-Hur*



10. *Inception*

Ellen Page and Leonardo DiCaprio on the set of *Inception*. Unsurprisingly, reality on set looks a bit different from what ended up on screen.



11. *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*

Peter Ostrum and Gene Wilder goofing around in costume.



12. *The Silence of the Lambs*

Turns out Hannibal Lecter’s favorite dish wasn't human flesh after all—it was french fries.



13. *The Sound of Music*

Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews browsing postcards.



14. *Kill Bill*

Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu putting their on-screen rivalry on pause and remembering they're actually great friends.



15. *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*

Director Steven Spielberg giving E.T. a bath on set.



16. A quick touch-up and it's ready to roll.



17. *The Big Lebowski*

Director Joel Coen double-checking that everything is ready for the shot.



18. *Django Unchained*

Leo kicking back in the director's chair.



19. *The Dark Knight*

Heath Ledger prepping for his final scene in the movie, where the Joker hangs from a skyscraper.



20. The Joker sans his iconic makeup.



21. Director Christopher Nolan using toy cars to block out the positioning for the real vehicles on set.



22. *Fantastic Mr. Fox*

Bill Murray on set—quite literally *on* it.



23. Filming the iconic MGM roaring lion logo.



24. *Star Wars*

R2-D2 grabbing a sandwich break between takes.



25. Carrie Fisher handing Mark Hamill a beer between demanding takes.



26. Chewbacca and Princess Leia.



27. *Frankenstein*

Even Frankenstein’s monster can't resist a cup of tea and a quick snack!



28. *Ghostbusters*

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wreaking havoc on an innocent miniature town.



29. *Godzilla*

Godzilla (or at least its bottom half) hard at work destroying the city.



30. *The Wizard of Oz*

The breathtaking set of Munchkinland.



31. *Back to the Future*

Turns out the DeLorean model was a lot smaller than you'd think.



32. *The Hobbit*



33. *Titanic*



34. Proof positive that there was definitely enough room on that door for Jack!



35. *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, and Mike Newell proving that Harry and Snape actually got along pretty well.



36. Once the cameras stopped rolling, sworn enemies turned into friends.



37. *The Avengers*

Director Joss Whedon showing the heroes how it's done.



38. Mark Ruffalo was nowhere near as terrifying on set as his cinematic Hulk.



39. *Marie Antoinette*

Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman using tech that feels slightly out of place in 18th-century France.



40. *The Lord of the Rings*

Gandalf alongside his stunt and scale doubles.



41. *Jaws*

Steven Spielberg knows how to have a little fun on set.



42. *Planet of the Apes*

Charlton Heston sharing a heart-to-heart with an ape.



43. *The Lord of the Rings*

Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen).



44. Heh-heh...



45. *Alien*

Ridley Scott pouring condensed milk over Ian Holm. Because, movie magic.



46. *Spartacus*

Extras taking a breather on the battlefield.



47. *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom*

George Lucas and Amrish Puri beating the heat under an umbrella.



48. *The Royal Tenenbaums*

Bill Murray, Grant Rosenmeyer, and Jonah Meyerson fooling around on the hospital set.



49. *Star Wars*: Special Edition

Boba Fett unmasked while filming extra scenes for Jabba's Palace.



50. *Singin' in the Rain*



51. *Jurassic Park III*

Special effects artist John Rosengrant inside a raptor suit—well, half of one.



52. *Return of the Jedi*

Carrie Fisher and Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok).



53. *Life of Pi*

Suraj Sharma filming a scene.



54. *Pulp Fiction*

John Travolta and Bruce Willis sharing a laugh between takes.



55. *Rear Window*

Things weren't always dead serious on Alfred Hitchcock's sets. Case in point: James Stewart and Grace Kelly goofing around between shots.