Film is a visual medium, so imagery and shots are just as key to a successful movie as an engaging story, snappy script, or compelling acting. A lot of movies do the bare minimum with their visuals, servicing the story without leaving much of an impact on the viewer. Nevertheless, a few dedicated filmmakers go above and beyond, conjuring up visual spectacles or painterly scenes. In the process, some of them even redefined cinema’s visual language.
With this in mind, this list looks at some of the most visually stunning movies ever made. These films range in content but all boast gorgeous, striking, and often groundbreaking images. They are a treat for the eyes, serving up everything from epic fantasy landscapes to experimental montages. These projects showcase the power of images to evoke emotion, tell complex stories, and immerse viewers in new worlds.
10
‘Metropolis’ (1927)
Directed by Fritz Lang
“The mediator between the head and the hands must be the heart.” The defining film by German Expressionist Fritz Lang, this pioneering sci-fi takes place in a futuristic dystopia dominated by towering skyscrapers and sprawling underground factories. The story focuses on Freder (Gustav Fröhlich), the son of the city’s mastermind, and Maria (Brigitte Helm), a compassionate worker fighting for equality between the classes.
Inspired by the director’s 1924 trip to New York, the movie crafts its immersive visual world through elaborate sets and special effects, including the use of miniatures and the Schüfftan process, which involves covering part of the camera in a mirror to achieve certain in-camera effects. Metropolis is nothing if not ambitious, straining the possibilities of film technology for the time. It’s an approach that paid off, resulting in a movie that inspired countless sci-fi tales to follow, yet still looks unlike anything else. It’s a gorgeous fusion of dense shadows, metallic surfaces, and colossal structures.
Metropolis
- Release Date
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February 6, 1927
- Director
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Fritz Lang
- Writers
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Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang
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9
‘The Tree of Life’ (2011)
Directed by Terrence Malick
“Help each other. Love everyone. Every leaf. Every ray of light. Forgive.” The Tree of Life is a meditation on existence, blending cosmic imagery with an intimate family story. The film follows Jack (played by Hunter McCracken and Sean Penn) as he reflects on his upbringing in 1950s Texas and the complex relationship with his strict father (Brad Pitt) and nurturing mother (Jessica Chastain). While the drama is fairly standard, what sets the film apart is its visual storytelling, with stunning sequences depicting the birth of the universe, the formation of planets, and the emergence of life on Earth.
There are trees growing, landscapes crumbling, and even velociraptors stalking about. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (who also worked on Children of Men and The Revenant) captures these wonders with breathtaking detail, seamlessly transitioning between the grandeur of the universe and the quiet moments of human life. According to effects artist Douglas Trumbull, many of these shots were achieved through “chemicals, paint, fluorescent dyes, smoke, liquids, CO2, flares, spin dishes, fluid dynamics, lighting, and high-speed photography.”
The Tree of Life
- Release Date
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November 17, 2011
- Runtime
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138minutes
- Director
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Terrence Malick
- Writers
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Terrence Malick
8
‘The Lord of the Rings’ (2001-2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy brought J.R.R. Tolkien‘s fantastical world of Middle-earth vividly to life, overshadowing pretty much everything else on offer at the multiplex in the early 2000s. Every location was meticulously crafted, from the lush greenery of the Shire to the volcanic desolation of Mount Doom, and tremendous care was poured into the creature design. The movies are over 20 years old at this point, though most of the shots still look fantastic.
To a large extent, this is because the movie used CGI judiciously, almost always as a complement to rather than a replacement for the practical effects. Miniatures, makeup, prosthetics, and forced perspective were Jackson’s go-to tools, not computer wizardry. Sure, some shots of Gollum (Andy Serkis) look a little shaky now, but, as a whole, LOtR remains the most engaging fantasy world ever realized on screen.
7
‘Avatar’ (2009)
Directed by James Cameron
“I see you.” Avatar is another movie that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its boundary-pushing imagery and sheer ambition are undeniable. A decades-in-the-making passion project for James Cameron, the movie imagines a lush alien world where paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) becomes part of the Na’vi, an indigenous species fighting to protect their land. The plot is run-of-the-mill hero’s journey stuff (many found it to be a little too simplistic and predictable), but the CGI was lightyears ahead of its time.
The vibrant visuals, including the bioluminescent forests and floating mountains of Pandora, captivated audiences worldwide. The movie also broke ground with its use of 3D and motion capture. These elaborate images required hundreds of effects artists to composite, working with so much data that Microsoft created a new cloud storage technology purely for the film. The sequel thirteen years later proved that this world still had some life in it, and the third installment, Fire and Ash, looks set to deliver once again.
6
‘Baraka’ (1992)
Directed by Ron Fricke
In contrast to blockbusters like Lotr and Avatar, Baraka is more of a tone poem, a visual and spiritual journey that spans the entire globe. Filmed in 25 countries, the movie presents a series of breathtaking images, from sacred rituals to urban chaos, without any dialogue or narrative. The focus is on the beauty and diversity of the natural world and human cultures.
The expansive 70mm cinematography adds to the grandeur, while the meticulous time-lapse sequences, depicting everything from flowing lava to bustling cityscapes, highlight the interconnectedness of all things. There are tracking shots through haunting places, along with photos of people from the past and shots of every kind of symbol, from tattoos and religious icons to tribal paint. The result is a nonlinear tapestry, a mosaic of moments, that might strain the patience of some viewers but will move others deeply. The images are all open-ended, allowing each viewer to draw their own conclusions about what they reflect.
Baraka
- Release Date
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September 15, 1992
- Runtime
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97 minutes
- Director
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Ron Fricke
- Writers
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Constantine Nicholas
- Producers
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Alton Walpole
Cast
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Patrick Disanto
Journeyman (uncredited)
5
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
“A faithful heart makes wishes come true.” One of the versatile Ang Lee‘s most beloved movies, this wuxia epic blends breathtaking martial arts choreography with a ton of heart. Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh lead the cast as two warriors pursuing a stolen sword, the legendary Green Destiny. Along the way, they cross paths with a rebellious young woman, Jen (Zhang Ziyi), who harbors dreams of adventure.
The movie navigates weighty themes like honor, devotion, and compassion without losing its sense of fun, adventure, and style. The finished product is a fantastic mix of opera and pulp, mythic storytelling and straightforward ass-kicking action. Warriors fly and stand nimbly on the thinnest of tree branches, casting off gravity with ease. Blades sing and limbs connect; combat has never looked more beautiful. Then there are the landscapes, including emerald bamboo forests, sacred temples, and serene deserts extending into infinity. What a gem.
4
‘Samsara’ (2011)
Directed by Ron Fricke
“How can one prevent a drop of water from ever drying up?” Samsara (Sanskrit for “the ever-turning wheel of life”) is a non-narrative documentary that serves as a spiritual successor to Baraka. Again spanning more than 20 countries, the film examines the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth through a series of visually stunning sequences. From ancient temples to modern factories, Samsara juxtaposes the beauty of nature with the complexities of human life.
The images are both meditative and provocative, and the absence of dialogue or narration adds to their impact. Some of the shots are shocking but all of them are vivid, captured in the highest quality. Their meaning is often out of reach (and some of the scenes are a little on the nose), but, fundamentally, Samsara succeeds as a guided meditation. The rhythm and beauty of the montage are striking, allowing the viewer to step outside their own limited perspective for at least a little while.
Samsara
- Release Date
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September 16, 2011
- Runtime
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102 minutes
- Director
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Ron Fricke
- Producers
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Mark Magidson
Cast
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Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi
Dancer: Valinese Tari Legong Dancers, Indonesia
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Puti Sri Candra Dewi
Tattoo Daddy: USA
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Putu Dinda Pratika
Professor and Robot Clone: Japan
3
‘Stalker’ (1979)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
“A man writes because he is tormented, because he doubts.” This landmark Soviet sci-fi film unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where three characters—Writer (Anatoly Solonitsyn), Professor (Nikolai Grinko), and Stalker (Alexander Kaidanovsky)—adventure into the mysterious Zone, a forbidden area rumored to grant a person’s deepest wish. From here, the tale morphs into a haunting exploration of human desires and existential questions, anchored by Andrei Tarkovsky‘s visual poetry.
The director’s signature long takes and meticulously composed frames plunge viewers into the unsettling beauty of the Zone. The desolate landscapes, decaying structures, and subtle use of color create a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ psychological states. The shots are restrained and glacial, often over four minutes long. Indeed, there are only 142 shots in the film’s 163 minutes. This approach invites a multitude of interpretations and was deeply influential, with everything from Westworld to Alex Garland‘s Annihilation borrowing ideas from Stalker.
Stalker
- Release Date
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May 25, 1979
- Runtime
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161 Minutes
- Director
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Andrei Tarkovsky
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2
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” Ridley Scott‘s neo-noir sci-fi masterpiece features Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a retired “blade runner” tasked with hunting down rogue replicants, bioengineered beings nearly indistinguishable from humans. Cryptic storytelling and intricate world-building are at a premium here. The film’s visual style is its defining feature, blending futuristic architecture with gritty urban decay.
Scott’s use of neon lighting, rain-soaked streets, and massive advertising billboards creates an atmosphere that feels both futuristic and timeless. Jordan Cronenweth‘s atmospheric cinematography, Vangelis‘ haunting score, and Lawrence G. Paull‘s groundbreaking production design proved a formidable combination. The images drew on an electric range of sources, including Edward Hopper’s painting Nighthawks, old French sci-fi comics, and smoggy photos of Hong Kong. Though not immediately recognized as a classic, Blade Runner would go on to exert a massive influence over the genre, and its imagery still looks fantastic all these decades later.
1
‘Days of Heaven’ (1978)
Directed by Terrence Malick
“This was the one place where there was peace.” Terrence Malick strikes again. His lyrical Days of Heaven is often mentioned in conversations about movies with the finest cinematography ever, and for good reasons. This tale of love and betrayal unfolds against the backdrop of the Texas Panhandle in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Bill (Richard Gere), his lover Abby (Brooke Adams), and a wealthy farmer (Sam Shepard) whose affection for Abby sets off a tragic chain of events.
Cinematographer Néstor Almendros’s use of natural light, particularly during “magic hour,” gives the film a painterly quality. He captures the rural landscapes especially well. Almendros also used some visual trickery to achieve the shots he wanted, like simulating a locust swarm by dropping thousands of peanuts from helicopters and then running the footage in reverse. Thanks to this care and attention, each frame feels like a work of art, a great complement to the minimalist storytelling and believable characters.
Days of Heaven
- Release Date
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September 13, 1978
- Runtime
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94 minutes
- Director
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Terrence Malick
- Writers
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Terrence Malick
